The Mighty Quinns: Kellan (20 page)

Gelsey had picked up some colorful wrapping paper and ribbon in Bantry and for the last week had been wrapping every purchase that left the store. To her surprise, customers were stopping in to buy just because of the free gift wrapping.

She had hoped to find a moment to talk to Maeve. After a lot of thought and a few phone calls to her banker, she’d decided to make an offer on the shop. Kellan had been right. She needed to think beyond what would happen in January and this was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

She had a life here in Ballykirk. She had friends, a man who loved her, people who were happy to see her each day. And even after the entire town found out who she really was, it didn’t matter. They still treated her like the girl Kellan saved from the sea.

She hadn’t told Kellan about her decision yet. She’d become superstitious since the arrival of the photographer, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. But now she felt confident that no matter what happened, this was exactly where she belonged.

“I haven’t see the shop like this in, well, it’s been years,” Maeve exclaimed. “I bless the day I hired you, Gelsey. Look what you’ve done. It’s a miracle.”

“The shop just needed a bit of modernizing,” Gelsey said as she arranged a display of natural sponges in a wicker basket. “I’d like to sit down and talk with you after the holidays. I’d like to make an offer to buy the shop. I’ll give you a fair price. Enough for you and your sister to take ten cruises around the world.”

Maeve picked up a pot of beeswax lip balm and slowly turned it over in her hand. “About that,” she said. “I—I’m not so sure I want to sell anymore.”

Her words hit Gelsey like a slap in the face. “What? I don’t understand.”

“Well, everything is going so well. We’ve had so many new customers stop in and the shop has never looked better. And I’ve never really gotten on with my sister. She’s bossy and stubborn and she spends far too much time in front of the telly. We’d never be able to live together.”

“But, I thought—”

“I know. And I am sorry, dear. This is just so much fun now and I don’t want to give it up. You understand, don’t you?”

Gelsey felt the frustration bubbling inside her.
She
was the reason the shop was doing well,
she
brought the customers in,
she
gave them what they wanted. Without her, Maeve would have still been digging herself out from beneath dusty boxes of ten-year-old product.

“I’d still love you to work here,” Maeve continued. “The customers adore you. And of course, we’d renegotiate your pay. But, if you want my advice, dear, you’re much too clever to stay in this small town. You should be running your own place in London or Paris.”

Gelsey opened her mouth, ready to argue her point, but then she snapped it shut. “I’m going to take my break now,” she said, trying to keep her voice calm and her manner indifferent. It wouldn’t do to burn any bridges right now. Perhaps Maeve could be persuaded to change her mind.

Maeve glanced at her watch. “Go right ahead. I think I can handle things. And when you come back we’ll discuss that raise.”

Gelsey grabbed her coat and pulled it on over the cashmere sweater and skirt she’d chosen that morning, then retrieved her purse from behind the counter. She couldn’t get out of the shop fast enough, but when she reached the safety of the street, she didn’t curse or scream. Instead, tears erupted from the corners of her eyes and there was nothing she could do to stop them.

She headed toward the pub. Her immediate reaction was to find Kellan and tell him what had happened. But as she walked, Gelsey realized that this wasn’t his problem, it was hers. She’d been the one to naively put all her efforts into improving the shop. She’d been the one to spend her own money on gift bags and wrapping paper and real grosgrain ribbon for the boxes.

She’d dusted and mopped and toted and carried until every muscle in her body ached and she’d been rewarded with happy customers and increased sales. Maeve was right—she was clever. And she did know what she was doing.

Gelsey wiped away her tears. Why was she crying? She didn’t need the job. She had plenty of money left in her trust find.

She walked past the pub and down to the waterfront. The smell of the sea was thick in the damp air. She sat down on a bench that overlooked the harbor, fixing her gaze on a fishing boat that was chugging out of port.

People went to work every day and some of them worked at jobs they barely liked. But she’d wanted to find something to make her life meaningful, something that made her proud of what she did with her day. She’d wasted so much time, and now that she’d finally decided on a future for herself, it had been snatched away from her before she’d even begun.

The tears started again and Gelsey didn’t try to stop them. She was alone. And the emotional release was the only reaction she could muster. But when she saw Dealy Carmichael and the rest of the Unholy Trinity approaching, Gelsey quickly composed herself and pasted a smile on her face.

“Good morning, lass,” Markus called. “What are you doing out here on a chilly day like today?”

“Just admiring the view,” Gelsey said, forcing a cheerful tone into her words.

“We’re working on a shopping brochure for the town,” Dealy said. “We’ll be sure to add your shop to the map.”

“Good. I’m sure Maeve will appreciate that.”

They continued past her, fishing poles in hand. Once they were out of sight, Gelsey drew a ragged breath. Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back and tried to relax.

How had she managed to fool herself yet again? She’d convinced herself that she could live happily ever after in Ballykirk. But she should have known that nothing ever worked out in her favor.

Another sob rocked her body and she covered her face with her hands, her cheeks already growing wet with tears.

“Gelsey?”

The sound of Kellan’s voice startled her and she sat up and wiped her face with her palms. “Hi. Sorry, I was just resting my eyes.”

“The boys told me you were down here,” he said, sitting down next to her. “What are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“No.”

“But it’s the Friday before Christmas.”

“Just go away,” Gelsey said. “Leave me alone.”

He reached out to pull her closer, but she fought his embrace, moving to the other end of the bench.

“Would you like to tell me what this is about?”

“Maeve doesn’t want to sell the shop anymore. Now that it’s doing so well, she’s decided to stick around. Of course, she wants me to continue working there. With a lovely raise.”

“That’s good,” Kellan said.

“I don’t want to be taking orders from Maeve for the rest of my life. She knows that I’m responsible for all the new business, but it’s still her shop. I guess I’ve done my job too well.”

“I’m sure that’s true,” Kellan said. “Maeve may be a big crazy, but she’s not blind. She’d be lucky to have you.”

“I’m not going back there. I don’t want to work for Maeve. She’s a lovely woman, but I need to do something for myself.”

“Gelsey, I know you haven’t had a job in the past, so you might be a bit naive about how things work in the real world. This happens all the time. Employees are taken advantage of, are underappreciated and overworked. That’s just the way the world operates.” He finally got hold of her hand and this time Gelsey didn’t pull away. “My first job, I was amazing. I did brilliant work. But my boss took it all and passed it off as his own. In the end, his boss found out, he was sacked and I moved up into his spot. I had a choice and I decided to stay. But you can do anything you want.”

Gelsey laughed. “You say that as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. I liked Maeve’s shop. I knew I could make a success of that.”

“So, open up your own shop.”

“Selling what? I don’t think Ballykirk can support two shops selling kelp facial masks and sea-salt scrubs.”

“Gelsey, if you’re going to let this stop you, then you aren’t cut out to run a business.”

Gelsey snatched her hand away. “Whose side are you on?”

“This isn’t about sides. It’s about business. You can do anything you want. You just have to decide to do it.”

“I did decide and it blew up in my face.”

“I think you’re being a bit dramatic,” Kellan said.

Gelsey stood, her tears now replaced with anger. She’d at least thought that Kellan would understand, but he seemed to be taking Maeve’s part, which only added to her anger. “I have to go. I don’t want to talk about this anymore and I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Come on, Gels. Don’t get mad. This isn’t a big deal. You pick yourself up and you move on.”

“No? It’s a big deal to me. A really big deal. And if you don’t understand that, then you don’t understand me.”

“You’re mad at me?” Kellan asked. “Just because I disagree with the way you’re handling this?”

Gelsey walked by him and started back toward the shop. “Don’t even think about following me,” she shouted.

To her relief, Kellan didn’t. She managed to make it to the Bentley without having to talk to anyone. Gelsey tossed her purse inside, then got behind the wheel and started the car. The mechanic she’d hired to look at it had encouraged her to get it tuned up before driving it, but she hadn’t had time.

The engine sputtered at first, refusing to start, but after the sixth try, it roared to life. She put the car in gear, made a wide U-turn on the street in front of the shop and headed out of town.

He was right. She’d just have to find another opportunity, a better chance to make a future for herself. But would that be in Ballykirk? And would it be with Kellan?

Gelsey scolded herself. She shouldn’t have reacted the way she had. He was only trying to help. But Kellan knew what he wanted from life. It had always been easy for him. Since she’d come back to Ireland, she’d been living in a strange kind of limbo, waiting for everything to make sense.

“I don’t need him,” she murmured to herself as she steered the car along the coast road. “I can take care of myself.”

“HERE IT IS,” Kellan said. “What do you think?”

Jordan stared at the facade of the shop, nestled between the Ballykirk post office and Roddy Murphy’s Sporting Emporium, a confused expression on her face. “About what?”

“The possibilities,” he said. He pulled a key out of his pocket and pushed it into the lock on the front door, then stepped aside so Jordan could enter.

“Are you going to bid on the renovations? Who is this for?”

“A friend,” Kellan said.

Jordan sucked in a sharp breath as she caught sight of the cluttered interior. Everywhere they looked, old appliances were stacked and scattered, some in pieces. “Is this for Gelsey?”

Kellan nodded. “Yeah. You probably heard about what happened with Maeve. Gelsey quit her job there after Maeve decided she didn’t want to sell the shop.”

“I know. Nan told me. It happened yesterday and it’s all around town. People are plenty angry with Maeve, but she seems as happy as a clam with all her new business. Is Gelsey even interested in staying in Ballykirk now?”

“She was before,” Kellan said. “And I hope she hasn’t changed her mind. I’m going to do everything I can to give her a reason to stay.”

“You’re going to buy her this shop?”

“No. She’s going to buy the shop. I’m going to renovate it for her.” Kellan stood in the center of the huge ground floor. Up until a few months ago, it had housed Eddie Farrell’s appliance-repair shop. Eddie had heard about Maeve’s change of heart and had come rushing over to the pub last night with an offer of his own. “What do you think?”

Jordan walked along one wall lined with shelves that were filled with old toasters. “I don’t know what to think. It’s hard to see past the junk.”

“Eddie Farrell is ready to sell. And he won’t be changing his mind. He’s offered to include his inventory, but I’m not sure it’s worth keeping.”

“It would take a lot of work,” Jordan said. “Much more than Maeve’s place. But look at these shelves. They’re original. And these cases are beautiful.”

“I know. That’s why I need your help. We’re going to need to find more display cases and shelving units and tables. I know you’ve been all over Ireland looking for furniture for Castle Cnoc. I’m hoping you can find what we need to make this place work.”

“I already know of a few places to check.” Jordan grinned. “This is going to be a fun project. So what is she going to sell?”

“I don’t know,” Kellan said. “She’ll have to figure that out. But at least whatever she sells will be here in Ballykirk.” He turned to face Jordan. “Do you think you could make some sketches? Maybe choose some paint colors and put together some boards. I want to set something up so that when I bring Gelsey here, she’ll be able to see the potential.”

“Today?”

“No. I was hoping to show it to her on New Year’s Eve. After the wedding. I want to get some of this junk cleared out first.”

“That would be perfect,” Jordan cried. “Wow, you are a romantic, aren’t you.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. The notion was so absurd, but he’d spent a lot of time considering what approach would best appeal to Gelsey. “I’m learning.”