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.
