Eleven Days: An Unexpected Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

he did. With everything cleaned up and small talk over, Mike put on his coat to go to town and politely asked her again. "Do you want to change your mind about heading to town with me?"
    "I have been here almost twenty-four hours and I still haven't got to run my toes in the sand."
    He laughed and agreed she needed to feel the sand in between her toes.
    She walked him to the door and she noticed she didn't even go to the top his shoulders in height. Not only was he tall but his shoulders were broad, well over three feet wide. His coat looked massive in size and she found herself wanting to touch him, but refrained from doing so. She noticed he lingered and she hoped that he didn't want to leave either. She thought. Mike if you turn around and take me in your arms and kiss me I will go to town with you.
    He winked at her and walked out the door. "I'll see you in a little while."
    "If I'm not in the house I will be on the beach."
    "Enjoy."
    She smiled and took a long deep breath as she watched him drive away.
     
    *****
     
    She exhilaratingly stood in front of the fire to warm up before her cold walk on the beach. She tried to get the adrenaline pumping to help with the cold. A walk on the beach excited her so much she couldn't stand still. She grabbed a thick old Indian designed blanket to wrap up in for the bitter cold. Earlier in the day she noticed a bright multi-colored striped lounge chair on the beach and decided it would be perfect for her to sit and enjoy the view. She fixed a mug of hot raspberry tea, added some honey, grabbed her cozy warm blanket and walked the short distance.
    The sky looked overcast, but the deep blue ocean was a lovely sight. The fierceness of the winds seemed to ask the water questions, and the waves answered with rambunctiousness. They rolled in and smacked the beach with full force. Then the salt water rolled out leaving lines of white foam reaching for her toes. She just stood there in awe. Then she wondered how many people stood in t his very spot for the last three hundred years looking at the same scene.
    All around her were small sand dunes. Some still had a few discolored weeds sticking out of the sand . She noticed old driftwood lying around the beach, far from the shoreline. Some boards were pointed and some were gray, but all of them were aged with holes in them. She only imagined it was wood from ships that were lost at sea, and at one time those ships carried treasures. The wood wanted to be found, to tell a story.
    In the far distance one could see the hungry sea gulls sweep down to the beach to pick at their fish dinner. It was easy pickings for the gulls, since most of their competition went south. The fish must have been swept in by the rolling waters and launched on the beach. That 's Mother Nature's way of offering a meal to the birds, survival of the fittest at work.
    Her imagination led her to visualize families running around and sitting under beach umbrellas as they watched their children building sandcastles, throwing Frisbees, and pl aying ball. Young couples took long strolling walks along the beach and snatch a kiss when no one was watching them . She pondered many people stood in t his one spot, seeing the ocean for the very first time in their lives, absorbing the feeling of euphoria as they look at the great vastness of the Atlantic. She took a deep breath just like they would , remembering t his incredible sight, storing it to memory.
    She cleaned off the chair and made herself at home lying back. Then she took a sip of her now warm tea. She watched the old lighthouse turning its light just like turning the pages in a book. Each turn started a new page. Each day began a new chapter. Lana wished it co uld talk, and if it could, what might its chapters say.
    The Gurnet lighthouse was built over two hundred years ago. She wondered if it's the oldest lighthouse in Plymouth. Most lighthouses are currently run by the coast guard, but years ago they hired caretakers. She