“Aye?”
“Is it … would it be too late for you to build me some bookshelves for my room? I know I’ll be at uni, but they’re just lying in piles at Mum’s, and I thought maybe I could keep them in my bedroom here. I think I’ll like coming home to the island on my uni breaks.”
I swear my fucking heart swelled two times its size. “I’ll start building them this weekend.”
“Love you, Dad.”
“Love you too.”
9.Taran
Main Street was bustling. The horn from a ferry pulling into port sounded and I turned to watch the tourists on board, camera phones up as they snapped photos of the colorful harbor front.
It was a busy time to leave the store in Ewan’s and Martha’s hands, but this month there was never not a busy time, and I was on a mission.
One of the things that had taken getting used to again was the fishy scent that mingled with the sea air. Since it was a working harbor, fishing crews unloading their catch was a familiar sight and smell. I preferred the singular salty sea air on any other part of the coast, but I found my olfactory senses had finally gotten used to it again. I didn’t even notice it now unless my gaze landed on the fishermen.
It did right then because my brother, Laird, was on this crew. He threw me a distracted wave as the boat came into anchor; he and his crew had already started the unloading process. Salmon fishing was a big business in this part of the world. Peak season was June to September, though the crews were out February through November. Laird’s friend and fellow pipe band member Murray Shaw owned the fishing company Laird worked for.You’d never think it looking at Shaw, but the divorcé was a wealthy man and owned one of the biggest houses on the island.
I waved to my big brother as I headed toward the Fisherman’s Lantern, the most prominent, popular hotel and pub on Glenvulin. Tourists and locals alike loved its atmosphere and food.
Inside, I was hoping to find its owner, Aodhan Macduff.
When I stepped into the pub, my eyes adjusted to the dim light. The place was packed as I moved past the crowded bar, searching the tables for Aodhan’s familiar gray-bearded face.
There, by the fire, patting the head of his huge English mastiff, Shakespeare, Aodhan sat surrounded by three elderly locals.
I approached the table, reaching into my pocket for the dog treat I’d gotten from Tierney this morning when she’d come in for a coffee. She always had dog treats on her because she was now a dog mum to her boyfriend’s gorgeous Alaskan malamute, Akiva.
Shakespeare was a handsome beast who looked intimidating but would run away with a stranger for a treat. Aodhan liked anyone who liked Shakespeare.
“Hullo, handsome boy.” I approached Shakespeare first, lowering to my haunches to pet him and offer him the treat.
“Oh, he’s a spoiled one, isn’t he.” Aodhan grinned at me. “He loves attention from pretty lassies.”
Shakespeare snuffled my palm for more treats, and I tried to avoid the drool dripping from his jowls. “No more I’m afraid, handsome.” I smoothed a hand over his soft head and stood up to greet his owner. “How are you, Aodhan?” I nodded at his companions too who all murmured their greetings.
“Same. Arthritis is murder, but there’s nothing for it. You after something in particular, Taran?”
“May we speak in private?”
He quirked a bushy brow. “Sounds ominous.” He pushed up slowly from his seat. “Watch Shakespeare for me, lads.”
His friends nodded their agreement and Aodhan led me through the bar to a Staff Only door at the back. I followed him through it, then down a narrow hall to his office. Inside was an absolute mess and my fingers itched to tidy it. However, between the store and selling off Mum’s antiques—and my impending business proposal—I had no time to even consider offering to organize Aodhan’s office.
“Ignore the chaos.” He pushed some of it aside to lean on his desk. “All right, lass, spit it out.”
Since he was a community council member, landlord, and property owner, Aodhan was probably used to complaints and was expecting nothing less. “I heard the lifeboat service is in trouble.”
His expression tightened. “Aye, unfortunately.”
“And yet we’re renting out an entire building to an overseas charity while forgoing a charity that our community benefits from.”
“You meanI’mrenting out that building?”
Hearing his defensiveness, I waved him off. “It’s not about the building. It’s about the lifeboat service. Do you know what I did in Glasgow?”
“You worked for a charity, right?”
