Winter Magic in Port Berry (Port Berry #3)

Chapter 10

Ginny

Ginny paced in the back room of the Hub, nervously squeezing her fingers. Will was due any minute, and she was supposed to show him the ropes. Why Sophie had placed him on her shift was so obvious, it had caused her to blush at the time. Ooh, how her friends could be so irritating, interfering like that.

She glanced at her watch, but only a few seconds had passed since she’d last looked. This was getting ridiculous. She needed to get a grip. Why was she so bothered all of a sudden? She was fine when he worked a shift in her café.

It was her recurring nightmare about her escape vessel leaving port without her that played on her mind. Ever since Will mentioned he was ex-navy it niggled away, causing a sleepless night.

Was it a sign? Had she manifested him somehow? The Blue Man boat, her way out of the misery. It seemed so real now — and stupid. She chastised herself for trying to dissect such nonsense. Seriously, what was the point? It couldn’t mean anything. She was just being daft.

Ginny left the back room to make a cup of tea. There were no visitors to the Hub, so she needed something to occupy her mind.

It didn’t matter what she did, hope followed her around. The thought of the dinghy in her dream representing Will was beyond bizarre. So what, he was a sailor, no big deal. Oh, but it was, and it was determined to torment her.

It meant something. It just had to. All those years she’d spent gazing out to sea, blowing kisses that way, pretending her soulmate was alive and well and would find her one day. Maybe the universe was paying attention. Maybe Will picked up on her energy. Maybe she was just nuts.

Ginny started laughing, bringing a tear to her eye in the process. Holding her aching stomach, she plopped down into a big blue comfy chair. ‘Oh, goodness, get a grip, woman.’

The door swung open, and in walked Will with a wide smile and a bunch of flowers.

The memory of him laying a poppy wreath at the memorial column the day before washed over her. He looked super smart in his dark blazer. Ginny had stared at the woven RN badge attached to the left breast pocket below his medals, wondering how it made him feel to wear such an honour. It was a surreal sight. He’d stood to attention for a couple of beats, causing Ginny to straighten her shoulders, not that she bothered placing her thumbs in line with the seam of her trousers, like he had. His stand was definitely on point. Heels together, feet at forty-five degrees, chest out, looking straight ahead. Yep, he was back in service, and Ginny felt a tad proud.

‘Hello,’ she said politely. ‘I was just about to have a cuppa. Here, sit down and join me. We can chat about this place while we dip into the Jammie Dodgers.’ She moved some magazines from a chair and waved him forward.

Will sat, twiddling with the packet of biscuits on the table. ‘So, you helped set this place up, did you?’

Ginny glanced over her shoulder at the smiley face sticker glued to the front door, remembering placing it there. ‘Yeah, it was a bit of a challenge to begin with, as some of the locals weren’t too keen.’ She grinned, then turned back to make the tea. ‘They were worried it would lower the tone around here. Dug their heels in good and proper at one point, but then we got Councillor Seabridge on side and went from there.’

‘And Matt was the first through the door, is that right?’

Ginny brought the tea over to the table and sat back down. ‘Yeah, bless him. He was homeless and so lost when he arrived, and the first person he met was Jed.’

Will laughed. ‘I can only imagine.’

‘Jed took him for a pedicure, spa treatment, haircut. Spruced him right up. Even took him to the dentist. Oh, Jed went all out.’ She snuggled back in the comfy chair and smiled. ‘I’m glad he did. Matt only needed someone to care about him. Jed made such a difference to his life.’ She raised one finger. ‘Don’t get me wrong, Matt was making his own life better by giving up the booze, but it still helps when you have a circle of support around you.’

‘And that’s what you do here, is it? Support the homeless?’

Ginny waggled a hand from side to side. ‘That’s one thing, but we offer whatever’s needed. We’ve helped get people jobs, therapy, advice. Now we have a food bank as well. It’s quite new, and small, but you’d be surprised how many walk through that door hungry.’

‘So what sort of thing will you want me to do?’

‘Listen to people mostly. Some only come in for a chat. Just let them tell you what they need, and if you can’t sort it yourself, ask one of us. We have a large team here, not just us main volunteers that you see working. There’s the dentist I just mentioned and the spa girls. We got all sorts signed up to the scheme when we started.’

‘Sounds good.’

Ginny cupped her tea and smiled. ‘It is. We’re so pleased with how things are going. Obviously not the fact that people need help, but you know.’

‘Yeah, I know.’

‘So, what’s with you volunteering all over the place?’

Will shrugged. ‘I like to be of service, that’s all.’

Ginny examined him, sensing more to the sentence. ‘Hmm. Is that why you joined the navy?’

It took a beat before he answered, giving the impression he was searching for the right words. ‘I grew up in care,’ he said quietly.

‘Oh.’ She didn’t know what else to say and immediately felt sad for him.

Will’s dark eyes slowly met hers. ‘I never felt I belonged anywhere.’

She knew how that felt. ‘I understand.’

His expression held sympathy and confusion. ‘I guess I’ve spent most of my life wishing I had a family — I never stopped to think that if I had one it might not be all rainbows and moonbeams.’

Ginny breathed out a soft laugh. ‘No, not all families have that.’ Her smile faded. ‘Mine didn’t.’

‘That bad, huh?’

She lowered her gaze. ‘I don’t really talk about it.’ Shrugging, she added, ‘Don’t see the point.’

‘A therapist would probably tell you it helps to get crap off your chest.’

‘Did joining the navy help you lose all the crap?’

Will raised his palms, then dropped them back to the table. ‘I don’t know. It gave me a family, but each time I was on leave, I was reminded I had no one.’

Ginny shuffled so she was leaning closer to him. ‘You’ll feel a sense of family here. I do.’

‘But you do have a family here.’

‘Just my mum. My dad left when I was a nipper, and he’s dead now. I do have a brother, but he lives in Yorkshire, and he rarely comes back.’ She swallowed the lump in her throat, then met his curious eyes. ‘In all honesty, I wish I’d run away with the navy years ago.’

Will’s hand was suddenly covering hers. ‘You’re tougher than that, Ginny.’

She didn’t agree. ‘I’m tired, Will,’ she said so softly, her voice cracked.

‘Hey, whatever you need, I’m here.’

The words, the tone, the look in his gentle eyes all caused Ginny’s breath to catch. There was no way she was crying. Nope. Wasn’t happening. She managed a weak smile as she thanked him.

‘I mean it, Gin. I’ll help.’ The corner of his mouth twitched. ‘I’m beating the Scouts with all this volunteering malarkey, so don’t stop me now.’

‘Yes, you are a busy bee.’

‘It helps me as well as them. I won’t lie, I do feel the loneliness when left to my own company for too long, and one day is too long.’

Ginny gave his hand a light squeeze. ‘We sound like a right pair.’

Will’s thumb lightly stroked across her finger. ‘At least we can keep each other occupied.’

‘Oh, is that right?’

His eyes widened in horror. ‘Oh no, that’s not what I meant. Please, excuse me while I go stick my head in a bucket.’ He burst out laughing, sliding back into his chair, taking his warm hand with him.

Ginny wished she had the guts to shoot forward and snatch it back. His hand on hers felt so right.

‘Sorry about that,’ he added, shaking his head. ‘I sounded like some sort of sleaze.’

‘No, you didn’t. It’s okay.’

He smiled as he reached out for his tea. ‘Glad we got that sorted. It’s good we’re friends.’

Friends?

‘Uh-huh.’ Ginny sniffed, then chewed the inside of her mouth while thinking what to say. She thought they had chemistry, but it must have been something else, seeing how he just tossed her straight in the friend zone. Maybe it was for the best.

While Will started eating biscuits, Ginny visualized him in uniform aboard a ship. She kind of liked the look. She kind of liked how he looked now, snug and happy dunking bickies.

‘I’ll show you how to make up food parcels after this,’ was all she could think to say.

He nodded. ‘Sure.’

Ginny swallowed hard. ‘And just so you know, if you ever need anything, I’m here for you too.’

They locked eyes, and Ginny was sure her heart skipped a beat.

She looked away first. ‘I just know how it can all get a bit much sometimes.’

‘Yeah, I guess we all need some respite every so often.’

Ginny felt she needed a lifetime’s worth. ‘I normally sit down by the harbour for five minutes. That’s my break from life.’

Will glanced up as he cuffed his bottom lip. ‘Hey, how do you fancy a road trip at the weekend?’

That floored her. ‘What?’

‘I’m putting down roots here, so need to fetch the last of my things from my flat in Wales. It’s on the market now, and the estate agent reckons it will get snapped up. So the sooner I get on with the job the better. You ever been to Wales?’

Ginny had hardly been anywhere. ‘Nope. Have you found somewhere here then?’

‘Not yet. But I’m looking.’

Should she mention the tenants living in her flat were moving out in a few days? The plan wasn’t to rent it out again, not that she had much of a plan. Her tearoom was still on the back burner until her mum was sorted with new accommodation. Should she sell now and help her mum? Her dad would turn in his grave. Her dream was the tearoom. She must stick to that. At least that idea didn’t drive her round the bend.

‘Would we drive there?’ she asked, thinking a change of scenery would be good.

Will nodded. ‘Yep, got my truck. The only thing is, we’d stay over at mine, then head back the next day. Would that be okay with you? I have two bedrooms.’

Ginny smiled. ‘Sure. That’s fine.’ All she had to do was pay Suzanne more money for extra hours and double-check with Annie that the café would be fully staffed.

‘We’ll leave Saturday morning after breakfast. Sound good?’

‘We can have breakfast together, chick,’ she blurted, surprising herself.

His warm smile hit her straight in the heart. ‘Yeah, okay. Yours or mine?’

Ginny laughed. ‘On me, in the café.’

‘Ooh, not sure I like a woman paying for me.’

‘Don’t be sexist.’

‘It’s not sexist. It’s tradition.’

‘That comes from what? Oppression? The gender pay gap?’

Will laughed. ‘What?’

Ginny shook her head. ‘I like to pay my own way.’

‘Fair enough.’

She folded her arms, snuggling into the comfy chair. ‘Good. So from now on, don’t oppress me. If I want to treat my male friends, I will.’

Will laughed again. ‘Good for you. However, I might kind of like buying things for you too. I’ve always been a giver, see.’

‘I’m a giver too.’

‘Well, that’s us screwed.’

Ginny burst out laughing.

Will raised his palms in defence. ‘But just so you know, I promise to never oppress you.’

‘Good. So you’ll eat the breakfast I serve you.’

‘I’ll always eat the breakfast you serve me, and I won’t say a word about it.’

Ginny smiled. ‘You are allowed to compliment the chef.’

‘You look beautiful.’

He’d caught her off guard again, and she cursed the blush creeping up her neck.

‘I meant the food,’ she said quietly.

‘Can I ask, why do you dress that way? I’ve never met anyone with that look.’

Ginny glanced at her vintage top and dark skirt. ‘I feel comfortable.’ There wasn’t more she wanted to add. Not feeling as though she belonged anywhere in life made it easier for her to pretend she belonged somewhere else.

‘You look as if you time travel.’

‘Ooh, I’m sure there are women today who like deep-red lipstick.’ She pouted to emphasize her lips.

‘There are blokes that like it too. And I definitely like it on you.’

Ginny laughed.

Will pointed at her hair. ‘I like the headscarves you wear as well.’

Ginny reached up, catching her finger between the plum material and her pin curls. ‘What’s your style called?’

‘Comfy and cheap. But if you’d prefer, whenever I’m walking out with you, I can slip on a tank top or whatever it was the gentlemen of that time wore.’

‘Walking out with me?’

‘That’s what they called it.’

Ginny held back a laugh. ‘I think that meant going out with each other, you know, like dating.’

He stared at her for a while, and she couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. ‘What should we call it?’ he said, finally.

Was that her cue to label whatever it was they had? There was no way she was holding that weight. What if she got it wrong and embarrassed herself? He was still quietly waiting, chewing on a biscuit and acting rather laid-back about the question hanging between them.

Ginny swallowed hard, hoping he didn’t notice. She had to say something. ‘Road trip buddies.’

His eyes dipped to his tea as he grinned. ‘I’ll take that.’

She went to add more but the door opened and an old lady entered in need of a food parcel.

‘Hello, Mrs Banks. I’ll put some extra tins of chicken soup in for you, shall I?’ Ginny smiled at Will as she got up, then introduced him to the local resident while getting him to unfold a cardboard box.

‘Ooh, is that biscuits I see?’ said Mrs Banks.

Will waved her towards a chair. ‘Yep, and how about a nice cuppa to go with them? There’s a bit of a nip in the air out there, eh?’

Ginny got on with her task while keeping one eye on Will, not that she needed to. He had it all in hand, and Mrs Banks looked quite settled with him.

He turned Ginny’s way for a split second and winked, and Ginny found she too was quite settled in his company.