Winter Magic in Port Berry (Port Berry #3)

Chapter 8

Ginny

‘You stand with your hands against that wall, young lady, and if you dare move, you’ll feel the flat end of my slipper.’

Ginny quivered at her mother’s sharp tone. Her palms were pressed against the flock wallpaper, her head dipped, and eyes filled to the brim with water.

It wasn’t her fault the kettle was broken. Lee dropped it, not her, but when asked, he blamed her and that was that. He could’ve said aliens landed on the roof and stole the aerial and their mum would’ve believed him, because her precious son never lied.

Ginny gulped down some silent deep breaths, steadying her nerves. The slipper was coming at some point. Once mentioned, it was used. The punishment of standing against the wall was simply torture added into the mix. Mind games were nothing new in the Dean household.

A small dinghy gently bobbing on the calm sea looked so tranquil as the sun woke the sky. The name Blue Man was scribbled on the side in dark blue, and a tall mast held a white flag with a silhouette of an anchor.

Ginny visualized her getaway vessel in bright, bold colours. Someday she’d sail away to a place where no one could hurt her again.

She wished she could hold her own hand. It always comforted her. Raising her gaze to the wall, she wondered why she bothered with endurance. She was going to take six of the best to the backside no matter how long she stood for. But survival mode kicked in, as always, telling her not to move.

She closed her eyes, seeing only the boat once more, but it was sailing away. Leaving port without her.

‘No, come back, Blue Man ,’ she yelled, too afraid to move her hands. ‘Don’t leave me here. Please, please. Come back, come back. Save me.’

* * *

Ginny jumped, inhaled deeply, and sat up to stare down at the pool lounger she was sprawled on. She must have drifted off. The deep tissue massage she’d not long received at the spa certainly hit the spot if it had made her that relaxed.

‘You okay, Gin?’ asked Sophie, sitting cross-legged on the sunbed next to her. ‘You woke with a start.’

Ginny shook her head and faked a laugh. ‘Think I had a mad dream.’

Sophie rubbed a white towel over her damp legs. ‘What was it about?’

‘Can’t remember,’ she lied, glancing up at the glass roof.

There were two recurring nightmares Ginny had, and neither of them were up for discussion.

‘I bet you watched something scary last night. That’ll do it.’ Sophie glanced over the other side of Ginny to where Lottie was resting, reading a paperback. ‘You should give her some of your romance reads, Lott. Might help her sleep better.’

Lottie lowered her book and smiled. ‘You not sleeping, Gin?’

Ginny rolled her eyes at Sophie. ‘Ignore her, chick. I’m fine.’ She indicated at Alice doing lengths in the pool. ‘I might take a dip in a minute,’ she added, wanting a subject change.

‘Ooh, sounds heavenly,’ said Lottie.

Sophie leaned over. ‘We can all hold you up, Lott, if you like.’

Ginny nodded, glancing at her friend’s electric wheelchair to her side. She often wished she was as positive as Lottie Jordan. There wasn’t a person in the world she knew with more spirit and drive. Ginny was sure had she been run over and lost the use of her legs, she would’ve fallen apart at the seams. ‘With your upper-body strength, you could probably outswim us all without any help.’

Lottie beamed and flexed her biceps. ‘You know it’s true.’

They shared a laugh, and the last dregs of Ginny’s nightmare dispersed.

‘How’s the house getting on, Lott?’ asked Sophie. ‘Almost there?’

Lottie nodded. ‘Almost. The two houses are now one, and everything’s a lot tidier, thank goodness. I really hated all that mess.’ She looked at Ginny. ‘What about you? Any news in your life?’

Ginny’s tummy flipped as thoughts of Will flashed through her mind. Did Lottie know about him or suspect something was going on? ‘Why did you ask that?’

Both women raised their eyebrows.

‘What you hiding?’ asked Sophie, grinning.

‘Nothing.’

‘You acted defensive,’ said Lottie.

‘Did not.’

Sophie laughed. ‘Did too.’

‘I was only asking to see if you had more news on your tearoom idea,’ said Lottie. ‘But Sophie’s right. You’re hiding something. Spill the beans.’

Ginny tutted, folding her arms. Should she mention the man with the muscles who helped out in her café on Monday? Was there any point? She’d not seen hide nor hair of him since, and it was Saturday now, not that she expected to see him again, after all, she had told him she didn’t need any more of his help in the café.

‘It’s a man,’ said Sophie, nodding over at Lottie. ‘Has to be.’

Ginny frowned, annoyed her friend was inside her head. ‘Why does it have to be?’

‘Because you clammed up,’ said Lottie, giggling while tying her strawberry-blonde hair into a messy bun.

The cat was well and truly out the bag and without one word being spoken. Ooh, how Ginny wished she could hide her crushes from her mates.

‘Oh, come on, Gin,’ said Sophie. ‘Who is he?’

‘I’m not sure there is anyone, exactly,’ she replied. ‘I mean, I did meet a man, but, well, I’m not sure yet.’

‘You take your time, Ginny. Don’t rush into anything,’ said Lottie.

Sophie scoffed. ‘That’s rich coming from you. You’ve only been with Samuel since the summer, and he’s moved in with you already.’

Lottie raised her arm. ‘He was helping me when I broke my arm, thank you very much.’

‘But he didn’t go home once it was better.’ Sophie waggled a finger her way.

Lottie bit her bottom lip and grinned. ‘We love each other. We don’t like being apart.’

Ginny’s heart warmed for her friend.

‘What’s your new fella like, Gin?’ asked Sophie.

‘He’s not my fella! I’ve only just met him.’

Sophie raised her palms. ‘Well, you can still describe him.’

Ginny tried to control her smile. ‘He’s taller than me.’

Lottie laughed, then slapped a hand to her mouth. ‘Sorry.’

Ginny shook her head. ‘Yeah, I know, everyone’s taller than me. Anyway, he’s new here, looking to settle so he can be close to his grandmother, who, by the way, is Babs from next door to Mum’s, would you believe?’

‘I didn’t even know she had kids, let alone grandkids,’ said Sophie.

‘I think her daughter died young. I don’t have any memory of her being around, and Babs didn’t talk about family.’ Ginny thought back. ‘Mum might have mentioned it once.’

Lottie sighed. ‘Aww, at least she’s got someone to visit her in the care home. Any word on a home for your mum yet, Gin? It’s taking ages, isn’t it?’

It felt longer than ages. It felt like forever, and Ginny was slowly losing hope a place would ever become available. She had visualizations of carrying her mum to the bathroom while needing carrying herself.

‘I sent more emails again. I was told there was a vacancy at one care home but it was private, and I can’t afford that. Mum didn’t buy her house, so it can’t pay for private care.’ Ginny didn’t want to add that what she pays Suzanne had eaten away into her savings.

Sophie looked at Ginny. ‘It would be easier if you had a partner to help you.’

‘I kind of like being on my own sometimes,’ said Ginny, holding her own hand.

Sophie leaned back on her lounger and sighed. ‘Yeah, but it’s also nice when you’ve someone to cuddle when needed.’

‘Someone you can trust,’ said Lottie. ‘Who loves and respects you so much.’

Ginny wondered what Will was up to while she was enjoying her spa day with friends. They hadn’t made any plans to hang out, and they certainly hadn’t spoken about their steamy Halloween night.

Will, the new kid, was starting to take over her days. Perhaps it was time she accidently on purpose strolled by Seaview B&B to see if she could spot him standing on one the balconies. Her nose wrinkled at the thought. Maybe it was best to see if he popped into the café again.

Sophie stretched. ‘Ooh, I’m so looking forward to dinner tonight at the pub.’

‘Me too,’ said Lottie. ‘I told Sam to meet me down there.’

Just in case she bumped into Will at the pub, Ginny decided she’d have a facial and get her hair sorted after a quick swim. She so hoped she’d bump into him again at some point.

‘Ooh,’ said Sophie, ‘we need to talk Christmas already.’

Lottie scoffed. ‘Really? It’s November.’

‘The food bank is going to get extra busy this time of year, Lott.’ Sophie nodded at Ginny. ‘Samuel told me to expect more donations closer to the time. It’s when people are at their most generous.’

Ginny raised a finger. ‘Ooh, we should do something so we can raise money to buy a few chickens to add to the food parcels. Store them in your shop, Soph. Maybe we can make them look like Christmas hampers. That’ll be cheerful. Can we use some ribbons and cellophane from Berry Blooms, Lott?’

‘Sure. I’ll put some red and green ones to one side. Ooh, maybe silver. I can make some bows.’

‘Are you busy making Christmas wreaths in your shop already?’ asked Sophie.

Lottie shook her head. ‘No. I’ve just been making some poppy wreaths for Remembrance Sunday. Councillor Seabridge is holding a short service down by the memorial column, then Father Stephen will be continuing the service at church. We’ve still got some poppies for sale in the flower shop. Make sure you buy some.’

Ginny nodded. ‘I bought a knitted one from Luna, but I’ll pop in and buy a pin from you too, chick.’

Lottie thanked her, then went back to reading her book. Sophie had her eyes closed, so Ginny made her way over to the slanted wide steps of the pool.

The tepid water made her smile, taking her back to the days she’d slip off after school to the small beach by the harbour and paddle away her troubles. Life was a lot easier now, she reminded herself, even if she felt sandwiched between her job and mother. At least she had choices now.

Floating on her back, Ginny closed her eyes and smiled. It was a cold November day outside the spa, but in the pool, it was as though springtime had come early, easing her bruised back and soothing her weary soul.