The Only Way is Up

Part Twenty Three

Within a couple of minutes she was pulling up at Kim's, her hand throbbed and looked a little swollen, how ridiculous. But she couldn't help but smile, he'd looked so stunned as his meek and wimpy wife suddenly rose like a phoenix from the flames and smashed him in the face. She wasn't a fan of violence; in fact it had been one of the reasons why she hated the thought of Maxim fighting. But it had been the most rewarding occurrence of the last six months...other than walking in to the ball on Maxim's arm. She'd have to thank him for the boxing training. Without that she'd never have connected so well with his jaw.

Grinning, and ignoring the pain, she jumped out of the car and rushed up the driveway to her friend's home.

Mike answered the door, and the usually calm and unflappable man was no more, he looked anxious.

"Mike? You ok?"

He hugged her in a needy way, then as he let her go, he added, "she's usually so strong, I hate seeing her like this, you know, worried, pale."

Nicole smiled, hoping to instil a little confidence, "she's still Kim, she'll see it all through, this is just a little blip, a reality check of sorts."

He liked that, nodding and half smiling, he stepped back, "she's in bed, feeling sorry for herself."

He said it with bravado, but she knew that the fact that Kim was shutting down on him, that she was upset and he couldn't console her was hurting him.

As she stepped past him she placed a hand on his arm, "you've got to let her do what she has to do, it's not personal, ok big man?"

Nodding again he asked, "coffee? I'll bring it up."

"Just got out of Pilates, could I have an oj or something?"

"Sure."

Kim's eyes were closed, but her face was pinched with pain, Nicole paused wanted to leave her to it, but she seemed to sense her presence and opened her eyes.

"Nicole! You came."

She perched on the edge of the bed and hugged Kim, "of course I came. Now are you going to tell me the truth, cos a couple of early contractions don't make you and Mr Cool downstairs so worried?"

"My waters broke. The doctor at the hospital said it wasn't he main waters, just a small pocket, so I'm here trying to keep my legs crossed in the hope that we'll last another few weeks."

Nicole could sense the fear in her friend, but needed to make light of the situation, "if you'd crossed your legs a little more you wouldn't be in this position, young lady."

It made her smile, goal achieved. "So you're increasing your intimate knowledge of this room."

Kim nodded, "going stir crazy."

As her friend patted the bed beside her, Nicole stretched out and hugged her, "it'll be fine babe, I promise you. This little one..." She patted her distended stomach, "it's just getting you used to giving up everything. Cos once he or she arrives your life as you know it is over forever, in a good way, but in an eight pound of baby rules all, kind of way."

Kim smiled, "you mean we won't go dancing anymore?"

Nicole chuckled, "depends on how much you trust Daddy in your absence."

"So tell me about Friday. You were a little evasive yesterday."

Nicole sighed, "where to start. I told you most of it. Maxim was the perfect gentleman."

"What about Vincent? Have you heard from him since?"

Rolling her eyes, she nodded, "he spent all day yesterday texting me. Then when I left the gym earlier he was waiting by my car. I told him to piss off in no uncertain terms."

Kim's eyes widened, "really? You did. I can't tell you how pleased that makes me."

"Well he was there, demanding of me...in the street. I begged him to talk to me for weeks. He wouldn't but now it's on his terms he's all over it." She dropped her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed at punching her ex husband.

"What's wrong?"

Kim tried to sit up, but Nicole pushed her back down, "I punched him, in the jaw...hard..."

"Shit, really?" Her face lit up, "I would LOVE to have been a fly on the wall for that. Go YOU!"

Nicole rolled her eyes, "I'm a bit embarrassed now, but he wouldn't take no for an answer."

"Another thing to thank the Devil for, your newly found boxing prowess!"

They were both laughing when Mike appeared at the door with a large pizza box, "you gigglers want something to eat?"

"Yes!" The both called out simultaneously.

It was a couple of hours later when Mike saw Nicole to the door, "thank you so much for coming." He hugged her tightly, a display that was unusual for him.

"It's ok, she's my best friend. I'd do anything for her."

He nodded, "I never calm her as much as you do, no matter what I do."

She hugged Mike tightly, "don't believe that, it's just different, you are perfect for her. Amazing, don't you forget that."

Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she smiled, "call me...anytime you need anything, ok?"

Nicole was a little nervous as she drove home; she had no idea what Vincent would do. Whilst she was busy, occupied he had been a million miles from her mind. But now, alone, she appreciated her vulnerability. As she pulled up at her home, she checked around before she got out of the car, then struggled to unlock her front door. Her left wrist was now bruised from his earlier grab, her other hand had bruised knuckles. If it wasn't so painful she'd laugh at the ridiculousness of it.

Making a coffee, she planned how she'd spend the late afternoon. She had some things that needed work for work, but she wasn't it the mood for that. Instead she made herself an ice pack and tried to attack her swollen hand. She'd never be able to write or use her laptop if the swelling didn't go down.

Just as she sat down grimacing at the cold, her door bell rang. Immediately she tensed. Vincent wasn't the type to take this in his stride, and an angry Vincent was not a man she was in the mood to meet. She never liked him like that.

Standing, she made her way across the lounge, hoping to peer around the curtains to view the doorstep occupier before opening the door, but as she did a pair of brown eyes were doing exactly the same thing and she came almost nose to nose through the glass with Maxim.

The relief almost knocked her over in its power, then she rushed to open the door to him.