Page 95 of Harbor Lights

Shiv tried to subdue her petulance. She hadn’t been out on the kayak for a couple of weeks due to high winds. Maybe she should get out on her own for a couple of hours. Perhaps that was what was wrong. She’d become too dependent on the company of others.

Getting up, she made coffee. When she returned with two mugs, Con was pulling on her clothes, hair still wet from the shower.

“Ah, thank you.” She took the mug and sipped. “You make the best coffee.”

Shiv sat back in the bed with her mug while Con finished getting dressed. She pulled on a sweater Shiv loved: fine cashmere in a forest green. Then she fixed her hair in the mirror.

“Do I look okay?” Con held out her arms.

“Perfect. Should I be worried?”

Con chuckled. “Just need to make a good impression.”

She leaned in for a kiss. “Please stay. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, and if you were still in my bed I could rejoin you.” She waggled her eyebrows.

Shiv scoffed. “I’m not going to waste the day. Granddad has sent all the equipment for the hot tub he wants me to build at the back of the cabin, so I may as well get on with it.”

“Do you have to do that today?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I’m gonna go for a paddle first.”

“Please be careful.” Con added some cologne and reached for the door. “I’ll come find you, then. When I’m back.”

“If you want.” Shiv shrugged as Con left.

The day dragged more than she’d expected. Her trip around the little bay gave her some peace, and she followed it with some sprints up and down the rocky path to the beach. The exertion and concentration on where she placed her feet stopped the voice in her head from wondering if everyone on the island was bored with her company.

When the rain started to fall, she jogged back to the cabin, sweaty and tired. She couldn’t be bothered with starting on the hot tub today. Perhaps she’d just curl up on the bed with a book after her shower.

She’d been luxuriating under the stream of hot water for far too long when she heard a banging on the front door. Not expecting anyone, she didn’t rush out to answer.

“Siobhán, it’s me. Are you in?”

Despite her grumpiness with Con, Shiv was still pleased to hear her voice. “In the shower. Put the kettle on.”

The bathroom door opened.

“Hey, it’s steamy in here. How long have you been in there?” Con leaned back against the sink, took off her glasses, and wiped them on the tail of her shirt.

“Don’t I get any privacy in my own bathroom?” She reluctantly rinsed and prepared to get out.

“Nope.”

When she opened the shower door, Con was holding out a towel. She allowed herself to be wrapped in it.

Con’s grin was wide. “I would’ve joined you, but we’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Where?” Shiv towel dried her hair. “It’s the Waterside, isn’t it? It’s always the Waterside.”

“Could be the Emerald Bar.”

She finished drying and threw her towel at Con. “Is it?”

“No, it’s the Waterside.”

“I asked Tierney if there was anything happening tonight and she said it was a rare weekend with no bookings, so they were going to have a quiet evening to themselves.” The news had added to her frustration, even though Kasia and Tierney worked hard all year and did deserve some time off.

“Well, come and see. I’ve got Kasia’s car, so you don’t even need to walk in the rain.”

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