Luna raised her mug in a cheers motion. ‘Thanks. So you see, we have to muddle on through those tough times and carry on living our life without blame destroying us. You didn’t kill Birdy,love, and you, Samuel Powell, didn’t cause that accident, and I’m not to blame for our Lisa.’
A moment of silence filled the café.
‘You’re right, Luna,’ said Ginny, knowing it to be true, but it was so easy for her to take the blame. She’d been trained to all her life.
A knock on the door interrupted them, and Ginny waved Jan inside.
‘Ooh, got room for a little one?’ said Jan, blowing into her hands. ‘And a cuppa. Blimming freezing out there.’
Ginny got up to make her a cup of tea. ‘So, why is our resident therapist walking about in the cold? You just done a shift at the Hub?’
Jan removed her coat and hat, releasing her mass of blonde curls. ‘No, Lottie sent me to talk to you. She said you’d be in here with Samuel.’
‘Who is just leaving,’ he told them, standing. He tipped his head to Ginny. ‘I’ll pick you up in the morning.’ He said goodbye and left, leaving Ginny looking over at January Riley.
‘I can stay,’ said Luna.
Jan’s dark eyes smiled at Luna. ‘I’d prefer to talk to Ginny alone.’
Luna tutted. ‘Pfft! She doesn’t need therapy, Jan. She just needs her friends. Anyway, we beat you to it. Ginny’s sorted now. Right, love?’
Ginny plonked a cuppa in front of Jan. ‘I’m not sure what Lottie’s playing at sending you in here, but I’m fine. I don’t need therapy.’
‘She’s getting chickens and a donkey,’ said Luna, receiving a frown from Jan.
Ginny grinned. ‘Honestly, Jan, I’m doing okay, but thanks. If I do need to talk, I will call you, I promise.’ That was a lie. As much as she needed to clear away her past, the last thing shewanted was her friends knowing anything about it, no matter how professional they were.
Jan seemed to be assessing her every move, which only made it harder to keep her face neutral.
‘The girl’s fine,’ said Luna. ‘This place is transforming into one of Samuel’s food bank cafés soon, so that’ll keep her busy. And then there’s the new fella.’
‘What new fella?’ asked Jan.
Ginny frowned. ‘There is no new fella. Anyway, you two sup up, as I need to get home. I’ve got a cat to feed as well now.’ The exchange of pointed looks between her friends didn’t go unnoticed, but she ignored them by clearing away the cardboard box that held the café’s Christmas decorations.
‘Good luck tomorrow,’ said Luna, heading for the door. ‘Not that you need it. That farmhouse is yours already, love.’ She tapped her nose, then left.
‘Why is she wishing you luck?’ asked Jan.
‘I’m selling my house and flat and looking for a home with some land. I want to look after some rescue animals.’
‘Hmm.’
‘Don’t hmm me, Jan. I don’t need you scrambling about in my brain. I told you, I’m fine.’
‘It’s a lot of changes for you right now.’
Ginny hugged the cardboard box to her chest. ‘Yeah, but change can be a good thing.’
Jan nodded. ‘True, but only for the right reasons.’
The statement made Ginny think about her decisions for a minute. Yes, things had changed, and a lot of things recently, but being snowed-in at the hotel gave her a new dream that truly warmed her heart. She did know what she wanted, and she had the means to close the deal on her goal.
‘You know what, Jan, it feels right.’
Jan smiled. ‘Well, then, that’s good enough for me.’
Ginny swirled one hand in the box and pulled out a silver star. Normally she would hang it in the window and wonder if she had someone out there who could be her North Star. She shoved it back inside, deciding that this year things would be different. Who needed North Stars and soulmates anyway? She had something new to focus on, and it didn’t include her abusive mother, inconsiderate brother, or some new fella hell-bent on stealing her tearoom idea.
