The next morning, Kate moved into my old neighborhood. The sound of the moving truck filled the quiet street. People peeked out from behind curtains and doors, wondering who the new neighbor was.
Alexander was outside in his garden. He paused when he spotted her stepping out of the truck. There was something special about Kate. She looked graceful and strong, with a quiet confidence.
Without thinking, he walked over. "Need a hand?"
Kate looked up with a small smile. "That's nice, but I've got this."
Alexander laughed. "Are you sure? Those boxes look heavy."
She brushed a strand of hair away. "I like doing things on my own."
Curious, he leaned against the truck. "You seem familiar. Have we met?"
Kate tilted her head, a hint of a tease in her voice. "Nope, I'm new here."
Her tone made him smile, even though he wasn't sure why.
"If you need anything, I'm next door," he said, pointing to his house. "I can handle odd jobs."
Kate nodded. "I'll remember that."
She sounded polite but distant. As she walked away, Alexander felt a pull towards her. He caught himself looking over at her house all day, hoping to see her again.
That night, he sat by his window. The glow of her living room lights flickered through the curtains. Sometimes he could see her moving inside. He didn't know what it was, but something was stirring in him.
When she finally came out to hang laundry, he knew this was his chance. He rushed outside but before he could say anything, she slipped back inside.
Frustrated, he came up with a plan to create a little problem only he could fix.
The next morning, Kate woke up to the sound of dripping water. A small pool was forming at her doorstep. She groaned and grabbed a wrench. Just then, Alexander appeared with a toolbox and a friendly smile. "Looks like you have a problem."
Kate sighed. "Just great."
"Lucky for you, I know a thing or two about pipes," he said. "Mind if I take a look?"
She hesitated but then stepped aside. "Go ahead."
As Alexander worked, Kate leaned against the doorframe, watching him. He seemed confident, but she wasn't fooled. She knew exactly who he was.
And she knew exactly what she was doing.
The neighbors were worried about Kate and Alexander. They kept warning Kate whenever they could. But Kate just smiled and didn't seem to care.
Alexander had fallen for Kate. He took her out to nice dinners and fun outings. But Kate was focused on her own plans. Every morning, Alexander would stop by before work. He would kiss her forehead and share little details, like where he kept his keys, and tell her he loved her. Kate played along. She told him she needed a man to take care of her.
One day, Kate got a call from a woman named Tasha. Tasha said she was Alexander's sister. They decided to meet up at St. Nute de Cafe at 2 pm. Tasha had a warning for Kate: "You need to run from my brother Alexander before he ruins your life. He's been married four times. One wife went crazy, two left him, and one... he killed."
Kate wasn't shocked. She had heard about Alexander's past before moving into the neighborhood. But she let Tasha think it was all news to her. She widened her eyes and pretended to be surprised. Tasha kept going, telling Kate about a terrible fight she saw between Alexander and his wife that ended badly.