Page 48 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
Was it Izzy’s imagination or had Skipper’s mother changed? She exchanged a look with Marlowe. They’d have a lot to talk about later. Izzy definitely wanted to hear more about Brad.
“Looks like Seth has his boat ready to go.” Marlowe nodded down to the pier where the boat had just returned. “Are those skis stretched out on the pier?”
“Sure looks like it.” Izzy glanced down. Years ago she would have been the first person eager to ski. But now she was a responsible mom. “Not for me.”
“What? Are you crazy?” Marlowe’s glance said that she questioned Izzy’s sanity. “You usedto love to ski.”
“Haven’t done it in a long time. But I’ll be your watcher.” Izzy prided herself on being the responsible one. She caught Skipper looking at her, a question darkening his eyes. Like Marlowe, he probably thought she’d lost her mind.
But wasn’t that the role of a mother? Responsible. Not taking risks.
How boring.
Chapter 23
Isabel
Didn’t take long for Izzy to change her mind. The sunny day, the waves lapping the shore and the occasional buzz of boats out on Horton Bay called to her. Marlowe was right. Back in high school, she’d loved water skiing. Those had been her wilder days when she’d hung out with other summer people, as well as some of the locals.
Billy Hanson’s dad was a doctor in a suburb north of Detroit. Their mother spent the summer up on Lake Charlevoix in a big summer place with a huge deck and a vintage boathouse. If she closed her eyes, Izzy could still smell the dim dampness of that boathouse. She could also hear the giggles of teenagers who were up to nothing but trouble. Although Skipper had known Billy, they hadn’t hung out together.
Dr. Hanson’s boat had two huge motors on theback and all sorts of skis leaning against the walls of the boathouse. Billy loved nothing more than dragging his city friends around behind his boat, music blaring under a bright sun. For a couple of her college summers Marlowe worked at The Scoop, a local ice cream shop, where Billy’s friends hung out. When she got a look at the kids in that group, she’d issued a strong ultimatum to Izzy. She would not breathe a word to Aunt Cate or Uncle Monty but Izzy had to swear that she wouldn’t spend any more time with Billy’s crowd. “They’re bad news, Izzy.”
By that time Skipper had caught Izzy’s eye. She called him her beach boy and, truth be told, she was more comfortable with his local group. But she’d learned how to ski with Billy at the helm of his dad’s boat. Sometimes he’d pull two skiers and try what he called “Summertime Tricks.” He’d even had a ramp put in front of his house that sprawled across three lots. She wondered what had happened to Billy. A few years ago, the house had changed hands. Now the boathouse looked deserted.
That craziness was all in her past but every nerve in Izzy’s legs hummed when she heard the roar of a boat. Clutching a towel in her hands, she looked up at the house. Aunt Cate and Sam had both assured her that they would watch Holly and bring her down when she woke up from her nap. Aunt Cate was watching Holly on the baby cam. Did every motherfeel like this, torn between what she wanted to do and what she thought she should do for her child?
While she stood there agonizing, Skipper walked back from the boat in his navy trunks and bare feet. Boy, all that work in the bakery had sure honed his muscles. Pushing back his gladiator sunglasses, he said, “What’s wrong, Izzy?”
“What if the baby wakes up?” She twisted the towel in her hands.
“Your aunt has that covered. And Sam is here too, along with my mom.”
“Okay, I guess you’re right.” This day was too beautiful. Birds called from the trees and a duck with eight ducklings paddled past the pier.
“Come on. Give yourself a break.”
“It’s hard, Skipper. Really hard.” Surely he knew how it was with her. He was with her everyday.
“You’re a mother, Izzy. Not a prisoner. Why, you’re the most dedicated mother I know.”
“Really?” Touched by his sweet words, she smiled up at him. “You really think so, Skippy?”
“I know so.” He slung one sun-warmed arm over her shoulders and Izzy felt his comfort. What was this?Stay on track, Isabel. Slipping away, she took off for the pier, her flipflops slapping the bottoms of her feet.
“Are you coming?” When she turned, Skipper was trailing behind her with a cat-ate-the-canarysmile.
She nearly tripped over her own feet. “Marlowe? Are you coming?” Izzy called out over her shoulder when she reached the blue and white boat. No way did she want to be alone with Skipper. Not until she had time to straighten out all the crazy feelings charging through her.
“I’m coming!” Looking up from a conversation she was having with Mrs. Malone and Sam, Marlowe grabbed a towel and came running. Her long hair fell in one braid down her back as she loped down the pier in her bare feet. “It’s been a long time since I skied.”
“Me too.” Although she was wearing a T-shirt over her red bikini, Izzy shivered with excitement.
“It’s like riding a bike.” Skipper jumped into the boat and turned, offering a hand to help them onboard. “You’ll be surprised. Your body remembers.”
Izzy wasn’t so sure about that. She’d had lots of accidents on her bike.
Once on the boat, Izzy collapsed onto the back seat. She motioned to Marlowe to take the padded seat next to Skipper up front. His words had given her some confidence. She’d think about it later.
