Page 24 of Second Chance in Charlevoix (Charlevoix Dreams #3)

Samantha

“ I t’s so hard to say goodbye.” Sam was standing in the front hall of Sunnycrest with Josh. She wanted to make sure all the lights were turned off. But the empty house had caught hold of her heart.

“You’re not really saying good-bye.” Josh put an arm around her shoulders. “The house will just be different.”

Turning she looked up at him. “It’s not that easy. The memories.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears.

“And I’m with you on that.” Josh looked around. “Remember how we’d sit on the screen porch so your parents wouldn’t see us?”

His memory made her smile. “Right. Mom would be back in the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner and taking her time. She’d come to the door and peek out to check on us.”

When Josh chuckled, his eyes lit up. “She didn’t like to see us stretched out in that hammock, even though we were just talking.”

“Right. She’d come out and point to the rattan rockers. ‘Those chairs need to be rocked,’ ” she’d say.

“Your mother was a good woman. We all knew what she was talking about. We’d roll out of that hammock and sit in the chairs.”

“She was always looking out for us.” Remembering made her smile.

Turning to face her, Josh took her upper arms in gentle hands. “Right. And all those memories are kept locked up inside. They always will be.”

How lucky she was to have Josh McCall back in her life, helping her through this tough spot. “You’re right. My mind knows that but not my heart.” She gave the first floor a final sweep with her eyes. “Probably all this will be changed when I see it next.”

“Look, why don’t you do this.” Turning her around, he walked her slowly back to the front door. “Leave Sunnycrest in Seth’s hands. Don’t come over here during the work and try not to think about what might be happening. You’re set up in Seth’s house now. It’s a great location. Enjoy it.”

“You’re so smart. He does have that boat. I wonder if he ever takes it out.” By that time they were out on the front porch. She locked the door. Although they rarely locked Sunnycrest, maybe it was time.

The evening air was soft and spring daffodils were in bloom. The hydrangeas her mother had planted around the screen porch and front yard wouldn’t have blooms for a while but their huge leaves were unfolding. “Can we go around to the back?” she asked. “Just for a second?”

“Sure. Of course.” Skirting the hydrangeas, they walked around back. Some old Adirondack chairs were there in no particular formation. “I’m going to spray paint these,” Sam was eager to get on with that project.

“That’s a great idea. What color?”

“Not sure yet, but I want it to look nice. Welcoming. Seth’s putting in a firepit.”

“That should keep the mosquitos and flies away.”

“Right and I’m going to plant a perennial garden.” She motioned to the areas that might be good for flower beds. “Seth said the guys would do the digging, which will be great. I can picture peonies here, along with iris in the spring. Maybe some pink echinacea in the summer.”

Shaking his head, Josh smiled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about but your enthusiasm is admirable. It’s been a long day. Are you hungry?”

“Sure. Someplace casual.” She was wearing jeans and a hoodie .

Soon they were seated in the Villager Pub, ordering wet burritos and two Arnold Palmers.

Although she hadn’t felt hungry, everything smelled great and her appetite kicked in.

Sliding onto the cushioned seat along the side wall, she felt the past rolling over her again.

How many times had they sat here when they were in high school?

Was Josh thinking the same thing? He turned around to take it all in and when he swung his eyes back to her, they held the past.

They were in high school again, and those hazel green eyes looked at her like she was the only woman in the place.

He’d always been able to make her feel special and Sam felt like that love-struck teen again.

She glanced around. The bar to one side and vintage photos framed on the opposite wall.

The smell of broasted chicken and the lake across the street.

Everything felt well-worn and familiar. “Doesn’t this take you back? ”

Josh nodded. “Sure does. How about you?”

“The same. Thank goodness they haven’t changed too much.” The popular spot had been around for decades.

“Coming back to Charlevoix was the best decision I ever made.” She sank back with contentment.

“Because of your divorce?” Her hands were folded on the table and Josh rested one of his hands on hers.

“No, I think it’s more than that. Sure, I’m glad I’m not running into Kurt and his new love.

They should be having their baby this summer and I sure don’t want to be part of that.

But Charlevoix is familiar to me in a different way.

It’s always been a place where we could relax.

A smaller community, warmer and easier.”

When his brows lifted a bit, she knew what he was thinking. Her parents’ accident.

“Oh, I know. That accident. But still, my folks loved being at Sunnycrest with us, along with Uncle Monty and Aunt Cate. Just having our aunt here brings my mom and dad back in so many ways.”

Sam thought Marlowe, Izzy and Aunt Cate felt the same way.

Staying in Oak Brook outside of Chicago, she might always have felt like a failure.

Sam and Kurt had so many friends there. Although they meant well, Sam didn’t want sympathy and she didn’t want to hear about the birth of Kurt and Marie’s baby, whenever that might be.

After the waiter had brought their Arnold Palmers, Sam asked questions about Mia and Hayden.

No way did she want Josh to think she didn’t care about his children.

But this topic was tricky. The truth was, the kids didn’t like her.

A past dinner at his house hadn’t gone well.

Mia had ignored her and Hayden spend the time playing video games

“They’re both doing fine, but now that you’ve asked, I’m in a fix.

” Josh’s forehead puckered as he stabbed his straw into the ice cubes.

“Mia’s been invited to a dance. The boy’s father will drive.

Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about that yet.

It’s an end-of-the-year dance and she wants a dress. A special dress.”

Had those been Mia’s words? “A special dress. That sounds normal and nice.”

Since Sam had no children, maybe she could live vicariously. Some day Holly would go to a dance. Sam sure hoped she wouldn’t mind having her aunts around when she left for the event.

Looking over at Josh, Sam wondered why he wasn’t more excited for his daughter.

“So what’s the problem?”

“Let me explain. I’m glad she’s going. His name is Sean and I know his parents. He’s nice enough, I guess.” He hitched one shoulder. “She just seems so young.”

Sean . Sam’s mind was lifted to another time.

A time when Josh and Sam had done some dreaming.

Back in high school she’d done what every girl probably does.

Sam had expected to have a family. In fact, she’d even named her children Sean and Shannon.

During those moonlit summer nights when they’d stretched out on a blanket and stared up at the stars, Josh had shared in that dream.

She laced her hands on the table in front of her.

All around them in the restaurant people talked and laughed.

But Josh and Sam were in a bubble. The silence and the look in his eyes told her that Josh had not forgotten those dreams. His hand cupped hers, and no words needed.

She loved that about him. That was what made her feelings for Josh so real, so special.

“Things seemed so easy back then,” Sam said.

“Exactly but now we’re older and wiser, right?”

“Are we? I’d like to believe that.” Sam had never thought she would get a divorce. That had been an unwelcome shock.

“There are no guarantees but I think I know what I want.”

Sam didn’t know what to say, so she took a sip of her drink and tried to get her head straight. “The divorce was, frankly, traumatic. I have to be more certain than I feel today, Josh. I know what can happen to dreams.”

“I’m willing to give you time if that’s what you need.” His grip on her hands tightened but she slipped hers away.

His words didn’t strike her the right way.

Was she needy? It sure sounded like Josh thought so.

Sam was glad when the wet burritos arrived.

She didn’t want to talk about this anymore.

Married to Kurt, she’d put her career and their business ahead of family.

Kurt had done the same. So here she was, no Sean and no Shannon.

Picking up her knife and fork, she forced herself to ease up. The burritos were wonderful and they talked about everything as they ate. His practice. Seth’s house. Izzy and Skipper. “Is anything going on there?” Josh asked.

“Good question. Izzy says no. Frankly I’m not sure. A woman came into the bakery asking about Skipper. They knew each other in Paris.” She tried to recall the details.

“Paris?” Josh shook his head in amazement. “Wow, and she’s French?”

Sam chuckled. “Yes indeed, and my sister is not pleased. The woman works at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac.”

“How’s Izzy doing living at Skipper’s house?” Josh spooned more salsa onto his burrito.

“Amazingly well.” Sam was surprised that Izzy wasn’t complaining. “She’s actually helping. Says she’s doing the dishes with Skipper.”

“How domestic.” Josh smiled.

“My thoughts exactly.”

They quietly ate their dinner. Sam was glad to be here but Josh’s words had given her more to think about. The silence was companiable. She liked being with him and she liked being here. Before long, the plates were cleared and they were sharing a piece of key lime pie.

Clearing his throat, Josh leaned forward like he was going to share some dark family secret. She found herself moving toward him. “Back to Mia’s dance. I know nothing about dresses, Sam. I don’t pay attention to that kind of thing. The latest styles and all that.”

The poor man. “Yes, I suppose you don’t.”

“Mia showed me some magazines but the dresses were…extreme.”

Sam stifled a laugh. “Define extreme.”

Staring off into space, Josh seemed to give that serious thought. “Let’s just say they weren’t age appropriate.”

“Josh, your little girl is fifteen. Soon she’ll be driving.”

“Don’t tell me that.” His face had drained of all color.

“Back to extreme. Do you mean necklines? Hems? What?”

His eyes widened in panic. “All of the above.”

“Maybe you’re overthinking this.” She’d almost finished the pie. Josh had stopped eating.

“I want it to be special.” He waved his hands as if he was creating something. “Memorable. Cynthia was so good at this stuff.”

Sam pressed back against the cushion. How could she compete with a woman who’d passed on and probably had done a wonderful job of raising her two children? Sam would come in as a distant second. And that was something to think about.

But she couldn’t look away from Josh’s troubled eyes. “Could you help?”

“Me?” Had she heard right? “Josh, I’m probably the last person Mia wants helping her.”

Josh’s stubborn streak was showing. “That’s ridiculous. We have to work on our relationship and here’s an opportunity.” The poor man was serious. Sam didn’t know what to do. The idea of using his daughter as a couple’s therapy tool didn't appeal to her at all.

“You’re a woman who always looks good. You’d know a pretty dress when you saw one,” Josh continued as if he’d read a self–help article. “And you’d also know which dresses she shouldn’t wear.”

Okay, he had a point. But Sam did not want to be the person censoring Mia’s choice in clothing. “Josh, Mia won’t go for this. I am the last person she wants helping her pick out a dress.”

“Oh no, she’s fine with it.” He sat back while Sam digested what he’d just said.

“So you already asked her about this.”

His mouth opened and closed. No words came out. Guilty as charged. That’s what his stricken expression was telling her. “I sort of did. Sam, I’m sorry. But Mia was telling me about the dance and the dress. I had to come up with something.”

Was he desperate about the dress or desperate about the relationship between Mia and Sam?

Sam could feel herself giving in. In either case, how could she say no? “All right. I’ll do it.”