Page 9 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
“I’ve missed yet another summer. Is it very quiet now?”
“It’s not too bad. Seán’s made the pub viable all year round, and they serve food every night if you want it.” She took in a long breath. “And poor Kasia’s trying to keep the hotel running, but she needs to know what the future holds. She’s kept it all going since Granny died, and everyone let her.”
Tierney shouldered her backpack again. “I know. It’s why I’m here. Is your dad around?”
Aoife shook her head. “He’s over in London with Uncle Des. They’ll both be back later in the week.”
Relief washed through her. She wouldn’t have to face her uncles. Perhaps she could get the information her dad wanted and be off the island before they got back. For now, she needed to get settled and find a meal.
“Will you come up to the house for dinner? Seán’s working, so it’ll just be me and the kids. You can meet Ruane.”
Tierney added not knowing her youngest cousin to her guilt list. “That would be great. Kasia’s preparing the cottage for me.”
Aoife screwed up her nose. “You should go and help her. It’s not her job, you know. And she’s taken so much on over the last few months, for no other reason than her loyalty to Granny and her love of the island. Don’t take the piss.”
“Oh.” Heat flooded Tierney’s cheeks. “I didn’t realize. Granny always had the cottage ready, and I never thought about how it got done before.”
“You’re gonna have to learn, aren’t you? Unless your dad is coming to oversee things.”
Tierney laughed, but it came out more like a gasp. “No, I don’t think that will happen. But I’m just here to take a look at things. Dad will make all the decisions.”
Aoife pulled her into a hug. “Go and get settled and be back for six. We can talk about your dad’s plans then.”
Tierney wasn’t sure he had a plan, but she squeezed her cousin then pulled away. “I’ll be there.”
The text arrived from Kasia while she was taking the short walk to the cottage, and she fired back a quick thank you. She knew everyone she passed, and they all stopped to welcome her home. She’d always been aware of the downsides to being part of a tiny island community. There were no secrets, or at least, there weren’t secrets for long. Everyone knew everyone else’s business. But it struck her now that there was something very reassuring about being in a place where everyone knew your name and who you were. But she wouldn’t be able to bear it long-term. She had no need to belong anywhere. She was a child of the world.
She walked through the gate to the cottage, taking in the view. Though her family referred to it as a cottage, it was really a large house. Pretty and well-maintained, it didn’t hold many memories. Most of those belonged to Granny’s hotel.
The house had been an investment by her dad when he first left the island. He’d spent plenty of money improving and developing it over the years, making it available to friends and business associates who wanted to visit the West of Ireland. It was a little soulless, but it served a purpose. She wouldn’t want to be in the Waterside, with all those memories of her granny.
She retrieved the key from under the stone where it was left when visitors were expected. Inside, it was well-equipped and spotlessly clean. Kasia was nowhere to be seen, but the bed had been made, and the windows had been left slightly open to let in some air. Tierney made a mental note to thank Kasia properly, and offer her payment.
She wasn’t sure how long she would need to be on Inishderry, so she listed the things she needed to get done. Catching up withJoey had to be the main one. Perhaps if they weren’t too busy with work, the two of them could take a trip to one of the nearby islands. It was getting a little cold for outdoor adventures, but Joey had always been game for anything Tierney could dream up. She was looking forward to reconnecting with her old friend. Once she’d apologized.
She would need to spend some time at the hotel, checking in with Kasia. Her dad would ask all kinds of boring questions about turnover and staffing, and if she didn’t have the answers, it would be yet another way to disappoint him.
She threw her bag in the bedroom and pulled on her only remaining clean T-shirt. The cottage had no washer since her granny had always taken care of her laundry. She’d need to ask Kasia if she could use the hotel machine.
She set out for her cousin’s house, hoping an evening of fun with the kids would take her mind off her responsibilities. Tomorrow would be soon enough to face the work her dad had sent her to do.
FIVE
The troweleasily slid into the soft earth as Kasia dug with more aggression than needed. Tierney had only been here for less than a day but already, Kasia wanted to slap her.
When Tierney had rocked up with a sack full of washing, a dark green beanie covering her hair, Kasia led her to the small laundry room. She’d given up and loaded the machine herself when Tierney wandered off mid-instruction. She later found her at the dining room window, the traitorous Fergus curled in her arms as she stared out at the view.
“I thought it would be hard to be here without her.” Tierney hadn’t turned from the window. “But I have so many wonderful memories that it feels as if she’s still here with me. I was talking with Aoife last night about how important the Waterside was to her.”
Kasia hadn’t known what to say, so she’d left Tierney to her musings and made a start on the garden while the sun was shining. Tierney’s grief for her grandmother and her love of the island seemed so genuine, how she could have stayed away so long?
She was so engrossed in her work she’d almost forgotten Tierney was there at all until she came outside and tried to help.Kasia had carefully removed a hoe from her hands when she realized Tierney didn’t know the difference between weeds and plants. She was now wandering around the garden, picking at things and generally getting in the way while Kasia worked.
“I can drop your clothes down to you when they’re dry. You don’t have to wait.”
“No, I’m good. I could take some photographs of the hotel for social media while I’m here.”
“If you like.” Kasia found it hard to keep on top of the social media channels with all her other duties. “How long have you been a photographer?”
