Page 62 of Changing Tides
“And was it a long time ago?”
“Y—very.”
“Were you a student?”
Joey nodded, biting their tongue to stop saying more.
Marianne crinkled her nose. “What did you study?”
“Marine.” Joey was happy not to make it too easy for her.
“Biology?”
“Science.”
Marianne clapped her hands at her success. Joey couldn’t stand it any longer. Then rolled across the bed and into Marianne’s lap. “Your interrogation technique is too good. I’ll tell you everything.”
Marianne stroked their hair. “What happened?”
They lay looking up at her, wishing they could stay there forever. “I didn’t get through the first year. I loved the learning, but everything else was too much. The big city, meeting so many new people. I wasn’t the most worldly of eighteen-year-olds.” They doubted Marianne thought they were a very worldly forty-year-old. “Each time I came home it got harder to leave. Until finally, I didn’t.”
“Do you wish you’d stayed? Finished your course?”
“I don’t think I could’ve spent all that time away. I belong here.” They enjoyed the sensation of Marianne’s fingers in their hair. “But sometimes I wonder what my life would look like now if I’d left Inishderry.”
“And how long ago was that? Twenty years?”
“A little more. My dad loved that I was back to run the boat, and he didn’t do as much after that. But he was self-reliant until recently.”
“I hope he appreciates you. I’m not the only one who deserves to be treasured. You’re an amazing person, Joey.”
Marianne kissed them on the nose. “I’m going to leave you to get to your pots. I don’t like keeping you back from your work.”
Joey didn’t want this moment to end, even though a glance at the clock on the wall confirmed it was time to get moving. “You’re right. I’ve got to deliver to the mainland, too.”
“Hey, don’t sound so down. We can do this again soon, okay?”
They nodded and gave Marianne a quick smile before they launched themself off the bed. They opened a drawer. “Cleantowels in here. You’ll find everything you need in the bathroom, but shout if not. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Giving Marianne some space seemed the best thing to do. They made tea and cleaned up and eventually, Marianne showed her face at the door.
“I’m all done. Thank you. For…everything.”
Joey blushed. They wanted to pull her into their arms and tell her they’d just had the best night of their life.
“Last night was good. I feel I know you better now.”What the fuck was that?
Marianne waggled her eyebrows. “You certainly do!”
“You’re welcome here anytime, Mari. For a chat or dinner, or anything you need.” Shit, that was pathetic, too.
Marianne beamed. “I’ll bear that in mind.” She stood on tiptoes for a kiss, and then deepened it. “I’ll be back.”
Her Schwarzenegger impersonation was terrible, but Joey laughed, anyway. “Good to hear. Do you want to take the truck?”
“Oh, please. I promise I’ll get something else sorted.”
“It’s grand. Transporting a car to the island is extortionate and no one ever sells them. Use the truck for now, and we’ll work it out between us.”
