‘Get off me, you great lump.’ Ted wriggled but laughed, even more so when Clare sprinted over to join in the cuddle.
‘Aww, I’ve been wanting to do that since we met, Ted,’ she told him.
Ted straightened his shirt with one hand while flapping them away with the other. ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s enough of that.’
Clare winked at Will, who smiled her way. ‘He totally wanted that hug.’
‘Be off with you, girl, and make me a cuppa. I’m parched.’
‘I’ll make you one too, Will,’ said Clare, putting one of Ted’s domino pieces in place.
‘Too much fuss.’ The slightest of smiles still broke free from Ted’s stern expression.
Clare plopped an elf hat on Ted’s head, then skipped off, and Ted left it in place, proving he was only in half-grump mode.
‘Looking forward to a nice bit of Christmas dinner tomorrow, son. Got the kids popping over as well. What you got planned for the big day?’
‘My friend owns a pub, so there are a load of us going there for dinner. Should be good.’
‘It’s always good when you’re surrounded by love. Remember that. Love is what makes this whole journey bearable.’
Will thought about Port Berry. He really had found something special. The old-timer was right. Love certainly made a difference. Meeting Ginny Dean had changed everything. Thepast could stay there. He had a future to prepare for, and that included making sure the woman he loved knew just exactly how serious he was about her.
Ted knocked on the table, bringing Will out of his trance. ‘Head in the game, son. Not in the clouds.’
He wasn’t wrong.
Will decided he’d talk to Ginny about them becoming a more secure couple. He’d already promised he wouldn’t leave, so something solid in place could help seal the deal. Could he really ask her to marry him? Would she agree? Was it a wise move? He was sure Ted would think so, but would Ginny?
He stared through his domino pieces, only seeing Ginny’s face. It was quite surreal finding love. All those years, he’d kept women at arm’s length for fear of getting too close and then being tossed to one side, and now his love was stronger than his fear.
Glancing over at Babs made him wonder what would happen to him down the line. What if he forgot Ginny one day? The thought stabbed at his heart. He had to hold on to what they had now. Wrap himself fully in each and every moment. The best thing he could do was live for the now, and that meant coming clean with Ginny about just how strong his feelings towards her were.
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.’
