Page 93 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

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‘So, let me get this straight,’ Bev was on her high horse down the phone line. ‘You’ve just landed a guy that looks like a cross between Gerard Butler and Tom Hardy. He has his own company, can do major DIY jobs, is obviously fit in more ways than one – you can’t deny it, I have seen him – and he seems a really nice chap. So, you’ve just gone and told him to take a hike. Are you nuts or what, woman?’

‘No. I’ve thought about it and it’s the right thing to do.’

‘Who for?’

Emma didn’t answer. So Bev started up again. ‘Ah, I get it. Was the sex crap?’

Em couldn’t help but smile. ‘No, it wasn’t crap. Actually, it was pretty damned good.’ It was indeed more than good, but she wasn’t going to admit that to Bev right now.

‘So what is the problem?’

‘It just wasn’t going to go anywhere.’

‘Well no, not if you didn’t give it a chance. Right, that’s it, we need wine and we need to talk. My place at seven. Pete is out at a local council meeting, organising the village Christmas lights.’

‘Okay. I’ll wrap up here in the shop, take Alfie out for a walk, and I’ll see you later.’ She knew there was no point arguing when Bev was in this frame of mind.

Emma was curled on a sofa in Bev’s front room with a glass of chilled rosé to hand. It was Monday, two days after the Christmas market, and she’d just put in a full day at The Chocolate Shop single-handedly, as Holly was at school and Bev working at the doctors’. The shop’s supplies were seriously depleted too. It was looking more like Old Mother Hubbard’s than a thriving chocolate store on the run-up to Christmas so she would have to be up early tomorrow making more confectionery. She still felt pretty shattered, physically, from her long day at the market and her emotions were all over the shop.

She and Bev were working their way down a bag of crisps and had been chatting about the Christmas market and how that had gone, as well as the village Christmas light-up which was due next Thursday evening, 23 November. The local community always set up a big fir tree down on the grassy area by the harbour, with carol singers, mince pies from the local WI and glasses of warm mulled wine provided by The Fisherman's Arms. They had the big countdown to six o’clock when the local mayor would press the switch to light up the swooping strings of white lights hung both sides of Warkton’s main street and along the harbour. It was a popular event, and Emma had agreed to do a late-night opening thereafter, with lots of her festive goodies on display, and her new café ready with hot drinks to thaw everyone out. Oh yes, yet more chocolates to craft. It was going to be a whole week of early mornings and late nights, she mused.

Bev took a large sip of her wine.

‘Right then, Em. You need to tell me all about the lovely Max, and why on earth you’ve decided to drop him already.’

Emma really didn’t feel like going into all this, but she knew she wouldn’t get any peace. She just took a sip of wine, and dipped into the bag of crisps.

‘So, does Max feel the same way about this? I heard from Holly he’d been looking for you at the shop. Well?’ Bev persisted.

‘No … not really. He wants to see me again, actually.’

‘Em!’ Her friend sounded exasperated. ‘Look, I can see why you ditched Malteser Man, but this guy? Boy, if I wasn’t married myself I’d be in there like a shot. So, what is it you don’t like about him? Don’t you trust him?’

‘It’s not that.’

‘So, what’s going on? Are you still missing Luke?’

‘Of course I still miss Luke. That doesn’t just go away because it’s been a few years, or because someone else is on the scene. It’s just that I – I’m not sure about things with Max. It doesn’t feel right to go any further.’ That was about as close to the truth as she could get.

‘So, you like the guy, he likes you, and you’re saying no – because?’

‘I’m fine on my own. I know where I stand. I have my own life, the shop, you, Alfie, my mum and dad, James. Why does it always have to be about a man?’

‘It doesn’t, but if a man’s rather gorgeous and interested in you, why not just give it a try? You never know, he might even make you happy.’

‘I am happy. I’m fine.’

‘So you’re not even going to give it a chance, Em? You’re scared, aren’t you? I can see it in your eyes.’

‘I am so not.’ She tried to look fierce.

‘I’ve hit the spot, Em. You’re scared of getting hurt again. I can understand that. And, you know what, that means you really like this guy, doesn’t it?’

No answer.

‘So what are you thinking? You cut him off now, don’t take a chance, don’t risk getting hurt again?’