Delivered with Love by Sherry Kyle Read Free Book Online Page A

Sucking in a breath, she bolted out of bed and ran into the hall.
    "Mr. Daniels?" She passed the master bedroom. The bed was made. "Anyone here?" She approached the family room. A cat skittered past her and raced down the hall and into the couple's bedroom.
    She walked into the kitchen. It was bright and cheery despite the rain outside. A red toaster and coffeemaker on the countertop made a nice contrast to the warm yellow walls. She spotted a note by the telephone.
     
    Claire,
    I couldn't wake you. Eat breakfast.
    I'll check on your car and call around 10 a.m.
    Tom
     
    Just then the phone rang. Claire reached over the counter and answered it.
    "Hey, you're up." Tom's voice indicated he was a morning person, something she was not.
    "Sorry I slept so long." Claire held the phone between her neck and shoulder and lifted the lid to the coffeepot. There were at least two cups left. She poured the dark liquid into a mug she had pulled out of the cabinet.
    "I'm down at Mike's Auto Repair on Main Street. The guys can't work on your car without your signature and form of payment." Tom sounded matter-of-fact.
    Form of payment? Claire flinched. "How long will they hold my car?"
    "I'll talk with Mike and let you know."
    She'd have to find a job before she could afford the necessary repairs. She hung up the phone while her coffee heated in the microwave. Rummaging in the refrigerator, she found a package of cinnamon bagels. When she and Haley were kids, her mother bought bagels every Wednesday, half-price days at the bakery down the street. She missed her mom—everything about her, except when she scolded her for sleeping in late. Claire slathered a thick layer of cream cheese on her bagel, grabbed her coffee and sat down at the table. How she wished her mom was still alive. She'd be able to tell her who wrote the letter.
    Claire hurried to the guestroom and pulled the envelope from her purse. She brought it to the kitchen and reread the words from her mom's admirer as she ate her breakfast. How far was Depot Hill from Tom's house? She had to find out.
    Claire gulped down the last of her coffee, tidied the kitchen, showered, and straightened the guest room before setting off on foot. A bright green umbrella covered her head and rain boots kept her feet dry. She hoped Nancy wouldn't mind that she had borrowed her umbrella, but her hostess had said to make herself comfortable—and it was perched in the corner next to the door. Claire stuck the letter into her tote bag, and then hung it on her left shoulder, tucked close to her body so it wouldn't get wet.
    After a fifteen- minute walk, she stopped inside Mr. Toots coffeehouse in Capitola Village. The aroma of coffee and baked goods filled the building.
    A short woman, about Claire's age, stood behind the counter straightening a stack of napkins. She looked up as Claire approached. "May I help you?"
    "Yes." Claire dug in her purse for the letter. "Can you tell me where I can find Saxon Avenue? On Depot Hill?"
    "Sure. Are you driving or walking?" The woman grabbed a napkin and a pen.
    The closed umbrella in Claire's hand dripped water on the floor. "Walking."
    "No problem." The attendant drew a map on a napkin. "It's easy. And close by." She slid the paper across the counter.
    Claire glanced at the napkin. Each street was clearly marked.
    "Any questions?"
    "Point me in the right direction?"
    The woman chuckled. "Once you're out the door, head right."
    "Thanks."
    Claire hiked through Capitola Village before coming to Monterey Avenue. There she found the steep stairs the attendant had drawn next to the small, boarded-up theatre. She panted as she climbed the mountain of steps before reaching the top of Depot Hill, a neighborhood that overlooked Monterey Bay.
    She admired the houses in the neighborhood. An eclectic mix of contemporary, old Victorians, and ranch-style homes graced the streets. She walked down Grand Avenue a couple of blocks. The view of the ocean and the coastline, even on a