Page 58 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
“No, Skipper. Please listen to me. I know it’s hard to believe but this is the new Izzy.” She laced her fingers through his and tugged him back. This time he didn’t resist. Instead he came closer until she could see that he needed a shave, see the ripple of the red scar she’d caused on his forehead.
“You’re feeling this way today because my mom’s not well,” he said. “I don’t want your pity.”
“That’s not what this is. This is love andeverything that goes with it. Please let me be here for you.” She’d never been more serious in her life.
His eyes narrowed. “That’s today. But what about tomorrow? And next week?”
“Tomorrow?” Izzy deserved his doubts. But she was hanging in there. “I hope you’re going to be my tomorrow.”
Saying the words brought her whole world together. And his kiss? That sealed the deal. When his phone rang, they pulled apart. Probably a good thing because they were on the verge of causing a scene in the parking lot. He looked dazed and she felt like she’d take a ride on a spaceship.
“Mom’s back in the room.” Hand in hand, they raced toward the door of the hospital.
In the end, his mother hadn’t eaten her lunch that day. She’d forgotten. And she’d also forgotten to take her meds. The next day they brought her home. Holly was excited to see her. She patted the sofa next to her with one little hand until Irene sat down to watchSesame Street.
Chapter 26
Two months later
Cate
What a wonderful day. Sitting in the back garden, Cate was so glad that Sam had a chance to plant the flower beds at Sunnycrest. Blue hydrangeas now could be found both in the front and back. Her sister Joanne would be so pleased since she’d planted the first hydrangea bushes so long ago. Now the blue beauties had their rightful place in Izzy’s wedding. Clusters of baby’s breath were banked in the back flower beds, along with pink echinacea and bold pink petunias.
Izzy had used lots of baby’s breath for her bouquet, as well as the flowers her bridesmaids carried. Inside the house, the caterer was fussing with the wedding cake, which would be topped by blue hydrangeas. Cate found that very original.
That girl. With a little help from her sisters, Izzyhad planned everything. And now Cate was sitting in the mother-of-the -bride seat.Jo, I know you’re here with us. And I know you approve.And Monty, the same to you. Taking a handkerchief from her beaded clutch, Cate dabbed at her eyes. A deep sense of family surrounded her and she felt their blessing.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she whispered to Irene, who was sitting next to her. Today Irene looked especially pretty in an aqua dress with a matching jacket. Izzy had helped pick it out, and Irene still raved about that shopping trip. She’d learned to hook shopping bags on her walker. As long as she stayed on her medications, Skipper’s mother seemed to do very well. Her contentment overflowing, Cate smoothed her pink silk dress, peeking down at her clear plastic wedgies with embedded pink roses.
A pianist played “Ode to Joy” on a keyboard in back of the rows of chairs, now swathed in white linen and topped by pink bows. Cate’s heart swelled along with the popular classic piece. How she’d wished for this day. If Monty were here with her, he’d be equally pleased. He’d always liked Skipper. Thought he had good values and that he really loved Izzy.
Behind them, guests were filling in. Well, there would be plenty of time to visit later. Cate wanted this peaceful moment to sit there with Irene, relishing the wedding that she’d hoped would come about someday. And sure, she may have given it a little nudge or twoalong the way. The girls never seemed to mind. Well, most of the time. “How do you like your new home?” she asked Irene. Recently, Skipper had bought a larger house on the outskirts of town. She imagined that letting their old home go might have been difficult for his mother.
But Irene’s face lit up, almost as bright as her hot pink nails. “Oh, it’s wonderful. You’ll have to come visit. That grandmother suite in the back is perfect. Holly likes to play house back there with me.”
“I’m so glad the kids decided to make that move. I admire you for supporting the change. Must have been hard.” Cate wondered how many years the Malone family had lived in their home.
Irene patted her gray hair, styled in waves for today. “It helped when my daughter came to town. You know, after my spell in the garden. Ainsley pointed out that the house was too small and very dated.”
“Oh, yes, of course. We were all so glad you recovered.” What a nightmare that had been. But sometimes stressful times can bring about good decisions. Something magical had happened after Irene’s stint in the hospital. Darling Izzy had finally seen the light and realized that Skipper was the one for her. Cate wasn’t the only person who thought that was plain as the nose on her face. But Izzy had to realize that herself. The Quinn girls could be quite stubborn.
“Ainsley had a fit when she saw that we didn’t even have a dishwasher,” Irene continued.
“Isn’t it wonderful not to wash everything by hand?”
“I don’t know why I held out.” When Irene shook her head, her waves never moved. “I’ve never been one for change. Anyway, Ainsley told me that the bathrooms needed remodeling too. It was too much to take on.”
“Yes, Isabel said that you didn’t want to live through the chaos we had remodeling everything.” In the past few months, Cate had enough of that herself.
“No, I really couldn’t stand that. Bad for my heart.”
Cate hid her smile and bit her tongue. Izzy had told her that her future mother-in-law now used that excuse anytime something wasn’t going her way
Although renovating Sunnycrest had seemed like a great idea last winter, the remodeling had brought more upsets than they’d anticipated. Her nieces had navigated all the moving around pretty well. In the end, the changes in color and style had been spectacular. And now? Who knew which family members would end up living in the renovated home.
Cate was there, and yes, she loved the new color scheme, including the white mantelpiece with its gilded edges. Very French Provincial. Glancing over to the new firepit, she imagined theywould all end up there tonight after the party. Recently, they’d had many gatherings of friends and family around that firepit. The circle seemed to grow larger with each glowing fire.
The pianist switched to the wedding march and the familiar tune called everyone to attention. Excitement shivered through Cate, and she sat up straight. This is it, Jo. This is it!While her heart pounded, they all stood and turned. Skipper had quietly walked up from the side, followed by the groomsmen, who joined him at the white arbor dripping with pink echinaceas and blue hydrangeas. The handsome group included all the men who were important to the Quinns and she was so proud of them all. They had decided to wear sport coats and khaki pants, which seemed very practical for everyone. Whether the jacket was navy or pale blue, each man wore a pink echinacea in his buttonhole.
