Page 37 of Changing Tides
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t—" They jumped up and stood at the rail, facing out to the dark sea.
“Joey, it’s okay. You didn’t do anything.” She got out of her seat and stood next to them, but they didn’t turn, and she couldn’t make out their expression in the dark.
She pulled them by the elbow. “Talk to me. It’s all fine, what’s wrong?”
“I shouldn’t have done that.” Joey’s voice was so strained it was almost a groan.
“Youdidn’t do anything,wedid. And it was nice, so no harm done.” She kept her own reaction to what had just happened wrapped up tight to unpick later, when she was alone.
When Joey turned, their eyes shone. She thought they were going to speak, but they just stared.
She slid her hand up their arm and her body reacted to the lines of tense muscle she discovered under the thick cotton. Joey gently loosened her grip with their free hand, ran a rough thumb across her knuckles, then released it. They leaned in and Marianne tipped her head, instinctively wanting more.
Joey touched their lips to her forehead and stepped back. “Good luck with your first full shift. Try not to clash with Kasia. You’ll love her when you get to know her better.” They grabbed their coat from the back of the chair and stepped off the deck into darkness.
Marianne dropped into the chair, her legs weak. What had just happened? Joey had been this wonderful presence in her life for the last couple of weeks, but she hadn’t realized this was growing in her. Where had it come from, and where could it possibly go? Her time here was temporary, and she was still very much married, even if that union had been broken beyond repair.
She pulled her feet up onto the chair, wrapped her arms around her legs, then rested her chin on her knees. Taking over the kitchen at the Waterside this weekend would force her to focus fully on work. Maybe that’s where this connection with Joey had developed. She’d never had so much spare time in her life.
Well, that would change now; she didn’t have time for exploring unexpected feelings with unlikely people. She would let work consume her, as she always did.
FIFTEEN
Joey could feelKasia’s gaze burning into the side of their face as they drove Queen Maedbh to their swimming spot. If they broke the silence, she’d start asking questions they didn’t want to answer.
“Marianne’s first couple of weeks have gone well.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll take my finder’s fee in dinners, if that’s okay.” It was best to act nonchalant.
“That’s what I was wondering. We’ve barely seen you. Tierney even wondered if she’s upset you.”
“Sorry, I’ve been busy. Dad had a chest infection, and I’ve needed to keep an eye on him, and I’ve been working on a business plan for the oyster farm.”
“You’re always busy, Joey. But we see you all the time. It takes some work to keep your distance in this place.” She put her hand on Joey’s knee. “Talk to me.”
Their swim wouldn’t be the serene experience they were hoping for if Kasia didn’t let it go. They had to give her something.
“My mood has been low. I’ve needed time alone.”
“Oh, Joey, I’m sorry.” Kasia’s voice was so full of compassion and empathy Joey felt bad for only sharing half the story. Theyhad been really down. A couple of days they’d struggled to get out of bed at all, and the delivery had been later than usual. But they’d been in such a rush to avoid Marianne they hadn’t hung around to apologize. Kasia had called after them once, but they’d waved and walked back to the boat as fast as they could without it being classified as running.
“Is there anything I can do?”
They pulled up at the quay and turned, dropping their hand onto Kasia’s. “Change the subject?” They squeezed to lighten the request. “You’re a good friend, Kasia, the best I’ve ever had. But I just need some peace at the moment.”
She nodded. “Let’s swim.”
The cold water calmed their thoughts as always, and they stayed in longer than they’d intended.
“It’s getting warmer all the time.” Kasia pulled herself up the rusty iron rungs behind Joey. “I can’t wait for the summer.”
Joey chuckled. “When the sea reaches a balmy sixty degrees?”
“It gets warmer than that. Anyway, even that would feel warm right now.”
“True enough.” They passed her dry robe from the back of the truck. “Thanks, I needed that.”
Kasia wrapped herself up. “Any time, you know that. I can find time, just drop me a text.”
