Then, on my birthday in 2000, Carlene, Georgia, and I were having lunch at Chez Fousheeâyou know that place downtown?â When we nodded, she said, âEvan came in with another guy. I made the introductions. A few days later Evan told me he wanted to ask Carlene out, and would I mind. I did mind but didnât want to admit it. Then Carlene called and said Evan had asked her out and would I mind. I still minded and still didnât want to admit it. They got married six weeks later. Small wedding, just family and a few close friends. They had the wedding brunch downtown at the Kent-Valentine House.
âYou asked if Carlene and I were close. We werenât, then we were, then her marriage strained our relationship for quite a while, but over the past couple of years we slowly got closer again. The strain was more on her part, guilt I guess. I got over being dumped pretty damn fast. Itâs not that Evan and I had a future anyway . . . Like I said, the sex was fabulous, some of the best Iâve had, and Iâve been around the block a time or two, believe me.â We did. âBut I guess you would know how good he is, Hazel.â
âI never kiss and tell.â I tried for an airy tone. While I had fond enough bedroom memories of Evan, I didnât care to compare notes with others on lovers in common. One of my fictional characters engaged in such cheesy behavior, but I believed in discretion.
I couldnât help but wonder how âdamn fastâ Kat recovered from being dumped. Great sex plus Evanâs lottery winnings made him quite a catch. Although I never knew how much heâd won. With my transparent face, Iâd best limit my wondering until after Kat left. âMore muffins?â I held the basket out to Kat, hoping to distract any attention from my suspicious thoughts.
âUm . . . yes, I think I will. Surprisingly, this whole business hasnât affected my appetite. It occurs to me that you two may be wondering if I was really over Evan.â I sighed and vowed to go shopping for a poker face. Kat went on, again getting crumbs everywhere. âLike maybe I longed for him all these years and finally just had to have him. Ridiculous. Why wait this long? Iâm not a patient woman. Besides, our Evan turned out to be very possessive and domineering.â
âYouâre kidding!â Lucy looked at me. âI never heard you mention that, Hazel.â
âHe wasnât like that with me.â
âNor with me,â Kat said, her tone wry. She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. âCarlene brought out something in him that should haveâI donât knowâstayed in.â
I remembered my earlier, unasked question. âDo you think thatâs why they separated?â
âIâm not sure. I canât help but think the reason was sex-related, like maybe Carlene couldnât appreciate Evanâs talents in that department. She was a god-awful prude in high school.â
âReally?â Lucy asked.
âTo an extreme. I tried my best to educate her about the pleasures of the flesh, get her interested, but she just wanted to study.â Kat raised her eyes to the ceiling to convey her attitude toward studying.
âAnd she never married before Evan?â
âNo. She was forty-five when they tied the knot.â
âKat, how did you and Evan meet?â Lucy asked.
âAt the gym. I was his personal trainer. Itâs the best job for meeting guys. All that sweat and state of undress.â Kat gave one of her bawdy laughs. Then she looked concerned. âAre you sure youâre okay with all of this, Hazel?â
âAbsolutely,â I assured her with great aplomb. âGranted, you threw me for a loop. It was all news to me. But, like I said, Evan and I were married, and divorced, an eternity ago.â
âHow longâs an eternity?â
âWe married in 1972. Whatâs
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