Page 54 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
“Look, Izzy.” Skipper’s eyes had something serious going on, as if he was explaining calculus to her. He’d tried doing that when they were still in high school. She never did learn calculus, although Skipper had been a patient tutor. “I didn’t want to see you hurt. Is that a bad thing?”
“I know, but I can take care of myself.” How many times had she told him that?
Skipper’s eyes darkened, like he’d made some great decision. “Look, I still care for you, Izzy. And I always will. Let me carefor you, okay?”
She took a deep gulp. “No woman from Paris in your life?” After seeing Camille that day she still was curious.
“Absolutely not.” Skipper had never lied to her and maybe she’d always felt jealous when it came to him.
Footsteps sounded coming up the stairs and Izzy backed away. “Gotta change. See you outside.”
As she peeled off her wet suit, his words echoed in her head. Letting him care for her was easy, or so she supposed. But where did that leave her? She’d been relieved to see him swim toward her. Did she feel more than gratitude? By the time she made it outside in dry jeans and a red T-shirt, everyone was heaping their plates. She had a chance to meet Jeb. He was working on the kitchen cabinets and Aunt Cate quickly took him under her wing.
Most of the people had found places at the picnic tables. Izzy didn’t see Sam anywhere and she took that as a good sign. Maybe she’d gone with Josh after all. By the time Skipper drove them home she had stored away more memories. But it wasn’t her past that kept her quiet and preoccupied. No, she was thinking hard about her future.
Chapter 24
Isabel
Surrounded by the sample boards Gabby Driscoll had brought, Izzy felt dizzy with excitement. Now she realized that she’d lived with drab colors and faded drapes for years. Sunnycrest was really coming to life. In a month the renovations should be completed, or so Seth said. At first Izzy hadn’t been crazy about the changes. They just didn’t feel right…almost as if they were insulting her parents. Her mother had chosen the colors and style years ago. Granted, the cranberry and forest green had made the dining room dark. The palette Gabby was suggesting brought a whole new look to everything. Maybe it was time for Sunnycrest to enjoy new life. Standing next to her, Marlowe and Sam seemed to feel the same way.
“How wonderful.” Aunt Cate stood in the center of Seth’s expansive living room overlooking the lake.Along with Izzy’s two sisters, she studied the boards propped up on the sofa and resting against the coffee table. “So fresh and peaceful.”
Dressed in a colorful red and black top, Gabby wore red-rimmed glasses with a necklace to match. Her dangling red earrings bobbed and swung as she spoke. Izzy would have loved a pair of Gabby’s black peep-toe wedgies that revealed red nail polish. No wonder Marlowe enjoyed working with this woman. She was a trip, as well as being a business force in northern Michigan.
Apparently Gabby had started her real estate career with Chip, her husband and business partner. But in recent years her comments about décor had expanded her business in that direction. Chip soon suggested charging for those services. “People only value what they have to pay for,” he’d said, from what Marlowe had told Izzy. And his words made sense. The offshoot of Driscoll and Associates had become very popular. Gabby was obviously in her element, discussing colors and fabrics.
Her eyes flying from one board to another, Izzy was glad that Skipper had offered to pick up Holly from daycare. If Izzy had to bring her little darling to this meeting, Holly would be stumbling around the room, wanting to touch every fabric, every color swatch. Izzy wouldn’t have been able to concentrate.
“I’m suggesting Harbor Gray for the living roomwith subdued retractable blinds instead of drapes. Your view is so spectacular, blinds will allow for easy access to the outdoors.” Here Gabby hesitated, her laser circling the color sample of White Wisp.
“Now this is only a suggestion but I hope you’ll consider this change to give a lighter touch to Sunnycrest. I may be talking about a sacred cow but I’m suggesting you paint your woodwork White Wisp too. It will lift the entire look of that living room and be carried over into the kitchen.”
Silence fell over the room. The sisters looked at each other. Seth moved uneasily in the chair, where he’d been a silent observer.
“We’ll consider that.” Finally Aunt Cate spoke up. “Tell us more about that kitchen.”
Looking relieved, Gabby launched into the shots of the beautiful cabinets Jeb, Seth’s father, was working on. In the drawing the cabinets reached the ceiling. White Carrara marble would top the new island, with cupboards below offering more storage space. The stools pulled up to that island would have leather seats in Seaport Blue.
Here Gabby paused. She could be so dramatic. “That shade of blue…” She circled the color sample with her laser. “That color would be found in the dining room as well. With pops of Amelia Island Blue, which is a turquoise, along with Grape Green, a zippy lime. The turquoise and green would appear on the porch cushions, as well as a new hammock.”
“A new hammock?” Marlowe’s response was really a question. That hammock was kind of a “sacred cow,” as Gabby put it.
Gabby turned. “Okay, ladies. I come the bearer of bad news. Your old hammock could split any day, dropping you to the floor.”
“Sad but true.” Izzy was in total agreement. “Marlowe and Sam, time to change. Love that green, Gabby. The lime is so zippy.” She turned that shade of lime over in her head. Izzy wanted to be that person. Refreshed. Renewed. Looking at these colors, she felt that her rosebud quilt was outdated and childish.
Quickly Gabby ran through the color schemes, suggesting that each woman choose a comforter from one of her catalogues to set the colors for her room. “We can build on that.” But basically, Aunt Cate’s room would be done in Peony Pink with Green Grape accents and White Wisp trim. Here Gabby hesitated again. “You might consider painting the mantel of that fireplace as well.” Then her eyes almost squeezed shut, as if she expected to be challenged.
Wow. Could they do that? Like the mantel in the living room, their grandfather had brought the hand-carved piece from Chicago. Would painting it be a desecration? Forehead furrowing as she studied thesamples, Marlowe had grown quiet. With her arms crossed, Sam cupped her chin in one hand.
So many decisions. So many steps forward. Bypassing the quilt suggestion, Marlowe wanted deep purple and lilac for her room, lifted by the grape green touch. Sam chose a Springtime Peach with medium green “if I find the right quilt.”
Gabby called for questions, and Izzy had to speak up. “If the fireplace is painted white, can we change it if we don’t like it?”
“Interesting question.” Her red lips pursed, Gabby tapped the pointer against one palm. “I think you have to commit to your decision. Stripping paint is difficult and will leave paint in the crevices. I have two clients who have painted their fireplace, and they’re happy with the result. How would it be if I set up a time for a quick visit?”
“That would be great, Gabby.” Marlowe spoke up.
