Winter Magic in Port Berry (Port Berry #3)

Chapter 14

Ginny

Ginny woke to find herself attached to Will’s chest. His breathing was steady, giving her the impression he was still asleep. She wanted to take a peek at his face but didn’t want to move in case he woke and found her wrapped around him, even though he was doing the wrapping too.

It felt nice lying there, so she gave herself a couple more minutes while issuing her fingers strict instructions not to stroke over his arm. It was so tempting, but she couldn’t allow herself to get carried away with the situation. They weren’t on their honeymoon, she wasn’t even his girlfriend, just one moment lost in time.

There were many times when Ginny daydreamed about waking in the arms of a man who loved her. It was stupid to attach a dream to the man in bed with her, especially as he cared little for her, proven by his tea shop theft.

Giving herself a mental shake, she lifted slightly, glanced at his peaceful face, dropped her gaze to his lips, told her heart off for giving her feelings, then slipped out of bed to look out the window to see the settled snow while shivering at the instant chill in the air.

‘Morning,’ he murmured.

Ginny turned.

‘Did you sleep well?’ he asked.

‘Yes, it was okay.’

‘Lot warmer in here, right?’

She twisted her mouth at his smug grin. Ooh, he wasn’t winning her over anytime soon.

One idea was to get back in bed and pinch his warmth once more, but she went with plodding off to the bathroom instead, as their bedroom may have had a bath, but it certainly didn’t have anything else she needed.

After freshening up, putting on some warm clothes, and not having much to say to Will, she went down to the kitchen to rustle up some breakfast.

Mrs Henshaw was pottering about, cleaning the handle on the back door. ‘He always leaves a bit of dirt there.’ She looked over her shoulder and smiled. ‘There’s some tea in the pot, dear.’

Ginny poured a cuppa, glad to have a morning brew. ‘I can make you brekkie if you like. I’m used to it, as I run a café.’

‘No, no. This is my domain. But you can help me put these chickens back in their pen. Mr Henshaw has cleared the path.’

‘Where is he now?’

‘Out front. Shovelling more snow, then salting the ground ready for the next lot.’

‘Oh, when is that due?’

‘Not until tonight, apparently. So you should be good to head off after you’ve eaten. But feel free to stay if you want.’

Ginny wanted very much to stay at the farmhouse love hotel despite her confused feelings around Will the dream stealer. Waking in his arms was so lovely, but she had a life waiting for her back home. And a mother, who would no doubt moan as soon as she saw her.

Mrs Henshaw gestured at a side room and told Ginny to grab a coat, wellies, and hat from in there. She opened the back door, letting in a blast of cold air, then waved Ginny over. ‘Come on. The fresh air does you good.’ She inhaled deeply, then coughed.

White sheets of snow covered the fields far and wide, making the area look pretty and clean.

‘Oh, wow! It looks stunning.’ Ginny took in her surroundings, still unsure of where she was. There were no other houses in sight, just land and a few trees dotted about all covered by the blizzard.

Mrs Henshaw grabbed a chicken pecking the ground close to her feet, then opened the large enclosure they’d reached. ‘You grab Hettie, dear.’

Ginny widened her eyes at the ball of feathers mooching behind her, looking to prefer the kitchen. She’d never held a live chicken before. How hard could it be?

Hettie made it extremely hard, and it took Ginny all of ten minutes to capture the sprightly creature.

‘Just plop her down in here,’ said Mrs Henshaw, scooping out some feed. ‘The others will soon follow.’ She handed Ginny another scoop and gestured towards the feeding pots.

Ginny got on with her task, finding it quite therapeutic. ‘Have you always wanted animals?’

‘We rescued a chicken years back from a neighbouring farm. Found it wandering along the road. Terrible state it was in, poor thing. Had hardly any feathers about it. Looked as though it had just escaped someone’s cooking pot. Anyway, we took it to the farm only to discover it had closed down. The little thing must have somehow been left home alone, so we took her home, fed her up, and Mr Henshaw built this here enclosure and henhouse.’

‘It’s very nice, and there’s lots of space.’

‘Yes, we knew straight away we were going to take on more.’

Ginny smiled. She liked the idea and wondered if it was something she could do. She liked her harbour house. It took a battering from storms, but it was snug inside, and she got to stare out to sea every day and dream about her soulmate. Perhaps it was time to move inland. Sell up and buy a farmhouse of sorts, then she could enjoy rescuing animals as well. It certainly brought a smile to Mrs Henshaw’s face.

‘What made you buy a hotel?’ she asked, squatting to give some extra feed to Hettie.

‘Oh, this was a working farm when we came here, dear. We were only young and had run away from home. The people here took us in, gave us jobs, and left this place to us when they passed on.’

That was intriguing. Ginny straightened, lowering her scoop. ‘Run away from home? Sounds like you have some backstory there, Mrs Henshaw.’

She gave a little shrug as she closed the large metal dustbins containing pellets and mixed corn. ‘Probably a bit different to most.’

‘How different?’ Ginny was being nosey, but she figured after running a café for years, she’d heard all the stories of the world. She now had the feeling she was about to hear a new one.

‘We grew up in the same neighbourhood, but our families were at war with each other.’ She shook her head slightly. ‘Hated each other more than I could tell you. Had been that way for generations. Started with some dispute over a business deal. I honestly don’t even know the half of it. Over the years, it just became normal for our families to fight.’

‘But you and Mr Henshaw didn’t fight.’

Mrs Henshaw linked her wrinkly fingers up high. ‘No. We fell in love.’

‘They do say love is stronger than hate.’

‘It is, and we thought it might be the thing to bring our families together, but no. Just made things worse.’

‘Oh, that’s sad.’

‘It was for me. I was devastated, as they tried to keep me from him.’

‘So you ran away together.’

Mrs Henshaw nodded. ‘We did, and it wasn’t easy leaving my family. It took all the courage I had, but with my love by my side, I knew we’d be fine somehow.’

‘Did you ever contact your family again?’

‘No. It was for the best to leave that life behind. They weren’t exactly the reasonable type.’

Ginny smiled warmly. ‘I’m glad you found happiness.’

Mrs Henshaw sat on a wooden stool. ‘The hard part for us was not having money. But faith is strong, dear.’ She pointed at the sky. ‘Some might say we stumbled across this place, but we were guided. Just like you.’ Her smile was filled with wisdom.

‘Maybe it’s all mapped out for us before we even arrive.’

‘Some say that.’

Ginny glanced around at the snow-covered fields rolling on forever. ‘So this was a working farm?’

‘Yep, but we changed that once it became ours, as we liked the idea of a honeymoon hotel. It stands for everything we are.’

Ginny walked over to the bins holding the feed to put the scoop away. ‘It’s good you both wanted the same thing.’

Mrs Henshaw chuckled. ‘Oh, we’re two peas in a pod, us. It’s like we were made for each other.’

Ginny’s thoughts turned to Will. ‘Do you think all soulmates have to be the same?’

‘No, dear. None of that matters. It’s about love and respect. Being a team. You can do that with ease with the right one. They’ll love you as much as you love them. Balance, see?’

Ginny nodded, leaning on the side of the enclosure. Had she ever had balance in her life? Her scale seemed to lean more to the side of misery.

Mrs Henshaw started to hum as she petted the chickens snuggling around her wellies.

She changed her life. What have I done . . .

Ginny pictured her home, then the café. She had taken huge leaps to find her happiness, but it didn’t take a genius to figure it out. All the time she had her mother in her life, she would never be truly happy. But could she turn her back now? It seemed such a cold thought, but it was there. Her mother would never love her. Perhaps it was time to throw in the towel. At least then she wouldn’t waste any more years looking for love in the wrong direction. She glanced at the sky.

Will called out from the back door. ‘I’ve got some bacon sarnies on the go, and I’ve settled Mr Henshaw in front of the fire. I’ll clear the front after I’ve eaten.’ He waved them over. ‘Come on. Food will get cold.’

Ginny’s heart filled with fizz at seeing him standing there wearing an old coat and dark wellies, looking every part the farmer.

‘It’s a nice life,’ said Mrs Henshaw, passing her by.

‘Hmm?’

The old lady gestured at Will. ‘When you get a good one.’

Ginny watched Will go back inside the house. Was he a good one? He didn’t seem too bothered about stealing her tearoom dream, but there was still something so endearing about him. She went into the kitchen, washed her hands at the butler sink, then squished into the chair by his side, smiling to herself as she bit into a bacon sandwich.

‘You okay there, love?’ he asked, raising his brow.

‘Yes, I’m fine. Hmm, this is good, thanks.’

He grinned as he ate his breakfast. ‘Nice here, isn’t it?’ He nudged her arm, gesturing to Mrs Henshaw taking a plate of food out to her husband.

‘I love it here.’

‘We’re leaving as soon as I’ve cleared the front for them. Time to go home.’

She stared at him for a moment.

He nudged her elbow again. ‘Eat your food.’

‘I’m thinking of selling my house.’

‘Oh, where do you want to move to?’

‘Inland I was thinking, then I can rescue some chickens as well.’ She lowered the rest of her sandwich. ‘Would you like to live somewhere like that or do you prefer a sea view, you know, what with you being a sailor?’

‘I’m not a sailor anymore.’ He sighed deeply, then turned to face her full on. ‘I honestly don’t know where to live.’

‘I thought you wanted to stay in Port Berry.’

‘I do.’

‘But you’ve changed your mind?’

‘Let’s talk more when we get back.’

Ginny smiled softly. ‘Or we could stay here.’

He met her gaze. ‘This isn’t our life.’

‘I want to pretend it is. Just for a few minutes.’

Will went to speak as Mrs Henshaw entered the kitchen, then Ginny completely lost her mind.

Before she had time to think, she leaned forward and placed her lips on Will’s.

‘Aww, love is the best,’ said Mrs Henshaw, heading to the fridge.

Ginny went to move away, but Will placed his hand around the back of her head and pulled her closer to his face for a deeper kiss, and just like that every part of her melted.

Will pulled away, keeping eye contact with her. ‘Finish your breakfast. I’ve got work to do.’ And with that he upped and left the room, taking Ginny’s breath with him.