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CHAPTER FIVE
BROOKE
Brooke awoke in a panic.Mom? Where are you?Her eyes flew open in alarm.
When she realized where she was, she sighed and rolled over. She’d had a dream about her mother calling for help. She stared up at the ceiling fan, rotating slowly above her.Time to begin a new life, she told herself, wondering how she’d allowed herself to become so trapped. Her ex-boyfriend, the last one who’d walked away, had told her that she and her mother had an unhealthy, co-dependent relationship. Brooke promptly made an appointment with a therapist and had been working on the issue ever since. It helped that Gran and her cousins supported her in this effort.
Feeling better, Brooke stretched and got out of bed. A walk on the beach was what she needed to clear her mind. She could hardly believe her good fortune in being here at Sanderling Cove, away from the life she’d grown to hate.
She slipped on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and tip-toed out of the house. Outside, the sun was rising with the promise of another hot day. She moved quickly, eager to wiggle her toes in the sand. She noticed a guest leaving the Inn and gave her a friendly wave.
On the beach, she headed for the lacy froth at the edge of the water and let the waves rush to meet her. The water wrapped around her ankles with a cool embrace. She stood looking out at the Gulf water, inhaling the tang of the salty air, and listened to the cries of the seagulls and terns whirling in the sky above her. She’d never tire of this scene. She thought of her work back home, the rut she’d been in, and whispered a thank you to whoever might hear her.
“Morning,” came a voice behind her.
She whirled around to find Jake McDonnell headed her way. “You’re up early.”
“I like this time of day.” He grinned. “Besides, your grandmother likes to meet with me for coffee and an update every day at eight. Walking on the beach is a way to get ready.”
“How do you feel about my helping you?” asked Brooke. The last thing she wanted was for him to consider her a nuisance.
“I think it’s a good idea. Your grandmother wants to reevaluate the entire operation, and I think you should be part of it.”
“Is something wrong with Gran to make her feel this way?” Brooke asked, suddenly worried.
He shook his head. “I think she’s simply beginning to feel her age. Now is a smart time to reassess everything.”
“Oh,” said Brooke, taking in the information quietly. But her mind whirled, and she wondered how Charlie and Livy would feel about it. Did Gran intend to sell? The thought made her stomach clench. Sanderling Cove had always been a haven for her.
“Why don’t you join your grandmother and me for coffee, and we can talk more about it,” Jake suggested gently.
“Okay, I will,” she said.
“See you then,” Jake gave her a little wave and took off running.
Brooke watched him. Bare-chested and in jogging shorts, he sure looked … healthy.
