Page 11 of Harbor Lights (Inishderry Island Romances #3)

“Thank you so much, Shiv.” Con swung the door back and forth. “You have no idea how long this has been bothering me.”

“No problem.” Shiv expertly packed away her tools.

“When you’re done, why don’t you use the guest bathroom to clean up?

I’ll get dinner ready.” She turned and went to the kitchen, suddenly aware of the short amount of time she had to feed Shiv before the last ferry.

She could invite her to stay again, but she didn’t want to make it weird.

The poor woman needed to feel like she could come to the surgery without it turning into an overnight stay.

She prepared the food, chopped the sausages into the pasta sauce and had it served up when Shiv entered with damp hair, but looking cleaner.

“I had a shower. Hope that’s okay.”

“Of course it is. I could’ve loaned you some clean clothes.” Shiv was so tiny, she wasn’t sure what, but she would’ve found something.

“I’m good. It’s a treat to use a proper shower, though.” Shiv sat at the table and helped herself to water from the jug.

“Oh, Jesus, Shiv. There’s no bathroom in that cabin, is there?” She pictured the old-fashioned house. She recalled an outhouse and a kitchen, of sorts, but no shower or bath.

“It’s cool. I use the hose out back. It teaches you to shower quick.”

Shiv’s attitude toward simple living was a little extreme, but it was refreshing in a world where people expected so much. Con placed a bowl in front of her and sat down to her own.

“You are welcome here any time to use the shower, or whatever else you need. That room and bathroom are always available.”

“Thanks.” Shiv paused from shoveling pasta. “Unless your ex comes to stay?”

“Yeah, that happens less and less. They have a grandchild now and are keener on me going to visit.” She rolled her eyes, remembering Shiv’s comment on their first meeting. “I’m pathetic, aren’t I?”

“No, I’m sure they’re very lucky to have you as a friend.” Shiv blinked. “What I said the other day. About lesbians. I didn’t mean it as an insult. I’m queer, too. I just meant it’s that stereotypical thing where we end up being best friends.” She picked up her fork. “Or sworn enemies.”

Con watched her eat for a moment. “I guessed you were gay. The mullet and the toolbelt were kind of a giveaway.”

Shiv grinned. “I prefer queer.”

“And which was it for you? Best friends or enemies?”

Shiv glanced up. “Oh, I’ve never really got to that point. I haven’t lived the kind of life that had space for relationships.”

“In what way?” She was so curious about Shiv’s background, but she didn’t want to spook her. For someone who was always digging for information, it was difficult to keep her questions casual.

“I traveled a lot.”

“As an electrician?”

Shiv finished the last forkful and gathered the plates.

“I’ll clear up. Just tell me a little about yourself.” Con glanced at the clock. “We’ve got half an hour until the ferry. I’ll make you coffee if you tell me about your life.”

Shiv frowned.

“Just the details you want to share.” She stood and took the plates to the sink, giving Shiv some space.

“I’m an activist. I have been all my life.”

Con turned. “What sort of activism?”

“My mom was all about pacifism and we lived in peace camps all over the US. But when I went my own way, I focused on LGBTQ+ and women’s rights.”

“God knows there’s enough to be active about there.”

“Yeah, more recently it’s been about fighting the far right. People don’t seem to recognize the danger.” Her voice was tight.

Con put the plates to soak and set the coffee machine going, wondering if Shiv would expand.

“But the more you dig, the worse it gets. I made life difficult for some people and then I lost my anonymity, and they wanted me to suffer.”

Con wondered if Shiv meant her prison sentence, or was it the reason she was so far from home now?

She placed the mugs on the table and pushed the sugar jar toward Shiv, who took out two lumps and stirred them into her coffee, looking thoughtful.

“Have you always been called Doc?”

The change of subject was a jolt, but she went with it. “Haha, only since I’ve been a doctor.”

In the silence that followed, Con decided to say what she was thinking. “And mostly by the community here. They define me by my profession.”

Shiv scratched the side of her head. “And you don’t like that?”

“I love my job. It’s my vocation in life, but I’m a lot more than a doctor. I don’t think that nickname helps people see that.” She shrugged and nodded at the coffee. “You need to drink that quickly and get down the hill.”

Shiv checked her watch. “I’ve got fifteen minutes. So, what’s your name?”

Con laughed to hide the flustered feeling that rose at the way Shiv asked. God, she was intense. “Constance. Constance Brigid Scott. It’s on the name plate by the door for everyone to see.” She rubbed her knuckles. “Although the brass could probably do with a polish.”

“You don’t look like a Constance. It’s quite a long name. People probably find it easier to say Doc.” Shiv held her impaled on her amber gaze.

“I was Con at university, especially in the sports teams. No one has time for multiple syllables in sport.” She smiled at those distant happy memories.

“I like Con,” Shiv said, then broke eye contact. She swilled her coffee down and stood.

“I’d better get going.” She slung her bags over both shoulders and turned. “I need to get some work done on the cabin tomorrow, and I’m going to see Joey about a job. I can come back the next day to finish the door, if that suits you?”

“Oh, Shiv, you don’t need to do that. I should get someone in the village to come up and do some jobs.”

“I’m definitely finishing what I started. And after that, give me a rundown of what needs doing, and I’ll give you a fair price.” She turned with her hand on the door. “I need work. You’ll be doing me a favor.” She winked and Con’s knees almost buckled.

Shiv swung the door open with a smile. “Satisfying, isn’t it?”

“Oh, I’ll be standing here for the rest of the evening swinging it back and forth.” She reached for the handle and their fingers touched briefly, sending tingles up Con’s arm, and beyond.

Shiv hesitated a moment at the door, their eyes locked. Then she blinked. “Better get going. Time and tide, and all that.”

She took the path at a jog, her heavy bags not slowing her down. Con went back into the house and watched from her study window until Shiv emerged onto the road to the quay and trotted down to where the ferry had just docked.

Once Shiv was on board, Con took a long sigh and poured herself an unusually large whiskey.

What the hell was going on with her? It was fine to get along with Shiv.

She recognized a fellow lost soul when she saw one.

But this physical attraction had to stop.

It was inappropriate and just wrong. She took her drink to the window and sipped, gaze glued to the ferry as it pulled out and turned to make its way to the dark bulk of Inishderry on the horizon.

When her thoughts turned to seeing Shiv again in less than forty-eight hours, she smiled and then berated herself for her foolish thoughts.