Page 73 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

‘Ah.’

He seemed to have thought of everything.

‘I’ll let you have a few crisps, if you must.’

‘Yes, please.’

He pulled out a bag of salted crisps, which went fabulously with the champagne. Crunch and fizz, just perfect. They watched some terns swooping over the waves, the sea rolling in in a hush of white foam, its rush and pull soothing.

‘Been a busy day for you too?’ she asked.

‘Yeah, pretty much full-on. The Gateshead job is going okay, but then I checked on the other job we’ve got near Corbridge, a barn conversion, and we were waiting for the kitchen units to come in and half the cupboards are missing. There’s always something.’

‘And then getting all this ready for this evening …’

‘Ah, it’s just a little something. Good job I have a local deli nearby, that’s all I can say.’

‘Sounds good to me.’

‘So, anyhow, tell me all about your day. The first day of the coffee shop. Did the new window seats hold up?’ He smiled.

‘Yes, they were well tested, and seemed fine. Very strong and solid, in fact.’

‘And there were quite a few people in?’

‘Yes, but I don’t think everyone knows we have a café now. It’ll take a little time. Oh crikey, Max, I hope it works out.’

She felt she could be honest with Max. He had his own business, understood the worries of having to make it work. At least she didn’t have a team of workers relying on her like he had. But she’d hate to have to let Holly down if it ever came to it; hopefully the new coffee shop venture would mean more working hours for her lovely assistant rather than less.

‘Well, I know how much it means to you and how much hard work has gone in to it. So it deserves every success.’ Max topped up her glass. ‘Cheers to The Chocolate Shop Café. May it prosper!’ He sounded like he was launching a ship or something.

Emma grinned, and put her worries aside for the moment. Yes, they should be celebrating today. ‘Cheers!’ They clinked glasses once more. It was lovely to be here celebrating with Max. It was lovely to feel happy, as if there was a future …

Max opened the picnic hamper. There were pies, prawns, a quiche, some salad, mini tomatoes, olives, grapes and a cheese selection as well as some gorgeous-looking fresh bread. There was enough there to feed a family of eight, never mind just the two of them.

‘Blimey, you’ve gone to town. It looks great.’

He passed her a china plate, no less, and she began helping herself.

‘As I said, thank the deli, not me.’ He smiled.

‘I don’t mind at all. I didn’t imagine you were busy baking quiches and pies this morning, whilst popping across to the building site. And I don’t think I’d have had the energy to cook tonight.’

‘I do make a mean cheese on toast, I’ll have you know. You add a dash of Worcester sauce. Delicious.’ He did a happy chef gesture with a finger-flick from his lips.

They ate leisurely as the evening sun began to slip away behind them. Being the north-east coast, it set over the inland hills, but the colours of dusk brushed the whole sky. The seaward sky was deepening with shades of pink and coral. As the sun began to disappear, it got a little chillier, and a shiver went through Emma. Max shifted closer to her on the picnic rug, placing an arm around her shoulders. It felt so very natural there. ‘Better?’

‘Yes, better. Thanks.’

She gave Alfie a crust from the pork pie and he gobbled it down and then sat patiently, his dark brown eyes intent on them, watching and hoping for more gourmet delights to come his way.

Emma mentioned how close she was to her brother and his family, and all about Chloe making the beautiful cushions for her and the special bunting. Max was an only child. He said he got on well with his parents generally, but sounded as though he’d have liked siblings.

‘No family of your own?’ She put the question out there. Knowing that he was forty, there was every chance that he’d already had a family, that he might have been divorced before Siobhan, though she’d have hoped he might have mentioned it by now.

‘No. No children. Of course you know that I had a serious girlfriend for a while. But that was never destined to work out. You? No children?’

It was hard to even think of Luke and the fact that they hadn’t had any children together, but maybe it was time to reveal a little of her shattered heart and past. She hesitated, looking out across the darkening sea.