Chapter 860 - 862
The morning air was salty and cool as Jude made his way down the winding trail that led to the beach. The scent of the ocean was always comforting, grounding in a way nothing else on the island was. Birds sang overhead, and the sound of waves crashing gently against the jagged rocks filled the space between his thoughts.
Emma walked beside him, her long hair tied up in a messy knot, a net slung over one shoulder and a woven basket swinging in her hand. She had insisted on coming with him, citing boredom and a desire to "do something useful," but her tone had been more playful than practical.
"You know," Emma said, nudging him with her shoulder, "when I imagined living on an island, I thought it would involve more lounging under palm trees with a drink in my hand and less... hauling fish traps."
Jude smirked. "You want a drink, I’ll ferment some fruit for you."
"Don’t tease me, I’ll hold you to that," she said with a wink. "Though I’d rather sip it while watching you do all the work."
"Sounds about right," he chuckled.
As they reached the beach, the tide was beginning to recede, revealing lines of seaweed and small pools of trapped crabs skittering across wet sand. Jude dropped the bundle of nets and moved toward the rocks where he had anchored the fish traps the day before.
Emma leaned against a large piece of driftwood, her eyes following him with quiet amusement.
"You know," she said, "if you were just a little dumber, I think I’d keep you as a house pet."
Jude laughed without looking back. "And here I thought I was already the island’s favorite house husband."
Emma sighed dramatically. "Not mine, not yet. You’re still on trial."