Authors: Kate Sweeney
As if on cue, Mark poked his head out of the kitchen. His grin spread across his face when he saw Bess.
“Uh-oh. Man your battle stations,” Helen said dryly. “The USS Hormone has docked.”
“Mom,” Kit whispered but had to laugh. What a birthday morning…
********
Mark was very nice to move two Adirondack chairs from the patio, down the path to where Roz was teaching Dale the art of fly-fishing. Kit declined a chair, hoping she wouldn’t look like part of the audience; she wanted to strangle her mother.
“Right here is fine, Mark. You’re a good boy. I’ll tip you later,” Helen said, patting his cheek. “Roz! Hello!”
Roz and Dale looked up when they heard Helen’s dulcet tone. Roz’s jaw dropped. Dale waved happily. They made their way down the creek bed and back to them.
“Oh, I hate you,” Kit said to her mother.
“Hate is a horrible word, dear.”
“But fitting at the moment.” Kit smiled when Roz and Dale joined them.
Dale extended her arms. “You like?”
She wore camouflage hip waders that nearly covered her chest. “I didn’t want my new Nikes to get ruined. And that stream is chilly.”
“Very sporty,” Kit said. She looked at Roz, who wore faded blue jeans and hiking boots, both soaked almost to the knee.
Roz followed Kit’s gaze and grinned that damnable… Kit’s heart raced again. “I don’t care about my boots.”
“Well, don’t mind us,” Helen said, settling in. “Go fish. Oh, we had a very nice continental breakfast.”
Roz still looked at Kit, who folded her arms across her chest, feeling very vulnerable for some reason. “Thank you,” she said to Roz.
Roz smiled. “You’re welcome. Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
Dale looked from Roz to Kit. “Okay, let’s get back to it. And I won’t tell them you nearly fell off the boulder because your knee gave out.”
Roz raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure it’ll happen again but thanks. Let’s go.” Roz picked up the fishing rod and walked away.
Dale trotted over to Kit. “I’ll catch a big one for you. By the way, Roz and I had a nice talk,” Dale said. “Oh, I was angry last night, don’t get me wrong. And when I went to bed, I couldn’t get to sleep for almost fifteen minutes thinking about it.”
“Weighed that heavily on your mind?” Helen said.
“It did,” Dale said. “So we talked this morning and cleared the air, and now that we all know what’s going on, we can settle in and have a nice time.”
Kit smiled. “Thank you, Dale. I’m glad.”
Dale shrugged. “Well, it didn’t hurt that she offered me a full refund.”
“Which you will take,” Helen said, smiling.
“Hell yeah. I’m no fool.” She quickly glanced at Roz, then kissed Kit on the lips. “You taste good.”
Kit’s eye twitched as Dale laughed and backed up. She tried to avoid Roz, but she caught the deep frown just before she turned away.
Dale winked at Kit, then followed Roz.
“Well, nothing like a little money to quell the angry soul. Money is a great leveler,” Helen said.
“For some,” Kit said angrily as she licked her lips. “I don’t like being manipulated.”
“Hmm. I think I underestimated young Dale,” Helen said thoughtfully. “This should prove very interesting. Let’s get ready to rumble.”
Bess chuckled along; she weaved back and forth as she watched Dale and Roz. “Oh, it’s on, bitch.”
“I’m going back to the room.”
Helen took the top of her cane and hooked Kit’s arm. “Like hell you are. Pull up a boulder. You have two women fishing over you, and you’re going to give them the courtesy to watch.”
“Hey, it’s my birthday. Why should I feed two butch egos?”
“Because you’re in love with one of them. Now sit, birthday girl.”
“Some birthday.” Kit sat on the boulder next to her mother.
“It will be if you give it a chance,” Helen said, shielding her eyes against the morning sun.
“I don’t care.”
“My darling hypocrite, of course you do. Any woman would. Gay, straight, transgendered…” She turned to Bess. “Have I left anyone out?”
Kit ignored them as she watched the two women fishing. She knew Dale was showing off her newfound skill because she glanced at Kit every now and then. Kit watched Roz while she instructed Dale; she could tell by the way Roz was leaning the arthritic knee was bothering her. But she also knew Roz would not let the younger woman get the better of her.
“May the best girl win,” Helen said.
“She already has,” Kit whispered as she watched Roz. “The fathead.”
Chapter 11
“I’m colossally bored,” Bess said through a yawn. “I mean, really, how long are we going to watch Dale’s preening to Kit and Roz’s grimacing in pain? And to add to it, now what’s-his-name is in the act.”
“You know very well what his name is,” Helen said severely, well, as severely as she could from her Adirondack throne.
Kit had to laugh; it was an absurd situation. Stan stopped by to fix Roz’s tractor, but of course, fly-fishing was more important. It was a wonder Roz got anything done. After saying good morning and staring at Bess, he joined them in the creek. And Helen was right, Bess knew, and by the way she surreptitiously watched him, she was enjoying herself. But truthfully, they had only been watching them for an hour at most—Bess was easily bored when she wasn’t shopping.
“Enjoy the scenery,” Helen said with a sigh. She had her head back and her eyes closed. “I’m in love with this chair.”
“Maybe we could carry you around in it,” Kit said dryly, “like Cleopatra.”
Helen’s head shot up. “Could we? Stan’s certainly big enough. Oh, perhaps not. Speaking of Stan, how was your dinner last night with that Nate fellow?”
“Nice segue,” Kit said, glancing at the fishermen.
“He’s very nice. Didn’t talk much about himself.”
“You must give a man a chance, Bess,” Helen said.
“I did. But he was a gentleman and wanted to know about me. Though he seemed more interested in Roz and the history of the lodge, which he knew. I suppose he knew the previous owners. But all in all, he’s a nice man. And extremely attractive.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think Stan is adorable. He looked very handsome last night, don’t you think?” Helen asked.
“I suppose. At least he shaved. So,” Bess asked, “what did you talk about?”
Helen and Kit exchanged smiles. “Oh, nothing much. He graduated college on a football scholarship, studied architecture.”
“He’s an architect?” Bess asked.
“Don’t sound so surprised. He used to be. Worked for the man as the saying goes and got fed up.”
“Good for him,” Kit said, watching Bess.
“That’s what I said. He quit and came home, and from what I gather, he helps his friends, like a freelance carpenter or contractor. Not much money, he said, but he’s very much like Roz.”
“How so?” Kit asked.
“Says money is overrated.”
“Oh, God, he is like Roz,” Bess said, laughing along with Kit. “Are they both nuts?”
“Probably,” Kit said. “God bless them.”
“And it looks like they’re finally done,” Helen said, motioning with her cane. She laughed, “Two butches and a guy. Sounds like a title of a movie.”
All three approached, all sporting grins. Dale held up her prize. “We have lunch.”
“I thought it was catch and release?” Kit asked.
“It is,” Dale said. “But Roz said this one was big enough and would be a nice treat. Mine’s the biggest one we caught all morning.”
Kit noticed the familiar lines of pain etched in Roz’s brow. She said little, which meant to Kit she was really in pain. Stan slapped her on the back. “Good morning of fishing. Now I need to get to that bush hog.”
Dale laughed. “So many jokes are going through my mind right now.”
Stan looked confused for a moment, then his face reddened; he avoided Bess. “Well, I’ll get to it.” He turned to Bess. “Maybe I’ll see you later.”
“It’s unavoidable,” she said lightly.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Stan said, equally lighthearted.
“Well, I don’t want to ruin a surprise, but it is Kit’s birthday, and we’re all having dinner together,” Helen announced.
“We are?” Kit asked.
“Yes. Stan, you will join us, of course?” Helen asked as she stood.
Stan offered his hand. “Of course I’ll be there. Thanks for the invite.”
“I’ll go with you, Stan,” Roz said. She turned to Dale. “Give the trout to Stella, please. Let her know it’s for tonight, since no one will be around for lunch. See you gals later.”
Helen watched as he and Roz walked toward the shed. “I like him,” she announced. “So what’s on the agenda?”
“I’m taking Kit skydiving at noon.”
“Can we join you?” Helen asked.
“No,” Kit said.
“Sure. That’s a great idea. You can see me in action, Mrs. W.”
“Dale, you have a very healthy ego. Jumping out of a plane with my daughter? What more could a mother ask for?” Helen chimed in.
“Yep. We’ll all leave here around eleven or so, that’ll give us enough time to get there.”
“Wonderful,” Helen said, avoiding Kit. “Time enough for a nap.”
“Well, I have to get this monster trout to Stella,” Dale said.
“Then you have to shower,” Helen reminded her. “And no jogging in those waders…”
“See
ya
in a bit. Kit, you coming?”
“I’ll help this old woman back, Dale.”
“That’s no way to talk about Bess,” Helen said, holding on to Kit’s arm. “Let’s go get you ready for your jump. Or we can plan your escape if you prefer.”
“No, Mother. Actually, I think I really want to do this,” Kit said.
“Well, it’s your choice, and it’s your birthday. I’ll stay out of it.”
Kit raised an eyebrow. “As if that would happen.”
Helen laughed. “Hush, or I won’t give you your birthday present.”
“God, that scares me.”
“Don’t be a pessimist. I know what you want.”
Chapter 12
The open airfield was enormous, as was the hangar. Three propeller planes were either landing or taking off, and Kit was sick to her stomach.
“You’ll be fine. You’ll love it.” Dale handed her a jumpsuit. “Slip this on over your clothes.”
Kit took the blue jumpsuit and easily slipped into it. She had taken Dale’s advice and wore loose-fitting casual clothes and sneakers. She glanced at her mother, who gave her an encouraging smile. Bess shook her head as if Kit were a lunatic. Kit didn’t think she was too far off.
During the fifteen minutes of instruction, Dale slipped into her harness, then assisted Kit with hers. “You’ll be fine. Let me do all the work,” she said, yanking on the straps to tighten them. “All set.”
Kit nodded and took the helmet. Her hair was long enough to put in a small ponytail before she put on the helmet.
“You look adorable,” Helen said, giving Kit the thumbs-up sign.
“And scared shitless,” Bess mumbled to Helen.
“Shut up, dear.” Helen continued her supportive smile.
“Okay, the plane’s ready. Let’s go,” Dale said, taking Kit by the hand. “Helen, you and Bess can watch from the picnic table right outside the hangar. We’ll land in the grassy field right in front of it.”
“Good luck,” Helen called out. “I love you!”
Kit nodded and swallowed. “I love you, too. Pray for me.”
Bess laughed as she and Helen walked out to the picnic table. They watched Kit and Dale climb into the plane, and in another moment, they took off.
“Lord, help us,” Helen said as she watched.
A woman walked up to them as they watched the plane ascending. “Hi. I’m Sandy. I own this company, and I’m Dale’s friend. I thought I’d sit with you and explain what will happen with the jump.”
“How nice of you,” Helen said. “So this is safe?”
“Perfectly. We’ve never had an incident here. And Dale is an expert. Your daughter will be fine.”
“How high will they get?” Bess asked, looking up. “I lost them.”
“They’ll get about twelve thousand feet, maybe fifteen. That will take about ten minutes or so. Enough time to get Kit acclimated and ready for the jump. Then they’ll make their way to the door, Dale will fasten Kit to her, and out they go. They’ll free fall for a time, then Dale will open her canopy, and they’ll float effortlessly to the landing zone, which will be so close to us, they’ll almost land in our lap.”
“Well, you’re very reassuring, Sandy.”
After the torturous fifteen minutes of Sandy’s supportive conversation, she looked up. “They should be jumping… There.” She pointed upward. “Here they come. They’ll be down in a few minutes.”
They waited and waited and watched and watched. Helen and Bess kept an eye out as the tiny speck got larger and larger with each passing moment. “The canopy should open now.”
It did not.
Helen and Bess quickly looked at each other. “Perhaps now?” Helen said. She saw the flash of concern on Sandy’s face. “What’s happening?”
“Nothing. Dale is just giving Kit a thrill for her birthday,” Sandy said, laughing nervously. She looked up. “C’mon, Dale,” she said through clenched teeth. She breathed a sigh of relief when the canopy opened.
Helen and Bess did the same. As they watched their descent, Bess cocked her head. “Do I hear screaming?”
They all watched as arms and legs flailed about, and the effortless floating scenario was anything but. They looked like they were caught in some maniacal vortex.
“Yes, that’s Kit. I’d know that screech anywhere.”
“How do you know?” Sandy shielded her eyes against the sun.
“That’s the sound she made when she was eight and her piano teacher pushed her onto the stage for her first recital. Kit nearly took the door molding with her onstage.”
“There, they’ve landed,” Sandy said, wincing.
They landed, if that was what you’d call it. Kit thrashed about, screaming and yelling. Helen could hear Dale pleading with her to stay still—arms and legs flew everywhere. Oh, the humanity.
“They look like a human arachnid caught in their own web,” Helen said, chuckling along with Bess.
“I…um…I’ll be right back. You can, oh, do whatever you like,” Sandy said and dashed over to them.
Between her and Dale, they unharnessed Kit; once they unleashed the beast, Kit turned on Dale like a viper. “Are you fucking crazy?” She didn’t wait for an answer as she stormed away.
“Kit, are you all right?” Helen asked.
Still wearing the helmet and goggles, Kit marched up to them. “I’m fucking fine, Mother.”
“Well…that’s good,” Helen said hesitantly. “What…um…uh…Did you enjoy—?”
Kit ripped off the helmet, and the goggles painfully came with it, almost ripping off her nose. “Do I
look
like I enjoyed it?” Her ponytail now precariously bounced on top of her head.
She stormed past them and into the hangar with Dale and Sandy running after her. Helen noticed Sandy had given Dale a look of certain death, which Helen perceived was not a good sign.
“What the hell happened?” Bess asked as they ran by. She looked at Helen, who shrugged.
“I have no idea, but I will find out. Let’s go before she kills someone.”
Kit stood by the long workbench, holding the helmet by its strap; she was furious as she paced back and forth. Dale stood in front of her, her arms extended in a gesture of contrition and forgiveness, which Helen perceived was not a good sign.
“Kit, I was in control the whole time.”
Kit’s face was so red, Helen thought she’d explode. She took a step toward Dale. “You told me to count to fifty, then you would open the fucking chute. You did not. And you did not on purpose,” she yelled.
Dale backed up. “I just wanted it to last so you’d really feel the adrenaline. I wanted you to feel what I feel.”
Kit let out a feral growl that truly sounded demonic. With helmet in hand, she swung her arm in a roundhouse effect and slammed it on the top of Dale’s head. Dale luckily was still wearing hers. Dale let out a loud grunt and staggered backward into the workbench. Helen gasped, Sandy let out a shriek, and Bess let out a belly laugh.
“How about now?” Kit yelled. “Are
ya
feeling what I feel?”
“Damn it, Kit!” Dale stripped off the helmet and threw it on the bench behind her. “That fucking hurt.”
Kit struggled with the buckles on the harness. “Somebody better help me get out of this butt-
lovin
’ monkey suit…” The hot monkey sex scenario flashed through her mind again.
Sandy ran to her, quickly set her free, and stepped out of harm’s way as if opening a tiger’s cage. Kit peeled off the jumpsuit and threw it in Dale’s direction, then took a deep breath and casually turned to Sandy.
“I realize this was none of your doing. Thank you for a wonderful experience. And please know this is no reflection on you or your business, but if I ever do this again, I will shoot myself in the foot first. I apologize for my outburst and language. Goodbye.” She turned on a dime and walked past Helen and Bess. “Let’s go,” she said angrily and walked out of the hangar.
The rest of them stood in stunned silence.
“Bess, why don’t you go with Kit?” Helen said all the while watching Dale. “I want to talk to Sky King here.”
“Okay. We’ll see you back at the lodge. Remember you don’t need that cane. It’s a prop, not a weapon.” She then ran out of the hangar after Kit, her high heels echoing all the way.
Sandy turned to Dale. “You’ve done some stupid-ass shit in your time, Dale, but this takes the cake. That woman was petrified before she even got in the plane let alone the jump, you ass.” She turned to Helen. “Sorry…”
“No need, ass away,” Helen said, motioning to Dale.
Dale slumped against the bench, rubbing the top of her head. “I know.”
“You know shit,” Sandy said. “Damn it, not everyone has a love of cheating death as you do. When will you grow up and learn that?” She didn’t wait for an answer. She walked over to the small refrigerator and took out an icepack, kissed Dale on the top of her head, then placed the icepack there. “I’ll talk to you later. You have some major ass-kissing to do. And I think you’ll have to start with the mother. Good luck.” She smiled at Helen as she walked out.
Dale avoided Helen until she couldn’t any longer. She looked up and smiled sheepishly. “Hi.”
“Hidey ho, you young fool. What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know. I just thought she’d get a better rush than…”
“Wasn’t jumping out of a plane rush enough?” Helen asked; she tried to quell her anger and keep calm. It was easier when Dale looked so helpless.
“I know.”
“You could have seriously injured my daughter.”
“I know…”
“Possibly killed her.”
“That would never have happened, but I know what you’re saying. I know.”
“And if you say I know one more time, I will impale you on my cane,” Helen said more loudly than she wanted. Her voice reverberated off the walls of the metal hangar. “Good Lord.”
“I just wanted her to feel what I feel when I jump. I can’t explain it.” Dale leaned against the workbench and tossed her goggles aside. “I guess I don’t think how dangerous it could be for someone else. I figure if it’s my time, then it’s my time.”
Helen raised an eyebrow. “That’s all well and good, dear. And don’t take this the wrong way, but when it’s your time, I’d rather not be tethered to you at ten thousand feet!” Helen said, her voice rising with each word.
Dale winced and held up her hands. “I
kno
—” Luckily, she stopped herself short of impalement.
Helen sighed and looked outside the hangar and the prop planes taking off. “I suppose I see the allure of it.”
Dale grinned. “You do?”
“Yes. Now that I’ve actually seen it. It looks safe enough.” She grinned then. “And scary.”
“Mrs. W…”
Helen stopped grinning. “I don’t like that tone. What?”
“Would you like to?”
“Would I like to what?”
“Jump.”
“Don’t be silly.” Helen looked at the plane once again. “Could I?”
“Do you have any medical issues?”
“Darling, I’m seventy years old.”
“C’mon. Do you?”
“Well, no. Not really. I’m only on cholesterol medication.”
“No heart problems?” Dale asked.
“Not yet.” Helen regarded Dale curiously. “You’re serious.”
“No hip replacements? No joint injuries?”
“No and no.”
“Why do you use that cane?”
“For times like these. I’d like to say I need it.”
“But you don’t. Be serious. Can you raise your legs?”
“Not unless I’m kissed first.”
Dale laughed. “I’m serious. You saw Kit. You have to raise your legs so I can comfortably land.”
“Yes, I can. But I can’t do this…Can I?”
“I just had a woman jump with me the other day. She was nearly eighty, and you’re in better shape. I’ll hold you all the way. I promise not to do what I did with Kit. We’ll have two people on the ground waiting for us, and you won’t have to do a thing.”
Helen chewed on her lip. “I’m in good slacks.”
“I’ll get you a jumpsuit, and we can borrow a pair of sneakers. Say yes.”
Helen grinned and picked up the goggles.