Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
MARLOWE
T oo excited to go back to the house after leaving Gabby, Marlowe headed to Coffee and Cupcakes. On the seat next to her was a folder stuffed with brochures. Chip also promised to e-mail her the certification information.
“That means I'll be the one sending that information,” Gabby said with a smile. During their cheerful banter, Marlowe had picked up that Chip was more the socializer of the two, while Gabby took care of the details.
Working with the couple would be a relief after the tension at Hardy Luxury Properties. Coming up here had been a great idea, and so was the decision to renovate Sunnycrest. New possibilities beckoned on the horizon and anticipation stirred inside as Marlowe sprang from Sam’s car and headed to the bakery.
Everyone had seemed pleased with Seth Barrett’s ideas and she was counting on her aunt to do the final sign off. But she also needed this injection of positive energy from Gabby to help her launch the next stage of her life. At times it all seemed overwhelming. But one day at a time. Now that she was in Charlevoix, she had to block her Naples to-do list from her mind.
When she pushed open the door of Coffee and Cupcakes, a bell overhead rang a cheerful welcome. The air was filled with the smell of baked goods and the sound of laughter. A foursome of older women sat around a table toward the back, playing cards. This might be the canasta group that had come to their Christmas open house. Kimberly looked up from her cards and gave Marlowe a wave. As she recalled, the women were now living at Tall Oaks.
Collapsing at an empty table near them, she reached for the colorful menu on the table. Yes, she was definitely hungry. Quiche sounded perfect and Marlowe was starving. Although it was way past noon, Izzy’s place was crowded. Looking around, Marlowe felt a deep sense of pride in her sister. Their parents would be so happy to see this place filled with appreciative customers.
Growing up, Izzy had always needed Marlowe’s help with algebra or biology. High school had been hard for Izzy, which may have been why she decided to marry right after graduation. Aunt Cate had tried to persuade her to go to a community college, but Izzy wouldn’t hear of it. She married Skipper in the back garden at Sunnycrest.
And now Skipper was Izzy’s ex and her pastry chef. Whatever . Marlowe was done trying to manipulate other people’s lives. Happy thoughts washed over her as she set aside the menu. Izzy seemed to have expanded. The pastry case was filled with tempting selections. Coffee was percolating on a sideboard and, best of all, everyone seemed glad to be there.
When Izzy came bustling from the back, her cheeks were flushed. She wiped her hands on her long green apron. “Hey, hi! Have you come for lunch?”
“I'm hoping for some of that yummy quiche and maybe some fruit.” Marlowe smiled up at her.
“You've got it. How did your interview go?” Izzy sat down across from her.
Thinking back, Marlowe still felt surprised by the outcome. “It was really more of a meet and greet. But I think they felt I’d make a good fit, and the feeling is mutual. I liked Gabby's husband a lot. He reminded me of Uncle Monty.”
“Oh wow, really? That’s wonderful.” Izzy’s voice said everything. They had adored their uncle. Losing him five years ago had not been easy. “So working for them will be a good position for you?”
“Sure looks like it.” But it was more complicated than that and she sighed. “This is not going to be a two-foot putt. That's for sure. I need to pass certification and build up my clientele. Again. But living near you, Holly and the rest of the family?” Marlowe reached over to squeeze Izzy’s arm. “So worth it.”
Izzy's eyes filled as she pulled a tissue from her apron pocket. “You make me want to cry. You’ll never know how much this means to me.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” What a joy it would be to watch Holly grow up. Marlowe might not be a mother but she would make a darn good aunt. The idea thrilled her, although she had a lot to learn.
“I'll be right back with that quiche.” Tucking her tissue back into her pocket, Izzy was up and gone, zipping down the hallway toward the kitchen. The long narrow space had been a dress shop before Izzy snapped it up, with some help from Aunt Cate. The back rooms had been reconfigured into a first-rate kitchen.
Getting up, Marlowe walked over to the coffee carafes that Izzy kept on the sideboard. Bypassing the vanilla surprise, she chose caramel macchiato. A squirt of whipped cream on the top made it perfect. When she turned to go back to her table, she was surprised to see Sam and Josh come through the door.
She couldn't remember when she'd seen her older sister so happy. After her sad story about Kurt's deception, Marlowe was thrilled that Sam and Josh had met up again. But she still wanted Sam to take things slow with her old boyfriend. “Hey stranger,” Sam said through her beaming smile as she approached.
“Nice to see you again.” Marlowe turned to Josh, aware of his hand on Sam's elbow. The sweet gesture made her smile.
“Are you checking out your patient?” Marlowe asked. “Want to see how that ankle’s doing?”
He chuckled. “Yes, but she won’t listen to me. I keep telling her to get off her feet.”
That probably wasn’t what Sam had been doing back in Oak Brook. Instead, she’d been packing things up, getting her place ready to show. Marlowe held up both hands in disbelief. “Certainly that's not news to you? Why don't you join me?” She pushed out one of the chairs.
“Okay you two. No more ganging up on me.” Still wearing a silly smile, Sam slipped into the chair.
“Have you guys had lunch?”
“Not yet,” Josh said. “We were thinking we'd have it here.”
But as he snapped up the menu, he only had eyes for Sam. Really, when was the last time a man had looked at Marlowe like that? She couldn't remember, if ever.
Before long everyone was eating together and laughing. Revisiting those memories of summer nights on the beach was fun. Someone always brought a boom box and the guys would build the fire from driftwood found on the beach. They roasted marshmallows over the open fire and put messy smores together, laughing at the chocolate on each other’s faces.
“So, Marlowe, are you going cross country skiing this trip?” Josh asked between mouthfuls.
“I don't think so. I have a flight out tomorrow. A lot to do back in Florida.” And maybe now she’d found the energy for it.
“How did everything go at your interview?” Sam asked. Marlowe filled them in on her meeting with Gabby and Chip. While she was finishing up, a white van with Tall Oaks scrolled across the side in green pulled up in front of the shop.
“Ladies, our chauffeur has arrived,” Jenny called out to the other women.
A man in a green uniform came through the door. Brad, wasn’t that his name? Marlowe had met him at their Christmas open house. He nodded to her as he moved among the tables and chairs to talk to the women. The ladies began tying plastic bonnets over their gray hairdos, while Brad helped them with their coats. Sam was in the restroom at the time and Josh didn’t hesitate to pitch in.
“Oh, Dr. McCall,” one of the ladies said. “What are you doing here today?”
Josh blushed and Marlowe felt sorry for him. This probably happened to him all the time.
“Having lunch. Just like you,” Josh tossed back with a smile. “No office hours on Saturday.”
This was a small town, not Naples and certainly not Chicago. If Sam did move here, and that certainly looked to be the case, Sam and Josh would be under constant scrutiny. And if it didn't work out between them? That could be embarrassing. But that wasn't Marlowe's problem, and she might have to remind herself of that many times.
Coaxing the ladies along, Brad shepherded them toward the door. Obviously the driver wasn't taking any chances. Although salt was spread across the sidewalk, he helped each one onto the bus and made sure they were seated before he went back for the others. Meanwhile Josh was talking to Dawn, who was having trouble with her walker.
Marlowe scrambled to her feet. “Let me help you.” Within a few minutes she'd cleared some of the chairs so the woman had a clear path. Dawn insisted that she could do this herself. Working very hard, she thumped along with Marlowe behind her.
“Let’s be careful on the ice,” Marlowe said as she pushed open the door. “It looks okay but you never know.”
“Oh, aren’t you a dear?” Dawn was trying so hard. “Had my hip replaced a while back and I’m still having trouble getting my legs to work again. I didn’t want to miss a day out with the girls.”
“No need to.” Brad came down the bus steps with the easy gait of a basketball player. “Not while I’m around. Hey, thanks….”
“Marlowe,” she supplied, still concentrating on Dawn. “The Christmas party at our house?”
“Right. Marlowe Quinn.” He knew her full name? She’d gotten Dawn to the steps and Brad took over.
“Oh, aren’t you the sweetest thing?” Dawn said, climbing the steps sideways, one foot at a time. She must have learned that in physical therapy. “You should come to Tall Oaks, Marlowe. We need some help with bingo.”
“Maybe I’ll consider that.” The renovation might drive her from the house and she didn’t know how long her certification would take.
“Thanks a lot,” Brad said after he’d gotten Dawn up the steps and into a seat. “The ladies talked about you and your family a lot after that party. It was very considerate to invite them.”
Was the wind burning her cheeks or was she blushing? “Izzy did the inviting.” She was having trouble getting the words out. “And you came to pick them up?”
“Right, I was on duty that day. And thank you for your help. You have a beautiful home. The residents couldn't stop talking about your decorations.”
Thinking about all their plans, Marlowe smiled. “Sunnycrest will be going under construction soon.”
“Really?” When Brad smiled, a dimple popped out in one cheek. His cap was set at a rakish angle and his tan cheeks and laugh lines indicated that he spent time outdoors. “What kind of construction? An addition?”
What had they been talking about? Oh right, Sunnycrest. “Renovation. We're going to give the house a facelift. Sunnycrest’s been in the family for a long time. It needs an update. New kitchen and some additional bathrooms.” Why was she blabbering away? Maybe Marlowe was just tired. But his hazel eyes under the brim of that cap looked interested. Or maybe she was imagining that. Two minutes later he was driving away and she was back in Coffee and Cupcakes.
Avoiding Sam’s gaze, Marlowe grabbed her mug and went for more coffee. Sam and Josh had ordered and within minutes they were enjoying their paninis. The next time she came, Marlowe would try one. Had Skipper made the focaccia bread? Sometimes it was hard to picture the boy with the crazy beach boy hair as a pastry chef. How long had he been here? The more she saw of her sister’s ex-husband, the more questions she had.
Marlowe kept waiting for the next shoe to drop. She wouldn’t be surprised if Izzy told her one day that Skipper had taken off for Europe again. That’s where he’d gone after their divorce. But right now he looked firmly installed in Izzy’s kitchen. Apparently he lived at home, taking care of his mother. There was something very unexpected and sweet about that. The bake shop seemed to be a gathering place for the town. The good food and fantastic bakery had sure helped build the reputation.
“Wasn't that the guy who came to pick up that group of women from the party?” Sam nodded toward the front door, where the van was still idling. She could see Brad going down the aisle, checking seatbelts. “The van driver?”
“Right, I think his name is Brad.”
“Brad Howington?” Josh glanced up from his sandwich. “He’s not just a driver. Brad owns Tall Oaks and a few other long term care facilities up here in the northwestern area.”
“Really? That's impressive.” Marlowe stared after the bus that had finally pulled away from the curb.
“He’s a real asset to the community,” Josh said. “Treats the residents like family. My mother volunteers over there. I think she's in charge of bingo.”
“Yes, Dawn mentioned that they need some help.”
“Probably. She can’t go every week. Interferes with her hair appointment.” The conversation continued and Marlowe sat back. New beginnings were unfolding. What a great feeling. Volunteering, for example. She'd never thought of doing that. Maybe it was time that she did.
“I might do some volunteering after I move here.” Sam seemed to be considering the same option.
“Really? I’m not sure if I’ll have time.”
Her sister nodded toward the door, where the bus was pulling away. “Maybe you should make time. You never know what possibilities might reveal themselves. I mean, after you’re living here permanently.”
Permanently. The word made Marlowe gulp. But she’d be together with her sisters and aunt again. That made the word go down easy.