Page 14 of Harbor Lights

“It’s not a criticism of you. I’m just wondering how Des Walsh can justify sending his own flesh and blood to live in squalor to save him money.”

“He had no involvement at all in my life until two weeks ago, so I doubt he feels a strong sense of duty.” If Shiv was trying to keep the bitterness out of her tone, she’d failed.

She pushed herself off the door. “You said you’d leave the bags and let me be.”

Did she care how rude she was coming across?

Con sighed. “Right you are. Can I just show you what I brought?” She started removing items from the bag.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d have any refrigeration until the electricity is connected so I’ve mainly brought tins.” She stacked them on the table. “And some soya mince.” She shook the bag and placed it with the other food. “All pretty basic stuff. But Kasia has done you up one of the cheese boards they sell to the tourists.”

She pulled the platter from the other bag and waved it enticingly. “Plus, some of her home baked bread and a bottle of wine.”

Shiv hadn’t moved.

“Will you not sit down and eat something now? I promise I’ll leave.”

“If it gets you out of here, I’ll force it down.” Shiv’s half smile belied her gruff tone and she brushed past to the kitchen, presumably to clean up.

While she was gone, Con unwrapped the cheeses and looked around for a knife to cut the bread.

“Do you want to stay for food?”

She turned as Shiv emerged, her overalls tied around her waist, another white tank showing off her wiry arms. A clean dressing covered her injury. She retrieved two plates and a bread knife and sat down at the table.

Con shook her head. She wanted to stay, but Shiv was clearly forcing herself to be polite, now, and she wasn’t going to make it any worse.

“No thanks, I’ll need to get away, or I’ll miss the ferry.” She turned for the door.

“Doc.”

She turned.

“Thanks for this.” Shiv indicated the food.

“You’re welcome. See you around.”

She half ran outside and got in the car. What had she been doing hanging around like she was begging for an invitation? What was it about Shiv that was so magnetic?

Con had struggled with loneliness for a few years, despite her busy life, but then she’d got to know Joey better and spent more time in their company. That had expanded over recent years to include Kasia and Tierney, and more recently, Marianne and little Denny, and now Pegeen. She had quite the social life these days.

But the pull of seeing Shiv was something else she couldn’t quite define. Their backgrounds were so different, and Shiv seemed so young. They had nothing in common.

Except an inability to feed ourselves. She remembered the empty refrigerator she had to go home to. Never mind. An evening in the Harbor Bar would give her the chance to listen in to all the local news and not dwell on the awkward position she’d put herself in today.

SIX

Shiv trotteddown the hill to the village feeling almost carefree. She’d finished the wiring of the house and was now waiting for the network company to switch on the supply. Once she’d tested it, she could report back to her granddad her work was complete. She hoped he’d stick to his side of the bargain because, despite the never-ending stream of cousins to swerve, she liked the cabin on the cliffs and was keen to make it more habitable. She needed to find some paid work, though. She’d spent the last of the money her mom had sent her ordering equipment online, so she could live the self-sufficient life she was accustomed to. She was headed to the Waterside to collect it now and had rehearsed being sociable and open.

Kasia and Tierney’s kind gesture of the food package had been an olive branch she was determined not to turn into a sharp stick. Perhaps at least this part of the family hadn’t been put off by the rumors that must surely have preceded her. And the food had been delicious. Less practical than Doc’s supply of tins and dried food, but very welcome after her usual spartan diet. The various cheeses had been a treat, and the bread might have been the best she had ever tasted. Although, she’d been so ravenous when Doc had insisted she eat, anything would have tasted good.

The last couple of days, she’d eaten well with the provisions Doc had brought, and now she’d had time to process the gesture, she was touched by her thoughtfulness. She frowned. In return, she’d been such a bitch. Doc had taken her by surprise turning up, and she’d been embarrassed for her to see the basic conditions she was living in. Thank God, the bedroom door had been closed, and she couldn’t see the state of that mattress. She’d been desperate to get her away from the cabin, but also disappointed when she’d left. Although not surprised, after her own rude behavior.

She jogged into the parking lot of the hotel. Among the handful of cars, she recognized the silver truck that had rescued her a few days ago and wondered if Joey was around. She needed to thank them, too.

She was torn about all the return favors she was accumulating in this little tight knit community. In some ways it reminded her of the squats and camps she’d grown up in. They’d been communities that watched out for each other. But here, she felt like the poor relation, literally. It didn’t feel like an equal sharing of resources; more that people thought she needed help.

To be fair, when she’d been wandering around the island, dripping blood, she had absolutely needed help. But if she was going to take from people, she needed to be able to give. And she couldn’t do that if she didn’t mix.

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