Private North Read Online Free PDF Page A

on your waffles?”
    “Hmm, let me see. Tough question.”
    He laughed. “There’s some cream in the fridge and a hand mixer in that drawer.” He pointed out the drawer with his elbow.
    I set to work on the task of whipping cream. “What type of artifacts will we be cataloguing?”
    “Nothing of too much value or interest, I’m afraid. The fragments found in an Egyptian dig that should have been catalogued long ago, but we’ve been putting it off because, frankly, the task can be rather tedious and time consuming. Anything discovered on the university’s dollar belongs to the college, and the pieces have to be entered into their data base.” It was fleeting but I was sure I’d detected a roll of his eyes with that last statement. “These artifacts came from digs in the past three years, mostly shards and broken pieces of pottery dating from the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom.”
    “That might be dull to you, but I can’t wait to get started. You know my passion is with Ancient Egypt.”
    “I know. That’s why I asked you to help out.” He pulled a toasty waffle from the iron and lowered it onto a plate. “Ethan needs someone to prod him along too. He gets easily distracted.”
    “So, to keep me focused, you provide me with a beautiful assistant.” Ethan North strolled straight to the coffee pot and lifted it from its stand. “No complaints here. Much better than an actual prod.” He smiled at me over the brim of his cup. Ethan North was tall and handsome and he carried himself in the same easy-going, confident style as his dad. When he walked into a classroom or hallway, he turned heads. He wasn’t one of those rare guys who could walk into a crowded room and suck all the energy toward him, but he was definitely the type who commanded attention.
    He took a sip of coffee and then lowered his cup to the counter to shake my hand. “I’m Ethan, and you must be August.” His gleaming white smile matched everything else about him. He was the kind of guy any girl would be confident introducing to her parents, except possibly his ex-girlfriend, whose parents, if rumors were to be believed, had not been satisfied with their daughter’s attachment to the son of an academic.
    “Nice to meet you. I’m excited to get started on our task.”
    His smooth brow lifted, and he reached for his coffee. “That makes one of us.”
    “Breakfast is served.” Professor North carried the platter of waffles to the kitchen table. I picked up the bowl of whipping cream and followed.
    We piled the warm, fragrant waffles with fresh slices of bananas and whipped cream.
    Ethan passed me the bottle of syrup, but I put up my hand. “I think the whipped cream and fruit is probably enough for a sugar coma, thanks.”
    “Dad, I’ll only be able to spend a few hours on the artifacts this morning and then I’m meeting Connor and Wesley at the slopes for some skiing.”
    Professor North’s scowl was far more measured and subtle than a true scowl like the kind my dad could produce, but there was no mistaking it. “You assured me you’d get this job finished during the break.”
    “There’s plenty of time, and besides, now that we have August here to help, I’m sure it won’t take all that long.”
    “She’s not here to replace you. She’s here to help you.”
    The house was inviting, the food was delicious, but the conversation was much less enchanting. I felt less like a guest and more like hired help, unpaid hired help. And suddenly, working shoulder to shoulder with Ethan North had lost some of its appeal. “You know, if Ethan shows me what to do, I’m sure I could get most of the work done myself.”
    “That is kind of you, Auggie, but Ethan will help.” Professor North cast a sharp glance in Ethan’s direction. “Just make sure to keep your extracurricular activities to a minimum this vacation.”
    Ethan shook his head. “Vacation? Right.” He shoveled a forkful of waffle into his mouth and barely