Page 49 of Taking a Chance on Charlevoix
Sam looked so torn and wasn’t that silly? Tonight her niece looked gorgeous that that vibrant red quilted top. Not go out with Josh? How ridiculous. Cate would have spoken up but her mouth was full of risotto.
“Don't be an idiot,” Izzy said quickly. “You're only here for a couple of days. Can't wait to hear how dinner goes with the kids.”
“Ditto.” Marlowe broke off a chuck of bread and dipped it into the olive oil and pesto sauce. “How will you know if this is really real unless you spend time together?”
“Really real? I came up here to check out the changes we're considering for the house.” Why was Samantha being so defensive about wanting to spend time with Josh? Cate almost laughed. That poor woman. As the oldest of the three girls, Samantha had ended up with the most responsibility after her parents’ accident. Was she holding tight to that role? That girl had to loosen up.
“And you can't do both?” Cate thought the whole question was ridiculous. “You've multitasked beautifully throughout your life. You can go out for dinner and still visit with us. We have tomorrow morning, right?”
“Yes, I know.” But Sam didn't look convinced.
“This risotto is delicious, Aunt Cate.” Marlowe licked her lips with appreciation. Cate loved cooking for these girls, although she rarely spent much time in the kitchen anymore. Not since losing her darling Monty. But now her nieces had become her inspiration.
“The salad is wonderful too, Izzy.” Cate liked to make sure that any compliments were equally distributed. She'd had thispractice all her life when her nieces had come into the picture. Sure, she'd spoiled them and loved shopping for them. Joanne had protested sometimes when she'd send them dresses from New York shops for Christmas or Easter. The frilly dresses with hats and gloves to match filled that empty ache in her heart. Cate and Monty had always thought they too would have a family. But that never had happened. And now her life was filled with their love.
“Why are you here for only a couple of days, Sam?” Izzy asked, blotting olive oil from her lips. “Do you have something going on that you can't do here? Thought you were going to set up a home office. Can't you work from Sunnycrest now? Your room has a desk or you could use the dining room. Holly and I are gone during the day.”
“Excellent point.” Marlowe jumped right in. “Sure, I need a ride to the airport tomorrow but that doesn't mean that you have to keep driving into Chicago.”
When Samantha leaned back against the doorsill, the hint of a smile lifted her lips. She played with the lock of hair falling over one shoulder. Gosh, that girl was still so beautiful. “Guess I wasn’t thinking. Maybe I will stay a couple more days with you ladies. We have a lot of work to do getting this place ready for the demolition.”
“Demolition.” Izzy shivered. “Awful word.”
Cate reached over to pat Izzy’s hand. Of course the poor thing was nervous. Cate didn't blame her one bit. But they had to take each day as it came. “Everything will be fine. Think of how wonderful this place will look.”
“But it will still be Sunnycrest, right?” Her eyes wide, Izzy glanced around the table for reassurance.
“Listen here.” Marlowe spooned more risotto onto her plate. “We’re not going to rename our ancestral home.”
“Ancestral home,” Izzy said, smiling. “Sounds like a castle.”
Was Samantha even listening? She had this dreamy look on her face. “Josh has office hours to tend to his patients. I might not see him that much if I stay.”
So much for thinking about Sunnycrest. Samantha’s mind was on Josh McCall. You would think she was a teenager again. But after that awful divorce and what had happened since then, Samantha had every right to dream. Cate just hoped she wasn’t putting the cart before the horse. Marlowe may have a point about that. After Lizzy’s experiences, the family had seen enough of quick marriages that didn’t last.
“I'm sure he could fit in some time to see you in the evenings,” Aunt Cate said. She could see that her oldest niece was having a hard time balancing duty with her private life. That was so foolish, especially at her age.
Marlowe waved a fork in the air. “While we're still all together and before Josh gets here, what did you think of the architect’s suggestions?” Cate wanted to hug her for asking the question that she’d left for dessert. But Samantha might be gone by then.
“Excellent question.” Samantha's eyes shot up to the huge daisy clock on the wall. “What are the easiest changes? Maybe that's a good place to start.”
“Absolutely the bedrooms,” Izzy said. “Having a bathroom in each room and a larger closet are both going to be heaven. Especially if...”
“Skipper decides to spend the night?” Marlowe threw out with a mischievous smile.
A crimson blush worked its way up Izzy's neck. “That's ridiculous and you know it.”
“Kidding, just kidding.”
Skipper Malone was becoming a very sensitive topic with Izzy. Cate couldn’t figure that out. What exactly was their relationship? Skipper was always stepping up to the plate to helpout. Clearly he adored Izzy and little Holly. But Izzy seemed to ignore the wonderful things he did, like fixing the dishwasher. The girl was not opening up her heart. Maybe that was it. Izzy might be too afraid to risk getting serious about Skipper again.
“If some of us are going to live here for a while, renovating the bedrooms would be a no brainer. We need those closets and the bathrooms too,” Marlowe said scooping more risotto onto her plate. Had she eaten at all since Christmas? When she'd arrived at Sunnycrest, Cate became alarmed by Marlowe's gaunt cheeks.
“Okay, enough about the bedrooms. What is the hardest, most difficult decision?” Marlowe went on.
Silence filled the room. Her nieces looked at each other as if they were waiting. Maybe no one wanted to say it. “Tearing out a wall.” Izzy's voice was almost a whisper.
Cate sat back, knowing that Izzy was right. “That would be a huge change. One that affects not only the kitchen but also what we could do in here.” Cate looked around. Some days these walls seem to be closing in on her. She wanted these old cabinets out. But that decision had to come from the girls, even though Cate owned half of this property.
