Chapter 1 #2
“In your case dreams could be about becoming a real estate powerhouse in Charlevoix.” It hadn’t taken her sister long to develop clients in the Charlevoix market.
Pressing her lips together, Marlowe nodded. “Things really have picked up now that Gabby is concentrating on her design business.”
“Has she left the field open for you?” The older woman's friendship had made Marlowe's transition to Charlevoix easier. They’d met on a plane.
“Gabby and Chip. I have a lot to thank that couple for. But back to your dreams.”
Sam cast a look toward Sunnycrest. “Wasn't Izzy’s wedding in our backyard perfect? Great, sunny weather.”
“And the arbor you covered with blue hydrangeas.”
“The bouquets of pink echinacea and baby’s breath.”
“So you're ready to have a wedding in the backyard?” Marlowe gave her a crooked smile.
“No, Josh and I are definitely not making plans.” She turned her attention back to the lake, where the waves had decided to kick up a fuss. The breeze had grown cold. Cold and damp. Maybe it was going to rain. No more talks about Josh. “But our baby sister has everything, don’t you think?”
With the sun now gone, the beach was shrouded in a bluish gray. The young mother and her children were gone. Sam was grateful for the coming darkness. Her sister was a master at reading expressions.
Her eyes on the sandcastle, Sam’s thoughts drifted. “Do you think I’m too old to have a baby?”
Marlowe stiffened. “Don’t let that picture of Kurt's new baby make you crazy.”
The comment crushed her. Was having a baby totally ridiculous? Probably. She’d read an article recently about “geriatric mothers” in their thirties and forties. And it hadn’t been encouraging.
“Sorry, Sam. Really I am.” Marlowe spoke slowly as if she were choosing her words carefully. “Have you and Josh talked about this? Where’s this coming from?”
“No, never. Josh is happy with his two kids.”
“Doctors often have large families,” Marlowe said crisply. “They have access to nannies and college tuition isn’t a problem. Maybe he’d entertain the idea. What brought this on?”
Picking up a stone, Sam clutched it in her palm. “Being around Holly makes me think. If I don't have any babies and if you don't either, Holly won't ever have any cousins.”
Marlowe seemed to think that over. No cousins. The three of them had hated that. “There's always Skipper's sister,” she finally said. “She's younger than we are. Ainsley could be a prime candidate for motherhood. Then Holly would have cousins.”
“I don't think Ainsley’s seeing anyone.”
“We'll have to send Aunt Cate a memo. She always seems to have a list of eligible bachelors at her beck and call.”
Sam’s snort turned into a giggle and Marlowe joined in. The laughter died and the moon rose slowly over the water.
“Wasn't Holly darling at the wedding?”
“She stole the show. But Izzy didn't mind. Holly tossed those flowers every which way and Piper went nuts snapping at them.” Not every girl had their dog in the wedding procession. But that was Izzy.
“Enough about dreams. Planning on doing anything with those stones?” Marlowe grabbed a handful from the pile.
“Nope.” Sam got to her feet. She knew what was coming.
“Time to toss these suckers to the lake goddess who grants all wishes.” Her sister ran to the water’s edge and Sam followed.
“Here’s for Kurt,” Marlowe hollered and Sam was so glad the young family was gone. “May he be awakened for every night feeding!” Marlowe sure knew how to flick her wrist. The stone skipped across three foamy waves.
Now it was Sam’s turn. “And here’s to Izzy. May she enjoy family life!”
One by one, they tossed the stones, making wishes. Some stones skipped and some sank. By the end they were laughing and breathless. Marlowe didn’t notice when Sam tucked her last stone into her pocket.
Arm in arm, they climbed the dune toward home. “I’m volunteering at the hospital,” Sam said.
“That’s great. Reception desk?” Sunnycrest above them rose like a beacon in the night, half its windows ablaze.
“Nope the nursery. Maybe it’s Holly’s influence. They have a special birthing suite. Everything happens in one room. Isn’t that fascinating?”
“I can't believe I'm hearing this.” Her sister looked at Sam as if she’d morphed into a unicorn.
“Okay, I was surprised by my reaction.” Sam hadn’t wanted to leave the unit when the tour for new volunteers moved on.
Who cared about orthopedics or the surgery waiting room?
“Those babies were so tiny, Marlowe. So sweet. The tour guide said most of the time the babies stay with their mothers. But sometimes the mothers want to rest. A volunteer was rocking an unhappy baby until the little guy simmered down.” She smiled, remembering.
For a couple minutes Marlowe said nothing. They kept plowing through the sand. Did her sister think Sam was crazy?
“You still going to do bingo with us?” Marlowe had moved on to another concern. The three sisters rotated volunteering at Tall Oaks Retirement Community on Thursdays.
“Sure. I have two salespeople who are stepping up to the plate with my clients. You know, young and ambitious. They handle things pretty well. I have the time.” Sam felt a deep need to do more than work at Ramsey and Associates.
They’d reached their backyard and headed for the spigot at the back deck.
“That’s great,” Marlowe said, grabbing the hose and spritzing her feet. “Nice to see you blending into the community.”
“Blending,” she teased, grabbing the hose and handing Marlowe the beach towel they kept outside.
Sitting down, Marlowe dried her feet while Sam spritzed off the sand off her own. They didn’t want to ruin the new floors. “You know what I mean?”
“Yes, I do.” When they got inside, Aunt Cate was on the side porch and they joined her. After a few Oreos, Sam went up to her room, her fingers still rubbing the stone she’d saved in her pocket.