"But you don 't think that 's the case? "

"No, I don 't. "

She moved in closer to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Go get her. You 're miserable. "

She knew him best. He was absolutely miserable.

Chapter Fifteen

Simone had settled back into her father 's house as comfortably as she could. He didn 't parade her around or take her in public. In fact, he hardly spoke to her at all. No matter what, she 'd embarrassed him.

He 'd offered her a portion of her trust fund back and had s1ent someone to purchase her tasteful maternity clothing, in case she was seen. But not once had he said he was glad she 'd come back.

Nearly forty years old, and still she was treated like a child, but she needed the security of his home and his money for her child.

The swell of her stomach was obvious now as she lay in her childhood bed. At night, especially, she could feel her baby move, but she was still lonely.

Since that day she 'd walked out of the hospital she hadn 't talked to anyone in the States. It was as if they had forgotten her, but she knew that wasn 't true. Simone Piermont had come and gone her entire life. When she needed company, she took someone home with her. When she needed a friend she always landed at Zach 's house. And when a real man fell in love with her and took care of her -she stranded him.

The baby moved reminding her of her biggest mistake of all. If she 'd gone directly to Curtis and told him about the baby she might just be wrapped in his arms, not hiding in her father 's house.

She rolled onto her side and looked out her window as the drapes blew in the night breeze. She missed her waterbed in her tiny bedroom back at Sam 's. What she wouldn 't give to be there again.

Curtis pulled up in front of his sister 's house. He hadn 't realized that the seasons were changing as quickly as they were. The leaves on the trees, which lined the drive, were falling to the ground and there was a cool nip in the air.

His mind had been otherwise occupied he guessed.

The front door of the house opened as Curtis parked his truck and climbed out. The sight before him had nearly buckled his knees. His nephew stood there, unsupported, waddling toward him.

It affected him more than he ever thought it would. How could one moment in time be so precious and steal a man 's breath?

He hurried up the steps toward Tyler who continued his waddle into the waiting arms of his uncle.

Curtis scooped him up and planted a kiss on his cheek. "We 're going to have to get you some new squeaky shoes so mama knows where you are at all times. "

"Maybe you could come over on your next day off and hang all the gates in all the doorways for his mama. That would be most helpful, " Regan said from the doorway.

"I 'd be happy 1to. " He carried Tyler into the house, stopping long enough to give his sister a peck on the cheek.

He noticed immediately that her body was changing. The swell of her stomach was very pronounced now even though she was only halfway through her pregnancy.

Immediately, he thought of Simone.

He didn 't know specifics of Simone 's pregnancy, but he knew she was nearly as far along as Regan. She 'd be showing now too. He figured there was no more hiding it from the world.

What could Monsieur Pierpont think of that?

When he thought about it that way a knot of regret formed in his stomach. He knew he didn 't think much of it at all and if he had Simone wouldn 't have shown up on Regan 's front step in the first place.

What could it possibly be like to be a grown woman and not have anyone to believe in you? Well, he thought, she 'd always had Zach.

As Curtis walked further into the house he saw Zach sitting in his office, the phone to his ear, and a look of absolute concentration on his face. Even after business hours, the man worked hard.

He continued on to the kitchen, his sister close behind.

"How are you feeling lately? " He asked her as he set Tyler on the floor near a small pile of his toys.

"Much better. Aside from the fact that I don 't sleep real well and my back is already starting to hurt. But I 'd take my size changing in lieu of getting sick every day. "

He helped Regan set the table and finish up dinner. He was happy to see only three settings on the table. There had been some fear that dinner at Regan 's would turn into an entire family affair with his brother and their parents. As this was the first time he 'd come out of hiding long enough to be near his family in nearly a month, he didn 't want to have to face them all in one night.

Zach joined them as Regan set a plate of fried chicken on the table. Curtis noticed his eyes. He was preoccupied with something, probably something to do with the phone call he 'd taken in his home office.

Curtis appreciated his brother-in-law. Though as a doctor he had to maintain a certain amount of patience, Zach Benson had more.

When Curtis tended to a patient they usually were under his care until they were well enough to go home or move to a1nother area of the hospital. His commitment to that person, though it be life or death, was usually a few days at most. But with Zach Benson, everything was set up to take years and years. A build didn 't just happen. There were plans, buys, investors, more plans, and then construction could take years itself. How he managed that everyday Curtis would never understand.

Regan sat Tyler in his high chair and took the seat next to her husband. She rested her hand on his, Curtis noticed as he helped himself to chicken.

"Everything okay? " He heard her whisper as Tyler beat the table with a spoon.

"It will be, " Zach said as quietly.

The dinner conversation was kept to Eduardo 's job with Zach, Arianna 's current role on Broadway, the invitation the next evening to see Clara play at her guitar recital, and Tyler 's play date at the park. Nothing had been mentioned about Simone and he wanted to find comfort in that, but he didn 't.

When they were finished eating Curtis began to gather plates. If nothing else, his mother had taught him to be a gracious guest, even in the home of his sister.

"Curtis, let 's talk in my office, " Zach had finally said as if he hadn 't noticed him helping Regan clear the table.

He exchanged glances with his sister who only nodded and brushed him away with her hand.

Zach was already pacing the small office when Curtis walked in.

"Shut the door, " he said and Curtis did so.

There was an uneasiness in the room. It wasn 't something Curtis had felt since his father had wanted to know how the gash on the car door happened. In hindsight, Curtis had hoped that was the last time he 'd have been so uncomfortable in the presence of another man.