Page 43 of Taking a Chance on Charlevoix
“Great room. Now let’s see what you think.” Seth rolled off the rubber band that held the drawings and spread them out on the table. The crystallized light from the chandelier caught the silver streaks in his dark hair. Her aunt was gazing at Seth as if he were the second coming. Was this going to get complicated?
“I've tried to respect the beautiful bones of Sunnycrest. The two areas I've settled on are the living room and kitchen. And then of course one of the bedrooms. I didn't choose the master bedroom since the other three all need attention first.”
“The wall is out.” Aunt Cate gasped, gazing down at one drawing. “Will you just look at this?” Marlowe took a peek. It was amazing how large the space looked when the wall was taken down between the kitchen and the living room.
“If this is too modern for you, just say the word.” Seth held up a hand. He had capable hands, with a bandage on one finger. Marlowe suspected that this was a guy who worked with his crew. He didn’t just create drawings on a computer. “I think the open concept idea is here to stay for a while.”
The pantry was gone and he'd added a powder room under the stairs that was accessible from the hall and the kitchen. The counter between the kitchen and the living room was broad and lined with stools. Marlowe wondered if Gabby had any input on these drawings. In one corner was a spacious breakfast nook right below some of the windows. The kitchen cabinets had been expanded and replaced the pantry.
“What’s this?” Sam asked, pointing to an area that right now held a small door and mud room.
“You have a beautiful back yard but no access to it,” Seth explained. “I’m suggesting sliding glass doors and an expanded deck that make the most of your view. The firepit in the back can be as large and as functional as you want it to be.”
“I love that idea,” Izzy said. A stone path led to the trees where they often slipped through to go down to the beach.
“So do I,” Aunt Cate said, her eyes wandering to Sam and Marlowe, who were both nodding.
“Maybe I could have a garden back there,” Sam said wistfully. Right now, the yard was full of tenacious perennials their mother had planted long ago. In the summer, the hydrangeas clung to any shady patch, with bright pink British guineas springing up here and there.
Sam was treating Sunnycrest as her home. Certainly the future held more than that for her. But Marlowe pressed her lips together. They had a lot of time to work through their futures. As they stood there, Seth had unrolled a drawing of a reworked dining room.
“I know this is different, but you are a family that loves books,” Seth said pointing to what looked like bookshelves in a corner of the dining room drawing.
“How did you know that?” Sam asked.
“All I had to do was look around.” Seth chuckled. He was right. Books were strewn on any surface. A landscaping book here, a copy ofLittle Womenthere.
“And so as you can see, I've added a sitting area in the dining room. So that you will have a quiet space on the first floor in addition to your living room area.”
“Brilliant.” Marlowe had seen dining rooms in magazines that were outfitted with bookcases. This was a terrific addition. One look at her siblings and Aunt Cate told her they agreed.
While they studied the plans, she checked her phone to make sure that she was not going to be late for her meetingwith Gabby. Although she loved the plans, Marlowe was getting antsy. Just as she was considering taking off for that meeting, Seth unrolled the plans for the bedrooms upstairs. From what she could see, he had taken out the small, old-fashioned closet. Now that side of the wall held a private bath next to a walk in closet with plenty of dressing room space.
“Oh, my. Isn’t this wonderful?” Aunt Cate was positively glowing. “Girls, what do you think?”
“Fabulous,” Sam said. “That upstairs area is going to be positively luxurious. And all the window seats and bookcases stay?”
“Yes, I figured I’d be shot if I crossed that line,” Seth said with a gravelly chuckle. “The bookcases stay in the bedrooms. Window seats too. You can stretch out and read.”
One more glance at her phone told Marlowe that she should really hit the road. “This all looks great to me. I'm sure we might have some tweaking to do. Sorry, Seth, but I have to leave now for another meeting.”
Her aunt threw her a frustrated look. But when she glanced at her Patek Philippe watch, she shrugged.
“It was so nice meeting you, Seth.” Marlowe turned back to smile.
“Same here.” Seth glanced over, nodded and then went back to explaining. Izzy was pouring over the drawings and asking questions in a low voice. Marlowe was glad to see the two of them getting along since she would probably be the lead person.
Well, she had to get going. She’d left her portfolio in the hallway and after shrugging into her coat, picked it up to leave.
“Before you go…” Aunt Cate had left the dining room. “Do you have one of your cards for Seth? You know, just in case he has some questions?”
Marlowe dug her kid gloves from her coat. “Why can't he ask you or Izzy if he has questions?”
“We'd appreciate your expertise, Marlowe.” She didn't miss the stern tone of her aunt’s voice. During the year following their parents’ deaths, Aunt Cate had used that tone when it was Marlowe’s turn to take out the trash. While she stood there, eager to leave, her aunt leaned back into the dining room. “Seth, do you have a card for Marlowe? She has to leave for an important meeting. I think I mentioned she might be moving here permanently.”
Oh shoot me now.
If Seth was aware of her aunt’s obvious matchmaking efforts, he gave no indication. Leaving Izzy and Sam with the sketches, he came out into the hall. “Sure. No problem.” With that Seth reached into a pocket of his jacket and pulled out his business card. The design was clean and masculine. It was hard not to give Aunt Cate a withering look as Marlowe took the card.
