Souvenirs - 5 minutes freewrite

Every summer she went to the same place. It was her week-long beach retreat - the only break she allowed herself. The locals all knew her although she wasn't particularly friendly. Not so young anymore, not much of a beauty, just a decent nondescript woman who tipped well enough for the waiters to greet her with broad smiles.
No one had ever seen her in company or talking on the phone she always kept within reach. She rented a chair on the far side of the beach, where it was less crowded and she would sit for hours, pretending to read a book she'd most probably picked up at the airport. Looking at sea, applying lotion every hour although she always sat under the umbrella, sometimes falling asleep, ignoring the commotion around her: over-excited children, over-worried mothers screaming after their over-excited children, peddlers of all sorts advertising their wares.
When someone went by her chair she'd offer a smile, but no one dared to disturb her privacy.
On the last day of her stay she would take a long walk on the shore. Long flowing dress, broad-rimmed straw-hat, sun-glasses. She would stop from time to time to pick up a shell. Most of the times, she'd just throw it back into the sea, displeased with the color or some flaw. Until she found one that would suit the purpose. Just one. It would go into the mason jar she kept on the mantelpiece, with the other shells from years gone by.
Until next year.

Written as part of the 5 minutes freewrite challenge created by @mariannewest!