Winter Magic in Port Berry (Port Berry #3)

Chapter 20

Ginny

Placing the last black bin bag in the wheelie bin at the end of the pathway, Ginny gazed back at her mum’s house. There was no sentiment attached to the place where she grew up. She just hoped the next family to move in were happier than hers.

A magpie fluttered by the chimney, gaining Ginny’s attention. Her gaze lowered to the window below and a wave of regret hit her. What a terrible life she’d had in that place, and for what? Because her mum hated her dad? How was that her fault?

‘You have his eyes,’ Birdy would say, her words filled with venom.

Ginny absentmindedly touched beneath her eye.

‘Right, we’re done,’ said Suzanne, appearing on the doorstep. ‘The housing officer should be here any minute to check the place over, then you can give her the door keys, okay?’

Sighing deeply, Ginny nodded. ‘Yep.’ She gave Suzanne a hug, then handed her some money as an extra thank you.

There was no argument from the care worker. She quickly shoved the cash in her pocket, smiled, then headed off.

In a way, Ginny was glad Suzanne was gone. As great as she was as a carer, she cost a small fortune. At least now all savings could go towards the farmhouse she was buying from Artie Lane.

The street was pretty quiet, even the curtain twitchers were too busy engrossed in daytime telly to bother with the last day the Deans would be seen there.

Ginny went inside and slowly walked around the property, recalling the voices, scenes, and faces of yesteryear. It was quite surreal seeing the emptiness of the place.

She opened the cupboard door under the stairs and stared at the back wall for a moment before lowering to her knees to peer inside.

Along the other side of the doorframe, scratched into the wood, was her name.

‘Stay there until you grow a brain,’ spat Birdy, slamming the door shut.

Ginny lightly traced one finger over the etching.

‘You ought to be ashamed of yourself, young lady, for ruining my life. Why can’t you be like other kids?’ sobbed Birdy.

Straightening, Ginny gently closed the door and looked down the hallway to the kitchen.

‘I could put you in care, but I don’t. The least you can do is cook the bloody dinner. Why is your homework more important than that?’

Ginny went upstairs to see her old bedroom one last time, unsure of why she was still in the house. Her breathing was steady, and her eyes dry. The ghosts weren’t scaring her anymore.

Her attention dropped to between her feet. The carpet could tell a few tales if it could speak.

‘You’re just a waste of space, Ginny Dean. No one will ever want you,’ whispered Birdy.

Ginny glanced over her shoulder. It was time to leave.

A young woman knocked on the front door as she called out, ‘Hello. I’m Haley. Housing officer.’

Ginny greeted her, then handed over the keys.

‘I only need a quick look round,’ said the woman. ‘Just need to make some notes if anything needs fixing.’

‘I’ve already signed everything,’ said Ginny. ‘So is it all right if I leave you to it?’

‘Yes, that’s fine.’ She rattled Birdy’s keychain. ‘Do you want this?’

Ginny glanced at the yellow circle that had the letter L embedded in its middle. Lee. ‘No. You can just throw it later.’

‘Okay.’ The woman pointed at the stairs. ‘Do you want a moment?’

Ginny shook her head. She had a lifetime of moments in that house. No more were needed.

The housing officer made her way upstairs, and Ginny turned to the front door.

‘You’re a horrible creature, just like your dad,’ yelled Birdy.

Ginny stepped over the threshold. ‘Bye, Mum,’ she said.

The dustcart came bustling down the street, removing all peace and the last traces of Yvonne Dean.

Ginny sat in her jeep, waiting for them to pass, then turned and headed home.

The crisp winter air made the sea look deathly cold, and the flurry of light snow had Berry Hill looking picturesque, even with the scaffolding outside Lottie’s harbour home.

Ginny went straight to the kitchen to have an early lunch, not that she had much of an appetite. It had been a weird day, and it wasn’t even twelve.

Crash, bang, wallop came from next door, rattling the adjoining wall and startling poor Lucky.

‘It’s okay. Just the workmen.’ Ginny pulled down some cat treats. ‘Here, let that settle you.’

Lucky meowed, curled around her ankles, then snaffled some food.

Ginny made a cheese sandwich, then sat picking at it at the kitchen table, dreaming about everything she could do to her new home. ‘You’ll have lots of land to explore,’ she told the kitten.

Mr Henshaw building the chicken coop came to mind.

I reckon I can give it a go.

She envied the couple. Their happiness. Their love. At least she would have the home.

Lucky started clawing at the leg of a nearby chair.

‘Hmm, we definitely need to get you a scratch post. Samuel won’t be best pleased when he sees the state of the banisters, missy.’ She looked out to the hallway. ‘Mind you, he’ll probably rip out the stairs.’ She smiled at Lucky. ‘Who knows! We won’t care, will we? We’ll be too busy loving our new home.’

Ginny’s phone rang, revealing Sophie’s name.

‘Hey, Soph. Shouldn’t you be working?’

‘I am, but I just wanted to see how you were getting on.’

Ginny smiled softly. ‘All good. I’m home now. Keys have been handed over.’

‘Oh, how did that make you feel?’

Relieved. Numb. Indifferent. She couldn’t be sure.

‘Okay,’ she lied. ‘I moved out years ago, so it wasn’t a big deal saying goodbye to the old place.’

‘I guess. As long as you’re all right.’

‘Yes, I’m fine. Go sell your fish.’

Sophie laughed, crackling the line. ‘I’ll bring you up a nice bit of tuna on my way home. I’m sure your cat will appreciate that.’

Ginny agreed. ‘I’ll see you later. And, hey, thanks for checking in on me, chick.’

‘Love you, Gin.’

‘Love you too.’ Ginny hung up, feeling her appetite return. She stuffed one corner of her sandwich into her mouth, then headed for the front door to see who was knocking.

A male delivery driver, wearing headphones and not taking much notice of her, walked off while pointing down at the parcel he’d left on her doorstep.

Ginny frowned. ‘Yes, thank you,’ she mumbled, bending to pick it up.

Lucky curled round her feet.

‘You can get in, missy, before—’

A loud crash came from the builders next door, making both Ginny and Lucky jump, and before Ginny had a chance to close the street door, the kitten flew out towards the narrow road.

‘Lucky, come here,’ called Ginny, rushing to the pavement, but the skinny little thing was already over the other side, cowering by the edge of the drop.

Great!

She quickly went back to the kitchen to fetch some cat treats, hoping shaking the box would encourage Lucky away from the clifftop. It wasn’t the biggest drop in Cornwall, but it was still a fair way down to the shingles, and the last thing she wanted was the death of her first rescue animal on her hands.

Lucky murmured in the grassy verge.

‘Come on, you. I’ve got your favourite.’ Ginny gently shook the box of treats, but the kitten wasn’t moving.

A gust of wind pushed into them.

Ginny was so pleased she still had her boots on as she scrunched in the earth made soggy by the recent snow. If only she had her coat as well. Her fingers were already starting to numb.

She tossed some treats down. ‘Come on, Lucky, before we both catch our death.’

Lucky crept a little bit closer, still looking unsure and afraid.

‘I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.’ Ginny smiled, crouching lower, prepping to rugby tackle if need be.

Another loud crash came from Lottie’s house, as something metal was tossed into the skip.

The hairs on Lucky’s back shot up along with her legs, and she darted in the direction of the drop.

‘No,’ yelled Ginny, making a grab for the kitten.

Lucky was too fast, zigzagging from left to right, not knowing which way to turn. Her little paws scampered at the edge of the cliff, flicking up dirt and mud as she almost toppled over the edge.

Panic filled Ginny as she tried so hard to reach the nervous moggy. Her foot slipped in sludge, her legs buckled, and her nails gripped into the grass as she grabbed Lucky, flinging her out of harm’s way. But as she quickly turned to flee the scene, part of the clifftop crumbled and fell down to the rock pools below, taking Ginny along for the ride.