The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop Read online

  ‘Hah, yes. Bye, Em.’

  Emma strolled on with Alfie, smiling to herself. Yes, she remembered the days of first love, when you snatched every moment you could. When love was young and still so new, and every second together was precious. You never knew how many more seconds there’d be, her sore heart reminded her.

  She shook herself from that maudlin thought. It was a shame Max wasn’t with her right now, though, that he had to be away so often. It would have been great to have him here, holding her hand as she walked the beach. Heading back to her flat together … Oh well, maybe tomorrow morning. He’d be here with her soon.

  Despite her upcoming exams, Holly still worked on Saturdays for Emma, insisting she needed the break from her A-level studies, and this Saturday, with all the courtyard developments, Em was extra glad of the help.

  When Holly arrived for work slightly early at twenty to ten, she made her way straight to the back yard through the wooden gate, desperate to see the changes.

  ‘Oh wow, Em. This is so cool. What a great idea. I love it!’ Holly was looking around at the new seats and tables that were set out on the pretty flagstone paving. She started to reach a hand towards the wrought-iron set.

  ‘Ah, don’t touch!’ Emma managed to stop her just in time. ‘That one’s sticky with paint. I was still finishing it off this morning, so we’ll not be using this space for the café until Monday.’

  ‘Ah, okay.’

  ‘The wooden one here’s okay, though.’ This one hadn’t been started as yet. It was the one that Emma was yet to sand and paint grey. She darted a quick glance at her watch. ‘Hmm, I guess we’ve got ten minutes for a quick coffee before we open. I’ve been up since the crack of dawn and so have you with your beach walk. I think that’s just what we need to perk ourselves up.’

  ‘Perfect, and it’s so lovely out here, seems a shame to waste it,’ Holly replied.

  The sunlight was just peeping over the far wall of the back yard, warming the space and giving the old stone walls a honeyed glow. The varnish was drying on the picnic bench that Ron the carpenter had come in and revamped for her last night. She’d made sure that as well as his payment in cash, he took home some whisky truffles and a box of summer-berry chocolate cups for his wife Maureen, who still provided the shop with the most gorgeous supply of heavenly chocolate cakes.

  The new plants were lined up in a shady spot ready to pot up, and Bev had arrived yesterday with a climbing clematis plant ready to position by one of the walls so it would grow and fill the space with delicate leaves and pretty deep-purple blooms in summer. Em had also set out one of Alfie’s dog bowls, ready to fill with water for their four-legged visitors on Monday.

  Whilst Em was in making the coffee, Holly sat for a few minutes, just taking in the peace of the place. It was like a little haven – and soon to be a chocolate haven. Bliss!

  Her boss was soon back out with a cafetière for two, and a couple of homemade choc-chip shortbread squares – which were still slightly warm from the oven.

  ‘De-lish,’ Holly said with a grin after her first bite. ‘I can’t believe how much this place has changed in the last year. First the new café, the brainchild of a certain super-duper assistant, moi, no less, and now this gorgeous summer courtyard area.’

  Emma had to agree; it felt good out here in the courtyard, a happy, positive space.

  ‘My friends already love your shop,’ Holly continued, ‘but now we can sit out and enjoy the sunshine too. Just think: big creamy, chocolatey milkshakes out here on sunny days.’

  ‘Oh yes, and I’m one step ahead. I’ve thought ice cream too. I’ve phoned the local Doddington’s dairy to start taking delivery of some of their fabulous flavours, keeping close to the chocolate theme, of course. They do a dark chocolate ice cream, there’s a gorgeous fudge chunk, and a vanilla – that’d be great drizzled with my homemade chocolate sauce. I can even make banoffee or chocolate-fudge sundaes with it too – what do you reckon?’

  ‘Hah, I’m sold already. Ice-cream sundaes, like my nanna used to make. You’ll have to get some of those tall glasses. Oh, and can you get some of those cute little tubs they do to take away, too? Yummy. Hah, I’m going to be the size of a house soon. Adam’ll wonder what the heck’s happening to me.’

  ‘Aw, I’m sure he’ll love you just the way you are. How are you two getting on lately? You looked very cosy there on the beach.’

  ‘We’re pretty good, yeah.’ There was a touch of anxiety in her assistant’s voice though.

  ‘How do you mean, pretty good?’ Emma queried. Usually Holly was all gushing and giddy about her gorgeous Adam.

  ‘Ah … I think it’s just all the studying I’ve had to do lately for these exams coming up, so it’s hard to get much time to spend together.’

  ‘Hah – tell me about it!’ Emma smiled wryly, thinking of her and Max working all hours and Bev and Pete’s current issues.

  ‘And then, he seems a bit quiet when I talk about uni and my midwifery course. I’ve tried to get him to open up about how he feels and he just says it’s fine, that he knows if I get the grades this summer I’ll be off up to Newcastle in September. Yeah, I’m a bit nervous, and I know I’ll miss him like crazy, but it’s what I really want to do, Em. It’s my dream. Just love that One Born Every Minute programme.’

  ‘Oh, I’m sure he’ll want you to do well and go, Hols. Maybe he’s just feeling a bit anxious about how it will be for you both? It’s probably just the thought of you being apart soon.’

  ‘I hope it’s just that.’ Holly looked worried.

  ‘You need to really talk to him about it, Holly. Be honest. It’s all about communication in a relationship. Yes, sharing your hopes and dreams, but also your fears.’

  ‘Yeah, I know. Thanks, Em.’

  ‘Right, well the time’s ticking on. We’d better get the shop up and running and the sign on the front door switched to Open. It might well be another busy day.’

  ‘Yeah. Can I make a notice for you later, Em, about your courtyard café opening on Monday? We’ll need to let people know.’

  ‘Of course, that’s a good idea. And add “Walking boots and four-legged friends will be welcome”, something like that.’

  ‘Okay. Will do.’

  And so, another day in The Chocolate Shop by the Sea was about to begin.

  It had been busy all day; there were plenty of new faces, mostly tourists, and there was a lot of positive buzz and chat about the new courtyard café too. Stan and Hilda had wanted to hear all about it from Holly, and followed Emma out the back for a sneak preview, saying it looked ‘Very nice indeed.’

  The hours flew by and before she knew it, it was almost time to close up.

  ‘Everyone’s really excited about the courtyard for next week,’ Holly said as she was wiping over the tables.

  ‘That’s great. Me too. I think it’ll be a lovely new addition to The Chocolate Shop – perfect for sunny days. Let’s just hope it’s a good summer, weather-wise.’

  ‘Ooh, yes. Well, I’m going to get all my friends around to try it out and spread the word this week. Not that they’ll need much encouraging. What’s happening with the prosecco parties? Did you get your licensing through yet?’

  ‘Just an exam still to do. It’s been so busy I haven’t had a chance to complete it. But yes, we’ll have those party nights to offer as well, which should be good for business all year through.’

  ‘I admire you, Em. All your drive and energy. You never give up. Makes me want to go for my midwifery dream even more.’

  ‘Good for you. And thanks, Hols.’

  ‘So, anything else you need me to do before I leave for the evening, boss? I’ve only got a bit more tidying to get through.’

  ‘Nope, I’m just about sorted. Going to head to the kitchen now to make some Eton Mess truffles for tomorrow, they seem really popular at the moment. Either that or Bev’s been eating them all. They’re her favourites.’

  ‘Hah – yes.’

 
They both smiled.

  ‘Let’s just finish off here then.’

  Closing time swung around and Emma was dead on her feet.

  ‘Well, have a fab evening with Max,’ Holly said as she wiped the last of the tables over.

  ‘Thanks. And what’s on for you? Are you seeing Adam again?’

  ‘Yeah, we’re off to the cinema down in Newcastle, and a bite of supper out, I think.’

  ‘Very nice.’ Blimey, she hadn’t been out to the cinema in ages. When Max turned up of a weekend they were usually both too shattered to go out anywhere much. ‘Oh, and don’t forget to speak with Adam about how you’re feeling. When you get the right moment, of course.’

  ‘Yeah, I will do. Thanks for the advice. Cheers, Em. See you soon. I’ll call in after Sixth Form one day next week with my pals. Milkshakes and ice creams are calling!’

  Right, she had about an hour to make these truffles and prepare a homemade lasagne ready for Max’s arrival. She couldn’t wait to see him, especially after the stupid row about Nate and the shower incident last time, though they’d seemed to be back on track by the time Max left. She really liked Max, so much so that as well as feeling excited about their relationship, it also left her feeling fragile. It was all so new, letting someone back in, feeling warm and whole again when you were with them, yearning for them when you were apart. Although she was finally willing to risk her heart, she had to admit it still frightened her.

  She wanted to make this evening special for them both and have supper out in the courtyard, just the two of them, to celebrate another new step forward in The Chocolate Shop’s progress, and hopefully another step forward for them as well.

  20

  Where the hell was he?

  If he was going to be this late, why on earth hadn’t he phoned? Emma’s anxiety levels were rocketing. She’d had to turn the oven right down for the lasagne that she’d specially made over two hours ago now and it was starting to dry out.

  She’d phoned her mum and dad to see how they were and to fill some time, telling them all about the new courtyard area and inviting them to call in whenever they wanted. They lived about thirty minutes away in the small rural town of Rothbury. She also promised to pop across and visit them at home one evening after work next week.

  She and her mum had chatted away for a while about various family members, and she heard all about Mrs Brown, a friendly neighbour from just down their street having a cataract op, and the new traffic warden in the village being super-efficient to the extreme and annoying everyone, locals and tourists alike. Apparently young mum Jessica, who lived over the road from them, had parked for two minutes on the high street to get some money out of the cashpoint. Having her little one in the car, she’d left it on a single yellow line so she could keep an eye on her. With her back turned to the machine for less than a minute, that was it: yellow parking notice slapped on her windscreen and a forty-quid fine. What was the world coming to, her mum sighed, when the real criminals were out there causing havoc?

  The call had taken up twenty minutes, but there was still no sign of Max and it had gone nine o’clock now. He’d told her just yesterday how he’d try and get there around six-thirty. So much for their romantic supper and a glass of bubbly in the courtyard! The rain clouds had gathered and it was getting chilly out there.

  She felt a bit queasy. No Max, no apologetic phone call. She couldn’t help but worry; her worst day ever had come from her fiancé being so very late, and then … never coming home. That cold feeling of dread was creeping up on her. Of course, she reasoned, things like that surely only happened once in a lifetime and there was probably some very logical explanation this evening. But could she just have that explanation now, please, or even better, have Max turn up safe and sound and hungry on her doorstep.

  Funny how minutes could seem like hours …

  By the time Max’s Jeep finally turned up at half-past nine – three hours late – Emma was distraught. The relief – at seeing the Jeep from her upstairs lounge window and a rather tired but all-in-one-piece Max get out – struck first, soon to be replaced by frustration and anger.

  She ran down the stairs and out to meet him as he came into the back yard. ‘Where the hell have you been? Why didn’t you call?’

  ‘Sorry, sorry! Nice to see you too,’ he answered with a hint of sarcasm, holding his hands up, ready for his verbal shooting down. ‘The job’s been a total nightmare today, and my phone got smashed – fell out of my pocket from up some scaffolding. I would have called you otherwise, of course I would.’

  ‘You could at least have called from someone else’s phone.’ Em was still up a height emotionally, and she wasn’t coming down yet.

  ‘Maybe, but all your numbers were stored in mine.’

  ‘Google? It isn’t that difficult, Max – the shop number would have been there!’ Her tone was sharp.

  ‘I’m sorry, I should have thought, yes. But I was just trying to sort out these supplier issues and then, by the time I was on the road, I was busy driving. I just wanted to get up here. But there’d been an accident on the A1 just before Durham, and I got held up again.’ He looked tired, deflated. ‘Some welcome this is!’

  ‘Well, you should have thought to let me know.’ She was still fuming.

  There were a few tense seconds of silence between them.

  But news of an accident made her think, soon taking the angry wind out of her sails. Max was okay. He was here. He wasn’t the one in the accident. ‘I-I was just so worried.’ Her voice trembled.

  ‘Oh Em, God, yes.’ It suddenly dawned on Max. Yes, anyone would be worried, with their partner three hours late, but for Emma this would feel so much worse. He took a step forward. ‘Come here.’ His arms went out and they met in a hug.

  No more words, just the comfort of each other’s body, chests pressed together, that life-affirming warmth between them.

  ‘Sorry, Em,’ he uttered gently above her, into the waves of her soft, red hair.

  Her heart rate was slowing, beating next to his. ‘It’s okay.’

  They stayed like that for a few quiet moments.

  When she finally pulled back, Emma said, ‘The lasagne’s ready. Well, a little too ready.’ She pulled a face. ‘Like, the top is black, but I could scrape that off and we can have the remnants beneath. There’s plenty of salad and some garlic bread too.’

  ‘Sounds a veritable feast.’ Max grinned, looking more like his usual self. ‘I’m starving – my last bite to eat was a bacon butty at elevenses.’

  ‘I had planned on eating out here, but it’s getting a bit chilly now, and it’ll be dark soon.’

  ‘Yeah … hang on.’ He looked about him. ‘Hey, you’ve got a whole load of outdoor furniture and it looks really great. But yeah, maybe another time to eat outside, if you’re feeling cold. Mind, we did manage a December picnic, remember.’

  ‘Hah, how could I forget.’ She remembered it well, the two of them and Alfie on the beach on a cold winter’s evening under a blanket and a canopy of stars. It had been such a special night and seemed a world away from how they were now – overtired, arguing.

  She felt shattered, anxiety having dissolved into fatigue. ‘We’ll save the courtyard for another time.’ And the bottle of prosecco too, she mused. It didn’t seem the right time for bubbly any more. She just wanted to curl up with him on the sofa and have supper on their knees.

  ‘I do have a bottle of red in my car. I’ll go fetch it, shall I?’

  ‘Okay, yes, lasagne with a glass of red sounds pretty good.’ Though the way she was feeling so tired suddenly, she feared she might be asleep before they even finished it.

  After the meal, they were sat chatting.

  ‘Hey, I’m sorry that your plans for us to have supper in the courtyard didn’t work out for tonight.’ Max looked genuinely apologetic.

  ‘Ah, it’s okay. I know you couldn’t help being so late.’ Emma had calmed down by now. She could see how Max was trying to juggle life and wor
k with travelling up to see her.

  ‘We could always take a glass of wine outside?’ he suggested. ‘Have a few moments out there at least.’

  ‘We’ll need a fleece on. But yeah, why not.’

  ‘Or my arms around you?’ He gave a cheeky smile.

  ‘Now that sounds a good idea.’

  ‘Come on then.’

  They wandered down to the quaint courtyard that held Emma’s latest Chocolate Shop dreams within its walls. There was enough light coming from the kitchen to flood the space nearest the cottage, and a half moon shone above them too. Alfie followed them out eagerly, wagging his tail and sniffing around.

  ‘You’ve worked really hard on this, haven’t you?’ Max said, taking in all the revamped furniture, the little touches with the plant pots.

  ‘Yes, this place means so much to me, Max.’

  ‘I can tell. It’s got that warm friendly feel, with a little bit of magic that spells Emma to me. Your heart and soul really has gone into this.’

  ‘Aw, that’s so lovely.’

  He placed his wine glass down on the table beside them. Emma did the same, anticipating what might come next. And he took her into his arms as he’d promised, tenderly placing his lips against hers, tasting of red wine and Max, with a generous sprinkle of passion and a hint of her future.

  There was no Sunday morning lie-in. Emma woke feeling restless and had got up early to sand down the last of the table sets, ready to paint after work. However, on the radio, whilst making herself a coffee to keep her going, she heard that rain was forecast for later. Argh, how was she going to paint a table in the pouring rain? She’d have to get it into the shop somehow, but how was she meant to do that, with a kitchen full of chocolates, and a café full of customers?

  Still, she sanded until the grit made her eyes itchy and her back was aching. She must have been at it for nearly an hour-and-a-half before Max appeared.

  ‘Hey.’

  ‘Hi.’

  ‘You look busy.’

  ‘Yeah. I have loads to do today.’ She could feel her stress levels rising. The shop would be opening again at lunchtime, and there was a long list of things she needed to do first. So much to do, so little time!