“I suppose a lot of families come back to the area at holiday time, right?” Marlowe got the conversation back on track.
“Somewhat, but not as many as the batch of summer people.”
“I suppose not.” Their visit had been so much more than a holiday escape. Christmas had brought the three sisters back into a tight family orbit. It had been too easy in the past few years for Sam to stay in Chicago, Marlowe in Naples and Aunt Cate in New York while Isabel did her own thing in Charlevoix. But now they’d come together again. The excitement she’d felt over the past few days flickered again in Marlowe’s chest.
She could do this. Shehadto do this. They’d all made promises to each other. Those final family conversations hadleft Marlowe with a daunting to-do list. Where to start? Maybe Jenna would help her. The new young woman at the agency came to mind. But right now Jenna was not answering Marlowe’s emails.
The plane hummed around them. Travelers were reading or had fallen asleep. Marlowe felt wired. “I don’t suppose you know of any architects?”
Now she had Gabby’s full attention. “As a matter of fact, I do. I could send you a list if you like. Planning on building?”
“Renovating.” Marlowe felt her enthusiasm rev up. “Thank you. Some names would be great.”
“Kitchen and bathrooms, I imagine,” Gabby said.
“Always top of anyone’s list, right?”
“Are you thinking of updating and then selling?”
“Oh no, we’re definitely not selling,” Marlowe blurted out. The idea horrified her.
Her candor brought a pleased nod. “You really do love that family home,” Gabby said slowly, as if she thoroughly approved.
“Yes, yes we do. The renovation’s a group project.”
“That’s wonderful. Be prepared to weather different opinions.”
“I suppose so.” Would they get into arguments over the changes? Maybe. Sam could be set in her ways. But then, so could Marlowe. The air began to wheeze from Marlowe’s balloon of happiness.
She’d been thinking about their planned project on the way to the airport. They’d agreed to spend time with Isabel at Sunnycrest so that she didn’t have to shoulder all the responsibility. Her sister had adopted a baby and since she was a single mom, she had her hands full. Gabby had taken out her electronic reader and Marlowe did likewise, although she had no intentions of reading. After talking to Gabby, she felt wired.
Meeting her seatmate felt like a bit of good luck. Marlowe’s spirits felt a jolt of positive energy. After a while, Gabby put her reader away and the two exchanged business cards. For the rest of the trip to Atlanta, they talked and talked. Gabby was married with two older sons. She was on her way to a decorators conference in San Diego. Marlowe admired her for expanding her horizons. Real estate wasn’t her only gig, and maybe that meant more business for the agents who worked with her. Driscoll & Associates was a partnership with her husband Chip. That must be nice, or so Marlowe thought.
But then her sister Samantha’s situation came to mind. Sam had been in a partnership with her husband Kurt for over twenty years. Their niche of marketing for healthcare companies had become an impressive empire. She’d always admired them until Kurt dumped Marlowe’s sister for a younger model. Sam’s situation made Marlowe furious. She wanted to take back every expensive tie she’d ever bought her former brother-in-law for Christmas.
Glancing down toward the Kate Spade bag she’d stuffed under the seat in front of her, Marlowe wondered about her silent phone. Right now it was turned off, but Jenna should have called before take-off.
What about their plans for the upcoming open house? Marlowe wanted an update, and the silence wasn’t like Jenna. She’d left a very specific to-do list, and Jenna had been excited. Since this was a big ticket property with a high profile seller, there couldn’t be any slip-ups.
Before long the plane landed with a whoosh. Hearing the passengers behind her scramble out of their seats, Marlowe lifted her bag onto her lap. One of the things Marlowe liked about First Class was the ability to get off first. Sitting next to Gabby had been fun. Would she ever hear from her again? She sure hoped so. Marlowe slipped out and so did Gabby. Theygrabbed their bags, thanked the pilot and crew and trekked up the ramp.
“I’ll send you those names,” Gabby promised before setting off down the concourse.
“Thanks. Great meeting you, Gabby.” The concourse was loud and she had to raise her voice over the announcements coming over the air. “Hope to hear from you soon.”
Was she being too pushy? If you didn’t ask, nothing happened, especially in real estate. That’s how she’d become the listing agent for Bobby Jenson’s property in Port Royal.
“Absolutely. We’ll talk soon.” With a flip of one hand, Gabby Driscoll took off. She had the stride of a woman who knew where she was going. Watching Gabby take on the concourse with her wheeled carryon, Marlowe smiled. The crowds seemed to get out of her way as she clicked along.
Gabby reminded Marlowe of her own Aunt Cate. The two might have a lot in common. She’d have to set up something so they could meet. Maybe a lunch? Marlowe chuckled to herself.Everything happens for a reason.There she was, already planning on getting those two older women together. Aunt Cate would need friends since she was leaving New York. But then again, her aunt didn’t have a shy bone in her body. Making friends had never been a problem for her.
Stomach growling, Marlowe checked the overhead board for departures. Still a two hour wait until her plane left for Naples. At least the flight was on time and she headed for concourse A. Her favorite place to wait, Brioche Doree offered croissants and lattes. Craving comfort food, she quickly made her choices and settled into one of the small tables while they heated her croissant. Time to check her messages. Darn it. Still nothing from Jenna, which was becoming annoying.
“Getting in at four o’clock.” Marlowe tapped out a text. “Do you have time for a chat then? I’ll call from the car and we cango over the details for the open house. So excited!” Excitement wasn’t exactly what was churning in her stomach. Irritation was more like it.
This open house was major and a real notch on her belt. Marlowe had scored a coup with a multi-million dollar property in Port Royal. The spacious mansion on the water was easily the largest listing she’d ever handled and had come about so naturally. She’d met Bobby Jensen at a cocktail party given by her boss, Landon Hardy.
Landon, whose calls she’d been ignoring. But Marlowe didn’t want to think about that now. Landon and Bobby were old friends. They’d gone to prep school together in Massachusetts. She’d laughed, listening to the two of them toss jokes at each other. Bobby had the same broad eastern accent that Landon sported. The night Marlowe had met Bobby she’d listened to the two men try to outdo each other with outrageous school stories. Tiresome stuff, really.
