Page 28 of Harbor Lights

It wasn’t pretty but it tasted just fine. “Thank you. I’m sorry I lost my shit.”

“Not at all. You’ve had a long day. You didn’t have to cook for me.” Shiv scooped up a forkful and chewed.

If only it was as simple as that, but Con’s inability to cook had just highlighted how static her life had remained since Majella left. Why had she wasted ten years on grief?

“Are you still in the room?” Shiv waved a hand in front of her face. “It tastes okay now, but I wouldn’t take my chances once it cools.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Now she was wasting the mealtime she’d been looking forward to for hours lost in dismal thoughts about her ex. What was wrong with her?

She finished off her meal and wiped her mouth. “Thank you, Shiv. You saved dinner.”

“I love a good cause to rally to.” Shiv’s laugh held a tinge of bitterness.

Con would love to hear more of her background in activism and wondered if she was at ease enough to share. “I’d ask if you wanted to relax in the study, but I know you need to get the ferry soon.”

“Oh, yeah.” Shiv leaned back. “I forgot to say. I saw Joey at the harbor, and they said Marianne is dragging them out to some new restaurant in Galway tonight, so I can have a lift back later if I want it.” There was a hesitation in her voice. “But if you want to chill out, I’m happy to get the ferry.”

Con blinked. Shiv wanted to spend an hour or two more with her. She wasn’t going to let that opportunity slip by. “Of course, that would be lovely. Let’s get comfortable.”

In the study, Shiv reclined on the floral chaise lounge facing the fire and Con quickly lit the wood already prepared and watched the flames flicker to life. She resisted the urge to dump herself alongside Shiv and retreated to her leather armchair close to the fire. She turned it toward Shiv.

“I’d offer you a whiskey, but I’m guessing you’ll say no.”

“I’m good thanks, but you go ahead. I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, don’t wanna face it with a hangover.”

Con wanted to say it was just a glass of whiskey, but she let it lie. “Did you catch up with your mail?”

“Yeah, thanks. It’s mainly my mom asking me to come home.”

“And are you going to?” Con hoped not.

“Not at the moment. It’s not that simple, but I can’t explain it to her.” Shiv chewed her thumbnail.

“Can you explain it to me?”

Shiv watched her for a moment, her golden eyes glinting in the firelight. “I told you before, I got into some trouble. Picked a fight with the wrong guy, I guess. But I always kept in the shadows, used aliases, that kind of thing. Then I stopped someone beating a young woman to death at a demo and went to jail for it. When it hit the news, I wasn’t so anonymous anymore, and I heard that the guy I’d pissed off was looking for me and threatening my family.” Her voice had got consistently quieter as she spoke, and now her voice cracked. “I’ve only got my mom, and I’m not letting that bastard anywhere near her.”

Con went with her instinct and closed the space between them, perching on the edge of the chaise lounge.

“Hey.” She put her arm over Shiv’s narrow shoulders. “I’m sure she’s okay. Do you need to get the police involved? If you think she’s in danger.”

Shiv scrubbed at her eyes with her bare arm. “It’s me he’s after. If I lay low and don’t cause him any more problems he’ll think the threat is working and leave her alone.” She bit her lip. “I hope.”

Con stared at her hand rubbing comforting circles across Shiv’s shoulder. The skin was soft and warm. She squeezed her hand into a fist, but kept her arm where it was.

“What did you do? If you want to talk about it.”

“I don’t.” Then Shiv’s shoulders slumped, and Con felt a wave of tension leave her. “Yeah, I do. I’ve kept it all in for far too long.” She turned toward Con. “If you really want to hear the details. It ain’t pretty.”

Con placed her hand on Shiv’s knee. She wanted the contact, and she sensed Shiv did too. “You can tell me anything.”

Shiv sighed. “This guy was a director of a medical supplies company. He had some big government contracts. I investigated him and exposed him as a member of the Iron Sons.”

“The neo-Nazi organization?” Con kept up to speed with world politics, and the rise of the far right across Europe and beyond was something that kept her awake at night.

“Yeah. They’re the worst of them. They want women back in the kitchen, anyone who isn’t a white Christian deported, and queer people six feet under. But the most terrifying part of it was how many members we uncovered who hold real senior positions in industry and politics.”

“Jesus. And have you made all of that public?” The thought of all that evil in the world made Con feel sick and slightly overwhelmed. She wondered what it would feel like to look that kind of hate in the face.

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