Page 40 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
“Oh, but wearelistening. Maybe we should sit down on the bench.” Aunt Cate turned back toward the end of the pier with a casual wave. “Such a beautiful day. Let’s relax for a minute.’’
Izzy couldn’t even look at her sister as they followed Aunt Cate. At the end, the pier formed a T, allowing for a bench on either side. Izzy noticed that Aunt Cate chose the bench just beyond the boat in its raised slip. Seated there, no one from the house could see them. Did Aunt Cate want this to be a private conversation? Izzy cast one glance back at the house, but all seemed peaceful.
“So what’s your point in mentioning the age thing?” Izzy wanted this settled so she could get back to the baby.
Marlowe gave them both a disgusted look. “Look, I’m going to be forty soon. And Brad is closer to your age, Izzy. He needs someone with a younger…” She swept her body with a hand.
“A younger what, dear,” Aunt Cate blinked. “You’re gorgeous and he obviously likes spending time with you.”
“He needs someone of child bearing age.” There, it was out. Her sister’s candor took Izzy’s breath away. Marlowecould often be very blunt. But the comment brought a loss Izzy felt she’d left behind. Her hysterectomy had limited her chances of having another child. That necessary surgery had led to her adopting Holly. But Marlowe’s situation was different.
“That’s silly,” Izzy said. “Older women get pregnant all the time. Look at Gisele Bunchen. Wasn’t she in her early forties with her last baby?”
Leaning forward, Marlowe rested her head in her hands. “Why aren’t you listening to me? Brad deserves someone younger. Someone who possibly won’t drag him into that expensive IVF process.”
“Why are you even thinking of that now?” Izzy was horrified. Sure, in vitro fertilization was expensive, almost as expensive as adopting. But why was Marlowe assuming that would be necessary? Wasn’t she putting the cart before the horse?
“Does Brad have anything to say about this? Aunt Cate asked.
“No, of course not,” Marlowe sputtered. “Maybe the next time we go running, I’ll ask him. Men probably love to hear about a woman’s fading chances of having a family.”
The sarcasm did not bother their aunt. “I think you’re exaggerating.” Aunt Cate blinked.
Tossing her head back, Marlowe pinned her aunt with a glance. Although this conversation was upsetting, Izzy was so glad that she was here. Working out important stuff like this would nothave been possible if they all lived in different cities. The distance had probably kept them from talking about some really important topics. Sam would be so jealous. Maybe Izzy should keep it to herself. That thought made Izzy feel so adult. Maybe it isn’t what you say that makes a difference. Maybe it’s what youdon’tsay.
“So let’s put Brad aside for now.” Her face pink, Marlowe wasn’t finished. Sam’s words came back to her. “Why are you throwing me at Seth when he’s obviously taken with you? Why didn’t you drive over with him?”
“What?” Her aunt grew pale, her open lips a bright red against her flawless skin. “That’s utterly ridiculous. What are you talking about?”
Yes, what was her sister talking about? Izzy leaned closer.
“So you don’t know that he thinks you’re a wonderful woman?” Marlowe asked. “Thinks you’re ‘genuine,’ whatever that means.”
Aunt Cate’s nose wrinkled. She might be in her early sixties but some of her expressions made her look like a little girl. “Did he say that? Oh my, whatever did he mean?”
Just when things were getting really interesting, Izzy heard someone calling her from the house. Was that Seth? Had something happened to Holly? She took off at a run, her flip flops echoing off the pier.
But when she reached the house,Izzy didn’t see any emergency. Looking a little lost, Skipper was standing in the living room with Seth. Holly was still asleep. Izzy tiptoed toward Skipper. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
Skipper gave a shrug. “I got lonesome.” His eyes went to Holly.
Izzy could hardly believe her ears.
Chapter 20
Samantha
“It’s so hard to say goodbye.” Sam was standing in the front hall of Sunnycrest with Josh. She wanted to make sure all the lights were turned off. But the empty house had caught hold of her heart.
“You’re not really saying good-bye.” Josh put an arm around her shoulders. “The house will just be different.”
Turning she looked up at him. “It’s not that easy. The memories.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears.
“And I’m with you on that.” Josh looked around. “Remember how we’d sit on the screen porch so your parents wouldn’t see us?”
His memory made her smile. “Right. Mom would be back in the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner andtaking her time. She’d come to the door and peek out to check on us.”
When Josh chuckled, his eyes lit up. “She didn’t like to see us stretched out in that hammock, even though we were just talking.”
