Read I Love You Again for Free Online Page A

glared. “That thing is annoying.” She looked at her watch and smiled.
    “Hey, it’s my business. I’m grateful for that little bell. It means I can keep this place.” Roz gave her a suspicious look. “Why are you smiling?”
    Bess easily jumped off the barstool, albeit with a groan, and pushed Roz. “No reason. Let’s go see who it is.”
    “Okay, I’m going.” Roz allowed Bess to propel her out of the dining room. “Why don’t I trust you?”
    “Because you’re very discerning. Another annoying trait of yours.” Bess grinned as she walked behind Roz.
    When they walked into the foyer, Roz stopped so abruptly, Bess ran into her with a grunt.
    Oh, good Lord, Bess thought as she looked past Roz. It was almost surreal. Bess watched, almost in slow motion, as Roz stared at the front desk. Bess looked at Roz and saw such sadness, such despair, and that mingled with sheer astonishment, well, it broke her heart.
    Bess then looked at Kit, who stood at the desk so visibly stunned she dropped her luggage with a thud and just rapidly blinked. With her jaw sagged open, she looked bewildered and at the same time, so forlorn and like Roz, sad. And…she looked as though she might faint; Bess felt the same way. Oh, good Lord, she thought again. What in the world is Kit doing here?
    “Kit? Why...How?” Bess asked when she could speak.
    Roz stood there dumbfounded, just staring at Kit.
    “Bess? What…?” Kit started; her usual rosy complexion faded with each passing second.
    Roz whirled around so fast, Bess literally backed up. “Did you know about this?” Roz asked in a hissed whisper.
    “Know about what?” Kit asked, sounding almost as if she were in a trance.
    “Of course not. This is not what I expected,” Bess whispered indignantly.
    “Just what are you expecting?”
    “I—”
    “Oh, my aching bunions!”
    All eyes were on the elderly woman standing in the doorway. One might say she leaned on that stylish cane because of her age, but Bess knew better; they all knew better.
    “That,” Bess said dryly, sweeping her arm in Helen’s direction, “is what I was expecting. The guest who ordered the champagne.” She gave Roz a sick look. “Surprise?” She felt horrible. Why would Kit…? A better question—how did Kit…?
    Then, realization struck her like a sledgehammer to the temporal lobe. Bess slowly turned and glared at Helen, who smiled evilly as she walked in. Bess’s incredulous expression asked—For Kit’sfiftieth birthday, Helen? Really?
    “What champagne?” Helen asked Bess. “Well, someone help an old woman with her luggage.”
    With Roz and Kit still shocked into silence, they stared at each other until Bess gently nudged Roz, who nearly stumbled into the desk.
    “Roz,” Kit whispered, almost in awe. “Is this…?”
    “Hello, Kit,” Roz said when she could speak. “Yeah, this place is mine.”
    They both glared at Bess, who vehemently shook her head and pointed at Helen.
    What a disaster. Bess looked at the carnage before her. Neither woman knew what to say to the other. You could cut the horrible awkward feeling with a buzz saw. Bess still glared at Helen; Helen shrugged and walked up to her daughter. When everyone wasn’t glaring at Helen, there was awkward silence.
    “Mother, what did you do?” Kit asked through clenched teeth. She kissed the offered cheek.
    “It’s for your birthday. I told you.”
    “I know,” Kit said, rubbing her temples and avoiding Roz. “But you might have mentioned this.”
    “But I did. Didn’t I?” Helen asked innocently. “Oh, hello, Roz, dear. You look tired.”
    “Hey, Helen,” Roz said softly. “So…” She tried to continue, but neither Weston woman listened—some things never changed.
    “No, you didn’t tell me,” Kit said with a sigh.
    “Well, I thought it would be a good idea. And I wanted to see Bess, too. And I haven’t seen Roz since you two acted like idiots two years ago, and it has to stop.”
    “Well, since—”