Everything Changes

Kim And Maggie Blue

New Horizons Rehabilitation Center

758 South Bedford Street

Murray Hill

Of course, it wasn't comforting to know that Odis Lee was on the loose, but at least Kim was safe in rehab now. And she had successfully completed the first major stage of getting the drugs flushed out of her system, which was basically being locked in a room where only the basic necessities of a bed and toilet were provided because nothing else would be needed as the medicine coursed through her system, doing its job of eliminating the foreign, unwanted contents.

During parts of her lockdown, Kim felt like she was losing her mind because of how uncomfortable the detoxication was, but her happy memories of being pregnant and being with Lilyjoy and Rubyjane kept her mind from slipping away and giving up altogether.

Because she'd done so much cocaine in the past few years alone, she was going to be in rehab for quite awhile, but now that she could think somewhat straighter than she could have even a month before, she vowed that she was going to do everything in her power to stay on the road to recovery, even if it hurt or messed with her head.

This whole thing had been a wakeup call for her to finally be a better person.

As a treat for being so good and cooperative, Kim was let out into the back garden behind the rehab center for an hour to have some fresh air. The garden was a huge area made up of a grassy lawn, trees and plants, and many benches and walkways. It was contained by a high brick wall to discourage anyone from escaping, but Kim wasn't going anywhere because she wanted to be in rehab.

A few patients were already outside, each for their own, individual, private reasons, and each under the supervision of a nurse. Kim was the only patient by herself.

Spotting a bench in a patch of sunlight at the far end of the garden, Kim sat on it and basked in the warmth, enjoying the feel of it on her skin because it reminded her of her childhood in Georgia; she'd always been a social reject in the motor park because her own sister thought she was a pest and the other kids just didn't like her.

As a result, when Kim wasn't at school, she could be see wandering the park all day, and in the company of her potbellied pig because he loved her unconditionally. And even though Clyde was a pig, exploring with him had been better than being at home where her sister picked on her and parents fought constantly.

He had never judged her, and he'd always been able to sniff out the best truffles for her to sell. Clyde had been her only real friend growing up, and until Kim had fallen into the company of her daughters' father as an adult, she had truly preferred being alone.

"Kimmie?"

She jumped at the sound of her name because nobody in the rehab center knew her by that nickname, and also because the person standing before her was the very last person she wanted to see.

"Daddy? What the hell are you doing here?" Kim asked as he sat beside her. "And how did you know I was here?"

"I have my ways, Kimberly Paige." said Odis Lee. "Now act casual."

Kim did her best, but it was hard, considering that her brain was already scrambling, trying to figure out how to get to a phone.

"What are you doing here?" she asked again.

"You might be getting another sibling from your mother in about nine months or so."

Kim's mouth immediately fell open for a few moments when she realized what she meant; because she'd been his companion, she was privy to his plans, whether she'd cared to hear them or not. Once she'd talked Odis Lee down from taking Leon back to Georgia, she'd thought that that was that and that he wouldn't bother trying to expand the family, but apparently, she'd been wrong...