Page 18 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

‘We’re just fine, aren’t we, Alfie? Just fine.’

11

It was Friday afternoon, the first week in February, and Holly had called in after being dropped off by the school bus. It was becoming quite a habit on a Friday, even though she wasn’t officially working, and interestingly so were the visits of a certain blond-haired gentleman, who had a very nice smile.

The door of The Chocolate Shop chimed as it opened.

Emma and Holly both looked up.

‘Hi,’ said Emma. So, he was back.

The young man approached. ‘Hi, could I have the medium gift box with half coffee creams and half orange, please?’ the young man asked.

‘Certainly.’ Emma was already positioned behind the counter.

‘So, who’s the lucky lady, then?’ Emma asked with a smile. ‘This is becoming quite a regular visit.’ She could feel the heat rising from Holly who stood beside her, and was now shooting her boss a warning glance.

‘For someone special?’ Emma persevered.

‘Yeah, you could say that.’ The young man flashed his trademark grin.

So, there was a ‘she’ involved. Emma could almost sense Holly’s shoulders sink. Her assistant stayed silent.

‘Yes, I’ve just finished work,’ he continued. ‘I started at the Seaview Hotel, just up the street, about a month ago. Trainee assistant manager.’ He seemed proud of his new position. It was nice to see the young ones getting on.

‘Well done. That must be an interesting job.’

‘Yeah, I’m just finding my feet. It’s going okay so far, though.’ He darted a shy glance across at Holly.

Emma hoped Holly might join in the conversation here, but her assistant seemed to have lost the ability to speak. Emma placed the chocolates in their tiny petit four wrappers in a gold box and began tying it with a purple satin ribbon. ‘This colour ribbon okay?’

‘Yes, that looks great.’

‘Well, that’s five pounds and twenty pence, please. Is that everything we can help you with today?’

‘Yes, that’s it, thanks.’

He paid the money, took the gift box, and turned to go. Holly just managed to find her voice at the last, with a shy ‘Bye’ and he turned to say ‘Goodbye’ back. Emma was sure there was some frisson in the air. The chocolates would be melting at this rate! After he was safely away down the street, Em announced, ‘Well, if he doesn’t fancy you, Holly, I’ll eat my hat.’

‘Nah, don’t be daft. He can’t do. Who’s he buying chocolates for? He said it was a she – the lucky thing.’ She pouted. ‘Aw, but he just seems so nice. Why do I always like the ones who are taken or just not interested?’ Holly sighed, and then picked up a duster and started flicking away at the shelves, even though she wasn’t officially working, obviously needing to keep busy.

Young love, hey? All that angst.

Emma thought back to her own recent dating disaster. There certainly hadn’t been any chemistry or frisson with Fondle Fingers the Malteser Man, just the bloody angst. Her thoughts jumped to the man on the beach at Boxing Day, all those weeks ago now. She couldn’t quite shake off the memory of him and felt a tug in the pit of her stomach, like she missed him, yet she didn’t really even know him. She wondered if he ever thought of her, too.

A figure dressed in a black raincoat was hunched outside the shop window under an umbrella. It had been a drizzly damp afternoon and it seemed to have been dark for hours out there, so Emma was glad that Holly had dropped by – the weather today had kept all bar the hardiest of ramblers at bay. A couple in matching red cagoules had called earlier admitting they’d been hoping for a café, but had settled for a bar of milk chocolate for their coastal walk, and that was the last customers she’d seen until the young man Holly fancied.

Holly went out to the kitchen to make them a cup of tea and the dark-clad figure moved to the doorway. Once his umbrella was let down, Emma had a sinking moment of recognition. It was Mr Neil, her landlord.

He strolled in, dripping rain on to her wooden floorboards.

‘Good afternoon, Emma.’ The greeting came out in a flat tone. ‘How’s business?’ He looked around at the empty shop.

‘Afternoon.’ She took a slow breath. ‘Good, thanks.’ She smiled. She was never going to tell him otherwise.

‘I was just calling to check you have received my letter.’

‘Yes.’