Chapter 10
TEN
Before they even reached the Waterside, Joey was having second thoughts about their plan to feed everyone together.
“Whose is that baby?” Their dad was craning around in the front seat. They couldn’t see Denny in the borrowed car seat directly behind them, but Marianne was frowning.
“I told you, Dad, this is my friend Marianne and her little boy, Denny. They’re staying for a few days.”
“Is that why you’re getting under my feet?”
Joey rolled their eyes in the rear-view mirror, getting a quick smile from Marianne. “It’s only been a couple of hours, Dad, but yes, you said I could stay, remember?”
“Don’t they have a home?”
Joey flicked another glance to Marianne, who leaned forward and poked her head around the seat.
“We’re between places at the moment, Michael. Joey’s been very kind to put us up. We’ll be out of your hair soon.”
“Children need a home. You can’t drag them around, staying all over the place.”
When did their dad develop such strong opinions about parenting, and decide to share them? They preferred when he was being silently sullen.
“Marianne’s working on that, Dad, but thanks for your input.”
Marianne gave a quiet chuckle and they felt a pressure on their shoulder. They glanced toward her hand. The squeeze was reassuring, then it was gone. But Joey retained a perfect picture of Marianne’s hand. The long, delicate fingers and neatly cut nails.
They shook their head and focused on the winding lane. They could fantasize about Marianne’s fingers later, but for now maybe they should focus on getting everyone safely to dinner.
The restaurant was buzzing, even though it was a Monday evening. Kasia was busy greeting guests, but she waved them to a large table by the window. Joey sat their dad down, then went in search of a highchair for Denny. They met Tierney coming the other way with exactly that.
“Thought we’d need this. You happy for us to eat with you?”
“Of course, but Kasia looks a little busy.”
“Give her a few minutes, and she’ll have time to join us. She insisted I sit down now and eat with you, so I might as well take advantage of that.”
“How’s the recruitment going?”
Tierney curled her lip. “No one suitable. This is Tom’s last week. We’re gonna be up shit creek soon.”
Joey put a hand on Tierney’s arm, stopping her before they returned to the table. “Why don’t you ask Marianne to help out for a few weeks? Just until you find someone.”
Tierney let out a bark of a laugh. “Why don’t we ask one of the country’s top chefs to come and cook fish and chips for day tourists at a fraction of what she’s used to earning? Great plan, Joey.” She playfully slapped them on the arm. “I know you want to help everyone, but not all problems are that easily fixed.”
Joey followed her back to the table, keeping their voice low. “Seems pretty simple to me. You have an urgent vacancy; she’s unemployed.”
Tierney sat down next to them, shaking her head. “I’ll mention it to Kasia, but it seems an unlikely fit.”
Perhaps if Kasia got to know Marianne it might help. She seemed to have some views about Marianne being a high maintenance diva, but Joey didn’t believe that was true.
They looked across the table to where Marianne was hunched, clutching her hands together while Tierney held a one-way conversation with Denny. Her eyes had dark shadows under them, and Joey wondered when she’d last had a solid night of sleep. Dragging everyone out to eat may have been selfish, but Joey hadn’t known how else to manage the situation. Marianne looked up, caught their gaze, and gave a small smile. Even that twitch of her lips was enough to make Joey feel warm inside. They really were screwed.
Perhaps it would be safer in the long run for Marianne to move on now, and Joey to get used to her being gone. But they couldn’t help wanting to find a way to keep her close.
Tierney eventually went to find Kasia, and she came to join them for food, but it was clear she wasn’t paying attention to the casual conversation. Joey knew she was worried about losing custom if they didn’t find a good chef. Tierney wasn’t wrong to suggest they liked to solve everyone’s problems, but this didn’t seem that complicated. It wasn’t just the Waterside that would suffer if they didn’t keep attracting customers. Joey’s business couldn’t take another hit so soon.
When Denny and their dad had finished their ice cream, Joey stood. “I’d better get everyone home. Thanks for dinner.”
Kasia stood. “Can I steal you away for two minutes?”
“Go on,” Tierney said, “and I’ll help everyone get into the van. Let’s get you up, Michael.” Tierney pulled out Joey’s dad’s chair and helped him get his jacket on while Marianne saw to Denny.
Joey followed Kasia to the office behind reception, wondering why they felt like they were being taken to see the head teacher.
Kasia dropped into a chair and rubbed her face. Joey stayed standing by the door.
She looked up. “Tierney tells me you’re trying to fix everything.”
“I’m not. I can just see an easy short-term solution, and I don’t know why everyone thinks it’s such a bad idea.”
“Does Marianne think it’s a bad idea?”
“I…haven’t mentioned it. I didn’t think it was my place.”
“So, you’ve no idea if she’s even interested?” Kasia wasn’t hiding her impatience. “But you’re touting it as the solution to all our problems. Why the hell would she want to work here, Joey? It’s as much work as the kitchen of a top restaurant, but with none of the perks.”
Joey thought living on Inishderry was a big perk, and one that Kasia, of all people, should recognize. “The last few weeks have messed her up. I don’t think she’s ready to go back into a big job. She needs to reset.”
“And when did you become her savior?” Kasia stood and faced Joey. “I see the way you look at her.” Her tone had softened, but the look of concern deepened. “Does she know?”
Joey backed toward the door, wishing Kasia didn’t understand them quite so well. “There’s nothing to know. I care about her. I care about plenty of people.”
“She’s living in your house while you sleep on your dad’s chair. That’s not usual behavior for you.”
“She’s lost, Kasia. She needs help.”
“She needs to sort her marriage out. How can she be left with nothing but a toddler? But you can’t help her with that.”
Joey groaned and leaned back against the door. “I need you to keep buying from me at the volume you do now. It would help me out, too.”
Kasia pinned them with her sharp stare. “If she’s interested in the job, I’ll interview her.”
They stood to attention. “What? Really?”
“For you, Joey. And she’d better not mess me around.”
Joey folded Kasia in their arms, something they didn’t get to do so much anymore. “Thank you. I’ll talk to her.”
Kasia leaned into their chest for a moment before pulling back. “I don’t want her to fuck you about, either.”
“She won’t. We’re friends, that’s all.”
“Hmm. Don’t get pulled in Joey, please. She has to sort her own life out.”
Joey gave her a last squeeze. “Thank you for this. I’ll let you know.”
Out in the car park, their dad was waiting in the front of the car and Marianne and Denny’s faces were visible in the dark of the back seat.
“Is everything okay?” Marianne’s brow was furrowed.
“It’s all good. I’ll explain later, if you want a quick nightcap on the deck?”
“If I can get Denny down and keep my eyes open, that’s a plan.”
Joey rushed to get their dad home and settled so they could share the news with Marianne.
“Don’t think I can’t see you fawning over that woman.” Their dad had refused to go to bed, instead settling back in his chair.
“Please don’t be saying things like that in front of her, Dad.”
He just laughed as Joey left. “Don’t be coming back at all hours and disturbing me.”
“I’ll be half an hour.”
They slipped out and around to the deck, where it was still warm enough to sit. They pulled out a couple of rugs in case Marianne was cold.
The door opened and Marianne came out, smiling. “He’s out like a light. Perhaps I should take him out every evening.” She dropped onto the couch and curled her legs up under her.
Joey opened the refrigerator. “I’ve mostly got beer. There’s a bottle of white wine here, but I don’t think it’s a good one.” They knew it wasn’t. It would have been whatever was available in the small island shop. They’d seen the type of wine Marianne liked to drink.
“If it’s cold and wet, I’ll have it.” Marianne leaned her head back on the sofa. “Ugh. I need to sort myself out, Joey.”
They handed her the glass. “You’ll figure it all out eventually. Don’t be too hard on yourself.” They sat on the chair opposite and made the most of watching her sitting on their deck. She might not be around for long.
“So, what was bothering Kasia tonight? She seemed tense.”
“She can’t find a suitable replacement for her head chef. He leaves at the end of the week.”
Marianne’s head lifted. “It’s difficult to find good staff. Especially when you want them to relocate.”
Joey decided not to beat about the bush. “So, I wondered if it might be something you would consider? Temporarily, obviously.”
Marianne’s surprise was clear even in the half light from the bulbs strung up around the deck. “It’s not really my kind of restaurant, Joey. I’m not sure the remuneration would be what I’d be used to.”
“No, it wouldn’t, but it’s cheaper to live here, and you said you didn’t want to go back to all the ridiculous hype just yet.” They ran a finger around the top of their beer bottle. “It was just an idea. You could talk it through with Kasia and see if it might work.”
“I’m not sure she’d entertain me. She doesn’t seem the type to make irrational decisions.”
“She’s open to a discussion if you are.” Joey held their breath, unsure of how that would land.
“You spoke to her?” Marianne’s eyes narrowed.
Joey nodded, though their insides clenched.
“I don’t know how I feel about you discussing my career when I’m not there.” Marianne’s coolness felt like an icy blast.
“I wasn’t, honestly. I just suggested your name and Kasia didn’t believe you’d be interested. And I said I’d ask. That was it.” They moved across to the seat next to Marianne, worry about upsetting her overcoming their need to keep a distance.
Marianne took their hand in hers, and they blinked, trying to focus.
“I know you mean well. But my career means the world to me. I can’t do anything that might jeopardize my future.”
“But you could spin it any way you want. A career break to have some quality time with Denny, or a chance to go back to basics. I follow your social media channels. People love you whatever you’re doing.”
Joey found it difficult to retain rational thought while Marianne’s thumb ran patterns across their palm. Their face was hot despite the coolness of the evening. They wanted to pull away, but also for Marianne to carry on holding their hand forever.
Marianne abruptly dropped Joey’s hand. “Perhaps you’re right. I could just give it a go for a couple of months. How bad could it be?”
Joey wondered how it would work if Marianne made changes to the menu and Kasia didn’t approve. Tom had never had that level of authority, but Marianne would likely take it for granted. Perhaps she and Kasia weren’t the best personalities to push together.
“If she agreed to take you on. I think Kasia would insist on a trial period anyway, so you could see how it went.”
“Would she, indeed?” Marianne laughed in a way that Joey didn’t particularly like. “And will I need to be interviewed for the post?”
Joey’s doubts multiplied. “Yes…if you’re sure about this.”
She downed the rest of her wine and reached for the bottle. “I’m not sure about anything. I just have no other ideas at the moment. So, I’ll give it a go.”
Joey sat watching her as she filled the glass to the brim and took a gulp. Were they doing the right thing pushing for this to happen? Was it desperation to not lose any more business, or did they really have everyone’s best interests at heart? Only time would tell, but they hoped they were doing something to help Marianne out of her predicament, and not making everything worse.