Page 84 of Changing Tides
“Hey.” Despite their best efforts they didn’t manage to sound pleased about the call. They dipped back inside the wheelhouse away from the howl of the wind.
“I’m sorry. I was in two minds whether to call, but I was too worried about you.” She ended with a small gulp; an indication of just how emotional she was at this time in her pregnancy. Joey didn’t want to be the cause of her distress. They shut off the engine and sat down on the bench.
“Thank you. It’s good to know you care. But I’m doing fine. Dad’s going to be okay in time, and the boys are here with me.”
“Not just about your dad. Doc said he was doing much better. But…” Tierney trailed off.
How could anyone here on the island know about what had happened in Dublin?
“What, Tierney?”
“Marianne called. She was concerned, but didn’t want to keep texting you. She said you had a…disagreement before you left.”
Joey let a long sigh travel through the speaker.
“I’m not prying, Joey. I don’t need to know what it was about. I just wanna be here for you.”
Their throat tightened. They didn’t need pity at the moment. They needed to stay strong. But they weren’t going to take out their frustrations on Tierney, either.
“I know. And I love you for it, but I just need some time alone to process things, and then I’ll come find you.”
“Yes, of course. As long as you’re okay.” Tierney had regained some bounce to her tone.
“Speak to you later.” They hung up. It was reassuring their friends were there for them, but it might take a little time. What they really needed now was some good, hard solitary work surrounded by the elements. There was nothing better for clearing your mind of the chaos of life.
THIRTY-THREE
“Colette, hey!”Marianne swung around to follow the young dark-haired woman who’d just passed her in the crowd on the street. She’d only caught a glimpse of the side of her face, but was sure it was her old sous chef.
The woman turned and glanced around. Then her face lit up and she pushed her way back through the bustling commuters. “Chef!”
They embraced and Marianne was relieved at the positive reception. “Still not your chef.”
“You’ll always be my chef. I’ve just finished lunch service. Fancy a coffee?”
Marianne smiled widely. “To be honest, I’m in the mood for something stronger. I’ve just had some good news, and I’d love to celebrate.” She’d been meaning to keep it to herself until the details were finalized, but seeing her old friend made her want to share. And Colette was a million miles from her life on Inishderry.
“Wow, this is so much change for you.” They were sipping their second prosecco and Colette’s eyes were wide over the rim of her glass.
“I know. It feels strange that there’s so much to tell you, and it’s not even been six months since the Batiya closed.” Marianne met Colette’s eye. “I truly am sorry for what happened, Colette. I should have had my eye on the whole business and not been so focused on the kitchen.”
“Yeah, well it happened, and we’ve all moved on, so let’s put it behind us.”
“And how is it working for John Day? I’ve heard he’s a strict taskmaster, but you should be learning plenty.”
Colette glanced away. “I quit. I’m temping at the moment and looking for something permanent.”
Marianne put down her glass and grasped Colette’s free hand. “Oh, Colette, why? That was a good career move for you.”
Colette looked up. “I know. But he was a bully. And he resented that I’d trained under you and tried to humiliate me at every chance.” Her eyes glistened. “I think I may have been spoiled by my time with you. You didn’t hide your disapproval when things fell below your standard, but you supported your staff and helped us develop. And we worked hard to improve because we wanted your nod of praise.”
“A nod.” Marianne drew in a breath. “I should’ve been better at telling you all how much I valued you.”
“We all knew, Marianne. And we loved you. I’ve kept in touch with some of the others, and no one is as happy as they were with you." She squeezed Marianne’s fingers and smiled. “And what about your new team? Are they as good as us?”
Marianne smiled back. “They had much less experience, and they’re mostly seasonal workers, so it took some time for me to adapt to a different culture, but they’ve come on so much this summer. I’ll miss them.”
“Your new adventures sound exciting, but you won’t have your own kitchen. Are you okay with that?”
