Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
MARLOWE
Two Months Later
“ B 15,” Marlowe said in a loud, clear voice. She hated it when someone couldn’t hear. This group at Tall Oaks didn’t hesitate to tell you. Smelling faintly of spaghetti, the room was a cafeteria by day. A rustle ran through the crowd as they wielded their daubers and marked their B15, if they had it.
This was so simple. Marlowe loved it.
The canasta ladies all sat together. Sometimes Kimberly’s brother Winston visited and sat with them. After Aunt Cate’s experience, Marlowe figured the poor guy might be scanning the crowd for new dating possibilities. Maybe her aunt was right. At this age, the men needed someone to fix dinner for them or do their laundry. Very unromantic and not enough for any of the Quinn sisters, especially Marlowe.
“Anyone have bingo yet?” Izzy asked in a loud voice as she handed Marlowe the next ball to call out. Sometimes it took folks a while to see the pattern. They often played several cards.
“Nope, not yet. But I’m trying,” Irene Slafkowski said. Because she had trouble hearing, she always talked in a loud voice. One of her friends had told Marlowe that Irene had an appointment to get new hearing aids.
Gretchen, the activity director at Tall Oaks, appeared at the door, pushing the white and pink ice cream cart. After the next bingo, they could all choose their flavor. The cart was full of little Dixie cups.
“G58. G58,” Marlowe called out, ignoring the microphone. Sometimes it screeched, which she absolutely hated. Better to use her own voice. There was something very relaxing about being here with the older group late on Tuesday afternoons. She was studying for her next exam in the certification process. Because Marlowe had wrapped up all of her sales back in Naples, she was now in Charlevoix to stay. Her furniture was stored in one of the storage sheds along the highway. But she didn’t need a thing and that felt really good.
The ride up in her convertible had been very long but worth it. During the winter she would probably put the car in storage, unless the others would let her use the garage. From one day to another, things were changing at Sunnycrest. Seth and the crew were working on her bedroom now, and she was using Sam’s room. Sam was due any day and when she arrived, Marlowe had a rollaway bed ready. The two of them would probably enjoy many midnight chats in that bedroom together.
Izzy handed her the next ball.
“B11, B11.” Marlowe wanted to get to that ice cream.
“Bingo!” Fred Otterman called out from the back.
Thank goodness. Applause went up, along with a lot of groans. Izzy stepped up to the microphone. She preferred it, but Izzy’s voice had always been softer than Marlowe’s. “Okay, now I'm going to call out the numbers to verify the bingo. Please check your cards, especially you, Fred.”
While Izzy confirmed the winner, Marlowe straightened up things. Fred's card was good and he won a ten dollar gift certificate at Coffee and Cupcakes. The older gentleman looked really excited about the whole thing. When Marlowe thought back to Naples, she had to chuckle. Things were much simpler in Charlevoix. The gratitude of this older group was heartwarming. This was the simplicity they’d committed to, in an area they’d known since they were girls.
“How about some ice cream?” Marlowe asked as she swept the chips off the master card.
“Sounds good. But let's wait for a few minutes while the others get theirs. Any word from Sam?” Izzy asked.
“The moving truck is coming tomorrow. She might be here by the time we get home.”
“Excellent.” Izzy looked as excited as Marlowe felt. “I know she's chomping at the bit to get out of Oak Brook.”
Thinking back, Marlowe frowned. “Kurt tried to throw more than one monkey wrench into the final closing. I hope everything went all right this morning. Now that it's wrapped up, she's eager to get here.” Poor Sam. She needed to wind things up and relax. Would she be able to do that at Sunnycrest? Although Seth was trying to minimize their chaos, the smell of sawdust was in the air and supplies were stacked everywhere.
“Do you think that she'll pick up with Josh when she gets here?” Izzy asked.
“Good question. I’m not sure about that. Sam thinks they need some time to think about everything, and she wants to get settled. That's probably a good idea. When I told her that we were volunteering here on Tuesdays, she was really excited.”
“Terrific. They're looking for someone to volunteer with Josh's mother on Thursdays.”
Marlowe looked at her sister with amazement. “Did you just get here? Do you not know how bossy his mother is? Gretchen was telling me all about Marie McCall. She’s the reason they’ve had trouble attracting other volunteers.”
“I didn't know that,” Izzy said, helping pack up the box of bingo supplies. “Some boys have a special relationship with their mothers.”
“Boys?” Marlowe couldn’t help but laugh. “Did I really hear you say that? Josh is hardly a boy. He’s a respected surgeon.”
“I know. And apparently she doesn’t let anyone forget it. Come on. Gretchen is waving us over. Everyone else has their ice cream now.”
When they reached the cart, Marlowe decided on chocolate chip, and Izzy chose strawberry chip. They had just turned to go back to the table when Brad Howington appeared in the doorway. Two of the older ladies immediately engaged him in conversation. “Be right back,” Izzy said, picking up a plastic spoon and heading back to the speaker’s table. “I have some questions for Gretchen.”
“Hey, Marlowe. How are things going in here?” Brad asked, when he had a chance to break away from the residents. Those women. They loved that man. And he had such patience with them.
“As good as bingo can get.” This was Marlowe’s third time doing bingo and Brad seemed to show up each time. She remembered what Josh had said about Brad taking a hands-on approach to the folks in his facilities. Marlowe enjoyed talking to him.
Tonight he was wearing one of those half-zip sweaters in a heather green, although spring was in the air. The sweater emphasized his broad shoulders and picked up the green in his eyes. Snow had been predicted the night before and everyone was still wearing sweaters. “I really appreciate all the work that you've done. So glad you and Izzy can help out with bingo.”
“I enjoy being here.” Marlowe smiled up at him.
“Are you settled in with your family?”
“For now, yes. I have one certification test to go and then I’ll be setting up shop with a realty company over in Petoskey.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Taking the chair next to her, Brad crossed his legs. “Have you had any chance to go cross country skiing? I think you mentioned that one time at your sister’s shop.”
So he remembered? “Sadly no. But I brought my running shoes and I’m eager to get out once the ice has melted from the roads.”
“Oh, you run?” His grin broadened. “Maybe we can hit the trails together. I’d be glad to show you around some good jogging roads.”
“That would be great.” With his long, lean physique, Marlowe wasn’t surprised to hear that Brad was a runner. The residents loved Brad and she could see why. He was always there for them, whatever the issue. Learning the roads with him could be fun. As much as she loved these wooded roads, she never liked to run alone.
After Brad had left, Marlowe wandered up to the trash bin to pitch her empty Dixie cup. Glancing around, she drank it all in. The final weeks in Naples had been hectic. Shari had hosted a farewell party at her new home and Marlowe had been relieved when Landon had been unable to come. She missed Shari and was considering inviting her to visit once the house was finished and Marlowe was settled. She had a long way to go and wanted to enjoy every step of the way.
Izzy had returned. “So what did Mr. Howington have to say to you?”
“Brad? We might go running together.”
“Running together? That'll be fun.” Izzy had an impish smile on her face. “I think you should get out more.”
“Why? What am I, your maiden aunt?”
Reaching over, Izzy squeezed Marlowe’s arm. “No, I just mean, why not?”
“Exactly, why not. Let me get settled first.” Marlowe wasn’t eager to date, whatever that meant up here. But a male friend? That would be fine.
“While I’ve got your attention, I want to run something by you before I tell Aunt Cate.” Izzy took the chair Brad had just left. “I hope you’ll support me with this.”
What was this about? The expression on her sister’s face had Marlowe concerned. “Is this something serious?”
“It's about the renovation.”
Oh, oh . Marlowe felt something coming. The men had been working on Marlowe's bedroom and yes they were gone by four o’clock almost every day. But even though Seth had taped down that room with huge plastic sheets, sawdust still clung to the air. Sometimes Marlowe could feel it in the back of her throat and always had a bottle of water handy. Once in a while they would find a screwdriver here or a hammer there. Seth had been apologetic but Holly was very curious. She was at the age when she put everything into her mouth.
“You need your own room. Bunking with Sam while they work on your room won’t really work.” Izzy’s eyes pleaded with her to understand.
What was this? But her sisters knew her well. All those dreams about late night conversations? They might be just that. Dreams. What if she woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to read? That could happen.
Still, she was about to protest when Izzy said, “I’m going to move in with Skipper.” The words came gently, as if Izzy was telling Marlowe that she had measles but it wasn’t contagious. “Just for a while.”
“What?” What had Izzy just said?
“Please hear me out.” Her sister looked so darned serious. “Skipper and his mother have a guest room and it should work out okay. The noise and sawdust…it’s just not good for Holly.”
“I thought Skipper’s mother was sick.” Marlowe searched her memory.
“She has a condition and uses a walker. Parkinson’s, I think. They have a huge house. Holly will have room to roam. We can come over and have dinner with you any night, right?”
“Absolutely.” Obviously Izzy had given this a lot of thought, but Marlowe’s heart shrank. She’d been looking forward to having that baby around. She couldn't help but wonder if there was some ulterior motive to this. “So you and Skipper...?”
“Don't even go there.” Holding up a hand, Izzy shook her head. “Nope. That’s not it.”
“Okay, well. Sure.” Marlowe looked around. The excited chatter was gone. Residents had gone back to their rooms to get ready for dinner. Some of the ladies dressed up for the final meal of the day. After putting away the Bingo supplies, Marlowe and Izzy were on their way home.
Home . Home with her family at Sunnycrest. But now that wouldn’t include Izzy and Holly, and Marlowe didn’t know how she felt about that. Her head was full of questions as they drove to Sunnycrest in Izzy’s SUV. After picking up Holly at daycare, they were at the house in ten minutes. Sam’s car was parked in front of the house, and her heart filled.
“So you made it,” Marlowe said when Sam met her at the door with a warm hug.
“Furniture should be here tomorrow,” Sam said.
Pulling back, Marlowe studied her sister’s face. She looked exhausted. “Tired?”
“Yes, but nothing that a little sleep can’t cure.”
Aunt Cate appeared in the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on a Frida Kahlo apron Marlowe had never seen.
“New?” Marlowe asked, as they all took a seat.
“Oh you know me. Shopping is so much fun up here.” Aunt Cate smiled, pointing to the bruschetta displayed on a platter. Artichoke dip was also on the table, along with fresh bread and pesto.
“Brad Howington wants to go running with Marlowe,” Izzy announced to the group as they started on their arugula salads.
Sam turned with a quizzical smile. “How fascinating.”
“Said he’d show me the roads.” Marlowe tried to pass off Brad’s offer.
“Brad. The man at Tall Oaks?” Aunt Cate’s mind was clearly working as she passed around the bowl of pasta bolognese.
“Don’t get started,” Marlowe said, reaching for a thick slice of pesto bread. She would have to clue her aunt in about her theory of friends first.
“I have news.” Thank goodness Izzy piped up.
How would the others take this? Marlowe still wasn’t sure about Izzy’s decision. But her approval really didn’t matter and she had to remember that. Her sister was an adult and could make her own decisions. Izzy sure had Aunt Cate’s and Sam’s full attention. “I’m going to move in with Skipper. Just for a while. Skipper and Mrs. Malone. They have a lot of room and I think it’s the best thing for Holly.”
“Really?” Sam turned to Marlowe. “Is there anything more to this?”
“I don’t blame you.” Aunt Cate sniffed. “You can smell the chemicals. Probably a good idea.”
That was it? Probably a good idea and no questions? This family really was changing . Marlowe hadn’t had to step up to support Izzy. She met her sister’s eyes and smiled.
“Now, back to Brad Howington,” Sam said. The comment sent everyone’s attention in Marlowe’s direction. Could they please concentrate on the food?
“Look. Here’s how it is.” Marlowe put down her fork. Now that they were all here, she wanted to nip this in the bud, “Look at the feast Aunt Cate has prepared. The variety of it. The vibrant colors of the fresh food. Why should any one of us zone in on any man right now? We have a lot to do, people to meet and new places to explore. Spring is coming. The crocus will be up soon and the forsythia.” Okay, her comments had been all over the place but they seemed to have hit home.
To her relief, Marlowe felt the tension in the room dissipate. “We’ve made it to Charlevoix. Let’s enjoy it for a while. No pressures.” By the end she had turned to focus on her aunt, now wearing a deceptively innocent expression. Marlowe didn’t want to hear anything more about Seth, or Brad…even Skipper. Sam elbowed Izzy and they were smiling.
“Excellent idea,” their aunt said, reaching for the platter. “Life is a feast. Second helpings anyone?”
THE END