Page 25 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
“Oh, Megan, I’m so sorry for your loss.” She wished she could be there to hold her.
The sobs took a while to subside. Megan gave a loud sniff. “She went in the early hours. It was peaceful, and I was with her. I got to say goodbye. That’ll have to be enough.”
“I’ll check flights and be with you by afternoon.”
“Please don’t. Al is here, and we’ve already made initial inquiries about a quick funeral. I want to stay till it’s done, so I’d appreciate if you could come for the service instead.”
Tierney fought down the hurt that Megan would choose support from the man she’d known a few weeks over her lifelong friend. “Of course. As soon as you’ve got details, let me know, and I’ll book a flight. Is there anything you need me to do here?”
“Just tell your dad, okay?”
“I will do. Take care and call me if you change your mind. Or if you need anything at all. I’m here.”
Megan hung up, and Tierney dialed her dad. He would have been working for an hour by now, and she instinctively stood up in case he somehow figured out she was still in bed.
“Tierney. It’s unusual to hear from you at this hour.”
She ignored the snipe. “I’ve got some sad news. Megan’s mom passed in the night. I think she’s going to be away from work until after the funeral.”
“Of course. Not everything is about work with me, Tierney.” His voice sounded strained.
“I’ll let you know when there’s a date in case you want to send flowers.” She hoped he would. Megan was his prize employee.
“I’ll attend the funeral. Let me know when you hear. We’ll take the jet; it’ll save time. Goodbye.”
Tierney stared at the phone screen. There was something odd about her dad’s behavior. Maybe she was just surprised he would be attending the funeral. Those who’d moved from Inishderry and the surrounding area to work for Walsh Properties had remained a tight-knit community, but Megan’s parents had been out of the picture for a long time. Her dad had gone back to Portrinn, where he'd slowly drunk himself to death, and her mom had spent the last two decades in a series of mental health facilities. But Tierney’s dad had taken on responsibility for Megan, so Tierney guessed his attendance made sense. Perhaps she could get him to talk about those times on their journey. There were stories she’d only ever heard from other families about their early days as immigrants, and how her dad had built his business. She’d given up asking him when she was younger, but now she wanted to know what it had been like for him, how he’d known this was what he wanted in life. Perhaps if she understood him better, it would help her find her own direction.
The soundof the engines made any attempt at conversation impossible as Tierney followed her dad to his private jet. She didn’t often fly in it as it was strictly for business use. She’d been banned from borrowing it in her twenties when she’d flown to a party that had gone on longer than expected, and the pilot had been forced to spend the night in the cabin. She’d apologized profusely afterward, but her father instructed all his staff that Tierney’s requests should be run past him. They were never approved, so she stopped asking.
She climbed up into the cabin behind him and belted in. They were already dressed for the funeral, and her dad had made it clear the itinerary was to attend the service and then leave.Screw that. She’d packed a small bag so she could stay behind and spend some time with Megan after the funeral. She could make her own way back if Megan wasn’t ready to return yet. She hoped she wouldn’t rush back into work without giving herself some time to heal, but knowing Megan, that was unlikely. When the cabin door closed, she was immediately grateful for the silence. Her dad’s appetite for the flashiest toys sometimes had its benefits.
“Let’s go, Larry,” her dad said into the intercom.
“I can’t remember the last time we traveled anywhere together.” It sounded lame as she said it, but she was desperate for the journey not to pass in silence.
Her dad’s posture was rigid, and his expression was impassive even by his standards. “It’s a funeral, not a trip to the beach.”
She winced at the sharp tone. “But we can still make use of the time together to talk, can’t we?”
“Sorry, I have emails to read.” He pulled out his laptop, ending the conversation.
Tierney tried not to take it personally, but their relationship, never easy at the best of times, felt stretched taut as a bowstring. She’d been on her best behavior lately, offering to do any property photo shoots that might be needed. She shrugged and pulled out her cell phone. She reminded herself this was for Megan. She could cope.
After an hour of silence, they landed at an airport close to the cemetery and were picked up by a car that drove them down a long, narrow lane to a small church. As soon as she saw Megan, she ran and drew her into a long hug. She had to pull back confused when Megan’s body remained stiff, and she didn’t return the embrace. “Hey, how are you holding up?”
Megan’s swollen, red eyes didn’t meet Tierney’s gaze. “I’m okay. Al has been wonderful.” She indicated a tall, good-looking man in a perfectly tailored suit hovering nearby. “I don’t know how I’d have gotten through this without him.”
Tierney clenched her jaw. “I’m glad you have him for support.”
Megan swallowed hard and took a shuddering breath. “You’re not rushing off, are you? I’d like some time with you and Kevin.”
“No, of course not. I’m here as long as you need me, but Dad’s not staying, so I’ll let him know.”
“Thanks. I’ve booked a room at a restaurant in town. Please ask him to come for an hour.”
Tierney nodded; Megan turned away to greet a group who were likely staff and residents from Brenda’s care home. Megan’s distant greeting confused her. Was she so full of herself she had imagined Megan waiting to fall into her arms and cry? All she knew was, in the same situation, there was no one she would have wanted beside her more than Megan.
She was still pondering when they left the chapel an hour later. Megan had arranged a service that celebrated the mother she loved without glossing over the lows of her life. Any parent would have been proud of a child who honored them in such a way. As she turned to tell Megan just that, she moved to a waiting car and gestured to Tierney and Kevin to take the one behind. Once again, the unsettled feeling made Tierney’s stomach turn.
