Page 66 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Ah … I umm …’

‘If you must know, the sale is to do with my prick of a landlord, not anything to do with the quality of my chocolate or the way I look after my customers.’

‘I’m sorry. I just assumed …’

‘Well, don’t. My old nanna used to say “To Assume makes an ASS OUT OF YOU AND ME” and I’ll not have it.’ Em darted a warning finger at the kiosk owner. ‘I have a business to run, the same as you. All I ask is a bit of support and fair play. And so do my friends here in Warkton, so I’d tread very carefully from now on if I were you.’

A small group of tourists had gathered to listen in. Emma turned around, having said her bit, and spotted them. Also, though Emma couldn’t see from here, Sheila was hanging out of her shop door halfway up the street, trying to make out what was going on.

‘Okay folks, show’s over,’ Emma called across to the harbourside gathering. ‘Anyone fancying coffee and cake, or some lovely chocolate truffles, feel free to pop up to The Chocolate Shop up the road.’

She left Anne in shock, standing behind her kiosk counter and rather red-faced, but thoroughly deserving to be.

‘Hey, you okay? How did that go?’ Chloe asked kindly as Emma got back.

‘Oh, fine. I don’t think we’ll get any more talk. Blimey, I feel shattered though.’ Em didn’t enjoy confrontation – but needs must at times. The emotional impact was exhausting, though. James came over to give her a brotherly hug and Lucy rushed up to say, ‘I hope you gave the nasty lady a good telling off.’

‘I did.’

Four of the people from the harbour had followed her back and came into the shop.

‘We couldn’t help but overhear. We haven’t been in before, but we thought we’d give you a try.’

‘Thank you. I appreciate that.’ Emma found herself feeling a little teary.

Chloe spotted it. ‘Look, I’ll serve these people and you take five minutes out the back if you like.’

‘Thank you, Chloe.’

‘No worries. Come on girls, you can help me,’ added Chloe with a smile.

‘Yay. Yippee!’ Olivia even took Emma’s little notepad with her across to the window table where the group had settled in, ready to write the order down. The girls often played ‘chocolate shops’ back at home. This time they were getting to do it for real.

Emma gathered herself in the back kitchen and popped the kettle on, ready for the likely drinks order as well as her own cup of tea.

‘All right, sis?’ James came through.

‘Yes, thanks for your help with this. Well, I think that’s nipped it well and truly in the bud! Blimey, Sheila was right all along. She grabbed me on the way back up the hill, by the way, wanted to know all that had happened. And I’d thought it was just her gossiping again.’

‘Don’t blame yourself for thinking the best of people, Em. That’s no bad trait.’

‘No, I suppose not. But it was really starting to damage my business. There’s so much on at the moment with it being for sale and everything, it’s just so hard. I feel like I’m paddling like mad but going around in circles.’

‘You’ll find a way through I’m sure, Em. And we’re here to help.’

‘Thanks, I know that. And your support, as always, is brilliant.’

With that two little helpers appeared. ‘So, Auntie Em, we need two chocolate muffins, a fudge cake and some chocolate-dipped strawberries,’ announced Lucy. The writing on the chitty recording the drinks said, ‘Tee for 2’, ‘Kofy’, and ‘joos’, which made Emma smile, they were still so young. She’d let Chloe work on their spelling with them later! ‘That’s excellent work girls, thank you.’

She didn’t know where she’d be without her family. When the chips were down, they lifted her back up.

The next day a very apologetic Anne walked into Emma’s shop with a huge bouquet of flowers.

‘I am so sorry, Emma. I feel dreadful about all the upset I’ve caused.’

‘Oh!’ was all a surprised Em could manage at first.

‘Please accept these as an apology. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst about your shop, and I shouldn’t have got carried away telling everyone. It was none of my business.’ The woman looked genuinely dismayed.