Page 37 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

Emma clambered up into the back of the van, and there was a wooden pub-style picnic bench, which would soon perk up with a lick of varnish.

‘Best thing was, that one was free,’ James added. ‘There was a pub closing down near Mum and Dad’s. I was driving by a couple of days ago and saw it out the front, thought I’d be a bit cheeky and knock and ask if I could get it for a tenner or something. The guy there said to just take it. They were having trouble selling the place and he’d thought it might end up sitting outside for months, rotting away.’

‘This is just great, guys. Thank you. So, what do I owe you for the wrought-iron set? I know that wouldn’t have come cheap.’

‘Actually, we’d like you to accept it as a gift for the launch of the courtyard café,’ Chloe said proudly.

‘You sure? You’ve already been brilliant finding it for me, and the delivery service too, of course.’

‘No arguments,’ James stated. ‘We want you to have it.’

‘Aw, that’s so lovely.’ Emma was touched by their kindness.

‘There’s one condition, though,’ James added, looking serious. ‘We get to call in for free milkshakes and chocolate cookies one day with the girls!’

‘Of course, you daft things,’ Emma said. ‘You can call in for a whole month of free milkshakes and cookies as far as I’m concerned! Thanks so much, guys. I don’t know quite where I’d be without your wonderful support.’ And she meant both now and over the past eight years.

She helped unload the outdoor furniture, setting it out in the courtyard. Yes, it had seen better days, but she couldn’t wait to give it a new lease of life. All it needed was a little TLC.

‘Right, well I’d better get myself off to work now, sis, and get this van back to the hire place.’

‘And I’ve got the supermarket shop to look forward to,’ added Chloe. ‘Oh, the joys.’

‘Thanks so much for this.’ Em had a tear in her eye as she stood at the courtyard gate and watched James and Chloe set off, waving out of the windows. Despite the uncertain future of the lease on the shop, it suddenly felt like Emma was starting a new adventure, that life was on the up. She just hoped Bev was going to be all right too. She still hadn’t heard from her but she’d hoped that no news was good news as far as Bev was concerned, not wanting to pester her last night in case a heart-to-heart was underway. But by this morning she wondered how the ‘talk’ had gone, or if, indeed, Bev and Pete had managed to have one. She sent a brief text, knowing Bev was at work at the surgery: All okay? xx.

Bev phoned her back mid-morning. ‘I’m on my break so I’ve only got a few minutes.’

‘Can you talk?’

‘Yep, should be okay for five mins.’

‘So, how did last night go? Did you manage to chat things over?’

‘Noo, after all that and me all hyped up ready, he didn’t get back until past eleven. I was shattered by then and had already been asleep in bed for nearly an hour. He’d also had a bit of wine, I could smell it on his breath, so it didn’t seem a good time.’

‘Ah, sorry Bev. I’d hoped you might have got to the bottom of it by now.’

‘Me too. Oh, well, maybe tonight. I did manage to get on to the hospital, though, and got an appointment for a scan for Mum tomorrow – someone had just cancelled. Oh, and before I forget – I’ve got another table set sorted for The Chocolate Shop. Jan, the nurse here, was chatting away about her fancy new dining set for her patio, that she’s picked up in the sale. I cheekily asked what she was doing with the old set. I knew it was half-decent as I’d been sitting at it a few weeks ago. She said she was getting rid of it, just waiting for her hubby to get around to going to the tip. Well, I stopped her in her tracks. I’ll see if Pete can collect it and drop it off for you this evening – if he’s around, that is. She doesn’t want anything for it.’

‘Amazing. You’re a star, Bev. Thank you.’ Bless, even with all her own worries her friend was still looking out for Emma.

Em could hear another phone ringing down the line. ‘Gotta go, Em,’ Bev said. ‘Catch you later.’

‘Okay. Love you and thanks. Keep me posted on everything too.’

‘Will do. Bye.’

The week flew by and suddenly it was Friday. Emma was looking forward to Max coming back up to stay the next day. He should be there by early evening, and she figured that if she set to work repainting Chloe’s wrought-iron table set straight after the shop closed today, and got up early tomorrow morning, with a little extra help from Max on Sunday, she might have the Courtyard Café area ready for opening on Monday morning. She’d even been to the local garden centre and bought five small metal buckets to act as quirky plant pots for each table – with a miniature rose, a lavender plant, a lemon verbena, a mint and a strawberry plant ready to pot up – echoing the scents and flavours of some of her summer chocolates. It would be busy (hopefully!) trying to cope with all the extra customers, but that also meant extra security for her and her shop. She wouldn’t have time to arrange a formal launch or anything before Monday, but maybe she and Max could share a cheeky bottle of prosecco and have some supper out there tomorrow night on his arrival, to mark the occasion. Yes, a glass of prosecco would definitely be deserved.

19

Emma was down on the beach early with Alfie, the sea air fresh in her face, blowing the cobwebs away.

She spotted a couple walking together further along the bay. They were hand in hand and looked happy, the girl leaning in towards the man who was a fair bit taller than her. They were evidently easy in each other’s company, chatting and laughing. It was lovely down there for a romantic stroll, especially at this time of day when it was nearly empty and the sun was rising in the sky, diffusing a pastel palette of pinks, yellows and greys.

It was then she spotted the dark-brown curls and realised the girl was Holly, her assistant. Wow, she was looking so grown-up nowadays, and yes of course, she was with Adam her boyfriend. They looked the perfect couple.

Alfie spotted them too and went bounding over.