Page 34 of Taking a Chance on Charlevoix
Her sister gave a gutsy chuckle. “Too bad you didn't have a picture.”
“Sadly, it was the wordsorthopedic surgeonthat stopped them in their tracks.”
“That's right, you live in that exclusive suburb. Surgeons probably rate high marks.”
“Says the woman who lives in Naples, Florida, where the average home price is in the high six digits.”
“Hey, that's my career you're talking about.”
While her sister talked, Sam eased out of her coat. “So what's up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about Sunnycrest. Izzy is at a point where a contractor wants to bring in some sketches. I think I can take off a long weekend now that my open houses are over. What about you? Are you interested in coming too? This seems to be kind of a critical point in the process.”
What a relief it would be to get out of town. “I'm ready. I just told my two friends that I’m moving.”
“You did? Really?” Surprise and something else were in her sister's voice. “I guess you can tell I'm jealous.”
“Sure, I am eager to get the heck out of here, especially now that my ex-husband is stealing our furniture for his new love nest.”
“That rat. Okay, get your house on the market. Izzy would be thrilled to have you live with her for a while. And Aunt Cate is still up there. She had her assistant stage her Tribeca condo and who knows when that's going to sell.”
By the time Sam hung up, her friends’ worrisome questions were banished. And she was ready to call Josh back.
Chapter Fourteen
SAMANTHA
Josh picked up on the second ring. “Doctor McCall speaking.”
His voice was comforting but authoritative. Sam smiled. His patients must love him. “Well, Doctor McCall, this is Miss Quinn.”
He laughed. “Sorry, I thought this would be one of my patients.”
“Do they often call you in the evening?”
“Sometimes. I admitted Mrs. Weatherby, one of my patients, this afternoon with a broken hip. Told the nurses to call me if they had any concerns. She's ninety years old.”
Yep, with care like that, his patients probably adored him. And the nurses too. “Is she one of Charlevoix's older residents?”
“Yes, from the Tall Oaks facility. They have me on speed dial.”
“I think they're very lucky.” Sam was sitting on the chaise in her bedroom with a cup of peach tea. This was one room where she still felt comfortable. She’d changed the furniture last fall, along with all the bedding. The white queen size bed was now covered with a flamboyant modern print in orange and pink. She loved it.
“Anyway, I'm glad that you returned my call. I was beginning to wonder.”
“I had some things to tend to.”
“Good things I hope.”
Later Sam would wonder what had gotten into her. Maybe it was Josh's voice, so warm and understanding. She’d been having a bad time since returning home, and her emotions were all over the place. Before she could stop herself, she was telling him about coming home and finding her house half empty.
“And you knew nothing about this?”
“No. That's what made it so devastating, I guess.”
“At the very least, can’t you talk to him? Maybe there’s been a misunderstanding.” Talking to Kurt was the last thing she wanted to do. What Sam wanted was to wring his neck.
“I want to put all that behind me,” she finally said. “If he wants the furniture, fine. I can't bring everything with me to Charlevoix. I don't know how much of this we can use at Sunnycrest anyway.”
