Page 40 of Taking a Chance on Charlevoix
“Have you checked the date on that creamer?” Marlowe asked. “Isn't that the same stuff we used for Christmas?”
Giving the container a little shake, Aunt Cate frowned. “I just hate to waste things. Everything is so expensive.”
Marlowe snorted. “So are trips to the ER.”
Money had never been a problem for Aunt Cate. Although she'd only seen glimpses of her aunt and uncle's life during trips to New York, they lived at a far higher level than her parents. Marlowe’s father had been a high school teacher and Mom chose to be a homemaker. Sunnycrest had come to them through her grandparents. The summer home had been left to both Cate and Joanne. Now Marlowe and her two sisters owned their mother’s half, and their aunt owned the other fifty percent. “Why don't we wait and see what happens between Sam and Josh?”
Things were in such upheaval right now. When Marlowe heard that Sam had put her house on the market, she could hardly believe it. Sure they'd talked about this but Sam was really marching right along. The pressure was on. Marlowe had to make things happen on her end.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Aunt Cate said, sipping her coffee. “Your sister has always liked to finish things up, whether it’s a research paper or a dress she’s sewing, she's not a woman to let loose ends dangle.”
“I know.” Her aunt was right about that. “But after what Kurt pulled, she might move very carefully with Josh.”
“She had such strong feelings for him years ago.”
“Yes. Yes, she did.” Marlowe pinned her aunt with a glance. “Are you determined to marry us off? What’s going on?”
“I'm only thinking of your future, sweetheart.” Wearing a Cheshire cat smile, her aunt tightened that beautiful robe around her. There was nothing low key about Cate Conway. She made a statement through her beautiful clothes, faultless makeup and mannerisms. And it all seemed so effortless. Their mother had been pragmatic. She’d worn sensible tie shoes and chose slacks in navy or khaki, styles and colors that would hold up for many years. When you were married to a teacher, that attitude came naturally, but Aunt Cate? That wasn't her at all. She’d been invited to the Met Gala in New York more than once.
Marlowe had to guide her away from this conversation about her future. “I’ll see what happens tomorrow at my meeting with Gabby and her husband.”
“Sounds promising.”
“I'm trying not to get too excited. But in order to relocate I really need some sales up here. That means establishing myself. Apparently a couple of the realtors go south in the winter so having a full time realtor in the wings might be a help for them.”
“That sounds encouraging. I am so proud of you, sweetheart. What you’ve accomplished all by yourself since graduating from college is just amazing.” Taking a sip of her coffee, her aunt beamed with pride.
Usually Marlowe brushed off compliments. But this time she let the words soak in. Lately, her confidence had taken a dive, maybe as a result of that mess with Landon and the Port Royal property. Her aunt’s glowing words helped restore her faith in herself.
Sam soon joined them and so did Izzy, carrying baby Holly. They had such fun watching her eat Cheerios. Once in a while she'd toss some to Piper, who waited obediently under the highchair. That dog knew the drill.
Although Sam had brought her cat Bogart with her over the holidays, this time she had a pet sitter stopping in at the Naperville house. Sam said she wanted to concentrate on the renovation while she was at Sunnycrest, but Marlowe wondered if the focus of her attention was really Josh McCall. In any case, Sam had changed the locks on her house and seemed pretty certain that Kurt would not come in and raid the place again, as she put it.
“What time is the contractor coming?” Sam asked.
“Around eleven. He said he had something else going on,” Izzy said.
“And will Skipper be here too?” Marlowe asked, waiting for her sister's reaction.
Popping some bread into the toaster, Izzy shook her head. “Of course not. Why would he?”
Marlowe shared a look with Sam. “Oh, I don't know,” Sam said slowly. “I saw the way he was looking at you before he left yesterday. He would have stayed after dinner if you'd asked him. I'll bet that boy likes popcorn.”
“Don't be silly.” Taking some butter and jam from the refrigerator, Izzy made a face. “That's your imagination. Skipper is a great pastry chef at Coffee and Cupcakes. I don't know what I'd do without him. He’s a good guy. His mother depends on him.”
“Oh?” Marlowe was all ears. She knew that Skipper's dad had died quite a while ago. Thinking back to Izzy’s first wedding, which was so long ago, she remembered his mother as a delicate bird-like woman.
“You know he lives with his mother. It was that or she’d have to go into a home. Skipper wasn't going to let that happen.” Izzy was spending a long time spreading marmalade on her toast.
“Certainly commendable, but Tall Oaks isn't the end of everything,” Aunt Cate said. “From what I’ve seen it's a pretty lively place.”
“I know that,” Izzy said quietly. “But Skipper has his way. He can be stubborn.”
Her sister was missing the point. “Of course he loves his mother, but I think he still feels strongly about you,” Marlowe said. Certainly Izzy could see that.
“I think Marlowe is onto something, Izzy.” Aunt Cate said softly. She should know since she'd been living here with Izzy for a while. “It's not hard to see that Skipper has never gotten over you.”
“Did he ever remarry?” Sam asked.
