Page 71 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Thank you.’

‘Then you can tell me all about the buyers’ visit and how you spat in their hot chocolates.’

Emma had to laugh – either that or she might end up in tears.

‘Okay.’

36

Emma had been to see Mrs Clark that morning, taking a large bag of chocolate brazils to keep her going, as well as some grapes and strawberries. She found the old lady on a side ward of four patients, propped up on white pillows in the hospital bed.

‘Hello, Mrs Clark. How are you feeling today? How did the operation go?’

‘Oh, Emma, pet. Hello. Yes, the nurse said it seems to have gone fine. Bloody uncomfortable now, though, and I’m a bit afraid to move …’

‘No wonder. You’ve been through a lot.’

‘Thank you so much for everything yesterday. I really don’t know how I’d have managed if you hadn’t turned up.’

‘Ah, you’re welcome. We just need to get you right now, don’t we?’

‘Bugger of a thing, this. I can’t even get to the bathroom by myself yet.’ She pointed at some crutches beside the bed. ‘Got to work these things out. The nurses are helping me just now. Mind you, can’t complain otherwise, the staff here are lovely, if overworked. Dashing around like bees all the time.’

‘I’m sure they have plenty to keep them busy. Oh, I heard from Sheila this morning,’ Emma said. ‘She sends her love and is starting a rota for visits, as everyone’s been asking after you in the village.’

‘Aw, well that’s kind of everyone. Mind, if Sheila calls in, she’ll be talking me to sleep or driving me to distraction, one of the two. Never stops, that woman.’

Emma had to smile. ‘I think her heart’s in the right place.’

‘Well yes,’ Mrs C conceded. ‘They say I’ll be in a few days,’ she continued, ‘but then they’re looking at getting me a respite place in a nursing home, just while the hip’s healing … Had to tell them all about the stairs, and that I’ve no family to speak of. Have a cousin or two but we’re not close and I haven’t seen them for years, so I don’t think they’ll be wanting to take me to the loo or cook my supper back home.’ She chuckled.

They chatted for a while, Mrs C asking about the shop, and how things were going for her. Emma didn’t mention the impending sale viewing, not wanting to cast a sense of gloom.

‘And how’s your young man? Max … that’s it, isn’t it? He’s very handsome I must say. If I were half my age, well …’

Emma felt herself blush.

‘He’s fine. I’m seeing him later, actually.’ She was really looking forward to it. And she didn’t have to wait until the weekend now.

‘Good for you. You work too hard as it is. A little distraction now and then does no harm at all.’ With that, the old lady winked, making Emma blush even more. ‘He seems a real nice lad, Emma. I can tell he wants to look after you. Look at all he did last year, helping with the shop conversion, making those window seats for you. My favourite place to sit, that is.’

‘Yes.’ Max had been a great help last autumn, in the early days of their relationship, when he had helped add the café area to the shop.

‘It’s not what they say, it’s what they do, tells you what they’re really like. That’s what my old mam used to say. Ah, there’s some right charmers out there, but they never last the course.’

‘I know.’ Em felt a prickle of guilt about Nate, then. But that was just a blip, she reminded herself. Never to happen again.

‘Ah yes, he’s a keeper, Max.’ The old lady’s eyes were twinkling.

‘I think he might well be.’ Emma smiled back.

Emma arrived back at The Chocolate Shop just after twelve-thirty, ready to help with the lunchtime shift. Bev was doing a sterling job, but it was getting busy when Em arrived.

‘Are you okay to stay on a while, Bev?’ Em asked hopefully. ‘I’m sorry, I expect you’ll be wanting to look in on your mum too.’

‘Of course. I’ve swapped to the late-afternoon shift at the surgery. Don’t start until four. So I can do a few more hours here if that helps. And I can always drop by to see Mum as I pass.’

‘How’s she doing?’