Page 80 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘We’re all going to miss you too,’ Emma replied.

Adam’s smile seemed to drop away at her words.

‘Well, come on, let’s celebrate!’ Em lifted the tone. ‘What are you having, Hols?’

‘I’ll get these,’ Adam interjected. ‘It must be prosecco time, hey Hols? I’ll get a bottle in.’

‘Oh yes. Definitely time for bubbles. Thank you so much,’ Holly said, grinning away.

And the celebrations began.

Later on, when the joyous hubbub had died down and Emma was putting her jacket on ready to go, a slightly tipsy Holly caught up with her at the bar. ‘Hey Em, I’ll come back and see you all the time. And if you’re ever busy, I’ll still come in and help. Like in the Christmas holidays.’

‘Of course. You’ll always be welcome, Holly. To help, or to just sit and chat over a hot chocolate telling me all about your student adventures.’

‘Eeh, I’m nervous now.’ Holly suddenly looked serious. ‘It’ll be a bit of a change from chocolates to babies.’

‘It will indeed, but you’ll be fine. Change is always a bit scary. But you go chase your dreams and give it your best shot. It’ll work out great for you, I’m sure.’

‘It’ll be hard leaving the village,’ her young assistant admitted, biting her lip.

‘At first, yes. But you’ll soon find your feet.’ Emma tried to keep the conversation positive, knowing she might well have to do the same thing herself soon, start afresh away from the village if there was no shop left for her, but she didn’t let herself dwell on that. ‘And, we’ll still all be here when you come back. Students are always on holiday, as far as I can recall.’

‘Hah, yes.’ Holly rallied.

Emma saw that Adam was occupied, chatting away with some mates at the far end of the bar. ‘So how are things with you and Adam? Did you manage to talk yet?’

‘Yeah. I think we’ll be okay. I told him I’ll come home for weekends whenever I can. It’s only an hour away, it’s not like I’m going to Timbuktu.’

‘Well, I’m sure it will all work out fine for you two. Just keep talking. Keep communicating.’

‘We will.’ A sunny smile broke out across Holly’s face. ‘Thanks, Em.’

‘And hey, you’ve done brilliantly! Well done again, Holly.’

They ended the evening with a big hug.

There was another viewing of The Chocolate Shop booked for the mid-week before the Warkton Food Festival weekend. As the appointment time loomed that Wednesday, Emma felt a sense of trepidation … and inevitability. All it needed was that one person who felt the shop was just right for them and it would all be taken from her.

Five minutes before the due time, two lads who looked in their late twenties appeared in the shop. The taller of the two, with dark slightly scruffy hair, came up to the counter. ‘Hi, we’re here to view the shop and the flat above. I’m Ben, by the way, and this is my work partner, Tom.’ Ben offered his hand to shake. Tom followed suit.

‘Okay, hi. I’m Emma. Nice to meet you both.’ She couldn’t help but warm to their friendly manner, despite the circumstances. ‘Shall we start with the shop area, then, seeing as we are already here?’

‘Yep.’

‘Great.’

‘Holly, if you can just keep an eye on the café for me for a while, that’d be great.’

‘No problem, Em.’ Holly smiled at the three of them. Her curiosity was evidently piqued. Why were two youngish guys interested in the shop?

‘So,’ Emma started, ‘this is the main café and shop area. Obviously, it’s running as a chocolate shop here now. So … what are your plans for the property?’

‘Well, we have a micro-brewery over at Rothbury. The Bear’s Cave.’

‘Ah, yes. I’ve heard of that. My parents live that way.’

‘Well, we’re looking to expand and somewhere on the coast would be ideal.’