Page 25 of Harbor Lights (Inishderry Island Romances #3)

SIXTEEN

“Siobhán, wait up.”

Shiv turned to see her cousin Aoife jogging up the hill, impeded by the short legs of the two little boys she was pulling along behind her. As she waited for them to catch up, she realized she recognized the smaller of the two.

“Hey, Denny, no boat today?”

“Shiiiiiv!” Denny broke loose and ran to her, holding out his arms, so she had no choice but to scoop him up.

Aoife approached. “Wow. You’ve made a fan.”

Shiv shrugged. “We both like boats, don’t we, Denny?”

“An’ yobsters.”

She had never shared her opinions on crustaceans of any type, but she wasn’t going to argue with a three-year-old. “Yeah, we love lobsters.” She did a pincer movement with her hand, and he copied, giggling.

“Where are you off to?” She smiled at the red-haired child still holding Aoife’s hand.

“This is Ruane, my youngest. You’ve not met yet, have you?”

Shiv lowered Denny, hunkered down, and held out a hand. “Hi, Ruane.”

The little boy shook it enthusiastically.

“We’re off to the play park, aren’t we boys? Wanna come along?”

Aoife was so friendly, and Shiv was aware she hadn’t been very sociable on their previous meetings. She wanted to do better. “Yeah, I’ll join you for a bit. But only if this park has swings.” She looked to the boys.

“It has swings!” the boys shouted in unison.

“And a slide?”

“Yeah, a big one,” Denny said.

He grabbed Shiv’s hand and Ruane followed suit with the other one and they propelled her down the hill as fast as their legs would take them.

“Keep up!” Shiv shouted back over her shoulder at Aoife jogging after them. Being around kids made it easier to open up with the adults, somehow.

When she’d taken the boys’ dare and somehow got her ass down the slide, to their screams of joy, she left them swinging on the swings and joined Aoife on a bench.

“You’re good with them. No wonder they’re so fond of you.”

“I think they like me because I’m their size.” Aoife joined in her laughter. “But I grew up in a big community with kids of all ages. I guess a part of me misses it.”

“You’re welcome at our house any time. It’s full of kids. In fact, I’ve invited Kasia and Tierney over on Wednesday evening. Seán’s got a rare night off. Why don’t you join us? Six pm.”

To her surprise, Shiv realized she’d like that very much. “Thanks. I’ve got some final work to do for Joey this week while they’re away. They want it finished in good time before their brother comes for the holidays. But I’ll make sure to finish in good time on Wednesday.”

“What are your plans for the holidays?”

“Oh, I don’t really celebrate. I’ll probably curl up with a book.” Or catch up with all the demands from her online activist friends who were starting to lose patience with her recent lack of dedication.

“Uncle Des will be here, and our dad. You should at least have a drink with them in the bar one night.”

Shiv didn’t think her granddad would want that any more than she did, but she nodded. “Yeah, I might.”

When Aoife and the still rowdy boys left, she waved them off up the hill, then continued on to take another look at the tin-roofed shack she’d talked up to Con.

The painted door was off its hinges, and she moved it to peer inside.

With the light fading, she pulled out her trusty headlamp for a better look.

The beam lit up a sorry scene of discarded tables and chairs, and a floor strewn with broken picture frames.

It had such potential, though. She imagined the young people taking ownership of the space, and what a difference it would make to their lives.

This was just as meaningful a project as her online activism, and she could see the results directly.

Was it so bad that she wanted this more?

Perhaps she just needed some respite from the cause that had cost her her liberty and her home.

She moved further inside, relieved to see the interior was mainly dry, though water had seeped in through the broken door. A lightbulb hung from a cable above and she located a switch, surprised to see the room bathed in light when she flipped it.

“That’s most likely running off the hotel supply.”

Shiv jumped at the voice. Tierney stood grinning in the doorway.

“I thought it was you snooping in here.”

“I’m not snooping. My granddad’s thinking of giving me this place.”

“Really? It’s not good for much. I was thinking it could be a storeroom for my watersports equipment over winter.” She pushed the door back against the wall. “Needs a new door, mind. It got a real beating in that storm a couple years back.”

“I’ve got an idea for something.”

“Are you gonna tell?”

The youth club had begun as Con’s baby, and even if Shiv was now getting involved, it didn’t feel like her news to share. “D’you mind if I don’t at the moment? It’s early days.”

Tierney smirked. “No problem. You keep your mystery shed project under wraps.” When she ducked out of the door, Shiv switched off the light and followed.

“Want to get a coffee?” Tierney indicated the brightly lit hotel.

“Not this time, thanks. I got waylaid visiting the play park with Aoife, and I’ve still got work to do.”

“You did?” Tierney’s brown eyes held nothing but enthusiasm. “Glad you’re getting to know the family.”

“Yup, and I’ll see you on Wednesday for dinner.”

“Cool.” Without warning, Tierney threw her arms around her. For once not feeling smothered, she reciprocated the hug. “See you then.”

* * *

Wednesday came around fast. Joey, Marianne and Denny had left for a pre-Christmas visit to Denny’s other mom in the USA.

And Joey had insisted Shiv use the house while they were gone.

It did make working on the holiday cottage easier, and she didn’t need to navigate the path to the cliff cabin each evening.

She had left her laptop at the cabin and instead worked late into the evenings, dozing off watching the stars—weather permitting—from Joey’s hammock each night.

It was certainly more relaxing than fascist-stalking, but she was feeling guilty about all the calls she was avoiding with her online friends.

This evening, she’d made an effort to finish early, shower and change into her best pair of skinny jeans and a clean tank.

She pulled out a folded black cotton shirt she’d picked up on her shopping trip with Con the previous weekend.

It was a cheap supermarket brand, but it was new and paint free.

She buttoned it and looked in the mirror.

It was a little baggy. She should’ve gone for a kids’ size; they were always cheaper.

But Con had been browsing nearby, and she didn’t want her seeing her shopping in the “boys 11-13” section.

She’d also tried on a beautiful silver-gray coat that fit perfectly.

It’d been warm and waterproof, and exactly what she needed.

Con had said it looked great on her, which had made her want it all the more.

But she’d checked out the price tag and put it back, promising herself she’d return when she’d saved some more cash.

She wished Con was going to be there tonight.

The meal seemed to involve almost everyone she’d met on the island, excluding Joey and Mari.

She was growing fond of them all, but the one person she wanted to see wasn’t a part of this family gathering.

She ruminated on Con’s revelation about her mystery sister.

She’d never had any siblings, but Shiv liked to think if she had one, she’d’ve stayed close to them.

But here she was, joining her big, new family for a meal. She had a chance at something she never thought would be possible.

Gracie, the oldest daughter, opened the door when she knocked. “Hey, Gracie, have you cut your hair?” The girl’s previously shoulder length strawberry blond hair was now cut in a choppy bob just below her ears.

“We’re not talking about it tonight.” Aoife appeared in the hallway. “Grace, can you help your dad set the table, please?” Gracie let out a groan and slumped away.

“She cut it herself,” Aoife murmured. “We had to take her to Kathleen in Portrinn to try to fix it.”

“It suits her short.” Shiv shrugged. There were worse things kids could be doing at that age. She ought to know.

“When I was twelve,” Aoife said, “I was too busy running around the island hoping Joey or an older cousin would let me hang out on their boats. I didn’t even know I had hair.”

She led Shiv into the lounge, where she was immediately hit by a wall of sound and movement.

“Hey, Shiv, good to see you.” Tierney immediately handed over little Peggy, who made a grab for her eyebrow piercing.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Tierney removed her pudgy, determined little fingers from the loop of steel and handed her a teething toy. “Sorry about that.”

“We’re good.” Shiv swung Peggy around the room, and greeted Seán, who had his hands full of cutlery, and Kasia, who was chatting to Saoirse, a smaller version of Gracie, but without the self-styled hair.

“Mamamamamama!” Pegeen reached her little arms out and Kasia took hold of her.

“Can I hold her?” Saoirse held out her hands. Kasia lowered Peggy to the ground and held her hands as she toddled on unruly feet toward her cousin.

“She’ll be walking properly soon.” Shiv surprised herself with her small talk.

“Then we’ll all be in trouble.”

Pegeen used Saoirse as a mechanism to get to the table. Kasia swiped a bowl of chocolates from the surface just before little fingers reached them. “This one knows what she wants, and we’re all just minions to help her get it.”

Pegeen shrieked and moved on along the table, heading for the fruit bowl.

Seán scooped that up on his way past. “I’d almost forgotten what it was like to have nothing breakable on display.”

“Where’s Ruane at?” Shiv asked.

Seán turned. “In his room. He’s sad because his best friend has gone away. He’ll surface soon for his dinner.”

“Can I do anything to help?” Shiv’s head spun at the multiple conversations in the room, but she didn’t feel as uncomfortable as she’d expected. It was kind of comforting.

“Come and sit down for five minutes.” Aoife indicated the space next to her on the couch where she was talking with Tierney. Shiv joined them, wondering if she was imposing herself into their conversation.

“We were just talking about Christmas Day plans.” Tierney’s knee jiggled, as if she were entertaining an invisible child. “Mari’s offered to cook for us all in the restaurant. Are you in?”

Shiv’s brain moved directly to an escape route. “Hey, I dunno. It’s still weeks away. I’ll probably just…” Damn this tiny island and its lack of excuses. “I might go to Dublin for the holidays.” She wouldn’t. It would cost the kind of money she just didn’t have.

Tierney stuck out her bottom lip. “Oh. Well, if your plans change, you’ll be very welcome. Half the island will be there.”

She turned back to Aoife to discuss the details and Shiv sat there in her self-imposed exclusion. Why am I doing this?

“Okay, yes, I’d love to be included, thank you.” The words fell out of her mouth and her cousins turned. Tierney had a smile flickering on her lips.

“Good, that’s settled, then.”

“Dinner in five,” Seán’s voice roared from the kitchen.

“Do me a favor, Siobhán,” Aoife said. “Go and find my wayward children. You seem to have made an impact on both of them.”

Shiv stood. “Ruane only likes me cause I can fit on the kids’ slide, and I’ve barely spoken to Gracie.”

“Well, she told me you were cool, and from someone who barely acknowledges the existence of adults, that’s fine praise indeed.” She waved her hand. “Ruane’s at the end of the hallway, Gracie’s in the attic. Do not return until your mission is accomplished.”

Shiv turned for the door, strangely pleased with her assignment. She knocked on Ruane’s door and found him playing with Playmobil figures on the floor.

“Hi, Shiv, wanna play with me?”

“Maybe later. Your dad has called you for dinner.”

He jumped up. “Okay.” He ran past her into the hallway and disappeared into the lounge.

That was easy. She took the stairs and knocked a lot more cautiously at the door marked “No Adults.”

When there was no answer, she called through the door. “Gracie, are you coming for dinner?”

The door opened quickly, and Gracie stood there, shoulders hunched. “Can I sit next to you? The grown-ups are all being mean about my hair.”

This wasn’t the time to point out she was one of the grown-ups, so she ruffled the top of her hair. “I think it looks great.”

Gracie straightened a little and her eyes lit up. “Will you help me shave the sides?” She led the way down the steep stairwell.

“I will not. I’m an adult, Gracie. That’s why I get to make questionable decisions about hairstyles.”

Gracie huffed off toward the dining room, muttering something about Shiv being the same as the others. Shiv was sad she’d disappointed the girl, but she didn’t intend to become some kind of role model for disgruntled preteens.

She followed Gracie into the room to find everyone sitting around the table. Gracie tipped her sister out of the adjacent chair. “Shiv’s sitting here.”

Saoirse rolled her eyes and moved to the seat next to her brother, who sent up a wail.

“I wanna sit next to Shiv!”

“Ruane. Stop that. You can talk to Shiv after dinner.” Aoife’s tone didn’t allow any room for argument and Ruane subsided into a sniffle.

“Sorry.” Shiv smiled sheepishly at Aoife as she sat, wondering if her unexpected popularity was causing more conflict than was usual at a family dinner.

“Oh, don’t worry. These two could start a fight in an empty room. If it’s not one, it’s the other.”

Gracie muttered something unintelligible.

“And you should know better, young lady. If you want to be treated as a grown-up, you need to start acting like one.”

Gracie sniffed and looked at her plate. Seán entered the room, laden down with dishes, and the conversation moved to food, much to Shiv’s relief.

The company was pleasant, and she enjoyed the warmth of family, pleased when Christy made an appearance after the last ferry.

But despite the number of people in the room, she couldn’t shake off the thought that the one person she wanted to see wasn’t here. She pictured Con sitting looking out at the boat lights twinkling on the harbor and wished she could be there alongside her.

But to what end? Con deserved someone reliable and respectable by her side, not a scruffy jack-of-all-trades with a criminal past. Their worlds were too far apart; she would just tarnish Con’s reputation with her tawdry lifestyle. She couldn’t do that to Con, she was too good.