Page 8 of Grace on the Rocks

As captain, it would have been customary forTeàrlachto wave the visitors off his plane, but he let his copilot handle the pleasantries while he reviewed his instruments and made notes in his flight log.

Bryan hung silently back in the cockpit for his own reasons until all the tourists had disembarked, and then a ramp was brought up forTeàrlach’swheelchair, andBryanfollowed his cousin off the plane where an airport attendant was unloading luggage.

His older sister,Caitriona, was standing there waiting, her hair far grayer than he remembered.Atthe sight of him, her face drained of color, as if she’d seen a ghost.

Bryan cast an accusatory glare atTeàrlach.Hadhe radioed ahead to tell her?

His cousin shrugged and said, “Dude, you were with me the whole time.”

“Cait?Whatare you doing here?”Bryanrasped.

She dropped some piece of cardboard she’d been holding and threw her arms around his neck. “Icould ask you the same thing, ye wee devil.”Steppingback, she held him at arm’s length to study him before wiping her cheek on her jumper sleeve. “Letme look at you.Whydidn’t you tell anyone you were coming?”

“Element of… surprise?” he offered, and she slapped his arm, but not hard enough to hurt.

“How long are you here?You’llbe staying withMaandDa?”

“No, at—atGrandad’s,” he replied.Thoughhe’d inherited the old stone house, it didn’t feel right to call it his.

Cait’s eyes widened and she bent to pick up the cardboard she’d dropped. “GrandadB’s?” she asked coyly.

“GrandadMac’s.Why?”

“Do you mind?You’rein the way,” a familiar voice said, and there she was again, the brunette from the airport, stepping up toBryan’selbow, suitcase in hand.

Her blonde, fae-like friend gasped, “Gray!”

Undeterred, theAmericanBookLover’sbrown eyes flashed at him for only a second before she turned a sunny smile on his sister that felt completely discordant with her irritating irritation.

He really must have pissed her off with his careless remarks.You’dthink, as someone usually so meticulous with his words, someone who’d been forced to grow a skin thick enough for any insult to bounce off, he’d have been a little more considerate of a stranger in an airport shop.He’dhave to file down those rough edges and polish up his manners before visitingMa.

“You must beCaitriona,” she greeted his sister, now ignoring him completely. “I’mGrace.ThisisWesley.”

Bryan actually read his sister’s cardboard sign then, the nameGracielaRiverawritten out in thick, tidy marker.

Graciela,Bryancouldn’t help mouthing.Heliked the shape of it on his tongue.

“Welcome toBarradise,”Caitquipped.

“Are you driving forUbernow?”Bryanasked his sister.

“Don’t be ridiculous.Wedon’t haveUberon the island.Teàrlach, you couldn’t have warned me?” she shot at their cousin.

He threw up his hands. “Stowedaway, didn’t he?NothingIcould do.”

“Mmm hmm.Stillthick as thieves, the pair of you.Thething is,Ry?—”

Bryan tried not to flinch at the old nickname.Itstung like a paper cut under the nail, as though theBin his name was just too much trouble, as though she thought by saying it herself she would be forced to endure his stammer.

“—we weren’t expecting you.”

“And…?”

“And you can’t stay atGrandadMac’s.”

“Has the roof caved in?”

“Well, no.ButI’velet it as aB&B.”

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