Page 74 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
Joey shifted and moved from behind her. “Of course. I was just trying to help. You want to stay over, and I’ll crack open a bottle of wine?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
The last thing she wanted was to go home to a restless night in the hotel, playing everything over in her head and wondering if she’d made the right decision. Security had to trump the slight chance of true happiness, didn’t it?I have to look after myself in this world.
Why then, did she hold a ripple of hope, like the sea on the beach after the tide had turned, that Tierney would talk her out of it?
THIRTY-FOUR
Tierney wasproud she’d put all personal thoughts out of her head for the past forty-eight hours and achieved everything she’d planned. She’d landed at Shannon and gone straight to Galway to speak to the bank in person. She could’ve applied online, but she wanted to look someone in the eye and explain how important it was. Now she was returning to the island with all the financial backing they needed and only a few remaining legal formalities before the hotel was officially hers. She was returning to Inishderry self-empowered and invested in the new life she’d chosen.
As the ferry turned to approach the harbor and Walsh’s Waterside hotel came into view, her thoughts returned to Kasia with a crash. What if she’d turned it all around and made it possible for their dream to come true for nothing? Should she have told Kasia about buying the hotel over the phone? She had been still waiting to hear from her dad when Kasia had called, and she’d wanted to tell her when it was unequivocally true she’d bought it. But would it have made her stay? If Kasia was determined to leave, did Tierney even still want to own the hotel? She knew the answer. If she had to do it alone, she would.This was her home now. That thought brought tears to her eyes, blurring the island coming into view.
It wouldn’t be a real home without Kasia.
She sniffed and straightened her shoulders. She couldn’t force Kasia to stay, but she could give it her best pitch. She had to tell her how she felt, even if it was the last time they talked.
“Hey, sniffy, need a handkerchief?”
At Aoife’s humorous tone, she turned. The last thing she wanted was to joke, but she needed to lighten the mood that bore down on her. She looked around in mock horror. “Who’s driving this boat?”
“Ha. Jacky’s finally got his license. Don’t change the subject. What’s got you all misty eyed?”
“I’ve got to make this work, and Des and your dad need to be on board. I’m not fighting them to make this happen. We need to work together for the good of the island and its people.”
“You’re preaching to the wrong congregation. I’m as sick of their childish feud as you are.”
“Will you back me up? I mean, really.”
Aoife stamped her boots. “I will. And I’ll talk to Christy.”
“Thanks, Aoife. This means a lot to me.”
“You and Kasia will be a great team. It’ll be such a lift for the island.”
She tried to keep her smile fixed, but Aoife frowned.
“Is everything okay with you two? You left in a rush before, and no one would tell me anything.”
“I hope so. We had an argument before I left.”
Kasia had said she didn’t trust her. But Tierney would fight for the chance to rebuild that trust with everything she had.
“She was pretty taken with you. You can’t just walk away from that kind of connection.”
You can walk away from anything if it doesn’t make you feel safe.Still, it was nice to hear Aoife say that. “I’m gonna try myhardest but whatever happens, I’m committed to the Waterside now.”
Aoife wrapped her arms around her waist. “That’s good to hear, cuz. This island is better with you on it.”
When the boat docked, she was first off by a length. She took the walk at a slow jog, her backpack weighing her down only a little. She wondered if Kasia was watching from the big window, but the reflection on the glass made it hard to tell.
She’d left without keys, and she hadn’t spoken to Kasia since she’d said she was leaving. What if Kasia had gone to Dublin to finalize her contract?
“Please, please don’t have left yet,” she murmured.
She hammered on the door and stood back, dropping her backpack to the ground. The door opened, and her heart quickened at the sight of Kasia standing there. Her usually smooth hair was tousled like when they woke up in bed together. “Hi.”
Kasia blinked. “You came on the early ferry?”
