Chapter 6
Chapter Six
SAMANTHA
A s Siri guided Sam to the Traverse City airport, she had a lot more on her mind than holiday traffic or the snow bordering the highway. That darling little girl belonged to her baby sister. How had that happened? Had Sam been too preoccupied with her marital problems over the last couple of years to notice what was going on with her family? She felt terrible.
Christmas music played on the radio, but Sam was in no mood. She snapped the radio off. Her mind whirled as she drove south and followed the signs. The plows had done a great job and the roads were clear. But Sam hadn’t quite recovered from her drive yesterday. At least, that was her excuse for feeling so upset.
Aunt Cate. Sam loved her like crazy, but she had out-maneuvered Sam again. Oh, her aunt had known about the baby all right. Sam had no doubt about that. When she’d pressed Sam to travel to Charlevoix for Christmas, Sam had assumed that once again Izzy had messed up. Aunt Cate wanted her to fix something. And at the time, Sam was up for it. Fixing her sister’s latest problem would take Sam’s mind off her recent divorce, the breakup she’d never seen coming.
The situation had changed and Sam was looking forward to seeing her aunt. Aunt Cate had always been able to make sense of the world when things went wrong. Snow crunched under her tires as she pulled into the parking area. It was holiday season and she had a hard time finding a parking place. But finally she spotted a car pulling out. Drumming her fingers on the steering wheel, she waited and then parked. Locking up, she was on her way into the small airport where Christmas trees and holiday garland were everywhere.
Checking the incoming flights, she was relieved to see that her aunt’s plane was on time. Thank goodness because she didn’t want to waste hours sitting around an airport. Canceled and delayed flights had become all too common. Sam didn’t need that today. She found her way to the waiting area and took a seat. This part of the state was cherry country and a gift shop sported cherry designs on everything from oven mitts to stationery. Waiting with her were other excited family members or so she imagined. Everyone was bundled up, wearing knitted caps, winter coats, boots and eager smiles.
But anxiety got the best of her, and Sam was soon on her feet pacing the concourse. Aunt Cate had known all along about Izzy’s baby. Sam was still trying to wrap her mind around the idea of her baby sister having a child. And an adopted child at that. Admiration began to grow within her. How had Izzy pulled that off and why had she kept it to herself? Part of her was irritated and hurt about the deception but on a deeper level, Sam was impressed. The carols playing over the sound system and all the gaily decorated trees in the gift shop lifted her mood.
Thank goodness Aunt Cate's flight landed on time. Before too long her stylish aunt came swinging up the ramp trundling a wheeled carryon. Although her mother had always worn her hair shoulder length, Aunt Cate had gone for a more clipped style. She was a woman who wore large earrings with flair and this morning was no exception. With her camel hair cape and leather boots to match, she projected a definite New York vibe. The bright red scarf was a nod to the season and so was her lipstick. Although they spoke frequently, it had been a long time since they'd seen each other. Too long. When Aunt Cate opened her arms, Samantha threw herself into them.
“Darling! What a nice surprise. I thought Isabel was coming.” Aunt Cate gave her a tight hug.
For a second Samantha couldn't speak. She was overcome. This was what she needed this holiday season. A warm embrace. An aunt who knew her better than she knew herself.
“Izzy had to open up her shop. I'm so glad to see you,” she finally managed to mutter through a cloud of her aunt’s ridiculously expensive Baccarat Rouge 540. “Even though you have a lot of explaining to do.”
With one of her gutsy chuckles, Aunt Cate pulled back and smiled. “Plenty of time for that, dear. I figured you'd have questions.” Arm in arm, they walked off to pick up her luggage. As they waited at the carousel, Sam could feel her aunt giving her a quizzical smile. “So did you have any surprises at the house?” her aunt asked.
“You stinker.” Sam could hardly contain herself. “You know darn well I did.”
Another light-hearted laugh from Aunt Cate, who was skilled at shifting the topic to the weather. That blasted holiday snow. Apparently, New York was also full of the white stuff. Her suitcase eventually came twirling around on the carousel. Samantha grabbed the leather and canvas monogramed bag that matched her aunt’s carryon and off they went. Snow crunched beneath their feet as they walked toward the SUV.
“When did you get here?” Aunt Cate asked as Sam clicked open the hatch and lifted her aunt’s suitcase into the back.
“Yesterday. But there was some confusion. Apparently Izzy thought that I was coming today.”
Giving a shake of her head, Aunt Cate got in on the passenger side. “That girl has so much on her plate, doesn’t she?”
“I’ll say.” And they were off. Her aunt was here and now was the time to ask questions, but Samantha didn’t know where to start. “Still practicing law?” Today nothing would surprise her.
“To a certain degree. You know, after your uncle passed away five years ago, I brought more associates into the firm. They can handle everything. At least I tell myself they can.” And she gave a laugh. Aunt Cate must be an inspiration to the people who worked for her. “The holidays are usually quiet in the courts,” her aunt continued. “Let’s hope they stay that way. How about you?”
By that time they were headed up Highway 31. “I’m a little confused, Aunt Cate.”
She didn’t have to turn her head to sense her aunt’s nod. “Yes, I know, dear. And I’m sorry if you feel blindsided.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Frustration churned in Samantha’s stomach. “You could have given me a heads up. I thought I might be coming for another one of Izzy’s weddings, not a baby.”
Crossing her legs, her aunt seemed to be studying her boots. Leave it to fashionable Aunt Cate to show up with buff-colored leather boots while Sam herself was wearing Totes, serviceable but certainly not fashionable.
Her aunt seemed to be thinking over her last comment. Traffic breezed passed them, but Sam was content to travel in the right-hand lane. Right now she had a lot on her mind. “To tell you the truth, Sam,” Aunt Cate finally said. “I was afraid you might not come.”
“Hey, that’s insulting.” Her aunt’s words stung. “Why wouldn’t I come? This is my family and obviously I’ve missed something major.”
“Maybe I was wrong but I decided it might be better if this was something you thought you could fix. I haven’t spent time with Holly but I have seen pictures. And I know how much Izzy loves her. There will be no fixing this. No need.”
Her aunt knew her too well. For years, Samantha had been inserting herself into Izzy’s problems to help solve them. When Isabel married Skipper Malone right out of high school, Samantha had been appalled. Her sister didn’t want to go to college. With angry tears in her eyes, Izzy had told her that college was Samantha’s thing or Marlowe’s. Izzy wanted to live her own life. She’d be fine.
The words had been brave and delivered in a trembling voice, although Samantha had held her doubts. By that time, her folks had been gone for some time. Wouldn’t they have wanted more for Isabel?
Skipper lived in Charlevoix and had been a summer’s crush, or so Sam had thought back then. Her aunt and uncle seemed to go along with Isabel’s decision. Aunt Cate had helped plan a sweet wedding up at the house. A bridal tent and a designer dress. The stuff dreams were made of, and Sam had gone along with it because there was nothing she could do about it.
But inside, she’d been aching. By that time Sam and Kurt had been married for a short time. They’d met in the University of Chicago’s MBA program and had planned their life together. Izzy’s marriage to Skipper had seemed too sentimental, too romantic to last. But what could she do?
Sam and Marlowe had been bridesmaids. Uncle Monty had walked Izzy down the grassy aisle between rows of white linen chairs with gigantic bows. The reception had been catered by a local service. The tables set out back under the trees had been lovely, filled with peonies. Somehow Aunt Cate managed to produce Izzy’s favorite, even though they were out of season.
But their parents had been missing. If they had still been alive, certainly Mom and Dad would have been able to talk sense into Izzy. Sam and Marlowe had failed. And if she were to admit it today, Samantha never believed in Izzy’s first marriage and was not surprised to see it end two years later. Izzy had quickly followed up with a second marriage that had lasted a little longer, three years, but with little success.
And now this. One more thing. And you could not give a child back after you’d adopted her, or so she imagined.
“I didn’t realize that single women could adopt babies.” Sam would start there. “But you would be more aware of the legalities of that.”
“Izzy’s decision was a surprise, I will admit that,” Aunt Cate said slowly. “But she had her reasons and I totally understood them.”
“She never shared this with me,” Sam sputtered.
“I talked to her about that, Sam. I really did. Has it ever occurred to you that Isabel is somewhat intimidated by you?”
Now that hurt. The truck up ahead was going much too slow. Putting on her blinker, Sam got in the left hand lane and zoomed past. That was so unlike her and had her aunt gripping the door handle. “Are you saying that Izzy was afraid to tell me about the baby?” How could Izzy feel that way? After all, they were sisters. Sam settled down to drive.
“I really can’t speak for her. You two will have to work that out, but she was so excited about Holly.”
“And you helped her. You know, with all the legalities and everything.” Samantha tried to keep any accusation from bleeding into her tone.
“I located an attorney up here who could handle it. We worked together.”
“And I imagine there were certain costs too.” Now they were getting into very sensitive territory.
“Of course. As you know, I’m the executor of your parents’ will.”
After her parents passed away from that terrible crash during Christmas season twenty-four years ago, she was a bit surprised to hear that her father had bought life insurance sometime before. Since he was a teacher making a modest living and Mom only had her seamstress business, the life insurance seemed like a practical thing to do. Her father had always made conservative, practical decisions.
Having Aunt Cate as the executor of the will also made a lot of sense. Sam had only been seventeen when their life was turned upside down. Although she’d protested that she could handle taking care of her younger sisters, her aunt and uncle thought otherwise. And in the end, Sam had been relieved to have Aunt Cate move in for that first year.
At that time Sam’s family was living in Naperville, a suburb of Chicago where their father taught high school. With time the house had appreciated quite a bit. They kept the house until Sam had married and Marlowe had moved to Naples, Florida. Eventually, Sam and Kurt purchased their own home in Oak Brook, west of Chicago.
The decision to keep the Charlevoix house had been a no-brainer. Sunnycrest had been in their mother’s family for decades, and parting with it would have been painful. After their wedding Izzy and Skipper had lived in the home. Following the divorce Izzy was so distraught that they’d all insisted she stay on there. Her second husband probably had been grateful to move into the house, although the sheer size of it could be overwhelming.
The three of them frequently invited Izzy to come visit. But for Cate, Sam and Marlowe, breaking away from work to go to Charlevoix was difficult. Although Sam had asked her to come to Chicago and live with them, Izzy wasn’t having it. She loved the small town feel of Charlevoix.
Sam had always suspected that their aunt and uncle had made keeping the house possible. She’d been more than relieved to have her aunt handle taxes and other house-related matters. With time, Sam and Marlowe had insisted on paying their fair share, but their aunt and uncle had always been vague about the finances.
“So you advanced funds to Isabel from the estate.”
“Yes. But there really isn’t much left in the trust. We’ll all have to talk about that soon. There’s the Charlevoix house of course. But since Monty and I have always considered you girls as our children, especially after your parents’ accident, we were happy to help out. It’s been a joy to watch you enjoy your lives while we’re still here.”
Enjoying her life? Was that what Sam was doing? But her personal mess wasn’t her aunt’s fault. Reaching over, Samantha squeezed Aunt Cate’s hand. Over the years she’d been wonderful to them and had helped ease the loss of their parents. She didn’t want her aunt to think that she wasn’t grateful. Sam was only trying to understand why Izzy hadn’t told her about the adoption. “I’m surprised. That’s all. And I guess I’m kicking myself because I never asked enough questions.” The exit for Charlevoix was coming up.
“And now you have a chance to set everything right.”
The words brought a lump to her throat. “That’s a tall order isn’t it?” What was Aunt Cate expecting?
“Trust me, you are up to the challenge.” Her aunt checked her Patek Philippe watch. “Where is Isabel right now?”
“At the shop. And the baby’s with her.”
“Excellent.” Glancing in the mirror, Sam watched her aunt squeeze her hands together under her chin as if this was the best news ever. “Why don’t we zip over and surprise her?”
Sam glanced down at her gray warmup suit. “Don’t you want to freshen up first?” How popular was her sister’s coffee shop? At least Sam had pulled on a bright green quilted vest. But she hadn’t bothered with makeup and her hair was pulled into pigtails.
Whipping out her lipstick and a small hand mirror, Aunt Cate dabbed her lips. “Trust me, at this age you really don’t care. Not with relatives.”
Easy for her to say. Her aunt always took care with herself. Stop in at Coffee and Cupcakes? Why not? Sam was eager to see the shop and she was hungry. Izzy’s announcement that morning had taken away Sam’s appetite. But after the conversation with her aunt, it had come roaring back. She hoped Izzy’s Coffee and Cupcakes wouldn’t hold any more surprises.