tell my mom, though. She’s going to be over the moon.” Claire raised her voice so Josh could hear.
“What if you surprise her with it? Tell her over dessert? Don’t tell her over the phone . . . I want to see her face when she finds out.”
A glow of happiness spread from Claire’s heart. She couldn’t wait to tell her mother. Millie was going to be ecstatic.
She wasn’t sure if she could keep the excitement out of her voice, so she sent her mother a text instead.
Josh set a plate of cut fruit on the table, and then not so discreetly pushed the pages he’d been working on toward her.
Claire smiled. She got the hint.
Josh’s gift was creating unforgettable characters in the simplest of situations and having readers beg for more stories. Her passion was bringing those characters and situations to life through her illustrations. Before their Jack’s Adventures series, she’d been a sought-after illustrator, but now she took on only a few select clients.
Her favorite project, hands down, was when she was working on Jack’s story.
“So where are we today?” She looked through the pages and smiled.
Paris. Jack was racing after what he thought was a lost puppy, tearing through the winding streets of Saint-Germain while his mother was on a walking tour of chocolate shops.
She remembered that day so clearly, how Josh came up with the idea when they’d spotted a puppy after their own walking tour—a tour that entailed two stops at their favorite chocolatier.
“Of all the cities we visited, Paris is the one I felt we didn’t have enough time in,” Claire said before hiding a yawn with her hand.
“Then we’ll have to go back. Do you need to lie down again, or do you think you can manage to stay up until dinner?” There was a teasing tone in Josh’s voice, and Claire knew he was greatly relieved to finally know the reason for her exhaustion.
“Let me work on this a little, and then I’ll go lie in the hammock for a bit.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
For the first time in a long time, she felt more than okay.
“I’m perfect.”
EIGHT
CLAIRE
Present day
C laire couldn’t have stifled her yawn if she’d tried. Just when she was about to relax in the hammock, her mother appeared around the corner of the house.
“Have one of the cookies I brought, love. David has a whole new selection of tea and biscuits this season to try. He said to say hi. I noticed a box with your name on it in the corner of his booth space at the market today.”
David was an older gentleman Claire had known almost her whole life. He was also someone she swore her mother had a crush on.
“You should ask him out on a date, Millie,” Josh called out through the kitchen window where he hovered.
“I’ll do no such thing. If the man wants to let this”—she pointed to herself—“get away, then that’s his loss.”
“I think he’s too scared you’ll turn him down, Mother.” Claire yawned again. Her whole body was tired now, and it was getting harder to lift her arms or to move her head.
“Every man needs a little encouragement now and then, Millie.” Josh opened the door to the back patio and brought out a vase of fresh-cut flowers. He gave Claire’s cheek a peck and gently rubbed her shoulders.
“Why don’t you go lie down? Millie can tell you a story before you fall asleep.” He blew a kiss in Millie’s direction.
“Josh, love, Claire and I need some mother-daughter time.” The pointed look Millie shot Josh’s way had Claire chuckling.
He let out an exaggerated sigh. “In other words, you’re telling me to get lost?”
Millie smiled. “Exactly.”
Claire watched their interaction with amusement. “Would you mind, hon? Maybe run to the store and get some vegetables for dinner tonight?”
“Anything in particular you’re wanting?” There was a hopeful tone in Josh’s voice. Along with the exhaustion, she’d also had no appetite.
Claire thought for a moment. “Maybe some
“What if you surprise her with it? Tell her over dessert? Don’t tell her over the phone . . . I want to see her face when she finds out.”
A glow of happiness spread from Claire’s heart. She couldn’t wait to tell her mother. Millie was going to be ecstatic.
She wasn’t sure if she could keep the excitement out of her voice, so she sent her mother a text instead.
Josh set a plate of cut fruit on the table, and then not so discreetly pushed the pages he’d been working on toward her.
Claire smiled. She got the hint.
Josh’s gift was creating unforgettable characters in the simplest of situations and having readers beg for more stories. Her passion was bringing those characters and situations to life through her illustrations. Before their Jack’s Adventures series, she’d been a sought-after illustrator, but now she took on only a few select clients.
Her favorite project, hands down, was when she was working on Jack’s story.
“So where are we today?” She looked through the pages and smiled.
Paris. Jack was racing after what he thought was a lost puppy, tearing through the winding streets of Saint-Germain while his mother was on a walking tour of chocolate shops.
She remembered that day so clearly, how Josh came up with the idea when they’d spotted a puppy after their own walking tour—a tour that entailed two stops at their favorite chocolatier.
“Of all the cities we visited, Paris is the one I felt we didn’t have enough time in,” Claire said before hiding a yawn with her hand.
“Then we’ll have to go back. Do you need to lie down again, or do you think you can manage to stay up until dinner?” There was a teasing tone in Josh’s voice, and Claire knew he was greatly relieved to finally know the reason for her exhaustion.
“Let me work on this a little, and then I’ll go lie in the hammock for a bit.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
For the first time in a long time, she felt more than okay.
“I’m perfect.”
EIGHT
CLAIRE
Present day
C laire couldn’t have stifled her yawn if she’d tried. Just when she was about to relax in the hammock, her mother appeared around the corner of the house.
“Have one of the cookies I brought, love. David has a whole new selection of tea and biscuits this season to try. He said to say hi. I noticed a box with your name on it in the corner of his booth space at the market today.”
David was an older gentleman Claire had known almost her whole life. He was also someone she swore her mother had a crush on.
“You should ask him out on a date, Millie,” Josh called out through the kitchen window where he hovered.
“I’ll do no such thing. If the man wants to let this”—she pointed to herself—“get away, then that’s his loss.”
“I think he’s too scared you’ll turn him down, Mother.” Claire yawned again. Her whole body was tired now, and it was getting harder to lift her arms or to move her head.
“Every man needs a little encouragement now and then, Millie.” Josh opened the door to the back patio and brought out a vase of fresh-cut flowers. He gave Claire’s cheek a peck and gently rubbed her shoulders.
“Why don’t you go lie down? Millie can tell you a story before you fall asleep.” He blew a kiss in Millie’s direction.
“Josh, love, Claire and I need some mother-daughter time.” The pointed look Millie shot Josh’s way had Claire chuckling.
He let out an exaggerated sigh. “In other words, you’re telling me to get lost?”
Millie smiled. “Exactly.”
Claire watched their interaction with amusement. “Would you mind, hon? Maybe run to the store and get some vegetables for dinner tonight?”
“Anything in particular you’re wanting?” There was a hopeful tone in Josh’s voice. Along with the exhaustion, she’d also had no appetite.
Claire thought for a moment. “Maybe some
Similar Books
