Page 34 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Bev, you okay? You don’t seem quite yourself today.’ It was unusual for her friend to be subdued. ‘Sorry,’ Em continued. ‘I’ve probably been prattling on about the courtyard and all my ideas for that, and no doubt been boring you out of your mind.’

‘No, it’s not that. It’s been quite nice hearing you prattling away, to be honest.’

‘Hah, so I was prattling … Anyway, what is it then? Something bothering you, hun?’

‘Ah, it’s probably nothing. It’s just my mum. She needs to go for some checkups at the hospital. She’s had a cough that just won’t go away. Now they’ve recommended she goes for a scan. She’s waiting on an appointment to come through and I can’t help but worry.’

‘Oh Bev, I’m sorry to hear that. No wonder you’re worried. At least she’s getting checked out.’

‘Yes. She used to be a smoker. Stopped a few years ago now, but that’s what’s on my mind. What if it’s something serious, Em?’

‘Hey, why not cross that bridge when you come to it?’ Emma soothed. ‘There could be all sorts of other reasons behind it.’

‘I suppose.’

‘Have you talked about it with Pete? Let him know you’re feeling a bit down just now.’

‘Hah – he’s hardly ever home these days. Spends more time at the bloody golf club. I know he loves his golf but this year he’s become captain and honestly, there’s hardly an evening we spend together.’

‘Sounds like Golf Widow Syndrome to me,’ Em said, with an understanding smile on her face, trying to lift the conversation.

‘Yeah … I just hope it’s nothing more than that.’ Her friend’s face dropped.

‘What do you mean?’ Em’s tone became serious.

Bev looked concerned. ‘Oh Em, you don’t think he’s having an affair, do you?’

‘Really? Your Pete?’ Em found that hard to believe. Those two were her closest friends and always such a team.

‘I might just be being daft. But they say the wife’s always the last to know.’

‘I really can’t see him doing anything to hurt you, Bev.’

‘Oh, I’m probably just overreacting – with our Angus all grown-up and away now, and Pete out all the time, it can get so bloody quiet in the house.’

‘Oh Bev.’ Em put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. ‘You and Pete need to talk this through properly. About your mum – and him being out so much. And you know I’m always here for you too.’

‘I’ll try and chat to him, I will. But he’s out a-bloody-gain tonight. Some golf charity event.’

Her friend looked like her confidence had taken a bashing, but Emma really couldn’t imagine that Pete was straying.

‘Right then, well, we’ll go out too. Let’s take a drive down to Low Newton. How does a walk on the beach and a fish-and-chip supper sound?’

‘Sounds good to me.’ Bev raised a small smile.

‘Great. I’ll come and pick you up after work.’

‘I just want to pop and see Mum on my way home, but say after six?’

‘It’s a deal.’

With that, the shop door chimed.

‘Come on then, we’d better step back to it again.’

At just after six o’clock that evening, Em pulled up outside Bev’s bungalow.

Her friend was soon making her way down the front path, looking lovely, Em thought, dressed in navy capri jeans and a stripy top.