Page 17 of Harbor Lights (Inishderry Island Romances #3)

She’d spoken with Bernie and caught up on their current targets.

The Iron Sons had gone from strength to strength this past year.

She saw no end to the fight. But it felt real and meaningful, not like this little fairytale island with its friendly, accepting inhabitants.

The real world wasn’t like this. It was cold and cruel, and if you let your guard down, it would destroy you.

She filled her water bottle and sat back down for another session of chasing fascists.

She’d been on the trail of a well-known face at anti-immigration demonstrations when she’d found he had a connection to an ex-footballer, now a spokesperson for a big fashion brand.

Now she was trawling crowd footage with face-recognition software, trying to locate evidence they had been together on numerous occasions.

It was excruciatingly slow work, taking all her concentration and energy.

But if she found enough evidence to go public, she could reveal him as the racist, homophobic pig he was.

She wondered momentarily if there was any point unmasking these monsters.

Did anyone really care anymore? Then she thought about the vulnerable people they targeted.

The women who faced violence and abuse every day of their lives.

The people who arrived in countries, running from war and horror, with nothing but the clothes on their backs, being scapegoated for all the problems governments and millionaires created.

Or the queer kids these people wanted to disappear, or force to conform.

She pulled her keyboard back toward her and carried on.

The buzz of her phone distracted her, and she looked up to see it was now dark. Shit, how long was I working?

As she reached for her phone, her stomach rumbled. She wished she’d managed to stock the refrigerator her grandfather had ordered. It still sat in its packaging in the lean-to kitchen.

She would need to think about the logistics of shopping now she had no excuse.

She went to the bag of protein powder on the worktop, scooped some into a bottle and added water.

She shook it as she walked back to her desk, glad she’d had some fresh air earlier in the day.

She sucked on her meal and returned her attention to the screen. Solid food was overrated.

After what felt like only a few minutes, her eyes started to sting.

She checked the time and was surprised again how much time had passed.

She sent her findings to Bernie and closed her laptop.

She suddenly remembered the message that had pinged earlier and pulled her phone toward her. Con’s name was on the screen.

Hey there. Wondered if you’d like to join me for dinner tonight x

That was three hours ago. Shiv wished she’d read it earlier. Con had been waiting for a reply.

Real sorry. Only just saw this. Guessing it’s a little late now and I was planning to do some repairs.

The reply came back almost immediately.

No bother. I had scrambled eggs. Omelets are overrated.

A smiley face emoji ended the message.

You make good scrambled eggs. I’ll see you tomorrow to start work, okay?

Perfect. Can’t wait. I’ll make lunch x

Shiv wondered a little at Con’s enthusiasm.

Then again, as a doctor, she was someone who dedicated her life to fixing people.

Maybe Shiv came across as a little broken.

Was she? Her jail time had shaken her to her core.

Freedom had been everything to her. Losing it had driven her out of her mind.

Even thinking about it now, a sweat broke out on the back of her neck.

Would she ever be able to eat in public again without imagining the sights and sounds of the prison chow hall?

She stood and shook herself out of her thoughts. Lights or no lights, suddenly an evening alone in the little cabin felt claustrophobic. Maybe she should get the last ferry to the mainland and ask Con if she could stay the night to get an early start on the kitchen. Was that weird? Probably.

No, she’d wander down to the small bar she’d passed in the village. She hadn’t visited yet, and the walk would be an excuse to stretch her legs. She’d no doubt meet more cousins, but somehow that didn’t feel so bad anymore.

Out in the clear and crisp evening, she alternated watching her step on the rough path with staring up at the blanket of stars above. They’d been like this when she’d lived in the desert. The constellations were different here, though. The Big Dipper was so much higher than it would be back home.

But where was home, really? She hadn’t lived with her mom since she was sixteen, and her itinerant lifestyle had taken her across the country.

Her people, other activists and rejects from society, hadn’t had any more of a home than she had.

She didn’t miss any one individual—more the sense of being with similarly driven people.

Her RV had been a fortress, but not a true home.

Yet, this strange place, with its tight knit community and friendly neighbors, had tucked itself into a place in her heart.

Was that a dangerous thing, or something to welcome? A temporary refuge for her battered soul. By the time she pushed open the door to the bar, she still hadn’t decided.

“Shiv!”

She was barely in the door and looked around, spying Christy sitting at a table with a group. She had come out to avoid solitude, so she gritted her teeth and approached. “Hey, Christy, wanna drink?”

“I’ll get these.” He stood. “We’re in a round. This is my dad, Anthony Walsh. Most people call him Anto.”

He indicated an older man who bore a close resemblance to her granddad. His brother, she realized. He nodded curtly.

“My big brother, Tony, cousin Eamonn, and his wife Lisa.”

Shiv waved vaguely at two red-haired men and a blond woman, then went to sit.

“Help me get the drinks, will you?” Christy squeezed her arm, and she followed gladly.

“Lime and soda for me, please,” she said when he pushed into a gap at the busy bar.

“Will you not have a pint with us?” Christy made enough space at the bar for her to join him.

“No, thanks. I don’t often drink alcohol.”

Christy raised an eyebrow. “Seán, come and meet our cousin.”

Was everyone related? The tall barman swapped places with his colleague and held out a hand. “Siobhán, is it? I’m married to Christy’s twin, Aoife, so cousin by marriage.” He laughed at her blank look. “Are you keeping up?”

She shook her head, but grinned. “I’m trying.”

Christy placed their order and Seán started to pour drinks. Shiv ferried them across to the table until everyone had a drink, then she sat down next to Christy and sipped her soda.

Anto tipped his head. “Are you not having a drink?”

Shiv met his gaze. “This is a drink.”

He shrugged and turned to his older son.

“Will you be managing the holiday lets on the cabin?”

Young Tony nodded. “I believe so. He needs to get it up to scratch first, though. It’s still pretty basic.”

Shiv didn’t try to hide her surprise, and Anto turned to her with a sly smile. “Has Des not told you his plans?”

“He just said he wanted it wired for electricity, and if I want to make any other improvements, I can do them at my own expense. He didn’t mention plans to let it out.”

“It was our family’s home back in the day before Mammy started the hotel. Not much use as a home, now. Too isolated, and too small. The tourists will love it, though.”

Shiv was sure they would. She’d grown to love it in such a short time. But she couldn’t help the disappointment that her granddad hadn’t shared his plans. Perhaps she shouldn’t get too comfortable there.

“Ignore Dad.” Christy nudged her. “I’m sure Uncle Des will let you stay as long as you want.”

“It’s all good.” She forced a casual tone. “I don’t have long-term plans.”

That was true at least. She didn’t have any plans.

She half listened as the family chatted, glad no one was questioning her about her past. Seán came and squeezed in next to her on his break, nursing a mug of tea.

“You’re very welcome to the island, Siobhán.

Will you come up to the house one day and meet Aoife and the kids? ”

“Yeah, sure, I’d love to.” She mostly meant it. “Let me know when’s good.”

Before he went back to work, he saved her number in his phone and promised to call.

After another round of drinks, she decided she’d done enough socializing and said her goodbyes before she went out into the dark.

Being around family wasn’t as bad as she’d expected.

She wished her mom could come meet all these cousins she’d never been able to get to know.

Surely she’d be safe visiting Shiv here?

It might be the only chance they’d ever have to see each other.

But would she hang around long enough to convince her mom to visit?

The thought of moving on took her to the rambling house with the purple door across the channel. That was one person she’d definitely miss in her life, no matter how confusing her feelings when Con got up close.