Page 48 of Taking a Chance on Charlevoix
“Maybe I’ll consider that.” The renovation might drive her from the house and she didn’t know how long her certification would take.
“Thanks a lot,” Brad said after he’d gotten Dawn up the steps and into a seat. “The ladies talked about you and your family a lot after that party. It was very considerate to invite them.”
Was the wind burning her cheeks or was she blushing? “Izzy did the inviting.” She was having trouble getting the words out. “And you came to pick them up?”
“Right, I was on duty that day. And thank you for your help. You have a beautiful home. The residents couldn't stop talking about your decorations.”
Thinking about all their plans, Marlowe smiled. “Sunnycrest will be going under construction soon.”
“Really?” When Brad smiled, a dimple popped out in one cheek. His cap was set at a rakish angle and his tan cheeks and laugh lines indicated that he spent time outdoors. “What kind of construction? An addition?”
What had they been talking about? Oh right, Sunnycrest. “Renovation. We're going to give the house a facelift. Sunnycrest’s been in the family for a long time. It needs an update. New kitchen and some additional bathrooms.” Why was she blabbering away? Maybe Marlowe was just tired. But his hazel eyes under the brim of that cap looked interested. Or maybe she was imagining that. Two minutes later he was driving away and she was back in Coffee and Cupcakes.
Avoiding Sam’s gaze, Marlowe grabbed her mug and went for more coffee. Sam and Josh had ordered and within minutes they were enjoying their paninis. The next time she came, Marlowe would try one. Had Skipper made the focaccia bread? Sometimes it was hard to picture the boy with the crazy beach boy hair as a pastry chef. How long had he been here? The more she saw of her sister’s ex-husband, the more questions she had.
Marlowe kept waiting for the next shoe to drop. She wouldn’t be surprised if Izzy told her one day that Skipper had taken off for Europe again. That’s where he’d gone after their divorce. But right now he looked firmly installed in Izzy’s kitchen. Apparently he lived at home, taking care of his mother. There was something very unexpected and sweet about that. The bake shop seemed to be a gathering place for the town. The good food and fantastic bakery had sure helped build the reputation.
“Wasn't that the guy who came to pick up that group of women from the party?” Sam nodded toward the front door, where the van was still idling. She could see Brad going down the aisle, checking seatbelts. “The van driver?”
“Right, I think his name is Brad.”
“Brad Howington?” Josh glanced up from his sandwich. “He’s not just a driver. Brad owns Tall Oaks and a few other long term care facilities up here in the northwestern area.”
“Really? That's impressive.” Marlowe stared after the bus that had finally pulled away from the curb.
“He’s a real asset to the community,” Josh said. “Treats the residents like family. My mother volunteers over there. I think she's in charge of bingo.”
“Yes, Dawn mentioned that they need some help.”
“Probably. She can’t go every week. Interferes with her hair appointment.” The conversation continued and Marlowe sat back. New beginnings were unfolding. What a great feeling. Volunteering, for example. She'd never thought of doing that. Maybe it was time that she did.
“I might do some volunteering after I move here.” Sam seemed to be considering the same option.
“Really? I’m not sure if I’ll have time.”
Her sister nodded toward the door, where the bus was pulling away. “Maybe you should make time. You never know what possibilities might reveal themselves. I mean, after you’re living here permanently.”
Permanently. The word made Marlowe gulp. But she’d be together with her sisters and aunt again. That made the word go down easy.
Chapter Twenty
CATE
Was this a late in life hot flash? Cate suddenly felt very warm. But then, she’d been standing over the hot stove cooking her clam risotto for the girls. She would always call her nieces “girls,” even though they teased her about it. Lifting the wooden spoon to her lips, Cate gently blew on it and then tasted. Perfect. Her mind zapped back to the idea of a hot flash. Her nieces’ mom was gone. Was this a topic she should broach with them?Nah.Too soon. Samantha was only forty-two, and Marlowe would turn forty this year. Although Isabel was much younger, her hysterectomy might have thrown her into menopause way earlier than normal. Someday Cate would ask her about that. But not now. Now she was cooking her favorite dish for her favorite people.
Pushing her hair from her eyes with the back of one hand, she arranged the risotto in the Italian serving bowl she'd had sent from her Tribeca apartment. When her assistant Lindsay was packing things up getting the place ready to show, Cate had her set aside a list of things to send to Sunnycrest. Although the small kitchen was already crowded, it warmed her heart to have some of her favorite things here.
Monty had insisted on bringing this platter back from their trip to the Amalfi Coast. The cheerful blue scattered with bright yellow lemons brought a hitch to her heart. She still missed her husband terribly. But this was no time to cling to the past. Not when they all faced such an exciting future of new beginnings.
“How is that salad coming?” she asked Marlowe, who was grating parmesan shavings for the arugula salad. Izzy had set the table so nicely although the baby had commandeered one of the shiny spoons and was thumping it on her highchair tray. That little girl was really something. Holly wanted to be part of everything that was going on.
Cate loved this injection of the next generation into their family gathering. She knew her sister Joanne would thoroughly appreciate what was happening to the house they’d both loved so much. What would Jo think of all the changes being made? Some of them made Cate a little nervous, but excited at the same time. The future called for change. Her nieces had made that clear. Almost retired now, Cate was just going along for the ride. And of course she'd help out wherever she could.
“Time to sit down to eat,” she said after Izzy had dressed the salad with oil, vinegar and a mixture of Italian spices. Marlowe had put together a wonderful Italian garlic bread and now she pulled it from the oven. When Marlowe had returned from her visit with Gabby, she’d seemed preoccupied, but excited, as if great news was percolating. Cate only wanted to see her nieces happy. They seemed happiest when they were together. Being scattered all over the country had not worked for them.
Cate was dying to hear how Marlowe's interview had gone. Maybe later they’d have time for a good chat. These wonderful family dinners made Cate’s waistband tighter every week. But she wasn't going to worry about that now. Not with all the work that lay ahead.
Cate sat down to eat dinner with Marlowe and Izzy. They’d decided to stay in the kitchen. Sam was having dinner with Josh and his children, but she poked her head into the kitchen before leaving. “I'm sorry that I can't eat dinner with you. Maybe I should have told Josh I couldn't go out for dinner.”
