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Long after everyone else had gone to bed, Iseult sat by the pool, listening to the crickets. Her mind was still going around in circles after her talk with Saraid, and while she knew she ought to do the right thing for herself, there was still the question of what her parents would say. She knew they'd support her no matter what she chose, and they were more than happy to "adopt" Patrick so he could step into Jamie's shoes.
But at the same time, Iseult couldn't help shake the feeling she'd be letting her parents - and indeed, her great-grandpa - if she chose not to take on the role of CEO when the time came.
Irritated, Iseult did the one thing she knew would calm her down; she slipped off her shoes and jumped into the pool, letting the night-dark water close over her head.
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Down under the surface, worry dissipated; Iseult instantly felt at peace as she let her air out, sinking down into the darkness. Down here, she didn't disappoint anyone, and when her back hit the tiles, she let herself float. But she knew she wasn't a disappointment to her parents; they'd already accepted her brother's refusal to take on the role his namesake had made for himself. So why on earth did it feel like she would be the one to break the cycle of succession, as it were?
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There didn't seem to be an answer to this question, and though her lungs were almost empty, Iseult turned and swam, losing herself in the familiar rhythms. Lack of air finally forced her to the surface, though, and she took deep breaths once her head was above water. Moments later, she went back under, leaving the uncomfortable question on the surface where it belonged; worries had no place underwater.
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The next morning, Iseult rose with determination in her heart. She come to no satisfactory conclusion the night before, and had, upon going to bed, resolved to tackle the issue head on when she met her family for breakfast. But now that the time time was upon her, she still felt incredibly uncertain despite her resolve. She shoved the uncertainty aside as she showered and dressed, before making her way to the dining room. Her parents and brother were already seated, and Iseult slipped into her customary chair next to her brother, giving him an affectionate hair ruffle. 94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DqNRfED44
"It's early you are," Jamie said, surprised. "I'd have thought you'd be still abed, young lady."
"I've got larking about to do," Iseult said, pretending to be horrified as she accepted her usual bowl of muesli and glass of orange juice. "You can't expect me to be staying abed when I've got six weeks of doing nothing?"
"I wish I had half your energy," Jamie said with a laugh. "I'm up to my eyeballs in accounts; I've got a half-dozen new hires all clamouring for a place on the boats, and no room to put them. I may have to purchase some new boats to make room."
This was the opportunity Iseult had been looking for. "I was speaking to Saraid yesterday-" she began, but Heather held up her hand.
"No business talk at the breakfast table," she said, her mock-stern glare taking in husband and daughter both. "You two can talk shop on the way to Belfast, but I won't have it cluttering up the air here."
Iseult silently blessed her mother, and as Jamie turned the conversation to less business-like channels, she thanked God for the reprieve. And there was relief as well; Jamie hadn't been born into the empire, for all that he'd taken his wife's name when they got married, (much to his elite mother's dismay), and Iseult had the feeling her father would be slightly more receptive than her mother. With some of her unease dispelled, Iseult got down to breakfast.
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"So, what were you and Saraid talking about yesterday?" Jamie asked, as he and Iseult walked to the bus stop. It was only a mile from the house, and Jamie had steadfastly refused to waste gas when Belfast was only a short bus ride away. And it was good exercise, he always insisted.
Iseult took a deep breath. "We were talking about careers and stuff," she said, "and it got me to thinkin'; I know it's expected of me to take over from you when you retire, and when I was littler, there was nothing more I wanted in the world than to take over the business one day and make it even better than when me great-granddad started it."
"I'll take the 'compliment' in the spirit that it's intended," Jamie said dryly, but there was a twinkle in his eyes as he ruffled his daughter's ginger hair - yet another family trait. "I take it," he said more seriously, "that you're thinking of not stepping into my somewhat inadequate shoes?"
"Your shoes aren't as inadequate as you make out," Iseult reminded him, and he chuckled. "But I'm leaning that way," she admitted. "I don't want to let you and Mam down, and I don't want to 'break the line of succession', as it were."
"I understand," Jamie said, tapping his chin as the bus approached. Once they'd boarded and found some seats, Jamie resumed. "Calum's already said no, the wee devil," he said, smiling fondly as he thought of his rambunctious ten-year-old. "I'll get him apprenticed to a good mechanic when he finishes school, and he can tinker about with cars to his heart's content. But what are you going to do, young lady?"94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wUY7iNMgf
"I haven't really thought about it," Iseult admitted. "But the sea is calling me, just not in the way everyone's hopin' for it to be."
Jamie tapped his chin again. "Your mam's not going to be as disappointed as you think," he said. "I know you're scared to upset her, but your mam has the most sensible head on her shoulders I've ever seen in a woman, and I thank God every day for guiding me to her. She'll be sad, to be sure, but she'll understand, and bless you for being honest with her. And," he added, as the bus approached the outskirts of Belfast, "it's not like you're turning your back on the business entirely. If being on a boat and sailing the world is your desire, well, I can find you a reputable boat to start on, and you can learn the trade that way."
"I'd like that," Iseult said, feeling lighter of heart. "Do you think I could one day be captain of me own boat?"
"If your great-grandad, God rest his soul, could turn one squidding boat into an empire," Jamie said, "then his great-granddaughter can do whatever she wishes. And she'll likely make as good a go of it as her great-granddad did."
Iseult smiled. "I think this is the answer to me problems," she said.
Jamie ruffled her hair again. "I think so too," he said. "I really think so too."
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