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.
Chapter 25
Will
The venom in Ginny’s words stung, crippling Will in a million ways. All he could do was flee the scene as quickly as possible. Air was what he needed. Sea salty air to remind him of freedom and what his only family looked like.
There had been times Will had stood on deck of a warship, staring out to sea, wondering what else was out there for him. A home, a different job, love. He never saw too far past the Royal Navy, always staying within the moment, feeling it a safer place for his heart. His shattered, worn-through heart was with the sea once more.
