I Love You Again by Kate Sweeney

see was her mother, yet there she was sitting in the rocking chair on the porch. At least Roz was nowhere around.
    “There you are. We gave you up for dead,” Helen said. “Bess was ready to get a search party. I was going to locate a good photo of you to put on a milk carton and…Why are you limping?”
    Kit gently sat on the porch step in front of her mother. “Why are you here?”
    “That’s an odd question. Where else would I be?”
    “Where’s the other part of the dynamic duo?”
    “Bess is inside trying to find an interesting brochure.”
    “I highly doubt there’s a Saks Fifth Avenue catalog in there,” Kit said dryly.
    “You’re out of breath. What have you two been doing?”
    “We went on a nice hike,” Dale said. “Roz has some great trails here. And your daughter needs to get into shape.”
    The anger rose deep within Kit once again. She glanced at her mother’s smug grin.
    “And you’re just the gal to do it?” Helen asked.
    “Well, I don’t mean to brag—”
    “But I have a feeling you will.”
    Dale proudly patted her stomach. “I visit the gym on a regular basis. I know the commitment it takes to keep my figure the way it is. It’s hard work.”
    “Yes, you are fit. I’ll give you that.” Helen gave Kit a motherly glance.
    “What’s more important than a healthy body?”
    Kit heard the challenge in Dale’s voice and leaned out of the way. Here it comes…
    “Oh, I don’t know, dear. Perhaps a healthy mind, a peaceful soul, a…”
    “True, and I see what you’re saying. We can have both, but the mind is not the first thing you see when you look at a woman,” Dale said. “I know it’s not fair, Mrs. W., but we see with our eyes first. And sometimes people are judged by the way they look. I know it’s not right, but there you have it.”
    Kit listened to Dale with a sad heart and didn’t say a word. Her mother would not take that route.
    “And how one looks is important to you?”
    By the look on her face, Dale knew she had gotten herself into quicksand. “I don’t want to sound superficial, but yes, I suppose it matters. But it’s not the only thing,” she added quickly.
    Helen put her head back and rocked back and forth. To her credit, Dale did not continue the banter; she’d be on the losing end, and she knew it.
    “Maybe tomorrow we can pack a lunch and go farther,” Dale said to Kit.
    “Perhaps,” Kit said and smiled.
    “Well, I’m gonna run and take a shower.”
    “Another one?” Helen asked with a grin. “You’re the cleanest woman I know.”
    “I hate being sweaty.” She started to jog away, then turned back to them. “We still have that bottle of champagne to open. Hey, what time is dinner?” she asked, jogging backward.
    “Seven,” Kit called after her.
    “Oh, tell them about my surprise tomorrow,” Dale said and ran back to the lodge.
    “Ah, youth,” Helen said, still rocking. “They’re so youthful. Very annoying.” When Kit said nothing, she continued softly, “Are you still angry with me?”
    “Yes.”
    “But you will forgive me.”
    “I have no choice.” Kit turned and glared at her mother. “Since you’re at death’s door.”
    Helen put her head back and laughed. “I do love you, my darling. And you’re still in love with Rosalind. And she with you.”
    Kit turned away and sighed. “Mother, you must give up this romantic nonsense about me and Roz. She has the life she wanted.”
    “She does not, and you know it. My word, you must have gotten this pigheaded proclivity from the Weston side of the family.”
    “What the hell is a cutthroat trout? It sounds mean. And if I read one more thing about Colorado trout streams… Oh, hi, Kit.” Bess walked out and sat next to Kit on the front steps. “You look pooped.”
    “She just ran a marathon with the Junior Olympian and—”
    “Mother!”
    Bess put her arm around Kit’s shoulders. “We can’t kill her. We must make sure we’re in the will first.”
    Helen