Page 20 of Second Chance in Charlevoix (Charlevoix Dreams #3)

Isabel

T he sound of Skipper singing “Heartbreaker” in the kitchen brought a smile as Izzy dragged herself into the house.

She’d had a tooth filled that afternoon, which was why Skipper had picked up Holly and brought her home.

“You’re a heartbreaker, dream maker, love taker.

Don’t mess around with me.” Belting out the lyrics, Skipper swung Holly around to the music.

Izzy’s baby giggled, trying to dance with her shoulders.

As usual, Skipper was off key. Holly didn’t know and wouldn’t care.

Peeling off her jacket, Izzy hung it up and plopped into one of the chairs. Her cheek still felt numb from the Novocain. The minute she saw her mom, Holly leaned toward her, arms open. “Mama!”

“You can tell who rates around here.” Pretending to pout, Skipper relinquished his hold on the squirming bundle. His mother was busy at the stove, looking perfectly content. Something smelled amazing and Izzy was hungry. But how would she eat with this numb jaw?

“Come here, little girl.” Taking her sweet baby from Skipper’s arms, she kissed Holly’s cheek. “Oh my, aren’t you pretty? Who put those barrettes in your hair?” Pink plastic bows held back two of Holly’s curls. Her crazy hair never wanted to behave.

Fingering her new barrettes with pride, Holly pointed over to Mrs. Malone, who was stirring the gravy. What was this? Skipper’s mom had given Holly a gift. She rarely went out.

“Thank you,” Izzy said. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I had my prescriptions delivered and I saw those fancy hair things in their ad. Glad I called early and they hadn’t run out.”

Izzy exchanged a look of amazement with Skipper and sniffed the air. “What’s cooking?”

“Roast pork and homemade apple sauce for Holly.”

Her filled tooth throbbed and Izzy cupped the dull ache in her jaw. “Don’t know what I’ll be able to eat. I’m still numb. Just bit the inside of my cheek.”

“That’s why I made mashed potatoes!” Mrs. Malone looked jubilant. “Skipper told me about your appointment. The potatoes are keeping warm in the oven.”

Skipper looked at his mother as if she’d just walked in. Who was this woman?

That’s when she saw the box on the counter. The shiny gold seal caught her eye. “Did you bring apple tarts or pear for dessert?” Gee, she wished she could chew. Putting Holly into the Pack and Play, Izzy stepped over to the counter and flipped open the box. “What are these?”

The layered treat was new. Creamy and complicated.

Her happy mood dampened. She knew where these had come from and her face heated.

Camille must have made another visit. Mrs. Malone set her spoon in the owl spoon rest and peered over Izzy’s shoulder.

“Son, did you make these? Pretty fancy. What are they?”

His smile slipped. “ Mille-Feuille . A friend dropped these off.”

The French word flowed from Skipper’s mouth with disturbing ease. Bless her heart, his mother was immediately suspicious. “What kind of friend?”

Skipper had stopped smiling. Gripping the edge of the Pack and Play, Holly had pulled herself up.

Her bottom lip trembled, like she knew something was wrong.

Her daughter was very sensitive, or so Izzy was discovering.

But right now Izzy was feeling pretty sensitive herself. “When did Camille drop in? ”

“Right after you left for the dentist,” Skipper said with a resigned sigh. “She said to say hi.”

Arms across her chest, Mrs. Malone was staring daggers at her son.

The landline rang. This was the first time Izzy had heard that old white Princess phone ring.

His mother reached to pick it up. “Hello?” Eyes still on Skipper, as if she didn’t want him to get away, his mother listened. “Your sister,” she mouthed.

Skipper’s face turned into a stonelike acceptance. She’d seen that look on his face before. He was cornered. This was just how he looked when she told him she wanted a divorce. What was going on with Camille? Anything? Why did she keep coming around to the bakery?

While Izzy tried to comfort Holly, Skipper’s mother was mumbling to her daughter. Then she shoved the phone in his direction, almost pulling the phone off the counter. “Your sister wants to talk to you.”

Skipper did not look pleased. Turning his back to them, he moved away, stretching that cord as far as it would go. Soon he was half in the pantry––close enough for Izzy to hear some of the conversation with Ainsley. “Nope, nope. Of course not.”

Izzy could only imagine what Ainsley was saying.

Years ago Skipper’s younger sister had been a big fan of Izzy.

After Izzy married Skipper, Ainsley even asked to sleep over at their rented cottage.

The younger girl had dogged Izzy’s footsteps.

But the divorce had spoiled that relationship.

Izzy became the enemy, and she’d felt terrible about that unexpected shift.

Truth be told, she hadn’t been prepared for a lot of the divorce fallout.

Since Ainsley had lived in California for quite a while, Izzy never ran into her.

While Skipper had his muffled conversation, Izzy’s mind raced. Her eyes kept going to that darned box. What was going on? Mrs. Malone checked the owl clock on the wall as her children talked. Opening the oven door, she took out the pork roast she’d been keeping warm.

Turning, Skipper held out the phone to Izzy. “She wants to talk to you.”

“Me?” This day just got worse and worse.

She’d barely gotten the phone to her ear and Ainsley started yammering. “You’d better not hurt my brother again. I swear, Isabel Quinn, I will come back and tear your eyes out.”

Gulping hard, Izzy bit the inside of her cheek again. Her eyes smarted from the pain.

“What are you talking about?” Izzy managed to say. Skipper lifted Holly from the Pack and Play, and Mrs. Malone transferred the pork to a platter.

Ainsley was on a roll. “You know what I’m talking about. You’re worried about some French chick? Of course there’s nothing going on with her, whoever Camille is. When it comes to my brother, I’m more worried about you.”

“How do you know about Camille?” Glancing over to where Skipper stood waiting, Izzy looked daggers at him. “You live in California.”

Skipper’s sister blew out a sigh. “Look, I don’t have time to deal with your little girl naivete. I may just have to come home.”

What? The call ended. Holding the receiver out, Izzy couldn’t believe it. “She hung up on me.”

“She shouldn’t have called during dinner anyway.

” The time change meant nothing to Skipper’s mom.

California was hours behind Michigan. Mrs. Malone motioned them to the table where the pork roast and green beans sat waiting, along with mashed potatoes, gravy and apple sauce.

“Now, let’s all sit down. Who wants to say grace? ”

Skipper slid Holly into the highchair. Then he sat down, bowed his head and began, “Bless me father and these thy gifts which we are about to receive….”

After grace, Mrs. Malone spooned a sizable lump of mashed potatoes and gravy into the baby’s bowl.

Wearing a very serious expression, Holly picked up the plastic spoon.

Her baby girl worked on the potatoes and gravy until she had dinner all over her face.

Throwing them a gummy smile, she looked jubilant.

As usual, the food was delicious. How wonderful to have this meal prepared and ready.

Having Mrs. Malone do the cooking had been a blessing.

Skipper said his mother enjoyed it and for now, Izzy was going with that.

She’d only bitten the inside of her cheek once.

The mashed potatoes and applesauce should hold her for now.

When it came time for dessert, Skipper’s mom picked up the white box, opened the trash can with her foot and tossed it in.

Izzy wanted to cheer and she couldn’t even glance over at Skipper.

“I bought some nice chocolate chip cookies today.” Sure enough she brought out a plate from the pantry.

When it came to ordering groceries through Instacart, Mrs. Malone had become an expert.

Holly clapped with excitement and was rewarded with a cookie.

“French dessert,” Mrs. Malone said under her breath. “Not in my kitchen.”

After dessert Izzy and Skipper did the dishes together while Mrs. Malone disappeared into the living room with Holly. Skipper’s mom had bought a pair of purple rubber gloves for Izzy. “That detergent can be bad for your hands.”

“Why, thank you so much.” Izzy was touched by her kindness.

But that wasn’t the only surprise of the evening.

After the dishes and pans had been dried and put away, Skipper and Izzy went into the living room.

Izzy wanted to rescue her baby from the news.

Expecting to find Holly on the green plastic horse, she was surprised to find Holly sitting next to Mrs. Malone on the sofa.

They were watching Sesame Street together .

“What’s this?” Izzy sat down on the other side of Holly. What had happened to the news after dinner?

“Count!” Holly pointed one little finger at the screen

Fighting a giggle, Izzy glanced over at Mrs. Malone. “I guess you’re never too young for the count.”

“Or too old,” Skipper muttered under his breath, stretching out in the leather recliner. Izzy couldn’t believe what she was seeing but was really glad to be here. Irene Malone had actually taken her side and that felt really good.