Page 61 of Taking a Chance on Charlevoix
“Bingo!” Fred Otterman called out from the back.
Thank goodness. Applause went up, along with a lot of groans. Izzy stepped up to the microphone. She preferred it, but Izzy’s voice had always been softer than Marlowe’s. “Okay, now I'm going to call out the numbers to verify the bingo. Please check your cards, especially you, Fred.”
While Izzy confirmed the winner, Marlowe straightened up things. Fred's card was good and he won a ten dollar gift certificate at Coffee and Cupcakes. The older gentleman looked really excited about the whole thing. When Marlowe thought back to Naples, she had to chuckle. Things were much simpler in Charlevoix. The gratitude of this older group was heartwarming. This was the simplicity they’d committed to, in an area they’d known since they were girls.
“How about some ice cream?” Marlowe asked as she swept the chips off the master card.
“Sounds good. But let's wait for a few minutes while the others get theirs. Any word from Sam?” Izzy asked.
“The moving truck is coming tomorrow. She might be here by the time we get home.”
“Excellent.” Izzy looked as excited as Marlowe felt. “I know she's chomping at the bit to get out of Oak Brook.”
Thinking back, Marlowe frowned. “Kurt tried to throw more than one monkey wrench into the final closing. I hope everything went all right this morning. Now that it's wrapped up, she's eager to get here.” Poor Sam. She needed to wind things up and relax. Would she be able to do that at Sunnycrest? Although Seth was trying to minimize their chaos, the smell of sawdust was in the air and supplies were stacked everywhere.
“Do you think that she'll pick up with Josh when she gets here?” Izzy asked.
“Good question. I’m not sure about that. Sam thinks they need some time to think about everything, and she wants to get settled. That's probably a good idea. When I told her that we were volunteering here on Tuesdays, she was really excited.”
“Terrific. They're looking for someone to volunteer with Josh's mother on Thursdays.”
Marlowe looked at her sister with amazement. “Did you just get here? Do you not know how bossy his mother is? Gretchenwas telling me all about Marie McCall. She’s the reason they’ve had trouble attracting other volunteers.”
“I didn't know that,” Izzy said, helping pack up the box of bingo supplies. “Some boys have a special relationship with their mothers.”
“Boys?” Marlowe couldn’t help but laugh. “Did I really hear you say that? Josh is hardly a boy. He’s a respected surgeon.”
“I know. And apparently she doesn’t let anyone forget it. Come on. Gretchen is waving us over. Everyone else has their ice cream now.”
When they reached the cart, Marlowe decided on chocolate chip, and Izzy chose strawberry chip. They had just turned to go back to the table when Brad Howington appeared in the doorway. Two of the older ladies immediately engaged him in conversation. “Be right back,” Izzy said, picking up a plastic spoon and heading back to the speaker’s table. “I have some questions for Gretchen.”
“Hey, Marlowe. How are things going in here?” Brad asked, when he had a chance to break away from the residents. Those women. They loved that man. And he had such patience with them.
“As good as bingo can get.” This was Marlowe’s third time doing bingo and Brad seemed to show up each time. She remembered what Josh had said about Brad taking a hands-on approach to the folks in his facilities. Marlowe enjoyed talking to him.
Tonight he was wearing one of those half-zip sweaters in a heather green, although spring was in the air. The sweater emphasized his broad shoulders and picked up the green in his eyes. Snow had been predicted the night before and everyone was still wearing sweaters. “I really appreciate all the work that you've done. So glad you and Izzy can help out with bingo.”
“I enjoy being here.” Marlowe smiled up at him.
“Are you settled in with your family?”
“For now, yes. I have one certification test to go and then I’ll be setting up shop with a realty company over in Petoskey.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Taking the chair next to her, Brad crossed his legs. “Have you had any chance to go cross country skiing? I think you mentioned that one time at your sister’s shop.”
So he remembered? “Sadly no. But I brought my running shoes and I’m eager to get out once the ice has melted from the roads.”
“Oh, you run?” His grin broadened. “Maybe we can hit the trails together. I’d be glad to show you around some good jogging roads.”
“That would be great.” With his long, lean physique, Marlowe wasn’t surprised to hear that Brad was a runner. The residents loved Brad and she could see why. He was always there for them, whatever the issue. Learning the roads with him could be fun. As much as she loved these wooded roads, she never liked to run alone.
After Brad had left, Marlowe wandered up to the trash bin to pitch her empty Dixie cup. Glancing around, she drank it all in. The final weeks in Naples had been hectic. Shari had hosted a farewell party at her new home and Marlowe had been relieved when Landon had been unable to come. She missed Shari and was considering inviting her to visit once the house was finished and Marlowe was settled. She had a long way to go and wanted to enjoy every step of the way.
Izzy had returned. “So what did Mr. Howington have to say to you?”
“Brad? We might go running together.”
“Running together? That'll be fun.” Izzy had an impish smile on her face. “I think you should get out more.”
