“You’re so brave, Babe. I could never do that,” said Betty, her voice crackling over a bad connection. Tania was beyond pleased. Her closest friend was subtly blessing Tania’s unconventional vacation. Despite having never sailed, Tania rented a small sloop moored off Falmouth for a few nights.
“I hope I can get through this without too much difficulty,” Tania nervously replied. According to the rental’s listing, the vacation was supposed to be easy. Simply rent the yacht and enjoy the alone time. However, the reality of the three-night stay on Cape Cod’s Atlantic coast was proving difficult. Tania hadn’t really considered the logistics such as meal preparation. She had only brought a few groceries, some wine, and a few pies that she had baked before embarking on this adventure.
She inadvertently maneuvered in front of a mirror. Although the lighting wasn’t the least bit flattering, the mirror reflected a beautiful fifty-year-old woman. At five feet two inches, Tania cut a dashing figure. Although a few pounds overweight, she was still trim. As she was the daughter of a white father and African mother, most guessed her heritage to be from the Middle East if not Latin America. Her brown eyes gave her an exotic if not mysterious quality. Although she was a late bloomer to adult relationships, she had had many would-be suitors.
She was really enjoying her call with Betty. They had been friends for over fifteen years, and neighbors for longer than that. Although they were close, Tania always suspected there was something kinky about her friend. Late nights out alone and refusals to disclose any details. Sometimes Tania wondered if Betty was having an affair.
Eddie, Tania’s son, was calling on the other line. As always, Betty was understanding and gracefully bowed out of the call. “I get it, Babe. You need to get that. Take it. Talk soon?”
Tania then answered Eddie’s call. Although he was sixteen, Eddie was not self-sufficient. He had called to ask about how to microwave his dinner. Frustrated, Tania indulged him with step-by-step instructions.
“Can’t your father help you?” she asked. Eddie indicated that his dad, Tania’s husband Mitch, had been “working” late. Of course, Tania knew that the only thing Mitch was working on was his Admin. She was aware of the rumors of her husband’s infidelity, and, after finding incriminating evidence, tended to believe such gossip was accurate.
The entitled Eddie hung up without so much as a thank you. The call reminded Tania of the reason for her time away. Mitch was the CFO of a midsize investment firm. They lived well, but the spark was long removed from their marriage.
It had been at least eight months since the couple last had sex. This was quite a sexual drought for a couple who started their relationship by fucking like bunnies. Although no dynamo in bed, Mitch was a competent lover, and Tania enjoyed their sex life. Of course, Mitch was her first and only, so she had little by which to make a comparison. Now, the only interest Mitch took in her body was to criticize her clothing choices, or to let her know she was putting on a few pounds.
Tania’s oldest child, Brie, was proving a handful. Brie was a first-year student at a rural New England college. Not a day went by when Tania didn’t worry if her daughter (who liked alcohol and partying a bit too much) wasn’t getting herself into trouble. And, of course, Eddie wasn’t the least bit ready for the world, and didn’t seem to care.
Marriage and parenthood were becoming too much, and Tania simply needed time away. She sat down for not two seconds when the boat started rocking back and forth in a jerking manner. She got up and made her way to the deck.
The yacht was unsteady. A man from a boat several feet away called over to her, but she couldn’t understand him. He rowed over on a dinghy and, with a slight accent, asked to come aboard. Naturally, Tania invited him aboard and he immediately got to work tightening the mooring lines. The boat steadied.
He introduced himself as Maxime, but stated most people called him Max. Max wasn’t traditionally handsome. He was average height, bald, with a protruding nose. However, his blue eyes made him appear sensitive. Tania found his muscular arms and broad shoulders attractive.
Max proved to be a compelling conversationalist. Tania enjoyed learning a bit more about the area and her rental. Before parting company, Max asked Tania if she was going to watch the sunset that night. She had not planned to see it, but now wanted to. Max said she could come by his boat at seven thirty and he would take her to see the best views.
Later that day, the two watched the sunset, its rays reflecting on the Atlantic. They spoke some more, and, once the night grew pitch black, he showed her a few constellations. As she left him for the evening, she felt something new. A certain amount of excitement overtook her. There was something utterly thrilling about Max. Unlike Mitch, he didn’t appear the least bit materialistic, and he had a true appreciation for natural beauty.
The following morning, she called over to him from the deck of her rental. Once she got his attention, she invited him over for homemade muffins and coffee. The two continued their conversation from the previous night before, this time disclosing a bit more personal information. Tania told him about growing up and now living in Metro West (a region west of Boston), where she went to college, and about her husband and kids.
She wanted to know more about Max. He was eight years her junior. He’d trained as a chef at the Sorbonne in his native Paris. After serving in the French military as a cook to high-ranking officers, he emigrated to the US with his wife, Celestine. He now had a boutique business catering for some extremely wealthy clients. Next month he planned to cater a wedding for the daughter of the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. The wedding was scheduled to take place at Hilton Head, South Carolina. He went on to discuss family. He had one daughter who had just finished college and was living in Georgia.
He disclosed something much more personal: he had been widowed two years ago. His wife, Celestine, had died of a medical condition that had gone undiagnosed for years. Once she passed, he decided to rent out their home on Nantucket and buy a yacht (which he named after his wife). As he spoke of his beloved Celestine, he twisted his gold wedding ring.
Tania, at this point, was also playing with her ring. Normally she was too reserved to discuss her private and innermost thoughts. But there was something about Max that made her feel safe to discuss anything. “I rented this boat to get alone time. My husband has been cheating on me for years now, and I must decide if I’m going to stay with him.”
At first, Max seemed shocked by this revelation, but he quickly recovered. “Marriage is tough. It’s a balancing act. Does the good outweigh the bad?”
“I don’t think so,” responded Tania. She looked crestfallen. Sensing the need to release tension, Max invited her to dinner on his yacht. He had caught mussels earlier and was planning to prepare moules and frites that night.