Page 75 of Changing Tides
They reached across Denny and squeezed her leg. There were some benefits to long arms. “You’ll find a way through this and give Denny the best childhood. You can do anything you put your mind to.”
She ran patterns around the back of their hand and entwined their fingers. Joey basked in the contact and wondered how long they could stay like that before a gear change was needed.
“Your confidence in me means a lot. I was wallowing in self-doubt and pity when I came to Inishderry. I didn’t know what I wanted or what I needed, but there you were, quietly coming to my rescue again and again. You’ve turned everything around. I’ll never…be able to thank you enough.” Marianne’s fingers tightened, but Joey couldn’t help turning that slight pause around and around in their head as they drove east. Had Marianne been about to say she’d never forget them? Is that how they’d end up? A pleasant memory from a disruptive time in her life. They blinked as the road ahead blurred, then shook their head. They couldn’t allow their thoughts to go there. Marianne needed them here and now.
“Are you okay?” Marianne was watching them.
“Yeah, of course.” Joey reluctantly pulled their hand free and fiddled with the car stereo until they found a news station.Anything to distract them from thinking about Marianne leaving. But here they were, driving her back to her past. And if Joey was realistic, most likely her future.
TWENTY-NINE
“Denny, say hi to Granny.”Marianne stood on the doorstep and wished Denny was in her arms to reintroduce him to her mother. But when she’d taken him from Joey, still sleepy from the journey, he’d squealed and held tight. She’d decided her mother would be more annoyed by a howling grandchild than by seeing him in the arms of a stranger.
Joey lowered him to the ground and directed him toward where her mother waited with pursed lips. Denny screamed and slipped behind Joey’s legs, hiding his face.
“It’s to be expected. I’m a stranger to the child now.” Her mother folded her arms.
It would help if you didn’t look so terrifying.“Denny, come here, sweetpea.” Marianne coaxed him out from behind Joey’s legs and lifted him. “You remember your granny, don’t you?”
“Gwanny.” Denny held out a hand hesitantly and she resisted the urge to cover him in kisses. When she shot Joey a look of relief, they winked.
Her mother’s face softened, and she took his little hand. “Welcome, Deniz. I haven’t seen you for such a long time.”
Guilt burned in Marianne’s throat. Her self-exile had come at a cost to others, and she hadn’t cared enough. Denny relaxed inher arms, so she passed him over and released her breath when he put his arms around his granny.
“I’m sorry, Mum.”
Her mother turned away into the house with Denny. “You’re here now.”
Joey lifted their multiple bags and followed her into the cavernous hallway, looking around with wide eyes. “This is…fancy.”
Marianne wondered what they really thought. They’d only traveled for a few hours, but they were a world away from the cottage on the stony beach.
“My mum does like to make an impression.” She took the bags from Joey and pushed them into a corner. “We’ll take those upstairs later.” She took Joey’s hand and squeezed as they followed into the drawing room where her mum liked to entertain guests. It was full of breakage hazards for a two-year-old, so she wasn’t planning to relax anytime soon.
Her mum’s long-suffering domestic help, Mary, pulled the door wide open. “Welcome, Marianne. It’s been a while.”
Marianne pulled her into a hug and ignored the look of disapproval her mum cast over her shoulder. “It’s lovely to see you, Mary. I hope Mum isn’t being too high maintenance.” Her mum liked to play up the fact she had a paid employee and referred to poor Mary as “the staff.” But the reality was a kind of symbiotic relationship. Mary got to live in comfortable quarters rent free, and Kathleen Browne got a carer, cleaner, confidante, and friend. Somehow, it worked for them both.
“Kathleen has been so excited to see little Denny once again.” There was no censure in Mary’s soft voice, but Marianne felt another jab of guilt.
“Mum, before you get too carried away with Denny, this is Joey.” Marianne pulled Joey inside the drawing room.
Joey crowded into the overly ornate room with its delicate furniture. They stepped forward and held out a hand. “How are you, Mrs. Browne? It’s good to meet you.”
Her mum turned and looked Joey up and down. “So, you’re Joey.” She shook their hand, still watching them with a crease on her brow.
Marianne appreciated that if she wasn’t sure what to say, she’d gone with the minimum.
“Have a seat, Joey.” She indicated a couch, knocked off-kilter by how clearly Joey didn’t fit into this place where, even though she wouldn’t have chosen it, she had grown up.
Joey sat with their limbs pulled together, looking uncomfortable.
“I’ll get us some tea.” She turned toward the door.
“Don’t be silly, darling. Mary will bring it in now.” Her mother indicated where Mary had appeared at the door with a tray piled with bone china teacups and saucers.
“Thanks, Mary.” Knowing Mary enjoyed her role didn’t make Marianne any less uncomfortable with being served in her mother’s house.
