Chapter 13
It had taken Kasia all of twenty-four hours to realize she couldn’t go back to the big hotel life. The conveyor belt business of filling beds with exhausted, disgruntled residents who just wanted a pillow for the night and no small talk wasn’t what she wanted in life.
Christy had waved from the bright warmth of the wheelhouse, but she’d opted to sit up on top, wondering about her decision as they moved toward the lights of Inishderry. Fuzzy warmth filled her as they passed the lighthouse and turned into the harbor, pushing away her insecurities about the future. Even in the dark she was familiar with every feature of the island, and she knew the names of the people sitting snugly inside each brightly lit cottage she passed. This was her home, and she would find a way to stay.
Kasia slid the padlock off the door and wearily thrust the key into the lock. Her newfound optimism washed away in the stream of water that sloshed around her ankles when she swung open the hotel doors.
“No! What’s happening?” She flicked the light switch and illuminated a scene of destruction. “Ja pierdol?!” It was as if the hotel was doing its best to ensure its own downfall. She waded into the kitchen and dropped to her knees to find the stopcock under the sink. It turned with a clunk, and the gushing sound of water stopped. She dried her hands quickly on her jeans, then ran to the hallway and turned off the electricity to the downstairs, plunging herself into darkness. Better that than the hotel burns down in an electrical fire that I would probably get blamed for.
The chill from the wet denim made her shudder as she pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket and dialed the one person she knew she could rely on.
“It’s not as bad as you thought.” Joey’s powerful flashlight shone off the remaining puddles in the floor. “I checked everywhere earlier when I fed Fergus. It might only have been leaking for a short time. Have you called someone to come and fix it?”
“I guess I need to check with Tierney and her dad first.” Kasia groaned and dropped onto a dry step, still clutching the mop she’d been using for the last hour. “What am I trying to do here, Joey?”
She threw the mop across the kitchen, startling Fergus, who had just made an appearance around the door. “Oh, I’m sorry, Fergus. Come here and give me a cuddle. I need it.”
She held out her hand, and Fergus made his way gingerly around the puddles to her side. He allowed her a brief ear scratch before stepping back. “I wish he was a dog. I could do with the affection and unquestioning loyalty.”
Fergus pushed past her and leapt up the stairs, his tail flicking as if in disapproval.
She pushed herself up off the step. “I need to find myself somewhere to sleep.”
Joey opened the door to her quarters. “It does seem to have got the worst of it in here.”
“That was where the water was gushing from. A burst pipe in my bedroom, I believe.” She ran a hand through her hair.
Joey wrapped their arm around her. “There’s nothing more we can do tonight. How about we both find a room upstairs, and tomorrow we’ll check out the damage and get someone in to fix it. And when you’re warm and dry, you can tell me why you’ve only been away for a day.”
“What would I do without you?” Kasia led the way upstairs wearily, wondering if trying to save the Waterside really was a step too far. Her eyes tracked to the watercolor paintings that lined the stairway. They were Peggy’s best attempts to paint the island. She would keep trying for Peggy’s sake, and her own. She just needed to remember that when she called Tierney in the morning.
“What is wrong with that woman?” Kasia dropped her phone in her lap and leaned her head against the cold window of the van. She stared out at the landscape, blurred by the rain flooding in little rivers down the glass.
“It didn’t sound like a very two-sided conversation. What did she say?” Joey focused on the road in the poor conditions.
“Not much. I’m not even sure she was listening.”
“But she gave the go-ahead to get the repairs, right?”
“Yes, she said to make it safe and make sure I had water and heating. But any other repairs or replacement fixtures I’m to get a quote and send it to Kevin.” She turned to Joey. “She barely expressed any concern about the flood, or asked how I was, or anything. Do you think she holds me responsible for what happened?”
Joey’s laugh surprised her. They glanced at her. “Are you serious? If you knew Tierney at all, you’d understand she’d blame herself entirely for that night and feel too embarrassed to face you.”
“She didn’t sound embarrassed, just distracted. And a little down, now that I think about it.” Hearing her voice again had been comforting for a moment, then Tierney’s obvious lack of interest in her predicament had cooled the warm feeling.
“Shall I call her and ask if she’s okay?”
“No, I’m sure she’s fine. I probably bored her with my request for help. I need to focus on getting the hotel back in shape before the Christmas visitors, which I can’t do if you drag me into the city.”
“My new fancy restaurant customers offered me dinner and a night of accommodation in their rental apartment over the restaurant. For two. I wasn’t going to accept, but you don’t have water or electricity until the boys have finished the repairs. And your bedroom’s under water. Let’s have a relaxing night in town, and you can get back on it tomorrow.”
Kasia knew Joey was trying to cheer her up. They were probably right. Getting away for a day would do her good, and she had a couple of weeks to fix the mess before the first of the Christmas visitors.
Joey’s new customers were a celebrity chef from Dublin and her wife. Kasia had seen Marianne Browne on TV many times and was looking forward to eating in such a prestigious establishment. The couple had renovated a city center building into an elegant restaurant, and Marianne’s reputation ensured they were fully booked every night.
Amira, Marianne’s wife, welcomed them warmly and apologized that their table would be close to the kitchen door. It looked to Kasia as though they had placed it there specially to accommodate their unexpected guests.
“I really appreciate this, Amira.”
Kasia didn’t often see Joey away from the island and was always surprised how easily they adapted to socializing. She knew it took a toll, and they were happier back on Inishderry, but they were good at relationships. She wished they had more.
“You’re welcome here any time. And we need to rearrange that visit.”
When she moved to another table, Joey turned to Kasia. “Marianne has a big social media following. She likes to show where she sources her ingredients, so she’s coming over to visit the oyster beds with me.”
Before Kasia had a chance to say she thought the exposure would be good for Joey’s business, a tall woman burst through the kitchen doors. Her checkered trousers and black tunic were pristine and crisp considering the kitchen must be a lot warmer than the dining room.
“Joey, so good to see you. And thank you for the scallops.” She didn’t give Joey a chance to stand before she kissed them on both cheeks. “What have you ordered?”
“Um.” Joey blinked. “We haven’t yet. Can I introduce my friend Kasia? She runs the hotel on Inishderry.”
Marianne Browne’s trademark short-cropped russet hair was covered with a black bandanna, but her freckled complexion and pale blue eyes made it obvious she was a redhead. When she took Kasia’s hand, her grip was warm and sincere. “A pleasure to meet you. We’ll have to share restaurant tips sometime.” She spoke quickly as if every moment was precious.
“I would like that, although?—”
“You don’t need to order; I’ll see you right. Enjoy your food, and I’ll visit you and your oysters soon.”
Before Kasia had a chance to explain the sorry state of her own establishment, Marianne had turned and was heading back inside the kitchen.
The door swung shut, and she and Joey let out a breath.
“She’s quite the whirlwind.”
Joey laughed. “I think she has to be to achieve all that she does. She was doing really well on TV in Dublin. She gave it all up for their dream, but there’s no question her reputation helps keep this place packed.”
Kasia tried to imagine a world where she could pursue her own dreams, unfettered by the whims of an employer. The dream would involve the Waterside. If she had the budget and the power to choose anywhere, it would always be Inishderry.
Her musing was disturbed by the arrival of their first dish. Over the next hour or more, they worked their way through a six-course tasting menu, heavy on the seafood. “This is unbelievable,” she murmured around the perfectly cooked scallop in her mouth. “Are they yours?”
“I guess so. I shucked them this morning and brought them over with us.”
When they’d plowed through the food and thanked Amira, they were shown to the apartment on the top floor. A Juliet balcony gave them a view over the city, and Joey swung the doors wide, letting in a healthy waft of cool air.
“We’re in the big city. It seems a waste not to make the most of it.” They turned to face Kasia. “Fancy a quick nightcap?”
“Are you kidding? You must’ve been up half the night.” There were dark smudges under Joey’s eyes.
“I’ve got a second wind.” Joey did a little jig in the middle of the room. “Let’s go dancing.”
Kasia laughed. “We are not going dancing. I know you’re only doing this to cheer me up, but okay, let’s have a quick drink. Then I need my bed.” She wasn’t sure who was humoring whom at this point, but she hadn’t been into town recently, so why not?
They strolled down the main street where music and laughter spilled out from every bar door. “Why don’t we go to that place you talk about? They have live music tonight, don’t they?” Joey asked, looking around.
Live music and Melissa. “Let’s try somewhere else.”
Joey pulled her to a halt. “It’s okay to have some fun, Kasia.”
“I don’t have time for fun. And it was starting to feel more than casual the last time I saw Melissa.” But maybe it wasn’t right to avoid her. “Right, we’ll go, and I’ll say hi. We’ll have a drink and leave.”
The bar was quiet for a Thursday night, and a note on the door announced the music wouldn’t start for another hour. That meant Melissa would have plenty of time to talk. She gritted her teeth and walked to the bar.
“Why, hello stranger.” Melissa’s beaming smile almost lit the dark bar on its own, though it dimmed slightly when her gaze took in Joey, following close behind. “And who’s this?”
“Hi, Melissa. This is my friend Joey.”
Melissa’s smile returned to full wattage. “Joey. Kasia talked about you, but she never told me how good looking you were.”
Joey only half hid their eye roll. They ordered their drinks as quickly as they could and escaped to a booth. “Is she that flirty with everyone?”
“Who knows? Perhaps I should worry less about her missing my company.” Somehow that was both a relief and a little disheartening. I’m such a mess.
“I’m guessing Melissa gets plenty of company.” Joey sipped their drink then blinked their eyes tight shut and gave a wide yawn.
Kasia covered the hand clutching their glass. “You’re wrecked. Let’s get back.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to see if Melissa’s free after work?”
As if hearing her name, Melissa came from behind the bar, stopping at a nearby table to collect a solitary empty glass. She strolled over and leaned on theirs. “How long are you in town?”
Joey excused themself and headed for the bathroom. Melissa slid quickly into the seat across from Kasia.
“I missed you.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch, but things have been very busy, and I’ve got a lot to do to get the hotel ready for Christmas.”
“Still busting a gut for someone else’s profit?”
“It’s what we all do, isn’t it?” She gestured to the bar.
“Oh, I do the bare minimum and get the healthy bonus of meeting gorgeous women.” Melissa winked. “Spend the night with me, for old times’ sake.”
“I don’t think we’ve reached the nostalgia stage.” She finished her drink. “I can’t, I’m sorry.”
“Did something happen? Have you met someone?” Melissa didn’t look upset, just curious.
“No, it’s nothing like that.” Technically, she’d met someone and slept with her. But that wasn’t what this was about. Was it? “I just don’t have the energy at the moment. We had a good time, and I’d like to stay friends.”
Melissa pushed herself up. “Yeah, friends. Sounds fun. You know where I am if you change your mind.”
Kasia watched Melissa walk back to the bar, wondering why she had cut off her main source of stress relief. It was true she didn’t have time. She would have to rely on cold water swimming and complaining about the Walsh family as her main relaxation methods for now. She had to get the hotel in a state to receive guests, and Christmas would keep her busy. Where would the new year take her? All she could do was wait and see.