Page 100 of Grace on the Rocks

By the timeLùcasarrived,Bryanhad torn out the remaining shower tiles and split the incoming water pipes.He’dalso rerouted the drains to carry greywater outside to the site of his future reclamation garden.Hiscousin’s eyes bugged out at the spiderweb of piping, andBryandidn’t blame him.Hewasn’t completely confident he wouldn’t flood the whole house the minute he turned the water back on.

“Was your da able to order it?”Bryanasked.

“Didn’t have to.Forsome reason he had one in stock.He’llbring it tomorrow.”

Bryan blinked at that. “Wecan go get it.”

Lùcas shrugged. “Saidhe’d deliver it.Ithink he wants to help.Orat least get an eyeful,” he amended.

“Best get ready for him, then,”Bryansaid, with a choked laugh.

They affixed new hexagonal tiles in shades of honeyed cream down the walls and along the floor, working in companionable silence to convert the tiny, tired old bathroom into a fresh, more open, more beautiful space.Instinctively,Lùcasseemed to know better than to bring up what happened yesterday, and before long they were finished, except for the part that would cover the piping.

“Now what?”Lùcasked.

“It’ll be an arse ache to have to tear it out if we needed to access the pipes again,”Bryanworried.

His cousin nodded.Theargument made perfect sense.ThepartBryanwasn’t saying out loud was his fear they’d have to do just that, and sooner rather than later, thanks to his plumbing skills.

“You could just hide it?” the boy suggested—the artist was a visionary, it seemed. “Butactually,Imeant now what do we do if anyone needs to pish?”

Bryan’s stomach sank.Ofcourse the tile would take hours to cure before anyone could walk on it.Hecould go in the backyard if he had to but… “She’llhave to go next door,” he grumbled.Shewould probably joinWesleyin a hotel by teatime.

He taped a note to the door suggesting the library, the pub, or the neighbor’s ifGraceneeded the facilities, and they went outside to build a low sort of cabinet which could be set over the new piping for easy access.Bonus, it could also double as a tiny bench or stool.ThenLùcashelped him set up the rows of planters which would triple filter the bath water before cycling it back inside to flush the toilet.

With that done, there was nothing to do but wait, soBryanmade them sandwiches and they sat out on the porch watching the last of the storm clouds blow away.Lùcasshowed him some ideas he’d had for whisky labels and distillery logos, some of them incorporating the bee fromBryan’sown tattoo.

“These are incredible,Lùc, really.”

His cousin didn’t stop beaming the rest of the afternoon.

* * *

Grace seemeddetermined to keep her distance, soBryanfollowed her lead.AfterLùcasleft, he took out his tablet and spent the better part of the evening spinning his wheels trying to compose a speech.

After the scene at the ceilidh, he was more than a little worried the town would tar and feather him alongside his investor, who was coming here in the hope of meeting villagers as excited about the project as they were.IfBryanwas going to winJulesover, he would need to win his neighbors over, too.

It was nauseating to contemplate, but he knew it was true.Heneeded to open the house to the whole island, perhaps share his business plan and explain how he’d preserve what each of them cherished most aboutBarra, just as his father’sBàgha’Chiùilfestival had done.

To that end, he was planning a reception where he would try to speak from the heart, to say all the thingsGracehad been able to put into words which he had not.Ifonly he were as good at it as she was.

The next afternoon, onceBryanhad finished installing the new shower glass, he was hanging shelves, recovered and refinished from the old linen closet, whenLùcasarrived with his father and the pièce de résistance: a beautiful, gleaming slipper bath.Lùcashad measured well.Itwould fit perfectly under the new window between the shower and the opposite wall.

A wave of pleasure settled low inBryan’sbelly.

UncleDàibhidhhad indeed come for an eyeful asLùchad predicted, but he looked around in seeming awe of what his son and nephew had accomplished.HepattedLùc’sshoulder, nodding, and the boy flushed with delight.

Once the tub was settled into place,UncleDàibhidhclappedBryanon the back too and said, “Sureand your grandad wouldn’t have turned up his nose at a soak in this masterpiece.”

A knot inBryan’schest loosened as his throat grew tight. “Doyou mind having a look at the pipes?”Bryanrasped, swallowing his nerves.

His uncle was only too delighted to offer an opinion, and aside from tightening a few fittings, he pronounced everything in perfect order, the water ready to be turned back on.Bryanallowed him to do the honors, and thankfully nothing flooded except his pride.

* * *

The day wore on,andBryangrew more and more restless overGrace’scomplete absence.Hehadn’t seen her emerge for food or water—indeed he’d be convinced she’d slipped out without saying goodbye except he could hear the rapid clacking of her keyboard.Heknew better than to interrupt, so he tried again to work on his speech, but he simply couldn’t focus.

It wasn’t healthy for her to stay locked up in there so long.

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