Winter Magic in Port Berry (Port Berry #3)

Chapter 24

Ginny

Ginny was having the best Christmas of her life, and she’d only been awake for five minutes. There had been no clattering on the rooftop last night, but there was definitely some clanking going on downstairs in her kitchen.

What a glorious sight, and it wasn’t the rose petals scattered on the table. Just seeing Will pottering around in the morning, humming along to the festive music playing quietly on the radio and looking completely at home gave her every gift she could have asked for.

She hopped straight over to the freshly brewed tea and took a quick sip while eyeing up the small gift box with the silver bow.

‘And Merry Christmas to you too, Miss Dean.’ Will glanced over his shoulder, offering a cheeky wink that hit her straight in the heart.

‘Happy Christmas, chick. Is this for me?’

Will chuckled as he approached to kiss her head. ‘Go on then, seeing how you can’t wait till I dish out the bacon rolls.’

‘Ooh, brekkie too. Best Christmas morning ever.’

‘Yeah, mine too,’ he said softly, sitting to her side.

Ginny leaned over to plant a kiss on his lips, then excitedly turned to her gift, her unwrapping skills giving any eager child a run for their money. ‘Oh, I love it.’ She beamed happily at the donkey in a snow globe. ‘It’s brilliant.’

‘Thought you might approve.’

‘Wait, let me get yours.’ She hurried to the cupboard in the hallway to fetch a bundle of red foil. ‘I had a bit of trouble wrapping it. I won’t buy that paper again, that’s for sure.’

Will looked it over. ‘It’s a fine job. You missed your calling.’

Giggling, she nudged his arm. ‘Go on. Open it.’

Will teased her lack of patience by tearing away the smallest piece of sticky tape.

‘Hey,’ she urged.

‘Okay, okay.’ Will fumbled with the strong foil for a moment before managing to rip it apart. ‘Ha! I like your thinking.’ He held out the navy top to reveal the white embedded words, Berry Buoys .

‘Do you like it?’

‘I love it.’ Will beckoned her towards him. ‘Come here.’ He kissed her mouth and smiled.

‘You know, we’re running late this morning.’

Will frowned, pulling her in for another kiss. ‘I didn’t know we had a schedule today.’

‘Christmas dinner at the pub. I said we’d be there for twelve.’

‘Ah, we’ve got plenty of time.’

‘Ooh, yes, to eat our breakfast and—’

‘Enjoy a long hot shower together.’

Ginny laughed. ‘This day just keeps getting better and better.’

A thump on the wall broke their embrace.

‘Happy Christmas, Ginny,’ yelled Lottie from the other side.

Ginny grinned at Will. ‘Oh, I’m going to miss living next door to her.’ She called back her own seasonal greeting while watching Will get on with breakfast. ‘Hey, do you think Samuel has told her about this place yet?’

Lottie’s voice was muffled through the old thin wall, but they still heard the delight in her tone as she yelled, ‘Sam bought me your house. Thanks, Gin.’

‘Guess so,’ said Will.

‘Come on, let’s get on with our morning, then we can pop next door and walk down to Robson’s with them.’

* * *

The walk to the Jolly Pirate was fresh and filled with cheer. The sea salt in the air mingled with the aroma of roast dinner wafting out the opened doors of the pub, and Ginny and Lottie couldn’t stop talking about moving homes and new beginnings, leaving Will and Samuel discussing which seafood starter they fancied.

Tinsel and fairy lights decked the long bar, and foil decorations hung from the ceiling. Party hats and streamers were scattered everywhere, along with Christmas crackers and wrapped chocolates. Music played, and Alice was already bopping away with her mum, Lizzie.

Sophie squealed with delight as soon as Ginny entered the pub. ‘Look. Look!’ she cried, flashing her engagement ring.

Ginny took her hand for a closer look at the diamond. ‘Oh, Soph, congratulations.’ She pulled her in for a hug, then turned to do the same to Matt, now receiving hefty pats on the back from Samuel and Will. ‘This is so exciting.’

Sophie gushed a thousand times over, ‘I’m so happy.’ She flapped her other hand in front of her face. ‘Ooh, sorry. I keep crying.’

Matt pulled her in for a hug, and Ginny’s heart warmed watching them so in love.

Robson came over with a tray of glasses, offering a choice of champagne, lemonade, or orange juice. ‘To the happy couple,’ he announced, handing out the drinks.

Spencer held his glass high. ‘May they always be as happy as Jed is when fishing.’

Everyone laughed as Jed cheered.

‘And here’s to a blimming good year,’ said Sophie. ‘We opened the Hub, the food bank, helped so many people, and we’re still going strong, especially now Ginny’s café is up and running for free meals some evenings.’

‘And we’re starting a repair service for clothes,’ said Luna. ‘We’ll sort that at Ginny’s in the new year.’

Will nudged Ginny’s arm. ‘Looks like you’ll be busy.’

With the thought of setting up a farm, she was sure she would be. Had she taken on too much just at the time in her life she found herself free? Thinking about it, it didn’t feel the same as when she was tied to her mother. All the things she had going on in her life now sparked joy. She loved the fresh start she was creating and couldn’t wait to move to the farmhouse in January.

‘We’ll have another good year next year as well,’ she said, saluting Sophie with her glass.

Robson gestured at the dining area of the pub. ‘I’m fully booked so best get on.’

‘I’ll help serve,’ said Alice, stepping forward.

Ginny turned to Will. ‘Robson’s pub is booked out every Christmas, so we all help lighten the load for his staff, then we get to sit and have our dinner.’

Will nodded. ‘That’s okay. I’m still stuffed from breakfast. Plus, I’ve got my eye on that seafood platter if I get a bit peckish beforehand. So, where do you want me?’

Ginny snuggled under his arm. ‘Back in the shower with me. Or here’s good.’

He chuckled as he kissed her head and clinked glasses. ‘We’ll do that later, but right now, here’s good for me too, and if all hands on deck are needed, then I’m in. Give me some orders.’

Ginny pointed her glass at the bar. ‘Grab a tray and find some empties. I’ll go help serve some starters.’ She tugged him close as he went to slip away. ‘And don’t forget to kiss me each time we pass.’

‘Well, now, that’s the best order I’ve ever had.’

Ginny practically skipped off to get on with her task.

A few hours later and the customers had been fed and were in full festive swing over by the bar. The music had been turned up, and the kitchen staff had slowed to eat their own dinners while Robson and Alice got busy looking after their own group.

‘This table has certainly got longer this year,’ said Robson, looking over at Matt and Samuel, then Will.’ He grinned at Spencer, who was sipping on some bubbly. ‘Hmm, let’s see. Who will Spence bring to dinner next year?’

Spencer almost choked on his drink as everyone laughed.

‘Aww,’ said Lottie. ‘You leave my big brother alone. He can’t help it if he’s afraid of women.’

‘I’m not afraid of women.’

Sophie laughed. ‘More like afraid of falling in love.’

Spencer swiped up some roast potatoes from a nearby bowl to place on his plate. ‘I’m not afraid of that either, thank you.’ He rolled a finger around in a circle towards Alice. ‘Pick on Al. She’s single too.’

Alice frowned as her nephew Benny laughed. ‘Hey! I have other things to concentrate on.’

‘I might bring someone,’ said Lizzie, earning her a few glares from her daughter.

‘And who’s that, Mum?’ asked Alice.

‘You dating, Nan?’ asked Benny, chuckling into his glass of orange juice.

‘No, she’s not dating,’ said Alice, before Lizzie could speak.

Luna pulled a Christmas cracker with Jed. ‘Nothing wrong with my daughter dating. She’s not dead yet.’

Lizzie’s blue eyes twinkled with mischief. ‘There’s life in me yet, Alice.’

Alice frowned. ‘So, who is he?’

Lizzie shook her head. ‘I’ve not met anyone yet.’ She turned to Robson. ‘I was just saying it could be me adding to our Christmas table next year.’

Spencer raised his glass to her. ‘Good for you, Liz. At least it won’t be me.’

‘It’s not a bad thing, Spence,’ scoffed Sophie, snuggling into Matt, who was trying to plate up some veg. ‘Look what happened to me this year. It just goes to show. You never know what’s around the corner.’

Matt leaned her way to kiss her cheek, making everyone coo.

‘Maybe I just enjoy my own company,’ said Spencer, going back to his food.

‘Nothing wrong with that,’ said Jed. ‘But if love does happen to find you, son, don’t you shy away. It’s a hell of a thing is love. You don’t want to miss out.’

Spencer frowned. ‘Can we change the subject? Talk about turkeys or something.’

Sophie nodded. ‘Well, whoever is at our table next Christmas is in for a real treat.’ She looked at Matt, who smiled her way.

‘Go on, then. Tell them,’ he said. ‘I knew you wouldn’t last five minutes.’

‘Tell us what, Matt?’ asked Lottie.

Sophie beamed. ‘We’ve already decided to have a Christmas wedding next year.’

A round of applause and cheer filled the air.

‘So you see,’ added Sophie, standing to take a small bow, ‘we’ll have another wonderful year next year, and in all the years to come. Here’s to the Happy to Help Hub’s team.’

‘Happy Christmas,’ yelled Robson.

Ginny had never felt so alive before. She had miserable Christmases as a child, always believing Santa must have hated her guts, especially the time he put an actual piece of coal in her stocking. Growing up and making her own festive cheer with her friends made so much difference to the time of year she had little affection for.

Will was chatting merrily away to Samuel and Matt, and Ginny knew she’d turned a corner. The past was over, and she had no room for regrets or ghosts. All her focus needed to be on the here and now so she could enjoy life and build something for the future. Hopefully, one with Will.

Sophie was flashing her engagement ring again, this time to Luna, who looked to be casting some sort of spell over it, and Lottie was holding Samuel’s hand while she faced the other way, talking to Lizzie.

Ginny absorbed the love surrounding her, counting her blessings and thanking the determination she had to make the changes needed. It was all a little too overwhelming, so she excused herself and headed for the bathroom to roll back her happy tears and settle her overjoyed heart for a moment.

As soon as the two women in the toilets left, Ginny gazed at her face in the mirror above the sink, then gave herself the thumbs up. ‘Look at you, knowing what real love feels like,’ she whispered.

It was the most incredible feeling, and one she couldn’t quite believe belonged to her. For so long she had dreamed of a soulmate, believing him to exist. How she’d stare out to sea, sending love and well wishes to wherever he was. Knowing now he was on a warship somewhere all that time was quite mind blowing, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

‘What you laughing at, love?’ asked Lizzie, walking in.

‘Oh, just my crazy life.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘Gets you like that sometimes.’

‘It’s been a really eventful year.’

‘Yep, those tend to pop up every so often.’

‘I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry, if I’m honest.’

Lizzie reached over and lightly tapped Ginny’s arm. ‘Smile. That’s all you need to do from now on, girlie.’

Ginny breathed out a hushed laugh. ‘I wish I could read the tarot like you and Luna. At least then I’ll know what’s coming next.’

Lizzie grinned. ‘You know it’s just a guide, right? You still get to choose which path you take.’

‘Sometimes I feel I need a guide.’

‘Okay, well, in that case, I can tell you something for free.’

Ginny braced herself. At least when Lizzie had some fortune telling at hand she didn’t make it cryptic like Luna.

Lizzie gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘You found him, girlie. The one you’ve been searching for. Now it’s time to breathe.’

‘Thanks, Liz. I do feel happy.’

‘That’s good, love. Now, excuse me, my bladder isn’t as strong as it used to be. Flipping menopause.’

Ginny laughed as Lizzie made a dash for the cubicle. ‘I’ll see you back outside,’ she called.

The sensation of sheer bliss hit her as soon as she stepped through the door. She was just about to turn the corner when she heard Will talking, and just like that everything about her happy vibe flushed straight down the loo.

‘I’m just so glad Ginny’s smiling again after the terrible life she had with that abusive mother of hers,’ he said.

‘What?’ came Alice’s voice, filled with as much shock as Ginny felt wash over her.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Will. ‘I thought you knew.’

‘No, she bloody well didn’t,’ snapped Ginny, stepping out from her hiding place.

‘Oh, Gin,’ said Alice, raising a hand to cover her mouth.

Ginny pointed at her. ‘Don’t.’ Then she turned her anger on Will. ‘How dare you tell my secret.’

Will’s gulp didn’t go unnoticed. ‘I’m sorry, I thought—’

‘You thought wrong. No one knew about me but you. So thanks for that.’

He stepped forward, reaching out a hand, but Ginny stepped back.

‘Don’t touch me.’ Every part of her felt on fire. Desperately trying to find some air, she shoved him out of the way to head towards the main door.

‘Please, Ginny, don’t leave,’ he called.

She turned abruptly, showing him nothing but the rage in her eyes. ‘No, that’s right. You should leave. This is my home, these people are my family, and you have no business here. So sod off, and don’t come back. I never want to see you again.’

Will’s mouth sagged for a second, then he gave the smallest of nods and walked away, leaving the pub altogether.

‘No,’ said Alice, sprawling her arms in opposite directions. She looked at Ginny. ‘You need to talk, that’s all. Don’t let him leave. He thought I knew about you.’ She dropped her arms and furrowed her brow. ‘Why didn’t I know about you? You’re one of my best friends. You can tell me anything. Any of us, Gin. Whatever happened to you with your mum could have been shared with us. I would have helped you.’

‘Me too, love,’ said Lizzie, leaving the bathroom.

Without her consent, Ginny started to cry. ‘He had no right calling my mum abusive.’ Just when she thought she could have one Christmas without her mother ruining it in some way, there she was.

‘But was she, love?’ asked Lizzie, curling an arm around Ginny’s shaking body.

Ginny sobbed into Lizzie’s Christmas jumper. ‘Yes.’

Alice leaned in for a group hug. ‘Oh, Ginny. We’ve got you. It’s going to be okay.’

Nothing felt one bit okay. Will had blurted out her deepest secret, now all her friends would know her backstory, and she’d just basically told him that wherever he belonged in the world, it wasn’t Port Berry.