Page 28 of Second Chance in Charlevoix (Charlevoix Dreams #3)

Isabel

D idn’t take long for Izzy to change her mind.

The sunny day, the waves lapping the shore and the occasional buzz of boats out on Horton Bay called to her.

Marlowe was right. Back in high school, she’d loved water skiing.

Those had been her wilder days when she’d hung out with other summer people, as well as some of the locals.

Billy Hanson’s dad was a doctor in a suburb north of Detroit.

Their mother spent the summer up on Lake Charlevoix in a big summer place with a huge deck and a vintage boathouse.

If she closed her eyes, Izzy could still smell the dim dampness of that boathouse.

She could also hear the giggles of teenagers who were up to nothing but trouble.

Although Skipper had known Billy, they hadn’t hung out together.

Dr. Hanson’s boat had two huge motors on the back and all sorts of skis leaning against the walls of the boathouse.

Billy loved nothing more than dragging his city friends around behind his boat, music blaring under a bright sun.

For a couple of her college summers Marlowe worked at The Scoop, a local ice cream shop, where Billy’s friends hung out.

When she got a look at the kids in that group, she’d issued a strong ultimatum to Izzy.

She would not breathe a word to Aunt Cate or Uncle Monty but Izzy had to swear that she wouldn’t spend any more time with Billy’s crowd. “They’re bad news, Izzy.”

By that time Skipper had caught Izzy’s eye.

She called him her beach boy and, truth be told, she was more comfortable with his local group.

But she’d learned how to ski with Billy at the helm of his dad’s boat.

Sometimes he’d pull two skiers and try what he called “Summertime Tricks.” He’d even had a ramp put in front of his house that sprawled across three lots.

She wondered what had happened to Billy.

A few years ago, the house had changed hands. Now the boathouse looked deserted.

That craziness was all in her past but every nerve in Izzy’s legs hummed when she heard the roar of a boat.

Clutching a towel in her hands, she looked up at the house.

Aunt Cate and Sam had both assured her that they would watch Holly and bring her down when she woke up from her nap.

Aunt Cate was watching Holly on the baby cam.

Did every mother feel like this, torn between what she wanted to do and what she thought she should do for her child?

While she stood there agonizing, Skipper walked back from the boat in his navy trunks and bare feet. Boy, all that work in the bakery had sure honed his muscles. Pushing back his gladiator sunglasses, he said, “What’s wrong, Izzy?”

“What if the baby wakes up?” She twisted the towel in her hands.

“Your aunt has that covered. And Sam is here too, along with my mom.”

“Okay, I guess you’re right.” This day was too beautiful. Birds called from the trees and a duck with eight ducklings paddled past the pier.

“Come on. Give yourself a break.”

“It’s hard, Skipper. Really hard.” Surely he knew how it was with her. He was with her everyday.

“You’re a mother, Izzy. Not a prisoner. Why, you’re the most dedicated mother I know.”

“Really?” Touched by his sweet words, she smiled up at him. “You really think so, Skippy?”

“I know so.” He slung one sun-warmed arm over her shoulders and Izzy felt his comfort. What was this? Stay on track, Isabel . Slipping away, she took off for the pier, her flipflops slapping the bottoms of her feet.

“Are you coming?” When she turned, Skipper was trailing behind her with a cat-ate-the-canary smile.

She nearly tripped over her own feet. “Marlowe? Are you coming?” Izzy called out over her shoulder when she reached the blue and white boat. No way did she want to be alone with Skipper. Not until she had time to straighten out all the crazy feelings charging through her.

“I’m coming!” Looking up from a conversation she was having with Mrs. Malone and Sam, Marlowe grabbed a towel and came running. Her long hair fell in one braid down her back as she loped down the pier in her bare feet. “It’s been a long time since I skied.”

“Me too.” Although she was wearing a T-shirt over her red bikini, Izzy shivered with excitement.

“It’s like riding a bike.” Skipper jumped into the boat and turned, offering a hand to help them onboard. “You’ll be surprised. Your body remembers.”

Izzy wasn’t so sure about that. She’d had lots of accidents on her bike.

Once on the boat, Izzy collapsed onto the back seat. She motioned to Marlowe to take the padded seat next to Skipper up front. His words had given her some confidence. She’d think about it later.

Once they were all seated, they waved back at the pier. Seth had joined the group at the firepit and he called out, “Have fun!”

“Are you going to ski, Skipper? I can handle the boat,” Marlowe said as they pulled away from the pier. The smell of fuel hung in the air and water churned from the high-powered motor.

“Had my turn earlier with Seth,” Skipper said. “He gave me a pretty good workout.”

“Well, if you decide you want to go again, I can handle the boat.”

“So can I.” Izzy spoke up. My, wasn’t she getting brave?

She’d handled Billy Hanson’s boat years ago and nearly took down the boathouse one time coming in too fast. Good thing Billy had been right there to help.

But she’d learned from that. Rotating her chair, Marlowe smiled back at her.

The boat had picked up speed and the noise of the motor made conversation impossible.

Clouds drifted by overhead, although the cooling breeze didn’t carry any hint of rain.

Some gulls circled up above, cawing with excitement when they spotted a tasty morsel and dipped to snatch it.

Stretching out in the sun, Izzy whipped off her T-shirt and slathered on skin block.

It had been so long since she’d sunbathed. She must look like a ghost.

Up front Skipper stared out over the lake.

The breeze had kicked up some waves but not enough to make skiing impossible.

This was going to be fun. At least, that’s what Izzy told herself while her bouncing stomach told a totally different story.

After a while Skipper idled the boat. “Marlowe, you first up?”

“You bet.” Jumping up, Marlowe shed her shirt and came back to grab one of the life preservers. She fastened it around her waist.

While the boat idled, Skipper came back and eyed the skis laid crosswise across the back. “Two skis or the slalom?”

Marlowe’s surprised laugh was more of a bark. “Are you kidding? I haven’t skied in years. I’ll start with two skis and see how it goes.”

Izzy felt like giving a fist pump. If Marlowe was nervous, Izzy felt a lot better.

“Don’t they ski in Florida?” Skipper threw an amazed glance over his shoulder.

“The ocean is a whole different experience. Native Floridians might fish but you don’t see a lot of them skiing.” Marlowe always spoke with authority.

“Okay.” Skipper turned back to scan the water. “After a while I’ll circle past the house. If you feel like dropping a ski there, we can go back to pick it up for Izzy.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Looking tan and fit in her two-piece suit, Marlowe lifted one leg over the side, found the short ladder and sank back into the water. “Cooler than I thought,” she called up.

“Beginning of summer. You’ll get used to it,” Izzy assured her. But she casually dipped one hand in and the water felt freezing.

Skipper came back to lift the skis down to Izzy’s sister, one at a time.

Marlowe had no trouble jamming her feet into them.

While Skipper went back to the front, Izzy stood up, found her balance and tossed the tow rope to Marlowe.

Then Skipper edged the boat away until the rope was taunt and Izzy sat down.

Marlowe had her skis positioned in front of her with both hands on the tow rope handle.

Her position was perfect and she gave Izzy a thumbs up before yelling, “Hit it!”

The boat leapt forward when Skipper pushed it into high gear.

Of course Marlowe found her balance and was up in seconds.

Sighing, Izzy would have felt better if her sister had some trouble getting up.

Slicing out to one side, Marlowe eyed the wake made by another larger boat.

Cutting back in, she slid across the bubbly, bumpy wake like it was nothing.

Watching her, Izzy tried to still the nerves skittering through her stomach. Would she be able to do this?

Of course I can . How she wanted to wear that confident smile now on her sister’s face.

After she’d drifted away from Billy Hanson’s gang, Uncle Monty would rent a boat for a couple of weeks.

They’d trailer it to one of the lakes. Sometimes it was Lake Charlevoix and other times they took it to the smaller Walloon Lake.

Skiing was easy and all three of them had great fun, although Aunt Cate never tried it.

Now they all lived here, and Izzy’s mind took a crazy giant leap.

Maybe they should buy a boat. As a group they might be able to afford it.

But her father’s practical nature took over.

Izzy remembered her dad saying that a boat could be an anchor around your neck because of all the maintenance.

Dad had always been always right. But maybe he would have enjoyed a boat ride now and then.

Uncle Monty didn’t start renting the boat for them until after Mom and Dad were gone.

Her aunt and uncle always had gone out of their way to make sure they were having fun.

Maybe she’d enjoy this day for her parents. They’d like that, and she hugged the idea to her heart.