Mari smiled. “You know me so well! Thank you, that would be good.”
When Joey returned, Marianne was relaxed in her chair, her feet up on a footstool. She took her glass. “It feels a long time since we began this conversation.”
They wanted to join her on the chair and curl up with her in their lap so they could kiss her neck and reassure themself this was really happening. But this was a serious conversation, so they forced themself to sit on the chair opposite and made do with watching as the firelight flickered across the planes of Marianne’s face. They sipped the wine. It was the most expensive bottle Kasia had available at the Waterside. She’dasked what the special occasion was, but Joey had promised to fill her in later.
“I meant what I said earlier. I want to make my home here with you. I want Denny to grow up here. But I won’t stay, if it’s not what you want. That’s what I needed to talk to you about.”
They put down their glass and rubbed their face. “But you’re leaving the Waterside. Kasia said you’d found them a replacement.”
“Yes, my good friend Colette. She a great chef and, honestly, I owed her one. She’ll be a perfect fit.” Marianne swirled the wine in her mouth. “This is good. Where did you get it?”
“From Kasia.” They shook their head at the distraction. “But if you’re not leaving the island, what are you going to do? What about your career?”
“My career is whatever I choose it to be, and I’m not putting anyone’s kitchen over Denny’s—or my—best interests.” She leaned closer. “It’s not right for me now, Joey. I only have fifteen or so years to really get it right with Denny. That’s what matters. When he’s off living his own life, I’ll make decisions that only affect me.”
“So, what will you do?” Marianne had no property or savings. It wasn’t clear how she intended to make ends meet.
“I’ve negotiated my own TV show. I’ll travel around to different restaurants and look at how sustainable they are. Give them advice and investigate local produce and suppliers.” She slipped off the chair to kneel in front of Joey. “It’s all off the back of the videos we made together. You’re a part of this, Joey. If you want to be.” She grasped their hands in her own warm ones.
Joey shook their head, not fully understanding. “So how does that mean you’d stay in Inishderry?”
“Well, I’ve suggested I make the first series at the Waterside. It would give me time to settle in here first, and we could spend plenty of time together.”
Settle in. Marianne was serious about making Inishderry her home. “Really? What did Kasia and Tierney say about it?”
Marianne screwed up her nose. “I haven’t asked them yet. This is all dependent on you wanting me here.” She squeezed Joey’s hands tight. “I’m sorry big city me scared you off. It’s not who I am. I’m the best version of me when I’m around you.”
They shook their head and sighed. “No, I’m sorry I retreated, and didn’t talk it through. You deserved better. I thought if I didn’t become part of your Dublin life, I’d lose you completely. And I couldn’t bear that.”
Joey pulled Mari from the floor, and she joined them in the chair that wasn’t quite big enough. They shuffled around until their bodies fit together and Joey pulled Marianne close, as they’d wanted to earlier.
“So, if Kasia agrees to this—Tierney will be all over it, so no problem there—what will you do when filming ends?”
“It’s a well-paid gig, so I should be all right for a while. Kasia has already asked me about doing guest nights for special occasions. There’s plenty of work like that around. Consultancy and so forth.” She pulled Joey’s head down close. “I might need to travel fairly often, but I’ll make it work. I really want this, Joey. Do you?”
“Oh God, yes. With all my heart.” Joey leaned in and captured Marianne’s lips. All the other worries slipped away as they tasted her familiarity. If Marianne believed in a future for the three of them, that was enough for Joey.
THIRTY-SEVEN
“Let me get this right.You want to use our business as your personal film set?” Kasia muttered, with her hands on her hips.
Marianne caught Tierney’s eye with a pleading look. “The series will be about the workings of a modern hotel and restaurant that uses local ingredients, not about me.”
“But you’ll be coming in to show us how to do things better?”
This wasn’t going well. “No, that’s not what it’s about.”
“Hey, honey, this sounds like a good opportunity for promoting the hotel. We’re always looking for more event bookings.” Tierney wrapped her arms as well as she could around Kasia. She was now almost as wide as she was tall.
“The baby will be here by the time filming starts, and I’ll be able to look after everything. It won’t cause you more work.”
“I very much doubt that.”
Marianne optimistically thought Kasia sounded slightly less grumpy about the idea.
Kasia looked over Tierney’s shoulder to where Joey leaned in the doorway, hands in their pockets. Marianne had offered to go it alone, but they’d insisted on coming.
“And what do you think? As if I couldn’t guess.”
