Page 35 of Harbor Lights (Inishderry Island Romances #3)

TWENTY-FOUR

“Are you sure you’re allowed to help out?”

Shiv rolled her eyes at Tierney as they lifted a table in the Waterside’s spacious restaurant. “I’m good. I got a few more hours’ sleep, and the chill has gone. Con was happy enough with my recovery to go home.”

She wasn’t good. Her head was all over the place, and she still had a nagging sense of panic, but she could handle moving a few chairs. Con’s declaration had blown her mind. Could they find a way to be together? Did people like Con really get together with the likes of Shiv?

“Hullo. Am I talking to myself here?”

Shiv lowered her end of the table. “What?” She blinked at Tierney. She hadn’t a clue what she’d been saying.

“I said it sounds strange, you calling her Con. Did she ask you to?”

“You’ve known her a lot longer than I have. Did you never ask what name she prefers?”

“Uh. It’s just how it’s always been.” Tierney shrugged, and her brow creased. “I remember when I was a kid and she first started working with her dad, who was Granny’s doctor. He was Doctor Scott, and she was Young Doc Scott. It was always what she was called.”

“But she’s your friend. You don’t call Joey ‘Fisher’. Perhaps you should ask what name she’d like you to use.”

Tierney nodded sincerely. “I will.”

They moved the rest of the tables into a more informal arrangement in front of the small stage set up in front of the windows.

“I’m so excited. I love our karaoke nights in the summer season.” Tierney jumped onto the stage and plugged in several pieces of equipment. “We have a live band and it’s the most popular night on the island.”

“Is there a band tonight?” Shiv continued rearranging chairs while Tierney set up the equipment.

“No. Kasia says I have to stop trying to rope people into my plans, so it’s just me and my trusty system.” She patted a speaker for emphasis. “Wanna try it out now?”

“Hell, no!” Shiv laughed. “You don’t want to hear me attempt to sing.”

Tierney stood straight and observed her. “You’ll have to try harder than that. The Walsh genes run strong in you, and there isn’t one of us who can’t hold a tune.”

Shiv turned away, laughing. Tierney was correct.

Technically, she could sing, but she’d never enjoyed performing in front of others, so as soon as she’d been old enough to refuse her mother’s demands to perform, she’d limited her solo performances to singing along to the radio on long road trips.

There was no way Tierney was getting her up on that stage tonight.

Kasia popped her head through the door from the kitchen. “Don’t let her bully you into helping out, Siobhán.”

“We’re good, Kasia. I like being able to help.

And thank you for my clothes.” She indicated the clean jeans and sweater Tierney had brought over earlier.

She was wearing some borrowed sneakers a couple sizes too big.

She wasn’t sure what had happened to her boots other than a vague memory of kicking them off on the beach. They’d be long gone on the tide.

“You’re very welcome. Don’t do too much.”

Shiv frowned at the door as it closed behind Kasia. She still wasn’t used to people showing so much concern for her welfare. But it irritated her less than it used to, because she knew it came from a place of caring.

A nudge disturbed her from her thoughts.

“Shall we go upstairs and get a coffee? Pegeen is with Marianne and Joey, so we won’t have to listen to her constant chatter.” Tierney rolled her eyes affectionately.

Shiv snickered. Pegeen was such a mini-Tierney; she was going to be a serious contender for most talkative family member.

“Sure. I’d love a coffee.”

Following Tierney, she acknowledged, at least to herself, the burst of activity had tired her. She should’ve believed Con when she’d said it would take a few days to return to normal.

She didn’t try to match Tierney’s pace up the back stairs, and the kettle was starting to boil as she entered the apartment with its stunning view of the harbor. From here, she could see a bank of black cloud building to the northeast.

“Should we be worried about that?”

Tierney followed her to the window. “Forecast for the next couple days isn’t good, but it looks like it might hit us sooner than that.”

She turned to look beyond the lighthouse. “I hope Aoife makes it back with the last ferry, or we’ll miss Doc’s amazing rendition of Mustang Sally.”

“No way?” Shiv couldn’t conjure a mental picture of Con singing the sixties classic. She was also worried about the potential of Con not making it back tonight. She couldn’t leave her on that knife edge indefinitely.

“It’s her party piece.” Tierney turned from the window.

“And she’s got plenty more up her sleeve.

Sometimes the only way to get hold of the mic is to duet with her.

” Tierney was smirking, so Shiv suspected she was exaggerating.

Tierney’s passion for karaoke didn’t surprise her, but she was taken aback to find out Con was an enthusiast. The thought of her on stage with a mic in her hand made Shiv hot under the collar.

She pulled out her phone.

Tierney says you’d better get your ass over here for her karaoke challenge.

Just stepping onto the ferry.

Con’s reply was almost immediate.

The weather’s not looking good.

Fortunately, it’s indoor karaoke.

The potential building between them had been playing on her mind since Con had left so abruptly. Helping Tierney prepare for the evening had been a welcome distraction, but she wished she could have Con to herself tonight.

Smart ass. I’ll see you soon x

She smiled fondly at the message and put her phone away.

“So, who’s coming tonight?” She took her mug of coffee from Tierney and sat on the couch. The black clouds were moving closer.

Tierney joined her. “I was hoping for the whole island population, but with this weather, maybe just the people from the village. And the hotel guests. They’re a captive audience.”

“Are they meant to be just an audience? Shouldn’t they take part?”

“Hey.” Tierney put down her mug. “We only need so many participants. Most people aren’t as good as they think, anyway.”

Shiv spotted a weak spot and continued to tease her cousin. “Surely, it’s about variety. That’s what everyone loves about karaoke. That even the tone deaf can take part.”

“Right, that’s it.” Tierney stood. “As punishment for trying to sabotage my high-quality karaoke night, you get to choose the duet of your choice to sing with Doc.”

Shiv dropped her smirk. “I told you I don’t sing.”

“Ah-ha!” Tierney stroked her chin. “We’ve moved from can’t sing to don’t sing. I believe we’re getting closer to the truth.”

Shiv waved her away, laughing. “Investigate all you want. I’m not singing tonight.”

“Refuses to sing.” Tierney jotted in an imaginary notebook.

Shiv tossed a cushion at her, then she spotted the lights of the ferry rounding the lighthouse in the near darkness and jumped up. “They made it!”

Lightning forked across the sky.

“Looks like Doc will need a room for the night if the weather’s hitting already.” Thunder rumbled over the end of Tierney’s words.

“Ah, she was planning to stay in the cottage, I think.” She tried to sound nonchalant, but it felt shifty. What should she say? Until she and Con had established what exactly was going on, she didn’t plan to discuss it with her chatty cousin.

“Really?” When Tierney collected the mugs from the table, Shiv followed her to the kitchen. “Those kids’ beds aren’t made for adults, and I’ll never hear the last of it if Doc gets a stiff back. She loves her comfort.”

“She can have the main bedroom. I’m good on the couch.”

“Okay. Well, we’ll find her a room if she needs it.” Tierney pulled a car key from a hook and held it out. “Why don’t you run the car down to pick her up? That rain’s gonna hit any moment.”

Shiv grabbed the keys and made for the door. “Good plan. See you shortly.”

The ferry was pulling up alongside the quay as she sprinted across the car park to the battered white car and pulled the door shut. The rain came out of nowhere in a violent sheet.

She found the windshield wipers, crunched the gears, and slowly rolled down the hill toward the quay. Perhaps she should’ve mentioned to Tierney she’d never driven a stick shift. How hard could it be?

Jacky was pulling the hood tight on his waterproof jacket while he readied the gangplank for the two passengers who stood sheltering in the cabin.

Shiv recognized Con’s stocky shape covered by her long coat.

Her chest warmed at the knowledge they’d be together again shortly.

Shiv had lived with people in the past. Other activists in the cramped quarters of her RV.

But they’d come and gone, and she had never missed them, or even thought much of them after they left.

Now here she was, unable to imagine a life without Con.

She didn’t want to imagine it. Life was better when they were together.

Shit, she was in deep. But Con felt it, too, and she’d said she was tired of fighting it. So, what would tonight look like? And what about after that?

She took in a long breath. They had Tierney’s fucking karaoke to get through before they could talk. She had to keep her shit together and act casual.

She jumped when the door opened and Con bundled in, throwing her overnight bag onto the back seat. The movement covered Shiv in a fine mist of rainwater.

“Sorry.” Con wiped ineffectually at her shoulder. “Fucking horrendous night, it’s turned out to be.”

Her face widened in a smile. “But I’m loving the chauffeur service.”

Shiv’s gaze dropped to Con’s mouth. She wanted to kiss her so bad, but she wanted Con to take the lead, if that’s what she wanted, too.

Con’s eyes softened with desire as she leaned in toward Shiv, but then she pulled back violently when someone rapped on the passenger window. She lowered it slightly.

“Any chance of a lift, there, Siobhán?” Jacky peered in.