Page 8 of Seal of Approval

Next Sunday? How many Sundays until his house was finished and we’d have our home back? I hoped dinners became easier before then. Hoped. Maybe we could learn something more about the elusive Ethan as well. We’d just shared an entire meal with him and all I knew was that he liked carrots. And that didn’t tell me much, except maybe he had good eyesight. At the very least, he had good eyes. I was trapped in them even when he was chastising me for my San Fran comment.

Let’s hope he wasn’t living with us long enough for me to insult him again. Or for me to be trapped in those hazel eyes again.

CHAPTER SIX

Ethan

When I entered the open-plan living area the next morning, Jasmine stood at the kitchen sink washing the dishes. It was 7am, and apparently, they’d already eaten breakfast. The children were in their bedroom, and from the snippets of conversation I heard drifting up the hallway, Bailey wanted to get dressed but Rose was annoying him.

I’d tried not to linger or eavesdrop on their conversation. Was this what most mornings were like? All cosy and familial? Everything I’d seen so far showed they connected as a family; nothing like my own growing up.

Dinner had been strange last night. I hadn’t intended on joining them, but what else was I going to do? Jasmine had cooked enough for all of us, and it stood to reason that we would share meals together. Rose had talked the whole way through. It saved us from awkward silences.

Seeing we were alone, I took the time to study my co-worker. She was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and work shorts, the same uniform that she’d given me the evening before. She’d explained that we should wear long pants for most outdoor activities. But for days when we were at the office or on the boat, shorts were acceptable. I’d remembered to put sunscreen on this morning, Jasmine’s words about the sun being strong down here echoing in my head.

She was all business today. Her long hair was tied back, giving her a more controlled persona. Her movements were sharp and deliberate. Not flowing like they had been yesterday. I tore my attention away. I’d been staring for way longer than I should.

“Good morning,” I said as I entered the kitchen.

Jasmine gave me a smile. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”

“Good. The sound of the water lapping at the sand was like a lullaby.”

She turned back to her task. Her calf muscles flexed as she reached for a plate on the counter. Why was I still watching her?

“The keys to the office are on the table. I need to drop the kids off at the school bus and then I’ll meet you there.”

As if on cue, Bailey came into the living room, Rose trailing behind. “Just leave him alone, Rose.”

“He’s my cat too. And if I want to make sure he’s comfy, I will.”

“Not having to listen to you all day will make him comfy,” Bailey said.

“So will not having to smell you all day,” Rose retorted.

They were both in the living room now. Neither acknowledged my presence.

Jasmine dried her hands on the towel. “Have you got everything?”

“Yes,” they said.

“Go wait outside.”

“Bye, Ethan.” Rose waved as she rushed out the door.

Bailey looked at me and said a hasty, “Bye,” before following his sister. They ran and jumped off the steps with more energy than anyone should have that early in the morning.

Jasmine picked up her keys and bag. “I’ll get to the office around eight.” She headed to the door, stopped mid-stride, and turned back to me. “Timmy has already been fed. Don’t believe his ‘I’m starving’ act. And ignore his pleas to go outside. He’s only allowed out under supervision.”

“OK.” That’s all I managed to get out before she disappeared out the front door. It seemed like their mornings ran like clockwork. In my brother’s house, mornings could be like mutiny on the high seas.

I acquainted myself with the kitchen and the lack of a coffee machine. Who could survive in this world without a good coffee in the morning? Jasmine apparently. For me, it was the smell of fresh coffee that awakened the senses. Hopefully, there was a machine at the office.

I popped some bread in the toaster and went to grab my phone. Only one bar of service. This place was remoter than remote, far beyond the black stump the guy had spoken about yesterday. I don’t think half the people I knew could survive with no phone service. It didn’t matter to me. Jasmine had told me they had good internet. That’s all I needed for my research.

I connected to the internet to call my brother. Steve’s face appeared on the screen. “Hey, Ethan. How’s the land down under treating you?”

I set the phone down on the bench and buttered my toast. “I’ve been thrown a bit of a curve ball. The house I was meant to move into is being renovated.” I grabbed my plate and phone and went out onto the porch. “I’m living with the female ranger and her kids.”

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