Page 17 of Changing Tides
It was the best they could do, but they couldn’t believe it would be good enough for Marianne. They’d wondered if they should book a cottage at the hotel for her. They could afford it for a few days, but how would they explain it to Kasia? Perhaps they should let Marianne decide if the cottage was acceptable; if not, they’d find another option.
A check of the time showed they had a few minutes spare to have a chat with their dad and try and explain why they’d be sleeping in his chair for a few nights.
“Hey, Dad.” Joey knocked tentatively at the red door. The cottage was neat and freshly painted on the outside, but the inside was another matter. They could stick it out for a couple of nights.
“Josephine, come in.” Their stomach clenched with the familiar distress that came with being deadnamed. Their dad sat in his usual place by the fire in his smoky, dark room. Joey, and each of their brothers when they came home, had tried time and time again to convince him to move out for a while, so they could do some renovations, but he always resisted. So here he sat in a room that hadn’t really changed since the 1920s, in front of a fire that would have originally cooked a pot of food.
“Please call me Joey, Dad. We’ve talked about it so many times.”
He shrugged and said nothing.
“How are you?” They slung themself into the battered chair opposite.
“I’m grand. How’s the fishing?”
“It’s all okay, Dad. The oyster beds are doing great. I’m thinking of extending them when I can afford it.”
“We didn’t bother with all that back in the day. We caught fish and got good money for them.”
Joey pushed the heel of their hand into their forehead. “Tastes have changed and so fishing has changed, Dad. We’ve talked about it. It’s why Donal and Liam go to work in Spain.”
“I miss them. We used to fish here.”
“I know. They’ll be back in the summer, and we’ll all go out together on the Queen Maedbh. You’ll love it so.”
He nodded and sat back.
“I’m just coming to ask if I can sleep here for a few days. A friend is staying in my house, and I need a bed.”
He shuffled in his chair. “The boys might come round to play cards.”
They both knew that didn’t happen as often as he’d like. “Do you want me to drop you to Patsy’s?”
“Ah, no it’s grand. I’ll be watching the Late Late Show.”
“But before that, Dad. Do you not want to go out?”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No, I’m worried you don’t see your friends much anymore.”
“We’re getting old, Joey. It’s harder work to get out and see people. I’m grand watching the TV.”
“Okay, I’ll stop bothering you. But do you mind me keeping you company for a few nights?”
“If you must.” He peered at them. “Who’s this staying at your house? You never have people stay.”
“That’s because there’s not much space.” And because they didn’t really know anyone who didn’t live on the island. “It’s a friend, a customer, really. She had her own restaurant, but it had to close, so she’s a bit stuck.”
“Did it shut down because your shellfish were too fancy?”
Joey had never understood why their younger brothers had so much more credibility with their dad, even though Joey had been the one to stay and take over the family business.
“No, Dad. It doesn’t matter why. She needs help and I want to be there for her and her little boy.”
He swung around. “I don’t want children hanging around, shouting and disturbing me.”
“You won’t need to worry about Denny. He’s a quiet lad.” They dropped a bag in the corner. “Anyway, if you’re happy with me staying, I’ll get off and fetch them from the ferry.”
