Page 94 of Changing Tides
“We’ll arrange something. I can’t promise it’ll be a long holiday, but I’d like to take you.” She wanted to take them on a trip they’d never forget. She wanted to experience everything with Joey, and yet if sitting here with them on the couch of a rented cottage was all they would ever do, that would be enough, too.
EPILOGUE
“You don’t haveto do this, you know?”
Joey glanced at Marianne before returning their eyes to the road. “I know, but I want to be there.”
They put their hand atop Marianne’s where it sat on her lap. Much as they loved having Denny with them, they’d been relieved when Marianne had asked Aoife if he could stay over. She’d promised, in return, a night of babysitting so Aoife and Seán could have a rare night out on the mainland.
It made Joey feel warm inside that they had a whole twenty-four hours together alone. But first they had to get through tonight’s awards ceremony. It would be glitzy and loud, but for once Joey didn’t feel sick at the thought of so many people.
“I’m so proud of you. I know you’re gonna win.” They were excited to see Marianne get the recognition she deserved, even more so now they knew how important it was to her.
“Iwon’t be winning anything. The Waterside was only nominated in the best restaurant category.”
“You’d have been nominated best chef, if people’d known you were heading our way.”
Marianne stroked their knuckles. “How could any of us have guessed, at the start of the year, that we’d be where we are now?”
She lifted their hand and kissed the knuckles tenderly. It sent a tingle through Joey’s whole body.
“But I’m so glad we are.”
Joey wished they could pull over and show her just how happy they were, but they had to get to the hotel, and they’d surprised themself, and Marianne, by wanting to go clothes shopping. They had the shirt she’d bought them on their last trip, but it didn’t hold great memories. This was a special occasion and they had wanted to look and feel good.
When they got to the hotel, Mari threw herself on the bed. “I might just have a nap. All that passenger seat driving has taken it out of me.” She laughed and patted the space next to her. “Come and join me.”
“I can’t.” There was nothing Joey wanted to do more. “It’ll lead to other things, and then Kasia and Tierney will be here, and I’ll never get away.”
When they leaned down for a kiss, Marianne wrapped her arms tightly around them. For once they were glad of their strength, and they freed themself, laughing.
“Have a rest. You don’t often get a chance. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
After a stop at the barbershop for a trim from Mac, they headed into town. It wasn’t that they didn’t know how to buy clothes; it had just never been important. Clothing had a practical purpose, nothing more. But now they wanted to make Marianne happy. They wanted her to look twice when she saw them, and for their appearance to bring a smile to her lips.
It turned out to be surprisingly easy to get a suit fitted when you were prepared to pay good money. They left the tailor’s shop happily with a black suit they felt comfortable in, and a shirt in the shade of blue they knew Marianne loved.
Before they reached the hotel their phone pinged.I didn’t sleep for long so I’m ready. K & T are here so we’ll wait for you in the bar x
Then another.
Don’t be late! x
Joey smiled. They could never have imagined feeling so happy at the prospect of a night out, but they’d be spending it with their best friends and alongside the beautiful, brilliant woman who had chosen to change the course of her life to spend it with Joey. Hopefully, the evening would end with some good news for them all. They finished the journey back to the hotel with a bounce in their step and a smile they couldn’t suppress even if they’d tried.
Tierney’s ear-splittingwolf whistle made Joey flinch when they strode across the hotel bar. Several people looked up at their progress, and their cheeks burned.
“Tierney, will you shut the ever-loving fuck up?”
Larger than ever in a stretchy black dress, Tierney grinned unrepentantly. “Lookin’ good, O’Hara!” She winked.
They pulled up a chair next to Marianne, who was wearing a fitted emerald green tuxedo jacket, with, as far as Joey could tell without being obvious, very little underneath. The look in her eyes was unmistakable, and Joey wished once again they were alone in their hotel room for the evening. “You look…beautiful.”
“Another word no one else has ever used about me but thank you. You’re looking pretty edible yourself.” They almost got lost in Marianne’s eyes.
Kasia cleared her throat. “Everyone looks great. Now you two need to keep your hands off each other for a couple of hours, andTierney needs not to go into labor. Then we can all relax and go home tomorrow.”
Marianne leaned in to Joey and wrapped a hand around their biceps. “I’ll try my very best.”
