Changing Tides

Chapter 1

ONE

Waves crashed into the bow as Joey steered quickly away from the front of rain. Shrieks rang out from behind as spray covered the back of the boat. The weather had come from nowhere, reminding Joey it was still only early spring.

Their long sigh was whipped away by the howling wind. Much as they loved the calmer weather of summer, it brought long hours of work and demands on their time. Memories of the winter just past filled them with peace. Evenings around the fire with their friends, Kasia and Tierney, the hotel owners, or sitting wrapped in a blanket watching the sunrise from the door of their cottage. They had a lot to be grateful for.

The wind now behind the boat, Joey turned to the passengers, a woman and man with two teenage children huddled in the stern. Tierney’s suggestion to invest in branded raincoats came to mind. Complaints from customers who didn’t understand that a trip on a fishing boat in the Atlantic Ocean might sometimes involve getting wet and cold was a hassle Joey didn’t need.

“Now, sorry about that. The weather’s taken a turn for the worse. I don’t think you’ll have much fun pulling up lobster pots today. How about we take a trip to the seal caves in the north?”

The smaller of the two teenagers looked up, tufts of hair plastered to his head where they’d escaped the hood of his lightweight jacket. “I like seals.” He turned to his older brother and parents. “Can we?”

The expressions of the other three suggested their ideal trip would be straight back to the hotel, but the mother nodded and inclined her head toward Joey. “Yes, if we’ll definitely see some?”

I’ll just call them up and check . “I wish I could promise, but the seals do as they wish. It’s low tide, though, and there’s usually a few resting on the rocks.” Joey was sure to take the brunt of their disappointment if there were no seals to be seen.

Taking the array of half nods and wet shrugs as approval, Joey went back into the wheelhouse to turn them toward the top of the island. Their beloved fishing boat, Queen Maedbh, wasn’t a pleasure craft. The trips were about having an authentic experience of a lobster fisher’s work. On a fair day, with enthusiastic passengers, it could make their usually solitary job a lot of fun. They loved sharing their knowledge, and it didn’t hurt to have people saying what a wonderful lifestyle they thought Joey had. Sometimes, too, there were those women who had just a little more than admiration in their eyes.

But on a day like today, they wondered why they bothered. A text to Kasia would ensure the hotel visitors were greeted with towels and hot drinks when they docked, and they would likely recall the experience positively. But looking at their miserable faces now, Joey guessed they wished they’d stayed on land.

To their relief, the rocks were alive with both gray and common seals and the younger kid ran to the rail to point them out joyously to his parents. The cliffs were sheltered from the west wind and the rain had paused for the moment, so they could drop anchor and break out a large flask of hot chocolate. Thank you, Kasia.

The rain held off for the rest of the trip and when Joey dropped them off at the dock next to the hotel, the family had dried off and were full of smiles and gratitude. The young boy was showing his photos to Kasia almost before he’d got off the boat. Kasia greeted them and ushered them back toward the hotel before she turned to Joey.

“Was it okay? I couldn’t believe how the weather turned.”

“They saw seals; it was fine. I’d better get back out and do some work now.” They started to untie the boat.

“Sorry, Joey, if the trips are an imposition. We can avoid more bookings if you’re too busy.” Kasia’s arms were wrapped tightly around her lean body, and Joey heard regret in her tone.

They hopped back off the boat and put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, I like doing the shellfish safaris, I don’t do it just to help out. None of us can do anything about the weather.”

Kasia put her arms around Joey’s middle, and they tried not to worry about the odor from their coat while they enjoyed the contact.

“How’s Tierney doing?”

Kasia pulled back a little and her hazel eyes gleamed. “She was ill this morning, but she’s keeping well, generally. She got a checkup on the mainland next Monday.”

“Tell her to text me and I’ll take her over.” Joey was almost as excited about their friend’s pregnancy as Kasia was.

Kasia laughed. “I will. Look, if it’s not going to make you very late, why don’t you come in for a cup of tea and see Tierney yourself? I know the season has barely started, but I miss you already.”

Joey echoed the feeling. The summer could rush by with little chance to spend time with friends. This was the second full season of the renovated hotel being open and as their reputation had grown, Kasia and Tierney were bringing more and more visitors to the island. It was a good thing for the community in general, but sometimes Joey felt a little overwhelmed. And at the end of each day, they went back to their tiny cottage alone.

Joey shook off the melancholy. They didn’t like it when their thoughts went down that route. It was usually the beginning of a long slide.

“I really need to get the pots in. I’ve promised the Batiya I’ll deliver before evening service.”

They’d appreciate some company right now, but they couldn’t afford to disappoint an important local customer, even if they were a little unreliable with payments. As long as they could sustain local business, they didn’t have to sell to a wholesaler at discount prices. And perhaps the chef and owner, Marianne, would invite them in for a coffee if she had time.

Kasia gave another squeeze. “Come for dinner, then. I’ll ask Liam if he can cover this evening. He’s back for the Easter break and he wants the extra shifts.”

Sometimes, it was as though Kasia could sense Joey’s low mood. She always seemed to know when they shouldn’t be alone. Interpreting their silence as resistance, Kasia stepped back. “Joey, I mean it. I could do with a night off, and Tierney’s exhausted. You’ll be doing us a favor.”

Joey knew better than to argue. “Seven?” Breaking out a smile, they knew Kasia was right. Sometimes a little company was what they really needed.

“Perfect. I’ll let Tom know to cook us up something special.” Kasia waved Joey off as they pulled away from the little quay.

They hurried through their work, pleased the rain continued to hold off. As they drove their catch from the mainland harbor, spots of rain hit the windscreen. By the time they got to the outskirts of the city, it was torrential, and the wind had picked up again. Joey was glad they weren’t still out on the boat.

The location of the Batiya restaurant on the main tourist street was good for its popularity, but not so helpful when you were trying to find a spot to unload shellfish.

“Yes!” The small loading bay at the back was clear of vehicles and they pulled the van into the convenient space. They had one more drop off to make after this, and now the promise of dinner with their best friends meant they needed to hurry. But they’d always make time for a chat with Marianne if she was around.

Joey stuck their head inside the loading bay door. “Hullo?” Not hearing a reply, they pulled a shining stainless-steel trolley from the corridor to the back of the van. After offloading four trays of lobster and Dublin Bay prawns, they pushed the trolley quickly back in and along the corridor toward the kitchen.

“Mari?” They got to the kitchen doors without a reply, so they pushed the trolley through, making the doors crash open against the wall. The co-owner, Amira, jumped up from a stool as they entered and slammed her laptop closed.

“Hi, Joey, sorry, I was engrossed in ordering. How are you?” The heavy bags under her eyes were more noticeable than ever. Joey wondered if the restaurant she ran with her wife had proven to be more of a challenge than expected. Marianne’s reputation as a chef had followed her from the capital, and Batiya had become a destination for Dublin foodies looking for out of town quality. They also had a small child to juggle their lives around. It must be a busy life.

“I’m good, thanks. I’ve got Marianne’s order. Is she around? I like her to check the quality before paying.” They mentioned the payment since the last couple of deliveries had been made with the promise of a bank transfer that had yet to happen.

“She’s out with Deniz.” Amira checked her watch and her eyes flicked back to her laptop. “Colette will be here soon if you want to wait?”

Joey had no intention of hanging around if Marianne wasn’t there. “Just tell her to call me if there’s a problem.”

When Amira turned back to her laptop, they knew they’d have to push for payment. “Is there any chance you could pay in cash? I need to fuel up the van.”

Amira laughed. “No chance, sorry. I’ll transfer it tomorrow.”

“I’ll check with Marianne that you’re using the correct details. She promised a bank transfer for the last two deliveries, but I haven’t received anything.” It wasn’t a comfortable conversation topic, but they couldn’t afford to give away lobsters for the sake of their own awkwardness.

Amira turned quickly, and her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t bother Marianne with money matters. She’s a creative, and she hates that side of the business. Leave it with me, and I’ll transfer what you’re owed tomorrow, for certain.”

She didn’t meet Joey’s eyes, but they decided it was best to believe her.

“Okay, thanks. Say hi to Mari for me, won’t you?”

“Of course.” She was back at her laptop before Joey had reached the door. There had been a time she would’ve invited them to stay for a meal, or at least offered a cup of tea, but in the last year she’d become less friendly. Joey hoped they didn’t have relationship problems. Marianne was a good person and a brilliant chef. She deserved to be happy.

Joey knew they were a little too comfortable in Marianne’s company. As well as being gorgeous, tall and athletic with a russet crop of hair, and fine, freckled features, Marianne’s drive and competence in the kitchen were magnetic. Joey had guiltily spent hours watching reruns of her old TV shows, convincing themself it was useful to understand her cooking style as a supplier. On Joey’s visits, if she wasn’t busy, Marianne often took time to sit and have a coffee and chat. She had become a friend as well as a good customer, so it was easy to justify their eagerness to see her. It was a harmless infatuation.

Their experiences with flirty tourists on the boat showed they had no clue how to behave when women actually showed an interest, so they would stay on the safe ground of being secretly lustful about a married woman who saw them as a useful supplier, nothing more.

Joey pulled out into traffic and headed for the next delivery. Perhaps if I had an actual romantic life, I wouldn’t have to invent imaginary relationships with unavailable women .

Joey sighed. Kasia and Tierney would have their work cut out trying to cheer them up this evening.