Page 94 of The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop

‘Sounds sensible.’

‘Agh!’

‘And what about Luke? Our relationship?’ Emma shot back. ‘I’m meeting up with his parents soon. What the heck will they think if I’m seeing someone else?’

‘Emma.’ Bev put a gentle hand on her friend’s shoulder. ‘Luke’s never coming back, honey.’

‘I know that. I’m not stupid.’ Her tone was sharp. She was getting fed up with this.

‘Okay, sorry.’ Bev softened. ‘But I’m sure his parents would understand. I’m sure they wouldn’t want you to live a life without a partner to love and love you back.’

There was a second or two of silence. Then Emma started quietly, ‘It just seems so very different than how it was with Luke. All those special moments we had, me and Luke, what it was like when we were falling in love. This now, it doesn’t feel the same, it’s not quite right.’

‘It’s bound to be different, Em. You’re in a different place. You’ve been through so much. And Max is a different man. It’ll take courage to make that leap of faith and try another relationship, when nothing’s set in stone, and yeah, it might go wrong, you might get hurt. But deciding to live a life without any relationship, without that kind of special love, holing yourself up here on your own for the next forty years? That’s no life at all.’

‘It’s been fine so far. I just can’t go there, Bev. I can’t do it.’ She felt safe here in her village, in the chocolate shop. Her life as it was now had a steady anchor. ‘What if anything happened to Max? What if he got ill? It makes me feel sick just thinking about it. I can’t go there again. I couldn’t put myself through it.’

‘Okay, okay, I understand. But just make sure you are certain, Em. Chances like this don’t come often. He won’t wait about, you know.’ Bev picked up the bottle of rosé. ‘Time for another glass, hun?’

The conversation moved on to lighter topics, how much Bev was enjoying working in the chocolate café. She then brought out a tray of local cheese and biscuits with a red onion chutney she’d made, which was absolutely delicious. It was creeping towards eleven o’clock when Pete came back in, having been cajoled into a couple of pints after the village meeting.

‘Right, well I’d better be going,’ Emma announced. ‘Got a few busy days ahead. I’ll see you at the shop on Wednesday, Bev.’

‘Look forward to it. You take care, Em.’

It was rather lovely having her friend as her new member of staff. Emma just hoped she’d lay off the matchmaking for now though. It had all been aired, and Emma was sticking by her decision.

42

The village had been buzzing with festive atmosphere all day. Men with a cherry picker were spotted, angled awkwardly, hanging strings of light bulbs between the lamp posts. There were shouts of ‘this way a bit’, and ‘that way a bit’, and then a huge fir tree went past on the back of a trailer heading down to the harbour-side.

Emma had made up a big tray of tea in disposable containers and taken them down for the workers at one point with a plate of her choc-chip shortbread. She left the refreshments down by the harbour wall and gave them a shout, spotting Pete up a ladder putting huge silver baubles on the Christmas tree. The tray had only a few crumbs half an hour later when she went back, so that seemed to have gone down well.

She’d agreed to go along later and watch the big village light-up that was going ahead that night. It was usually a lovely event. Every year, the ladies of the WI provided mince pies and the pub gave out mulled wine, with the local mayor arriving for the big moment to flick the switch. There was always that second of tension in case they didn’t work, and all would remain dark, but they hadn’t had a problem in all the years Emma had been here. Fingers crossed all would go well tonight.

Emma was to open up for late-night shopping thereafter. It made sense with so many people milling about, and it would be a great way to earn some extra income – the shop’s finances always staying firmly in her mind. Things had picked up since the opening of the coffee shop, but she had her parents to pay back, as well as keeping up with the rent and other outgoings – Emma knew she was by no means out of the woods yet. She didn’t want to miss the lighting-up ceremony herself, so was organised to run back up the hill and open up five minutes after the lights went on. She had added an extra strand of fairy lights to the counter, and The Chocolate Shop was looking all festive and full again. Then, at a quarter to six she turned the sign to ‘closed’, ran upstairs to pop on a warm jumper and fetch Alfie plus his lead, wrapped herself up in scarf, hat, gloves, coat – she’d learned her lesson at the market! – and walked quickly down the hill to meet up with Bev and Pete.

There was quite a crowd gathered around the fir tree and several people milling about on the little hill that led up towards the pub; there were couples, and families with small children holding tight to their parents’ hands. A sense of eager anticipation filled the air as Emma spotted Danny from the pub wandering through the masses balancing a full tray and handing out plastic glasses of mulled wine. She headed his way, quite fancying a glass of something warm and festive. Alfie’s tail was wagging happily – he loved a crowd and an event, inevitably getting plenty of affectionate strokes – and he raised his brown nose to the air, smelling the delicious scent of mince pies, hoping a crumb or two might come his way. She thanked Danny, asking how he was as she took a glass of wine.

‘I’m great. Seem to be very popular tonight.’ He winked. ‘Think it’s my mulled wine rather than my charm, unfortunately.’ And he moved on through the crowd.

Emma then spotted Holly with Adam. ‘Hey.’

‘Hi, Em. You okay?’

‘Yes, fine, been busy at the shop. Only just got away in time.’

‘Oh, are you doing the late-night opening too?’

‘Sure am.’

‘Well, if you need a hand, I’ll happily call in afterwards.’

‘Thanks, Hols, that would be great.’

‘Busy at the hotel, Adam?’ Emma asked.

‘Yes, we’re getting lots of Christmas party bookings in now. Work dos and the like. All go.’