Page 5 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
“Thanks so much,” Izzy said, feeling really sorry about those pears. The tarts had looked amazing.
“No problem.” Skipper gave her one of his crooked smiles.
She’d always been a sucker for that smile. “Time to open the door.” Feeling like she was running away, Izzy rushed down the hall. But when she reached the front, Debbie had already unlocked the door. Coffee mug still in her hand, Izzy was surprised to find JoshMcCall standing there. Sam had decided to call a halt to what Izzy thought was their budding romance. The decision was silly, or so Izzy thought. They’d been high school sweethearts, separated by time and circumstances. But now Josh was a widower, and lately he’d been haunting Coffee and Cupcakes. His endless questions about Sam were pretty pitiful. She felt sorry for the guy and wished Sam would wake up.
“Can I get you something, Dr. McCall?” She always teased him about being an orthopedic surgeon. Did Sam realize what a big deal Josh was in this town? Or did she just think of him as that boy from the beach? The guy she’d fallen in love with back in high school.
Josh gazed around as if he'd forgotten where he was. “Coffee?”
“Yep, just give me a minute.” She set her own mug on a table. “Black?”
Nodding, Josh ambled over to the display case. The man looked like he could use a chocolate croissant. Didn’t chocolate fix everything? A couple entered the shop and went straight to the glassed case.
“Debbie, let Josh sample one of those croissants Skipper baked this morning.”
Grabbing a tissue, Debbie sliced a croissant into small strips and laid them on the top of a tissue on the counter.
“Croissants?” the woman asked, turning to her husband.
“Make that two,” the man said to Debbie. He glanced over to the sideboard that usually held the carafes of coffee. “Coffee ready?”
“Coming right up.” Going over to the sideboard, Izzy grabbed two of the empty carafes.
“I'll be right back,” she told Josh. When she got to the workroom, she filled one carafe with black coffee and the other with caramel macchiato. “Josh McCall is back again.”
“Pathetic,” Skipper said as he fanned thin slices of pear on the almond paste and layered clear glaze on top. “The poor man.”
“They just don't want to put the cart before the horse.” Did that sound as stupid as the words felt to Izzy?
“You know he's just here for more information on Samantha.” Skipper slid the baking pan into the oven with great care. He watched over his pastries like an anxious father.
“I have to be so careful about what I say.”
“You? Really?” Skipper gave her the grin that said he didn’t believe her.
She threw her ex an offended glance. One carafe in each hand, Izzy trekked back to the front and poured Josh a mug of hot coffee. The poor man needed something before he beganseeing patients. His eyes were ringed with gray circles and his oxford cloth shirt looked rumpled under the brown leather jacket. What must his patients think? Maybe he covered it all with a crisp white coat. She could only hope. While Debbie rang up the couple’s purchases, Izzy presented Josh with a chocolate croissant.
“Hey, thanks.” But he tore into that delicacy like it was hardtack. What could she do about this?
Sliding his full coffee mug onto the table, Izzy grabbed her own coffee and planted herself across from him. She was a woman with a mission. “Sam arrived yesterday.”
“Is she here to visit again?” Josh said in a resigned voice. Obviously Sam and Josh weren’t talking or even texting.
Sam might kill her but Izzy couldn’t stand seeing Josh like this. “Nope, here to stay.”
Josh had been lifting the mug to his lips but it never made it. His eyes flew open, his hand shook and coffee spilled onto his shirt.
That’s what usually happened whenever Izzy stepped in.
Chapter 3
Skipper
All the way home that night, Skipper thought about Izzy and the baby. He couldn’t believe that she wanted to move into his house. A year ago that would have pleased him no end. But a lot had changed. His mother’s health was failing. Every day he never knew what he would find at home. If she would just use her walker, Skipper wouldn’t worry so much. One night he found her lying next to the coffee table. The TV was blaring. She’d fallen and had managed to drag herself over to the coffee table for the remote. But she could not stand up by herself.
The next day he’d called Dr. Prentice. His mother had been really mad when the walker was delivered. Said no way was she using “that contraption for old people.” And she was even more upset when the emergency button arrived for her to wear around her neck.
“What the heck is this?” She’d glanced at the simple plastic button with disbelief. This was the way she looked at day-old bakery. “I can take care of myself, thank you very much. No need to meddle.”
