Free Love's Sweet Discovery by KD Jones Page B

herself get up and close all the doors. Then she headed for bed. On her nightstand, she had a picture of her and Thomas when he was five years old on the beach. One of the neighbors had taken it for her. They had such wonderful memories here. She was glad she’d insisted that Thomas spend a little time with her before he left.
    Claire opened one of her suitcases and pulled out a nightgown. She kicked off her shoes and changed into her pajamas. She was too tired to take a shower.
    *****
    Jacob cringed at seeing Tom’s mother’s car parked under the beach house. He had hoped to get there before she did, or at least arrive at a decent hour. Instead, it was almost two in the morning. He didn’t want to wake her up, especially since Tom wasn’t with him. That would be awkward.
    He grabbed his bag and headed up the stairs. Jacob heard the waves crashing against the shore and smelled the salty sea air. He closed his eyes as he enjoyed the moment. Maybe he did need this time to relax. He had noticed Tom’s old surfboards lined under the beach house and they had inspired him to go out at the crack of dawn and catch a few waves.
    Tom was right. Jacob needed this little break before he moved and started their new business. Once in Japan he didn’t know when he would have time to take a vacation. This would hopefully be just what he needed.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 3
     
    Claire stretched as she woke up. Sleeping in was her favorite part of vacations. She knew it had to be close to eight or eight thirty. Usually she was up as early as six for work.
    She thought about what she needed to do to get the house ready for Thomas’s arrival. She had to change out the sheets on the beds, take a full inventory of what was in the kitchen cabinets, and make a trip to the grocery store. At least I have stuff to make a pot of coffee.
    Claire got up and put on a robe. As she walked down the hall, she paused at the door of her studio. Reaching out, she turned the handle and pushed the door open. It was one of the dustier rooms. She walked inside and over to her easel, where she had a half-finished painting. On the floor were several blank canvases.
    She opened the case with her painting supplies in it and frowned at seeing the dry state of her brushes. It bothered her to see how badly she had let things go. This was not her. Claire took pride in caring for her possessions and her tools. The reason this painting wasn’t finished was because it had been started right around the time that she had caught her ex cheating on her. She’d never had the heart to complete it. Claire took it down from the easel and put it out of sight.
    If she was going to start painting again, she should start with a clean slate. Claire put up a blank canvas but when she reached for the brushes she knew they were ruined. She had to get new ones. She added them to her list of things to get.
    Claire left the studio and went to the kitchen to get the coffee pot set up. At least she could make herself a decent cup of coffee before she went to the store. There was no sugar or creamer but she needed the caffeine more than anything.
    Once she got her cup made, she headed toward the sliding doors and stepped out onto the deck. Claire sat down on one of the chairs by the patio set and looked around at her surroundings. There weren’t a lot of people out on the beach yet. The seagulls squawked overhead. The sound of crashing waves was peaceful, then something out on the ocean caught her attention. She leaned forward, squinting. Ah, a surfer was out.
    She glanced around at the beach and noted there were a few more beach houses that had been built since the last time she had been there. She really needed to come out more often. Feeling inspired, Claire got up and jogged back to her studio and grabbed a large sketchbook and pencils. She also snagged one of her smaller easels and headed back to the deck.
    Claire set up her sketching tools and stood while she drew the landscape. Her