Page 17 of Harbor Lights

“You’re welcome. And come back soon for a proper meal in the restaurant,” Kasia called after her.

Shiv followed Joey downstairs to a storeroom where her packages had been neatly stacked. Between them, they got them out and into the back of the truck quickly. Joey didn’t mess around.

“You’re getting settled in, then?” Joey took the dirt track slowly so as not to disturb the packages stacked in the back.

Was she? “I’m making sure I’m a little more self-sufficient. I’m used to being able to live off grid, but I had to leave everything behind. I like to know I can cope with any eventuality.”

Joey nodded. “So, what are your plans now you’ve finished the job for Desmond? Are you looking for work?”

Shiv was naturally wary of sharing too much, but if she wanted to get work, she’d have to make herself available. “Yeah, I might be, if you know of anyone looking for an electrician. I can plaster, too. Painting and decorating, even gardening.” She laughed. “I can turn my hand to pretty much anything.”

“I might have some work,” Joey said. “My dad’s cottage needs some new sockets and stuff. The whole system needs an overhaul, probably. Would you be interested in doing that?” They pulled up at the cabin.

“Yeah sure, why not?” She got out and started to unload the truck.

“Grand.” They maneuvered a long, heavy box between them into the house. “I’ll give you a call, and bring you over for a look.”

“Sounds good.” She took the last of the packages. “Thanks for the lift, Joey. I owe you another one.”

“Take on that job, and we’re even,” Joey called from the open window as they started the engine. “I’ve been waiting three months for a guy on the mainland to call me back.”

Shiv waved them off. “It’s a deal. See you tomorrow.”

She rushed back in and started to unwrap the long box. A rolled mattress had seemed the easiest option. She pulled it into the room with the bed frame, which she’d thoroughly cleaned, aired and painted a jaunty red with some paint she’d found in the storeroom. She undid the vacuum packaging carefully and rolled the mattress into place.

“That’s more like it.” She quickly located the new sheets and duvet she’d bought and soon had the bed looking welcoming and cozy. She didn’t mind the sleeping bag, but it would be good to have a little stability in her life for a while.

She kicked off her boots and threw herself onto her new bed, settling her hands behind her head on the new plump pillows. The lunchtime date, uncalled for as it had been, had made her feel kind of warm. It had been a long time since she’d lived in the squats of her childhood, surrounded by other women and children. Her adult life had been much more solitary: staying on the move, untraceable and unnoticed. Until she’d become of interest to someone who had undone all that work of being invisible and forced her to run.

She pushed away the dark thoughts and returned to her day. There wasn’t much she had found to complain about in her stay in Inishderry so far. She’d met more kind and welcoming people in the last week than she had in years. That thought took her to the intriguing doctor. She wanted to know more about who she was and what she’d done in her life. The thought surprised her. Her life had been about knowing as little as possible about people, unless she was trying to reveal them as neo-Nazis. But she drifted off thinking about Doc in her sharp tweed suit, rattling around in that big, lonely ramshackle house.

SEVEN

The soundof the drill made Con grit her teeth. “Sorry, Bridie, I didn’t catch that.”

She’d been surprised when Shiv had turned up for her appointment with a bag of tools. While she appreciated the gesture, the noise was a little off-putting while she had patients at the surgery.

“Excuse me, I’ll just be a moment.” She closed the surgery door behind her and rolled her eyes at Maura as she passed the reception room.

With her back to Con, Shiv hefted a drill that looked almost half her size. The front door lay outside, resting against the garden wall. She watched for a moment as Shiv’s arms, bare beneath a sleeveless plaid shirt, rippled with muscle. How could someone so small be that strong?

“Shiv.”

Shiv turned, a screw between her teeth. She rested the drill against her leg and removed the screw. “Everything okay, Doc?” A droplet of sweat rolled down the shaved side of her head and Con wanted to wipe it away with her finger.

She blinked. Was she really having inappropriate thoughts about this woman young enough to be her daughter? A patient, no less. And she couldn’t be any less her type.

“It’s a little noisy while I’ve got patients. I thought you said it probably just needed a little oil?”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Shiv put down her tool and scratched at the side of her head. “It was much worse than that. The wood of the doorframe was rotten and had made the hinge drop. The more you kicked it, the worse it was getting. I’ve had to replace the wood and rehang the door.” She indicated the new piece of wood in the frame.

Con failed to hide her look of horror at the repairs Shiv had undertaken without her consent.

“Hey, it’s okay. I found the wood in your shed. And the paint for the door, right at the back. It looks a little old, but it’ll be okay to patch it up.” She put her hand on Con’s arm. “Are you okay?”

No, she wasn’t okay. She was reliving the moment when she’d discovered Majella painting the front door purple. Her initial shock had been replaced with laughter watching Majella dance about with a big streak of paint decorating her cheek. She had never finished the job, and eventually Con had got the paintbrush out and done it herself.

She clenched her fists and relaxed them. “I would’ve appreciated you asking before you started dismantling my house, but it’s done now.”

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