Page 6 of Harbor Lights (Inishderry Island Romances #3)

FOUR

Shiv watched from the doorway as the doctor cleaned up after her treatment. Her arm ached and she was still lightheaded. No real surprise; she’d barely eaten all day.

A smell was coming from another part of the house, driving her to distraction.

Doc must’ve heard her stomach rumbling when she was up close.

Shiv cursed herself for being so unprepared.

She was usually disciplined in her eating habits, but arriving on the island and discovering the state of the cabin had thrown her out.

She took her mind off hunger and pain by observing the doctor as she worked.

She’d been surprised to see such a masculine-presenting woman in the rural doctor’s office.

Behind her wire-rimmed glasses, Doc had shrewd blue-green eyes, surrounded by lines that suggested she laughed a lot.

Her wavy hair, a mix of golden brown and silver, was smartly styled on top and cut short around the back and sides.

She was kind of cute in an old school dapper butch sort of way.

Although she’d clearly been caught off duty on a Sunday evening, she was dressed in smart jeans, expensive-looking brown leather boots and a white linen shirt.

Before she’d treated Shiv, she’d taken off a sweater Shiv had no doubt was pure cashmere.

“Did I ruin your plans for the evening?”

Doc turned from her task. “What? No, I was just getting back from a walk on the beach.”

Those were pretty smart clothes for walking on the beach in Shiv’s opinion, but she looked down at her old, worn sweatpants and bloodstained tank and decided she wasn’t a good judge of appropriate clothing.

She looked around the office as Doc cleaned.

Its condition did not reflect its owner’s sartorial standards.

The room must have once been quite grand.

It was wood paneled, but the varnish was peeling and what looked like a water stain sat high in the corner of the ceiling.

In front of the window was a vast leather-topped desk, mostly covered with medical journals, notebooks and loose papers.

“Here, take these.” Doc appeared in front of her with a paper cup and two white tablets. “I should’ve given them to you earlier. I’m not very organized today. I just got back from a trip...” She kind of trailed off, as though she didn’t think that was much of an excuse.

“Thanks. It’s not been my finest day either.” Shiv washed them down, screwed up the cup and tossed it effortlessly across the room into the trash can in the corner.

“Wow. You could give me some lessons in accuracy.” Doc indicated the screwed-up papers adorning the floor around the trash can.

“It doesn’t hurt to have a good aim in my game.” Damn. She hadn’t meant to say anything about her life, but with Doc she’d let her guard down. She blamed the blood loss.

“As an electrician?” Doc raised a full eyebrow. She clearly didn’t miss a thing.

“Yeah, well I have hobbies, too.”

“What sort of hobbies?”

Doc stood closer than she was comfortable with, so Shiv pushed off the doorframe and stepped back. “So, how do I order this water taxi, then?”

Doc checked her watch. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’ll need to walk back up to the cabin in the dark, and you’ve lost a fair amount of blood.” She indicated the towel Shiv had bundled into a bag, despite having no idea where she was going to do her laundry.

“I’ve got my headlamp, and I’ll take my chances, thanks.” Feeling cornered, she backed away.

Doc held up her hands. “I’m not trying to force you to do anything.

It’s a suggestion.” She walked to the window and flicked the curtain.

“It’s foggy out. You’ll be asking Christy to take the boat out in that.

Then if anything happens to you on your way home, it’ll be Joey and Tierney, and the island rescue team, out looking for you on the cliffs.

It’s not just your well-being to consider. ”

Shiv chewed her thumbnail. It felt like she was being played, but she also didn’t like the idea that the safety of other people was a consideration in her decision-making. That was what had brought her here in the first place.

“Is there a hotel or guesthouse nearby, then?” It wasn’t clear what her options were.

“The Harbor Bar has a few rooms they rent out in season. I’m not sure if they’ll be available now.” The doctor stepped closer again. “But look, I have a whole wing of the house that’s unused. My cleaner keeps it clean and aired, so it should be habitable.”

Shiv frowned. “Is it usual for a GP to offer accommodation to patients? Where I come from, it isn’t.”

Doc folded her arms. “Well, no, it’s unusual. But these are unusual times, and you look like you could do with some help.”

Shiv’s anger rose at the implication she was vulnerable. “I don’t need anything from anyone. I’ll go down to the bar and ask.”

She turned away, but Doc put a gentle hand on her good arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. How about... I’d like to offer you accommodation, and you can pay me back?”

Shiv hesitated. Where was she going, really?

She was thirsty, half starved, weak from blood loss, and had a ruined house on a clifftop to return to.

She didn’t often feel helpless, but at this moment she would love to be the type of person who could just take a generous offer and make the most of it.

Her funds were low until her granddad paid her for the work, but she had to pay her way.

“I already owe you for this.” She waved at the dressing on her arm. “How much would you charge for a night’s accommodation?”

“I was thinking more that you could pay me back in other ways.” Doc pointed toward the front door. “The lights out front have stopped working, and it’ll be dangerous for my patients now the evenings are getting darker. Could you fix them?”

“Probably.” Shiv looked around. “To be honest, there’s a few things around here that could do with repairing. Joey had to put a shoulder against your door to close it.”

Irritation flashed in the doctor’s eyes. “I’m not judging.” How could she with her current living conditions? “You can live how you wish. I’m just saying there’s plenty I could pay you back with. I don’t only do electrical work.”

Doc’s shoulders slumped. “You’re right. There’s enough maintenance work here to employ someone permanently. But in the meantime, there are a few things I do need to address urgently.”

“In that case, I’ll take you up on your offer, thank you.”

“Excellent. Well, I’ll show you to your room shortly. But first, would you like to join me for some food? I have a stew in the slow cooker.” Doc led the way out of the exam room and in the direction of the delicious odor.

Shiv followed, wondering if she could stop her mouth from visibly watering. She wasn’t comfortable taking this stranger’s hospitality, but she couldn’t go to bed without eating or she’d make herself ill. “What sort of stew? I mostly don’t eat meat.” Well, that sounded ungrateful.

Doc turned, her lips twisted in regret. “Oh, I’m sorry, it’s beef. I can bake you a potato or… something.”

Shiv felt a shiver of guilt for making the doctor feel uncomfortable. “No, don’t worry, I’ll eat it. I try not to be too rigid about it. I want to put animals and the planet first, but I’m sometimes in situations where it’s not practical.”

Doc beamed. “Grand. We can say it’s doctor’s orders due to the blood loss.”

Shiv followed her into a cavernous kitchen, full of ancient equipment. The kitchen units looked to be made of oak, and the dining table was big enough to sit twelve people. At the near end was a coaster and a used coffee mug.

Doc pulled up a second chair to the table and waved for Shiv to sit, retrieving the mug as she went. “Sorry, not used to having guests. Would you like a drink?”

“Water would be good, thanks.” When the doctor placed a large glass in front of her, Shiv downed the contents in one go, feeling immediately refreshed.

Doc refilled it quickly and handed it back. “You could’ve asked for a drink in the surgery, you know. Hydration is important, especially when you’ve lost blood.”

Shiv was aware. She thought back to the water bottle she’d filled and left behind at the cottage.

She’d let everything slip in the few short hours since she’d set foot on the island.

She was accustomed to being self-sufficient in her RV with its full water tanks and solar panels on the roof.

She’d been caught out and ill-prepared for this adventure.

“I just arrived on the island, and I’ve been traveling light. I guess I thought there’d be more opportunity to stock up on supplies and equipment.”

“No, it’s not that kind of place. You can order things online, and they’ll be delivered within a week.”

Shiv wasn’t sure if she’d heard right. “A week?”

“I know, probably not what you’re accustomed to. You can use the WiFi while you’re here, if you like? If you need to make any orders.”

Shiv didn’t know how to respond to such kindness and was relieved when Doc moved away to serve up the dinner.

“I looked up the cottage, but I don’t think it’s registered as an address. The materials for the work are being delivered by a Walsh cousin, so I’m guessing Granddad briefed him.”

Doc chuckled. “Inishderry and your name would get anything to you, eventually. But while the postman gets up to speed, just use the hotel address. Your cousin Tierney won’t mind at all.”

She might mind a little after Shiv’s earlier hostility. “I haven’t met her properly yet. I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”

Doc shook her head as she ladled out the stew. “Tierney would be delighted to help you out. Go and see her when you get back.”

“I’m not looking for help. I like to find my own way.”

Doc approached with two bowls and Shiv tried not to stare too greedily at the food. She placed one in front of Shiv and walked away, leaving her to watch the steam rising from the bowl.

Doc returned with cutlery, a loaf of bread, and a butter dish. Perhaps she should have offered to help.

“Now, I can see you’re hungry, so tuck in.” Doc handed over a spoon which Shiv tried not to snatch impolitely before she sank it into the fragrant stew.

Silence prevailed until Shiv had taken a few mouthfuls. It tasted as good as it smelled. When she paused to reach for some bread, Doc was watching her with a smile.

“Are you not eating? It’s so good.”

Doc picked up her spoon. “I wish I could take the credit, but Maura, my receptionist, insists on leaving a meal for me when I’ve been away.” She took a mouthful and chewed. “Oh, this really is delicious, isn’t it?”

Shiv lifted her water glass. “To Maura.” She washed down the bread and picked up her spoon again.

“There’s plenty more, so please help yourself. It’s good to have someone to share it with. I’m usually eating the amount Maura leaves for the next five days. Not that I’m complaining when her cooking’s this good.”

Shiv wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. “You live here alone?”

“Yes, I do now. I have for a few years.” She didn’t expand further, and they ate in silence for the remainder of the meal.

When Shiv had consumed a second plate of stew, and half the loaf of bread, and turned down even more, she sat back to digest her food, finding it hard to talk with the weariness washing over her.

“Right, you’re exhausted.” Doc jumped up and led her out of the room.

After what seemed like a lot of stairs and long corridors, Doc opened a door into a room that looked as if it was out of a costume drama, except the bedding was modern and looked new.

Shiv had never slept in a four-poster bed before and hadn’t woken up thinking this would be the day that changed.

But now she’d eaten, she was struggling to keep her eyes wide open and the soft mattress looked irresistible.

She managed not to collapse onto it before Doc led her into the adjoining bathroom. “Help yourself to anything here.” She swung open the door to show a range of every toiletry and cream anyone could wish for. “There’s even a spare toothbrush. Here.” She tossed a box to Shiv.

“Thanks.” That didn’t seem enough. “This part of the house is in good repair. Who is it for?”

“Oh, just visitors, but I don’t have many. Mostly my ex, Majella, and her wife. But they’ve not been for a while.”

“Your ex?” Doc had said she’d been single for some years.

“Yes, it was a long time ago, but we’ve stayed best friends.”

“Ha. Typical lesbians.” The words were out of her mouth before she’d thought about how that would sound to Doc. Shiv hadn’t shared her own orientation.

Doc blinked. “Right, well, I’ll leave you to get settled. I’m not the earliest of risers but I’ve got patients from eight-thirty, so I’ll be in and out of the kitchen around eight. Please take your time, and help yourself to cereals or oatmeal.”

“Okay, bye.” Shiv was mortified that Doc might think her some sort of homophobe, but she was too tired and sore to put it right tonight.

She had the briefest thought she should probably shower before she got into the immaculate bedding, but the moment she stripped out of her grubby clothes, she couldn’t resist the lure of the bed and slipped between the sheets. It was as comfortable as it looked.

Tomorrow she would get up early, make some oatmeal, and then get out of Doc’s hair. This was more time than she’d spent in someone else’s private space for a long time. It hadn’t been all bad, though, she thought, just before her thoughts scattered and dissolved into sleep.