Page 76 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
Kasia leaned in and captured Tierney’s lips with her own warm mouth. Relief overtook her as she felt her own warm tears mingle with Kasia’s. She’d missed her so much.
After a few long moments, Kasia pulled back. “I love you, Tierney Walsh, more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I trust you with our future.”
For once, being told she was trusted didn’t fill Tierney with a conviction she would mess everything up. This place—this love—mattered. She stood, pulling Kasia with her. “What about your new job? I don’t want you to let anyone down.”
“I didn’t take it.”
Tierney felt her jaw drop. “You said you had to give them an answer immediately.”
“I did. But the answer was that I didn’t want the job. It wasn’t right for me, and I really wanted to wait to hear what you had to say.” She smiled. “I’m so glad I did.”
“You thought I might pull it together?”
“I hoped you would.” Kasia put her arms around her.
“I should have tried harder, sooner.” Tierney shivered under Kasia’s touch. “I can’t believe I nearly lost you just because I was so lost myself.”
Kasia kissed her forehead with lips that felt like fire. “We’re here now. Where we belong. So, much as I’d love to take you straight to bed, I’m guessing there are things you need to do.”
“There are still a few loose ends I need to tie up. I don’t want to do this with my uncles being a constant thorn in our side. How would you like to help me organize an island meeting?”
Kasia grinned. “I’d love to. And both of your uncles are on the island for the week, so they’ll have to come along to keep face.”
Tierney took her hand, and they headed downstairs. For the first time in her life, she knew without a doubt she could face anything and everything, as long as she had Kasia at her side.
THIRTY-FIVE
Kasia watchedfrom 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.
