Page 153 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“Kreed’s just putting Shelly in the back room. She didn’t really wake up.”

Myles frowned. “If she sleeps much longer, it’s going to be a nightmare getting her to bed later.”

“Maybe we let her run around the backyards with the dogs when she gets up.”

“That’ll help.” Myles rested his weight on the counter. “Where is MJ?”

“I put his crate in the room with Shelly, but I left the doors to the crate and the room cracked so he can come out when he’s ready.”

“Thanks. He’ll probably just curl up with Shelly.” He frowned at the door to the back rooms. “Maybe I should wake her.”

“Let her sleep. We can always put her to work in the kitchen.” He sighed. “Kreed will never admit it, but he got used to having someone share the load. Doing it all himself is making him grumpy.”

“Tris is liking the Cabin, then?”

“He is. It’s a little less hectic for now, since he’s only cooking for himself, Ozzy, Wyatt and our new resident, Wyatt’s friend Alison, but he’s also still getting the space exactly where he wants it. It’s always a transition, I guess, cooking in a new place, and apparently, he has to have things just so.”

“So why not hire a new cook here?”

“Has to be the right fit. Kreed is not the easiest person to work for.”

Even as he said that, Kreed entered the kitchen from the back rooms, followed by Jet, who had apparently entered the house from the balcony of the private room where Shelly was sleeping.

“So why don’t I peel the potatoes for you, then?” Jet was saying. “It’s not like that’s going to mess up your recipe, and then you can take your time with the braising.”

“What do you know about braising?” Kreed grumbled.

“What you taught me, actually. You want to take the time to really sear it well. I can make mashed potatoes.”

Kreed stopped halfway across the kitchen to stare at Jet.

“Well.” Jet squared up to him, chest out a little, and only a quick glance at Myles before he faced Kreed again. “I can. You can supervise. But you don’t have to do it.”

“I didn’t ask for your help.”

Jet narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t have to. You grumbled the whole way down the hall about how much work you have to do before service. It’s a lot. So.” He shrugged but didn’t fall into his usual slouch. “Let me help.”

After a moment, Kreed grunted, “Fine.” He pointed to the counter across from the barstools. “Work there. Stay out of my way, and you’re just doing the potatoes. You’re not touching my desserts.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Jet shot back. “Not until you teach me, anyway.”

“Who said I was going to⁠—”

“I need a job.”

“Jet.” Myles stepped in. “You don’t need a job. We have⁠—”

“I’m not touching Priory’s money,” Jet said. “Not unless Shells needs something, or maybe for school, once I decide what I want to do. And anyway, Wyatt has a job.”

“I ran this place just fine on my own for years before Lucky and Tris showed up.”

“But we did show up,” Lucky reminded him. “And you and I made a pact a long time ago not to let this place wedge itself between us. That means hiring help. With Jake taking more shifts at the bakery with Lucy and her mom, we could use someone, babe.”

“I don’t know if he’s even any good.”

“Mashed potatoes,” Jet said. “Just mashed potatoes.”

Kreed huffed. “Fine.”