Chapter 20
Isabel
“Ialways knew it would come in handy having a brother as a pastry chef.” Ainsley pointed her fork toward the final sliver of apple tart on her plate. “Honestly, Izzy, I don’t know why you’re not gaining weight
“It’s not easy, believe me.” Izzy scraped up the last of her own tart.
In her highchair, Holly was diligently spooning vanilla ice cream into her mouth—until the spoon became too slow. Letting the spoon clatter to the floor, she scooped up a handful, crowing with delight at the mess she was making. Piper grabbed the spoon and ran off with it.
Smiling, Irene got up and began gathering plates. Holly could do no wrong in her grandmother’s eyes.
“I told you I’d do that, Mom,” Skipper said, coming back with the spoon, washing it off and handing it back to Holly.
Pulling back from the table, Izzy pushed up. “My turn to do the dishes.” What a relief that their new house had a dishwasher.
Ainsley was studying her fresh manicure. Izzy fought the usual spark of irritation. Skipper’s sister still hadn’t found a job, yet she sure didn’t contribute much around the house. Irene never seemed to notice or mind.
“So how’s the baby-making coming?” Ainsley asked, too casually.
Izzy’s spine stiffened. She’d made it plain with Skipper that it was too early to tell her sister. But the news must have slipped out.
Skipper threw Izzy an apologetic look that said Sorry, babe. Clearly he had no intention of answering that loaded question.
“Pretty good.” Izzy tried to keep her tone light. No way would she share. That was all Ainsley was going to get. She and Skipper had agreed not to share details until they had real news.
“What will be, will be,” Irene murmured, wiping down the new kitchen table.
A long stretch of wood with a beautiful grain, the table had been a house gift from Seth Barrett.
Some woodworkers had owed him a favor, or so Seth said.
A generous guy, Seth always knew people.
In this case, Izzy suspected that Seth’s dad had made the table.
Jeb was a skilled carpenter who often worked with his son on projects.
Izzy knew Irene tried to act casual about the whole “grandbaby” plan, but secretly the woman had probably already started gathering baby clothes.
“As I told you,” Ainsley said breezily, “if your sisters can’t come through, my uterus is yours. For a price.”
Irene shot her daughter a horrified look. “Really, Ainsley.”
“What? That’s basically how they do it, right?
No woman would go through that for nothing.
” Ainsley shrugged, carried her empty plate to the counter, and started up the stairs to the suite she shared with Irene.
“And I still don’t see why I can’t take that nice downstairs bedroom. That suite is getting awful small.”
Skipper’s face turned red. Izzy couldn’t bring herself to meet Irene’s eyes.
“We’re saving that room for the baby,” Izzy said. Had Skipper also shared that information with his family?
“So that’s it? I’m not as important as the baby?” Ainsley’s tone had a sharp edge, like she was spoiling for an argument.
Hands on hips, Skipper looked like he was holding himself in check. The poor man was outnumbered in this house every day of his life. Cranky estrogen roamed from room to room.
“More!” Holly thumped her spoon on the tray.
Skipper turned toward their baby girl and Ainsley disappeared.
“More, Mom?” he asked, looking over at Izzy.
Izzy shook her head. “Oh Skippy, she’s already had too much sugar.”
Irene’s hand was already on the freezer door. She was ready to give in, as usual. But at Izzy’s words she gently turned away and untied her apron. “Mind if I watch TV down here?”
“You’re always welcome,” Izzy said. She meant it and started to clear the table. Though Irene had a little sitting area upstairs, Izzy didn’t want her to feel unwelcome in the main house. Izzy couldn’t blame her for not wanting to be around Ainsley all the time.
Skipper reached for Holly’s empty ice-cream bowl just as Holly looked up and batted her eye lashes. “Oh Skippy, more?”
Izzy nearly dropped the plate in her hands.
Had he been encouraging Holly to call him by the pet name Izzy sometimes used with him?
But her husband looked ready to pass out.
Falling back, he grabbed the edge of the table.
His chest was heaving, like it was battling a chuckle. Did he think this was funny?
“That little minx,” Irene said, laughing. “How long has she been doing that?”
“A couple days,” Skipper admitted. “I don’t know why.”
Crouching beside her daughter, Izzy pointed up at Skipper, who looked totally out of his element. “Honey, this is Daddy. Not Skippy.”
Holly’s face scrunched in confusion. Izzy lifted her baby out of the highchair.
She was always afraid her wiggly toddler might topple onto her head.
Izzy managed to wipe her chin with the bib.
Holly’s lower lip trembled. Being told no never went over well.
She struggled to get down and Izzy carefully set her on the floor.
Walking was still new to her, but Holly didn’t know that yet.
She barreled her way into anything and falls were common.
“TV, Gamma,” Holly declared, as if she were laying down the law. Then she toddled off toward the living room, where Irene rushed to make room on the couch.
“I think I just got told off by a two-year-old.” Skipper looked stunned.
“Let’s get out of here,” Izzy whispered. Sometimes the weight of all this family felt like too much.
“Great idea.” Skipper grabbed his corduroy jacket and held out Izzy’s bulky sweater. “Mom, we’re going for a walk!” he called out.
“Good. We’re fine here.” Irene loved watching TV with her granddaughter.
Night settled fast in northern Michigan. The gravel crunched underfoot as they walked toward the dark road. Pockets of stars peeked from restless clouds.
Skipper slung an arm around Izzy’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Okay, sweet thing. What’s going on? You’ve been so tense lately. Even at work. A little… snappish.”
Izzy winced at the word. She hated it when he noticed her mood. Even more, she hated that he was right. She’d snapped at Debbie earlier for something minor, like where to place the fresh chocolate croissants.
“I’m sorry.” Izzy scrubbed one hand against her forehead. “I keep thinking about our baby plans. I want this so badly.”
“I know.” He squeezed her shoulder. “It’s huge and I want it too.”
“It’s our family,” she whispered, voice cracking. “Family is everything.”
Skipper stopped walking and turned to wrap both arms around her. She loved feeling tiny in his arms. “Oh, babe. You’ve got to detach a little. This is going to be a long process.”
“Detach?” she sputtered. “Me? What about your mother?”
“What about her?”
She pulled back so she could glare up at him. Men. Sometimes they could be clueless. She broke away.
“I went upstairs earlier and she was putting pink and blue onesies into a drawer.”
“What are onesies?” He gave her a blank look.
“Baby clothes! And when I asked what they were for, she mumbled something about a friend’s garage sale coming up.
Your mom slammed the drawer like she was hiding contraband.
After she left, I circled back and peeked.
She’s got a rainbow of baby outfits in there for an infant.
And they sure looked new. I knew you’d told them. ”
“I’m so sorry about that. It just slipped out.” Skipper chuckled softly. “It’s exciting, Izzy and I wanted to share it. Let Mom dream a little.”
She couldn’t argue with him about that. Maybe marriage meant that you shared confidential family news. And a baby would be big family news.
He kissed her forehead, eyes searching hers. “Is there something else you’re not telling me?”
Izzy couldn’t hide anything from him. Her husband could be infuriating.
“Marlowe told the doctor she’d sign whatever liability waiver she needed. At first Dr. Fielding thought this was very unusual. Marlowe was old to be having a baby, even though she’s in great shape.”
He frowned. “What did Marlowe say to that?”
“Well, you know Marlowe. After a heart-to-heart conversation, the doctor changed her mind. Marlowe can be so persuasive.” Izzy smiled and shook her head. “Total Marlowe move. She won over the doctor. I don’t know what she said, but Dr. Fielding said she didn’t need any paperwork.”
“What about Sam?”
“Either one, Dr. Fielding is onboard.”
“Hmm. That’s great.” They started walking again.
Although Izzy hated to think of other possibilities, she had to face reality. “But if neither of them qualifies, we’ll have to use someone from the database. And that’s expensive.” She hoped that wouldn’t happen.
“We’ll figure it out.” Reaching over, Skipper began to massage her neck. She loved it when he did that. “Didn’t Aunt Cate say she’d help if it came to that? You know, paying for a surrogate.”
“She did. But she’s already done so much. Sometimes I feel guilty”
“I don’t think your aunt would want you to feel that way. You know that, right?” Dropping his hand, Skipper bent to pick up a golden maple leaf from the gravel. He twirled it between his fingers before letting it drift away on the wind.
“You’re right. She wouldn’t. They love Holly so much. And she may be the only baby we’ll all have. You know, to fuss over. Buy frilly dresses for.”
“Hold on.” Skipper stopped. “What if it’s a boy? I’d like to teach our little dude to throw a football.”
Of course he did. Why hadn’t she thought of that? She took his hand, and they started walking again. “You’re right. I’d like that too.” Hadn’t Izzy dreamed recently about a little guy with blonde hair and Skipper’s blue eyes?
“So what’s next?” he asked.
“One appointment leads to another. Sam’s got a cardiologist next. She hasn’t had a physical in years. Between the business and the divorce, she didn’t have time. Anyway, we’re a healthy group of women.”
He nodded. “And Marlowe’s busy with work and Brad.”
“Right. She has an appointment with a psychologist.”
“Ah, a head doctor.” Even in the dark she could see his grin. “They want to make sure she’d got all her marbles.”
Izzy poked him softly in the side. “Well, she does. She’s so busy now with her job, appointments and Brad. You do like him, right? No skeletons in the closet? He grew up here and so did you.”
“Brad’s as solid as you can get,” Skipper said. “He’s one of the pillars of the community. And he’s crazy about your sister. The way I am about you.” He nuzzled her neck and it tickled. That called for a quick kiss.
“Good.” Izzy’s heart warmed as she pulled away. Things were shaping up for the family. “Now if only Sam would meet someone.”
“Didn’t you say Aunt Cate wanted to fix Seth Barrett up with her?”
“Don’t know how that’s going.” Izzy thought back. I’ve seen them together—zero chemistry on either side.”
“Does Sam want to be set up? I could ask around.”
Izzy came to a dead stop. “Absolutely not. This is a small town. Sam would die if you started scouting eligible men.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll behave.” He squeezed her hand tighter.
“I trust you,” she said, laughing softly. “But don’t go matchmaking.”
“Okay. Understood,” he said.
“She’s volunteering at the hospital nursery. Maybe she’ll meet a handsome doctor.” She smiled at the thought. “Sam deserves someone nice. A guy with some time on his hands.”
“Okay, you can matchmake but I can’t?” Skipper looked insulted.
“You’re right. But I would call my actions doing my sister a favor.” Then she thought about it. “But really, I think she’s been burned by this Josh thing. It’s a shame that it happened right after her marriage to Kurt blew up.”
“At least she’s here with you.”
“I think so too. The family support has helped, I think.”
They reached the end of the drive, the lake wind lifting her hair. For a moment, Izzy let herself sink against his chest, warm and steady.
“I don’t think Aunt Cate’s ready for romance either,” she murmured. “That date with Gabby’s friend was a total disaster.”
“So I heard.” Skipper laughed low in his throat and gently rocked his forehead against hers. “Then we won’t meddle. We’ll just let it happen.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. Here, under the dark Michigan sky, Skipper was her anchor.
Their family would come. But she’d never been a patient woman