Page 35 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
Kasia had found if she provided Tierney with a list of jobs, she could stick to it reliably. She was less adept at working out what was needed intuitively, but they could work around that.
“Also, Mrs. Keane came to reception and asked about where to walk, so I gave her the leaflet and pointed out my favorites. She seemed to like that.”
Kasia turned from her task at the expectant tone in Tierney’s voice. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet as she waited. “Yes, people love the personal touch. Especially from a Walsh. Good work, Tierney.”
Tierney beamed. Did she really need such a level of reassurance? Kasia did need to understand her better if she was going to send her back to her dad to win him over with their business plan. She returned to her task. “I’ll be finished here by twelve. Why don’t you make us a sandwich for lunch and pack up your camera equipment, and we can go down to the east beach to look for your waders. It’s low tide soon.” She turned after a moment of silence.
Tierney looked at her with wide eyes. “You want to go with me to watch birds? On your break?”
“Of course. Don’t you want to do that?”
“Yes, that would be amazing.” Tierney bounced into the kitchen and began opening cupboards. “What do you want? Peanut butter? Jelly?”
Kasia paused her task for a few moments to point her in the direction of more appropriate sandwich fillings and listened while she sang quietly as she worked. She’d noticed Tierney hummed or sang when she was happy, even when she was alone. As if the world was too quiet. She had a good voice, and for a moment, Kasia imagined herself accompanying Tierney’s singing with her flute, as she’d done with Peggy. She shook her head and went back to packing away breakfast ingredients with a pleasant feeling of anticipation for their lunchtime walk.
An hour later, they strolled up the lane. Tierney carried her camera bag and tripod, while Kasia swung a bag packed with sandwiches and a flask of tea. The afternoon was bright and chilly. Kasia was glad to get some fresh air, half-listening as Tierney chattered away about curlews and their nesting habits.
She thought to ask, “Are birds your preferred subject to photograph?”
Tierney swung around, her tripod resting on her shoulder. “Surprisingly, yes. I only found out by accident when I went on a course to improve my technique. I’d never really noticed birds before.” She grinned. “Megan would say it was because I never sat still long enough to see any.” Her smile faded. “But I love watching their behavior and trying to capture some of that in my images.”
“Is it a hobby you share with Megan?”
Tierney laughed. “Oh, no, Meg doesn’t do nature. She came out with me once, but it’s not for her.” She increased her pace so she was walking ahead.
“Do you miss her when you’re here? You live together, right?” Kasia had nothing to lose, and she didn’t want Joey to think she hadn’t tried.
“Oh, we did. Do, I mean. It’s just…Megan’s got a boyfriend now, and it’s only a matter of time till they move in together, I guess. Everything’s changed.”
Kasia couldn’t see Tierney’s face, but her tone betrayed sadness. She hurried to catch up, but Tierney veered from the path and climbed up a small grassy hill to their left. Striding after her, Kasia followed onto a small clearing overlooking the beach.
“We can see them from here, but we won’t disturb ’em.”
Tierney dropped to her knees and started unpacking a lens Kasia had only seen the like of in documentaries about the paparazzi. Sensing the conversation was on pause, she laid out the blanket and poured them both a mug of tea. She sat back and enjoyed the view across the bay to Inishkyle, its golden sand shining in the sun.
“Have you been over there?” Tierney had finished setting up her equipment and lowered herself to the blanket alongside Kasia.
Kasia momentarily wished she’d brought a larger rug when Tierney’s denim-clad leg brushed against her own. “No, never. Joey has promised to take me for years, but one of us is always too busy. It looks idyllic.”
“It’s beautiful. As soon as the weather is fine enough, we’ll go over on kayaks.”
Did that mean Tierney intended to stay into spring or summer? That was the longest commitment she’d ever heard her make. “I would love that, thank you.”
“Sandwich?”
She took the foil-wrapped package. She unwrapped and bit into the sandwich. “This is delicious.”
Tierney’s laugh was humorless. “You thought I could mess up a sandwich?”
“Of course not.” But she was slightly surprised. She finished chewing. “What’s the chutney? It tastes familiar.”
Tierney considered her own sandwich. “It was Granny’s pickle. I don’t think she’d made it for a while, but I found two jars at the cottage.” She took a bite and chewed slowly. “I helped her make it as a kid.”
“Yes, she used to make jars and jars of it, but she’d slowed down the last couple of years. I thought it was all finished.” Kasia swallowed the last of her sandwich with regret. “Can you remember the recipe? We could try and replicate it.”
Tierney licked her fingers. “I think so. Itisgood, isn’t it? Takes me straight back to being a kid.” She picked up her tea and sipped it. “It was a summer tradition. We’d use the tomatoes from the greenhouse and the apples from the orchard.”
“I have apples stored in the shed and a freezer full of veggies from the garden. Want to give it a try after the Christmas rush?” Who had she become, asking Tierney Walsh to share cozy domestic projects?
