Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
MARLOWE
“ L et’s see what awaits in your new home.” Using her key for the last time, Marlowe let herself into the home in Olde Naples. Shari followed her inside. Marlowe wanted to hug Carmella when she saw how pristine the whole place was. The floors gleamed, the windows shone and every surface looked squeaky clean. Did she wish for just a minute that she was the new owner? No, not at all.
“Wonderful. Like new.” Shari looked pleased and Marlowe exhaled.
One more down . As Marlowe stood in the kitchen looking out at the pool, Shari opened cupboards and drawers. A realtor for so many years, she was looking for instruction books for the appliances and she found them. Leaving them in the drawer, Shari turned and smiled. “Perfect. The place is perfect.”
“As promised,” Marlowe said with a bright smile. She wanted to leave Naples with her reputation intact. The last trip home had brought up some issues she’d have to deal with. In the past, she’d always been able to compartmentalize. That had helped a lot when her life became complicated. But right now Marlowe was having trouble keeping everything in its own compartment. Although she might be able to keep her own life straight, keeping her sisters’ lives organized was becoming a problem. And then there was Aunt Cate and her matchmaking. But she wouldn’t think about that now.
Instead of going out into the backyard to check the pool, Shari scooted back into the hallway and headed toward the master suite. Saying a silent prayer, Marlowe followed. Although she'd come through the house with her punch list the night before, she wanted to make sure everything was still perfect. A last minute grab would not be below Carmella Donatello. Marlowe hoped that no hand-painted switch plates were missing and every Italianate faucet was in place. Ahead of her, Shari quickly breezed through the empty master closets and into the double bathrooms. To Marlowe’s relief, Carmella hadn’t pulled any tricks.
Humming a happy tune, Shari went upstairs to the bedrooms. Her open-backed kitten heels slapped gently against her feet. Shari’s excitement was fun to see. Would Marlowe feel the same when she moved to Charlevoix? She sure hoped so. Right now she had no idea where she’d land. Would she live at Sunnycrest or get her own place? She wouldn’t think about that now.
Upstairs the guest bedrooms were also perfect and so were the baths. Carmella had taken her warnings seriously. Marlowe couldn’t recall a closing as challenging as this one had been. But then again, Shari had been a dream to work with regarding her own condo. That quick sale left everyone in a good mood. Now she hoped that her place would sell as quickly as Shari’s had.
Feeling the responsibility for this house slip from her shoulders, Marlowe took the stairs back down and led Shari to the patio outside. On the glass-topped table sat a wine bucket with an expensive bottle of champagne and a battery-operated wine opener.
“What is this?” Plucking Marlowe’s card from the ice bucket, Shari read it and smiled.
“To celebrate,” Marlowe said. “Whenever you're ready.” Did Shari ever date? Would some handsome man come over to see her new home and share the bottle with her?
Grasping the bottle by the neck, Shari read the label. “You do have good taste. But I'm not surprised at all, Marlowe. You’re first rate all the way.”
“You can share it with a special someone... some time.” She didn't want to get in too deep.
Shari's eyes shifted to the pool, where the noon sun was reflected on the cool waters. “Why don't you stay for a glass?”
The peaceful setting called to her and Marlowe was tempted. But she had things to do. “When will you be moving in?”
“In two days.” Shari looked like a little girl. Her eyes sparkled.
“When you are finished with your boxes, do you think I could have them?”
“Of course. What’s up?” Wearing a wry smile, Shari pushed the bottle back into the ice. “You have me very curious about those boxes. The only time people need moving boxes is when they're moving. And usually if a company is moving you, they pay to have everything packed up.”
That detail did bring a chuckle. With each passing day and phone call, Marlowe was having trouble keeping her move a secret. Over the past weeks, working with Shari had opened many windows into her life. Hadn’t her new friend noticed the phone calls Marlowe had to take in another room?
Soon the word about Marlowe's plans would be made public. She wasn't taking any new clients. Last week she’d shifted one to Shari. “I'm moving.”
“Did you buy a new house too? Will it be in the area?” Shari was all questions and bright eyes.
Marlowe hated to disappoint her. “No, I'm moving away. Relocating to Charlevoix.” The words felt strange in her mouth. Seeing the shock on her new friend's face, Marlowe felt bad. She was enjoying getting to know Shari. The older woman had been a mystery for so long.
Looking pensive, Shari slipped onto one of the wrought iron chairs at the glass topped table. Marlowe did the same. “So that will leave Jenna on her own.”
Why should she be concerned about the woman who’d stabbed Marlowe in the back over the Bobby Jensen sale? “Jenna and I have hardly been good friends.”
“Oh, I know all that,” Shari said quickly. “Last Friday I had a heart-to-heart with Jenna.”
What a surprise. “Could I ask what that conversation was about?”
The sound of Shari's nails tapping the glass tabletop indicated that the conversation had not been easy. “I’ll be perfectly honest. I intend to work at that company for at least ten more years. After what happened with you, I had to do something. Situations like that aren’t good for the company.”
“You are totally right on that one. But how do you interfere when your boss is the man in question?”
“I know that wouldn't have been easy for you. But as I told you earlier, Landon is my ex son-in-law. Needless to say, I have to tread carefully, but I’m not staying silent. I’d like to see his current marriage survive. My grandkids don’t need more drama.”
Marlowe's heart went out to the woman. She was trying to do the right thing but this situation was very difficult.
“So what exactly did you say?”
“I invited her to have drinks at Bice.” The restaurant was a popular spot at the corner of 5th Avenue and 3rd Street, close to Shari's new home. “The poor girl, she actually thought I'd invited her just to chat.”
“She’s young and a little na?ve,” Marlowe said. “But smart too. For a while she was a big help to me. I think she enjoyed learning.”
“But not smart about older men,” Shari said with a resigned voice.
“True. Especially a man who is already married. A man who lied.”
“There you have it. I began by complimenting her on her work. Then I added that there couldn't be many more mix-ups like the one with Bobby Jensen's property.”
“I would agree with that. And thank you for somehow getting me a cut on that one.”
Shari’s lips pursed with disgust. “I never want to see a deal go down like that one again. For good or for bad, I indicated that I was related to Landon and knew his wife Melissa. And I also told Jenna that he was never going to divorce Melissa. Let’s be practical. He's already been through one divorce from my daughter Ainsley. A man like him isn't willing to split his considerable assets one more time. He already has four college educations in his future.”
How practical. Marlowe had to chuckle. Shari was so darn smart. “But those are exactly the things that a young woman like Jenna would not consider,” Marlowe pointed out. “And of course she wants her own family. Most young women do.”
Was she herself past that point? Marlowe wasn’t sure. Sam’s news had gotten her thinking down a different path. She sure enjoyed her time with Holly. Did she want to pass on having children? But back to the conversation. “What did Jenna say?”
“She got really quiet. My heart went out to her. The man is such an idiot, but he can be charming. That’s what makes him a good salesperson. I think she was on the verge of tears. But she didn’t cry.”
With that Shari glanced up and met Marlowe’s gaze with her very blue eyes. Could eyes really be that blue? Or was she wearing contacts? “I told her that I would handle Landon and that Monday I did.”
My, this conversation was getting better by the minute. “And what did he say?”
Throwing her head back, Shari let out a chortle. “I think he was almost relieved. Maybe he’d reached a point where he knew he couldn’t go any further.”
Shari really was amazing. “Landon probably appreciates your wisdom.”
“I’m not sure about that and I don't really care. But I don't want that agency to blow up because of his male stupidity.” She licked her lips. “You could have charged him with harassment.”
“Yes, and I mentioned that in the break room one day,” Marlowe said.
Shari looked impressed. “Talk about taking the tiger by the tail.”
“Yes, well coupled with your warning, it might make an impression. How did he take your warning?”
Her eyes dancing, Shari nodded. “Upset doesn’t quite cover it. I mentioned a couple of local harassment cases that had not gone in the man’s favor. Seeing him sweat was a small satisfaction.”
“You stinker.” Marlowe grabbed the wine opener. “Should we open this bottle now?”
“Absolutely.” Shari nodded and nudged the cut glass flutes closer. “Then you can tell me about your new job.”
As they sat there in the shady patio, Marlowe told Shari about her appointment with Gabby. Since her last trip to Charlevoix, she’d thought back to Gabby and Chip several times. Their relationship seemed so real, so comfortable. The tug on her stomach told her that their kind of relationship was what she wanted someday. But not now. Right now she had too much on her plate.
Since they both had things to do, they soon corked the bottle. Shari stored it on its side in the SubZero refrigerator. Then Marlowe reached over and gave Shari a hug. “Someday I want to be like you.”
“Oh no. You do not want to be like me,” Shari said, although she looked pleased by the comment. “I had my marriage. Sadly Robert died way too young and left me with two children. I'm delighted to have them. But you are in the prime of life, Marlowe. The world should be your oyster right now.”
Prime? Shari must have read my face because she gave me a penetrating look and stopped talking. “Am I stepping on toes here?”
“Not really. I’ve never liked oysters. Are you about to give me the same talk that my Aunt Cate has been pressuring me with lately?”
“Good for her!” Clapping her hands together, Shari looked delighted.
Slinging her purse over one shoulder, Marlowe turned toward the front door. “I think you’d get along with my aunt, but I'm not sure I could handle both of you at one time.”
“Take care. We can talk later. And one quick question.”
Marlowe turned. “I hope I can have the honor of listing your condo?”
Always the consummate salesperson. “Thought you’d never ask. Can you stop by later?”
“Absolutely, I’ll give you a call.” Shari gave her a wave and turned back to the beautiful cottage she’d bought. Part of Marlowe envied her. Shari knew who she was, what she wanted from life and how to get it. Marlowe was still trying to figure that out. Jumping into her car, she put the top down and was off.
All the way back to the condo, Marlowe chuckled about Shari and her meeting with Jenna. Was there anything that woman wouldn't do?