Page 38 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Hey, Alf.’ Holly leaned over to stroke him affectionately. ‘Hi Emma,’ she called across the beach.

Emma walked across to them. ‘Isn’t it lovely down here this morning. You’re up sharp.’ She glanced at her watch – it was still only 7.30 a.m.

‘Yes, Adam’s just about to go on shift so we arranged to meet early.’

‘Hi, Emma.’ Adam smiled.

‘Morning, Adam.’

‘So …’ Holly continued, ‘we’ve got half an hour before he has to go in to help with breakfasts, and then I’ll be getting ready to come to The Chocolate Shop. Well, I might fit an hour’s revision in first. Gotta be done.’ She rolled her eyes.

‘All go for you two, then. I’ll leave you to it. See you later. Got to work some of this spaniel’s energy off.’

‘Hah, yes. Bye, Em.’

Emma strolled on with Alfie, smiling to herself. Yes, she remembered the days of first love, when you snatched every moment you could. When love was young and still so new, and every second together was precious. You never knew how many more seconds there’d be, her sore heart reminded her.

She shook herself from that maudlin thought. It was a shame Max wasn’t with her right now, though, that he had to be away so often. It would have been great to have him here, holding her hand as she walked the beach. Heading back to her flat together … Oh well, maybe tomorrow morning. He’d be here with her soon.

Despite her upcoming exams, Holly still worked on Saturdays for Emma, insisting she needed the break from her A-level studies, and this Saturday, with all the courtyard developments, Em was extra glad of the help.

When Holly arrived for work slightly early at twenty to ten, she made her way straight to the back yard through the wooden gate, desperate to see the changes.

‘Oh wow, Em. This is so cool. What a great idea. I love it!’ Holly was looking around at the new seats and tables that were set out on the pretty flagstone paving. She started to reach a hand towards the wrought-iron set.

‘Ah, don’t touch!’ Emma managed to stop her just in time. ‘That one’s sticky with paint. I was still finishing it off this morning, so we’ll not be using this space for the café until Monday.’

‘Ah, okay.’

‘The wooden one here’s okay, though.’ This one hadn’t been started as yet. It was the one that Emma was yet to sand and paint grey. She darted a quick glance at her watch. ‘Hmm, I guess we’ve got ten minutes for a quick coffee before we open. I’ve been up since the crack of dawn and so have you with your beach walk. I think that’s just what we need to perk ourselves up.’

‘Perfect, and it’s so lovely out here, seems a shame to waste it,’ Holly replied.

The sunlight was just peeping over the far wall of the back yard, warming the space and giving the old stone walls a honeyed glow. The varnish was drying on the picnic bench that Ron the carpenter had come in and revamped for her last night. She’d made sure that as well as his payment in cash, he took home some whisky truffles and a box of summer-berry chocolate cups for his wife Maureen, who still provided the shop with the most gorgeous supply of heavenly chocolate cakes.

The new plants were lined up in a shady spot ready to pot up, and Bev had arrived yesterday with a climbing clematis plant ready to position by one of the walls so it would grow and fill the space with delicate leaves and pretty deep-purple blooms in summer. Em had also set out one of Alfie’s dog bowls, ready to fill with water for their four-legged visitors on Monday.

Whilst Em was in making the coffee, Holly sat for a few minutes, just taking in the peace of the place. It was like a little haven – and soon to be a chocolate haven. Bliss!

Her boss was soon back out with a cafetière for two, and a couple of homemade choc-chip shortbread squares – which were still slightly warm from the oven.

‘De-lish,’ Holly said with a grin after her first bite. ‘I can’t believe how much this place has changed in the last year. First the new café, the brainchild of a certain super-duper assistant, moi, no less, and now this gorgeous summer courtyard area.’

Emma had to agree; it felt good out here in the courtyard, a happy, positive space.

‘My friends already love your shop,’ Holly continued, ‘but now we can sit out and enjoy the sunshine too. Just think: big creamy, chocolatey milkshakes out here on sunny days.’

‘Oh yes, and I’m one step ahead. I’ve thought ice cream too. I’ve phoned the local Doddington’s dairy to start taking delivery of some of their fabulous flavours, keeping close to the chocolate theme, of course. They do a dark chocolate ice cream, there’s a gorgeous fudge chunk, and a vanilla – that’d be great drizzled with my homemade chocolate sauce. I can even make banoffee or chocolate-fudge sundaes with it too – what do you reckon?’

‘Hah, I’m sold already. Ice-cream sundaes, like my nanna used to make. You’ll have to get some of those tall glasses. Oh, and can you get some of those cute little tubs they do to take away, too? Yummy. Hah, I’m going to be the size of a house soon. Adam’ll wonder what the heck’s happening to me.’

‘Aw, I’m sure he’ll love you just the way you are. How are you two getting on lately? You looked very cosy there on the beach.’

‘We’re pretty good, yeah.’ There was a touch of anxiety in her assistant’s voice though.

‘How do you mean, pretty good?’ Emma queried. Usually Holly was all gushing and giddy about her gorgeous Adam.

‘Ah … I think it’s just all the studying I’ve had to do lately for these exams coming up, so it’s hard to get much time to spend together.’