Winter Magic in Port Berry (Port Berry #3)

Chapter 17

Will

Pulling up in the car park of Meadow House, Will was pleased to see the snow-cleared pathways. The large red-brick building was home to around eighty residents and had an excellent report for the past five years. He had no complaints about how well everything always looked.

Will passed by two large fake plants flanking the wide arched oak door. The scent of vanilla hit him as he entered the light and airy foyer. He approached the chunky desk, said hello to the lady sitting behind tapping away on a keyboard, signed in, then headed off to his grandmother’s room.

A woman around his age waved and came out of a doorway along the corridor. She raised the small amount of knitting in her hand. ‘Hey, Will. Nan’s got me making a jumper. It’s possible this is a cuff.’ She laughed as she gestured to the room behind her. ‘Bless her, she really misses being able to knit, and I don’t know what I’m doing.’

Will glanced at the wool, then his hands, feeling blessed he didn’t have arthritis. ‘How’s she getting on, Nat?’

‘All right, mostly. It’s a shame when your mind is fully there but your body lets you down.’

He wasn’t sure what was worse, especially as he got to see his grandmother fading away. ‘There’s a blessing and a curse to getting old, isn’t there? Anyway, best go see Gran,’ he said, thumbing down the corridor. ‘Good luck with your knitting.’

The woman went back to her grandmother, and Will heard them laughing.

It was heart-warming to witness families with so much love. He wished he had a backstory filled with weekend get-togethers and birthday celebrations.

The time spent with Ginny at the Happy Honeymoon Hotel was the most fun he’d had in ages. Acting like a couple, cuddling on the sofa, sharing a bed, even though just to sleep, it was so perfect in every way, and he missed her already. Missed that pretend life.

Will stopped to gaze out the window at the side garden. The winding pathway was clear, but the green patch that led to the pond was topped with snow. It looked so pretty untouched, and the water in the near distance finished off the tranquil scene nicely.

‘Afternoon, Will,’ said a male carer, passing by.

‘Hi, Seth.’ Will turned from the view, happy his grandmother was in such a beautiful home with such friendly staff. He glanced up at the security cameras, thinking he should get a wriggle on before someone watching might wonder why he was lurking.

A wide lift at the end of the corridor took him to the first floor, where he made his way three doors down to Babs’s room.

Her door was open, showing off her favourite armchair and lamp from home.

‘Hey, Babs. It’s me, Willard.’ He poked his head around the door to see his gran standing over by the window, shaking.

‘Who are you?’ she asked, backing away.

Will raised his palms. ‘It’s okay. It’s just me, Willard.’

Babs furrowed her brow. ‘You’re not Willard. Leave me alone.’ She huddled into the corner. ‘Go away,’ she yelled. ‘Go away.’

Will panicked. He never knew what to do when she acted that way, and it was happening more often.

Babs continued to yell. Shaking and flapping a hand. She looked both angry and afraid.

Within moments, a carer rushed into the room. She smiled softly at Babs as she approached the other side of the bed. Holding out a hand, she said, ‘Hello, Babs. Everything’s okay. Let’s go get a cup of tea, yeah?’

Will watched as Babs nodded and came out of the corner.

‘Come on,’ said the care worker softly, with her palm still on display. ‘You come with me.’ She glanced at Will as Babs walked around the bed. ‘You okay?’ she whispered.

‘Yeah, thanks, Clare.’

Babs slipped her hand into Clare’s and left the bedroom, not once glancing Will’s way. All was calm, and he was scared about upsetting his gran again, so he told Clare he’d head off.

The walk back to his pickup truck felt lonely, and the spring he had in his step earlier had given up the ghost.

Will sat at the wheel and inhaled deeply. He truly had no one, and it hurt.

The Sunshine Centre came to mind. No matter what, everyone there always seemed to be in good spirits. Just what the doctor ordered. Maybe he should live in a respite centre. He certainly needed a break.

Will drove straight there, trying hard to wipe out the last hour from his mind. He hated seeing Babs in such a state, and he despised how seeing her made him feel even more unloved than he’d always felt.

Time and time again, he told himself not to return to the residential home. It wasn’t doing either of them any favours. Babs would just freak out. And he would want to rip out his own heart.

Debra was in the doorway when Will parked outside the Sunshine Centre. She instantly waved, flashing a wide grin.

‘Hi,’ he said, approaching. ‘I wanted to talk about me volunteering here.’ He followed her into the warmth. ‘I’ve decided to just help out with the adventure activities side of things in the summer months, if that would be okay.’

Debra laughed. ‘You taking on too much, Will?’

‘Feels that way. I tried to weigh everything up, see what would work best for me. I’m starting my own business in the new year. A tearoom in Port Berry, and I want to train for the RNLI. So, on that note, any other voluntary roles will have to be small, and I would like to stay helping at the Happy to Help Hub, seeing how it’s on my doorstep.’

‘Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.’

Will nodded as he took a deep breath. ‘We can only try and get our ducks in a row.’

‘I have many ducks, definitely no row.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘You okay? You look as though you lost your wallet.’

He pointed at his jaw. ‘That bad, eh?’

Debra gestured towards the kitchen. ‘I can fix that.’

‘Fix what?’

She smiled and encouraged him to follow her. ‘Some of the members are about to do some baking. You can join in, and it’s not a suggestion.’

‘Oh, I know I mentioned a tearoom, but, honestly, I don’t know how to make a cake. I couldn’t help with that task.’

Debra nudged him into the fun but sterile-looking room. ‘You won’t be teaching, Will. You’re a member today.’

‘But I haven’t paid my way.’

‘This one’s on me. Come on, you certainly need a distraction.’

He always thought he could camouflage his emotions quite well. Maybe Debra was too much of a professional in the field of sadness.

‘Hello, Deb,’ said a young lad. ‘I have laid out all the ingredients for the chocolate fudge cake. See?’ His pale eyes scanned the items as his finger checked over each one.

‘Ooh, well done, Alfie.’ Debra approached the white countertop to take a closer look. ‘I look forward to having a slice.’

‘It’s for my mum,’ said Alfie, still bouncing a finger over the items. ‘Wait. I can adjust my calculations.’ He stopped moving his hand and silently stared at the round eight-inch cake tin. ‘Yes, I can cut you a slice.’ He looked up at Will. ‘Are you having one too?’

Will wasn’t sure what to say. The lad hardly looked impressed that he had to alter his slice sizes the first time. Did he really need to stress the youngster further?

Debra jumped in. ‘I was wondering if Will could help you make your cake. He’s new so might need some guidance.’

Will breathed out a small laugh. ‘Might? Try, definitely.’

Alfie stepped closer, offering a hand. ‘I can show you, Will.’

Will went to hold his hand, but Alfie quickly dropped his arm and headed back to the ingredients.

‘We have to put the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another, and we have to make a small cup of coffee.’ Alfie gave the impression he was waiting for Will to approve.

Will simply nodded, even though the coffee had thrown him. ‘Where should I start?’

Alfie walked over to the large metal basin. ‘You have to wash your hands, as it’s important to be hygienic.’ He stood still, holding a green tea towel ready for Will to dry his hands.

Will complied as two more members entered the kitchen to make their own cakes. He said hello, then turned back to Alfie. ‘Now what?’

Alfie handed him a white apron. ‘It will keep your clothes clean. Cocoa powder likes to fly off. My mum says.’

Debra nodded, perching on a chair in the corner. ‘Will is a newbie, Alfie, so we’d better make sure he doesn’t use any icing sugar just yet either.’

The lad held nothing but seriousness in his face as he looked up at Will. ‘Mum says, black icing takes no prisoners. You can spread the chocolate fudge frosting. You should be safe with that. But as you’re new, the odds of you getting messy are still high.’

‘You have been warned,’ said Debra, chuckling.

Will got to mix the dry ingredients in a large cream bowl while Alfie supervised.

‘Don’t stir anti-clockwise,’ said the lad, frowning at the wooden spoon.

Will changed direction, thinking it best to stick to orders, as Alfie seemed to have a routine.

‘When I pour in the wet mixture, you mustn’t over stir, but do get out any lumps.’ Alfie went about lining a baking tin.

‘This is a very wet cake,’ said Will. ‘I thought you had to fluff them up?’

Debra shrugged. ‘The butter and chocolate are melted together with this one, then mixed with the coffee.’

Will laughed. ‘I could do with a coffee.’

‘You can’t eat or drink while you are baking,’ said Alfie. ‘You have to concentrate.’ He poured the mixture out evenly into the prepared baking tins.

‘Yes, chef.’ Will saluted with the spoon, then picked up what was left of the evaporated milk for a sniff. ‘Erm, I don’t think this has been used. Did we leave it out the mix?’

Alfie removed it from his hand and placed it back in its spot on the counter. ‘That’s for the frosting. Please don’t move things.’

Will stepped back. ‘Right.’ He grinned at Debra before turning back to his boss. ‘So, now what?’

Alfie carefully placed the baking tins in the oven. ‘We wait until they are baked, then we wait until they cool, and then we can frost them.

‘Meanwhile?’ asked Will.

‘I draw a dragon,’ said Alfie, washing his hands and hanging up his apron on a hook by the door. ‘By the time I’ve finished the tail, the cakes will be ready.’ And with that, he left.

Will looked at Debra. ‘He’s very precise.’

‘Yes, it helps keep him calm.’ She climbed off her chair. ‘Right, mister, let’s go draw a dragon.’

‘That I might be able to do without help.’

Debra’s eyes widened. ‘You can draw?’

‘Doodle pretty well. Does that count?’

She laughed, then gestured at Alfie, who had already sat at the smallest table in the art room and lined up his pencils. ‘Just don’t touch his stuff.’

‘Got it.’ Will sat at the table next to the lad’s and received an approving nod for his wise choice. He picked a sheet of plain paper from the pile in the middle, then set about sketching a friendly dragon.

He was really getting into his drawing groove when Alfie knocked on his table. Will glanced down at the knuckles still resting there. ‘Am I done?’

‘The cakes are. We must take them out of the oven to cool. Please stand.’

Will did as he was told and headed for the kitchen. ‘Mmm, smells like heaven.’

‘It smells like chocolate cake,’ said Alfie, as though educating his new friend.

Will helped place the hot tins on a metal cooling rack. ‘Should we remove these?’

‘No. The cake layers are very soft. They cool in the tin.’ Alfie took a step back, assessing where Will had placed one of the tins.

‘I can move it if it’s wrong,’ said Will.

‘It’s where it should be.’ Alfie glanced up at him. ‘We can colour in our dragons now.’

Will was looking forward to the frosting part, hoping to lick the spoon once finished. He went back to the art room to finish his drawing, which he decided wasn’t as bad as he first thought.

Debra joined his side, offering a hot mug of coffee. ‘Here. Well deserved. You should come to the centre more often.’

‘All I did was follow orders. Life’s always simpler when someone else tells you what to do.’

‘Is that your way of saying you miss the navy?’

Will tipped his head from side to side. ‘Hmm, yes and no.’

‘Well, feel free to come here whenever.’

‘I told you, I’ll help out in the summer months.’

Debra nudged his elbow. ‘I meant as a member.’ She smiled softly. ‘Honestly, Will, I think this place is what you need right now.’ She tapped her chest. ‘Trust me, I know these things.’

He had to admit, ever since he walked through the door the weight dropped off his shoulders, and making a cake with Alfie had wiped his mind from all his problems. It was nice having somewhere to go where he could simply breathe and forget about the world for a while. He felt that at the hotel with Ginny. If only every day was as relaxing.

‘Sure, I’ll sign up.’ He smiled at Debra. ‘But does that mean I won’t be able to become a helper?’

She shook her head. ‘No. You can be both. We have lots of members here who help. Take Alfie, for example. He taught you how to bake a cake, didn’t he?’

‘I might offer him a job at the tearoom once it’s open.’

Alfie looked up. ‘I can do that. My shift would be between eight and twelve, and only on Thursdays, and you’ll have to pay my mum on the day at zero eight hundred hours.’ The slightest hint of a smile hit his mouth, making Will bite back a laugh.

‘Yes, sir.’ Will figured chocolate fudge cake would be the first item to hit the menu board. At least it was a start.

Debra started colouring in Will’s dragon’s tail while humming, and Alfie was back to being engrossed in his own drawing. Some people were pottering around, quietly chatting to each other, and an old lady sat comfortably in a wingback chair, crocheting a doily.

‘That’s Mrs Gibbons. She comes in most days just for the company, as she’s got no family. We don’t charge her.’ Debra placed a finger to her lips and grinned. ‘Shh! Else they’ll all want freebies, then we won’t be able to keep this place up and running.’

‘It’s a brilliant centre, Deb. Can’t fault it at all.’

‘Thanks. We rely on payments and charity. Any time we have fundraising events, make sure you join in, okay?’

‘Definitely. Shame these aren’t in every town.’

Debra glanced around the room. ‘Yeah, we all need some peace from time to time.’

Will realized he’d been searching for inner peace his whole life. Hopefully, his new beginning would bring him happiness.

I’ll take Ginny my slice of cake. Maybe it’ll break the ice.

He smiled to himself, then reached for his phone vibrating in his pocket. ‘I’ll just take this outside,’ he told Debra.

The reception area was empty, so Will answered the call there.

‘Hello, Jed.’ He was about to tell him he was at the Sunshine Centre, but Jed got in first.

‘Thought you might like to know, son. Ginny’s mum passed away today.’

Will’s heart thumped. He didn’t know what to say or what he should do. A thousand things whirled through his mind.

Jed’s voice brought him back to base. ‘She’s home with her friends at the moment. Perhaps you could call on her later.’

Will wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, but at the same time he wanted to run to her immediately. ‘Erm, thanks for letting me know.’ He hung up, then went back to let Debra know he was heading off.

Alfie shot up. ‘You can’t leave now. We haven’t frosted the cake.’

That was the least of Will’s worries, but after a stern look from Debra, and a worried one from the lad, he knew he had to complete his mission.

‘Thanks for that,’ said Debra, following him to the kitchen. ‘Alfie doesn’t do well if someone messes with his routine, especially if he let you into it in the beginning.’

Will nodded. ‘Yeah, that’s what I thought. I won’t let him down. I’ll stay until he doesn’t need me anymore.’

‘That’ll be once the cake has been sliced. Let him do that, then you can go.’

Will got frosting, doing it just the way Alfie liked. ‘Thanks for letting me help bake your cake, mate.’

Alfie’s big eyes almost smiled. ‘It’s our cake, Will.’

‘Yes, you’re right. It is. And I can’t wait to take a slice home.’ There was no way he was giving it to Ginny now, as he was pretty sure she’d shove it in his face.

He still had no idea how to handle the situation as he pulled up at the bottom of Berry Hill. He’d already upset her with the tea shop idea and didn’t want to risk upsetting her further.

Go home, Pendleton. Now’s not the time.

After a swift shake of the head and a deep sigh, Will drove away. As much as he wanted to be there for Ginny, something told him it was best all round if he didn’t show his face right now. She had her friends around her, so he knew she was being cared for.