Page 63 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
They held out the rubber outfit. “I thought you might want to come and watch me shake the oyster bags. So that you know a bit more about what I do to help with the business plan.”
Kasia suspected Joey was just trying to keep her busy, but she’d spent a few hours hunched over the laptop and wasgrateful for the chance of some fresh air. She pulled on the waterproof kit and adjusted the straps over one shoulder, careful not to put any pressure on her injured side. “How do I look?” She spun around.
“Perfect.”
Joey led the way down to the beach. Now that the tide was out, Joey’s few trestles were visible farther out in the bay. Kasia followed and watched as Joey shook each of the bags.
“You can help when your shoulder’s better.” As they walked around the beds, Joey explained about collecting the oysters ready to harvest. “It’s all about scale. There’s stuff I can do as things stand, but if I get any bigger, I need proper equipment for grading and to harvest. And it’s not that lucrative. I think I’d be better to focus on my own catches and let other more established oyster farms do this.”
“Are there other producers locally?” Kasia was already thinking about opportunities.
“Yeah, a few, but they have the same problem as me: getting their product to buyers. It’s easier to sell to a distributor who has the infrastructure to get the goods to market which, more often than not, is outside the country.”
“But then someone else takes their cut. What about a cooperative? Where you share the costs but keep more of the profit?”
“It’s been tried before, but the fishers often argue about sharing profits, and it descends into chaos.”
“But if you led on it, everyone loves you, and you could keep them all in check.”
Joey lifted a bag. “I don’t know. I just want to have the ability to serve a few more restaurants beyond the island and Portrinn without having to sell to a distributor.”
It was a big deal for them to be looking to modernize their processes. She should probably just help with what she’d beenasked to do rather than push them any further. What did she know anyway? It wasn’t as though her own grand plans had come to anything.
As she followed Joey back up the beach, she pondered staying and putting herself at Tierney’s mercy. It made so much more sense to leave and start over. She hated to leave Joey, but if she could help with the loan application before she did, it would help lessen her guilt a little.
THIRTY
“Tierney.It’s so good to have you home.”
Megan’s warm embrace was surprising. She’d never been one for physical affection. Tierney had always put that down to her tumultuous upbringing, but now she wondered if it might be a trait she’d inherited from their dad.
“Good to see you too.” She dropped her bag and returned the hug enthusiastically.
Megan stepped back and swooped up Tierney’s luggage. “Let’s get you home so you can recover from your journey.” She turned back. “Unless you want to go visit Kevin first?” The smile on her face suggested she knew what the answer would be.
“I think I need to rest up, thanks. He’s not expecting me, is he?” She didn’t want to piss him off before she tried to win him over.
“No, I was vague about when you were arriving.” She waited for Tierney to catch up before she continued walking. “He read your email about the damage. He’s not happy, Tierney. He thinks the hotel’s turning into a money pit.”
“D’you mind if we don’t talk about it right now? I’m too tired, and I’d rather hear about how you are.”
“Let’s get you home and fed. If you’re not ready for sleep after that, we can have a talk.”
“Sounds good.” She was relieved when they reached the car and was happy to chat about trivial matters for the journey. Megan talked mostly about the start of the baseball season. Tierney had never been interested in the sport. It seemed to move so slowly, and everything was too far away. She preferred her sports faster and would rather be a participant than a spectator, but she asked all the right questions and nodded enthusiastically at the right times.
Megan pulled into their drive, and Tierney looked fondly at the beautiful three-story house they’d bought together after college. There were a few things she loved about her home city; this house was one of them. It felt like it was truly hers, though buying it had only been possible with the generous deposit her dad had gifted them on graduation. But at least she’d invested it in the house, and not blown it on an expedition to Everest like she’d been tempted to do.
“I’ll order us burritos from that place you love, and you go get a shower.” Megan swung open the front door and waved her in.
The shower revived her a little, and she tucked into her favorite Mexican food with delight. “God, I’ve missed these.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Megan laughed. “You know you could make them, right?”
“It never occurred to me when I was over there.” She wiped sour cream from the corner of her mouth and caught herself wondering if Kasia liked burritos and if she’d ever get the chance to make them for her now. When she’d written to Kasia, she’d prayed she’d get in touch before Tierney left, but she’d heard nothing. She truly wasn’t sure where they stood now. If only she’d had the guts to tell her how she felt.
“Hey, where did you go? Your little face has gone all sad.”
Damn it. She’d been so determined not to think about Kasia or the mess she’d left behind on Inishderry. “Nothing, really. Tell me about how things are going with Al.”
