Page 88 of Quiet Longing

A long moment of quiet fell before she said, “I understand.”

For some reason, her stoic acceptance made me even angrier at myself. “I should’ve gotten my fucking act together and told you what was happening instead of going silent on you. I did the same to Derek and the others. Didn’t talk to anyone for months.” I paused, frowned, then cast her an apologetic look. “I have a problem with isolating myself when life gets tough.”

“It’s a coping mechanism, I get it. I did the same for a while when my marriage was in trouble. Tried to hide the problems. If only I’d opened up to my mom, let her help me, then maybe I would’ve ended things with Jesse a lot sooner.”

“Yeah?”

Charli nodded, her expression solemn as she stared out the window. I wanted to ask her more about her marriage, what her husband had really been like. If he was as much of an arsehole as Nuala would have me believe. But we’d just arrived at the tax office, and I had to let Charli out before I went to find a parking spot.

“This is it,” I said, eyeing her closely. She seemed withdrawn, and I wondered if discussing her ex-husband made her that way. “Go on inside and grab a number. I’m going to find somewhere to park, and then I’ll come find you.”

“Okay.” She picked up her bag and climbed out then turned back, her hazel eyes sad. “I’m sorry to hear about your mom, Rhys. And I’m sorry I never got the chance to meet her.”

With that, she left, and I stayed idling at the entrance, feeling like a lead weight had been dropped on my chest. Fuck, those parting words. I wished she could’ve met Mam, too. I bet they would’ve liked each other. It wasn’t until a horn honked behind me that I finally put the car in gear and drove away.

Two days later, Shay knocked on my office door a couple minutes before lunch. We were due to head out and meet his girlfriend, Maggie, for a bite to eat at an Italian café around the corner.

You ready?he signed as he stuck his head in.

“Yeah, just give me two minutes.”

I finished up an email to Danny, one of the security guards working out of the Malahide location. I closed out the window, put my desktop on sleep, then noticed someone had stopped outside my office to talk to Shay. I thought it was probably another member of my security team, but when I emerged, Charli was there, adorably fumbling her way through interpreting ISL. I was still impressed she knew some sign language.

“I’m sorry,” she apologised to Shay. “I’m very rusty.”

“He asked if you’d like to join us for lunch,” I told her. “We’re meeting his girlfriend at a great little café. You’re welcome to come.”

“Oh, I probably shouldn’t.”

“Come on,” I encouraged. “They make amazing Italian sandwiches. You have to try one.”

“Appeal to my foodie Italian half, why don’t you. Well, all right, then. Just let me grab my purse.”

She went, and I glanced back at Shay, who wore an amused, curious expression.

Don’t thank me, he signed.

“Why would I thank you?”

She’s the girl from the photo in your office.

“Yes, that was taken when we were teenagers. Derek gave it to me. I told you we were old friends after you met her the first time.”

Just something in the way you look at her. Your eyes go all soft.Shay responded, and then Charli was back, hitching her bag up on her shoulder. Was that true? Did my eyes soften when I looked at her?

The atmosphere between us had been solemn after I’d dropped her off at the tax office on Monday, the drive back to the hotel quiet with both of us lost in thought. I’d wondered what she’d been thinking. Perhaps imagining how different things might’ve turned out if Mam hadn’t gotten sick and I hadn’t pushed away everyone in my life who was important to me, including her.

Especially her.

It was only a short walk to the café. Charli conversed with Shay, figuring out some of the differences between Irish and American sign language. Something about her interest in the subject caused a warm, pleasant feeling in me.

Maggie was waiting for us when we arrived, a thick purple scarf around her neck and her long auburn hair tied back in a ponytail. Her blue eyes crinkled happily when she spotted Shay, and my cousin strode to her side, pressing a soft kiss on her lips before winding his arms around her waist. They made such a sweet couple. It was a relief Shay had finally found someone who he adored, who adored him back and appreciated him for all he was.

This is Charli. She’s the new accountant at the hotel, Shay signed to Maggie, who sent Charli a friendly smile.

“Hi, Charli. I’m Maggie. It’s lovely to meet you,” Maggie said, and I could tell by the flash of knowing in her eyes that Shay had already told her about Charli, who she was, and how we’d known each other as teenagers. I hadn’t told him of our romanticrelationship, but I suspected he’d already pieced it together based on my behaviour when she was around. I wasn’t sure if it was because he’d been mute most of his life, or if it was simply his natural way, but my cousin was the most astutely observant person I knew.

“And you,” Charli replied as they shook hands.

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