Sophie and Matt were huddled in their white seafood truck, selling small pots of prawns among other snackable dishes, and they had drawn quite a few customers their way.
Will imagined his tearoom having its own market stall. Yep, cupcakes and Christmas-themed cookies would go down a treat on such a day. He mentally added it to his list, then wondered if Ginny would hate him even more.
Building a life in Port Berry wasn’t as much fun any longer, and he was considering leaving. He could still live somewhere close to his grandmother, even though she no longer knew who he was, but the old fishing village had already got its hooks into him, or rather Ginny had. He really had to do something about their lack of relationship, but what?
‘Hi, Will,’ said Alice, passing with Benny. ‘We’re off to get a hot chocolate before the lights go on. You want one?’
He held up his drink. ‘All good, thanks.’ He sneezed again as they walked away.
Spencer and Robson were playing with the bells, laughing while trying to join in with the singers, and Will wished he could feel as carefree. He was waved over their way but declined, turning towards a winding road that led to a row of quaint cottage-style shops, hoping to find a chemist.
Nothing was open except a small slightly lopsided pub called The Crooked Hole.
Will tossed his drink into a nearby bin as he debated going home or grabbing a brandy, but then the noise around him grew louder, informing him of the tree lighting ceremony.
Following the moving crowd, Will made his way back to the square, finding a bit of space over at Sea Shanty Shack’s trailer.
Councillor Seabridge addressed his audience. ‘Hello, and welcome. I hope you’ve all had time to write down your wishes for the tree.’ He gave a nod over to a table where people scribbled notes onto paper stars, sealing them in plastic baubles.
Will hadn’t noticed that before. What could he wish for that he hadn’t been wishing for his whole life?
‘Make sure you do one,’ said a small voice from behind him.
He turned to see Luna smiling his way. ‘Not sure I believe in wishes anymore.’
Luna shoved a piece of her flyaway white hair under her woolly red hat. ‘It’s Christmas, Will. Time for miracles.’
He huffed out a laugh. Snuggling down into his navy scarf he turned back to the tree.
‘On the count of three,’ boomed Councillor Seabridge, even though he had a microphone wedged onto the lectern.
The crowd began the count. Will was quite possibly the only one there not to join in, and not because of his sore throat but because he felt deflated.
Suddenly multicoloured lights filled the square, causing lots of oohs and cooing.
‘Now, children first,’ said Councillor Seabridge, smiling widely as the little ones approached to hang their wishes.
Will thought about the star hanging in his bedroom at the B&B. Well, he had to do something with Ginny’sgift.
‘If you could make any of your dreams come true, what would it be?’ asked Luna.
He went to respond by telling her he didn’t have any, but she’d disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind her planted seed.
Had anyone asked him that before life in Port Berry, he would have told them all about his years wishing for a family. A home. But oddly enough none of that entered his mind when Luna asked. Ginny overshadowed the lot.
Blast that bloody honeymoon hotel. It had changed so much. All he wanted was the same life with her that Mr and Mrs Henshaw had, perhaps without the hotel part, and definitely minus the nauseating amount of pink.
Even though Will had his wants and wishes like any other human, he wasn’t one for feeling sorry for himself, at least certainly not on the level he seemed to be at lately. Oh, it was all too much.
Sod it! I’m going home.
Just as he turned, Jed grabbed his elbow and marched him to the other Berry Buoys. ‘We’re up, son.’
Great!
Being one of the taller men in the choir, Will stood at the back, hoping he could blend into the Christmas wreath-making stall beside him, hosted by Lottie, with a fussing Samuel, faffing with a blanket on her lap.
No such luck. Two spotlights came on from somewhere, highlighting the singers, and Jed started the first song.
