Page 86 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

Holly had told her that several care homes in the area were bringing their residents, including the ‘Golden Oldies’ pensioners group from Seahouses, for tea, cake and company. They’d decided on a Sunday for this event to try and get some more of the local community to attend and hopefully raise a bit more money.

Emma was nearly set up. She had covered a trestle table with a festive holly-patterned tablecloth borrowed from Adam’s gran and had set out a couple of wooden table-top stands, made for her by the lovely Ron, to display everything nicely. She also had a mini Christmas tree, with miniature baubles and fairy lights for full festive effect.

After two trips to and fro from Max’s jeep, her chocolate stand was ready – looking seriously pretty, with festive gold and red bows and curled ribbon adorning the carefully prepared packs. She had chosen her traditional favourites for this event: whisky and brandy truffles, berry-fruit centres, melt-in-the mouth caramels, mints, and her Christmas pudding truffles made with chopped raisins and a splash of sherry. She had made up gift boxes of chocolates and packs of fudge, both plain and choc-dipped, as well as bags of shortbread.

There was going to be a raffle drawn later, and she had donated a box of chocolate goodies for that. She had also heard some more details on the planned auction, which was to be an auction of favours – things like handyman help, gardening, car-washing, and the like, which would be really helpful for the elderly and a great idea.

Emma was hoping it would prove to be a good event, for both the community and the shop’s finances, which were better at the moment, but she still needed to make enough to cover the slow months of January and February, when there was still the rent to pay and other expenses. She had a few flutters in her stomach, hoping it would go well.

After a slow start, several people started drifting in; Emma recognised some local families, and a few people she knew. At 2.00 p.m. a couple of minibuses arrived from the old people’s home in the next village. Her chocolates were selling steadily and she was pleased that it had been worth the time and energy in setting it all up. One of the organisers called at her stall, saying they were still looking for ‘lots’ for the auction and explained a bit more about what they were hoping for. It seemed to be an offer of time and a helping hand for the elderly more than anything, so Max, bless him, said he’d be happy to offer a couple of hours, mentioning that his background was the building trade and that he could turn his hand to most DIY jobs. The organiser seemed most grateful and added his name to the list.

At 3.00 p.m, the auction was announced. There were tables and chairs set out through the centre of the room for people to sit and have their tea and biscuits or cake, and two old ladies that Adam’s gran knew had settled at the table closest to Emma and seemed to be eagerly awaiting the auction. Max smiled across and said hello to them.

He was also recruited by the lady serving the teas and coffees to walk around and offer top-ups from a huge metal teapot. Emma smiled, watching him; he quite looked the part, chatting easily to the elderly as he went. Even the ladies beside Emma’s stall nodded in approval. She heard one of them saying, ‘What a nice young man,’ as he left their table.

The other lady responded rather loudly, ‘Well, he is a fine figure of a man.’

‘Hmm, we haven’t seen anything like that in here for years, Dorothy.’

Emma watched in amusement as the two ladies scanned the room, taking in the decidedly aged, white-haired, and rather wrinkly assembly of other gentlemen in the hall.

‘Ever.’ There was a mischievous twinkle in Dorothy’s eyes now. ‘My, I could have two hours of his time any day of the week.’

‘What’s he up for auction for, anyhow?’

‘Two hours of his time, like I said.’

‘Yes, but what for?’

‘Anything you like, I suppose.’

Shirley, Adam’s gran, chipped in helpfully as she sat down beside them ready for the auction to start, ‘He was thinking DIY, building jobs.’

‘That’s not what I was thinking, Thelma.’ Dorothy winked at her friend.

Emma couldn’t help but listen in.

‘Hey, what do you think about bidding? We could club together, Dot. We might raise more that way.’

Dorothy gave a wicked grin. ‘There’s a lot I’d like to raise! Just imagine, Thelma, two whole hours with him indeed. We could have a leg each and share the middle.’ She cackled with laughter at that point.

‘I could put my winter fuel allowance towards the bid.’ Thelma was giggling now. ‘He’d certainly warm things up at home, anyhow.’

Emma found herself blushing, surprised by the turn in the old ladies’ conversation, but then she began laughing uncontrollably as Max turned up with a confused frown asking what was going on, totally unaware of the chatter.

‘If only …’ sighed Dorothy, taking a good look at him. ‘If I was twenty years younger, well—’

‘Twenty? More like forty, don’t kid yourself, Dot,’ Thelma added with a cheeky grin.

‘Now behave, you two,’ Adam’s gran chided, a smile on her face, as the start of the auction was announced.

There were bids for a delivery of logs, a voucher from the butcher’s in the next village, a gardener donating three hours of work, a holiday cottage for a weekend break, a few other lots, and finally Max’s two hours of DIY time.

Thelma and Dorothy were whispering frantically as the bidding started. They clubbed together, were outbid for a second by another lady, and then upped their offer and won him for a total of £20, and then dissolved into a fit of hysterics. Emma wondered if she ought to warn him, but Adam’s gran had realised that she’d been listening in and said he’d be fine, it was all bark no bite; the ladies were neighbours in the old people’s bungalows in the next village and were hoping to have an hour each to fix up the odd picture, sand off a door that was sticking, and do a bit of general handyman work – best not to concern him with their capers. Looking at their smiling faces, it had made their day, and probably their week. Max stood up to a small round of applause from the audience and a wink from Adam’s gran.

After the raffle, the event was drawn to a close. There were a few last orders from her stall, and it was time to pack up and get back to the shop to see how Bev and Holly had got on.

Thelma and Dorothy came up just before they left, to thank Max and say how very much they looked forward to seeing him again soon. Emma had to duck down at that point, in the pretence of packing up a cardboard box ready to load the car, dissolving into laughter, whilst he made polite conversation with the elderly, sweet-looking pair.