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“She was there long before, Alphé. Remember Babette? It had to be a revenge fuck. He was still in love with Babette, so how better to make her mad than have sex with her sister.”
“Plural,” Alphé said. “Way more than one time. Lola told me last night. It lasted years. You know what hurts more? My brother betraying me. My own flesh and blood. He looked me in the eye when I was trying to cut him free in that net. I never told anyone this because it seemed impossible. He looked me in the eye and smiled. I thought it was Rodney’s way of forgiving me because I couldn’t cut him free in time.”
Calista was crying. “Oh, how awful.”
“Yeah, I wonder why the animosity. I never tried to do more on the boat than he did. I felt subservient to him. My father paid him a portion of his sales in addition to splitting the catch. I wonder what it was he resented.”
“One thing is for certain,” Calista replied. “We’ll never know.”
“No. We’ll never know. I’m going to do the DNA test, but I’m not giving up custody of the kids. Lola is moving in with Alfonso today, and I’m going back to my house. I have to tell Katrina. We were just getting cozy on the boat.”
“Good luck, Alphé. Again, I’m sorry. I wish Rodney were alive so I could scream at him, but it really isn’t important. Someday we’ll have to tell the kids the truth. Our children are half siblings,” Calista said. “I don’t know why it would, but it makes me feel better. At least we know each other.”
“I trust you with my kids,” Alphé said. “Do you trust me with yours?”
“Of course,” she said, peace washing over her. “I guess we’ll be coparenting.”
“Ha! I guess that’s what we’ll be doing. With Lola moving out, I’ll have to get a nanny for after school and during the summer. They can always come on the boat with me.”
“Alphé, I’ll help you out,” Calista said. “I don’t work, and helping you with your children would be an honor.”
He was so grateful for her suggestion, so they spoke about it for a while longer. Then the rest of the family came into the conversation.
“Are we telling Shawna and Estelle?”
“I guess if the subject comes up,” she answered. “If we ever see them again. I sure hate what’s happened to our family. It’s so different from what it was when we were kids.”
“I’ll have a Fat Tuesday party,” he said. “Mark it on your calendar.”
“Thank you, Alphé, I will right now.Mardi Gras, Alphé’s house.”
After hanging up from Calista, Alphé called Katrina before he did anything else.
“Did you get the house?” he asked.
“I did! They just called me, and the sellers accepted my offer.”
“That’s wonderful. You’ll be right around the block from me.”
“What happened with the letter, Alphé? I fell asleep, but I guess you were too jazzed to call or text?”
“I’m so sorry. I was pretty goddamned upset. I hit her.”
“Oh, Alphé, no.”
“Yeah. But she’s moving out now, and I’m headed over there with a truck full of my stuff and moving back in this morning. Can you meet me there?”
“Of course,” she said, thinking,I guess this is our life.
“I know it’s not what you expected, Katrina.”
“Alphé, I didn’t have any expectations. You’re in my life. You had a life before I showed up, and what I expected was that you would continue on with it, just like you’re doing. I can take it or leave it, and right now I want to take it.”
“Do you mind my kids?”
“Not at all,” she said. “They’re very sweet.”
“Well, good. Here’s the plan. I got a text from Lola this morning. She’ll come to the house and get the children off to school on school days. My sister-in-law, Calista, offered to babysit the rest of the time.
