The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop Page 15

  No one knew quite what to say to that.

  Nate put an arm around her and gave her a comforting squeeze, but she still felt so very cold inside. The future for The Chocolate Shop by the Sea suddenly looked pretty bleak.

  Emma persevered through the day, keeping herself busy and putting a brave face on things. But, as soon as the shop sign was turned to Closed, she headed back to the kitchen and sank down on a stool with a huge sigh. She could still hardly believe it – her wonderful Chocolate Shop and her home up for sale. The tears flowed freely. She wasn’t a crier generally, but her heart felt so sore. All those hopes and dreams, all those years setting this place up. She let it all out in big snotty tears, then went and fetched a tissue and gave her nose a good blow.

  Emma gathered herself, then pulled out her mobile phone from her pocket. She really needed to speak to someone … and that someone was Max.

  The dialling tone droned on and then switched to the annoying standard voice of the answerphone. ‘Argh!’ That was all she needed.

  Okay, okay … She talked to herself as she felt the sting of tears building in her eyes again. Her brother James was always level-headed, he’d be good to chat with about this too. She redialled. This time it was answered within a couple of rings.

  ‘Em, hi.’ He sounded cheery.

  ‘James …’ She didn’t even want to say what had happened out loud, for fear of the tears breaking free once more and her becoming a blubbering mess.

  ‘Hey, what’s up, sis?’

  ‘Oh, James. The Chocolate Shop … it’s been put up for sale.’

  ‘Ah, no way. Bloody hell, Em. It’s that prick of a landlord again, trying to sell it for a small fortune no doubt.’

  ‘Ja-mes.’ She heard Chloe call to him in the background. ‘The girls are here.’

  ‘Sorry, sorry.’ One apology seemed to be for Chloe and one for Em. ‘But that’s what he is.’

  ‘Yeah, you’re probably right. I haven’t had a chance to check the price or the details yet. It’s up with Fawcett’s.’ She didn’t want to see it there on some website, up for sale …

  ‘I’ll take a look for you in a mo.’

  ‘I don’t think it’ll make much difference. Even at a bargain price I could never afford it. I’d never be able to raise enough cash for a deposit. I’m going to have to leave, aren’t I? And that makes me feel so sad.’

  ‘Hey, shall I come round? Do you want some company? I can be there in twenty minutes.’

  ‘No, it’s okay. I’ll be all right, I just needed someone to talk to. Just stay on the line and chat a while. About anything. Tell me how the girls are or something.’

  ‘Okay, well, they’ve been to school today. Been making books on what they did at half-term. Your Chocolate Shop features prominently.’ They had in fact been in for their milkshakes, cookies and ice-creams in the courtyard – twice. ‘Honestly, it’s like having promo for you at the school. It’s soon sports day, and there’s lots of trips coming up for them. In only a few weeks it’ll be the end of term, so we’ll have the long summer holidays to fill. And they are already excited for that to say the least.’

  ‘Is that Auntie Emma?’ A high-pitched voice could now be heard in the background. ‘Can I talk to Auntie Emma, Daddy?’ ‘And meee,’ another voice piped up.

  ‘Hang on. They want to talk.’

  ‘That’s great. Put them on.’ And that was just the lift she needed, hearing all about their swimming lessons and the friend they each had coming for tea tomorrow when they were going to have pizza and ice cream as a special treat.

  James came back on. ‘You really okay? It’s no bother to call around, you know.’

  ‘I know, but I feel a bit better already, just chatting. It’s not like it’s going to happen overnight, is it? It’s no good me moping about. I’ll just have to keep my head down, keep the business running as well as it can, and be prepared to keep my options open.’

  ‘That’s the attitude, Em. You take care of yourself, sis. And if there’s anything you need …’

  ‘Yes, I know where to come. And, thank you.’

  A few minutes later there was a knock on the back door, which opened more or less at the same time.

  ‘Em?’ It was Bev’s voice. She’d had to take her mother to the specialist’s appointment so hadn’t been at work today, which was why Holly had filled in. ‘I heard about the bloody “For Sale” sign.’ News travelled fast in a small village. ‘You all right, hun?’

  ‘Been better.’

  ‘Yeah, I expect so.’

  ‘It’s funny how two little words can just go and wrench your heart out.’ Em sniffed. For Sale.

  ‘Oh, Em. Come here.’ With that, her best friend gave her a hug. ‘Can I make you a cup of tea? A stiff gin and tonic?’

  ‘That might be more like it, but I don’t have any.’

  ‘I could always pop back home and grab a bottle from the drinks cabinet.’

  ‘I think the way I feel right now, I’d just down it in one, so thanks but that’s maybe not such a good idea, Bev.’

  ‘Right, well, tea it is then.’ Bev headed over to the kettle. ‘Why don’t we go and sit outside. It’s still bright out there in the courtyard.’

  She made their tea and they wandered out to the little wrought-iron table and chairs set Emma had hand-painted, full of hope and plans for the future, just those few weeks ago.

  ‘Well, it’s an absolute bastard,’ Bev uttered angrily. ‘All the work you’ve put in here. And now he’s selling it from beneath you. How are you feeling, hun? Or is that a silly question?’

  ‘Pretty shite.’

  ‘Yeah, I bet. I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Hey, it’s not your fault. And I can’t do much about it, can I?’

  ‘No, I suppose not. That horrid man owns the place after all. But maybe something good will come of it, Em.’ Bev was trying hard to find a bright side. ‘Maybe you can start looking for a place somewhere else?’

  ‘But where? There’s nothing like this in Warkton. And then what? In the next village, the one after that? Away from here, away from you lot?’

  ‘No! We couldn’t let that happen.’

  ‘I’ve spent so much time and effort getting this place just right, how I wanted it to be … the courtyard, the café. I just can’t imagine being anywhere else. And this village, this community, is my home.’

  ‘I know.’ Bev rested a hand on Em’s shoulder. ‘Come on, let’s have a slice of Margaret’s scrummy chocolate cake to go with this tea. It’s the least we can do in the circumstances. Needs must.’

  Emma felt slightly sick, to be quite honest, but she didn’t have the heart to protest.

  Bev soon came back out with two generous slices of cake, on pretty tea plates with forks.

  ‘A slice of cake can’t really change things, I know, but it might just make us feel a teensy bit better.’ Bev gave an encouraging smile.

  Tea and cake – a sliver, or slab in this case, of light in the gloom.

  ‘Oh Bev, how’s your mum? Sorry, I’ve been so wrapped up in my own problems, I didn’t ask how you got on at the hospital.’

  ‘Well, the good news is the scan has shown it’s not cancer, which was my biggest fear.’

  ‘Oh, that’s such a relief.’

  ‘But the not-so-good news is that she’s got bronchitis, which she’s had before and they think it’s left some scarring on the lungs this time. She’s on medication now, which should help her pick up generally, but unfortunately there could be some long-term damage. She’s just going to have to take it really easy for a while and let herself heal.’ Bev looked concerned.

  ‘Bless her. Well let’s hope she gets much better soon. Send her my best wishes.’

  ‘I will do.’

  ‘It’s just a gesture, but might a few coffee creams help cheer her up, do you think?’ Em remembered they were one of Bev’s mum’s favourites.

  ‘I think they might.’ Bev smiled.

  ‘I’ll box some up befor
e you head off, along with a bag of Eton Mess truffles for you. Hey, gotta look after the carers too. And I know you’ll be doing a good job of looking after her.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  They sat in the courtyard that sadly might soon no longer be Emma’s, and chatted about other things for a while. Em remembered the BBQ on the beach that she was meant to be going to on Saturday and Bev said she hadn’t been invited, not really knowing Nate, but she’d heard Holly talking about it.

  ‘I may as well still go,’ Em mused aloud. No point moping about here on her own, dwelling on things. ‘Holly and Adam’ll be there and I’m sure to know some others.’

  ‘Yeah, sounds as though it might be fun. You get yourself out there, let your hair down a little, Em.’

  As Bev was getting up to go, chocolates in hand, Emma’s mobile went off. She looked at the screen. Max. Finally.

  ‘Hi.’

  ‘Hey, Em. Sorry I couldn’t answer earlier. I was just in the middle of a team meeting, putting the last plans in place.’

  ‘Right.’

  Bev was mouthing ‘Max?’ and as Em nodded, she whispered, ‘I’ll get away, then. Call me if you need anything, hun.’

  ‘Will do,’ she spoke to Bev. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Everything okay there?’ Max sounded concerned.

  ‘Not really.’ Emma sighed heavily, then gave him the whole story. By now, she was all cried out, and sounded fairly calm.

  ‘Oh Em, that’s so shit. I’m so sorry. I know how much that place means to you.’

  ‘Yeah …’ Her head was throbbing now.

  ‘I’m sorry I can’t be with you right now, Em.’

  ‘Me too. I could really do with one of your bear hugs, Max.’

  ‘Sending one right down the phone for you, madam.’ He tried to sound upbeat.

  ‘Thanks.’ But it really wasn’t the same as the real thing.

  They talked about options for the future of the shop, which were limited, and whichever way they looked at it, involved having to leave the place she loved.

  ‘We’ll work this out somehow. I’ll be there soon with you, Em.’

  ‘Yeah,’ she uttered. But the word felt empty.

  ‘You take care.’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  ‘I love you.’ His words were heartfelt.

  ‘Love you too.’

  And she sat quietly for a while, still in the courtyard, with a sparrow hopping at her feet looking for cake crumbs. The sun was on her back, and she was sheltered from the breeze by the stone walls. Bev’s gorgeous vivid purple clematis was now climbing proudly and about to bloom and her herb pots stood on each table, smelling of summer while a drift of cocoa aromas came from the kitchen. It was such a special place here.

  She wondered who would be sitting here this time next year, or even in a few months. Would it still be run as a business or be someone’s house or a holiday let? Whatever happened, she wasn’t going to give it up that easily. Knowing Mr Neil, he’d be asking a high price, and it might not sell that quickly. She’d just have to keep going, make a success of The Chocolate Shop this summer season, save as much as she could – which she realised would only be a small dent in the kind of deposit needed for a business loan on this place – and come up with some alternative ideas. But there was no denying it, The Chocolate Shop was up for sale, and the thought of having to leave this place made her feel so terribly sad.

  28

  On Saturday morning Emma lay in bed in a bleary fog. She’d already pressed twice on the snooze button on her alarm. She’d heard the ‘For Sale’ sign creaking in the wind in the night, taunting her. She’d tossed and turned, trying to come up with some way out of this nightmare situation, until her head and heart were sore. Now she felt totally wrung out. This really needed to be the biggest duvet day ever.

  Alfie had managed to sneak in at some point and was there on the covers beside her.

  ‘Oh, Alfie boy.’ His fur was soft and warm under Em’s palm as she gently stroked him and he snuggled closer. Thank heavens for our four-legged friends.

  She let a few stray tears hit the pillow.

  ‘Come on, Emma,’ a small voice inside began to kick in. ‘You’ve fought bigger things than this.’ And she had, she really had. But this morning it felt like the final straw, the kick in the balls that brought you tumbling down. She lay there a little longer, with her arm around Alfie.

  On the third snooze alarm, she forced herself up. The shop had to open, after all.

  She blasted herself under a warm shower, letting it stream down over her. Walking into the kitchen to make some tea and toast, she turned on the radio which was playing ‘Life is a Rollercoaster’. Hah, she’d had enough of that particular rollercoaster for now.

  Despite it all, she forged her way through the day on autopilot, bravely fielding queries from her customers about the estate agent’s ‘For Sale’ sign that was hoisted up on the front of her shop like a stake through her heart. Her hopes and dreams for the future up in smoke once again. Why was her life such a bloody car crash?

  She so needed some time out – which was why, soon after closing time, she was heading off down the hill with a bottle of rosé and a picnic basket of goodies to Nate’s beach BBQ. She’d found some pork sausages she’d bought from the local butcher in the freezer, and had some brownies left over in the shop that she’d cut down into smaller squares and put in a Tupperware box. That’d do.

  It looked as though the weather was going to hold, and though clouds were starting to gather there was no sign of rain as yet. It was a warm evening too, a bonus. Past the harbour she went and into the dune car park, where she passed what must be Nate’s camper van, making her way down the sandy track to the beach. She could hear sounds of chatter and laughter, as though the group had already gathered. And as she came out on to the sands there they were, about twenty people so far.

  ‘Hi, Nate. Hi, all,’ she called, smiling as she approached. It was always slightly daunting when you didn’t know many of the gathering that well, Nate having made friends with more of the younger group in the village. She so wished Max had been able to come.

  ‘Hey, Em, hi. Come and meet Des. He’s a mate of mine from Oz, now over here travelling in the UK.’ Nate introduced them and handed her a bottle of lager from a plastic crate doubling as a makeshift ice-bucket. She was soon chatting away with the guy, who had tousled blond hair, a deep tan and looked in his mid-twenties. He seemed friendly enough, though he made her life seem rather narrow with his tales of diving with sharks at the Barrier Reef and getting stranded for several hours in the desert after trying to climb, illegally by the sounds of it, Mount Uluru.

  As more people joined them, Em recognised a few local faces, including Danny from the pub. She waved across at him. He came over, saying he only had an hour to go before his shift in The Fisherman’s started, so was desperate for the BBQ food to get going.

  Nate took the hint and investigated the contents of Emma’s picnic basket. Her food offerings seemed to go down well with the group, resulting in a whoop from Nate and several smiling faces as the chocolate brownies made their appearance. The sausages were added to the stockpile of baps and burgers set out on the table beside the BBQ, a big metal half-drum that was loaded with charcoal, ready to light. Nate took out a box of matches and set it alight, much to Danny’s relief.

  Em finished off her lager and Danny fetched her another bottle. It all seemed pretty laid-back and relaxed, which was just what she needed.

  Some of the surfer lads started a game of rounders down on the beach in front of them. They had set out posts made from driftwood and were using an old tennis ball and baseball bat someone had brought along. Holly and Adam turned up at that point, along with Laura, Sheila’s daughter, and her boyfriend Angus.

  They all ended up joining in, fielding firstly, and Emma stunned herself with a lucky catch that impressed the gang and raised a ‘Whoop! Go Em!’ from Holly.

  Nate started cooking the food, alongside th
e guy from Oz, both of them looking very at home in shorts and T-shirts, with a large BBQ in front of them and cans of beer in hand. Scanning the group, Emma suddenly realised she must be the oldest there, being well into her thirties, but she didn’t feel left out in any way. They were a friendly crowd and easy company.

  After a delicious supper, and her chocolate brownies going down extremely well with lots of ‘Oohs’, ‘Aahs’ and ‘Scrummys’ from the partygoers, Emma found herself feeling pretty chilled-out, sitting on a rug in the lower dunes with a bottle of lager in hand. She was watching the embers flickering in a firepit Nate had made earlier as the sun started to go down, the odd spark still flaring. It was dark now, she suddenly realised, so it must be fairly late as the sun didn’t set until after ten this time of year. It was a shame Max couldn’t have come. He’d have enjoyed this. Always work, bloody work.

  As she looked up from the fire, she realised that most of the others had gone and she had said several goodbyes as couples and friends had drifted off. Holly and Adam now got up to leave.

  ‘Bye, Hols, Adam.’ Emma smiled, feeling very comfortable where she was.

  ‘You okay, Em? Want to walk back with us?’ Holly asked.

  ‘Nah, I’ll be fine. It’s been such a nice evening that I’m not quite ready for home.’ Emma felt pleasantly buzzed from the lager, and she’d also had a glass or two of rosé. It was one of those evenings that you didn’t want to end. She could just sit and listen all night to the rush of the sea to shore in the cosy shelter of the dark. The beach had always been her special place.

  ‘Bye, then. Take care.’ Holly looked slightly concerned.

  ‘It’s okay. I’ll walk her back. See she’s all right,’ Nate offered.

  ‘Thanks,’ Adam said. ‘Night then.’

  ‘Bye-e.’ Emma was smiling, happy and mellow in her little beach BBQ world.

  Holly and Adam left, arm in arm.

  Just Emma and Nate there now …

  Nate was sitting watching Emma, strumming away on his guitar. She recognised the lyrics of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Photograph’ – about keeping a photo in your jeans pocket. Memories of someone you love. She was sure they were both thinking of Luke then. She smiled across at Nate. God, he looked sooo like Luke, it was uncanny. She wondered how it must feel for him looking in the mirror every day: it must be as though Luke’s shadow was there with him.