Chapter 44 Quinn
The charity shop construction was causing a bit of a ruckus on Main Street. People kept trying to get too close to it, and we were constantly waving them back while my team put the framework together.
Ramsay had a good mind for engineering, so he was directing the team using the plans the kit-build maker had sent over on how to piece the building together.
It had been almost two weeks since the night of the storm that had changed everything between me and Taran.
We were together now, which brought me no small amount of contentment mixed with an excitement I hadn’t felt since I was a teenager.
There had been no public declarations, though our friends knew we were in a relationship, and the rest of Leth Sholas were catching on quickly enough.
Especially as Taran brought coffees over to the site every day and wasn’t shy with her affection.
In other fantastic news, Eoghan McCall had left Glenvulin.
He would be charged for dangerous driving and vandalism, but it wouldn’t go to trial.
With him gone, we’d hopefully never have to see him again.
Since his departure, there had been no more disturbances, proving my theory that he was behind the attack in Oban too.
It galled me we didn’t have the evidence to put that one on him.
Even though he was a bastard, I’d once felt a tiny spark of sorrow for a man who genuinely seemed to be grieving his son. Now, however, I had no sympathy for him. The rage in that man was a danger to everyone around him. I didn’t want him near Taran.
Good fucking riddance.
It was a drizzly day, not the best weather to be working in, but if we didn’t work in days like this, we’d never work. Taran had been back and forth with coffees for the crew, and I turned to watch her hurry toward me in her rain jacket, two more cups in hand.
One for me and one for her.
She leaned up on her tiptoes to give me a quick kiss before handing the coffee cup to me.
“Thanks, Mo luaidh.” My voice was a bit rough with emotion because it was still surreal that Taran was here, kissing me … that she was mine again.
“It’s almost finished.” Taran beamed toward the store. We were just fitting windows now.
“Start the interiors after the weekend.”
“I can’t believe how quickly this has come about. I’m so excited to start tabulating inventory and taking in donations.”
Affection warmed through me. “It’ll do a lot of good.”
Something flickered over her expression, and she exhaled a bit shakily. “And provide you all with better equipment.”
When she didn’t meet my eyes, I understood.
The fears Taran lived with weren’t just going to magically disappear because she decided to take a chance on us.
Grief and loss had been a part of her life since she was eight years old, and losing her mum was a second life-altering trauma.
It had hit me like a lightning bolt that day at the lighthouse, realizing that Taran wasn’t pushing me away because of the past anymore.
She was pushing me away because of her fears for the future.
I couldn’t protect her from those fears; I could only support her through them.
However, after much deliberation these past few weeks, I’d decided I could do my best to minimize her anxiety.
“Aye for the team … but that won’t be me anymore.” I took a casual sip of my coffee, enjoying the heat of it.
Taran was visibly confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I told Forde I can’t volunteer anymore. I’ll do what I can to help with fundraising and I can volunteer to man the station … but I won’t be going out on rescues.”
“Because of me?” She gripped my arm. “Quinn, no, I won’t let you do that.”
“I’ve made up my mind. It’s not just about you and putting you through undue stress. When I was out there, Taran, there were genuine moments I thought that was it. We were dead.”
Her breath stuttered. “It really was that bad?”
“We capsized at one point. And, aye, the boat can right itself, but we had to go out on the deck to throw a tow, and at any point a wave could have taken me. All I kept thinking was I had to get back to Heather, Angus, and you. No one knows what life will throw at them, and as much as I feel good that we saved people, I don’t think I can justify jeopardizing my family’s future happiness to save strangers.
Not very heroic but …” He shrugged. “It’s time I start putting the people I love above everything else. ”
“Quinn, you’ve sacrificed enough. If being a part of the rescue service means something to you, then you should keep doing it.”
“It doesn’t even come close to meaning to me what you and the kids do.”
“You’re sure?” she pushed.
“I’m absolutely certain.”
Taran wrapped a hand around my neck and tugged me down to her for a kiss that made me spill my coffee. I didn’t fucking care. I grunted into her kiss with feeling, wrapping my free arm around her to pull her deeper into it.
It was only the catcalls that drew us apart.
I flipped my crew the bird behind Taran’s back, making them laugh, but I kept my focus on her. Her beautiful face was soft and warm with the kind of love I thought I’d never see her direct at me again.
“I take it you’re glad?”
Taran nodded, stroking her fingers down my beard. “I never want to go through a night like that again.”
“What a mess this is!” a loud voice interrupted.
We turned together to find Mrs. Gilchrist, the owner of the antiques store, walking toward us, eyes on the construction. “This your doing, Taran Macbeth?”
At Taran’s weary sigh, I squeezed her waist in support.
She’d been fielding questions from islanders for the past two weeks regarding the store.
Most people thought it was a grand idea, while others were annoyed by the inconvenience it had caused since the road outside it had been closed for a few days.
And there were a couple of people who had apparently applied to Aodhan to buy that prime spot of land and been turned down and were annoyed he’d donated the plot to Taran’s cause.
“It is.”
“It’s an eyesore.” Mrs. Gilchrist halted before wearing a furrowed brow.
“It’s not finished yet,” I explained.
“Hmm.” She eyed Taran, ignoring me. “Word has it you’re intending to sell antiques in it.”
Ah.
Taran stiffened. “Just my mother’s. I’m donating them to the store. And anything people feel like donating.”
“You don’t think that will impact my business?”
“I doubt people will donate expensive antiques, Mrs. Gilchrist.”
“You are.”
“How do you know that?”
“Well … you said you had some good estimates from Mr. White.”
“Did I?” Taran cocked her head. “I’m not sure I mentioned value.”
The older woman frowned. “My point is, it would have been courteous to tell me you were planning to sell antiques in here.”
“Like I said, it’s just the items belonging to my mother.”
“Are they all in there?” She pointed with a sneer to the store.
“No. They’re in safekeeping until the store is ready for them.”
“I still think it’s rude—”
“You’re getting wet, Mrs. Gilchrist. Wouldn’t want you to catch a chill.”
At Taran’s impatient interruption, Mrs. Gilchrist harrumphed and spun on her heel, marching back to her store.
Taran grimaced as she faced me. “I’ll pay for that. But I’m just so tired of people complaining about a store that’s going to help us keep the lifeboat service.”
“Once it’s up and running, they’ll all shut up and get on with it.”
“Let’s just hope they donate to it. Otherwise, it’ll be dead in the water.”
At her forlorn look, I pulled her close. “You packed for tomorrow?”
We were due on the ferry to Oban where we’d meet up with Kiera, Gary, and the kids, and we’d all drive Heather to Glasgow to get her settled into her student accommodation. Taran had agreed to come with me for moral support.
“All packed.” She smoothed a hand over my face again. Since deciding to make a go of it together, Taran touched me constantly. Like she needed the reassurance. She’d find no complaints from me. Every time she touched me was like a miracle. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I want to go into full-blown denial and bring her home instead of drop her off at her student halls.”
Her smile was compassionate. “It’ll take time to get used to it.
Just remember that as confident as Heather comes off, she’ll be anxious about leaving home too.
I thought I was so ready for it, and I remember standing in the student halls with you and my mum, forcing myself not to beg you both to take me home. ”
“Really?” I didn’t remember it like that at all. In truth, I’d been a bit hurt by Taran’s excitement and desire for us to leave her there so she could get acquainted with the students in her hall.
“I put on such a show.” She bit her lip in remembrance. “I didn’t want you to think I was a big baby that couldn’t survive without you.”
“I wouldn’t have thought that. I thought … I thought you were glad to be rid of me.”
Her eyes flared with surprise at my confession. “Quinn … we were such idiots toward each other.”
“I know. But never again. I want you to tell me everything.”
“If you two lovebirds are done, we’ve got a problem with this back window, McQuarrie,” Ramsay interrupted.
Taran mock scowled at him. “Was it this charming manner that won Tierney over?”
Ramsay shrugged. “Apparently.”
Taran and I shared an amused look before she pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “Pick me up after work?”
“I’ll be there.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Aye, we all love each other and life is fucking wonderful. Can you hurry up before the lads strain a muscle holding this window?” Ramsay strode off, bristling with impatience.
“He loves me, really,” I promised Taran, making her light laughter ring out between us as she turned, waving goodbye.
A sense of rightness filled me at the sound, and so even when confronted with a window that didn’t fit, I grinned through the problem, unable to wipe the goddamn smile off my face.