Page 12 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

Emma and Alfie carried on towards the dunes. They soon emerged from the sandy track on to the crescent-shaped bay where the colours of sand and sea were a wash of blues, greys and ochre and the sky still held a blush of early-morning pink and peach. The sun was beginning to warm and waves frothed to shore, the surf gentle today in a light late-spring breeze. She picked up a driftwood stick and launched it for Alfie, who dived after it into the breakers. Being a spaniel, he loved the water, and was a good swimmer. He soon returned with the stick in his jaws to shake an arc of salty droplets around him, spraying her lightly, which made her smile. It was calming down there on the beach – a leveller. Whatever worries you had didn’t seem quite so bad somehow, diminished as they were against the vastness of sky and sea, the soothing sounds of the waves rolling in in a hush.

Emma sat on a rock for a while, taking in the sights and sounds of the bay, breathing in the fresh salty air. Whatever concerns she had today about the shop were nothing to what she had been through, what she had learnt to cope with in her past. She was a survivor. She’d be okay.

‘Come on Alfie. We’d better get back. I have a Chocolate Shop to open up.’

And so they made their way back up the dunes, back up the hill to The Chocolate Shop by the Sea that was home.

Emma was working on her own today, which had kept her occupied and her mind off all those other things. It was nearly four o’clock when a familiar face popped around the front door: Holly.

‘Hi, Em. I thought I’d call in and see how you are after yesterday.’ She didn’t say any more, as there were a couple of tourists sitting in the window seat, finishing off their pot of tea.

Emma appreciated her assistant’s discretion; they both knew she was referring to the landlord’s visit.

‘Aw, thanks. I’m okay – just wondering what the nasty devil’s scheming,’ Em added in a whisper. ‘But I’m fine. I just need to concentrate on making The Chocolate Shop the best it can be. That’s all I can do.’

‘Yeah, absolutely. It’s already fab here anyway. Mind you, I do like the sound of the prosecco parties idea. Bev mentioned it to me when I bumped into her; she’s planning a trial run, you know.’

‘Is she now?’ Bev hadn’t mentioned anything to Em about that as yet.

‘Oops, wasn’t I meant to say anything? I thought you’d agreed.’

‘First I’ve heard of it.’ Em gave a wry grin.

‘Ah, well Bev said it was going to take a while for the licensing to go through.’

Yes, there had been a lot more to it, when Emma had looked into it with the local council; she’d need to do a licensing course and then apply to the local authority for a licence after that.

‘So, Bev thought we could give it a practice run. We’d all bring the prosecco and you’d …’

‘Supply the chocolates,’ Em finished for her.

‘Exactly. So, you’re not cross I let it slip?’

‘No, it’s not your fault. But Bev should have asked me first. I assume we’re meant to be holding it here?’ Her friend did tend to leap into things. ‘I’ll be having words when I see her next, never fear.’

‘Sorry, Em.’

‘Ah, it’s all right. But honestly, that woman – any excuse for a party!’ Emma was smiling now. ‘Hey, don’t worry, Hols. In fact, after yesterday I need a bit of cheering up. It sounds fun, and we can test out how it might go for the real parties once I get licensed and we have paying guests.’

A customer came in then, a lady who looked to be in her forties, who started browsing the artisan chocolate bars section.

‘I can recommend the dark choc-orange or the summer fruits on white, but they’re all lovely, to be honest.’ Holly couldn’t help herself praising the shop’s goods. ‘Right, I’d better go Em. I’ll be in again tomorrow. See you then.’

‘Yep, see you then. Thanks for your help with the display the other day too. And I’ll phone Bev and let you know about the party that I’m holding!!’ she added ironically.

‘Hah, yes!’

‘Thanks for dropping by, Hols.’

‘You’re welcome. It’s hard to keep me away. I just love this place.’

It was time now for Emma to check on her other assistant’s plans.

‘Hi, Bev. So, can you tell me when I’m having this party then?’

‘Ah, I was going to call you about that.’

‘Ye-ah, is that before or after you’ve invited half the village?’