Page 98 of In the Pursuit of Haven
“I bet.”
“She’s protective.”
He nodded, but didn’t answer. His expression did it all for him. This was exactly why he hadn’t wanted to talk about Luther either. His father had made him feel so worthless that he tried to distance himself before everyone else saw it too. That must include me.
And bringing up his father never went well.
The reminder of all our failures as a couple had thrown a wrench in my intentions of gluing the broken pieces of our relationship back together and I was at a loss on what to do.
We reached the Witch House, but we hadn’t discussed a plan. Trying to get a grip on my emotions, I turned to Jessie. “Okay, I think we should—”
He cut me off. “I’ve got it.” He charged inside, leaving me gaping behind him.
I slipped in beside him, annoyance fluttering through my stomach. This had better not be how the rest of our day would go.
Jude was putting his assistant to work, micromanaging by pointing out each spot that needed to be dusted while he watched on.
As soon as he saw us, he threw his face mask over his lips like a bank robber, though he missed his nose by an inch. “You again? You here to show your boythe basement?”
With difficulty, I kept myself from rolling my eyes at the reminder. And if he was calling Jessie my boy, I didn’t think he’d be working with him either.
“Jude, how’s the cod treating you these days?” Jessie leaned across the counter… as far as the plastic barrier would allow. “You still making the biggest catches this side of the mainland?”
Jude’s eyes lit up. “You didn’t hear I won the Salem Smashers fishing tourney?”
“Again?” Jessie looked impressed. “My old man still talks about going up against you. He still thinks you use shark for your bait.”
Jude rolled his eyes. “That wouldn’t get you nothing.”
“Is it cart?” Jessie pressed him.I don’t even know what cart is.
“Ooh, you’ve been buddying up to those charter boat skippers too much…” Jude pulled down his mask, so he could get real.Now we’re getting somewhere.“All you need is some sprat and a good rod.”
Jessie’s brow went up. “That’s not all you’re doing. You’ve got a trick you’re not telling me.”
Jude barked out a deep hardy laugh in front of my startled eyes. “Maybe someday I’ll take you out and we’ll swap a few fishing hacks.”
Who knew fishing was the way to Jude’s heart? It was a good thing Jessie knew that language because I was at a complete loss. “Maybe when I’m not playing tourist,” he said. “The missus is doing her best to make me appreciate culture.”
Grinning at my expense, Jude turned to me. “What’s the deal? I thought everyone around here had their fill of witches.”
“Well, I…”
“Oh, it’s just Roxy’s putting together an exhibit. She has every right to be proud of it.” Jessie nudged me. “Isn’t that so, honey? She says there isn’t enough emphasis on those founders who ushered in the fishing empire. There’s a piece in here she says demonstrates the wealth our people brought in.”
“That cane, huh?” The older man’s gaze found me again and hardened. “I wish I could help you, but a collector came in here and offered a price for it that we couldn’t refuse.”
My heart dropped. “Who?” I blurted out.
Jessie shot me a look to let him handle it and I wished he had when Jude immediately turned into the sharp businessman he’d always been with me. “That’s confidential,” Jude said. “He wished to remain anonymous.”
Was it Hunter?With difficulty, I stopped myself from blurting out the question.
“I don’t blame him,” Jessie smoothly cut in. “What are the odds you can pass on a message for us?”
Jude hesitated. “This must be some exhibit.”
“We hope. It’s highlighting some of the more famous families in the area—the codfish aristocracy.” Namely the Derbys, the Pickmans, and theCrowninshields—Jude’s ancestors, but honoring his family as part of my exhibit, of course, was too obvious to say aloud.
