Chapter 11
ELEVEN
“Did you sleep here all night?”
Marianne’s eyes were red rimmed as Joey woke to see her standing over their hammock. The sun was just rising, casting a pink glow over everything, but even in the beautiful light she had a gray pallor.
She’d downed another bottle of wine before Joey insisted she go to bed, and got her settled with a glass of water. Worried about leaving Denny in case he woke in the night in a strange place, Joey had grabbed a sleeping bag and made themself comfortable in the hammock.
They rubbed their eyes.
“I didn’t want to leave you and Denny after you’d had so much to drink.” That was subtle. But it was too early to be diplomatic.
“Why did you let me drink that much?” Marianne’s voice was raspy.
“I didn’t know I was responsible for your decision-making.” Joey failed to bite back their irritation. Mindful of how much pressure she’d been under, they sighed. “You seemed to need a little relaxation. I didn’t think it would do any harm.”
“Perhaps the night before you’ve promised Denny a ride on the boat wasn’t the wisest.” Marianne rubbed her face. “You’re right, it was my mistake, sorry. I’m just so full of feelings. I guess I needed to numb them for a while.”
Joey swung out of the hammock onto their feet. “We’ll keep it short. I’ll empty the pots and we’ll head straight back.”
“Denny will be ecstatic, anyway. And when we get back, I’ll call Kasia about the job.” She leaned against the wooden post of the deck. “It’s really not the best day to have a hangover.”
“I’ll head back to Dad’s and get ready, and I’ll see you at the boat in fifteen minutes. Dress Denny up warm, okay?”
The slap of the waves on the hull was a rhythmic sound that usually soothed Joey, but watching Marianne leaning over the side wasn’t conducive to calm. She hadn’t thrown up, but she looked close to it. With haunted eyes, she’d waved away the flask of coffee Joey had offered, and instead spent the trip staring over the side.
Joey was pleased they’d thought ahead to bring Denny’s buggy. It was compact enough he could sit in a corner and watch everything, but knowing he was strapped in and safe allowed Joey to get on with their job. They wished now they’d left Marianne at home to rest.
“Last pot and we’ll be done.”
“Whatever. My interest in shellfish has diminished exponentially. I need to lie down.” Marianne sat back from the side and lowered her hood as they slowed to anchor by the pots. Joey could see a sheen of sweat across her face and felt sorry for her, despite the rudeness.
They pulled up the last pots and showed Denny the lobsters from a safe distance before dropping them into their tanks.
“All done. I’ll get you back now and drop these over to the Waterside.”
“What about your delivery to the mainland?”
Joey had been avoiding talking about that. “I’m thinking of selling to one of the distributors for a while. It’s not worth me doing deliveries.”
The truth was Joey was terrible at finding new customers. They’d depended far too much on the Waterside and Batiya, and now their market had been almost halved. They should be doing something to find more custom. They vowed they’d get onto it when Marianne had moved out of their house.
Joey pinched the bridge of their nose. They’d had so many plans for local fishing cooperatives and new markets a few years ago, but they’d quickly settled back into familiar ways, and the van they’d invested in was barely half full on most trips. They earned enough to get by, and that had always been enough.
Marianne pulled herself up to full height and she grasped Joey’s hand. “Your lobsters are amazing. There’s a market out there that would be all over a story about a local fisher. You just need to sell yourself.”
Joey reversed their grip, so they held Marianne’s long fingered hand. The feeling of her touch was magical. They made eye contact for a moment and wondered if what they thought they saw in her eyes was just wishful thinking.
“Let’s get you a job and then you can help me reinvent myself as the go-to shellfish supplier on the west coast.”
Marianne turned suddenly and finally treated the fish to her secondhand Pinot Grigio.
Joey was waiting with a tissue when she finally finished retching. Taking it, Marianne turned away.
“I’m sorry, I’m a disgrace.”
“You’re not. You’re just sad. Things will get better.” Joey hoped that was true.
They focused on getting them back as quick as possible. Marianne couldn’t get back on dry land soon enough.
“Look, Denny’s happy and warm. Why don’t we leave you to get some rest and he can help me with my deliveries?”
Marianne blinked. “You’d do that for me?”
“It’s for Denny, too. He loves it.” Denny’s perch allowed him to see out into the sea while still protected from the wind by the wheelhouse. He was currently giggling away to himself.
Marianne rubbed her head again. “If you’re sure, I’d love a lie down.”
“We’ll have a grand time, won’t we, Denny?”
“Boat,” shouted Denny.
“See? Go get some sleep. We’ll be back later.”
Letting Marianne off the boat was a relief, and they traveled on happily with Denny. When they got to the harbor they moored up and took Denny up the steps.
“Jacky.” The lifeboat tractor driver and ferry operative sat on a stone bollard, sucking on a pipe Joey knew wouldn’t be lit. Jacky liked the look of the pipe but he preferred his vape.
“Joey O’Hara. When did you have a babby?” He grinned.
“You know he’s not mine, Jacky, don’t be an eejit.”
“He suits you, so.”
Joey rolled their eyes. “Would you just be able to hold him for a few minutes? I’ll bring his stroller up now, and we can get him in.”
Jacky took Denny and sat him on his shoulders.
“Boat. Boat. Boat.” Denny pointed around the harbor.
“Talkative little feller, isn’t he?”
Joey headed back down the stone steps. “He likes boats.”
Jacky’s help was invaluable. Joey had to admit it wasn’t a job they could do alone with a toddler, but they were soon unloaded and had the trays of lobster and prawns on the trolley they used to get up the hill to the hotel. It was too difficult to push the trolley and the buggy, so they perched Denny on top, warning him not to get too close to the lobsters.
Tierney came out of the hotel doors to meet them. “What the actual fuck, Joey?” She lifted Denny down.
“It’s fine. I said I’d watch him while Marianne has a rest.”
“You can’t go fishing with a baby.”
“He’s not a baby, are you, Denny?”
“Boat,” said Denny, walking along happily, his hand in Tierney’s.
“The kid likes boats, huh?”
“Loves them.”
They entered the rear doors of the hotel and Joey wheeled their catch into the kitchen. “Hey, Sam, can you take these lobsters, please?”
A young commis chef ran over and took the trolley, and Tierney led Joey through into reception.
Kasia looked up from her laptop and did a double-take when she saw little Denny.
“Is Marianne here, too?”
“Nope, Joey’s adding childcare to their list of duties.” Tierney lifted Denny onto the counter where he sat and stared at Kasia with his big brown eyes.
“Shut up, Tierney. I just brought him around on the boat.”
“Hi, Denny.” Kasia waved to him, but he didn’t blink in his intense stare.
“He’s not the chattiest, is he?”
“Not unless it’s about boats. And even then, it’s not that varied a conversation.” Joey looked at their watch. “Do you think I should feed him? He had breakfast, but we’ve been out all morning.”
“Did you not cover that when you discussed your childminding responsibilities with his mother?”
“Hey, why are you both so down on me? I just took Denny for a ride on the boat.”
Denny turned. “Boat?”
They scooped him up. “I couldn’t agree more. Let’s go, Denny.” They didn’t need this weird criticism when all they’d done was help out Marianne for a couple of hours.
They were almost to the door when Kasia grasped the elbow that wasn’t holding Denny.
“Wait, sorry, we’re not having a go at you.” She guided them to the back stairs that led up to the quarters she and Tierney shared. “Come and sit down, and we’ll have a sandwich.”
Joey allowed themself to be guided upstairs and put Denny down in front of the big full-length windows that showcased the harbor view. “There’s the harbor, Denny.”
Denny pointed and they waited for the usual response. “Harba?”
“Good boy, yes, harbor.”
They turned to Kasia and Tierney. “Marianne will be pleased. Any progress is good.” Their smile faded as they took in Kasia’s gathered brows.
“Sit down.” Kasia pointed at the table and took her place opposite. Tierney went to the refrigerator and pulled out items.
“What does Denny like to eat?”
“Uh, I don’t know. He likes cheese, for sure.”
Kasia put a hand over theirs and they looked into her concerned hazel eyes. “We’re a little concerned Marianne is imposing on you. She’s clearly going through a crisis, and you’ve been very kind to help out, but it seems like a lot.”
They resisted pulling their hand away. “I’m enjoying it. Denny’s a good kid.”
Hearing his name, Denny left his post at the window, which Joey noticed was now smeared with fingerprints, and ran to Joey’s side.
They picked him up and sat him on their knee.
“But all this.” Kasia gestured to them. “It’s temporary, isn’t it? You don’t want to build a real bond with Denny and then Marianne moves on.”
“I’m not a child, Kasia.”
“No, you’re not. But you have a big heart, and I don’t want to see that taken advantage of.”
Tierney brought a plate to the table. She’d cut Denny’s sandwich into little sailing boat shapes, and he reached out immediately. “Boat.”
“Cheese boats,” said Joey.
“Sheez?”
“Yep.” They jiggled him on their knee, and he tucked into his snack.
Tierney returned with more traditionally shaped food for the rest of them.
“Kasia loves you and doesn’t like people to take advantage. You know how protective she can be.” Tierney squeezed Kasia’s shoulder.
“No one’s taking advantage, okay?” Joey picked the crusts off a sandwich. “And maybe Marianne will be around for a while. She’s going to call you about the job.”
Kasia raised her eyebrows. “I haven’t heard anything so far.”
Joey wanted to keep the nature of Marianne’s incapacitation from Kasia in case it affected her job prospects.
“She’s not very well today. I think the reality of what’s happened has finally hit her.” There was some truth in that, anyway.
“She’s been here two days, and she doesn’t appear to have left your cottage except to be fed. If she wants to live here, she could try mixing a little.”
“Her life has fallen apart in a few short days. She’s lost her business and her marriage is over. Please try and be a little more understanding.” Joey put Denny down on the floor when he finished his sandwich. They felt uncomfortable about Marianne being criticized in his presence. He toddled off to the window. “Sheez harba.”
Joey chewed on their sandwich, but it tasted dry. “Do you have any relish?” They started to get up, but Tierney handed them a jar and pushed them back down.
“Your counseling session isn’t over. Listen to Kasia. She has your best interests at heart.”
Joey didn’t really want to hear.
“It’s lovely you’re helping Marianne and Denny out. All I’m saying is don’t get too attached. To either of them. You’re cooing over his new words like a proud parent.”
Joey put their head in their hands. “I like kids. And he’s a great kid.”
“I know you do.” Kasia’s voice was softer now. “We just don’t want to see you hurt, okay?”
“Okay.” They would say anything at this point to end the grilling.
Kasia stood and pulled them into an embrace. They returned it halfheartedly, still annoyed with Kasia’s interference.
“Hey.” Kasia pulled tighter. “Hug me like you mean it.”
Joey hugged with their usual enthusiasm until they were released.
“Now, go and take your cute friend back out to the cheese harbor.”
Walking back down to Queen Maedbh with Denny on their shoulders squirming to wave goodbye to Tierney and Kasia, Joey knew Kasia was right. Putting any emotional effort into a relationship with these two adorable people who’d fallen into their life was too risky. Eventually, Marianne would move on to the celebrity life she adored, and the anticipation of loss already felt unbearable. They had to get a grip on their own emotions and let Marianne get on with her life.