Read Online Beach Rental by Grace Greene - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Grace Greene
Tags: Romance
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wouldn’t be caught dead in. Old lady clothes. She settled for a few clearance items so she’d have something dressier to wear, yet could still congratulate herself on getting a good deal.
On the way home, she stopped at a drugstore for toiletries. In the school supplies aisle, an inexpensive sketchbook and drawing pencils caught her eye.
A hobby would be good. After all, she’d been accustomed to working two and three jobs at a time. She even purchased a couple of paperbacks, the kind she liked that took her away to other places. From there, she dropped by the public library and picked up a pamphlet with information about getting a GED. Back in the car, she shoved the pamphlet into one of the books to make it less conspicuous.
This time, leaving Morehead City and driving across the bridge, back to Bogue Banks and to Emerald Isle, the familiar drive was welcoming.
Juli climbed the exterior stairs up to the side door and entered the house quietly in case Ben was napping. He wasn’t. Voices came from his study. The door was partway open and Luke was saying, “—idea what she’s up to. Have you—?”
Ben interrupted. “I understand your concern, and Adela’s, too, but you don’t understand and I hope you’re never in a position where you can.”
Luke exited the room and saw her standing by the door. He paused for a heartbeat, then brushed past, opened the side door and was gone.
Was it ruder to say mean things about someone behind their back? Or to ignore the person like it didn’t matter even when you knew they’d overheard? She relaxed her fists.
She didn’t want Ben to know she’d heard. She opened the side door gently and then closed it again more loudly. “Ben, are you here?”
“Hello!” he called out.
“I saw Luke leaving.”
He came out of the study. “He worries about me. About us. Worries we rushed into marriage.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That we did.” He laughed. “I told him I’m happy. I know it’s only been a few days. Are you comfortable so far?” Ben began emptying the bags.
“I’m fine.”
“Oh, hey, what’s this?”
“A sketchbook and pencils. An eraser. Nothing much.”
“I had no idea you were an artist.”
“I’m not. I haven’t drawn in years, but there’s amazing scenery around here.” She shrugged. “I might enjoy it again.”
“You should consider a camera, too. Do you have one?”
“A camera? No.”
“If you decide you want one, don’t buy it without me. I know exactly what you need.”
He wasn’t really a husband or a companion, but more like a friend—a good friend with deep pockets.
“Unload the refrigerator items. I’ve got a couple more bags to fetch. We need these groceries so I can cook. I don’t have much experience, but it isn’t right to eat at restaurants every day.” When he moved toward the side door, she waved him back. “No, I’ll get the rest. Save your energy for our walk.”
“I have something to tell you,” Ben said. He put the orange juice carton into the fridge. “I’ll be going to church on Sunday.”
She paused in the open doorway and waited.
“Yesterday, I didn’t go because I wanted us to have the day together, but I do attend regularly. It wasn’t something we discussed before and, while I’d like you to go with me, it’s your choice.”
“I don’t have anything against going to church, but it’s never been a part of my life.” Hope lit Ben’s face, but this was a business arrangement. “I’ll think about it.”
He nodded. She was relieved her answer was enough for him. It was true she had no experience with religion and church, but it was also true she had no bias either way. She might try it out, but not right at first.
Juli threw him a bright smile. “I’ll be right back with the last bags.” She paused again. “And tonight we have a date. You and I are going to figure out how to text.”
****
Luke stewed all the way home oblivious to the bright blue sky of the
On the way home, she stopped at a drugstore for toiletries. In the school supplies aisle, an inexpensive sketchbook and drawing pencils caught her eye.
A hobby would be good. After all, she’d been accustomed to working two and three jobs at a time. She even purchased a couple of paperbacks, the kind she liked that took her away to other places. From there, she dropped by the public library and picked up a pamphlet with information about getting a GED. Back in the car, she shoved the pamphlet into one of the books to make it less conspicuous.
This time, leaving Morehead City and driving across the bridge, back to Bogue Banks and to Emerald Isle, the familiar drive was welcoming.
Juli climbed the exterior stairs up to the side door and entered the house quietly in case Ben was napping. He wasn’t. Voices came from his study. The door was partway open and Luke was saying, “—idea what she’s up to. Have you—?”
Ben interrupted. “I understand your concern, and Adela’s, too, but you don’t understand and I hope you’re never in a position where you can.”
Luke exited the room and saw her standing by the door. He paused for a heartbeat, then brushed past, opened the side door and was gone.
Was it ruder to say mean things about someone behind their back? Or to ignore the person like it didn’t matter even when you knew they’d overheard? She relaxed her fists.
She didn’t want Ben to know she’d heard. She opened the side door gently and then closed it again more loudly. “Ben, are you here?”
“Hello!” he called out.
“I saw Luke leaving.”
He came out of the study. “He worries about me. About us. Worries we rushed into marriage.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That we did.” He laughed. “I told him I’m happy. I know it’s only been a few days. Are you comfortable so far?” Ben began emptying the bags.
“I’m fine.”
“Oh, hey, what’s this?”
“A sketchbook and pencils. An eraser. Nothing much.”
“I had no idea you were an artist.”
“I’m not. I haven’t drawn in years, but there’s amazing scenery around here.” She shrugged. “I might enjoy it again.”
“You should consider a camera, too. Do you have one?”
“A camera? No.”
“If you decide you want one, don’t buy it without me. I know exactly what you need.”
He wasn’t really a husband or a companion, but more like a friend—a good friend with deep pockets.
“Unload the refrigerator items. I’ve got a couple more bags to fetch. We need these groceries so I can cook. I don’t have much experience, but it isn’t right to eat at restaurants every day.” When he moved toward the side door, she waved him back. “No, I’ll get the rest. Save your energy for our walk.”
“I have something to tell you,” Ben said. He put the orange juice carton into the fridge. “I’ll be going to church on Sunday.”
She paused in the open doorway and waited.
“Yesterday, I didn’t go because I wanted us to have the day together, but I do attend regularly. It wasn’t something we discussed before and, while I’d like you to go with me, it’s your choice.”
“I don’t have anything against going to church, but it’s never been a part of my life.” Hope lit Ben’s face, but this was a business arrangement. “I’ll think about it.”
He nodded. She was relieved her answer was enough for him. It was true she had no experience with religion and church, but it was also true she had no bias either way. She might try it out, but not right at first.
Juli threw him a bright smile. “I’ll be right back with the last bags.” She paused again. “And tonight we have a date. You and I are going to figure out how to text.”
****
Luke stewed all the way home oblivious to the bright blue sky of the
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