Winter Magic in Port Berry (Port Berry #3)

Chapter 7

Will

As soon as Will entered Ginny’s café, he marched directly over to where she sat, visibly uncomfortable, on a hard wooden chair by the back wall. ‘Here, I bought you these to read.’ He handed over two magazines. One was filled with crosswords and short stories, and the other was homestyle and gardens; he wasn’t sure what she would enjoy. ‘Give me two secs.’ He dashed off to the door he figured led out back to the kitchen.

‘Erm, who are you?’ asked a woman in her fifties, adjusting her black apron strings and now looking at him aghast.

He went to hold out a hand but realized he was still holding the soft rectangular cushion he needed to sort. ‘Sorry, I’m Will. I’m helping Ginny today. Did she mention me? Erm, can I just pop this in the microwave to heat up? It’s like a hot water bottle, just safer.’ He glanced around.

‘Oh yeah, she did mention something. Hurt her back this morning. Over here.’ She pointed to the large silver microwave. ‘Let me.’

Will handed her the cushion and waited for it to warm.

‘I’m Annie. You’re new around here, aren’t you?’

He must be sticking out like a sore thumb. The fishing village was small, but not that small. Surely not everyone he laid eyes on would know he was the new kid.

‘How long have you worked here?’ He figured small talk might stop the woman from sizing him up.

‘I was here before Ginny took over. Been working here since I left school. Does me all right.’

The microwave pinged, so retrieving the now warm cushion from Annie, Will quickly headed back to Ginny.

‘Ooh, that’s nice,’ she said, wriggling the heated cushion behind her back.

Will grinned, mightily chuffed with himself for helping her. ‘Thought it might do the trick.’ He waited for her to meet his eyes, then smiled. ‘Tell me what else I can do?’

Ginny gestured at the wooden counter. ‘Best just do whatever Annie says. She could run this place with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back.’

‘I was going to do your job.’

‘Yeah, well, you’ll need more experience for that and a few certificates. Don’t worry, she’ll probably have you clearing tables and making sure the floor is obstacle free. Oh, and check the loo every so often. You need to make sure there’s toilet roll, hand soap, and no blockages or mess. Oh, and that no one has stolen the air freshener off the windowsill, because, yeah, that happens sometimes.’

Will was taking mental notes — along with noting that Annie, working the coffee machine, had one beady eye on him.

Giving Ginny a reassuring smile, Will headed over to Annie to report for duty. He was handed an apron, cloth, and spray bottle.

Will swiped a pen from a glass jar by the till which he handed to Ginny with a warm smile. He liked smiling at Ginny, and he especially liked the shy smiles she was giving him in return. He got on with tidying tables, never having put too much thought into plate-stacking techniques before, but at least it helped keep his mind off the one-night stand he’d had with her, not that he wanted to forget how good it was. Normally, he wouldn’t allow such an attachment, for fear of heartache, but for some reason he hadn’t been able to put Ginny out of his mind.

‘Will, right?’ said a man, in hefty yellow boots. ‘Jed pointed you out to me. I’m Shaun. Foreman at S&C Builders. Sorry I wasn’t around the other week. Jed said you were looking for some work.’

Will lowered his spray bottle as Shaun closed the door behind him, keeping out the wind that had picked up. ‘Oh yeah. I was planning on popping over to see you sometime today.’ He raised his grey cloth. ‘Didn’t know I’d be helping out here.’

Shaun smiled. ‘This is Port Berry. There’s always someone helping out.’ He sank into a nearby chair and picked up the menu. ‘Jed filled me in. I can have you onsite helping out a couple of days a week, but that’s all I’ve got for someone inexperienced.’

‘That’ll do me just fine, cheers, mate. I plan to settle in around here, so doing some odd jobs while I find my feet is all I need. I like to keep busy.’

Shaun laughed as he eyed the fake seagull hanging above him. ‘You might get paid more here.’

‘Nah, this is free.’ Will noticed Ginny studying him, so he left Shaun browsing the menu and got back to work.

The café was busier than he’d anticipated, but at least it kept his mind occupied, because each time it wandered off, it went straight to the petite woman in the corner who looked like she’d just time-travelled from the 1940s.

Will had felt bad all morning, and not just because Ginny had hurt her back. When he was doing a final check around his grandmother’s cottage, he’d heard all the shouting and cursing from next door, and since finding out it was the Ginny he knew being abused, part of him was crushed on her behalf, but he couldn’t say anything. It was best he pretended he didn’t hear a thing. Something told him she would prefer that.

Maybe Sweet Cherry Lane wasn’t as sweet as it sounded. Will made a mental note not to live there. His family hadn’t had the best time there, and by the sound of what happened next door, Ginny hadn’t either. Nope, there was no way he was living on a cursed street. Civvy Street was hard enough to navigate.

Will stepped outside to clear away a table and chase after a chair blown into the road. As he straightened, he took a moment to look out over at the choppy waves. Life sure was easier in the navy.

Ginny opened the door. ‘We should get these tables and chairs inside.’

He instantly warmed in her presence. ‘You should be sitting down.’

She rubbed her lower back as she stretched. ‘I needed to move. I was seizing up.’

‘Well, you’re not carrying anything.’

‘They’re only foldaway.’

He wished he could kiss away that purse in her lips, and almost dared himself to at least peck her cheek, but instead, he pointed at the door. ‘Go rest your back. I’ve got this.’

After a salute, she went back inside, and Will folded some chairs while planning the rest of his day, thinking it best to clear his head of making moves on Ginny. It was hard enough not smiling each time their eyes met.

Before he knew it, he was sweeping the floor for the final time, a touch sad his working day had come to an end. The only thing stopping him from hanging out with Ginny longer was the fact he wanted to see Shaun, then he’d planned to go over to the Sunshine Centre to volunteer.

He motioned towards Berry Hill as Ginny locked up the café. ‘Do you want me to carry you home?’ He could easily swoop her up into his arms and hold her close.

She laughed, shaking her head while putting her keys away in her bag. ‘Rather not have everyone gossip about me, thanks.’

‘I’ll tell them you’re injured.’

Ginny headed off. ‘I’m fine.’

Will watched her for a moment, then jogged to catch up with her. ‘At least you can put your feet up for the rest of the day now you’re done.’

She glanced his way for a second, and it looked as though she was about to say something, but then she turned away.

‘In case you think I’m following you, I’m not. I’m off to speak with the foreman working in the house next to yours. Said he’s got a few shifts for me.’

‘Oh, I should pay you for today. I completely forgot.’

Will laughed. ‘It’s my fault you nearly broke your back. I think that’s worth at least two weeks of free labour.’

‘Two weeks! There’s no need for that. You go find yourself a proper job.’

‘Don’t worry about me. I’ve got my plans.’

Ginny glanced his way and smiled. ‘Sounds intriguing.’

Will tapped the side of his nose. He saw her to her door, held himself back from kissing her cheek, then dipped below the scaffolding next door to see Shaun.

The chat didn’t take long, and as much as Will wanted to admire the view of the sea opposite the harbour houses, he needed to shoot off. He jogged all the way to his pickup truck parked outside Seaview B&B, battling the wind and spits of seawater blowing his way, all the while grinning from ear to ear, still warmed from his day spent with Ginny.

Even when driving over to Penzance, Will couldn’t stop thinking about her. He was so glad her back had eased by the end of his shift.

The Sunshine Centre was way more than Will thought it would be. He was thoroughly impressed by its kerb appeal alone as soon as he pulled up in the car park.

An array of raised flowerbeds and large metal ornaments in the shape of ladybirds, hedgehogs, and hummingbirds filled the front garden, and the large whitewashed building had big colourful flowers painted on the walls. It was so cheery, Will’s smile widened.

He entered through a wide lilac door and headed to the reception area, where he was immediately greeted by a middle-aged woman with bright eyes and a wide warm smile.

‘Hiya, I’m Debra. You must be Will. Jed told me to expect you.’

Will was starting to wonder if the old fisherman had the same magical powers as Luna. It was funny, but he held back his laughter and opted for politeness instead.

‘Will Pendleton. Pleased to meet you. I’ve got to say, this place looks way artier than I thought. I did hear you do arts and crafts here, but I wasn’t expecting the building to actually have artwork on it.’

Debra chuckled. ‘We want to spark joy for our guests as soon as they arrive. Let them know this is a safe space where they’ll find peace and happiness.’

‘I hear you work with ex-military as well.’

Debra nodded. ‘Yes, everyone’s welcome here. Jed said you were in the navy. Which areas were you thinking of volunteering for here, Will?’

‘Tell me everything you have on offer. Jed mentioned rock climbing. I worked in mountain rescue for a year before I came here, so you can use me for those kind of activities. All activities actually. I love a bit of adventure.’

Debra laughed. ‘And what about as a member? Would you like to come here sometimes for your own health?’

Will raised his eyebrows. ‘My health?’

‘Just letting you know people find their peace here, so if you do need respite anytime, feel free to bake a cake, paint a picture, or plant some seeds in the allotment. Whatever you need. We also have therapists here and social workers.’

‘Oh, thanks. But I’m okay.’ It was a complete and utter lie, but as she had blindsided him with her statement, he didn’t know what else to say.

Debra walked around the reception desk to stand at his side. ‘Come on, I’ll show you around. We can walk and talk.’

As long as she doesn’t try and delve into my feelings . . .

* * *

Will had a real spring in his step by the time he headed back to his truck. His estate agent in Wales had sent him a text, scheduling a date to take photos of the flat, so a short trip back there tomorrow would sort that. Life seemed to be coming together. He felt he might just be able to fit in at Port Berry and make friends — so very important for someone with no family.

All he had to do was forget how he was conceived, the fact his mother didn’t want him, and that he couldn’t run away with the navy again.

Piece of cake.