Page 154 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“For now,” Jet whispered and winked at Lucky.

“Aprons are in the basket behind the door.” Lucky pointed across the kitchen.

“Cool.” Grin on his face, Jet fetched an apron and started to set up his workspace.

Lucky hurried out and took Myles by the arm. “So. That just happened.”

“You don’t have to hire him.”

“Kreed is a special kind of employer. He needs someone who can stand up to him, and also respect him. Tris was excellent at the first but took a long time to learn the second. Rod is not a conflict kind of guy. He respects Kreed too much to say boo to him, and anyway, he does prefer living in the city and working with Marcus and Eli at the diner. He’s a good cook, but a better teacher, and Marcus is planning to take on some of the kids who leave here and need a stepping stone into grown-up life. Rod will be good at helping him do that. Especially as an example of what’s possible, since he was where they are.”

“You’re sure?”

“Jet will be good for Kreed too. He wants to learn, and he’s a tough kid. But also tender. Not that he’ll ever admit it out loud, but Kreed likes to nurture people. Tris didn’t need that anymore. Jet⁠—”

“Needs more of it than I can give.”

“That isn’t a failing on your part, you know.”

Myles did know. In theory.

“I watched Jet all summer with Shelly. He thrives on having responsibility. He wasn’t looking after her out of obligation. He didn’t resent it, or her. He wanted to do it because it gave him a sense of purpose. A job will also do that.”

“I guess that’s why he flew through so much of his schooling so fast.”

“Probably. I can’t read the future. It may not work out, but I do think they’re a good fit. It can’t hurt to try, right?”

“No, I suppose not.”

“And it’s hard to beat the commute. Driving Wyatt to Collingwood for his job at the Y and Alison to her therapy, and school, and visits with her mom, it all takes some coordinating.”

“Well, I’m here now, so I can do that. Or some of it, anyway.”

Lucky grinned. “Good. Thank you. Maybe once you’re settled, we can talk about tutoring? You have some kind of degree in smart-people stuff, don’t you?”

“I have an English diploma. It isn’t much.”

Lucky cocked his head. “Maybe Jet’s not the only one who can do some online schooling.”

“Maybe.” In truth, Myles had already thought about that very thing. He wasn’t sure what he might want to take, but he’d already looked at what he could do remotely from Griffon’s Elbow to earn some credentials in education or counselling. He didn’t know what direction he wanted to go in, but he knew he wanted to do something while he helped Steven run the shop and count his books.

And that fast, his mind was back on Steven. He glanced out the window to see the house across the street lit up in every window. The lights, all but one, abruptly went out, then came back on. A pattern started to form as lights in various windows lit and dimmed.

“What is going on?” Lucky asked.

“You think the house knows we’re here?”

“Emma does, so yeah. I’d guess so.”

“Your cat is scary.”

“Not my cat, but also, that’s why we feed her the real salmon. Keep on her good side. What do you think the house wants?”

Myles grinned. “Same thing it wanted the first time it did this. The first time I met him.”

“He specifically told me to keep you here until he texted me.”

“Too bad.” Myles thumped him on the back. “Nothing is perfect. I don’t need perfect. I just need him.”