Chapter 35
Kasia watched from a stool at the side of the bar as Tierney looked around the pub as if gauging support. Joey hunched at the bar next to her, appearing oblivious to the occasion, but they’d been fully briefed before the meeting. Their pleasure at hearing of Kasia and Tierney’s reunion had been pure and joyous.
Seán nodded in Tierney’s direction from behind the bar, as he poured pints for everyone. Kasia’s suggestion that Tierney pay for the drinks had drawn the island’s population, including her two uncles, out for the evening. They already had two empty glasses in front of them. Aoife collected the glasses, and Kasia saw her drop Tierney an encouraging wink on the way past. Kasia had positioned herself nearby, but with enough space so Tierney remained the center of everyone’s attention.
Even without the enticement of free drinks, most everyone on the island had an interest in Tierney’s meeting about the future of the Waterside hotel. It was the oldest business on Inishderry and many of them had been close to Peggy and knew Kasia well.
Anthony pushed past Tierney on the way to the bathroom. “You’d better get on with this. I’ve other things to be doing.”
Whatever it was couldn’t be more urgent than what she wanted to do to Tierney when they got back to the hotel. But Tierney needed to do this, to make it clear to her wider family and the rest of the islanders what she was doing and what she wanted from them. It really showed how much she’d grown since Kasia had first met her, and it was beautiful to watch.
Once everyone had seated themselves, Tierney stood and waited for the hubbub of conversation to die down. When the chat didn’t immediately stop, Seán clanged his bell, and she shot him a grateful look.
All eyes were on Tierney as she turned to the room. “Thank you all for coming.”
“Thank you for buying the pints,” Jacky said loudly from the back of the room.
Others shushed him while they laughed.
“I wanted you all to know about the developments around my granny’s hotel. The Waterside is an institution on this island, and I’d hate for it to be the subject of gossip or speculation.”
“So are you selling up or what?”
Kasia glared at Desmond Walsh. Perhaps plying them all with alcohol first hadn’t been the wisest move.
Tierney simply gave him an empty smile. “Since I left the island to go back to Boston, I’ve successfully negotiated the purchase of the hotel and grounds from my father, Kevin.”
There was some muttering, but most of the gathered crowd smiled. The Walsh brothers’ jaws dropped, and they turned to whisper between them.
“Kasia and I will be redeveloping the hotel as a restaurant with self-catering accommodation, camping options, and watersports opportunities.”
“So there won’t be as many people staying?” someone shouted from the back.
“The capacity of the hotel itself will be less as we’re focusing on the self-catering offer. But with the cottages, caravans, and glamping pods, we’ll have almost fifty percent more capacity overall. And we’ll be actively attracting visitors through marketing.”
Tierney came across strong and vibrant as she smiled at her audience. She spoke with conviction and passion. It was very attractive, and Kasia shifted on her bar stool as desire surged through her.
Tierney must’ve caught the movement because she turned her smile to Kasia. “Kasia will be my business partner, and while she’ll still be general manager, we’ll be hiring enough staff so Kasia can actually have a day off occasionally.”
She swallowed and gave Tierney a nod of thanks before she looked around. A rumble of approval from the crowd made Kasia feel warm inside. She mirrored Tierney’s smile as she looked around at her chosen community.
“We’ll also be developing themed weekends to attract visitors. We hope you’ll all get involved in providing an island experience that makes people want to go and tell their friends.” She swung her arms wide. “This is an opportunity to bring visitors and vibrancy to Inishderry. It’s not about bringing thousands more day visitors but attracting people who want to experience life on the island and spend money when they’re here. Everyone can benefit if we work together.”
“And what will your role be, Tierney?” Desmond’s voice came again from the Walsh family table. “Will you just be dropping in occasionally to bestow your presence on the lowly islanders?”
Kasia gave him her best intimidating stare. He had a nerve; most of his visits were to entertain his business contacts.
Tierney didn’t let her smile slip. “Thanks for asking, Uncle Desmond. I’ll be here full time while we develop the hotel. Once everything’s settled down, I may have to travel occasionally for work, but this is my home.” She turned and raised her eyebrow at Kasia.
Kasia nodded. She had nothing to be ashamed of anymore. She was proud of her love for Tierney, and she wanted everyone to know.
Tierney put her arm around her. “Kasia and I are planning to make the Waterside our home together.”
A chorus of whistles and kissing noises broke out, along with shouts of congratulations.
Tierney pulled up a bar stool alongside Kasia. “Thank you. We’re happy to talk with any of you individually, and to share the details of our business plan, but I wanted to tell you all what we were doing. Now, what questions do you have?”
Mary Doyle from the bookshop stood up. “It sounds like a good thing to me. Many day visitors don’t get as far as my shop. How about a literary weekend?”
“Absolutely, Mary. That’s just the sort of idea we’re looking for. Let’s talk soon.”
Kasia felt movement behind her. Joey shifted from their shadowed corner to stand tall beside Tierney.
“I’ll support in any way I can. More opportunity to sell our catch on the island can only be a good thing.”
The other fisher families nodded, and someone shouted, “A seafood festival.”
Everyone cheered, and Joey sat down. Kasia appreciated their loyalty, knowing standing up in a meeting wasn’t something Joey was comfortable with.
Aoife came around from behind the bar. “I think it’s a great thing for the island. We can cross promote and offer hotel visitors a discount on the ferry, can’t we, Dad?”
Anthony shuffled in his seat and looked awkwardly at his older brother. “We can talk about it.”
“I’d like to discuss some of the details with you both after this meeting, if that’s convenient?” Tierney caught Desmond’s eye. “We all need to work together for the good of the island and our community.”
He shrugged. “We’re here now. We might as well.”
A couple of other residents had their say about how the plans could help their businesses, and Tierney confirmed they would prioritize local produce in the restaurant. Eventually, people dispersed, stopping to clap Tierney on the shoulder and wish her luck.
When Tierney turned to Kasia, she rolled her eyes before joining her uncles at the high table. Kasia followed and sat slightly apart. Tierney elbowed Christy so he moved up the bench, and she motioned for Kasia to join them.
“Kasia’s my partner in business as well as life. She’ll be part of the conversation.”
“I don’t know what you want from us. We don’t wish you any harm, but the hotel is nothing to do with us now.” Desmond sat back with his arms folded.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You both have businesses on this island, and you’re spiting yourselves by not embracing the opportunities the hotel could provide.”
Tierney slapped the table.
“I don’t care about whatever feud you and my dad are wrapped up in. Nobody cares. And by taking it out on me and my business, you’re hurting plenty of others, and you’re wasting time and energy on something stupid.”
“Tierney’s right, Dad,” Aoife said. “We want to work in harmony. Whatever problem you two have with Uncle Kevin, it’s nothing to do with us.”
Christy nodded. “We want the ferry business to thrive. It’s not as if we’re the only option. I don’t want to drive Tierney away to the Mullens on the mainland.”
Both of her uncles glanced over at Tierney, who shrugged.
“I want to work with my family to make this happen, but if you make it difficult for me, I’ll have no choice.”
“I want no involvement with you or the hotel, but I won’t put anything in your way.” Desmond finished his pint.
Tierney sighed. “I’d love to know what it was my dad did to piss you off so much that I have to pay for it too.”
“He did nothing. That was the problem. He never helped Mammy and Dad, and nothing was ever expected of him. There’s no way either of us”—he waved at his brother—“could have run off to America. But he left with their blessing. He’s a lazy little freeloader.”
Desmond’s voice had risen by the end of his monologue, and Anthony put a hand on his arm.
Tierney let out a bark of laughter. “So he was the baby of the family who left and became successful, and you resent him for that?” She shook her head. “Wow.”
“The least he could do would be to come back here and apologize, but he’s too spineless to even do that,” Anthony piped up.
“So you’ll continue to take it out on me in his absence?” She shook her head again. “Shall I tell you his version of events? Not that I believe him any more than you, but you need to hear it anyway.”
Seán came over with another round of drinks and sat down next to Aoife. He smiled at Kasia to acknowledge their unity as people affected by the conversation, but not fully part of the Walsh family.
“Dad says he grew up in terror of you both. That you’d bully and hurt him whenever you got the chance from an early age. He used to try and follow Granny around for protection, but she’d be busy and shoo him away to go and play. So he’d run away with Gabriel, and they’d sit on the quay and dream up ways they could make enough money to get off the island. Away from you.” She leaned forward. “Now, look me in the eye and tell me there’s no truth in that.”
Anthony’s gaze shifted between Tierney and his brother. “We were kids. Boys. We played rough. Kevin was the smallest, so he always came out worse, and he didn’t like it. That’s just life.”
“He’s five years younger than you, Uncle Des. At fifteen, you must have been terrifying to a ten-year-old.”
Desmond cleared his throat. “Maybe we got a bit too rough sometimes. But he was their golden child. It was as if we didn’t matter at all.”
“Those are the thoughts of a child. Lots of kids resent new siblings, but not many of them carry that into their sixties. You all need to grow up. It’s absurd.”
Kasia smiled. Tierney could never have had this conversation a few short months ago. Her confidence was impressive.
“Can we not put all of that behind us now?” The sweep of Aoife’s arm took in her brother and husband, as well as Tierney and Kasia. “We all just want to work with each other and make the island a better place.”
“And I don’t want to dread coming into the pub when you two are around. I’m not my dad, and I’m not a child to be bullied.” Tierney raised her glass and took a long swallow. “You don’t have to be my friends. Just treat me with a little respect.”
Desmond stood. “Let’s see how you get on with the plans for the hotel. You won’t get any trouble from us.”
Anthony got up behind him and tipped his head at Aoife. “You can work together all you want as long as it doesn’t affect profits.”
As the two men walked toward the door, Desmond turned. “And tell Kevin we should talk.”
“No.” Tierney’s tone was firm but not insolent. “You tell him.”
Everyone at the table let out a long breath when the door closed.
Joey moved from their perch at the bar to sit at the table next to Seán. “That went better than expected.”
Kasia felt the energy coming off Tierney in waves. “You were brilliant.”
Aoife nodded. “They’re not easy people to stand up to.” She raised her glass. “To Tierney.”
The others echoed her, and everyone drank.
Tierney jumped up. “See you all tomorrow for the start of a new chapter at Walsh’s Waterside hotel.”
Kasia found herself being pulled through the pub door. As soon as they were alone in the dark, Tierney reached up for a kiss.
She pulled back. “Thank you. I’ve been dying to do that all night. Now let’s get back to the hotel, and I can show you exactly how hot I found your performance.”
Following Tierney quickly up the dark road, she realized just how much had changed, not just between them, but for the future itself. Everything she’d ever wanted was right here, just as she’d always dreamed it would be.