The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop Read online

  Shirley, Adam’s gran, and some of the Golden Oldies group were already there, looking around. So, after dropping off the fudge and checking Holly was okay, Emma went over to say hello.

  ‘Looks like it’s all going well, Emma.’ Shirley smiled. ‘We’ve been to have a chat with young Holly and she says it’s been really busy already.’

  ‘Yes, it’s going brilliantly so far and it’s still early yet.’

  One of the elderly gents was halfway through a chocolate ice-cream cone. ‘Wonderful stuff this, lass.’ He licked his lips and made a thumbs-up sign.

  ‘Thank you,’ Emma said. ‘I made it myself.’

  ‘We thought as much. It tastes just like your truffle chocolates in the shop,’ he added.

  ‘We’ll call up and see you at the shop in a little while,’ Shirley said. ‘Think we’re all ready for a sit down and a slice of cake. Well, if we can squeeze it in. There’s been a lot of food sampled already.’

  ‘Always room for cake,’ smiled Dorothy.

  ‘Well, I’d better crack on, they’ll be needing me back at the shop. See you up there soon.’

  ‘Yes, we’ll catch you shortly. Try and keep us a few seats if you can.’ Shirley winked.

  ‘I’ll try my best,’ answered Em.

  Before heading back, she quickly caught up with Lynda from the deli, who had helped support her last year by agreeing to take a selection of her chocolates for sale at her shop in Bamburgh.

  ‘Hey, Lynda – lovely to see you here.’

  ‘And you, Emma. It’s certainly busy, isn’t it. I’m so glad I decided to come along.’

  ‘Are you keeping well?’

  ‘Oh yes, pet, very good. And you? How’s the shop doing?’ She then frowned. ‘I’d heard it’s been put up for sale. Is that right?’

  ‘Yes, unfortunately. I just rent, you see. Not a lot I can do about it I’m afraid. I’m still hanging on in there until I get my notice. But if you hear about any suitable premises round your way, keep me posted.’

  ‘What a shame. And I will do, pet.’

  ‘Well, sorry to have to dash, but I’d better get back up to the shop.’

  ‘Of course.’ They promised to catch up properly soon.

  ‘Have a good day.’

  ‘You too, Em.’

  Back at The Chocolate Shop it was all systems go with teas, coffees, milkshakes, bakes and cakes. The counter had a queue for orders of boxes of truffles, gift bags, and more. It was hard to keep up with it all, but they forged on. Emma’s new hire, Megan, was seventeen and not long out of school. Emma knew she needed the extra help, especially with Holly about to head off to university soon. Megan had only started last Saturday and hadn’t built up a lot of experience yet, so it was very much a case of ‘into the frying pan’. The customers could see how busy they were, and most were happy to wait, although there was the odd disgruntled tut or sigh, but hey, they could only do their best.

  In came the Golden Oldies. ‘My, we need a sit down,’ Adam’s gran sighed. ‘It’s bedlam out there now. Never seen Warkton so busy. Hear they are having trouble parking now, the public car park’s full, and the high street’s chock-a-block.’

  ‘It’s fabulous down there though,’ Thelma added. ‘All the stalls and everything. We’re loaded up with all sorts. I’ve got cheese, fudge, and sticks of rock for the grandchildren.’

  ‘I’ve even got a mini sample of Hepple Gin for free,’ chipped in Shirley. ‘We’re looking forward to that tonight with a drop of tonic, aren’t we, Thelma? But for now, what we need is a seat and a nice cup of tea.’

  ‘Yes, I bet.’ Emma came out from behind the counter to help them. ‘There’s a couple just about to leave the window seat there. If you wait just one minute, I’ll get it set up for you all.’

  ‘Perfect. Thank you, Emma dear.’ Shirley smiled.

  ‘You’re welcome.’

  Emma had taken their order while they waited and was soon making her way back to them with a tray laden with drinks and cake. They were now all settled at their favourite window-seat table.

  ‘How’s your young man, Emma?’ Dorothy asked. ‘Is he here today?’

  The words felt like a dart in Emma’s heart, but she managed to keep smiling. She hadn’t seen or heard from Max for four weeks now.

  ‘No, he’s busy today, Dot.’ Emma really didn’t want to go into any of that just now.

  ‘Shame. Would have been very pleasant to have been served by him,’ Dorothy added. ‘Such a lovely lad.’

  Emma kept her smile fixed and her head down whilst handing out the order. She was glad it was busy; it meant she had to keep on going. Busy was good, it kept her mind occupied and her heart shut down, keeping all those unsettling emotions at bay like a jack-in-the box.

  Next, Emma had to dash back down to the harbour with a container of ice cream as Holly had rung to say she was nearly out. It was very warm outside, so she’d packed a large plastic box with ice, and nipped down in the car to get it to the freezer on the stall before it all melted.

  When she got there, James and Chloe were down at the harbour too. The girls were nibbling on lurid-pink candy-floss sticks they’d got from The Rock Shop.

  ‘Hello, you lot. Having a nice time?’ Em walked over to them after delivering the ice cream.

  ‘Yes-s.’ The girls were grinning. ‘The Rock Shop lady was nice this time,’ said Olivia.

  ‘That’s good.’

  ‘Want some, Auntie Em?’ Lucy thrust her candy-floss stick towards her. It was licked, with pink sticky beads of wet around the edges and lightly chewed.

  ‘Ah, no thanks, Luce, but nice of you to offer.’

  ‘It’s great here,’ James commented. ‘There are some really good stalls and loads of tourists about.’

  ‘Your stand looks lovely,’ Chloe added. ‘And I’ve seen lots of people wandering about with your chocolate ice creams.’

  ‘Good, good. What I like to hear. Yes, I’ve just been stocking that up for Holly. Sorry, guys, but I’m going to have to dash. It’s all go back at the shop too.’

  ‘Of course. See you soon.’

  ‘Bye, Auntie Em.’

  ‘Bye all. Have fun.’

  And it was indeed all go for another few hours. The dishwasher was humming away, as well as new-girl Megan washing up at the kitchen sink, trying to keep up with all the used crockery. The young girl had straight blonde hair, which she’d pulled back into a ponytail for work, and pretty pale-green eyes that stood out against her milky-fair skin. She had recently moved to the village with her family, from the nearby town of Seahouses.

  Megan had very much found her feet today, working hard alongside Emma and Bev. She was going to be working weekends and the week days that Bev wasn’t in, giving Em that extra cover she needed, especially with Holly setting off for her new student life in Newcastle upon Tyne very soon. It seemed really odd that Holly would soon no longer be part of the team, except perhaps at holiday times. Em would miss her sunny face and temperament.

  The Bank Holiday visitors were starting to drift away and the seagulls were settling to roost for the evening. Emma could hardly believe that it was almost six o’clock. The day had just flown. She decided to head down to the harbour to see how Holly had got on with the stall for the rest of the afternoon.

  ‘Bev, you okay to hold the fort here a while? I’ll just go and help Holly pack up. I’ll take the car down to pick up the freezer and anything that’s left.’

  ‘Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’s quietened off a lot now.’

  ‘Been a good day, though.’ The till hadn’t stopped pinging, which was a joyous sound for Emma after the financial woes of last year.

  ‘Megan, thanks so much.’ She caught up with her new member of staff. ‘You’ve been such a help. I’ll just fetch your pay for today, and then you may as well get away home.’

  Megan had been delighted when Emma had offered her the chance to work at The Chocolate Shop after Sheila had heard the young girl was looking for a job in the vi
llage. She was a bit shyer than Holly, but polite with the customers and she seemed to be warming up to the role nicely.

  ‘Thanks,’ Megan smiled as Emma handed across her pay and a bag of fudge. ‘That’s great. I’m really enjoying working here already.’

  ‘That’s good. We’ll see you back tomorrow then!’

  She had been a little hesitant to employ the new girl at first, in case The Chocolate Shop sold quickly – especially as The Brewery Boys had seemed so keen. But if it did, she reasoned, a sale might well take a few months to go through. That thought was always there like a dark spectre, but Emma resolved to just keep moving forward, until anything happened to change that. The other way led to torment.

  44

  A little later at the harbour, Emma parked and walked across to find Holly at the stall.

  ‘How’s it been going? All okay?’

  Holly looked up at her through red, tear-stained eyes.

  ‘Holly, what on earth has happened?’

  The girl took a gulp of air and then said, ‘He’s finished with me, Em.’

  ‘What are you talking about … Who, Adam?’ Em couldn’t believe it. ‘This can’t be right, Hols. You two are such a great couple.’

  ‘It’s true. He’s just been here. Came to see me. Was going to wait until later he said, but then he just blurted it out and went off in a dash.’

  ‘Why? Has something happened? Have you two had a row?’

  ‘No. I just don’t get it. He says he still likes me, but that I need my freedom now I’m going off to uni. He says it’s best for us to split up. He’s adamant, Em.’ Holly slumped down dejectedly onto the stall’s plastic chair.

  Why did the course of love never run smooth?

  ‘Oh, Holly. I’m sure you two can sort this out. I bet it’s not because he really wants it to end. I think, in a crazy way, he might believe he’s helping you. Setting you free to go off and start afresh. To go your own way.’

  ‘I don’t want to go my own way. I want to go to uni, yes, but I still want to be with Adam.’ The tears plopped down her cheeks.

  ‘Come on.’ Emma put an arm around her assistant for a second or two. ‘Let me help you get packed up here and we’ll go back to The Chocolate Shop and you can tell me all about it. Maybe we can come up with a plan to knock some sense into that boy over a mega milkshake.’

  Holly gave a small smile through the tears. ‘Thanks.’

  They soon had the freezer packed into the boot of Emma’s car, with the seat folded down after a helping hand from Pete and one of the gents from the village committee. Three bags of fudge and two chocolate bars were all that remained of the goods for sale (brilliant!), and Holly carried them with her. All the ice cream and cones had gone – a sell-out, Holly had told her, and very popular, especially with the homemade fudge stick in the top. Back at the shop, Emma turned the sign on the door to Closed as the last customers left. Bev had spotted Holly’s tear-stained face and looked to Em for an explanation.

  ‘Adam,’ Emma mouthed silently.

  ‘Ah, okay,’ Bev nodded back.

  ‘Bev, we have a situation that calls for emergency chocolate measures,’ Em stated. ‘What would you like, Holly? A milkshake, hot chocolate, ice cream?’ Em rattled off some of the young girl’s favourites.

  ‘Milkshake, please, with your chocolate sauce through it – and extra marshmallows and fudge pieces on the top?’

  ‘No problem, I’ll fetch it,’ Bev offered, adding, ‘then you can tell us all about it, hun.’

  When they were all settled down at one of the tables, Bev and Emma with a coffee, Holly with her super-duper milkshake, Em started to explain: ‘Well Bev, the thing is this, young Adam has decided that as Holly is taking herself away to Newcastle and her student life, it’s best they end their relationship. To give her some freedom, apparently. That’s the gist of it, isn’t it Hols?’

  ‘Yes.’ She was sounding a bit weepy again. ‘I’ve told him I don’t want that. That I still want to be with him. Yes, I really want to go and do my training, make some new friends and that. But I’m not interested in looking for a new boyfriend. Why can’t we just keep going and see how it works out? Why do we need to break up?’

  ‘Ah, probably a man thing. He sets you free first, so he doesn’t get hurt when you find someone else,’ Bev said.

  ‘Except it won’t happen. I don’t want anyone else. And if it’s true what he says, that he still really likes me, then he’s only going to hurt anyway. I know I bloody am already.’ She sniffed loudly.

  ‘Maybe he’s not so sure himself, not inside.’

  ‘I don’t know, Em, he sounded pretty definite. Like that’s the way it’s got to be.’

  ‘Maybe he was just trying to put a brave face on it.’

  ‘Ah, I don’t think so.’

  ‘Well, you’re not going to give up that easily are you, hun?’ Bev chipped in.

  ‘Why not go and talk to him? He might still be there at the hotel. You might catch him if you go now,’ suggested Em.

  ‘You think I could?’

  ‘’Course you can. I have a feeling you’re both going to be miserable otherwise,’ said Bev.

  ‘Tell him how you feel, what you’ve just told us,’ Emma added. ‘No one knows what the future holds for sure, but if you feel that strongly, you can make it work somehow. You can still see each other, pop back at weekends. It’s only an hour away, it’s not like you’re going to Australia or anything. Some things are worth fighting for, Holly.’

  ‘Yes, all kinds of different relationships work out – that’s if you both want it enough. Go tell him,’ added Bev.

  ‘Right. Thank you.’ Holly took a sip of her mega-milkshake. A glimmer of hope re-lit her eyes. ‘I’m going to find him. Right now.’

  ‘Good for you and good luck,’ said Emma.

  ‘Go Holly!’ Bev raised a high five.

  With that Holly was off.

  Holly spotted Adam’s car in the hotel’s car park. Phew, he was still there then.

  She dashed into Reception to find Laura there. ‘Hey, Hols.’ She politely said nothing about Holly’s red eyes and nose.

  ‘Hi … Is he here? Adam?’

  ‘Ah, he went out about fifteen minutes ago. Said he wouldn’t be too long.’

  ‘Oh … Did he mention where he was heading?’

  ‘No, sorry, petal.’ Laura had the feeling something personal was going on.

  So, if he wasn’t at the hotel, where was he then? Holly mused. If he was feeling anything like she’d been since their talk – as in totally crap – she reckoned he’d have needed a bit of space. So, maybe a walk?

  ‘Thanks, I’ll go find him.’

  ‘Any message?’

  ‘Uh …’ I still love you. Don’t do this. Are you hurting as much as me? ‘Uhm, no.’ They had to do this face to face. ‘Well, you can say I was looking for him.’

  ‘Will do.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  There was no time to waste. Something drew Holly towards the beach, the place they had walked, held hands, kissed, talked about their hopes, their dreams, their future. It was a special place for them.

  She was soon heading through the track in the dunes, saw the golden sweep of the bay open out before her. There was a young family on the sands playing rounders, a man walking his dog … and there, further away, someone was sitting on a rock looking out to sea. She could tell from the set of the shoulders, even though they were slightly hunched, and the sandy blond hair, that it was Adam.

  She found herself running.

  Just a few metres away now. ‘Adam!’

  He turned, looked surprised. His eyes were reddened. ‘Holly …’

  Was it really over between them?

  ‘Oh Holly … I’m sorry.’

  Sorry he’d hurt her? Sorry it was still over? Sorry I’ve been a dick? Which sorry was it? ‘Do you still mean it? That we’re over?’ Holly was almost afraid to ask.

  ‘It all sounded fine, sensible,’ Adam star
ted. ‘Give you the chance to start afresh. Go off to uni with a clean start. Make your new friends and settle in down there without being tied back here.’ He paused, looked out across the sea. ‘But then I saw the look on your face when I told you and I could see how much you were hurting. I didn’t know any more … and I was hurting too.’

  Holly stood listening silently, holding her breath.

  ‘But then I felt like I had to carry it through. Oh Holly, I’ve been such a dickhead haven’t I?’

  ‘Uh-huh. You have.’ She wasn’t going to make this easy for him, but there was a curl of a smile playing on her lips.

  ‘Argh,’ he groaned, frustrated with himself.

  Holly sat down on the rock beside him.

  ‘Jeez, I’ve done it all wrong. And I’ve hurt you … and I can’t bear the thought of not seeing you again, Holly.’ He looked up into her eyes.

  ‘I’m here now.’ And that’s the only place she wanted to be.

  ‘Holly, do you think we can just wipe that conversation from earlier? Can we try again? Even when you’re away? I know it might not be easy but …’

  ‘We’ve gotta at least try, yes.’

  ‘Oh, thank God.’

  She shifted a little closer to him. ‘And hey, you’re a cute, gorgeous dickhead, by the way.’

  ‘Hah,’ Adam laughed.

  He then leaned in, put his arms around his Holly, and they shared the most exquisite making-up kiss ever.

  ‘Hey, I’d better get going,’ said Bev, as she put the last of the crockery into the dishwasher at The Chocolate Shop. ‘Pete’s just texted; he’s wanting me to help with the last of the clearing up down at the harbour. I think there’s still tables and chairs to return to the village hall. It’s been a good day, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘And it’s great that Pete’s back getting involved with the village and not on the golf course quite so much. Things have been much better lately. Even Mum’s feeling a bit brighter too; she popped in earlier when you were down with Holly packing up the stall and she and Dad took a stroll around the fete this afternoon.’