Edward smiled down at her. “Give me a minute to drill holes while I remember my favorite joke. We have a winner for this window. I found blinds to fit.”
He handed back Greta’s book and then worked quickly, getting the brackets in before lifting the blinds and setting them into place. “So, Elinor. I have to know. Do you never laugh at the jokes because you don’t find them funny, or because you’re determined to win?” He had his own theories. In a family of big personalities and subsequently, big mouths, he figured Elinor was good at keeping things to herself when properly motivated.
Elinor raised an eyebrow. “Sometimes it’s both. I think I’ve heard every joke in that book at least three times.”
Greta clutched the book to her chest. “How dare you.”
“Your delivery is great, Gret. I think we may just need to find you some new jokes.”
Edward climbed down the ladder and walked it to the next window. “I’m ready when you are, Greta.”
She nodded, narrowing her eyes at him like she was putting her game face on. “What did one toilet say to the other?”
Edward pressed his lips together before he could lose on the first round.
“You look a little flushed.”
“Good one.” He stared her down. “What did the overly-excited gardener do when spring finally came?”
Greta shrugged, the picture of poise.
“He wet his plants.”
Marianne bent over laughing and ran out of the room. Greta stared him down. No expression. Wow, she came to win. Elinor didn’t laugh either, though her twinkling eyes said she wanted to.
He and Greta went back and forth, neither laughing for three more rounds. Most of his jokes relied too much on wordplay or pop culture, and went right over Greta’s head, but they were the only ones he knew, and he didn’t want to ask for the joke book back, especially if Greta had told them all a million times.
He threw out his last one, a Hail Mary of sorts. “What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the utility closet?”
Greta shrugged.
“Supplies!”
No laugh from Greta, but the other three lost it. Elinor’s laughter was the most satisfying of all. Her laugh was almost musical, with a sigh of happiness at the end of it. The sound of it was addictive.
