Chapter 1
Izzy brought the warm chai tea latte to her lips, tempted by the enticing aroma of the huge slice of cinnamon-laced fresh apple pie sitting in the middle of the table along with three forks. With the Harvest Festival over and the bulk of the work done at the winery, she had the day to herself and was enjoying the quiet afternoon, pondering an idea that had been nagging at her since she came to visit the island earlier in the summer.
With the sun glinting off the water, she glanced out the window to the outdoor seating on the deck, and regretted not taking the opportunity to enjoy the perfect weather. She had too many things on her mind when she placed her order and visited with Sam, stationed behind the counter of Harbor Coffee and Books.
Her lawyer colleagues from all those legal and leadership workshops over the years, where the personality and strength surveys always pegged Izzy as reliable and stable, would be shocked at her idea now. What she’d been contemplating and the spontaneity of it, went against her natural instincts. The truth was, she was feeling guilty and a bit selfish for even considering it.
The chimes on the front door announced the arrival of her brother, Blake and his new bride, Ellie. They joined her at the table, where their steaming drinks awaited.
Both of them sported huge smiles. “We finished tallying the sales from the weekend and the festival, and it exceeded our wildest expectations.” Blake squeezed Ellie’s hand. “It will get us through the lean months at the winery after the holidays.”
“That’s wonderful news.” Izzy pointed at the pie. “Sam gave us this gigantic slice to share.”
Ellie held up her hand. “Only one bite for me. I did some cheating this weekend and need to get back on track.”
Blake took a bite and raised his brows at his sister. “So, what did you want to talk about? You’ve got us intrigued.”
Izzy took another sip and put her cup down. “I’ve been giving some thought to making a change and wanted to run it by the two of you. The lease on my little cottage is up this month, so my time here was supposed to come to an end. The thing is, I’m not sure I want to go back to the Tri-Cities. I’ve been toying with the idea of moving here, but I don’t want to do that if it would cramp your style. I know it’s not always easy to be living close to family.”
Ellie’s eyes danced with excitement, and she jumped from her chair to wrap Izzy in a hug. “We’d love to have you nearby.”
Blake grinned at the two of them and nodded toward his wife. “What she said. It’s been wonderful to have you here, Izz. Not only have you helped us so much, but it’s comforting to have you here.” He reached across the table and rubbed her arm. “You don’t need our approval or permission to move anyway, but you’ve got it.”
Izzy smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t want you to feel weird having your big sister around. I feel so at home here. I’ll miss being close to Mom and Dad, but with me actually looking to retire, it seems like a great time for a whole new start. Having you and Ellie here would be a true gift.”
Blake rested his fork on the pie plate. “Are you going to sell your place?”
Izzy nodded. “I’m talking to my realtor now and if I go ahead with it, need to find a place here. Something easy to take care of and not too demanding. I’m tired of having a large place to worry about and this will help me downsize.” She plucked her phone from her purse and turned it toward them. “I’ve been looking online and really like this one on the golf course. I wouldn’t have to worry about yard work, it’s all part of the homeowner association fee, so no maintenance, and while it’s not on the water, it has a lovely view of the greens, nice walking paths, and tons of amenities. At first, I had my heart set on a property along the beach, but I save a bundle avoiding the water view.”
Blake nodded and showed the photos to Ellie. She pointed at the screen with an excited look in her eyes. “Oh, I like the shingled siding. We should go see it.”
Izzy nodded. “I thought I’d call Nate’s dad and arrange a visit. From what I can see from these online photos, I like it.”
“We can go with you when you get an appointment, if you want,” offered Blake.
“That would be terrific. I’d love another opinion. I’m not usually this spontaneous.”
Blake finished off the last bite of pie. “So, are you really thinking you’ll actually retire from practicing law?”
Izzy wrinkled her nose. “Well, I can do contract work or some small jobs working out of a home office. I don’t want to have a practice or work for a firm. I want some freedom. I like helping you at the winery and working with Kate at her shop, but I’d like to step away from the bulk of my legal work and not feel tied down to my clients. One more reason to leave the Tri-Cities—it’s easier to say no to clients from a distance.”
Blake nodded. “I get that. Have you told Mom and Dad? They’re gonna miss you.”
Izzy’s smile faded and her stomach lurched. “Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first. I know they’ll miss me, but Esther and Lauren are nearby, so they’ll be okay.” She kept telling herself this same thing, but it didn’t do much to suppress her guilt.
Blake nodded. “I can help you move things. We can commandeer one of the winery delivery trucks and make a trip out of it.”
She tucked a stray piece of hair, more salt than pepper lately, behind her ear. “That’s the part I’m dreading. I need to only bring what I really want to keep.” She pointed at her phone. “Some of the furnishings in this house stay with it as part of the sale, so that’s another thing I like. The idea of moving is a bit overwhelming, but I’ve given it some thought over these last few months.”
Blake reassured her with a kind smile. “I would never doubt any of your decisions. You always analyze everything. We can help you, so don’t worry about that. It’s good timing. Call Jack and set it up. He’ll probably jump at the chance to show it to you today or tomorrow.”
Izzy nodded and tapped the screen on her phone. Within minutes, Jack had agreed to meet them at the house, saying it was empty and he could swing by the office and pick up the keys.
Izzy led the way. When she drove down the driveway and saw the first glimpse of the Cape Cod style house, it felt like home. Blake and Ellie pulled in behind her, and Jack arrived a few minutes later.
Jack greeted them with a hearty smile, and pointed out the maintenance free weathered shingle siding that looked like wood, but was a composite. Upon opening the front door, gleaming cherry hardwood floors welcomed them into the open floor plan. A subtly curved staircase, directly across from them, led to two guestrooms, a bathroom, and a study, explained Jack.
He led the way into the great room, then the huge kitchen, which boasted a large granite counter that could be used as an eating area, and adjoined to a larger dining space. Oversized windows and glass patio doors ran along the entire back of the house, showcasing a gorgeous view of the rolling greens. Ellie lingered in the kitchen, while Blake and Izzy followed Jack into the large master suite with a walk-in shower and separate garden tub. There was a deck off the master where Izzy pictured herself enjoying her morning coffee, plus a patio off the living area that would be perfect for alfresco meals.
She checked out the large laundry room with plenty of storage and the attached garage before heading upstairs. The study would make a perfect office and even had doors leading out to a small balcony overlooking the golf course.
Izzy thought it was exactly what she wanted, even before Jack pointed out that the window treatments would stay with the house, as well as the built-in cherry bookcases in the study, and the floating shelves in the living area. The large dining set and matching buffet that fit perfectly in the space also stayed with the house, as did all the outdoor patio furniture and grill.
They rejoined Ellie in the kitchen, who was sitting at the counter angled across the space. “I love this kitchen, Izzy.”
“It will be a bit of a waste on me,” she said, laughing. “My cooking days are behind me, thank goodness.”
Jack cleared his throat. “The owners lowered the price on this one last week, so I know they’re motivated. If you’re interested, you might want to put in an offer soon, as the lower price could attract more buyers.”
Izzy nodded. “This is exactly what I was looking for. Can I sleep on it and come by your office tomorrow?”
“Of course. The office is closing in a few minutes, so not to worry about any offers tonight. I have a feeling it will go quickly now that the price is so attractive.”
Izzy asked a few more questions and made sure there were no other homes available in the same price range before walking outside for one more look around the yard.
The house, although twenty years old, was in immaculate condition, with mature landscaping that Izzy wouldn’t have to tend and could just enjoy. After Blake had checked the HVAC systems and appliances, he continued his careful examination in the yard. The only thing he discovered that could use a bit of maintenance was the wooden deck off the bedroom—but it was nothing a coat or two of stain wouldn’t fix. Everything else looked brand new.
Jack wished them all a good evening and told Izzy to call with any questions. When he was gone, Izzy stood admiring the house, noticing the wide covered porch that circled the entire building, and the lovely wooden bench and flowerpots by the door that added to the welcoming vibe. She could see herself here, starting a new chapter.
Blake put his arm around her. “You like it, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I do. It seems like the right place for me.”
“How about we treat you to dinner at Lou’s, and talk more about the logistics of all of this?”
“That sounds wonderful.” Izzy lingered for a few minutes after Blake and Ellie drove away, soaking in the view and the peaceful neighborhood. Houses were on both sides of this one, but the way they were situated, with none of them in a straight line and all the lots oddly shaped, plus the well-planned landscaping, she didn’t see or hear anyone else. She could get used to this peaceful haven.
Her thoughts drifted to the friends she had made over the summer months she had spent on the island. Choosing to live here meant not only would she have Blake and Ellie, but the women and men she had come to think of as family, who had welcomed her with open arms. Sam, who owned the coffee shop and her wonderful husband, Jeff, whose family owned Cooper Hardware; Linda, the florist and nursery owner, and her new husband, Max, who was a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon; Regi, who with her husband, Nate, had adopted sweet little Emma not long ago; and Kate, who owned her lovely antique shop and tempted her longtime friend, Spence, to join her on the island; they all surrounded her with kindness. Their friendship and warmth had enticed her to make this quaint place her home.
With Mia immersed in her schooling, and from what Izzy could discern based on her daughter’s infrequent and brief texts, doing well, and with her foolish ex-husband seemingly set on marrying Barbie, his latest, far-too-young love interest, Izzy was ready for a fresh start in a new place. A community where she wouldn’t be encumbered with old memories or old friends who were sure to learn about John’s upcoming wedding. Despite him living in California now, he still had ties to the Tri-Cities and visited his dealerships often.
She shook off thoughts of her ex-husband and smiled as she drove away with the tingle of excitement of a new adventure awaiting her.
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