Page 88 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

‘Thanks. You take care too. Love to you all.’

Emma felt so much for them, losing their son. How on earth would they feel if they knew she’d been seeing someone else? She’d been on cloud nine these past few days, enjoying the excitement of this passionate new relationship with Max and now it suddenly felt all wrong. Disloyal.

39

It was bloody freezing. Her finger joints were aching with the cold. At least she’d thought to put a thermal vest on and several layers of clothing under her puffy coat, but her legs were chilled through her jeans. She’d have to invest in long johns if she took on any more winter markets, and she hadn’t brought gloves other than the thin latex ones she used for hygiene reasons. Mistake. She could now hardly move her fingers, so it was really hard to handle the chocolates. She rubbed her hands together in a feeble attempt to bring them back to life, sighing out a puff of white, lukewarm mist.

Emma was at her first-ever Christmas market as a stallholder in the historic town of Alnwick, a twenty-minute drive from Warkton-by-the-Sea. A host of white, tarpaulin-covered stalls were set out on the stone cobbles of the market square, and after spending a half-hour shipping goods to and from her car she felt proud of her very festive-looking Christmas Chocolate Shop, set out carefully with shelves of chocolate reindeer, snowmen, Santas, boxes and bags galore of fudge, truffles, and chocolate bars, all prettily wrapped in golds and silvers with green, gold and red bows and coloured ribbons. She’d strung up a set of twinkling fairy lights behind her and brought some festive decorations too, including a small tinsel Christmas tree which she had strung with chocolate stars and edible baubles.

Now all she needed was some customers. The market opened at noon and it was now nearly 1.00 p.m. and she had only seen a half a dozen people and sold one bag of fudge. So, as well as freezing her butt and fingers off, she hadn’t made any money yet, though as the event wasn’t closing until eight, she’d try and stay positive. Right, she was going to head across to the Coffee Cabin place opposite to get herself a hot drink and try and thaw out a bit.

She ordered a cup of coffee from the blonde-haired, rather buxom, fifty-something lady there.

‘Bit slow,’ Emma commented to the lady who had half-turned to start working the coffee machine.

‘Yeah. It’ll get going, don’t worry. Your first year here?’ She must have spotted Emma on her stall, and realised she was a newbie.

‘Yep. First market ever, in fact. I have a chocolate shop over at Warkton-by-the-Sea. Thought I’d see how a Christmas market might go.’

‘Ah well, this one’s always a bit slow to start, then it begins to fill. By evening it’s usually bustling, when folk finish work, school, and that. Gets a nice atmosphere after dark with all the Christmas lights and everything. That’s why I think people like coming out later.’

‘Oh okay. Well, good to know it should perk up.’

‘Yes, it will. This is my sixth year.’

‘Right. So, it must be worth coming back to, then.’

The woman was busy frothing up some milk to pour in to the rich-smelling coffee. Emma couldn’t wait to get her hands round the warm cup.

‘Definitely. Your stall looks great by the way, really pretty. Do you make all the chocolates yourself?’

‘I do indeed. I usually sell them at my shop, The Chocolate Shop by the Sea.’

‘Ah, so that’s you. I saw something in the local paper the other day, I think. Have you just opened a café or something?’

‘Yes, that’s me.’

‘Going well?’

‘Yeah – pretty good. Early days yet and all that. But it’s keeping me busy. Got some help in there today.’ Holly was there, with Bev as second in command. They’d assured Emma they’d be fine and she hoped they’d seen a few more people than she had so far today.

The woman handed the coffee over with a smile, and Emma paid.

‘I might have to pop across and get something from your stall later. Love a bit of chocolate. Going to be drooling here, looking across at it all day.’

Emma laughed. ‘Well, I do have brownies and shortbread as well as the chocolates if anyone is looking for something to go with their coffee.’ It didn’t look like the Coffee Cabin had food, just drinks, for sale. She’d go back over and put them somewhere more prominent, she mused. They might sell well with having the hot drink stall opposite – fingers crossed.

‘I’ll mention it to my customers.’

‘Thank you.’

As soon as Emma got back to her stall she rearranged her wares, and then headed back over to the Coffee Cabin with a dark chocolate brownie and two choc-chip shortbreads for her newfound friend. ‘A little taster for you,’ she offered.

‘Aw, thanks. They look great. And if you fancy another drink later, it’ll be on the house.’

‘Thanks.’

‘You’ve got a customer,’ the woman said cheerily, gesturing towards Emma’s pitch.