Page 79 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Okay, so maybe there’s nothing going on now with you and Nate, and maybe in some mixed-up way you were missing Luke, but that still doesn’t mean things are right for us.’ He paused before starting again, ‘Maybe I’ll never match up to Luke or be enough for you, Em. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I want you to forget Luke, it’s not that at all. That wouldn’t be fair. He was a huge part of your life. I didn’t mind you talking about him to me, that you kept his picture. That was okay. I understood that. But what I do need is for you to love me for me.’

‘Oh Max …’ How could she show him she did?

‘This isn’t right, Em. Not for the long term. The big stuff. Even though I’d hoped it might be.’ He sounded so sad, hurt.

And his words struck a chord. Was she really over Luke, would she ever be? Did she love Max enough to give him her heart – all of it? She so wanted to make Max happy, but could she really? Would she just keep on hurting him?

Em stayed quiet for a few seconds. A few seconds too long.

‘So please, don’t call back Em. It’s best we make a clean break of this.’

Best for who? Em’s voice was crying out silently in her head. She felt crushed. Yet she had to respect his words, his feelings. She was the one who had messed up.

Was this it? No second chances?

‘Take care, Em.’ His words sounded so final.

‘You too,’ was all she could whisper, as her heart began to shatter all over again.

Life rolled on as it has a habit of doing. The sun still rose, the birds still sang, there were customers to serve and chocolates to make. But for Emma everything felt a struggle, like she’d lost her way.

When she had another property viewing, she led them around, showed them her life, her home, her business, somehow resigned to her fate. She knew it wouldn’t be long before the right person came along, the one who wanted to make their future there in The Chocolate Shop, who’d move in and make a business out of it. This chap was on his own, looking to live upstairs and make an art gallery to showcase his and other local artists’ work. He seemed pleasant enough and it sounded like it could work and be a positive thing for the village. It wasn’t his fault the bloody shop was up for sale. Emma stayed coolly polite, answering his questions, whilst ripping off a few more shards of her heart.

Still, a few days later, there had been no telephone call or letter from the landlord to serve her notice and a week on, Emma heard from Sheila, as she was buying her milk and bread, that the chap had decided to go for a property in the next village – it suited him better as there was more space for a studio in an outdoor barn apparently. That woman seemed to find out everything, being the hub of local news and gossip. Oh well, Emma could breathe a sigh of relief with regards to the shop – for a short while at least.

So, she’d been given a reprieve. But her world still felt precarious. She’d left Max alone as asked, but he kept popping up in her thoughts all the time. Was he feeling as miserable as she was, she couldn’t help wondering, or was he moving on?

41

A-level results day dawned, bright and sunny. By late morning, having heard no news, Emma was feeling slightly nervous for Holly, knowing her assistant’s hopes and dreams rested so much on this.

Holly had told her she was heading off to the Sixth Form College that morning, along with her best friend Jess, to open the crucial white envelope. Emma wondered about texting her – she’d already sent a ‘best of luck’ message first thing – but she didn’t want to pressure any further in case the results weren’t quite what Holly had hoped for. She just hoped that it was lovely news and she was busy celebrating with her family and friends just now.

Emma was serving in the courtyard after lunchtime when a text finally came through from Holly. ‘Can you meet up after work at The Fisherman’s for my news?’

It seemed rather cryptic and sounded somewhat downbeat. Emma hoped to goodness the invitation wasn’t to help drown her assistant’s sorrows.

‘Yes of course. Hope it’s good news for you. x’ she messaged back.

‘I’d rather tell you in person. x’ came the answer.

So, it seemed she’d just have to wait to find out.

Emma set off after closing the shop. Adam had just finished work too and was already there at the bar with a couple of their friends from the village, but no one seemed to know how Holly had got on – or at least they weren’t letting on that they did.

Just as Emma was ordering a half-cider for herself from Danny, the door of the bar swung open and there was Holly, looking rather dejected.

On no, bless her. Emma was already formulating her consolation talk about re-taking the exams and not giving up just yet and that sometimes your dreams just took a little longer to realise, when Holly’s face switched to a huge beam. ‘I did it! I got the grades I need. I’m in!’

A cheer went up throughout the pub. Shouts of ‘Ah brilliant’, ‘Congratulations, Holly’, and ‘Fab – let’s get the prosecco in!’ rang out.

Emma looked around at all the happy faces at the bar. Yet, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adam sigh and his brow crease, before he forced a smile and walked across to Holly to wrap her up in a big hug. ‘Well done, Holly. That’s really great.’

‘Yeah, I’m so chuffed. I still can’t believe it. Whoop!’

Emma went across then and gave her an affectionate squeeze. ‘That’s just wonderful, Hols. I’m so proud of you.’

‘Thanks, Em. Aw, I’m going to miss you and The Chocolate Shop like crazy though.’