Page 29 of Second Chance in Charlevoix (Charlevoix Dreams #3)

“This is so great.” Keeping her eyes on Marlowe, Izzy stepped up and took the seat next to the captain.

Today Skipper’s sunglasses had a blue tint.

With his hair ruffling in the breeze, he looked so handsome, just like the boy she’d fallen in love with years ago.

Some distant feeling awakened inside, playing through her like the forgotten lyrics to a favorite song.

Looking over, Skipper found her staring. “What?”

“Oh, nothing.” She swung her eyes back to Marlowe.

Her sister was having no trouble at all but it was important to keep her in sight.

When another boat roared past, it kicked up a wake that would have terrified Izzy.

She found herself holding her breath. But Marlowe just gave a wild howl and flew over those wakes, her skis slapping the water with a broad thwacking sound.

Skipper had Marlowe in his rear view mirror. “Your sister is really something. ”

Izzy sighed. “Everyone tells me that. You know, now that Marlowe’s here.”

“Hey.” Reaching over, he tilted her chin with one finger. “You have your own good qualities, Izzy. Always have.”

“Oh Skipper. I know.” She felt his touch in every cell of her body. His hand fell away and she turned her full attention to Marlowe.

Standing up, Skipper pointed back to the shore and Marlowe nodded, lifting one of the skis. Dare devil that she was, Marlowe was signaling that she wanted to drop a ski.

“Isn’t she crazy?” Izzy looked back at her sister with awe.

“She’s having a good time and you should too. You deserve a break.” He threw a pointed look her way.

Skipper would say that. Despite their divorce, the man had always been in her corner.

Today she desperately wanted to prove she was as brave as her older sisters.

Marlowe had built her own real estate career and become very successful.

That hadn’t been easy. Sam had done the same with her advertising agency, and she’d also gone through a heartbreaking divorce.

They were both remarkable women. Izzy had a bakery, but she wanted more of something.

Maybe more respect. The old Aretha Franklin song played in her mind.

“Hey, I know what you’re thinking and stop it.” A frown drawing his brows together, Skipper cut into her thoughts. “No comparisons.”

Izzy sniffed but said nothing. She admired her sisters.

Really she did. But she was tired of being the baby, especially since she had a baby of her own.

Shifting to one of the back seats, Izzy kept her eyes on Marlowe while her thoughts ran wild.

Being so close to Skipper was bringing back too many memories.

This day on the lake had become confusing.

As they drew closer to the pier, everyone on shore clapped and hollered. “Is that Holly on your mom’s lap?” Izzy tried to get a better look.

Skipper darted a glance at the shoreline and burst out laughing. “Sure is.”

“How is your mom doing?” Izzy had been surprised by how capable his mother seemed that day. Managing without her walker had been a surprise, especially on the uneven ground.

“Amazingly well. The doctor thinks it’s good to have you and the baby around.

She looks forward to cooking for all of us.

And she loves the garden we planted out back.

” Skipper and Izzy had planted a garden of basic greens, crops like zucchini, beans and cucumbers.

His mom had taken over watering the vegetables.

Since she hated using her walker outside, Izzy had found an adjustable kneeler for her.

That seemed to work, although she sometimes had a hard time getting up.

They were working on a solution for that.

It meant she could spend more time outside.

“She really looked forward to today,” Skipper said.

“I’m glad.” If she hadn’t come, Skipper might have stayed home with his mother.

And she wanted them both to be here. After they’d gotten to know each other again, Skipper’s mom had been so nice to her.

And of course, Mrs. Malone adored Holly.

She enjoyed watching Sesame Street with her. Skipper was a big help too.

Was she becoming too reliant on her ex and his mother? But when she moved back to Sunnycrest after the renovation, Aunt Cate would be there to help. Her sisters too, although she didn’t know about Sam. This thing with Josh was getting pretty serious.

They drew closer to the group watching them on the lawn.

Sure enough when they swept past the pier, with everyone watching and cheering, Marlowe dropped a ski and neatly tucked her free leg behind the other.

Her sister was amazing. With those long, muscled legs, Marlowe was really a picture.

Izzy’s stomach clenched. One ski? Game on , as her dad used to say. She kicked her confidence up a notch.

Leaving the group Sam ran down to the pier and jumped in to fish the dropped ski from the water. After she’d pushed it up onto the pier, Sam climbed out. Raising a hand to shade her eyes, she waved. As she stood there, Josh walked out to join her.

In so many ways this was just like old times.

Izzy was with her whole family, although the group had some new faces.

Seth had been so considerate, having this party at his house.

The yard around Sunnycrest was filled with equipment, saws and drop cloths.

Sam had been talking about going over soon to plant some flowers.

Seth had promised that the guys would clear an area.

The Quinns and the Conroys were all together, and a deep contentment filled her. So much of Izzy’s life had been chaotic. Maybe now things would settle down. Up in the captain’s seat, Skipper was in his element, and Marlowe seemed to be having a ball.

Her sister wove in and out of the wake, so graceful on her one ski.

The sun broke free of the clouds and the water was dazzling.

It looked as if diamonds had been tossed across those waves.

And Marlowe was the queen. Her sister could do anything.

It had always been like that, and Izzy was certain that her sister would be equally successful here in Charlevoix.

From what she said, Marlowe’s business was picking up.

Izzy knew that Marlowe wasn’t totally comfortable about turning forty soon.

But she sure didn’t look like forty. Skipper made a large figure eight with the boat, giving Marlowe plenty of times to jump the wakes.

They both would probably feel this in their legs tonight.

Restless, Izzy ran her hands down her warm thighs.

Out on the water, Marlowe gave a thumbs down and pointed back toward the pier.

“Okay, coming around.” Skipper turned the boat back toward the house. “You ready, Izzy?”

“Sure thing.” She kicked her old confidence into gear.

“I’m going to swing past the pier and pick up the other ski…unless you feel like trying to slalom?”

“Are you crazy? I’ll be lucky to get up on two.” What was he saying?

“You can do it, Izzy. You used to…remember?”

“Sure. Right.” Her eyes still on Marlowe, Izzy made her way toward the front so they weren’t shouting at each other over the roar of the engines.

“Skipper, that was a long time ago. I’m a lot older now.

” Sometimes her knees cracked when she stood up, not that she would ever mention that.

And she thought she’d spotted a gray hair recently.

Izzy had spent the entire evening looking for more and she may have sacrificed some blonde strands in the process.

“You’ll always be that girl to me.” His tone of voice made her turn back, her heart pumping at hearing such foolishness. Sure enough, he was blushing…like he’d said too much. His eyes fell and he turned his attention to the console.

That girl? Eyes on Marlowe, Izzy let Skipper’s sweet words settle in her heart. Her T-shirt was rolled up on a cushion. She shook it out and pulled it on. Grabbing a pink and white striped towel, she wrapped it around her.

“Cold or nervous?” Skipper called back. He must have been watching her in the rearview mirror.

“Getting sun burned, I guess.”

“Seth has some sunblock back in one of the side pockets.”

Looking around, she found it and squirted a bit into one palm.

The coconut smell brought memories rushing back, and Izzy’s mind went crazy.

The water, the boat, the smell of sunblock.

She was on overload. This day was bringing back so many good times.

Finally they pulled into the pier. Letting the water take her, Marlowe dropped the tow rope and skied into the shallow water.

After twisting her foot from the rubber cup, Marlowe pushed the ski toward Izzy, and she lifted it into the boat.

“You won’t believe how wonderful the water feels, Izzy.” Marlowe swished her way toward the boat and hoisted herself over the side. No ladder for her.

“You are so athletic.” Izzy handed her a dry towel.

“Boy, that was refreshing. These inland lakes feel different from the ocean.” Marlowe stopped patting herself down and looked back at the water. “Kinder. Warmer.”

“Warm? Wasn’t it cold?” Izzy’s teeth chattered.

“You’ll get used to it. No problem.” After drying herself off, Marlowe reapplied some sunblock. Meanwhile Skipper had gathered up the tow rope as the boat idled near to the pier. Sam had come down to hand Skipper the other ski.

“Why don’t you come along?” Izzy asked.

With a look toward the shore, Sam shook her head. “I want to stay around the kids.”

“But I don’t see them.’’

“Seth set Hayden up in the family room with one of his video games and Mia is having fun with Holly.” Looking up, Izzy could see Holly in Mia’s arms.

“I hope she’s careful. Did Aunt Cate feed Holly?”

“Yes, we are not starving your darling little girl.” Sam shook her head. “Go. Have fun.”

Sam turned back to the house and Izzy settled herself in the back seat. “Are you ready?” Skipper asked, one hand on the throttle.

“Sure,” Izzy said.