Chapter 32
“Uncle Gabriel, I need your help.” Tierney tapped her fingers on the table as she waited for his camera to activate.
The screen flickered, and her godfather’s handsome face appeared.
“The words I’ve always wanted to hear from my beloved goddaughter.”
His voice was full of laughter, but she knew he’d listen to her proposal. He’d always taken her seriously.
“Do you think I’m capable of running a business?” It felt a bit lame to be asking that question, but it was a good place to start. She needed to hear it from someone other than Megan.
He laughed even harder. “You’ve had the best education money can buy, you’re smart, and you’ve got a good heart. You could be a success at anything you put your mind to, if you cared enough about it to stick with it and see it through.”
She recalled Megan’s comments about having found the right project. “I’ve not always been given that impression by my dad. He thinks I’m a loser.”
Gabriel sighed. She wished they were having this conversation face-to-face, but she didn’t have the time or the funds for a trip to the other side of the world. She was done using her dad’s credit card.
“That isn’t true, but you confuse him…and maybe make him question his values. And we all know Kevin doesn’t like to be questioned.” He steepled his fingers. “Are you proud of your dad?”
“I don’t know. When I was younger, I worshipped him and didn’t understand why I couldn’t be more like him. But his disappointment wore me down over time. I admired how he looked after his employees, but with the revelations about Megan and her mom, I’ve not even got that.”
“This is a conversation you need to have with him, not me.” He held his hand up as she started to object. “I know you’ve tried. But he treats you like a child; he always has. You need to confront him as an adult and get some of this out in the open.”
She nodded. “Okay, I’ll try. I’m not happy about how things are with us.”
“So was the help you needed just a listening ear? Or is there something else?”
She’d nearly forgotten the whole purpose of her call. How could she succeed if she couldn’t keep her focus on the endgame?
“I want to buy a property. I’ve got the money to make the purchase, but there’s a lot of renovation work to do. We’ve got most of the quotes in place and a projected income for the first five years. I think the bank will loan me most of it, but I’d be in a stronger position with an investor.”
He laughed. “You want my money.”
“No, I want you to invest. This is a business proposition, Gabriel. We can talk division of profits and find something that suits you, but I’m looking for a partner, not a handout. We’ve got a great business plan. Megan has looked it over, and she agrees.”
“Is this property the Waterside Hotel?” All laughter had left his voice. “Oh, don’t look so shocked. You’ve spent months there, and when you talk about it, you light up.”
“Dad’s putting it up for sale. He doesn’t want it, and he doesn’t understand how important it is.”
“Why is it so important?”
She blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. She should’ve come up with an elevator pitch before she asked for investment.
“Because it’s a magical place, and I love being there. Granny created an experience where people could build holiday memories that would stay with them for life. I want to continue that, but with a modern take. I really believe it could be successful, and it would help regenerate the island as a visitor destination. I want to be a business owner who cares about the hotel and the community.” It was also Kasia’s home, and that might just be its most important quality.
“And you would project manage the work and oversee the hotel when it reopens?”
“Of course. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” As she said it, she realized that was completely true. She’d finally found her home, a place in the world that made her want to fight to stay, when she’d never even been looking for it.
“Then I’m in. Send me some figures and the paperwork, and let’s make this happen.”
Tierney wished she could hug him, but she made do with effusive thanks until he mentioned it was very late in Sydney and hung up.
Could her plan really be coming together?
Kasia had sent an email, professional and blunt, saying she’d be leaving for a week to go to her grandmother’s funeral. Tierney wished she’d been there with her when she’d gotten the news, to talk through how she must be feeling about going back to see her estranged family. But she hadn’t been, so she’d done what she could and moved quickly with the valuation. It had felt a little odd asking Aoife to show the agent from Portrinn around in Kasia’s absence, but she hoped she’d understand the urgency. God knew, she didn’t want to go upsetting Kasia yet again. But she also didn’t know where things stood between them, and she didn’t want to bother her so soon after losing the grandparent she’d had such a troubled relationship with. Better to focus on her plan, and then she could surprise her with it. In a good way, hopefully. Now she just needed to convince her dad to sell the hotel to her.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Megan looked up from her laptop.
Tierney knew she was a distraction, hovering in the doorway of Megan’s office. She forced herself to stop tapping her foot against the door. “No, I need to do this myself. But thanks.”
“Just turn all that nervous energy into confidence, and you’ll be fine.”
She nodded and checked her watch for the hundredth time. “Does fifteen minutes early look too eager?” She’d usually plan to arrive at appointments exactly on time, which often translated into five minutes late, so this was new territory for her.
“No, but I happen to know he’s in a meeting with the directors at the moment, so you’ll just be lurking at his door doing that annoying foot tapping.” She tossed a pencil at Tierney’s foot.
“Sorry.” She threw herself into a spare chair and swung it around one way and then the other.
Megan stood up. “I’m going to get myself a coffee. And some chamomile tea for you.”
“That sounds disgusting. Can I have a Coke?”
“No caffeine until you’ve bought a hotel.”
She watched Megan leave and then checked her watch again. Ten minutes. She channeled Megan and Gabriel’s advice. She would go into the room as an equal and make her dad understand she was serious. She took a deep breath, recalling what Kasia had taught her about using breathing to calm herself. This wasn’t just for her. Kasia’s future depended on her success too. Maybe even their future together, if that was still possible. She stood and paced the room with her laptop and papers clasped under her arm.
Megan reappeared. “The directors have just left. Get in there before he has too much time to think about the meeting. Good luck!”
Her shove propelled Tierney along the corridor, and she let the momentum take her. Her father’s door was closed, but she got a smile and nod from his PA, so she headed in after a short knock. Her father looked up from the papers on his desk with raised eyebrows.
“Tierney, on time for once. What did you want to see me about?”
She took his cue to get straight to business. “I want to buy the Waterside from you. I’ve had it valued in its current state, and my offer is fair. Generous, even.” She slid a sheet of paper across the desk.
He glanced down and back up, his mouth open for a moment before he snapped it shut and shook his head. “Is this a joke? Where would you find this kind of money?”
“I’m selling my half of the house to Meg. You wouldn’t believe how much it’s increased in value over the last fourteen years.” She let the smile she’d been suppressing break through as she took a seat.
He pulled the papers toward him and scanned the figures. “When did you get the hotel valued? Young Tony told me he wouldn’t be able to do it for a couple of weeks.”
“I didn’t ask Tony Walsh. I’ve had enough of you and your brothers’ childish feud getting in the way of everything I try to achieve. I asked Joe Connelly on the mainland. He went out straight away and sent a full report. It’s included in the papers I’ve given you. My offer is fair, as you’ll see.”
Her dad pushed the paperwork aside. “You don’t have to prove yourself, Tierney. If the hotel means so much, I’ll gift it to you.” He waved at the pile of papers. “You didn’t need to do all of this.”
She let her smile drop. Hadn’t she already made it clear how much it meant to her?
“This isn’t about you, Dad. I don’t want your generosity or to be forever beholden to you. You wanted a buyer for the hotel, and I’m making you an offer. All I want from you is to accept it.”
His pale eyes were like diamonds, but she kept eye contact until he was the first to look away.
He picked up the papers. “Send me all of this by email. I’ll have someone look at it, and we’ll talk again.”
“Thanks, Dad. I look forward to hearing from you. Quickly, if possible. I need to get repairs started as soon as possible.”
She kept a normal pace until she was out of sight of his office, and then darted down the hallway to Megan’s office.
“Megan, clear your calendar. We’re celebrating tonight!”
Megan looked up from her screen and checked her watch. “There’s no way he said yes just like that.”
“No… But he didn’t say no, so that’s worth raising a glass to, surely?”
She tilted her head. “Never celebrate until everything is signed and sealed. You have a business plan to adjust and finalize before you can apply to the bank. You should do that now, so you’ve got everything in place if he agrees to the price.”
“Aww, being an adult is so boring.”
She knew Megan was right, but she wanted to celebrate her breakthrough with her dad. She should also tell Kasia that she’d be back in Inishderry. “I’m going to find my office. I need to send the valuation over to Dad.” She looked around, trying to remember the way.
Megan waved to the small table in her office. “Work here. They gave your office to someone else years ago when it was clear you were never going to use it.”
“They did? How rude!” She grinned.
She sat and took a long breath before she opened her laptop. Kasia’s advice to always make lists forced its way into her overstimulated mind, making her smile. She started itemizing her tasks:
Email Dad valuation and offer
Talk to Kasia re Waterside (and our future!)
Rewrite business plan for bank
Book flight home
She stopped typing and stared at the screen. Was Inishderry home to her now? When had that happened?
No question it was where she wanted to be, with Kasia, making a life together. She was determined to make it work. She just hoped Kasia would feel the same way.
She pictured the hotel after the renovations: painted sparkling white, the restaurant bustling with people enjoying good food and the picturesque view of the harbor. The sun shining down upon children playing on the lawn that led down to the rocks—It was her dream, so she could control the weather.
Finally, she imagined Kasia coming out through the front doors, looking beautiful and happy the way she did when she was relaxed. She smiled at Tierney with such love Tierney knew she was home.
If she could visualize it, she could achieve it. She just needed to stop daydreaming and make it happen.