Page 56 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘You okay, Em? Want to walk back with us?’ Holly asked.

‘Nah, I’ll be fine. It’s been such a nice evening that I’m not quite ready for home.’ Emma felt pleasantly buzzed from the lager, and she’d also had a glass or two of rosé. It was one of those evenings that you didn’t want to end. She could just sit and listen all night to the rush of the sea to shore in the cosy shelter of the dark. The beach had always been her special place.

‘Bye, then. Take care.’ Holly looked slightly concerned.

‘It’s okay. I’ll walk her back. See she’s all right,’ Nate offered.

‘Thanks,’ Adam said. ‘Night then.’

‘Bye-e.’ Emma was smiling, happy and mellow in her little beach BBQ world.

Holly and Adam left, arm in arm.

Just Emma and Nate there now …

Nate was sitting watching Emma, strumming away on his guitar. She recognised the lyrics of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Photograph’ – about keeping a photo in your jeans pocket. Memories of someone you love. She was sure they were both thinking of Luke then. She smiled across at Nate. God, he looked sooo like Luke, it was uncanny. She wondered how it must feel for him looking in the mirror every day: it must be as though Luke’s shadow was there with him.

She felt a shiver run through her.

‘You okay?’ Nate stopped singing, his tone was gentle, concerned.

‘Yeah.’

‘Here …’ He put his guitar down and moved across to sit beside her on the rug, wrapping his hoodie around her shoulders. She could feel the warmth from his body.

They were quiet for a few moments.

‘It’s been a pretty shitty week for you with the shop and everything.’

‘Yep.’ She didn’t want to talk about that just now.

‘I’m sure something will work out Em, with The Chocolate Shop.’

She shrugged her shoulders, couldn’t see how at all. But still, she said, ‘Maybe.’ She didn’t seem capable of forming full sentences just now. Like her fragility might just break free if she voiced it.

She felt Nate’s arm wrap around her, his hand resting on her far shoulder. It felt natural, comforting. She let it stay there, feeling tired, a little woozy, in fact. They sat like that for a while, neither saying much. Looking at a sky full of stars, suspended over a black, inky sea, she felt her eyelids relax, the slow whirr of alcohol through her veins …

‘Come on, I’ll walk you back. It’s getting late – and cold.’ Nate’s words made her eyes ping back open. She wasn’t sure if she had dozed, or for how long. Had her head been resting on his shoulder?

‘Oh … yeah, that’d be good. Thanks, it’s been a nice night.’

He looked at her intently for a few seconds with those eyes just like Luke’s. ‘It has, hasn’t it.’

They made their way back up from the beach, along the track in the dunes to the car park, where Nate’s camper van was parked up for the night. There was no way he was driving anywhere after the many bottles of lager he’d had.

Em realised she wasn’t walking that well, kept veering to the right. Nate steadied her. She felt a bit light-headed now. She giggled.

‘You all right?’ Nate asked.

‘Oooh, just give me a second.’ She paused, taking a gulp of air. She looked up and the sky suddenly took a little spin. Oh no, don’t look up too long … made the legs wobblier. Be nice if she didn’t have legs to get in the way right now. Then she could fly and soar and be free.

Nate had his arm firmly around her, steadying her along as they walked. That was better. No wobbles at all.

‘It’s bee-en such a lovely night.’

‘Good. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself. Time you got a bit of a chill-out for yourself.’

‘Y-y-ee-ss.’