Page 55 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
Thank goodness. Izzy wasn’t sure if she could take that step without seeing an example. Would she feel guilty painting over years of memories gathered in front of that fireplace? Or was it time to move on? Lately, she was in a moving on mood.
There were a couple more questions about colors. Then Seth took the floor. “Thanks, Gabby. Looks like everyone is pretty excited. We’ll get back to you.” After a flurry of goodbyes, Gabby left, leaving the boards behind. Piper trotted in and gave them a goodsniff. Bogart stayed under Sam’s bed whenever strangers were in the house.
The whole house smelled like the snickerdoodles Aunt Cate had baked that morning. As the girls considered the boards, she carried in a tray of tall glasses of iced tea and her yummy snickerdoodles.
Of course they started to talk about the recent day of skiing. “My muscles were sore for days,” Izzy said between bites of her cookies.
“Mine too,” Marlowe said after her first bite. “Aunt Cate, are you becoming a baker?”
Their aunt’s face flushed. “Maybe. As my work in New York winds down, I find myself with time on my hands.” She flipped open one of the catalogues Gabby had left. “But we’re at the interesting part of the renovation. I expect things to pick up.”
“Did Josh enjoy our get-together at Seth’s?” Marlowe asked Sam, reaching for another cookie.
“Guess so. And Mia and Hayden too. Big newsflash, if you don’t already know. Mia enjoyed the school dance in her new dress.”
“Told you not to sweat it.” Marlowe waved her cookie in the air. “You have great taste.”
“And the barbecue gave the kids a chance to see my family.” Here Sam chuckled. “Guess you passed the test.”
“How about Skipper?” Marlowe turned to Izzy, who nearly choked on her cookie.
“What about him?” She felt her face heat and ducked to brush crumbs from her lap.
“Come on,” Marlowe teased. Her sister would never give up. “That poor guy is still crazy about you. Couldn’t take his eyes off you on the boat. I thought he was going to run us ashore while you were skiing.”
Suddenly everyone’s interest had shifted from paint and fabrics to Izzy’s personal life. The scrutiny made her squirm. “He still fusses over me. It’s crazy.”
“Whatever do you mean.” Her aunt put down her frosty glass.Oh, here it comes. The third degree.
Izzy took a deep breath. “I mean he’s always worrying about me. I can take care of myself.”
Sam shifted in the rocker. “I would think that would feel good…having someone to worry about you.” Her sister was thinking about her failed marriage again, and Izzy was sorry that the conversation had taken this turn.
“What a burden. Having someone care enough to worry.” Marlowe blew out a raspberry. “Can’t imagine how that would feel.”
Turn about was fair play. “Well, if you’d invite Brad to some of our get-
togethers,” Izzy said. “You might be surprised. I think that guy’s into you.”
The discussion got loud and bawdy. Izzy was glad that the focus had shifted away from her.
But later, after Marlowe and Sam had drifted down to the pier to watch the sunset, Izzy stayedto help Aunt Cate clean up the kitchen. Of course Seth had all the latest appliances. Izzy couldn’t wait until Sunnycrest had this sleek, efficient look, from the under-the-counter microwave to the big burners on the stovetop.
“Sweetheart, about that worrying. Skipper just wants to keep you safe,” Aunt Cate said, straightening from filling the dishwasher. “You know that, right?”
Izzy shrugged with impatience, feeling like she was fifteen again. “But it’s annoying, Aunt Cate. Reminds me of when I was growing up. Everyone was always telling me what to do.”
Her aunt gave her a long look. Whatever was on her mind, she was taking her time. “Trust me,” she finally said. “A day will come when you’ll be very glad to have that attention. After Uncle Monty passed on, it could feel very lonely sometimes, not having him to care about me. Just me in that big Tribeca apartment.” Leaning against the counter, her aunt looked sad.
Had Izzy brought on this sadness? Drawing her aunt in with one arm, she kissed her forehead. Aunt Cate had always seemed so independent. But losing Uncle Monty must have been so hard. “You two were so close.”
A shiver passed through her aunt, and Izzy could feel it. “I mean it,” Aunt Cate said. “You have no idea, but you will one day.”
Just as she was turning that over in her mind,Izzy’s phone rang in her back pocket. Pulling away from her aunt, she dug out her phone. “Speak of the devil. It’s Skipper.”
“Hey, what’s up?” Izzy studied her pink nails. Maybe she should switch to red. “Skipper?”
“My mom’s been taken to the hospital, and I’m there now. Something happened when she was gardening. Thank goodness the Amazon delivery guy saw her stretched out near the vegetable garden.”
