Page 57 of Harbor Lights

Tierney placed Pegeen on the floor close to Shiv. “Will you watch her while I check they’re okay in the kitchen?”

“Of course.” She held out a hand to Pegeen who toddled toward her.

Tierney returned with a highchair and strapped in Pegeen.

“Marianne says dinner will be in fifteen minutes. I’ll go tell the others.”

Soon, the other guests, followed by the troupe of children who been called in from outside, took their places at the table. Further down the table, Joey placed a booster seat on a chair for Denny. He spotted Shiv and started shouting her name. It seemed a good opportunity to remove herself from her granddad’s orbit. She lifted Pegeen’s chair.

“Excuse us, Peggy wants to sit with her buddy.”

Her uncle Jim nodded and smiled, but her granddad was still in conversation. She’d speak with him later, if she must. For now, she wanted to enjoy her lunch with people she liked.

She sat herself next to Denny and pulled Pegeen’s highchair close. She tore a piece off the bread on the table and handed it to Pegeen, who chewed at it enthusiastically.

Joey smiled from the other side of Denny. “Good move.”

“Wine?” Aoife’s older brother, Tony, held out a bottle of white from across the table.

“Not for me, thanks.”

“There’s red, if you prefer.”

Joey passed a water jug, and Shiv gratefully filled her glass. “Water’s good, thanks.”

Tierney emerged from the kitchen, dragging Kasia with her. “Leave them now. They know what they’re doing.”

The couple pulled up chairs next to Shiv.

“D’you wanna swap seats?” Shiv glanced between Tierney on one side and Pegeen on the other.

Tierney grinned and pushed over two bowls and a lidded cup. “Nope. You drew the short straw.”

Kasia came around behind Pegeen and attached a large bib. “I haven’t one for you, I’m afraid. If you move quick you should be safe.” Her teasing grin matched Tierney’s.

Shiv accepted the challenge and grabbed a bowl. “C’mon Peggy, let’s show them how it’s done.”

Pegeen giggled and held out her hand for the spoon. Shiv wasn’t sure if she was supposed to feed her or let her loose on the bowl of what looked like mashed potato and vegetables. Pegeen grabbed the spoon and dug in. Some of the food did go into her mouth but plenty spread around her face. Shiv stuck at her job and by the time the adults’ main course was being served, Pegeen had emptied her bowl, eaten some slices of chicken, and was chewing on a banana.

Shiv wiped her hands, and the side of her face, where a potato-laden hand had made contact. She smiled smugly at Kasia and Tierney. “I think we’re done here.”

Tierney nodded approvingly. “You did good. You can enjoy your dinner now.”

The meal was one of the best she’d ever had. She wondered, as they polished off the moist Christmas pudding, how she’d gone from protein shakes in an RV, via prison chow, to regularly eating food cooked by an internationally renowned chef.

As if on cue, Marianne emerged from the kitchen, closely followed by Colette. She dropped into the chair Joey vacated when they stood to gather the empty dishes. “I’m done. Someone pour me wine.”

Colette found an empty seat almost opposite Shiv and winked. “Did you enjoy the nut roast? That was all me.”

“Thank you. It was delicious.” Shiv had been mortified to find she was the only non-meat eater among the nearly two dozen guests.

“Mari’s wrapped the rest for you to take home. Remind me and I’ll fetch it for you.”

Shiv smiled. Colette was a lovely woman: warm, very attractive and she seemed good fun. But she gave a vibe that she was looking for more than friendship and that wasn’t something Shiv had the energy or the inclination to navigate.

She stood to help Joey and Christy as they gathered plates and cutlery.

When she took Gracie’s plate, she leaned in. “Give us a hand with this and I’ll help you escape.”

---