As The Clodagh approached the port, Iseult felt more at ease than she had for quite some time. Two years had passed since she'd begun learning the squidding trade, and as Belfast hove into view, she felt a sense of contentment she hadn't thought possible. For two years, she and Gerald - who insisted on being called Gerry - had plied their trade up and down the coast, and when they hove into Belfast at the end of each day, Iseult had grown prouder and prouder of her business. So proud, in fact, that, as The Clodagh made her way into port for the last time that day, Iseult felt ready to tackle a bit of a Thorny Issue.
Being out at sea had not only given her a deeper appreciation of the ocean and its secrets, but it had also taught her more about her great-grandfather's business than all the dry, "dusty" learning Patrick was getting, so his last letter had run. He and Iseult had mended fences, after a fashion, but they would never be close again, and two years had helped Iseult face at least one thorny issue; her love for Patrick had been no more than a girl's first crush, and she felt glad they'd had their talk to sort things out two years ago. It hadn't gone well, but Iseult could look back on that day and thank her lucky stars she and Patrick had had that talk.
But it wasn't her relationship - or lack thereof - with Patrick that was the Thorny Issue. The Thorny Issue was the family business. Patrick had been working to learn the ins and outs, and Jamie was beginning to give his heir-apparent a bit more responsibility. But Iseult had learned a lot whilst doing her own apprenticeship, and as her crew tossed the lines to the waiting workers, she felt her unease grow. For her love of the business had been rekindled, and she knew she wanted to be more in charge, like her great-grandfather had done when he'd got the business up and running. And Iseult knew, for all his complaints, that Patrick did enjoy learning the inner workings of the family business. He'd be reluctant to give it up.
"Damnit," Iseult muttered, as The Clodagh was made fast. Gerry put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. Two years had given them an apprecation of the inner workings of the other person's mind, and he didn't need to ask what was troubling hers.
"Best to rip the bandaid off," he advised, giving her another kiss - right as Patrick stepped out of the Beetle, and his face darkened when he saw the display. Iseult groaned and Gerry swore.
The business of unloading the hefty catch took precedence, thankfully, and The Clodagh's crew were old hands at it after two years. In short order, box after box was hauled out of the hold and onto the dock, where landshore workers transferred them into lorries, each emblazoned with the Murray name and the crest Calum Senior had commissioned; a squid holding a trident in its tentacles and crowned with a wreath of daisies and forget-me-nots. It was an unusual crest, but it caught the eye, and Iseult felt a swelling of pride in her heart. The lorries had been hires the year before; this year, their own company lorries would be taking the catch to a brand new warehouse on the outskirts of Galway, from which deliveries would be made, and Iseult smiled as she made her way down the gangplank to where her father and Patrick waited. Jamie's face broke into a broad smile as his daughter approached.
"You're looking grander every day," he complimented her as they shared a warm embrace. "I can hardly recognise you as the slip of a girl who left two years ago."
Iseult smiled despite the growing gnawing of unease in her gut. Two years at sea had been kind to her; she looked and felt like a new woman, and the tanned skin and sun-bleached hair added a wild beauty to her. Patrick found himself staring in admiration as she turned to him. "You've changed," he said.
"Two years will do that to you," Iseult said cheerfully as she took the boat's manifesto from Gerry, who got a glare from the CEO-in-training. Gerry, to his credit, kept his face smooth, but he did give Iseult another kiss on the cheek, this one lasting a wee bit longer. Iseult wanted to tell him off, but she refrained; Patrick really did have no right to be staring at another man's girlfriend like that. "Sign this, boyo, and then we can all be off to the pub for a pint."
Patrick frowned, but signed the manifesto. "We need to talk," he said. "Alone."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeOpYyAIUU
Iseult raised an eyebrow. "Have you something to say you can't say in front of everyone?" she challenged, deciding this was as good a time as any to get things out into the open. "If it's about Gerry, save your breath. You told me two years ago we didn't stand a chance, and, smart woman that I am, I took advantage of my newfound freedom. And before you ask, I wasn't just fobbing you off; it took me some time to accept that I was perfectly, legally, and morally allowed to find some happiness for myself, because that's what Saraid would want, right?"
"Look, I know you're feeling a bit low because we parted so badly," Patrick insisted, "but believe me, my feelings haven't changed, and I was..."
"Save it," Iseult said firmly. "You're not going to blow hot and cold on me, boyo. Besides, my feelings have changed; I've grown up and moved on, and if you had the sense given you at birth, you'd see that it was all for the best."
Patrick shook his head. "I can change your mind," he said. "Once you and I have talked properly, we can..."
Jamie cleared his throat. "That's quite enough," he said. "Take the hint, Patrick. My daughter's made it quite clear her mind won't be changed. And Gerry's a better son-in-law anyway."
Iseult burst out laughing at the chagrin on her lover's face. "How the hell did you know I was planning on...?" Gerry cut off and glared at his purported father-in-law, but his eyes were twinkling too merrily, and Iseult laughed again.
"I'm a man," Jamie said loftily. "I can always tell when another man is ready to propose; he begins acting all furtive, as if his intention isn't as clear as day. Now do you be making an honest woman out of my daughter, and see if I don't turn you two out as lavishly as any young'uns ready to tie the knot."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSUjIBc9A2
"Come here," Iseult told her now-fiance, pulling him into a passionate kiss that raised a few hoots from the dock workers. Once Gerry got over his surprise, he kissed her back just as passionately, and Jamie smiled, tears in his eyes. For all his jibing, he really did think highly of Gerry, and he knew Iseult would be happy with him in a way she could never be happy with Patrick, who, just now, had the look of a thwarted child. Jamie fully expected him to stamp his foot on the ground and demand Iseult back, as if she was a toy, or a prize to be won. 98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTcRxNoJ12
"Let it go," he warned his heir-presumptive. "I won't take kindly if they're broken up in any way."
Patrick sniffed. "She can consort with the scum of the earth if she wants to," he said. "But she won't find herself rid of me that easily."
Iseult pulled herself clear of her fiance's passionate embrace, but Gerry did keep a protective arm around her waist as she confronted the man she'd once chased down the driveway of her home. "No," she said. "I love Gerry, and as soon as can be arranged, we're getting married. Go comfort yourself with Kate, and good luck to you."
"How the hell did you know?" Patrick demanded.
Iseult rolled her eyes. "I have eyes in my head," she reminded him. "For all your protestations, you've proven your words of devotion are like the wind. So don't stand there and tell me you'll make me change my mind while Kate is ready to go into hospital any day to birth your child. Oh, and by the way," she added, "I've been doing some thinking."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNrRWuUqDZ
"Oh, go to hell," Patrick snapped. "Fine, if you're going to be that way, you can have the bloody business back, and I hope it burns to the ground. So much for not wanting to hurt me in any way."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6keXgyGK2J
"Says the man who told me two years ago we didn't have a chance, and who then took it back despite shagging Kate Ryan for two years," Iseult said. "I had the good sense to move on."
Patrick rolled his eyes. "You're still a child," he told her. "You'll get tired of your 'fiance', and you'll come back to me. I can wait for you to come to your senses for as long as it takes. And that baby probably isn't mine; Kate's been shagging all of Galway, for all I know. She's just pinned me as the father because I'm the only man who's stuck around for longer than one night."
Jamie stepped in. "Go," he told Patrick. "You've two weeks to clear out your office, and I will be checking to make sure you don't take anything with you that doesn't belong to you."
"Yes, boss," Patrick said sarcastically, before turning and storming back to the Beetle. Moments later, he was gone, and Jamie sighed.
"He won't let this go," Gerry predicted.
"They never do," Jamie said, giving his future son-in-law a rueful smile. "But we can handle whatever he and Nora throw at us."
Iseult fervently hoped so. But as they made their way to the nearest pub, she had the horrible feeling Patrick was going to pull out all the stops to either get her back, or ruin her business in the process.
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