The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop Read online

  ‘We’re all going to miss you too,’ Emma replied.

  Adam’s smile seemed to drop away at her words.

  ‘Well, come on, let’s celebrate!’ Em lifted the tone. ‘What are you having, Hols?’

  ‘I’ll get these,’ Adam interjected. ‘It must be prosecco time, hey Hols? I’ll get a bottle in.’

  ‘Oh yes. Definitely time for bubbles. Thank you so much,’ Holly said, grinning away.

  And the celebrations began.

  Later on, when the joyous hubbub had died down and Emma was putting her jacket on ready to go, a slightly tipsy Holly caught up with her at the bar. ‘Hey Em, I’ll come back and see you all the time. And if you’re ever busy, I’ll still come in and help. Like in the Christmas holidays.’

  ‘Of course. You’ll always be welcome, Holly. To help, or to just sit and chat over a hot chocolate telling me all about your student adventures.’

  ‘Eeh, I’m nervous now.’ Holly suddenly looked serious. ‘It’ll be a bit of a change from chocolates to babies.’

  ‘It will indeed, but you’ll be fine. Change is always a bit scary. But you go chase your dreams and give it your best shot. It’ll work out great for you, I’m sure.’

  ‘It’ll be hard leaving the village,’ her young assistant admitted, biting her lip.

  ‘At first, yes. But you’ll soon find your feet.’ Emma tried to keep the conversation positive, knowing she might well have to do the same thing herself soon, start afresh away from the village if there was no shop left for her, but she didn’t let herself dwell on that. ‘And, we’ll still all be here when you come back. Students are always on holiday, as far as I can recall.’

  ‘Hah, yes.’ Holly rallied.

  Emma saw that Adam was occupied, chatting away with some mates at the far end of the bar. ‘So how are things with you and Adam? Did you manage to talk yet?’

  ‘Yeah. I think we’ll be okay. I told him I’ll come home for weekends whenever I can. It’s only an hour away, it’s not like I’m going to Timbuktu.’

  ‘Well, I’m sure it will all work out fine for you two. Just keep talking. Keep communicating.’

  ‘We will.’ A sunny smile broke out across Holly’s face. ‘Thanks, Em.’

  ‘And hey, you’ve done brilliantly! Well done again, Holly.’

  They ended the evening with a big hug.

  There was another viewing of The Chocolate Shop booked for the mid-week before the Warkton Food Festival weekend. As the appointment time loomed that Wednesday, Emma felt a sense of trepidation … and inevitability. All it needed was that one person who felt the shop was just right for them and it would all be taken from her.

  Five minutes before the due time, two lads who looked in their late twenties appeared in the shop. The taller of the two, with dark slightly scruffy hair, came up to the counter. ‘Hi, we’re here to view the shop and the flat above. I’m Ben, by the way, and this is my work partner, Tom.’ Ben offered his hand to shake. Tom followed suit.

  ‘Okay, hi. I’m Emma. Nice to meet you both.’ She couldn’t help but warm to their friendly manner, despite the circumstances. ‘Shall we start with the shop area, then, seeing as we are already here?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Great.’

  ‘Holly, if you can just keep an eye on the café for me for a while, that’d be great.’

  ‘No problem, Em.’ Holly smiled at the three of them. Her curiosity was evidently piqued. Why were two youngish guys interested in the shop?

  ‘So,’ Emma started, ‘this is the main café and shop area. Obviously, it’s running as a chocolate shop here now. So … what are your plans for the property?’

  ‘Well, we have a micro-brewery over at Rothbury. The Bear’s Cave.’

  ‘Ah, yes. I’ve heard of that. My parents live that way.’

  ‘Well, we’re looking to expand and somewhere on the coast would be ideal.’

  ‘Ah, okay.’

  ‘Tom’ll probably live here and keep an eye on this venture, while I continue to run the main place back inland.’

  ‘Right.’

  Emma didn’t think The Fisherman’s Arms would be too pleased if a new micro-brewery hit the village, but she’d heard that small local breweries, serving their own real ale, were proving very popular. Maybe there’d be room for both. And this pair obviously had a good business already if they were able to expand. It might not be such a bad thing to have in the village – but not at the expense of The Chocolate Shop and her home, she mused.

  She gave them the full tour and they seemed very positive about the property, chatting to each other along the way. The downstairs kitchen would apparently be great for the fermentation tanks and brewing equipment, being a good size. Outside in the yard they’d need to make a storage shed for the casks and bottles, but they’d keep a section as a beer garden and upstairs was ideal for Tom’s living quarters. It all seemed to be coming together nicely for them. The more positive they got, the more negative Emma began to feel. This was like a slow torture, having to show them around.

  Alfie got made a fuss of upstairs in the galley kitchen, the canine traitor loving the attention as per usual, tail wagging happily in greeting.

  There was then a hushed discussion between the lads about finances and offer prices, which Emma didn’t quite catch as they lingered on the landing and she politely headed on down the stairs, the men following shortly afterwards.

  ‘That’s great,’ said Ben. ‘Thanks for showing us around.’

  ‘Cheers,’ added Tom.

  ‘So, what’s happening with you and your business?’ Ben asked in a friendly tone. Maybe they weren’t aware of her situation.

  ‘Well, unfortunately I just rent the place. And I’m sadly not in the market to buy, much as I’d have liked to,’ Emma admitted. ‘So, when the new owner comes in, I’m out.’

  ‘Ah sorry, that sucks. I feel a bit crap now,’ said Ben. ‘So it’s not you we’re dealing with?’

  ‘Nope, but hey, it’s not your fault. It’s business, I realise that.’ Emma sounded matter-of-fact, despite her heart breaking inside.

  ‘Yeah, we’ve had our share of ups and downs too with setting up the brewery,’ Tom added.

  ‘Well, thanks so much for showing us around,’ said Ben. ‘Hope it all works out for you too.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  They shook hands again before the lads left the shop. Emma stood frozen in the middle of the café, watching them go. She realised it was a sense of dread and foreboding that kept her fixed there.

  She turned around; Holly was stood watching her with a sad look on her face.

  ‘Oh God, Holly. I think this might be it.’

  ‘No … it can’t be.’ Her assistant had gone ashen. ‘It can’t be.’

  Was this the end for The Chocolate Shop by the Sea?

  42

  Emma had been waiting for the call from either her landlord or the estate agent to say an offer had been made on the shop, but three days had passed now and still no news. Honestly, it was excruciating! It was the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday weekend, just after opening time. Emma looked up from loading the refrigerated counter with some just-made goodies, to see Nate stood there. They’d both been keeping a low profile since ‘The Kiss’ and its subsequent fallout. She still felt distinctly uncomfortable.

  ‘Hi … Is it okay to have a word?’ He looked serious.

  They hadn’t seen much of each other at all lately, both just getting on with their lives, giving each other some space and keeping it to a polite wave or brief ‘hello’ if they crossed paths. There must be some reason behind him coming in.

  Emma looked across at Bev who was in with her. ‘You okay to keep an eye on things at the mo?’

  ‘Of course.’ She gave Emma a warning smile that said be careful.

  ‘Let’s go out into the courtyard,’ Em suggested. She knew there were no customers there as yet and it would give them a little privacy to talk. ‘Can I get you a coffee or anything?’<
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  ‘No, I’m fine, thanks. I won’t keep you long. I know you’ll be busy soon.’

  They went out into the morning sunlight and sat down at the little white wrought-iron table for two – Emma’s favourite spot in the garden.

  ‘So …?’ Emma prompted.

  ‘I just wanted to tell you that I’ll be leaving Warkton at the end of the week.’

  ‘Oh, okay.’ She hadn’t imagined him staying there in the village a long time, to be fair. But it was still quite a sudden decision.

  ‘The work at the pub is coming to an end soon anyhow, summer’s moving on and I just feel ready to go. Time for pastures new and some fresh adventures.’ He smiled.

  ‘Oh.’ She was trying to make sense of her emotions. It would make life easier in some ways, yet she found herself feeling sad too. ‘Crikey, well then, best of luck with everything.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He paused. ‘Em, look, what I really came to say as well is that I’m sorry … That kiss was really stupid, inappropriate. And I hope I haven’t messed things up for you and Max. Though from what I’ve heard from Holly lately, maybe I have. I wouldn’t have wanted that. And despite the fact he can’t stand me – and in the circumstances I can’t blame him – he does seem a decent bloke.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Em sighed. She watched a robin settle on the edge of one of her flower pots, thoughts of Luke, and then Max flooding her mind.

  ‘I hope you two can patch it up.’

  ‘Me too.’

  ‘Anyway, it shouldn’t have happened and I’m sorry. I still feel so terrible about it, like I’ve been disloyal to Luke. Not been much of a brother to him, have I? He’d have wanted me to look after you.’ He looked downbeat.

  ‘Hey, it takes two you know. It wasn’t just your fault. And yeah, I keep thinking of it too, how we should never have let it get to that. I don’t think Luke would have been too pleased with either of us.’

  ‘Ah, it was just a crazy moment. Maybe we were both just missing him,’ Nate tried to find an explanation. ‘Yeah, he’ll have thought we made a right balls-up of things, if he somehow could see, but you know … I think he might have forgiven us by now. I know it would never have happened if he’d still been alive. Yeah, I reckon he’d have called me an arse and given me a swift brotherly punch, but then he’d have let it go. He didn’t hold a grudge for long, Luke.’

  Emma smiled. ‘No, he didn’t.’

  ‘And …’ Nate continued, his tone earnest, ‘I think you’re wrong, Em.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘What you’ve achieved here …’ He looked around him. ‘The Chocolate Shop. How you’ve made a life, a good business. I think Luke would have been really proud of you.’

  Emma brushed a tear from the corner of her eye. ‘Aw, thank you. That’s lovely of you to say so.’

  ‘I hope we can still be mates from here on, Em. Please don’t let what happened spoil that …’

  ‘Of course I won’t.’ She patted his shoulder in a friendly gesture. It felt like a weight had been lifted. ‘Thank you for coming to speak with me, Nate. All this has been troubling me so much too. So, pastures new then … and what are your plans for the future?’ Em switched the conversation.

  ‘Well, it’s been great here. Warkton’s a cool place. But you know me, don’t like to let the grass grow under my feet. I was thinking of maybe organising a ski season in Europe over the winter months.’

  ‘Good for you.’

  ‘And I’m gonna spend a bit more time with the parents first.’

  ‘That’s good. They’ll be pleased. They really missed you when you were abroad all that time.’

  ‘I know. I’ll go back down and stay with them for a while in Harrogate, while I’m sorting out the ski stuff and applying for posts.’

  ‘How are they? I hope they are both fine just now? I haven’t had a chance to call for a while.’ Life had been pretty hectic lately.

  ‘Yeah, they’re doing good. In fact, Dad’s even threatening to come out to the Alps once I get a place sorted and try his hand at skiing. Not the best idea, first time skiing in your late sixties, especially with Dad’s bad back. In fact, I think Barney might be a better candidate on skis than my dad.’ Barney was the family’s arthritic, elderly labrador.

  Emma laughed.

  ‘Yeah, I might tell them to wait until next spring and come and do some hiking instead. More their thing. I can see A&E written all over it, otherwise.’

  ‘That sounds a good plan. Send them my love won’t you, and once this Bank Holiday weekend’s over and the schools go back, I’ll arrange to pop down and see them some time.’

  ‘Well, I’d better get on. I’m sure you’ve got lots to do here, and I might just try and fit in a surf before I start my lunch shift at the pub.’ He stood up.

  Emma stood too. ‘Nate?’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘I think Luke would be proud of you too.’

  ‘You think?’ He sounded so unsure then, so young.

  ‘Yeah, it’s taken guts to come and say this today, to start. And you’ve been brave enough to go and follow your dreams, to go and experience the world.’

  ‘Cheers.’ He seemed relieved.

  ‘Take care, Nate. Pop in and see me before you go, yeah?’

  ‘Of course. You take care too.’

  ‘And stay in touch.’

  ‘Yep. Good luck with everything here, Em. Hope it all works out.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  They shared a hug. A brotherly-sisterly lovely hug. And the world felt like it had ‘righted’ itself a little.

  43

  Bank Holiday Sunday, 7.30 a.m. It was Festival day and it was all hands on deck. By some miracle, the sun was shining as the bunting was going up. Pete and the team, using the cherry picker they’d borrowed from a local farmer, were stringing the WI’s handmade flags in loops between the old-fashioned harbour lights. It was all looking very summer-fete-like and pretty as Emma headed down the hill to help set up her stall. There was chatter, as well as the seagulls’ morning cries, with a few of the other stallholders already there. A sense of anticipation filled the air.

  Chairs and tables from the village hall were being moved into place from the back of a trailer. Pete had a contact at the Alnwick Markets so he’d managed to borrow the metal frameworks and the stripy blue-and-white tarpaulin covers for the stalls. It was all coming together nicely.

  The butcher from the next village was setting out two large BBQ drums, ready to cook hot dogs and beefburgers and Anne had The Rock Shop’s hatch open already; she’d put up her own bunting – she was so near the harbour it wasn’t worth her taking a stall. Emma waved a friendly hello, and she waved back, smiling broadly. Since their clash and Anne’s subsequent apology, several customers had mentioned they’d been sent up by The Rock Shop, and with Emma’s new courtyard area, a further prosecco party booked in and the summer season in full swing, things had picked up nicely again.

  Even Danny was up sharp, an unusual occurrence, and was perched precariously on stepladders, hanging a large handwritten sign on the side wall of The Fisherman’s Arms with the help of Dave who was shouting instructions. It read ‘Fish and Chip Cones – only £4.95’. The local businesses were all on board and hoping for it to be busy with happy customers and a successful day’s trading.

  Being the first-ever Warkton-by-the-Sea Food Festival, it felt very much like a trial run, but they had all worked so hard, it was important it went well.

  Daphne, one of the ladies from the village committee, showed Emma which was going to be her stall. It had a nice position facing the harbour. Emma was pleased – they were sure to get plenty of footfall past it, as long as the anticipated visitors turned up. Em set out her trestle table ready for Holly, who had offered to run the stall, whilst she, Bev and Megan, a new girl Emma had just taken on, were working in the shop. Em would also be runner between the two, should Holly need more supplies sending down through the day.

  For The Chocolate Shop’s stall, Emma had ha
d to be mindful of the warm temperatures, so none of her refrigerated items were going there; instead she had a selection of choc-dipped, plain and rum-and-raisin fudge, chocolate buttons and her seashell shapes in pretty gift bags, her puffin and seal-shaped chocolate lollipops as well as some of her chocolate bars in milk, plain, white choc-raspberry, ginger and lime and Grand Marnier. They were also going to have an ice-cream stall.

  Em needed to check that the electric cable and socket she’d been promised was available, as she was going to bring down her tabletop freezer from the kitchen for the gourmet dark chocolate ice cream she had created especially – it had passed the Bev and Holly taste test with flying colours last night. There were two boxes of waffle cones at the ready and some fudge sticks made to pop in the top – The Chocolate Shop’s take on the traditional 99 ice cream. Delicious, and oh so summery!

  Pete came along unravelling a cable.

  ‘Perfect, you’re a mind reader,’ Emma said.

  ‘I’ll just test it’s all working in a minute, once it’s in place,’ he stated.

  ‘Thanks, that’s great. All going well, Pete?’

  ‘Yep, so far so good. We’re just hoping for a good turnout.’

  ‘Yes, it’s going to be a lovely fair day by the looks of it. I’ve nearly finished setting up here, so can I give you a hand at all?’

  ‘Well, there’s a few more chairs and tables to set out for each stall, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Of course. I’m happy to do my bit.’

  ‘Cheers, Em.’ And off he went unwinding his reel of cable between the stalls.

  By mid-morning Holly had already phoned asking for some more bags of fudge. Luckily Em had plenty of extras made up and popped down to drop them off. There was a real buzz harbourside already.

  All the stalls were taken. Emma spotted the Alnwick Rum stall, Hepple Gin and tonics, Lynda waved across at her from the Bamburgh Deli stall – ooh, she’d have to head over and say hello once she’d dropped the fudge with Holly – the ladies of the WI were serving fresh tea and coffee, there were Lindisfarne Oysters on ice, a fresh crab sandwich stall, and the BBQ’d sausages and burgers were smelling delicious. It looked just fabulous. Warkton had pulled together once again and put on a damned good show.