Page 65 of Harbor Lights

“She can explain later. We need to get her warm quickly, or onto that helicopter with the kids. Your call.”

Joey sounded angry again. She vaguely wondered why.

“Let me check her over.”

Shiv was pushed down onto a hard bench. The blankets were removed and the cold air on her bare legs made her shudder. She couldn’t help it. She shivered again and tried to reach for the blankets.

“Cold.”

A hand held her wrist. It was warm, so warm it burned a little. “Hey, darlin’, we need to get these clothes off you, okay? Can you help?”

Con calling her darling lodged in her mind, but she couldn’t help the sense of panic that filled her when her hoodie was gently pulled over her head. Her arms wouldn’t work properly when she tried to push her helpers away.

“Hey, cuz, I heard you needed some help.” Tierney’s face with its gentle brown eyes materialized in front of her. “Let’s get you into some warm clothing.”

She relaxed a little and let Tierney pull the wet T-shirt off her shaking body. Voices rose and fell in the background. “Seán’s responsible…”

“Who’s the fucking doctor here?”

She knew the answer to that one. “Con.”

Con was by her side again, immediately. “I’m here, Siobhán.”

“That’s good.”

Tierney removed the last of Shiv’s clothes. Should she be worried she was naked? Was that what the anxious feeling was about?

Tierney pulled something over her head, and she panicked, batting it away. Tierney gently pushed her arms down. “We need to get you dressed, cuz. It’ll feel better in a while.”

The soft wool sweater warmed her immediately and the cloud in her brain cleared a little. The numbness in her limbs was soon replaced by a burning fire. “It hurts,” she wailed.

“I know, we need to warm you slowly.”

Aoife approached with a mug. “Can you drink some of this?”

She took it and leaned her face over it, letting the steam warm her cheeks. Her shaking had slowed enough she was confident she wouldn’t drop it on Tierney, who had pulled some sweatpants up her legs and was trying to negotiate dry socks onto her feet. Aoife bent down to help her.

“I can do it.” She didn’t believe that, but she was embarrassed at her cousins’ fussing.

“You’re nearly done now. Just pull on this coat.” It was one of Joey’s long coats from the sea safaris, just like the one she had at home.

“Got one of these at home.”

“It’s not much use to you there, so let’s get this one on, and we’ll try standing up.”

Shiv didn’t want to stand. She wanted to sleep. She looked around, realizing she was alone with her cousins.

“Where’s Con?”

“Outside. The kids are being taken to the university hospital to be checked over. She’s convincing the Coast Guard you don’t need to go in that helicopter, too.”

“Never been in a helicopter.” Her voice still sounded weird to her ears.

“You wanna go? We can arrange it.” Tierney stood and pulled her to her feet.

Her calf spasmed and all her muscles screamed. She groaned. “No hospital, but this hurts.”

“Doc said you were to move around if you can. It’ll warm you up quicker.”

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