Page 9 of Seal of Approval

Steve’s eyes widened. “How many kids?”

“Two. A boy and girl.” I took a bite of my toast.

Steve’s lips turned upwards, and then he laughed. “Let the fun begin.”

It was alright for him. He embraced his life which was often in disarray because of his mutinous crew. Especially since he often led the mutiny. I’d witnessed it on more than one occasion from my studio apartment above his garage. I was smart enough to just watch and not be convinced by my niece and nephew to join in their shenanigans.

“What about the female ranger? What’s she like?”

“She’s nice. Friendly. A bit awkward.”

He nodded. “Having a stranger live with you would do that.”

I wasn’t helping on the awkward front. I was lucky she hadn’t noticed how my eyes kept gravitating to her this morning. Imagine how awkward that would have been.

“And Haven Bay?”

I turned the camera around. “The view is magnificent.”

“Fuck yeah. That alone is worth having to share your space.”

“I don’t think sharing my space is going to be conducive to finishing my dissertation. The kids are pretty loud and active.”

He nodded. He worked from home when the kids were on vacation and was never as productive then. “Hopefully, your house will be renovated quickly.”

I told him about the town as I ate my breakfast.

He shook his head. “I don’t know how people live like that.”

“I’ll soon find out. I’ve got six months of it to look forward to.” I finished my toast and headed inside. “First day of work today. I can’t wait to get out there and check out the sea lions.”

“At the end of six months, this will all be worth it,” he said.

Best I grab onto that optimism of his. Because this remote town, child roommates and a beautiful stranger in the kitchen every morning, might make me wonder if this was the best place to complete my dissertation.

* * *

Jasmine walked through the office door and zeroed in on me. The office was a portable building big enough for two desks, a wall of national park maps and leaflets, a fridge and a couple of extra chairs. No coffee machine.

She headed to her desk and turned her computer on. “During tourist season, we usually have a sea lion tour at 9.30 and if there’s enough bookings, another one at 1.”

I looked at my watch. Just over an hour until the next tour. I smiled. I was going to meet the sea lions, finally.

“There are no tours booked in this morning, so you can get started on your online inductions. And we’ll need a copy of your car licence and boat licence to add to your file.”

My stomach dropped. “Are we going out to see the sea lions today?”

“If you get your inductions done. And we need to check campers have paid their fees, clean the amenities at the campground, and refill brochures there and at the entries to the driving tracks close by.”

I shifted in my seat. “I was hoping to see the sea lion colony to get an idea on how to structure my study.”

Jasmine sighed and turned her chair to face me. “Your job here is part-time ranger. The part-time part means that you have time to do your research. The part-time part comes first. It’s what pays you, gives you a house to live in, a car to drive and a boat for your research.”

I stiffened. There was nothing like being chastised by your new co-worker. She had that don’t mess with me tone that mothers across the world had mastered. And she’d used it on me…a grown man.

I wasn’t going to argue. What would I say anyway? I’d grown up learning quickly that it was not in my best interests to say anything. And when I got older, I never trusted myself not to be like my father. It would always be about who he could beat down with his words. And if necessary, his fists. I never wanted to be in a situation where I lost control like that, so I just shut up and put up.

And I doubt arguing would have a positive effect on Jasmine. She seemed to have a no-nonsense attitude, and I didn’t want to get on her bad side seeing we had to live and work together. I needed that to be harmonious if my work and research were to be productive.

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