Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Maisie reached her hotel room after leaving the ferry, chilled to the bone and thoroughly wet from the rain that had returned in force as they headed back to the mainland.
After peeling off her clothes, she stepped into the hot shower, her limbs regaining their feeling before she got ready for the second time that day.
Taking extra care with her makeup and ensuring her hair was thoroughly dry—though she was sure she’d be soaked again that evening—she bundled up in warm clothes and laid back on her bed, looking around her at the empty room.
She had a full hour before needing to be back at the bus for the next leg of their journey. Instead of wasting time scrolling social media, she allowed the warmth of the room and the comfort of the bed to pull her into a deep slumber.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before a buzzing occurred in her hands, and she was jerked out of her dreams by her phone going off.
She blinked heavily, trying to wake herself up as she stared down at the screen to see Daphne’s name written across it.
Daphne
Hey, hon. Hope you’re doing better than I am. Traveling was a nightmare. Two layovers and massive delays both times. I’m exhausted. BUT I’m finally home.
Maisie cringed. She’d been having the time of her life today and Daphne had been majorly suffering.
Her parents’ advice echoed in her mind. “Her happiness isn’t your responsibility…Don’t be afraid to live your own life. After all, she is.”
They were right. This was going to take some practice, but Maisie was determined to stay okay, even if Daphne wasn’t.
With a self-encouraging nod, she typed out a response.
Maisie
Gah, I’m so sorry! That sounds completely miserable. I’m so glad you’re home, though. Please tell me you get to sleep now??
Daphne
I wish. I’m in an Uber heading to meet with Briggs before Mr. Johnson joins us. I just wanted to touch bases with you really quickly. How are you doing? What was on the agenda for today?
Maisie
Rathlin Island. It was great! Missed you all day, of course.
She looked over the text filled with half-realities, then sent it anyway. She couldn’t very well send Daphne the truth now, could she?
Yeah, Rathlin Island was incredible. I didn’t miss you. In fact, I was glad you weren’t there because I got to hang out with the hot tour guide who flirted with me and checked me out for, like, two hours. Have fun working! Bye!
That would go over really well.
Daphne
Did you get to go on that bike ride??
Maisie
Yep!
Daphne
Aw, I’m so glad! I’m still so bummed I can’t be there with you. I just have to keep reminding myself that all this sacrifice is going to be worth it. As soon as this restaurant opens, it’ll be smooth sailing.
Maisie read the text over. As soon as the restaurant opened, the menu would be complete, and her job would be done. What did Daphne want her to do after that? Keep being her little companion?
Or would Maisie be free to set her course for another dream? One that was solely hers?
Daphne
How was the food today?
Maisie
Pretty lackluster. I have higher hopes for dinner tonight. Supposedly, Willie’s Cellars is fantastic.
Daphne
I’m sure it’ll be great! How was the group?
Ooh, and that cute tour guide?
Maisie could see her fishing from an ocean away. But she’d set Daphne’s mind at ease.
Maisie
The group is awesome as usual. I went out on a bike ride that was awesome. I didn’t spend much time with Finn .
She paused. That one was a flat-out lie. She deleted the text, wondering how to tread this very fine line between choosing to live her own life while still caring for Daphne’s happiness.
Whatever she did, she certainly wasn’t going to tell her about the crush Maisie was most definitely beginning to develop on the oh-so-attractive-and-flirtatious tour guide.
She may be directly avoiding the issue, but frankly, Maisie wasn’t ready to confront the matter headlong.
Maisie
The group was as nice and welcoming as yesterday. And Finn actually went on the bike ride, too, so that was nice to have some friendly company.
There. That was a great text. Straightforward. Nothing for Daphne to overthink. Nice use of the word “friendly.” And most importantly, no lies.
She sent it, then watched Daphne’s conversation dots disappear and reappear three times over. Maisie’s stomach scrunched tighter and tighter until she glanced at the time at the top of her phone.
Her insides drooped. She was going to be late.
She jumped out of bed, scrambling her things together as she read another text.
Daphne
So you went on a bike ride with Finn alone? Okay…tell me more.
Yeah. No thanks.
Maisie
For sure! It might have to be later, though. I’m running late, so I gotta go. Good luck with the meeting. Keep me updated !
When in doubt, she always redirected Daphne’s attention back to the job. That usually worked.
Daphne
I will. I’m already there, too, so this was good timing. Good chatting with you, hon. Miss you!
Maisie
Miss you, too!
Maisie slipped her phone in the pocket of her soft yellow dress, then ran around the room as swiftly as possible, getting ready at the speed of sound before sprinting from the hotel room.
Checking the time, she would only be about four minutes late. That was fine, right? Maybe Mrs. Waterstone would be complaining about Trifle again, then Maisie could just slip in behind her once more.
All hope fled, however, when she neared the bus and caught Finn’s watchful gaze from where he sat on the seat, Mrs. Waterstone nowhere in sight. A glint flashed in his eye, and just as she reached Bob, the doors closed shut.
She laughed in surprise. “Hey! Let me in!”
He shook his head, silently tapping a finger to the watch on his wrist. “You’re late,” he mouthed out.
She pulled in her lips, thinking of a response. “Please?” she tried first, holding her hands together in a sort of prayer.
He folded his arms and again shook his head firmly.
Maisie was fully aware this was making them even later, but they were both clearly enjoying this exchange too much to care.
Next, she raised a warning brow, then pointed her finger up and down directly above the QR code he’d mentioned the day before, suggesting that she would leave him a bad review if he didn’t let her on board.
Finn narrowed his eyes, pulling his lips to one side before ultimately opening the doors.
“Thank you,” she said chipperly from the bottom step .
“You think you’re clever, don’t you?” he asked.
“I am clever.” She took a few steps up the bus, dropping her confident smile to reveal a hesitant grimace. “Just as much as I’m sorry. I swear, this will never happen again.”
“Now when have I heard that before?” he asked, rubbing the stubble across his jaw. “Ach, that’s right. Just yesterday, after you were already late twice .”
“Yeah, but it was everyone else’s fault,” she said with overt innocence.
He pulled up the intercom. While still looking at her, he spoke to the rest of the bus. “Alright ladies and gents, allow me to apologize for the delay, but I’m chuffed to announce that Miss King here is goin’ to make up for it by providin’ us with some in-bus entertainment.”
Maisie probably should have been dreading what he was going to make her do, but she couldn’t help the lovely thrumming of her heart as he continued focusing on her.
“Now, I’ve got a wee book here filled with music,” he continued. “Miss King here’ll choose a song to sing— in the intercom—as we head to our next stop.”
Maisie shook her head. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
His widening grin proved just that as he handed her a small binder filled with sheet music of a handful of Irish songs.
Maisie looked through the sheets, making a mental note to thank her mother for forcing her to take singing lessons as a child when Maisie hadn’t wanted to. She wasn’t a great singer by any stretch of the imagination, but she could read music and hold a note well enough—two facts that were the only things keeping her from crumpling with embarrassment right now.
After choosing a song about Rathlin Island—“This one seems timely”—she took the seat behind Finn at his bidding.
“This’ll be beezer, I’m sure,” Finn said into the intercom. “Now sit back and enjoy as we head to the Dark Hedges on the voice of Maisie King.”
He handed the intercom back to Maisie. “Press this button to talk,” he explained, pointing to the one at the side. “And be sure to hold it back far enough or you’ll blast us back to Belfast.”
She reached for the intercom, her fingers brushing against his and shooting warm bolts of energy up her arm. He gave her a look, then faced forward, reaching over the corded intercom and putting on the music before driving forward.
Maisie pulled the cord toward her and drew deep breaths as the slow tune played out on an Irish flute, mandolin, and fiddle. Gathering her courage, she prayed she wouldn’t butcher the song because only Heaven and her childhood voice lessons could help her now.