“Two daughters. They’re in their midthirties and live down in California, near their mom.”
“Do you see them much?”
“They visit sometimes. Holidays or vacation time. They grew up in Greenwood, so they have ties besides me up here. They’re good girls. But neither are in any hurry to get married or have children. I don’t know why so many young people are waiting so long to settle down, but I suppose I could blame myself.”
“Why’s that?” She rinsed her hands in the sink.
“Because they watched their parents’ marriage fail.” He pulled out an island stool and sat.
“And you blame yourself for that?” She rubbed some lotion on her hands, studying him.
“Not entirely. It takes two.” He toyed with a mason jar of daisies that Riva had picked that morning. “But I think Livvie, that’s my ex, had a midlife crisis of sorts. We were empty nesters, and she was restless and unhappy and determined to reinvent herself. And then her mother had health problems and Livvie went down to the Bay Area to help her. Her mom died and Livvie got the house and enticed our girls to come down there with her.” He sighed.
“How long ago was that?”
“It’s been about five years now.”
“Any chance you’ll get back together?”
He shook his head. “She’s remarried to a guy ten years younger than her. According to my girls, he just wanted a ‘sugar mama,’ but Livvie actually seems happy so maybe it’s working.” He smiled crooked. “At least it got me out of paying alimony. One thing to be grateful for.”
“Aren’t you done in here yet?” Marcus asked as he came inside.
Riva waved a hand toward the clean kitchen. “We were just chatting.”
“Oh?” Marcus looked from Wes back to her. “About anything interesting?”
“Just getting acquainted,” Wes told him. “We discovered we have the same compulsion for tidying up kitchens.”
“Well, they’re getting the music started out there.” Marcus paused at the sound of someone walking into the kitchen.
Riva turned to see Kitty, dressed in her usual flamboyant style. She looked all lit up and happy. Perhaps a bit too much.
“Well, hello there, peeps,” she chirped in a slurry voice. “Am I just in time for din-din? Windy said it was gonna be good tonight.”
“We just finished up,” Riva answered abruptly. She suspected Kitty had been drinking and hoped to avoid another scene. Sheexchanged glances with Marcus, but he remained quiet, his face blank. Maybe he was still troubled over last night’s fiasco.
“You didn’t wait for me?” Kitty’s lower lip jutted out as she tugged on a stool, pulling it right next to Wes before she sat down, nearly toppling off in the process. “I haven’t had a single thing to eat all day,” she told Riva. “Well, besides stale coffee and Diet Coke.” She kicked off her platform shoes, then snickered. “Okay, okay, I did have two or maybe it was three martinis with my girls after an exhausting day at my salon. The clientele was a nightmare of cranky old ladies and snarky teen girls. Did you know it’s prom night?”
“I didn’t know.” Riva exchanged glances with Wes, wondering what he thought of her strange housemate.
“But seriously, I’m starving, Riva.”
“Well, you definitely need to eat something.” Riva wondered if Kitty’s current state had anything to do with her day of fasting but didn’t care to inquire. “You’ll find some great leftovers in the fridge.”
“Dinner was delicious,” Wes told her. “Be thankful we didn’t polish it all off.”
“Please, help yourself,” Riva encouraged. Hopefully, Kitty didn’t expect to be waited on.
But Kitty just sat there like a stone. With her chin balanced on a cupped hand, she stared at her shiny lime-green fingernails, then looked up at Wes as if just noticing him sitting there. “Hey, good-lookin’, whatcha got cookin’?” She leaned in closer now, her face just inches from his, and grinned. “Whomay I ask areyou?”
“Sorry, Kitty. This is Wes Walker. I forgot you haven’t met yet.” Riva glanced at Marcus. “Wes and Marcus are buddies.”
Kitty stuck out a hand. “Pleased to meet ya, Wes. I guess we’re trying to balance out the numbers, eh?”
“Balance out what numbers?” Wes’s expression was impossible to read as he studied Kitty. He could’ve been intrigued or repulsed or amused, Riva had no idea.
“You know, the boy-girl ratio.” Kitty jerked a thumb toward Marcus. “Stop the ladies from fighting over that one.” She grinned at Wes. “Marcus needed some competition. Bring it!Right?”
