Annie introduced them, and Brooke stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Welcome, Jamie Sweeney,” she whispered in his ear, rubbing her breasts against his arm.
“Get down, you slut puppy,” Lizbet said, pulling her sister off him. “She’s an incorrigible flirt. She’s also crazy in love with her girlfriend.”
“Can’t a girl have a little fun?” Brooke said, plopping down on the bench swing. “The cooler’s full. Help yourselves. I’m going nuts here without anyone to talk to.”
Annie grabbed a beer from the cooler and sat down on the swing beside Brooke, leaving the small wicker sofa for Jamie and Lizbet. He was sure she’d planned it that way.
Annie tucked her foot under her leg, angling her body toward Brooke. “Why don’t you work some parties for us, on the nights when Sawyer is at the hospital? That way you won’t get so bored and lonely.”
Brooke chewed on her lower lip as she considered her suggestion. “That’s not a bad idea, as long as I can dictate my schedule. I wouldn’t mind making a little extra spending money. Sawyer and I are saving for a trip to Belize, if she ever gets any vacation time.”
“I’ll text you some dates and you can check both your calendars,” Annie said.
“I’m being nosy,” Jamie said. “But are you renting this house or do you live here with your parents?” The rent in downtown Charleston was crazy expensive. He could understand why Lizbet might still be living at home with their parents. But not Brooke, at her age, with her gay lover.
The cheerful mood on the porch tanked, and the color drained from his face. “Did I say something wrong?”
“It’s complicated.” Lizbet took a pull from her beer bottle and set it down on the arm of the sofa with a clang.
“Our mother died last summer from brain cancer,” Brooke said, staring down into her lap.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” Jamie glared at Annie. Why hadn’t she warned him?
“Of course you didn’t,” Lizbet said with damp eyelashes. “It’s been a difficult year, but my sister and I are closer because of it.”
“Our father couldn’t stand to live here without our mother,” Brooke explained. “When he moved into a waterfront condo last winter, he turned the house over to us.”
“Which is why we’re always looking for fun people like you to visit us!” Brooke said, and increased the volume on her speaker when an upbeat Brad Paisley song began to play.
The mood instantly improved, and the conversation turned to Jamie. Brooke quizzed him about the fire at the market and his summer plans.
“I’m not getting enough hours at the Roost,” Jamie said. “I’m thinking about quitting that job and working as many parties as Heidi needs me.”
“Cool!” Annie said. “We’re booked most nights for the rest of the summer and some daytime events as well. We’d love to have you.”
“I would need a place to stay, if y’all know of anyone looking for a roommate.”
“You can stay here with us,” Brooke offered. “We have two extra bedrooms. One even has its own bath.”
Sleeping in a comfortable bed down the hall from Lizbet appealed to him much more than camping out on an air mattress on Heidi’s floor. “That could work, depending on how much you’d charge me for rent.”
“Duh. You can live here for free,” Brooke said.
Jamie shook his head. “I wouldn’t feel right living here without paying something.”
Brooke sat up straight in the swing. “In that case you can work off your rent. We’re always looking for a strong arm to help us around here. Lizbet’s Dr. Dreamy is the only man who ever comes here, but all he’s good for is bandaging a knife cut.”
Who is Dr. Dreamy? Jamie wondered as his heart plunged.
FIFTEEN
Sam
Sam took a leisurely walk on Sunday afternoon to clear her head before the four o’clock meeting with her sisters to discuss their mother’s future. Before she realized where she was headed, she found herself standing in front of the stationery store. Sam would miss Anita. She’d known the woman since she was a child. She used to visit her in her store on days when the market was busy and Sam was under her mother’s feet at the market. Anita kept a bag of Tootsie Pops in her desk drawer just for Sam. When she’d come into the market two weeks ago to notify Sam that she was going out of business, she confided what Sam had already suspected. Her invitation business was failing because of culture changes. Folks weren’t entertaining the way they once had, with big elaborate affairs. And for the few events they hosted, they sent electronic invitations instead of decorative cards hand-delivered by the mailman.
“Everyone is so casual these days,” Anita said. “I don’t understand this new modern era of anything goes.”
“I know what you mean,” Sam responded. “Everything is changing all the time. I can hardly keep up.”
But Sam was determined to keep up as best she could for as long as she could. “Keep on keeping on,” her mother always said. “Plant a smile on your face every morning and take advantage of every minute of every day. You won’t succeed in all your endeavors, but you can be proud of yourself for giving it your best shot.”
Sam had interviewed three architects in the past week, and one she liked hands down better than the other two. They’d scheduled a meeting for the coming week to begin planning the design. Contrary to her son’s opinion, Sam thought they could make the expansions she envisioned by adding a few square feet to what they’d had before. Keeping the building small would maintain the cozy feeling folks appreciated at Sweeney’s.
She snapped a photograph of the agent’s name on the sign, in case she changed her mind about the size of the building or the insurance company came through for her, and walked at a brisk pace on the way home. Jamie had returned from Charleston when she got there. He was out on the dock watching Eli fiddle with his boat motor. They grew quiet when she walked up.
“Uh-oh. Clearly I interrupted something. What’s wrong?”
Jamie hopped to his feet and presented her with a bouquet of wilted daisies. “We were discussing what to cook for you on the grill tonight in honor of Mother’s Day.”
“Aren’t you sweet. Thank you, son.” She took the flowers from him and kissed his cheek. “Well . . . don’t keep me in suspense. What did you decide? What’re we having for dinner?”
Eli looked up from his motor and winked at her. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Jamie and Sam sat down on the bench together. “How was last night? Did you enjoy working for Heidi?”
“Yep.” Jamie stretched his legs out in front of him. “Looks like I’ll be working a lot for them this summer. Heidi pays better and they can give me more hours than the Roost.”
“Where will you live? It’s not right for you to impose on Heidi and Annie indefinitely.”
“I need to confirm it, but I may have another place to stay.” He told her about the Horne sisters and how they were willing to give him a room in exchange for his helping them around the house.
“That sounds like an ideal setup. You might end up loving Charleston and decide to move there.”
An expression crossed her son’s face that she couldn’t read. He shook his head as he dismissed the idea. “I can’t see that happening.”
Sam wanted her son to chart his own course. But when it came to rebuilding the market, his course was her course. She wasn’t sure she’d be as eager to go the distance if Jamie weren’t on board. She’d have more responsibilities with Lovie and Faith out of the picture, which would mean hiring additional staff. She’d embrace the challenge right now, but in nine years, when she was turning sixty and Eli was retiring from the police department, she might not feel the same way. Then again, her mother had worked until she was eighty-five. They would have the summer to sort out their lives, and their futures, since groundbreaking on the new building wouldn’t happen until late August at the earliest.
“So, Mom.” Jamie shifted on the bench to face her. “A
nnie has the most amazing idea. We talked about it over brunch this morning. She thinks we should buy the stationery store and open a sandwich shop adjacent to the market, technically in the same building with a doorway separating the two spaces. Think about the Saturday tourists heading to the beach. We’ll be a one-stop shop for them. They can grab a sandwich while waiting for us to process their seafood orders. The locals will be thrilled to have another lunch hangout. And we can have wine tastings and rent the space out for small events.”
Sam smiled at her son. He sounded certain of his future at Sweeney’s. Time would tell. Prospect certainly needed a new lunch spot, but a sandwich shop sounded like a great big headache. Although, as she thought about it, having a room for wine tastings and small events held some appeal. She admired his youthful enthusiasm, but he lacked experience in the real world. “I told you yesterday, Jamie, I can’t afford to buy that building.”
“No! You don’t understand. Annie wants to invest in the sandwich shop. Or, if we don’t want the hassle of operating a restaurant, she will lease the space from us and run it herself.”
Sam hesitated. “What does Heidi think of all this?”
“Annie hasn’t talked to her about this specific project yet, but they’re looking for ways to expand. Annie likes the catering business, but ultimately wants to open her own restaurant. Even though she didn’t share specific numbers with me, I get the impression they’re making enough money at Tasty Provisions to open ten restaurants.”
Sam looked away from her son’s eager face. She hated to disappoint him. “Let me think about it, Jamie. I’m not sure how I feel about having nonfamily members as partners.”
“But Annie is family.”
“That’s true. And I do love her like my own. But doing business with family and friends is usually not a good idea. I would hate it if something happened to ruin our relationship.”
#
“Happy Mother’s Day,” Sam said, giving each of her sisters a hug when they arrived a few minutes after four. They usually celebrated Mother’s Day by going to church together and then out to Jackie’s farm for brunch afterward. This year was different. None of the sisters felt eager to celebrate when their mother didn’t know her own grandchildren. “How’s Mom doing today? I feel bad I didn’t get over to see her today.”
“Honestly, it’s a good thing you didn’t,” Faith said. “She’s having an off day. Mike and Bitsy have taken her for a ride in the pontoon boat, hoping to calm her down. She seems so agitated all the time now, like she needs something but she doesn’t know what she wants or how to ask for it.”
Sam felt guilty for obsessing over her business when her sister was coping with their mother’s dementia.
“She’ll enjoy the boat ride with the high tide and warm sunshine,” Sam said. “Besides, she always responds well to Mike.”
“Don’t we all,” Jackie said with a rare, sincere smile. No one in the family ever said a bad word about Mike.
“Let’s sit down.” Sam gestured to the farm table, where she’d set out a fresh pitcher of sweet tea and three glasses.
Jackie sat at the head of the table, the self-appointed president of the Sweeney board of directors, with Faith and Sam on either side. They pulled out their laptops, notepads, and pens, ready to get to work.
Jackie said, “Bill informed me that Creekside Manor has opened a brand-new, state-of-the-art memory care facility. It’s the obvious first choice, since it’s right here in Prospect. But in order to get a fair comparison, we should visit several different retirement homes. I’m happy to take the lead on the ones in and around Charleston.”
“I’ve already created a list.” Sam handed each of them copies of the list she’d made from her Google search.
Faith’s face flushed red. “Visiting those other facilities is a waste of time. Why wouldn’t we go with Creekside Manor if we like it?”
“It’s a process,” Jackie said. “To determine which facility can offer Mom the best care at the right price.”
Faith stared openmouthed at their older sister. “Would you listen to yourself, Jackie? You sound like a used car salesman.”
Sam smiled at Faith. “We’re making an important decision, honey, akin to buying a new car. It would be irresponsible of us not to consider the cost.”
“I have a big problem with this whole scenario.” Faith stood abruptly and walked over to the window, placing her back to them. “Mom is fine staying with me. I don’t see the need to put her in a home at all.”
Sam glanced over at Jackie, who nodded for Sam to respond. “Because having Mom live with you is a short-term solution to what could end up being a long-term problem.”
“As her condition worsens, Mom will become more difficult to manage,” Jackie said. “Eventually the situation will take its toll, not only on you but on your family.”
“Think about your daughter,” Sam said. “Bitsy loves her grandmother. How will it impact her to watch Lovie decline right before her eyes?”
Faith’s shoulders began to tremble, and Sam suspected her sister was crying. She left the table and went to stand beside Faith at the window. “I know this is hard, Faith. It’s hard for all of us.” She squeezed her sister in a half hug. “Let’s take it one slow step at a time.”
“Okay.” Faith sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She allowed Sam to lead her back to the table.
Once they were seated again, Sam planted her palms on the table. “Now. Why don’t we start with Creekside Manor? Let’s figure out a day we can all go for a tour.” She flipped her laptop open and accessed her calendar. “I’m flexible.”
“Mike is working days through Wednesday,” Faith said, consulting her day planner. “Does Thursday work for y’all? I can get Mike to stay with Mom.”
Jackie thumbed the calendar on her phone. “That works for me. I have to be in Charleston on Monday and Tuesday. While I’m there, I’ll tour one or two other facilities so we’ll have something to compare with Creekside Manor.”
“Fine, for the purpose of comparison,” Faith said. “As long as you know I’ll never agree to putting her somewhere so far away.”
Jackie glared at Faith. “Point noted.”
“Mom is wearing the same clothes over and over again,” Faith said. “Can one of you get some of her things from her town house? I don’t think it’s a good idea for her to go back there.”
“I’ll do it,” Sam said. “I’ll get some boxes and have Jamie help me. Mom will want some of her things with her when she moves to the nursing home anyway.”
A discussion of their mother’s prized possessions led to a debate over selling her town house. Jackie lobbied for putting it on the market right away, while Faith argued to wait until Lovie was settled wherever she was going.
Sam studied her sisters as they talked. Jackie was polished and sophisticated, while Faith was a simple, pure-hearted soul. Both had faced challenges in recent years. Jackie with her marital problems and her professional crisis, and Faith having left a piece of herself in that gruesome trailer in the woods where she’d lived with her abusive ex-husband. She hoped both her sisters would one day find the happiness they deserved.
“Let me know how it goes in Charleston,” Sam said to Jackie when she walked her sisters to the door. “I thought you were taking the summer off from work.”
“I am for the most part. But a couple of unexpected projects have fallen into my lap. My assistants, Liza and Cecilia, will handle the majority of the work. I’m meeting with them tomorrow to give them some direction.”
Who is she kidding? Sam thought. Her sister was too much of a control freak to turn her pet projects over to her assistants. Whenever she took on a new challenge, she became obsessed and focused on the project to the exclusion of everything else in her life.
SIXTEEN
Faith
By the time Thursday morning rolled around, Faith was more than ready to pack her mother off to a nursing home. As Jackie had warned, Lovie w
as becoming increasingly difficult to manage as her condition worsened. She tested Faith at every turn, like a two-year-old. She’d even thrown a full-blown temper tantrum when Faith refused to let her have a Coca-Cola at bedtime. Giving Lovie caffeine anytime was a bad idea. And past dinnertime guaranteed that no one in the house would get any sleep.
When she toured Creekside Manor that afternoon, Faith found the facilities adequate, the staff knowledgeable, and the fees affordable. But the thought of locking her mother away made her sick to her stomach.
“It just doesn’t seem right when I’m perfectly capable of taking care of her myself,” she said to her sisters in the parking lot afterward.
Jackie peered at her over the frames of her Gucci sunglasses. “I’ve spoken with the administrators at four different facilities this week, and they have all told me the same thing. There will come a time when you can no longer take care of Mom. She will destroy your home and ruin your marriage.”
Faith knew Mike loved her enough to agree with whatever decision she made, but it wasn’t fair to turn their lives upside down by keeping her mother in their home. There was also Bitsy to consider. She’d become withdrawn and, since the weekend, had been spending more and more time in her room. The long-term effects for a child her age of having to watch her grandmother’s downward spiral could be catastrophic.
“Maybe you’re right,” she said, forcing the words past the lump in her throat.
Jackie placed a hand on Faith’s shoulder. “I’ve done the research, and I’m here to tell you, we got lucky. This place is as good as, if not better than, the ones I looked at in Charleston. And it’s right here in Prospect.”
“A lot of good that is.” Faith rummaged through her bag for her car keys. “You heard the administrator. Irene Davidson said we can’t even visit her.”
“That’s only for the first week, honey.” Sam grabbed her hand. “I know it seems cruel, but her disease is cruel. If she had terminal cancer, we’d be making arrangements with hospice. We have to keep telling ourselves this is all in Mom’s best interest.”
Saturdays at Sweeney's Page 12
