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“She’s not half his age,” Maggie said, figuring Alphé had to be late thirties, so his wife must be around the same age.
“Well, at least twenty years younger. What difference does it make? She’s married with four young kids. It makes me sick.”
“I asked around, and they are legally separated but are living together for the kids’ sake,” Maggie said, knowing she shouldn’t gossip.
“I wonder if they’re getting a divorce because of my dad,” Kelly asked. “I’m usually tougher than this, but it really bothers me that my father would stoop. That’s another man’s family, another man’s house.”
“You can’t control your father. And if his girlfriend is on her way to be divorced, that might be the end of it for me,” Katrina said.
“Why? Then she’s available,” Kelly said.
“She might only be with your father because it has no future,” Katrina said. “Women do that, they know a guy is safe, so they hook up with him. It’s not going to go anywhere because he’s too old, or has a wife that he isn’t going to leave, or a business and reputation to maintain. Trust me on this, Lola isn’t a threat to your mother. But she might be to me.”
“That doesn’t make any sense, Katrina.”
“Yes, it does. Because if something good happens between me and Alphé, and he leaves his wife, she might fight it. And if they are already under the same roof…Well, it’s doomed before it starts.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Maggie said. “But I don’t think so. You go on your date tonight and forget about all of this crap. I’m assuming Alphé knows his wife has been unfaithful, and that’s why village gossip says he’s finished with her.”
“Only time will tell,” Katrina said. “I sure as hell won’t say anything to him about it.”
After they finished drinking coffee, they leashed up the dogs and took them for a nice long walk.
“I can’t help feeling defeated now, and I haven’t even had a date with the guy,” Katrina told Maggie.
“Just forget everything that was said. This is between you and Alphé.”
“I need to say something to him after all. I think it’s wise to just put everything I know out in the open, and he can validate it or correct it.”
“You might be right. Play it by ear,” Maggie said. “You might decide he’s not all that once you’re with him one-on-one.”
“I doubt it, but nice try.”
“Ha! I know. It might be worth it to look the other way.”
That evening, Justin came to take Maggie out on a date, and after they left, at six forty-five, Katrina walked down to the dock to wait for Alphé. At six fifty, she heard a motor coming, not the chug of the diesel but a sleeker, faster sound, and soon, the lights of a boat appeared. He pulled into sight in a Formula, the bimini top in place, and waved to her, staying in the channel as he slowly pulled into the cove and along the dock.
“I was expecting a fishing boat,” she said, grinning.
“Not tonight. Come on board?”
He stood on the edge of the boat and reached for her hand. “Careful here,” he said, giving her a little pull up.
The striking couple jumped onto the deck together, laughing.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling idiotic. “I’m excited.”
“Me too.”
He handed her a life vest. “Just to be safe,” he said. “I don’t plan on going down.”
“Jeez, that’s good,” she replied.
“Do you swim?”
“Ha! Yes. Now you’re scaring me.”
He reached for her hand and led her to the boat’s wheel. “Ah, you might want to rethink this…”
