Page 7 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
“No one could be as bad as you were about that.” But her smile told Skipper that she didn't mean it.
“And now her sister Sam is in town and Marlowe too. You know they both moved here.”
“Full time? I thought they both lived in a big city somewhere?” His mother's eyebrows went up, as she studied her yarn and took up her strokes.
“Right, but they like Charlevoix. And they like being with family, I guess.”
“Well, they're lucky, aren't they? Having each other here in Charlevoix.” His mother's voice took on a sharp edge. His sister Ainsley lived in California doing what his mother considered equally useless work as a food photographer for movies. And she rarely came home. Ainsley and his mom were oil and water. The two had never gotten along.
But back to the task at hand. “They're redoing Marlowe's bedroom so things are getting pretty tight over there.” He hoped he had those details right about Izzy's sisters.
“I can only imagine.” Was his mom even listening?
“Marlowe's going to be selling real estate up here so she's not going to be around much and Sam, from what Izzy has told me, is still working with her advertising agency.”
“Sounds very nice to me. All that family, living together.”
“Actually, it's not so nice.” He had to keep this going or he'd just give up. No way could he go back to Izzy and tell her that he didn't have a deal. “Izzy worries about Holly all the time. There's stuff in the air that isn't good for a baby.”
Folding her arms across her chest, his mother now looked downright suspicious. “And what are we supposed to do about that?” Her words came slowly.
He couldn't blame her for wondering. Skipper wasn't much for conversation. This might be the longest talk he’d had with his mom for quite a while. “I was just thinking it would be real charitable to let Izzy and the baby use one of those rooms upstairs.”
Mom cocked her head to one side and readjusted her glasses. “You mean upstairs with you?”
A red flag went up. “Not with me. Definitely not. Maybe in Ainsley's room.”
He'd hit a tender subject. “Ainsley's room stays just the way it is.” His mother had this unrealistic idea that his sister would be coming home and want to use that room. Her high school prom corsageswere still on a bulletin board and it didn't look pretty.
Skipper was not giving up. “What about the sewing room up there?”
Holding out a swollen hand, Mom clenched it once or twice. “I haven't done any sewing in a long time. The knitting keeps me busy.”
“I don't want that baby getting hurt, Mom. She's so cute.”
“But she's not Izzy's baby, isn’t that right?”
Skipper forced himself to stay calm. His hands were clenched so tight, the nails were cutting into his palms. “Like I told you, Holly's adopted. And she is Izzy's baby but not the way I'm your baby.”
“And who's going to do all that cooking, Skipper? Cooking and cleaning?”
He knew that might be a sore point. “I will and I'm sure that Izzy will help out.”
His mother snorted. “That girl? She never did a lick of work when she was married to you. Why, your house was a mess. Dishes and take out boxes and bags all over.”
Had his mother been peeking into their windows while they were at work? He wouldn’t put it past her. “I’m going to help, okay?” The more he listened, the madder he got. His mother had always favored him. At least that's what his sister complained about all the time.
Skipper lifted his chin. “So what do you think?”
“I think you're crazy,” she said from between thin lips. “But I suppose we have to. For the little one, at least.”
What a relief. Every muscle in his body loosened. He would have hated to tell Izzy that his mother had refused. “Thanks, Mom. I'll let you know what the plan is. I think you're really going to like having a baby around.”
“I'd rather stick a fork in my eye,” she mumbled, picking up her knitting.
Well, he didn’t expect his mother to be excited about having Izzy at the house. But she hadn’t said no. Skipper hoped she’d come around. Shaking out his numb hands, he made his way into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Maybe he’d make Eggs Benedict for dinner with the special hollandaise sauce that his mother loved.
Even though the air from the refrigerator swept over him in a cold wave, Skipper was sweating bullets. This arrangement with Izzy had to work.
