Page 20 of Harbor Lights (Inishderry Island Romances #3)

THIRTEEN

Con tried not to hurry as she walked the steep track to the old Walsh family cabin on the cliffs, but the truth was, a week without Shiv’s company had been too long, and she couldn’t wait to see her again.

Even from a distance, the signs of renovation on the cabin were obvious. A new door had been installed and painted a calming sage green. The once peeling paint on the windows had been rubbed down and coated with the same green. It was a different house already and she hadn’t even stepped inside.

“Siobhán?” she called as soon as she was in earshot, remembering the frosty reception she’d had last time she visited. But this time she’d sent a message and the blue tick next to it showed Shiv had seen it, even if she hadn’t responded.

Con guessed she was busy with the work on the cabin, alongside Joey’s rewiring job. Joey had said that was nearly done now, and that Shiv had worked like a Trojan to complete it. Still, she’d missed Shiv’s company and had wanted to share her good news in person.

“Come on in.”

Shiv’s voice had sounded from somewhere inside.

Con opened the door and was again surprised at the transformation.

Light shone from creatively placed wall lights around the previously gloomy interior.

The lighting shone against the newly plastered white walls and threw shadows on nooks and corners.

It would be seriously atmospheric at night with the fire lit.

“This place is looking amazing.”

Shiv sat tucked away in a corner behind a desk and didn’t get up. Blue light from her computer screen lit her from below, giving her an almost skeletal look. She’d recently shaved the sides of her hair, making her mullet even more shaggy. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be with you.”

“Grand. Will I boil the kettle?”

She took the almost inaudible grunt as a positive and stepped into the kitchen.

The flat roofed extension that housed the cooking facilities hadn’t received the same level of makeover just yet, and a power lead from the main house provided a socket for her to connect the kettle.

Shiv’s less than enthusiastic reception bothered her a little.

Certainly, less defensive than the previous visit, but no warmer.

What was I expecting? For her to throw herself in my arms and tell me she’d been lonely without me, just like I’ve missed every moment of her company?

She leaned on the old Formica worktop and traced the orange mosaic pattern on the surface. She needed to stop projecting her own feelings onto this poor woman who had just offered a little companionship and practical help she desperately needed.

“Sorry, I needed to send that.” Shiv’s low voice jolted her from her internal monologue, and she turned.

Shiv stood at a distance, hands shoved in her pockets as Con now knew she did when she felt uncertain. She hoped she wasn’t responsible for that, but she’d felt she’d been too clingy, so she’d given Shiv some space. It hadn’t been a good week.

The kettle boiled and she tipped water onto the teabags in the old metal teapot on the counter.

“What do you think of the place?”

“It’s a transformation indeed. Your granddad should be paying you well.”

Shiv smiled a little and reached for two mugs. “Since you pushed me last week, I’ve negotiated some sort of wage, at least. Below what he should be paying, but I can live.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Con poured the tea and added milk. She felt warm knowing Shiv had listened to her advice.

“But I’d’ve probably carried on if he’d said no. It’s kinda become a labor of love now.” Shiv led the way back into the main room, and Con followed, a mug in each hand.

“This was my great-grandparents’ home.” Shiv pointed to a wedding photograph in a sparking silver frame. “My granddad was born here, before they moved down to run the hotel. It’s part of my history, even if I wasn’t aware of it for most of my life.” She sat in a chair and Con followed suit.

“So, you feel a responsibility to bring it back to life?”

“Yeah.” Shiv sipped her tea. She must have a mouth made of Teflon.

“I never got to know my great granny, but Tierney has told me about how she pretty much invented tourism on this island, and how she loved people to come and build memories on Inishderry. This place may never get to be anyone’s home again, but I want it to be somewhere people enjoy vacations to remember. ”

Con blinked, trying to keep up. “Des is planning to rent it out as a holiday let?”

“Yeah, of course. Why do you think he’s investing in it? I don’t know him well, but I get the impression he doesn’t do things out of sentimentality.”

“I thought…” What had she thought? That Shiv would make her home here permanently? “Where will you go?”

Shiv regarded her over the rim of her mug. “I dunno yet. I’m just enjoying island life for now. He wants it finished for St. Patrick’s weekend, so I’ve got a few months.”

Con reined in her wild thoughts about when Shiv left, and how that already felt like a massive hole in her life. She’d come here for a reason. “I came to give you some good news.”

Shiv raised an eyebrow, so she continued. “I may have seemed like I brushed off your suggestion last week, but I took it seriously, and it’s been the driver for getting funding agreed for a youth club.”

“Funding?”

“Yes. If I can find a venue, we can get equipment, and there’s enough budget for two part-time workers.”

Shiv said nothing for a long moment. Con hadn’t expected her to jump around the place, but a little more enthusiasm would be nice.

Shiv lifted her tea to her lips and swallowed slowly. When she lowered the cup, she said, “I thought you were mad at me for telling you to get on with it.”

The hurt in her tone melted Con’s heart. “Oh, Shiv, no. I took it onboard, and wanted to make some progress before I talked with you. And this has been the week from hell at work.” She touched Shiv’s hand where it cupped the mug. “I’m so sorry I made you think that.”

Shiv gave her a nod and a small smile. “And do you have ideas for a venue?”

“Not yet, but I thought you might help me look at a few and estimate costs to bring them up to scratch.”

“Yeah, maybe. If it doesn’t interfere with the work for Joey.”

Con had been hoping for a little more than that, but she’d take it. “Of course. I’m happy to plan viewings around your availability. How’s it going with Joey?”

Her full-on work week had meant she hadn’t seen Joey for a few days either.

“Yeah, good. The wiring’s nearly done. Marianne’s been at home, so they’ve both been helping.” She screwed up her nose and her familiar grin flickered across her face for the first time since Con’s arrival. “How is that woman still so sexy in Joey’s baggy old overalls with paint on her face?”

Con held out her hands. “No one knows. It’s one of life’s big mysteries. She’s lovely, though, isn’t she, when you get to know her?”

Shiv nodded. “Yeah. Very down to earth. And her cooking’s not bad either.”

A weight dropped from Con’s shoulders as their conversation returned to their usual familiarity.

“Regular dinners over there will quickly put some meat on your bones.”

“Yup, which reminds me, I need to get some shopping in.”

Con jumped at the opportunity for more time together. “If you catch the ferry on Saturday morning, I can give you a lift to the big supermarket in town when I go.”

Was that too keen?

Shiv’s narrow face broke into a smile. “Hey, that would be amazing. There’s nothing wrong with a shop where you can reach all the shelves from the door, but it’d be good to stock up.”

“That’s a… plan, then.” She’d nearly said date, but didn’t want to make things awkward again.

Seeing Shiv smile made her think whatever had happened between them was fixed and that made her happy.

That Shiv cared she hadn’t been in touch mattered, and she’d do better to nurture whatever this was going on between them.

Perhaps a close platonic relationship would be enough to fill the aching void in her heart.

Shiv bounced to her feet and stretched her arms above her head with a groan, and some audible popping. “Today’s been sedentary by my standards. What are your plans? Got time for a walk? I can show you where I found the sea glass.”

Con glanced at her watch. Her visits were over for the day, but her stomach was protesting the time that had passed since lunch.

“I don’t think we’ve time before it gets dark, but I could come back at the weekend. How about, as a compromise, we walk the long way down to the hotel and I buy you dinner?” Agh, is buy you dinner too much? “I mean, it’s my treat. To say thank you for the work on the surgery.”

Shiv’s aversion to eating in public didn’t give them many options, especially after Shiv had mentioned she needed to buy food.

Shiv’s brows drew together. “Uh, I dunno.”

“I can ask Kasia for a table out of the main restaurant.”

Shiv blinked. “No, don’t. I’ll be okay. Let’s do this.” Her smile was shaky.

Con wondered how bad things had been in jail to scar her this badly. “If you’re sure?” She stood and rubbed her belly. “I’m starving.”

“Me too.” Shiv smiled more widely. She turned, grabbed an old coat from the back of the door and pulled it on.

“You cut your hair.”

Shiv glanced at her. “Just shaved the sides with some old clippers I picked up in the community center yard sale.”

“It looks… good.” It wasn’t a hairstyle Con could really relate to, but it worked well on Shiv.

Shiv grinned as they stepped out into the cold evening air. “Thanks?” She pulled up the collar on her baggy old coat.

They strolled down the hill in comfortable silence and took a left to walk the long way through the village. Her inner voice told Con to slip her arm through Shiv’s. She resisted it, though, and chased the voice to the dark recesses of her mind.