“I’m Danny, Kitty’s ex, and I, uh, I know she rents a room here. Mazy at the salon told me.”
“Oh?” Riva realized that other than Kitty, she was home alone right now. Windy and Laurel were on a grocery run and Fiona was at work. And based on what Kitty had said about Danny, she didn’t know what to do. Was this man truly dangerous? “Well, Kitty is laid up with a sprained ankle at the moment, and she’s... um, not taking visitors. Sorry.” She started to close the door, but he blocked it with his heavy work boot.
“Please, wait,” he insisted. “Can I talk to you?”
“Me?” She peeked through the opening, gripping the door handle.
“Just a few minutes.Please?”
His expression and tone didn’t sound aggressive or threatening, just insistent, so she stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind her before folding her arms in front of her. “Yes?”
“I apologize for showing up like this,” Danny started, “but I’m concerned about Kitty.”
Riva waved to her neighbor, who was edging his lawn, then went over to the porch rockers. “Care to sit?”
“Thank you.” He sat, removing his cap.
“So what can I do for you?”
Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and a forlorn expression, he shook his head. “I know I made loads of mistakes with Kitty, and we were both drinking way too much when we were married, but I never quit loving her.”
Riva didn’t know what to say. Why was he telling her this?
“I really want to talk to her. I think she needs me ... but she’s too proud to admit it. I want her to know I’ve changed my ways.” He twisted his cap in his hands. “I’ve been on the wagon. Regularly attending AA. Sober for more’n a year.” He looked at her with clear blue eyes.
“That’s great. I’m sure Kitty will be glad to hear it.” Riva was confused. Hadn’t Kitty claimed her ex was a threat? Wasn’t she hiding out from him? And yet he seemed polite and decent, even rather nice. “Can you clarify something for me, Danny?”
“What’s that?”
“You were Kitty’s first husband, right?”
“Yes.” His eyes darkened. “Her second husband was a real piece of work.”
“Kitty mentioned that.” She scrutinized this guy. Was he playing her?
“When Kitty and me first got married, things were great, but we both got into partying a little too much and, well, things unraveled. But Kitty got a good divorce settlement from me. Unfortunately, from what I hear, she’s blown right through it and is about to lose the salon too. I’ve been trying to connect with her for weeks, but she just keeps slipping through my fingers.”
“Why do you want to connect with her?”
“I guess I feel kinda guilty.”
This surprised Riva. “Guilty for what?”
“I’m the one who got her into partying and drinking in the first place. According to what I’ve learned in AA, I need to take responsibility for that. I need to apologize.”
“Why not just write her a letter?” She studied him closely as he continued to crumble his cap with his hands.
“I guess, in a way, I still love her. At least, who she used to be. And I feel sorry for her. I mean, her life is a real mess. Besides being on the brink of losing the salon, she lost her apartment and can’t even drive.”
Riva raised her eyebrows. “She can’t drive?”
“She didn’t tell you about all her DUIs? That her license is revoked?”
“So that’s why she walks.” Riva sighed.
Danny nodded. “Mazy thinks her car was repossessed too. It’s a real mess.”
“So, is she totally broke?” Riva shook her head.
