Page 107 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

The day was just brilliant – busy, noisy, with gifts and love and laughter.

Adam and Holly had headed off with hugs and kisses and big thanks to deliver Adam’s gran’s dinner, saying they’d call back later. Emma’s family decided to go for a stroll down on the beach to blow away the cobwebs and try to make a dent in the turkey dinner, so they took Alfie and went out. Max was happy to stay behind. Emma thought he was probably still in some pain, and that he didn’t want to hold them up on their beach walk.

Down on the sands, the girls ran about with Alfie, their giggles filling the air, the gulls swooping and the sea rolling in, in a vibrant froth of winter waves. Chloe and James walked along holding hands, evidently happy in their world, and that was lovely to see.

There was a mini-crisis as Lucy got a bit too near to the water’s edge and a big wave came in, filling her wellington boots. There were tears until Chloe whisked her up, pulled off the boots one at a time, and tipped out the cold salty water. ‘All done.’

James caught up with Emma and they walked together slowly. ‘Max seems a nice chap,’ he prompted.

‘Yeah,’ Emma said smiling, not wanting to say too much.

‘Things going okay?’ Her little brother checking she was all right, protective, and at the same time, hoping for good things for her.

‘I think so … it’s early days yet, though.’ She was just finding her relationship feet again, and wasn’t sure she wanted to chat about it quite at this point.

‘Well, I hope he makes you happy, Em. He seems a good sort.’

‘Yeah, I think he is.’

He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a brotherly hug.

The girls whizzed back, wanting hugs too, and were soon swept up in a line of adult, child, adult, child in a row, with Auntie Em in the middle. They made a swinging action with their arms which the twins delighted in, giggling as they swooped to and fro, shouting ‘More. More!’ until all their arms were aching.

Within a further five minutes, though, grey clouds started gathering above, and a damp, hazy drizzle surrounded them. Oh well, it had been nice to get outside, but it was now past four and would be dark soon, so they were ready to head back for some essential chill-time, Emma especially. A family movie, something Christmassy, would be on the telly – no doubt something they’d watched before, with them all piled on the sofa, or the floor in her lounge. She might even manage a mince pie with a glass of Baileys, or perhaps a good old cup of tea.

This was what Christmas was all about: family, friends, loved ones. Life was special and so precious, and sitting there a little while later, back at her cottage on a cushion on the floor, with her family, Max, and Holly and Adam, she was full of gratitude for what she had, despite the pain of the past.

James and his family left soon after seven, as the girls had nodded off by the end of the film. Lucy had taken a shine to Max and had nestled next to him on the sofa, on his good side, and chattered herself to sleep beside him, questioning him all about the blue bandage thing, and if they had had to cut his arm off, and did it hurt. It had been a long day for them: apparently, the girls had been awake at five, full of excitement and energy, desperate to see if Father Christmas had been. Of course, he had.

Her brother and his family left with hugs and kisses and thank yous and invites for Emma and Max to go and visit them soon. James shook hands with Max firmly and Em noted her brother also giving him an approving pat on his good shoulder.

Holly and Adam left soon afterwards. Gran had been most thankful for the Christmas dinner and the visit from them earlier, and they were pleased to report that she was starting to feel a little better.

So, Max and Emma had a cosy night in. Alfie managed to sneak up on the sofa after polishing off a delicious bowl of turkey and trimmings, and lodged himself between them – well, it was Christmas after all. Emma felt really tired, but in a happy, contented way. In fact, it had been the best Christmas she had had in years.

Bedtime, and after helping Max remove his clothes, they snuggled together under the double duvet in her room. She wasn’t quite so afraid of banging into his injured shoulder now. In fact, it was amazing how you could adapt sexual techniques to compensate for a broken collarbone, and though she was tired, she wasn’t that tired. There was just one point where she wasn’t sure if the groan above her was of pleasure or pain, so she quickly popped her head up over the duvet to check.

‘Huh, what the hell are you stopping for?’ came a frustrated cry.

‘Okay, okay, just checking I haven’t hurt you.’

‘That was pleasure not pain,’ he grinned, with such a yearning please-don’t-stop-now look in his eyes.

‘Sorry, sorry,’ Emma muttered, and went back to finish what she had started.

After making love, very carefully, she lay beside him, aware of the amazing feelings growing within her that she hadn’t felt in such a long time. She curled up against his good side, relishing the feel of his skin against hers; his warmth, his body so close, and they were soon fast asleep.

50

Boxing Day, and she wasn’t alone this year. Emma woke up with a gorgeous, very much alive – though a little bashed-up – man in her bed. A man who had helped her bring The Chocolate Shop back to life, and was making a damned good effort at fixing her shattered heart.

‘Morning, beautiful.’ He looked across at her from the other pillow.

‘Morning, bashed-up gorgeous.’

And despite his battered ribs and shoulder, she managed to snuggle a little closer to him.

Christmas Day had been just wonderful in a busy, beautiful way with her family and friends, and her parents were due later on, but for now today was their day. There was no need to rush, or to be anywhere in particular, and Emma was intent on savouring their time together.