Page 61 of Harbor Lights
Joey would know how to handle this.
* * *
“You want what with Shiv?”Joey’s brow furrowed.
“I don’t… I want to… ” She pinched the bridge of her nose as if that would stem the flow of thoughts pouring around her head. “I don’t fucking know, Joey.”
She slumped across the table and nursed her mug. “I like her. A lot.”
“Shiv Walsh? Yeah, she’s amazing. Everyone likes her.”
Con wasn’t sure if Joey was being obtuse, or if she wasn’t being clear. It was difficult when she wasn’t sure what it was she was trying to say.
“Joey.” She grabbed Joey’s hand, as if the problem was they weren’t paying attention. “I. Like. Shiv.”Just say it, coward. “I’m falling in love with her, big time.”
“With Shiv?” Joey blinked. “You and Shiv? Oh. How did I not see that going on?”
“Nothinghasbeen ‘going on’. We’ve spent time together on the house. And now the youth club project. And… ”
“Does Shiv feel the same way?”
“I don’t know.” She did know. “Sort of. We… kissed.”
“When?” Joey’s eyes were wide.
“The night Mari did the tasting menu at the Waterside, and we had dinner. Just briefly. But we talked after, and we want very different things. I said I just wanted to be friends.”
“But you don’t?”
“I don’t want to lose her as a friend. But I don’t think it’s enough. Being friends.” She regarded Joey, hoping they’d come up with a solution now she’d bared her soul.
Joey reversed their grip and squeezed her hand. “You should’ve told me sooner. Mari’s been encouraging Colette to ask her out.”
“Colette?”Fuck.She’d been right; the sexy chef was on a mission.
“Sorry. We didn’t know. But if it’s any consolation, I don’t think she’s gotten very far. So, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I wanted your advice about.”
“Ha. I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask. If you followed my example, you’d avoid her and convince yourself she won’t hang around.”
Con’s laugh sounded hollow to her own ears. “Will she, though?”
“You’re the one who’s been kissing her.” Joey grinned when Con gently punched their arm. “She seems happy here. Certainly happier than when she arrived.”
That much was true. In a couple of months, Shiv had transformed from a haunted, easily spooked outsider, to a popular member of the community.
“Did I miss much at the Christmas lunch?”
“Not really. Well, the food was amazing, the chef was gorgeous. Mari, I mean. I don’t have an opinion about Colette.”
Con gave them another arm punch. “Don’t tease me.”
“Shiv seemed to enjoy herself. She left early, with the children trooping along after her, like the pied piper of Inishderry.”
“Really?” Shiv got on well with the younger islanders, but Con was surprised she’d taken on childminding duties.
“I think it worked out well for all of them. Shiv had done peopling, and the kids wanted to get back to their new toys. Mari was knackered, so we followed on a while later. Tierney said they had a music session after we left. She said they missed your fiddle playing.”
