Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Joey could feel Kasia’s gaze burning into the side of their face as they drove Queen Maedbh to their swimming spot. If they broke the silence, she’d start asking questions they didn’t want to answer.
“Marianne’s first couple of weeks have gone well.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll take my finder’s fee in dinners, if that’s okay.” It was best to act nonchalant.
“That’s what I was wondering. We’ve barely seen you. Tierney even wondered if she’s upset you.”
“Sorry, I’ve been busy. Dad had a chest infection, and I’ve needed to keep an eye on him, and I’ve been working on a business plan for the oyster farm.”
“You’re always busy, Joey. But we see you all the time. It takes some work to keep your distance in this place.” She put her hand on Joey’s knee. “Talk to me.”
Their swim wouldn’t be the serene experience they were hoping for if Kasia didn’t let it go. They had to give her something.
“My mood has been low. I’ve needed time alone.”
“Oh, Joey, I’m sorry.” Kasia’s voice was so full of compassion and empathy Joey felt bad for only sharing half the story. They had been really down. A couple of days they’d struggled to get out of bed at all, and the delivery had been later than usual. But they’d been in such a rush to avoid Marianne they hadn’t hung around to apologize. Kasia had called after them once, but they’d waved and walked back to the boat as fast as they could without it being classified as running.
“Is there anything I can do?”
They pulled up at the quay and turned, dropping their hand onto Kasia’s. “Change the subject?” They squeezed to lighten the request. “You’re a good friend, Kasia, the best I’ve ever had. But I just need some peace at the moment.”
She nodded. “Let’s swim.”
The cold water calmed their thoughts as always, and they stayed in longer than they’d intended.
“It’s getting warmer all the time.” Kasia pulled herself up the rusty iron rungs behind Joey. “I can’t wait for the summer.”
Joey chuckled. “When the sea reaches a balmy sixty degrees?”
“It gets warmer than that. Anyway, even that would feel warm right now.”
“True enough.” They passed her dry robe from the back of the truck. “Thanks, I needed that.”
Kasia wrapped herself up. “Any time, you know that. I can find time, just drop me a text.”
They sat together on the tailgate and sipped cocoa in silence.
“So, Marianne’s settling in?”
Kasia turned and raised an eyebrow.
“I did beg you to give her a job. I’m invested in it working out.”
“Well, it is so far. She says you helped her find a rental, and she’s often driving about in your truck, but we’ve not seen you around at all.”
“I’ll leave the keys to the truck at the cottage. She’ll need it to move house. I’ve kept in touch; I just couldn’t face talking to people.” Couldn’t face Marianne to be precise, but they weren’t sharing that.
“She’s moving out tomorrow. We can’t help much because there’s a big weekend group, but she could do with a hand, if you’re free?”
“Uh, I was…” Tumbleweed drifted down the empty street of their mind. There were no excuses forthcoming.
“It’s Sunday and your dad’s going to the social at the community center, Jacky tells me, so I thought you might be free for a few hours. If you’re feeling up to it, of course. You can come and eat in the restaurant after service.”
Joey was torn. They didn’t want to leave Marianne with no support, but they didn’t know if they could deal with being around her.
“Think about it.” Kasia tapped their arm then jumped down from the back of the truck.
“I’ll drop you back, and let Marianne know I’ll be there tomorrow.” Joey followed her.
“She’s working. I can tell her.”
“I’ll stick my head in the kitchen and say hi, if that’s okay?” That way they could keep the interaction short; Marianne certainly would be too busy to talk.
At the hotel, Joey made a point of seeking out Tierney, who was taking a break in the upstairs apartment.
The door was open, but Joey knocked on the doorframe before entering.
“Joey.” Tierney rushed at them with open arms. “Where have you been? Look, the nugget’s enormous now.” She smoothed her T-shirt to show a small bump.
Joey smiled in happiness. “Wow, are you sure it’s not twins?”
Tierney’s expression turned to alarm for a moment. “The scan didn’t show twins. You know they run in the family?” A grin broke back out. “Are you teasing me? I know it’s not that noticeable from the outside, but I feel real big.”
“You’re perfect. I’m sorry I’ve been a little reclusive lately. I’ll try harder to be here for you and the twins.”
They laughed together. Joey shared their plans for the next day, then with mixed feelings, they went in search of Marianne. A busy dinner service would be starting soon, so the kitchen was bustling. They waited in the doorway for a moment to speak to Marianne.
Connor, the sous chef, murmured a greeting as he passed to go into the kitchen office. Marianne emerged a moment later, smart as always in her black tunic and checkered trousers. She looked around the kitchen until her eyes fell on Joey. A smile flickered across her lips, only to be replaced with a frown. She strode over, pulled her black bandanna from her red hair. “Hi, I’m pleased to see you in person, finally, but this isn’t the best time.”
“I know, I just wanted to say I’ll be there bright and early to help you move into the Moneen place tomorrow.”
More emotions flickered across Mari’s freckled features. “I thought you said you were busy?”
“I moved a few things around and freed up the day. I want to help.” Moved a few things around? They hoped Marianne didn’t think too deeply on the ridiculousness of that statement.
Marianne smiled with a hint of wariness. “Thank you. I appreciate it. And Denny will be pleased. He’s been practicing your name for two weeks.”
Joey groaned internally. They’d convinced themself Mari and Denny would be fine without them, but they’d already built a relationship with Denny, at least. “Sorry, I should’ve come around sooner.”
“Yeah.” Marianne straightened her shoulders. “But we all have lives, and you’ve done so much for us already. You can get reacquainted tomorrow.” She looked over her shoulder.
“I know you need to get back. I’ll see you in the morning.” Joey turned and left the kitchen, trying to ignore the warmth that spread through them at knowing they’d be spending time with Mari and Denny again.
Kasia caught them on the way out. “If you want to talk, I’m always here.”
They hugged her and left. They could do this. They could be a good friend to Marianne and Denny without spoiling things by getting too intense. No wonder Marianne had looked at them so warily. They’d nearly ruined everything.
They were up in the morning before dawn, pulled in the pots in record time, and had to restrain themself from turning up at Marianne’s door before she was awake. When they did arrive, she was stacking a few boxes outside the door, while Denny helpfully piled his toys alongside. He turned as Joey pulled up.
“Joey, Joey.” He ran toward the truck. Joey slipped out and knelt to meet him. He jumped on them, and they rolled back, pretending he’d pushed them over. Denny’s little fingers dug into their ribs and they let out a giggle.
“Not there, I’m ticklish.” They rolled around for a few more moments until they realized Marianne was watching.
She stood with her hands on her hips. “You’re early.” There was only a ghost of a smile on her lips.
“The sooner we start, the sooner you’ll be moved in.”
“I don’t think it’ll take us long. Even with the things I collected from storage, this is the sorry total of my belongings.” Marianne waved at the small pile of boxes and two holdalls nearby.
“Now you’ve got a place of your own you can do something about it. Ger Moneen says you can do what you like with the house, as long as you get rid of any furniture you replace.”
They felt Marianne’s gaze as they started lifting boxes. “I still don’t know how long I’ll be here,” she said.
Joey stopped. “Are you not staying for the summer, at least?” Please stay.
“I guess so. I’ve not signed a contract yet, but Kasia seems happy.”
“She told me you’re doing great. You should raise the contract with her.” Joey continued packing the truck.
Marianne handed them a crate of Denny’s toys. “I haven’t decided if I want to stay yet.” She didn’t look at them.
Joey stood, holding the crate. “Where would you go?”
“I don’t know.” She leaned on the side of the truck and finally made eye contact. Her pale blue eyes were wary. “Maybe I should bite the bullet and go back to my mum’s for a while until I get settled.”
“Okay.” Joey dumped the crate in the truck and scooped up Denny. “You were adamant that was off the cards. What’s changed?” They were convinced the deciding factor had been their stupid clumsy attempt at a kiss. What had they been thinking?
They hadn’t been thinking, had they? They’d woken up and found Mari so close; it had just been instinct to kiss her. If they’d been wide awake, it would never have happened.
“Joey?”
They blinked. “Yeah.”
“Yes to what? Were you even listening to me?”
Joey was caught in the headlights. The cacophony of their own thoughts had drowned out whatever Marianne had been telling them.
“Sorry.” They put Denny in the bed of the truck and turned to pick up another box. “I’m listening now.” The rush of blood in their ears wasn’t helping, though.
Marianne stayed where she was, took a toy from Denny, and threw it back in the crate. “I was saying that I’m not sure what’s keeping me here. I like the peace.”
“It’s very peaceful.” Joey’s voice sounded flat to their own ears.
Marianne grasped their wrist when they passed to collect her final holdall. Her fingers burned into their arm, and they struggled to look into her eyes, dreading what they’d see.
“And I thought I’d found a really good friend. But things got confusing, and now they’re avoiding me, and I don’t know if I should put some distance between us.”
Joey forced their eyes up to meet Mari’s gaze. “I’m sorry. Don’t leave because of me.”
“I won’t. But I would like to stay because of you.”
Joey’s mind spun. What did that mean?
“I don’t want us to be weird. I want you to be the friend I can always rely on. You’re already important to Denny. And to me. You can talk to me about anything, but don’t disappear on us, okay?”
Ah shit. Marianne had been left by Amira to fend for herself. And now she was being screwed around by Joey.
“I’m sorry. Sometimes I find things too hard. And I retreat and try to feel better. I promise, I’ll try to tell you if that happens again.”
Marianne’s brows drew together. “I’m sorry. I thought you were just avoiding me. You do what you must to stay well.” Her hand rubbed along Joey’s arm. “Do you want to talk about what went on between us?”
“No.” Joey tried to smile. “And yes, if it fixes things between us. I’m sorry for what happened.”
“Are you?” Marianne lowered her voice and moved closer, although there was no one around. “I enjoyed it very much. And I’d love to pick up where we finished, but we both know that’s not the right thing to do at the moment.” She ran her finger along Joey’s jaw. “So, I’m going to have to resist my attraction, and it’ll be hard. Because you’re a beautiful person, Joey.”
Joey hoped she couldn’t feel the trembling that spread though their body when she touched them like that. They cleared their throat. “I’ll be on my best behavior too.”
Marianne removed her hand and stepped back. “So, how about we get the rest of my meager possessions into your truck and find our new home?” Her smile was a little shaky.
Joey looked down to where Denny had emptied the contents of his toy box into the bed of the truck. “I think we need to repack first.” They laughed along with Marianne as they helped tidy the mess.
As they drove Marianne and Denny across the island to the rental cottage on the north coast, they finally relaxed a little. If Marianne felt the attraction, too, at least they hadn’t created some fantasy in their own head.
But Mari was right. She’d just been through a messy end to a long-term relationship. She certainly wasn’t in the right place to get into something new. She had her whole life to sort out. When she did, Joey didn’t want to be left sitting alone nursing a broken heart.