Page 16 of What We Keep
Haven narrowed his eyes at Jude. “Elsa might have a job,” he pointed out. “That’s not here. I haven’t had a chance to ask her about that.”
“Well, that’s the plan, but I don’t have one yet,” I admitted.
Jude tipped his head to the side. “What do you do?”
“I’m a biologist.”
“Oh. Cool.” Jude nodded. “What kind of biologist?”
I grinned. “My specialty is whales.”
Jude blinked. “Your specialty is whales?”
“I monitor their migration routes, their breeding…” I waved my hand vaguely. “All that.”
“Oh, huh,” Haven said.
“Super cool,” Jude teased, nudging him with his elbow.
“Whales are amazing,” I said.
“They scare me. They’re freaking huge.” Jude shuddered.
“They are big,” I agreed. “And Alaska’s a great location to monitor them.”
“I bet you can get a job with the state,” Haven suggested.
“That’s my hope.” I nodded. “I’ve put in a few applications.” I lifted my hand and literally crossed my fingers. “Fingers crossed.”
“Well, good to have you,” Jude said. “And honestly, you don’t have to paint. I was just, you know…” He shrugged.
“I don’t mind painting. I actually like it. It’s something I can do, and it has a meditative quality to it, if you know what I mean.”
“I do. You don’t have to think too hard about it,” Haven said.
“Are you going to eat with us tonight?” Jude asked.
When I hesitated, Haven cut in smoothly, “I just told her Mom would take offense if she didn’t,” he said. “Do you know what she’s making tonight?” His gaze shifted to Jude.
“Spaghetti casserole,” Jude said immediately. “Because that’s what Tommy requested.”
“Well, whatever Tommy asks for, he gets,” Haven said dryly.
“I bet your mom takes requests from everybody,” I said, smiling. Maggie seemed like the kind of person who would be like that.
“Oh, she does,” Haven confirmed. “But Tommy usually gets first dibs. Fortunately, he has good taste, although it’s a little repetitive.”
I giggled. “I think most kids are probably a little repetitive when it comes to food. They like what they like.”
“True story,” Jude said dryly.
Haven glanced at his brother. “Did you need something from me?”
“I did,” Jude said, snapping his fingers. “I need help mounting that last bathroom cabinet, and I can’t do it with two hands, so…”
Haven clapped him on the shoulder. “Between us, we have four hands.”
Jude rolled his eyes and started toward the resort.
