Page 42 of What We Keep
I almost choked on the swallow of water I’d just taken from a bottle. I lowered it and dragged my sleeve across my chin. “Excuse me?” I said between coughs.
Jude waggled his brows. “I’m inclined to agree with Mom on this.”
“Jude…” I warned.
“Look, I guess we’re all worried about each other. But phew.” He let out a low whistle. “You could win a medal for being a cranky ass, but since Elsa’s been here, you’ve lightened up a little. I think she’s good for you.”
I shifted my shoulders as I sank my hips into the chair by the desk, letting out a heavy sigh and running a hand through my hair. I knew damn well I’d been more irritable since Bree died. But well, our whole family had been a mess. I wasn’t short on reasons to be stressed out.
“Jude, Dad died, then within a year, the whole place burned down and Bree died. It’s been stressful.”
“Well, your mood’s been a hell of a lot better since Elsa’s been around. So don’t be a dumbass.” At that, he tapped his fingers on the desk and stood to leave.
It was startling how quickly I adjusted to Elsa being here all day, every day. I didn’t want to think about missing her when she started her job, but I did. That worry feathered along my thoughts until the day she actually did, and I carried a piercing ache in my heart. She was just at work, but that was how bad I had it for her.
As I walked through my days, which were always busy, I missed the light, teasing sound of her voice, her asking my brothers for their opinions on the paint and so on. But I kicked those thoughts away. Until Cole pointed out, “Man, I forgot how grumpy you could be.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
He rolled his eyes. “Elsa’s not here full-time now, and you’ve reverted.”
“Reverted?”
Jude chuckled as he plunked down in a chair at the kitchen table. “Yep. We’re going to have to adjust.”
I rolled my eyes. “Cut the shit.”
“Why? You like Elsa. Just admit it,” Jude said.
“We all like her,” I pointed out.
“She’s the best thing that’s happened to you since—” Cole began.
“Since when?” Tommy asked as he entered the kitchen.
For a moment, the mood turned serious, but it passed quickly, because we all knew this drill. We didn’t dwell on Bree’s death, especially not around Tommy.
“Your dad’s just cranky sometimes,” Jude pointed out lightly.
“I know, but he’s been in a better mood lately. I think it’s Elsa,” Tommy said with a somber nod as though he was a freaking genius about relationships.
Asher chuckled as he walked into the kitchen. “From the mouths of babes. You are smart, my man.” He clapped Tommy on the shoulder.
“And I won the spelling bee at school today!” Tommy announced.
“You did? That’s awesome!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, I’ve been studying. That’s what you told me to do, and Elsa tested me the other day,” Tommy explained.
“She did?” I prompted, wondering what else I’d missed.
“Yeah, she was painting, and I was doing my homework, and I needed someone to test me, so she put the notebook on the floor while she kept painting, and we ran through a whole bunch of words. She’s a good speller.” Tommy nodded vigorously at that.
My brain went where it wasn’t supposed to. Elsa was good at a lot of things, including some that made my body very happy. I didn’t think about how impatient I was to get to tonight when I would have some time with just her.
I forced my mind off that train of thought. “Well, rock on. Since you won your spelling bee, what do you want for dinner?”
“I don’t know. What’s Grandma making?”
