Read The Selkie Spell (Seal Island Trilogy) for Free Online Page B

only trying to add a little spice to your life.”
    “My life is fine the way it is.”
    Glenna clucked her tongue.  “I bet you-know-who wouldn’t mind seeing you in those shoes.”
    Caitlin’s eyes narrowed.  “You leave you-know-who out of this.”
    “Won’t be long before it’s summer again and Liam O’Sullivan’s back in town.  You remember that tourist who came here last summer.  What was her name?”
    Caitlin gritted her teeth.  “Andrea.”
    “I bet Andrea owns shoes like those.  And I bet she isn’t afraid to wear them.”
    “I’m not afraid.”
    Tara hid a smile and slipped off her apron.  She scooped up the stack of books and turned away from the stove. “I’ll let you two catch up while I study.  I’ll be back by four to start working on dinner.”  She looked at Glenna.  “It was nice to meet you.”
    “You too, Tara.”  And aren’t we in a hurry to get away?   “Where are you staying?”
    “She’s staying in the cliff cottage,” Caitlin answered proudly.
    “Dominic’s cliff cottage?”  Glenna raised a perfectly winged brow.  “How interesting.  Come to think of it, I could use a bit of fresh air.”  Crossing the room, she held open the door.  “I’ll walk you home.”  She winked at Caitlin over her shoulder.  “I’ll stop by this evening for a drink and a chat.”
    The air was crisp and cool and refreshing when Tara stepped outside and she took a moment to soak in the view.  She could hear men shouting over their motors down at the docks, bringing in their catch for the day.  The ocean crashed turquoise over a silver beach, fading out to the Atlantic in darker blue.  Sunlight sparkled, dropped like diamonds into the water.  To the West, puffy clouds floated over the jagged peaks of Connemara, like rich dollops of cream.
    “Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?”
    Tara nodded, awestruck.  “This is the first time I’ve seen it on a sunny day.”
    “I remember the first time I saw this view,” she said, starting to walk.  “It was exactly the push I needed to put my row house on the market.”
    “Row house?” Tara asked, surprised.  “You’re not from here?”
    Glenna shook her head.  “I only meant to come for the weekend, to escape a nasty divorce awaiting me back in Dublin.”
    “You came here for the weekend and just… decided to stay?”
    “Before I knew what I was doing, I made an offer on the McPherson’s cottage.”  Glenna laughed.  “As soon as they were packed and loading their things onto the ferry to make their way to their new home in Cork, I was ripping down the old flowered wallpaper and making plans to build a studio in the back yard.  A few weeks later, I’d finalized my divorce and opened a gallery on the island.  I never once looked back.”
    Tara glanced over at her.  “You came here to start over?”
    Glenna nodded.  “Seemed as good a place as any.  Isn’t that what you’re doing?”
    “No.”  Tara shook her head.  “I’m just passing through for the summer.”
    “And then what will you do?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    Glenna looked at Tara and was struck again by same strange feeling like she recognized her from somewhere but couldn’t place it.  “Where’s home?”
    “I don’t have a home.”
    “You don’t have a home?”
    “Not anymore.”
    “What happened?”
    “I sold it.”
    “And you didn’t think to get another one?”
    Tara shook her head.
    “So you’ve no ties to anywhere at the moment?”
    “That’s right.”
    “How… freeing,” Glenna ventured.
    “It is.”
    “But isn’t it also kind of lonely?”
    “I haven’t felt lonely yet.”
    Glenna stole a sideways glance at the woman walking beside her.  “Not even once?”
    “Not even once.”
    “I’m impressed,” Glenna admitted.  “I’m not sure I could do that.”
    “Do what?”
    “Set off without a destination.  I’ve always had a place to come back to.  Even when I made the move from Dublin to here,