Page 11 of Harbor Lights

Shiv lifted her water glass. “To Maura.” She washed down the bread and picked up her spoon again.

“There’s plenty more, so please help yourself. It’s good to have someone to share it with. I’m usually eating the amount Maura leaves for the next five days. Not that I’m complaining when her cooking’s this good.”

Shiv wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. “You live here alone?”

“Yes, I do now. I have for a few years.” She didn’t expand further, and they ate in silence for the remainder of the meal.

When Shiv had consumed a second plate of stew, and half the loaf of bread, and turned down even more, she sat back to digest her food, finding it hard to talk with the weariness washing over her.

“Right, you’re exhausted.” Doc jumped up and led her out of the room.

After what seemed like a lot of stairs and long corridors, Doc opened a door into a room that looked as if it was out of a costume drama, except the bedding was modern and looked new. Shiv had never slept in a four-poster bed before and hadn’t woken up thinking this would be the day that changed. But now she’d eaten, she was struggling to keep her eyes wide open and the soft mattress looked irresistible.

She managed not to collapse onto it before Doc led her into the adjoining bathroom. “Help yourself to anything here.” She swung open the door to show a range of every toiletry and cream anyone could wish for. “There’s even a spare toothbrush. Here.” She tossed a box to Shiv.

“Thanks.” That didn’t seem enough. “This part of the house is in good repair. Who is it for?”

“Oh, just visitors, but I don’t have many. Mostly my ex, Majella, and her wife. But they’ve not been for a while.”

“Your ex?” Doc had said she’d been single for some years.

“Yes, it was a long time ago, but we’ve stayed best friends.”

“Ha. Typical lesbians.” The words were out of her mouth before she’d thought about how that would sound to Doc. Shiv hadn’t shared her own orientation.

Doc blinked. “Right, well, I’ll leave you to get settled. I’m not the earliest of risers but I’ve got patients from eight-thirty, so I’ll be in and out of the kitchen around eight. Please take your time, and help yourself to cereals or oatmeal.”

“Okay, bye.” Shiv was mortified that Doc might think her some sort of homophobe, but she was too tired and sore to put it right tonight.

She had the briefest thought she should probably shower before she got into the immaculate bedding, but the moment she stripped out of her grubby clothes, she couldn’t resist the lure of the bed and slipped between the sheets. It was as comfortable as it looked.

Tomorrow she would get up early, make some oatmeal, and then get out of Doc’s hair. This was more time than she’d spent in someone else’s private space for a long time. It hadn’t been all bad, though, she thought, just before her thoughts scattered and dissolved into sleep.

FIVE

“Here you go,Willie. Take this prescription to the pharmacy.” Con stood and turned from her desk to the printer. She glanced out of the window to see Shiv Walsh making her way down the steps toward the harbor.

She’d hoped to say goodbye before she left. When she hadn’t appeared at breakfast time, Con had made a mug of tea and taken it to the guest room. Shiv had been lying on her back, arms at her sides, in the most regimented way Con had ever seen anyone sleep. Her breathing was deep, but quiet, and she looked happier as she slept. Con had berated herself for staring and left the room. She didn’t want Shiv waking up to find some scary older woman leering at her.

“Doc?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, Willie. What were you saying?”

“When shall I come back?”

“The prescription is for a month. Take one a day and make an appointment with Maura for four weeks, and we’ll see if it’s cleared up.”

She handed over the slip of paper and followed him to the door. “Take care, Willie. See you in a month.” Realistically, she’d see him in the Harbor Bar in the next couple of days.

When he’d left, after a wrestling match with the door, she hurried to the kitchen, knowing she had a break before the next patient. She wanted to wash the casserole dish and hand it back to Maura before she forgot.

She stopped in the doorway of the kitchen. It was tidier than she’d seen it in a long time. Last night’s dishes, which she’d stacked haphazardly in the sink, had been washed and dried and placed back onto shelves. The worktops were all clean and clear of the jars of sauces she usually left where she’d used them. She opened a door to find them all neatly placed on a shelf. Shiv must have thought her the worst kind of slob, if she’d felt the need to tidy so comprehensively.

Con filled the kettle to make tea, and when she went to the refrigerator for milk, she found a piece of paper stuck to the door with a fridge magnet that read “Dublin University Ladies Boat Club.” She wondered where Shiv had found it and worried for a moment she’d been snooping around. She unfolded the note.

Sorry for being hard work. Thanks for everything. See you soon to repay the favor.

Shiv

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