Page 32 of Second Chance in Charlevoix (Charlevoix Dreams #3)

Isabel

S urrounded by the sample boards Gabby Driscoll had brought, Izzy felt dizzy with excitement.

Now she realized that she’d lived with drab colors and faded drapes for years.

Sunnycrest was really coming to life. In a month the renovations should be completed, or so Seth said.

At first Izzy hadn’t been crazy about the changes.

They just didn’t feel right…almost as if they were insulting her parents.

Her mother had chosen the colors and style years ago.

Granted, the cranberry and forest green had made the dining room dark.

The palette Gabby was suggesting brought a whole new look to everything.

Maybe it was time for Sunnycrest to enjoy new life.

Standing next to her, Marlowe and Sam seemed to feel the same way.

“How wonderful.” Aunt Cate stood in the center of Seth’s expansive living room overlooking the lake. Along with Izzy’s two sisters, she studied the boards propped up on the sofa and resting against the coffee table. “So fresh and peaceful.”

Dressed in a colorful red and black top, Gabby wore red-rimmed glasses with a necklace to match.

Her dangling red earrings bobbed and swung as she spoke.

Izzy would have loved a pair of Gabby’s black peep-toe wedgies that revealed red nail polish.

No wonder Marlowe enjoyed working with this woman.

She was a trip, as well as being a business force in northern Michigan.

Apparently Gabby had started her real estate career with Chip, her husband and business partner.

But in recent years her comments about décor had expanded her business in that direction.

Chip soon suggested charging for those services.

“People only value what they have to pay for,” he’d said, from what Marlowe had told Izzy.

And his words made sense. The offshoot of Driscoll and Associates had become very popular.

Gabby was obviously in her element, discussing colors and fabrics.

Her eyes flying from one board to another, Izzy was glad that Skipper had offered to pick up Holly from daycare.

If Izzy had to bring her little darling to this meeting, Holly would be stumbling around the room, wanting to touch every fabric, every color swatch.

Izzy wouldn’t have been able to concentrate.

“I’m suggesting Harbor Gray for the living room with subdued retractable blinds instead of drapes. Your view is so spectacular, blinds will allow for easy access to the outdoors.” Here Gabby hesitated, her laser circling the color sample of White Wisp.

“Now this is only a suggestion but I hope you’ll consider this change to give a lighter touch to Sunnycrest. I may be talking about a sacred cow but I’m suggesting you paint your woodwork White Wisp too. It will lift the entire look of that living room and be carried over into the kitchen.”

Silence fell over the room. The sisters looked at each other. Seth moved uneasily in the chair, where he’d been a silent observer.

“We’ll consider that.” Finally Aunt Cate spoke up. “Tell us more about that kitchen.”

Looking relieved, Gabby launched into the shots of the beautiful cabinets Jeb, Seth’s father, was working on.

In the drawing the cabinets reached the ceiling.

White Carrara marble would top the new island, with cupboards below offering more storage space.

The stools pulled up to that island would have leather seats in Seaport Blue.

Here Gabby paused. She could be so dramatic.

“That shade of blue…” She circled the color sample with her laser.

“That color would be found in the dining room as well. With pops of Amelia Island Blue, which is a turquoise, along with Grape Green, a zippy li me. The turquoise and green would appear on the porch cushions, as well as a new hammock.”

“A new hammock?” Marlowe’s response was really a question. That hammock was kind of a “sacred cow,” as Gabby put it.

Gabby turned. “Okay, ladies. I come the bearer of bad news. Your old hammock could split any day, dropping you to the floor.”

“Sad but true.” Izzy was in total agreement.

“Marlowe and Sam, time to change. Love that green, Gabby. The lime is so zippy.” She turned that shade of lime over in her head.

Izzy wanted to be that person. Refreshed.

Renewed. Looking at these colors, she felt that her rosebud quilt was outdated and childish.

Quickly Gabby ran through the color schemes, suggesting that each woman choose a comforter from one of her catalogues to set the colors for her room.

“We can build on that.” But basically, Aunt Cate’s room would be done in Peony Pink with Green Grape accents and White Wisp trim.

Here Gabby hesitated again. “You might consider painting the mantel of that fireplace as well.” Then her eyes almost squeezed shut, as if she expected to be challenged.

Wow. Could they do that? Like the mantel in the living room, their grandfather had brought the hand-carved piece from Chicago. Would painting it be a desecration? Forehead furrowing as she studied the samples, Marlowe had grown quiet. With her arms crossed, Sam cupped her chin in one hand.

So many decisions. So many steps forward. Bypassing the quilt suggestion, Marlowe wanted deep purple and lilac for her room, lifted by the grape green touch. Sam chose a Springtime Peach with medium green “if I find the right quilt.”

Gabby called for questions, and Izzy had to speak up. “If the fireplace is painted white, can we change it if we don’t like it?”

“Interesting question.” Her red lips pursed, Gabby tapped the pointer against one palm.

“I think you have to commit to your decision. Stripping paint is difficult and will leave paint in the crevices. I have two clients who have painted their fireplace, and they’re happy with the result.

How would it be if I set up a time for a quick visit? ”

“That would be great, Gabby.” Marlowe spoke up.

Thank goodness. Izzy wasn’t sure if she could take that step without seeing an example. Would she feel guilty painting over years of memories gathered in front of that fireplace? Or was it time to move on? Lately, she was in a moving on mood.

There were a couple more questions about colors.

Then Seth took the floor. “Thanks, Gabby. Looks like everyone is pretty excited. We’ll get back to you.

” After a flurry of goodbyes, Gabby left, leaving the boards behind.

Piper trotted in and gave them a good sniff.

Bogart stayed under Sam’s bed whenever strangers were in the house.

The whole house smelled like the snickerdoodles Aunt Cate had baked that morning. As the girls considered the boards, she carried in a tray of tall glasses of iced tea and her yummy snickerdoodles.

Of course they started to talk about the recent day of skiing. “My muscles were sore for days,” Izzy said between bites of her cookies.

“Mine too,” Marlowe said after her first bite. “Aunt Cate, are you becoming a baker?”

Their aunt’s face flushed. “Maybe. As my work in New York winds down, I find myself with time on my hands.” She flipped open one of the catalogues Gabby had left. “But we’re at the interesting part of the renovation. I expect things to pick up.”

“Did Josh enjoy our get-together at Seth’s?” Marlowe asked Sam, reaching for another cookie.

“Guess so. And Mia and Hayden too. Big newsflash, if you don’t already know. Mia enjoyed the school dance in her new dress.”

“Told you not to sweat it.” Marlowe waved her cookie in the air. “You have great taste.”

“And the barbecue gave the kids a chance to see my family.” Here Sam chuckled. “Guess you passed the test.”

“How about Skipper?” Marlowe turned to Izzy, who nearly choked on her cookie .

“What about him?” She felt her face heat and ducked to brush crumbs from her lap.

“Come on,” Marlowe teased. Her sister would never give up. “That poor guy is still crazy about you. Couldn’t take his eyes off you on the boat. I thought he was going to run us ashore while you were skiing.”

Suddenly everyone’s interest had shifted from paint and fabrics to Izzy’s personal life. The scrutiny made her squirm. “He still fusses over me. It’s crazy.”

“Whatever do you mean.” Her aunt put down her frosty glass. Oh, here it comes . The third degree.

Izzy took a deep breath. “I mean he’s always worrying about me. I can take care of myself.”

Sam shifted in the rocker. “I would think that would feel good…having someone to worry about you.” Her sister was thinking about her failed marriage again, and Izzy was sorry that the conversation had taken this turn.

“What a burden. Having someone care enough to worry.” Marlowe blew out a raspberry. “Can’t imagine how that would feel.”

Turn about was fair play. “Well, if you’d invite Brad to some of our get-

togethers,” Izzy said. “You might be surprised. I think that guy’s into you.”

The discussion got loud and bawdy. Izzy was glad that the focus had shifted away from her.

But later, after Marlowe and Sam had drifted down to the pier to watch the sunset, Izzy stayed to help Aunt Cate clean up the kitchen.

Of course Seth had all the latest appliances.

Izzy couldn’t wait until Sunnycrest had this sleek, efficient look, from the under-the-counter microwave to the big burners on the stovetop.

“Sweetheart, about that worrying. Skipper just wants to keep you safe,” Aunt Cate said, straightening from filling the dishwasher. “You know that, right?”

Izzy shrugged with impatience, feeling like she was fifteen again. “But it’s annoying, Aunt Cate. Reminds me of when I was growing up. Everyone was always telling me what to do.”

Her aunt gave her a long look. Whatever was on her mind, she was taking her time.

“Trust me,” she finally said. “A day will come when you’ll be very glad to have that attention.

After Uncle Monty passed on, it could feel very lonely sometimes, not having him to care about me.

Just me in that big Tribeca apartment.” Leaning against the counter, her aunt looked sad.

Had Izzy brought on this sadness? Drawing her aunt in with one arm, she kissed her forehead. Aunt Cate had always seemed so independent. But losing Uncle Monty must have been so hard. “You two were so close.”

A shiver passed through her aunt, and Izzy could feel it. “I mean it,” Aunt Cate said. “You have no idea, but you will one day.”

Just as she was turning that over in her mind, Izzy’s phone rang in her back pocket. Pulling away from her aunt, she dug out her phone. “Speak of the devil. It’s Skipper.”

“Hey, what’s up?” Izzy studied her pink nails. Maybe she should switch to red. “Skipper?”

“My mom’s been taken to the hospital, and I’m there now. Something happened when she was gardening. Thank goodness the Amazon delivery guy saw her stretched out near the vegetable garden.”

Izzy’s mind froze. “Skipper, that’s awful. I’ll meet you there.”

After she hung up, Izzy realized she’d forgotten all about Holly.

Turning, she faced her aunt. “What’s going on?” Aunt Cate asked.

“Mrs. Malone was taken to the hospital.” Izzy could hardly get the words out. “Skipper’s there and I want to meet him. But he was supposed to pick up Holly from daycare.”

“One of your sisters will get her.” Her aunt nudged her toward the door. “Go, go. Skipper needs you.”