Page 36 of Harbor Lights

She needed to remind herself she was the age of Shiv’s mother. However close they were getting, Shiv wasn’t having the same feelings she did.

TWELVE

Shiv tooka couple of deep breaths before she spoke into her cellphone.

“I know you said it was a temporary arrangement, Granddad, but if you’re planning to rent it out in the spring, that would have been useful to hear from you, not Uncle Anto.”

“Why did you think I was paying for all of this? It’s no value to me just sitting there empty.”

“It isn’t empty, it’s my home, if only temporarily, and I’m putting plenty more work into it now. If you’re not intending to let me live here for a while in return, it’s just free labor.”

“For your family, Siobhán. You’ve been absent so long I’d think you’d be happy to be back in the fold.”

She bit back the retort she wanted to give. “Well, I need money to live on, so I’ll need to leave the other tasks, and get a paid job so that I can feed myself.”

“Very well.” He let out a ridiculous sigh. “Give me a fair price for the rest of the work and I’ll consider it.”

She agreed and rang off quickly, pleased she had stood up to him. She’d never let people take advantage of her before, but this whole situation with a family she didn’t know had knocked her off balance, and she’d been grateful for the opportunity to lie low with a roof over her head.

But Con had been right to point out Shiv was being taken for a ride. At least now, she could see the work through and afford to live. She checked the time and pulled on her boots. Christy had invited her over for lunch and she was planning to take the cliff walk and a long detour around the island first. It was a bright Saturday morning, the first sign of blue skies for over a week, and she was determined to make the most of it.

When she’d awoken to see the weather, she’d messaged Con, asking if this would be a good time to make a start on some of the grounds work. But Con had responded to say she had plans today and it wouldn’t be convenient.

Shiv hadn’t asked what the plans might be, but the rejection had hurt probably more than it should. Since their recent conversation, something had changed in their budding friendship. Con hadn’t instigated any chats and had responded almost abruptly to the last couple of messages Shiv had sent. She wondered if she’d really upset Con with her suggestion the other evening. She’d just said the best way to solve a problem was to sort it yourself. Wasn’t that true? She wanted to tell Con she’d taken her advice and spoken to her granddad about payment, but she didn’t want to face another brush off. She grabbed her most showerproof jacket and took off for the clifftop. She really would need to upgrade her outdoor wardrobe, if she was to survive an Inishderry winter. Perhaps now she’d be able to afford it.

She took the clifftop path at a good pace and enjoyed the strenuous climb as she headed for the high point. From here, she saw nothing except open water. On this calm day, the water reflected the blue of the sky, seabirds rose and dove into the sea, and it felt like paradise. She wished Con was here to enjoy it with her.

She upped her pace a notch, so she had to focus on the march and not on inappropriate and clearly unrequited thoughts of spending time with Con. After half an hour of marching, she’d cleared the cliffs on the northeast of the island and headed downhill toward Joey’s little bay. From there, she could take the road and be at Christy’s house by twelve. As she jogged down the path, a bank of cloud moving across the island covered the sun, and the temperature dropped by a few degrees. The clouds had that ominous dark gray that suggested she was going to get a good soaking. She pulled on her lightweight windbreaker and hoped she’d make it before the weather broke.

As she marched across the beach in front of Joey’s cottage, the rain began to fall in earnest. She pulled up the zipper on her jacket around her chin and pulled her cap lower over her eyes. She shoved her hands into her jeans pockets and trudged on resolutely.

“Shiv!”

Joey stood on their wooden deck, waving.

“Come inside before you’re soaked.”

Deciding it would be better to arrive at Christy’s a little late than leave a puddle on his furniture, she dashed through the rain and followed Joey inside the little cottage. A fire burned in the hearth and Denny was sitting on the floor. Marianne was cross-legged beside him as they worked on a puzzle with giant wooden pieces.

“Shiv!” Denny jumped up and ran over. He grabbed her sleeve. “Shiv’s wet.” He rubbed his hand on the seat of his pants.

“Yes, she is, shrimp. She doesn’t seem to have gotten the hang of the Inishderry weather yet.” Joey helped Shiv pull off her jacket and hung it over the back of a chair to dry, then leaned in for the inevitable hug.

“It was sunny when I left.” Shiv grinned up at Joey, knowing that was a lame excuse.

Marianne had got up from the floor and wandered over. “Do you not own a proper coat?”

She managed not to overreact to Mari’s kiss on her cheek. “Um, no, not really. It didn’t rain much where I used to live.”That and the fact that I left in a hurry with barely any belongings.

“Well, you’re in luck. Joey here bought a job lot, and now we can’t move for waterproof coats.” She looked meaningfully at Joey, and they opened the door to their bedroom and disappeared inside.

Joey emerged with a folded turquoise coat. “Does this fit?” They held one out and Shiv took it, unzipped it and slipped it on.

It was one of the long coats from the boat, with O’Hara’s Sea Safaris embroidered onto the chest. It had a warm fleece lining and a deep hood that she pulled up. “I like this. Very cozy. Are you selling them?”

“You can have it. Do some advertising for the sea safaris.”

“Shiv got same coat as me.” Denny pointed, laughing.

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