“She's trying to stand up,” Izzy told the group. “Right in the middle of the room.”
“Oh, I wish I was there to see that,” Sam said. “How exciting.”
They all missed being together. But first they had to make plans and Marlowe intended to keep them on track. Glancing at Sam's image on the phone, she found that Sam looked pale and drawn. Was she eating and getting enough rest?
Time to bring this call to a close, although she loved talking to everyone. Before they all hung up, Izzy said she would check with Seth Barrett, now known as a hottie, to see what sketches he had in mind. She would suggest making the kitchen expansion one of the drawings. “Tell him not too detailed on that one,” Marlowe advised. “Or it will end up costing us quite a bit.” Would he include brands of appliances and anything else that we need? They didn’t need that level of detail right now.
“Let's not worry about that,” Aunt Cate said, her playfulness morphing back into business practicality. “I intend to set up that operational account at the bank. Got it on my list.”
“Okay, if you say so,” Sam said. “We talked about having that special account established in Charlevoix after we sell our various properties.”
“My Tribeca condo is on the market.” Aunt Cate looked so pleased with herself.
How amazing. For a second Marlowe was speechless. “How did you manage that when you’re up in Charlevoix?”
“Easy, I had my assistant go over to take care of some details. That apartment has a sizeable storage area in a large, dry basement. She hired some guys to move things out. Now she's working at staging it for showings. Took all the personal photos from the rooms. That kind of thing.”
That astonishing news made Marlowe feel that she was dragging her feet. Her sister Sam had paled a little. Both of them had talked about selling their current home or condo. Sounded as if Aunt Cate had jumped right in. “Didn't she wonder why you were doing that?”
“I told her that I was looking for something smaller. Which I am.” They had talked about this over the holidays. The Tribeca apartment was huge. Her aunt and uncle had lived in it for many years while they worked as attorneys in the New York market.
After they'd all said their goodbyes, Marlowe stood at the window and looked out at the ocean. In the blue moonlight the sea churned up restless waves that tumbled to the shore. Maybe it was time for change. Sure, that Olde Naples house was darling. Shari would probably be very happy there.
But Marlowe wasn’t at that point in her life. She wasn’t ready to throw in the towel and say this is where I am and where I’ll be.Single in Florida.Only playing in the snow once a year. Too busy keeping up with Naples to fly to Michigan. Marlowe missed the change of seasons. Missed the outdoor activities, like skiing and even shoveling.
Time for a change.
Although Naple’s real estate market wasn't as brisk as it had been, she had updated her condo. Selling it probably wouldn't take long. The view was gorgeous and the condo offered all the latest bells and whistles. And all the units in this building were soundproof. She never heard the rush of waves below or felt any community on her floor. In the beginning she had tried inviting people for cocktails but that hadn't worked. That's when she found out that many of them were snowbirds. Not exactly the neighborhood or the neighbors she’d planned on for herself.
Down below a couple strolled along the shoreline, arms around each other's waist. That comfortable picture brought a lump to Marlowe's throat. She tried to clear it. This yearshe would be forty. When the Quinns were giggling girls in Naperville, Marlowe never would have guessed that she would still be single at this age. Heck, Izzy was only thirty-six and she'd already been married twice, although not successfully. And now she was a mother. Taking matters into her own hands, she’d made her dream of having a baby come true.
Maybe Charlevoix would be Marlowe’s new neighborhood. Maybe that’s where she’d realize her own childhood dreams. She wanted to put down roots there. The excitement humming through her body made her restless. It was so hard to get to sleep that night.
Chapter Twelve
MARLOWE
That renovation phone call was still on Marlowe’s mind when she arrived at her open house the following Sunday. Trevor’s car indicated he was already there. Since she was a few minutes early, she pulled out her phone and called Gabby up in Michigan.
“This is your buddy from the plane,” she said when Gabby picked up. Marlowe was glad that she hadn't been sent to voicemail. She had questions and needed answers. “Hope I haven't called at a bad time.”
“Not at all. What's going on?” Gabby asked. “Were those names of architects any help?”
“My sister met with both of them. We are on a roll.”
“Great, sounds like you got right on it. How did it go?”
“It went well, I guess.” Marlowe didn't really know Gabby. How frank she could be about Izzy's experiences?
“You guess? What happened?” Obviously Gabby had picked up on her reservations.
Might as well be honest with her. They had to get this project rolling and Gabby could be invaluable. “My sister thought the two men were very different from each other. At least that wasIsabel's first impression.” Sometimes Izzy could be shy. Had that been the problem with Chase Wilson?
Gabby's chuckle was more of a cackle. “I would say your sister's very perceptive.”
“Okay, so you deliberately gave her two men with different approaches?”
“Seemed like a good way to cover the bases. I've never seen the house and I don't know your family. Which one did your sister feel most comfortable with?”
