Page 4 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
Megan let go of her arm. “We’re not talking about me. I’ve chosen to focus on my career, and I don’t have time to date. But I’m not the one who mopes on about never being able to find the right person. You can’t have it both ways.”
“Okay, we’ll go back to the bar. I’ll talk to Francine again if it makes you happy.” She increased her pace, hoping to leave the conversation behind.
“Since when was anything about makingmehappy?” Megan’s longer legs made it easier for her to catch up. She overtook Tierney and strode on ahead. “Let’s go and get cleaned up. Your dad bankrolled this trip, and the least we can do is be on time for his Zoom call.”
Tierney followed behind. Much as she’d wanted a change of subject, the reminder of her call with her father further lowered her mood. What did he need to talk about so urgently while she was on vacation? She was sure he relished ruining her free time with his insistence on talking about business. Unlike Megan, she no longer worked for Walsh Property full time, but he still managed to find ways to pull her in.
“Meg, wait up. I’ll be ready for Dad. You don’t need to face him alone.”
“I don’t mind facing him, buddy. I’m not the one who pisses him off.”
Megan was right. No one could push her dad’s buttons like Tierney. She didn’t mean to, though, and sometimes it was easier just to avoid him. Megan, on the other hand, had always been able to make her dad smile. Admittedly, she also worked her ass off for his business.
Back in their apartment, they went their separate ways to prepare for her dad’s call. Tierney got ready as quickly as she could. She didn’t want him to find Megan the only one available. She was already the dutiful daughter he’d never had. When Megan had moved in with them at thirteen, after her shitty family situation had become dangerous, Tierney’s dad had been quick to pay off Megan’s abusive father, an ex-employee, and make it a permanent arrangement. Tierney didn’t envy Megan her childhood. But her easy relationship with Tierney’s dad? Yeah, maybe a little.Get a move on. Navel-gazing over my complicated relationship with my father is not a suitable excuse for being late to the call.
She was still squeezing water from her hair when Megan stuck her perfectly styled head around the door. “I’ll get the laptop set up. You nearly done?”
“Yep, two minutes.” Leaving her hair to dry naturally, she pulled on some clothes. Even on vacation, she felt the pressure to make an effort for her father. She pulled a cotton shirt on over her sports bra, ran her fingers through her hair, and went to find Megan in the lounge.
Her best friend sat cross-legged on the couch, laptop perched in front of her. That was just one of the many differences between them. It would never occur to Tierney to take a laptop on vacation. Who did that? It would just take up precious spacebetter used for camera lenses or snorkeling equipment. She settled next to Megan as the Zoom window came to life and her father’s face appeared.
“Megan, Tierney, how’s your vacation?” His slight Irish accent was always more obvious on a call than in person.
Tierney decided to ignore the order in which he greeted them. She’d had a long time to get used to it. “Hey, Dad, we’re having an amazing time. How’s it going back in Boston?”
He rubbed the close-cropped graying beard that covered his square jaw. “We’ve closed on the Schenker house,” he said, looking directly at Megan.
“Fantastic. All our work paid off.” Megan’s wide smile faded. “I’m sorry, Kevin, I should’ve checked my email today.”
“Nonsense, you’re on vacation. But I’ll expect you to be up to speed before you return to the office on Monday. I want you to oversee this one. It’s worth a lot to us.”
“Dad, about Monday.” Tierney ignored the hard jab to her knee. “We thought it would be a fantastic end to the trip to spend a few days in Paris. Seems a shame not to while we’re in the country.”
Her dad’s lips twisted. “You can’t help yourself, can you, Tierney? You’ve enjoyed a ten-day vacation, and you have to ask for more.”
“It’s just a missed opportunity when we’re here already.” She swallowed the instant guilt of disappointing him. Again.
Megan gripped her leg out of view of the camera. Her dad’s face was expressionless as he stared at them silently, and she knew when she was beaten.
“I’m sorry, you’re right,” she said. “We’ve had a good time, and we’ll head back at the weekend.” She gave a small smile, hoping she sounded as contrite as she should.
Her dad shook his head. “I need Megan back here, but I’ve got another job for you.”
What sort of boring errand was he planning for her? “What? But I need to?—”
“Need to what, Tierney? You’ve just made it clear you have nowhere better to be. For once, could you just do something for me when I ask without trying to wriggle out of it?”
He never asked; he always instructed. And she couldn’t help rebelling against that. “Don’t you need me for the Schenker house photos?” She was clutching at straws now, but much as she found photographing properties tedious, she always felt a frisson of pride when her dad was pleased. And it was literally her only contribution to the family business.
“Megan will find someone else, won’t you?”
Megan nodded quickly.
“And the mansion is exquisite. Anyone could make it look good.”
Tierney raised her hands in defeat. “Okay, I’m all yours. But where am I headed?”
“I need you to go to Inishderry and check in on the Waterside. Make sure that the manager is keeping things up to standard.”
