Page 32 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

‘I know. Thank you. I think it was Holly who let it slip after the landlord called to chase the rent. Once the village grapevine got hold of it, well, they had me closing down within the week.’

‘Well, it sounds like you might be in need of some time out. It’s been such a glorious day, and looks like it’s going to stay a nice evening, so I was actually calling to see if you’d like to come round for drinks in the garden here?’

‘Tonight?’

‘Yes, I’ll see if Joanne and Ali can make it too, if you’d like.’

Ali was a friend of Bev’s who lived in the next village; she also worked as a receptionist at the doctors’ surgery, and was always good company.

Well, it might beat her evening date with Alfie, the television, and pondering her financial woes. She hadn’t realised quite how lovely the weather had been as the shop front was shaded – ideal for chocolates, to be fair – with the sun hitting the courtyard at the back of the cottage of an afternoon.

‘Pete’s been out all day golfing,’ Bev added. ‘There’s some kind of dinner event afterwards too, so I doubt if I’ll see him back until past ten o’clock. So drinks with the girls seemed ideal.’

‘It sounds lovely. And yes, do ask Jo and Ali, that’d be lovely. What time do you want me around? I’ll just have to shut the shop up, take Alfie out for his walk, and give him some tea.’

‘About six-thirty, so we can make the most of the sunshine. Bring a cardi or fleece as we’ll try and stay outside. Pete brought home one of those chiminea things yesterday. We’ll set it up and give it a blast. Beat the Northumberland chill that’ll no doubt creep in later on.’

‘Great.’

‘I was thinking of making up a jug of Pimm’s and lemonade, to celebrate the start of summer. Maybe followed by a glass or two of Prosecco.’

‘Sounds delightful. Can I bring along anything to help?’

‘Now you’re asking … A scrummy box of your chocolates might be nice. Do you still do those Eton Mess ones? You know, the ones with strawberries, cream, and meringue? I think they’d go lovely with the Pimm’s.’ Em could hear the cheesy smile in her friend’s voice.

‘Yep, I do indeed. Made a batch of those yesterday morning, in fact, so I’ll bring some of those and a selection of other favourites.’ She’d also just made some dark choc ganaches with a hint of lavender, which were surprisingly good. She loved testing out new flavours with seasonal twists and she was now on to the tastes of summer.

‘Of course.’

Hmm, Emma mused, a Pimm’s truffle might work really well – milk choc with a touch of Pimm’s liqueur and tiny freeze-dried strawberry and orange pieces on the top … Emma’s brain was in creative mode.

Just after the school bus drop-off time Holly popped her head around the shop door. ‘Hi, Em.’

‘Hel-lo Holly,’ Emma’s tone couldn’t hide her disappointment: she was still so annoyed at the dreadful news of her precious shop closing spreading like wildfire through the village.

‘Everything okay?’ Holly asked cautiously as she came in. The shop was empty other than the two of them.

‘No, not really.’

Holly’s eyes widened.

‘Word has got out that The Chocolate Shop is about to close. Can’t think where that could have come from, can you?’

‘Oh! But I only told my friend Freya.’

‘And Freya is the daughter of Sheila, who owns the village grocer’s. The best place for gossip in the world.’

‘Oh …’ Holly looked dejected.

‘Rumours have now spread and built, Holly. Mine and the shop’s reputation are in tatters. And the village is expecting me to close at any time. There are suppliers who’ll possibly be hearing about this and I don’t want them to think I’m going under. And my orders … The new business at the hotel, for instance, has probably got wind already and they’ll be expecting me to let them down soon.’

‘Emma, I’m so, so, sorry. I never said you were going to close. I was just telling Freya the funny story about you hiding under the counter and I may just have added about Eel Man chasing the rent.’ Holly would never have realised what was about to happen next. But so much damage could be done by such rumours. ‘How did you find out?’

‘Mrs Clark’s been in, saying how sorry she was we were closing.’

‘Oh, no. Emma, let me put this right. I’ll go right away to Freya and her mum and tell them the truth of it, and the village. I can knock on a few doors and put the record straight. I know who the main gossipmongers are. But don’t worry, Em, I’m sure they’ll all want to support you anyhow. None of them would want to see you or the shop go. You and The Chocolate Shop, you’re a part of Warkton now.’

‘Thank you.’ Emma felt a tear crowd her eye. She blinked it away. She couldn’t stay cross with her assistant for long. Holly was young and naïve and hadn’t been thinking. ‘Just be careful what you speak about in the future, especially when it involves other people’s lives,’ Emma warned.