Chapter 5
Chapter Five
ISABEL
I zzy’s stomach twisted as she watched her sister’s smile disappear. She was handling this all wrong. But what could she do? She’d put off telling her sisters about Holly. And now? Things had to be cleared up. She’d kept this a secret for too long, waiting for the right time.
Wasn’t Christmas a time of hope? She’d hoped Sam would understand. Izzy was so tired of being the sister who never got things right.
Holly started to wiggle in her arms, the baby's feet kicking against her midsection. This little girl was going to be walking pretty soon. Going over to the refrigerator door she yanked it open and grabbed a bottle.
“Don't slip on the waffle batter,” her sister said through white lips.
Whisking a towel from the counter, Izzy draped it over the mess on the floor. That should be enough for now. Then she slid Holly into the highchair. Scooping up a box of Lucky Charms in the pantry, she sprinkled some on the tray. Holly didn't need any encouragement. Using her chubby little fingers, she began to lift them one at a time and pop them into her mouth. Izzy smiled at her sounds of contentment.
The kitchen had become very quiet. But oh my, the food sure looked good. Strips of brown sugar bacon were arranged on a plate in the center of the table. Sam had collapsed into a chair and Izzy wanted to hug her. But first she had to explain. Her mind spinning, Izzy took the chair across from her. The bacon smelled so good. Grabbing a piece, she began to munch. What should she say?
“When were you going to tell me?” Sam whispered.
Getting up, Izzy poured orange juice for both of them. “I was working up to it.”
“So I'm an aunt.” Sam looked stunned.
“Yes, yes you are.” Izzy was hoping her sister could be happy about that.
“And could I ask... who is the father?”
Munching her crusty bacon, Izzy hoped she wouldn’t choke on it. “I don't know.”
“You don't know!” Sam started to cough and she lifted her glass of orange juice. Izzy’s sister kept glancing over to the baby as if she couldn't believe her baby sister’s news. Izzy had to straighten things out. She wasn’t a child anymore.
“I haven't been in close touch recently,” Sam said in a strained voice.
Isabel frowned. “The past year I hardly ever heard from you.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Samantha’s voice was strangled.
If her sister didn't approve of what she'd done, Izzy would learn to live with that. But it would hurt. “I don't know who the father is because Holly is adopted.”
Samantha gave her a startled look. “Adopted? Is that possible for single women?”
Her sister was seriously behind the times. “Of course it is. I have my own business. And a family home.”
Sam waved a hand in the air. “So you wanted a baby and decided to adopt one?”
Snatching a new piece of bacon, Isabel bit down. “Boy, this bacon tastes good. Thanks for making it.”
But her sister was shaking her head. Sam wanted more details.
Izzy swallowed. “Well, it wasn't easy, if you must know. It took forever.” All those forms. All those questions. And all the money Izzy didn’t have.
A wave of understanding cleared the confusion from her sister’s face. Sam could be like that once she had the facts. “Let me guess. Aunt Cate helped you. She’s the one with the legal expertise.”
“You've got that right.” The adoption had been a miracle, and she’d be eternally grateful to Aunt Cate. But this wasn't the time to go into all that. Sam looked upset. And Izzy couldn’t blame her. How could her big sister with her perfect life ever understand?
“Does Marlowe know?”
Heat flooded Izzy’s face. “No. She doesn't know. Do you think she’ll, you know, be mad?”
Samantha's face lightened a bit. That frown line between her eyes eased. The nervousness chattering in Izzy’s stomach calmed. Since Marlowe had also been kept in the dark, this situation might be easier for Sam to accept.
“I can’t speak for Marlowe, but I’m still trying to get my mind around it.” Sam’s eyes drifted to Holly, as if the baby had dropped from the skies. Unaware of the tension, the baby was talking to herself as she gummed her Lucky Charms. Izzy couldn’t wait until those sounds became words. When Piper pattered into the room, Holly tossed some cereal onto the floor. Piper was thrilled. Giggling, the baby peered over the tray while the dog got up on her hind legs and begged for more.
“Holly, no.” Escaping into the pantry, Izzy got a little bag of dog treats and scattered a few onto the highchair tray. “Give those to the dog.”
But her little girl promptly ate them.
Sitting there stupefied, Sam missed the drama. Why, oh why had Izzy waited so long? Because she wasn’t brave enough. And that stung. If Aunt Cate hadn’t pressed her this Christmas about sharing her news, Izzy might still be waiting. Delaying because she couldn’t face the possibility of disappointing her sisters again.
“In the last couple of years you haven't seemed to be that interested in what was going on in Charlevoix.”
“That's not fair.” Sam’s frown deepened.
But Izzy was a mother now and she had to speak up for herself. “And it's also not fair that you're questioning me about a very important decision that I had to make.”
“Had to make?”
“Well, wanted to make.” Oh, why wouldn’t the right words come? “You were going to come up here last summer. I was going to tell you then.”
“Then things happened. I invited you to Chicago instead.”
“Right but I’m busy too. My coffee shop and everything.” Oh, Debbie would have covered for her. That could have been worked out. But Sam hadn’t seemed too enthusiastic when she’d issued her invitation. The timing wasn’t right. That’s what Izzy had told herself. It had been easy to give Sam the excuse that summer was her busiest time at Coffee and Cupcakes.
Silence filled the kitchen. All the warm Christmas feelings they’d shared in front of the tree the night before had vanished. The only sound was the tick of the sunshine clock up on the wall. Outside the kitchen window the sky had lightened to gray. Isabel had to get going. “I have to get ready for work.”
Running a hand over her forehead, Samantha didn't look well. Piper had curled up under the highchair. Glancing over, Isabel saw the dog's bowl was empty. Getting up, she walked into the pantry to get the bag of dog food. As she was unrolling the top, she saw the calendar--something she'd hadn't had a chance to look at in a while. She'd been so busy with the Christmas rush at Coffee and Cupcakes. She did have Sam’s arrival marked for yesterday. Seeing her handwritten note on the calendar, Isabel thought she’d drop the bag of dog food. And that wasn’t all.
“I need to ask a favor.” Her voice quavered a bit.
Her sister's chin came up. “Sure. What is it?”
“I have to open the shop in an hour, but I told Aunt Cate I'd pick her up at the Traverse City airport at ten thirty.” Izzy's heart was pounding in her chest. How had she gotten this so messed up?
“Aunt Cate’s coming?” She watched her sister's eyebrows disappear into her bangs. “And you’re telling me this now?” The kitchen hadn't warmed up yet, and Samantha zipped her partially opened hoodie up to her chin.
A sense of impending failure swamped Izzy. “I must have had your arrival mixed up with Aunt Cate’s.” But that didn’t make any sense at all. She could picture Aunt Cate at the airport scanning the crowds in the baggage area. “Please, Sam.”
Sam’s shoulders squared. "Of course."
“Thank you,” she managed in a tiny voice. The voice she’d used when she was a little girl who adored her big sisters. Izzy would explain later. All she needed was some time. That’s what she’d wanted for the past months. She wanted to tell her sisters about Holly when Aunt Cate was there. Moral support. That's what she needed. Izzy didn’t know why Aunt Cate didn’t want Sam to know that she was coming to Sunnycrest for Christmas. But she never questioned her aunt. Not after everything Aunt Cate had done for her.
Finished munching her dog treats, Holly had picked up her sippy cup and was attempting to drink from it. She was such a spunky little girl. Isabel enjoyed every minute with her miracle baby.
Samantha went to the window. “At least the snow has stopped.” The morning sun sparkled across the white expanse out back. “Remember when we used to sled down the hill out back?” Their parents had given them red plastic saucers that sped quickly across the crusted snow.
“I'll have to try to find those saucers Dad bought for us that Christmas so long ago. Maybe they’re up in the attic.”
Was Sam even listening? Stooping, her older sister had started to clean up the mess on the floor. From time to time she’d glanced up at Holly as if she couldn’t believe the toddler was sitting there. Walking over, Izzy unplugged the waffle iron. When was the last time she’d used it? Now that she had Holly, wouldn’t it be fun to make waffles? But right now she had to get to work.