Page 88 of Harbor Lights

Con’s distinct, clipped tone made her head whip around. She stood at the gate in her long wool coat, the collar turned up against the wind.

“I’ll be getting home.” Christy backed away as though sensing something. “Don’t forget drinks later.”

Con waved him off.

Shiv didn’t know what to say. The last thing she’d said to Con had been in anger, and she’d meant to hurt her. She wasn’t proud of that. But she wasn’t ready to apologize. Yet, seeing Con here on the island lifted her heart. Would it always be like that? A little reminder of what they could’ve had.

“Do you want to take a stroll up to the cabin? I’d like a chance to talk.”

What was there to talk about? “What about your flight?”

“I canceled it. You were right, Shiv. I’ve been stuck in the past, but I don’t want to live there any longer.”

Shiv tried to think of an excuse not to have this conversation. “I said I’d be here all day, if anyone wanted to work.”

Con waved around the empty field. “Everyone’s at home, making the most of the last day of the holidays. Back to normal tomorrow.”

Shiv still didn’t know what normal was meant to look like.

“Okay, we can go to the cabin for a coffee. Then I’m getting on with the outside painting while the weather’s so mild.”

She closed up the shed and led the way past the entrance to the Waterside, then up the rocky track to her cabin.

“What about Majella? Doesn’t she need you?”

Con looked ahead as they walked. “She says she does. But that’s because I’m always there when she asks. Perhaps she needs to learn to sort her own life out.”

“Did you tell her that?”

Con glanced over. “I tried. She threw a tantrum, and said I was letting her down. But I didn’t come here to talk about Majella.” Con’s breathing was getting labored as she took the steep hill at Shiv’s pace.

Taking pity on her, Shiv slowed up, then reached out to take the large bag Con had slung over her shoulder.

Con stopped her and turned her palm up. “What happened?”

The grazes had scabbed over after a thorough cleaning. Trust Con to notice. And use it to take control of the conversation.

She pulled her hand away. “It doesn’t matter.” The bag was bulky, but not heavy. “What’s in here, anyway?”

Con didn’t answer for a moment. Then, she said, “My swimming things. You’ve been nagging me for so long, and Kasia said everyone was going in off the dock at high tide this afternoon.”

Shiv felt her eyebrows crawl upward. “It’s not really the time of year to take up cold water swimming.”

Con gave her an uncertain smile. “New year, new me?”

“If you insist. So, what did you come here to talk about?”

Con stopped and rested her hands on her hips, breathing deeply. She had a sheen of sweat across her forehead. “Us. I want to talk about you and me. I don’t want it to be over.”

“It never really started, did it?” Shiv dropped the swim bag. “What do you want from me, Con?” This was too hard to talk about and she didn’t see where it could lead.

Con craned her head toward the cabin at the top of the hill. “Can we sit down and talk, please? I’d love a cup of tea.”

“Fine.”

Shiv grabbed the bag and marched on, leaving Con to catch up. If they had to have this conversation, she wasn’t going to drag the walk out any longer than she had to.

By the time Con huffed into the kitchen, Shiv had the kettle on to boil.

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