Page 24 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
Her attraction to Kasia was real. Her intensity was magnetic in a way Tierney found both thrilling and terrifying. Their night together, hazy as the memory was, had been on another level. But sleeping with employees wasn’t right. She would just make things worse if she returned.
Not planning ahead had always worked for Tierney in the past, fitting well with her restless energy to try new things. Now she felt as though she could easily curl up and hibernate the winter away. But even if she did, when she awoke in the spring, she’d still be in the same boat, rudderless and adrift.
Tierney stretchedout on the couch and craned her neck to see Megan in the kitchen. “So, I got this real curt email to say she’d gone to Dublin. Just like that, with no warning. I thought, if nothing else, that she was dependable.”
She could pretend her annoyance was about the business, but if she was honest Kasia’s abruptness had hurt. Tierney had wanted to call. She’d missed Kasia’s voice, truth be told.But she’d chickened out and replied to the email with equal formality.
Megan appeared in the doorway, the frown lines around her eyes deep. “She seems pretty dependable to me. She kept the hotel running single-handedly all summer. If there are no bookings, isn’t she entitled to a break?”
Tierney squirmed. “She could’ve asked, I guess.”
“And what if she had? You’d have said it wasn’t your call, and Kevin would’ve ignored her request. I don’t blame her. She’s basically been her own boss since your granny died.”
Tierney sat up. “Are you okay?” Megan had been a little withdrawn since Tierney had returned.
Her shoulders dropped and she leaned against the wall. “No, not really. My mom’s been ill, and it seemed like a regular chest infection at first, but now they’re talking about pneumonia. I really need to see her, but work is pretty unrelenting at the moment.”
Tierney jumped up and took her by the shoulders. “Megan, it’s yourmom. Work is just work. It’ll be here when you get back.”
“You wouldn’t understand?—”
“About complicated relationships with parents? Isn’t that what brought us close as kids?” How could Megan think she wouldn’t get it?
Megan gave her a small, sad smile. “About work commitments. Andmywork in particular. You don’t get why it’s such a big deal to me.” Megan pulled back. “But it is, Tierney, and I don’t want to have to drop everything just because she’s not been taking her meds again. She’s in the most amazing facility, though God only knows how she can afford it. I’m sure she’ll be on the mend soon. And then I’ll go visit when things are less busy.” She walked back to the kitchen, and Tierney followed.
“Call Dad and go see your mom. If you don’t close on that sale, you’ll be annoyed for a while, but Dad will understand, and he’ll get someone else to complete it. And when you’re back, you’ll move on to the next job. Three years down the line, you’ll never even recollect that job, but you’ll definitely remember if you didn’t go see your mom when she was ill.” She pushed Megan toward the door. “I’ll finish dinner, and you can call Dad.”
Megan nodded. “You’re right. I’ll make the call now.” She went toward her room then turned with a grin. “But food poisoning isn’t going to help my journey to Philly, is it?”
“Ha ha. Get outta here.” Tierney heard her close the door to her room and turned to the piles of half-prepared food on the worktop. She’d figure it out.
When they sat to eat, Megan chewed her first mouthful deliberately. “Wow, this is really tasty. Good job, buddy.”
Tierney elbowed her. “Don’t be patronizing. I can cook when I need to. What did Dad say?” She hoped he’d been a good human and put Megan’s needs before the business. There had been too many times when he hadn’t done that, with employees or his own family.
Megan swallowed. “It was surprisingly easy. He said I should take as long as I need.” She paused before taking her next forkful. “It was almost as if he was expecting something.”
Tierney shrugged. “Perhaps he’s developed into such an empathetic leader, he could sense it.” She let out a bark of laughter and put her fork down. “Anyway, good news, right? When do you leave?”
“He told me to go immediately. I’ve booked a flight for the morning.”
“Do you want me to come with you? Or bring the car down later? I can be there in a few hours.”
“I know, buddy. You’re always there for me.” Megan paused her eating again. “But Al is in New York for work, and he’s offered to drive down to give me some company.”
Fucking Al. “Ah, cool. It’s good you’ll have some support.”
Megan wiped her mouth. “You’re my oldest and best friend, Tierney. You and your dad gave me a family when I needed one. Al’s really hot, and I think I might even like him if he wasn’t. But nothing will ever change whatwe’vegot.”
“Yeah, I know. I need to stop being an asshole and accept that you’ve got a boyfriend. I’ll try.” She picked up the plates and turned to the sink, so she didn’t have to keep the smile plastered on any longer. “Go pack your bags. I got this.”
Here she was fretting about whether Al was going to replace her as Megan’s favorite person when she should be doing her best to support her. She had to try harder to put the people she cared about first.
TWELVE
Tierney wokewith a start and took a moment to realize her phone was ringing. She checked the time as she picked up Megan’s call. It was before eight. There could only be one reason for her calling. “Meg?”
The sound of sobbing came down the line, but there were no words accompanying the anguish.
