Authors: Kate Sweeney
“Good night, Mom,” Kit whispered, looking up at her.
For a moment, their gazes met; Kit saw the love in the watery gray eyes that smiled back.
“I love you, Kit,” she whispered and kissed her forehead.
“I love you, too,” Kit said, swallowing her emotions. She took a napkin and dabbed at her forehead.
“Oh, heavens. You’re not having a hot flash, are you?” Helen whispered.
Kit laughed and shook her head.
“Stan? Help an old woman to the drawing room, or whatever it’s called,” Helen called out. “What is it called, Roz?”
“I don’t know, Helen,” Roz said. “Maybe we should call it the Weston Room.”
“Oh, I like that,” Helen said.
Stan laughed and quickly made his way to her. “I apologize for leaving you, Helen. Just wanted to touch base with Roz. I gotta fix that bush hog tomorrow.” With a grin, he extended the crook of his arm. “The roaring fire, ma’am?”
Helen slipped her arm in his. “Oh, if you were only…oh, well, you’d still be too young. Lead on.”
They walked out of the dining room and left Roz alone at the table. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed the meal.”
Dale looked from Roz to Kit as she finished her beer. “We did. And now we need to work it off. Let’s go into Steamboat Springs. I’ve been there. It’s a great vacation town. I know a few places. Roz, do you have any suggestions?”
Roz tore her gaze from Kit and regarded Dale. “I’m sure if you’ve been there, you know the hot spots.”
“True,” Dale said with a grin and wriggled her eyebrows. “How about it, Kit?”
If Kit were honest, she’d be sitting by the roaring fire right now. But now was not the time for honesty, especially after seeing the sour look on Roz’s face.
“Sure. Let me get my purse.”
Dale jumped up and grabbed her hand. “
Ya
don’t need it. It’s your birthday, well almost. Let’s go terrorize Steamboat Springs.”
Kit laughed as Dale playfully yanked her out of her chair. Roz stepped out of their way and said nothing as she followed them out of the dining room.
“Later, folks!” Dale called out as they walked out of the lodge.
“Ah, youth.” Stella held up her wineglass. “I get tired just watching that woman.”
Roz was painfully aware of the eyes of scrutiny upon her. Helen gave her a motherly shake of the head. Stan looked extremely uncomfortable, but Roz hoped it was because he was watching Bess…Mark had competition.
She made an about-face and started to walk away.
“Where are you going?” Helen called after her.
“To finish my cobbler,” Roz shot back angrily.
“And so it begins…” Helen grinned evilly as they watched the dining room door nearly come off its hinges.
Chapter 9
Kit sat at the high-top table by the dance floor sipping her now watered-down vodka and cranberry. She didn’t even want it, but Dale insisted; it was nearly her birthday after all. She glanced at Dale, who swayed to the thumping rhythm of the DJ, while she watched the dancers.
She said something to Kit, who could not hear her to save her life. Dale leaned in and yelled, “Are you having fun?”
Are you joking? Kit smiled and nodded, then sipped her drink.
Dale lifted her beer bottle. “Happy birthday, almost.”
“Thanks,” Kit said, touching her glass to Dale’s bottle.
“This is a nice place,” Dale practically yelled again.
“Wicked nice,” Kit said with a laugh.
Dale grinned. “There
ya
go, you got it. Hey, you want to dance?”
Kit glanced at the gyrating bodies on the dance floor, and her back actually ached just watching them. “Rain check on a slow one?”
“Deal.” Dale looked beyond Kit, and her eyes widened.
So Kit followed her stare and honestly couldn’t tell who Dale had seen. But when a young blonde waved back and forth, her question was answered. Dale jumped off the barstool. “Be right back,” she said to Kit. “It’s Sandy from the skydiving place.”
“Sure.” Kit turned her attention to the dance floor.
After a moment or two of watching the dancers, she glanced at her watch. It was nearly eleven, and she was exhausted. She tried not to think about Roz or what her mother had done, but it was inevitable. The empty, lonely feeling she thought she had carefully tucked away was now right back, just as it was the day Roz left. After eighteen years, how could that happen? All they had been through, all the arguments, all the love, how could it end so quickly? She looked down at the indentation on her finger where her wedding ring had been; she never took it off. Not until last week. Why? Why did she take it off then?
“Because for the first time, I thought I’d never see her again, ever,” she whispered as she gently rubbed her hands together.
“Talking to yourself is a bad sign.”
Kit looked up to see a very attractive woman standing there. Her smile was engaging, enhanced by her tan. Kit couldn’t avoid smiling back. She was tall with short, wavy, dark hair. Thank God the music changed from the ear-bleeding percussion beat to where she could at least hear this woman.
“Am I intruding on your conversation?”
Kit laughed then. “No. I was done.”
The woman held out her hand. “Tina Foster.”
“Kit Weston.”
“Are you on vacation? I don’t recall ever seeing you.”
“Yes, I am. How about you?”
“No, I’m a townie. Lived here all my life.”
“Don’t tell me. You’re a professional skier?” Kit asked, taking a sip of her drink.
Tina laughed. “Nope. I’m a veterinarian. Can I buy you a drink?”
“Well…” Kit looked around for Dale and found her still talking to Sandy. “Sure. Vodka and cranberry.”
“Great.” Tina looked around and hailed the waitress and placed the order. “Put it on my tab, Cheryl.”
“Sure thing, Doc.”
“You must come here often,” Kit said after the waitress walked away.
“Not many places in Steamboat Springs that are gay and lesbian friendly.” Tina struck a thoughtful pose. “Actually, there aren’t many places in Steamboat Springs.” Kit laughed along with her. “So what do you do back home, Kit?”
“I’m a real estate broker.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“Well, people need houses. And though it’s been slow since ’09, it’s rebounding slowly. So what made you become a vet?”
“I was chased by a black bear when I was ten. He was wounded by some jackass hunter. I was scared, but when he limped off, I felt sorry for him. So that’s when I decided to become a vet. By the time I was fifteen, my parents were sick of me bringing home every stray animal.”
Kit laughed. “But it’s a noble profession.”
“I suppose. So are you alone?”
“No, she’s not.”
Kit and Tina turned when Dale approached the table. Tina looked from Dale to Kit. “I see. My apologies.” She held out her hand. “Tina Foster.”
“Dale. Nice to meet you.”
Kit rolled her eyes. What an odd weekend, she thought. The waitress came to the table with the drinks. Dale looked irritated as the woman placed a drink in front of Kit and Tina.
“Can I get you something?” the woman asked.
“Yes, please. Let me buy you a drink,” Tina said.
“No, thanks.”
“Dale,” Kit said.
“No worries,” Tina said and turned to Kit. “It was nice meeting you. Enjoy your vacation.”
“I will. Thanks for the drink,” Kit said.
“My pleasure.” Tina nodded and walked away.
There was an awkward silence for a moment or two; Kit took a healthy drink and glanced at Dale, who looked around while sipping her beer.
“So who is she?” Dale finally asked.
“She’s the town vet, I think.”
“And you let her buy you a drink.”
Kit cocked her head. “Do you really want to cop an attitude about this? Or did you forget you were talking and drinking with an ex-lover moments before?”
“I was talking business with Sandy. We were finalizing tomorrow’s jump.”
Kit leaned closer. “Do not do this. I’m really, really not in the mood.”
“Are you getting a hot flash?” Dale swallowed and leaned away when Kit glared. “Okay, okay. I guess I was just jealous, that’s all. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Look, it’s late and you have to be up early.”
Dale laughed. “Eight o’clock is not early. The day’s half over. But you’re right. Tomorrow is your birthday, and we have a big day planned.”
********
The lodge was dark, except for the porch light, which illuminated part of the driveway, as well. Thankfully, the front door was unlocked. As they quietly walked in, the aroma from the fireplace wafted over them. It made Kit feel warm and safe for some reason.
“A nightcap?” Dale whispered. “I’m sure Roz won’t mind if we raid the bar.”
“I’ve had enough alcohol for a week.” Kit shook her head. “No, thanks. I think I’ll just go to my room.”
“Sure.”
As they started up the stairs, Kit noticed light coming from a room down the hall. It must be Roz’s room, she thought. The urge to knock on her door made her hand itch, but when Dale gently took her hand, the feeling was lost; Kit followed Dale up the stairs to the rooms.
They stood in the dimly lit hallway in front of Kit’s room. “I had a nice time, thanks.”
“I did, too, and tomorrow will be even better.” Dale placed her hands on Kit’s shoulders. “This certainly wasn’t the way I imagined this night to be.”
“Please, no more talk of hot monkey sex.”
Dale went on quickly, “No. I don’t mean the sex. This news about Roz hit me like a thunderbolt.”
Kit smiled sadly. “Yes, and I was completely out of the way when it struck.”
Dale blushed with embarrassment. “Sorry. I know you were blindsided.” She leaned against the door. “And you’re handling it well. I mean, I can’t even imagine being in a relationship for a year, much less eighteen. Wow, eighteen years ago, I was…”
“In diapers. I know.”
Dale laughed. “Well, not that bad. But hell, to see her for the first time...” Dale regarded her curiously before she continued. “I know you say you’re not in love with her anymore. But man, you have to feel something. Don’t you? I’m no expert by any means, never been with someone longer than a few months.”
“You’re young.” Kit smiled. “You haven’t met the one yet.”
Dale rolled her eyes. “Right. The one. Well, this is a conversation for another time.”
“I agree. Not a good topic this late and standing in a doorway. Thanks again. Thanks for coming out here…Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Well. Good night.” She leaned in and kissed Kit lightly on the lips.
“Good night,” Kit said as she pulled back. “See you in the morning.”
Dale pulled a face. “Okay.
G’night
.”
Kit slipped into her room and closed the door. She stood in the darkness, listening to Dale’s door open and close. Part of her felt very bad knowing Dale wanted a little more than a good night kiss. But the bigger part of her knew it would be a bad idea now. Before today? Perhaps they would be in each other’s arms, but not now. Kit turned on the desk lamp and looked at the closed bathroom door. She angrily stared at the door, knowing on the other side was the main reason she stood alone instead of in Dale’s arms.
Though to be honest, her mother was not the main reason. Oh, she was a big part of it, but the main reason was sleeping in the bedroom downstairs. Kit tossed the key on the nightstand and sat on the bed, then lay back, letting out a dejected huff staring at the log-beamed ceiling. When she heard the shower running in Dale’s room, she had to laugh. “She is the cleanest woman I’ve ever met.”
She glanced at the clock on the nightstand—12:05. She laughed ruefully.
“It’s officially my birthday. I’m fifty. I’m sitting here alone in a romantic setting. A quasi-girlfriend-slash-child in the next room, my estranged wife of eighteen years downstairs, and my mother in an adjoining room.” She cocked her head. “I wonder if there’s any blueberry cobbler left.”
The craving for something sweet was positively overwhelming. She grinned and grabbed her key. “One way to find out,” she said and crept down the stairs. “This menopausal thing has got to end someday.”
She stopped by the piano, seeing the fire still burning, illuminating her way toward the kitchen. Once there, she was grateful there was a light on by the stove. And there it was—a Tupperware container on the counter looking as if it were under a spotlight just waiting for her. She licked her lips and lifted the cover.
“Ah,” she whispered, seeing just about one serving left. “Jackpot. Happy birthday to me.”
After searching the cabinets, she found a plate and silverware and a glass. Milk was in order. She took a small scoop of cobbler, trying to leave some behind, but noticed there was hardly any left. She stared at the lonely remains of the dessert for a moment.
“That looks sad. It would be rude to leave that little bit.” So she took all of it. She thought about ice cream but didn’t want to bother; she took her milk and headed for the warmth of the fire.
So thrilled about her little feast, she settled back on the deep cushions of the couch and grinned. “It’s so wrong to be this excited over food.” She rolled her eyes as she savored the sweet yet tart cobbler. And followed by the icy cold milk—she was in heaven.
“That was for my breakfast.”
Kit jumped and nearly spilled the glass of milk when she heard Roz’s voice. “I—”
Roz chuckled and waved her off. “It’s okay. Stella can make more, and I was teasing. I remember your late-night PMS cravings.”
Kit laughed. “Chocolate doughnuts at midnight.”
“Yeah, and I had to go get them. One would think you were pregnant. I looked ridiculous.”
“It was your idea to go out in those boxers and a hoodie. I told you to change.”
“Well, who knew there’d be a crowd at the 7-11 that late?” She walked over to the fireplace, knelt on the hearth, and threw a few logs onto the fire.
“Only every teenager in town.”
Their comfortable conversation had Kit at ease for the first time since she arrived. Her heart raced as she watched Roz’s silhouette against the dancing flames. She looked the same—same strong back and shoulders from years and years of outdoor work, same soft profile, same irritating smirk, and same damned blue eyes. She was extremely grateful and realized there really was a God when she saw Roz’s hair had gotten much grayer in these past two years; it accentuated her blue eyes and that sexy tan. Though Kit would trade the gray hair for the hot flashes, she smiled and ate her cobbler. “You’re up late,” she said softly.
Roz looked over her shoulder. “I heard a noise. Thought it was a grizzly, but turns out, it’s just a pesky birthday raccoon stealing food.”
To hide her grin, Kit drank the last of the milk. “Stella is a very good cook.”
“And worth every penny.” Roz turned to face her but still sat on the hearth. “It should warm up in a minute or two. It always stays chilly up here in the spring and early summer. But then it…”
“Warms up?” Kit offered dryly. She set the glass on the coffee table in front of her. “Roz, I’m sorry my mother did this. I had no idea.”
“I know,” Roz said and laughed quietly. “We always seem to be at the mercy of your mother’s insanity.”
“Well, we both knew that. I’ll have her committed someday. I just never thought she’d do something like this.”
Roz leaned against the bricks of the fireplace. She stretched her legs out in front of her, crossing them at the ankles. “I know you were stunned…”
“Not exactly the word I would use.”
Roz scratched the back of her neck. “I know. I was, too. But are you…?”