Page 47 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Oh, I’ve already met … ah, Sheila, is it? The lady from the little supermarket?’

Well, that was no surprise. She’d have been loitering down there for the past week, no doubt, trying to catch the incomer with a list of questions about her intentions. ‘She seemed …’ Anne paused as if trying to find the right words. ‘Well … nice and chatty.’

‘Oh, she is that,’ Emma replied, with her eyebrows slightly raised.

Anne gave a small, hesitant smile, saying no more.

‘Well, I wish you all the best with the new venture,’ Emma offered kindly, and she genuinely meant it. She wouldn’t wish ill on someone new to the area trying their best with a business. As Emma rescanned the goods for sale – it was always wise to check out the competition – the only thing they both would be selling by the looks of it was fudge, so it wouldn’t mean too much direct competition, hopefully. And hey, who knew what might happen; people might come especially for the old-fashioned sweets at the harbour and the chocolates up the hill. Warkton might become the confectionery coastal hub of Northumberland. She could dream, right?

‘Thank you, that’s kind of you. I’m feeling a bit nervous about it all, to be honest. A lot of our savings have gone into this from our retirement fund so there’s a lot at stake,’ she confided. ‘My husband’s still working part-time as a heating engineer at the moment, but that will finish soon, and he’ll be helping me on the weekends. We’ve just moved up to the area, got ourselves a little bungalow in Seahouses.’

‘Oh yes, it’s nice over there.’ Emma was aware that the time was ticking on and she had her own shop to open. ‘Well, nice meeting you, Anne. I’m sure we’ll catch up with each other again soon. All the best.’

‘Thank you.’

Emma set off to Sheila’s with a small wave. It didn’t hurt to be welcoming. And the new lady seemed friendly enough.

This village could be big enough for the both of us, Emma thought in a John Wayne kind of voice. If she was going to cling on to her own Chocolate Shop dreams, it would just have to be.

25

On Saturday, Adam popped into The Chocolate Shop just before closing.

‘Hi Hols, you know tonight, what do you think about calling in at the pub later? There’s meant to be a band on. Should be a fun night. What do you think?’

‘Yeah, I’d be up for that. There’s usually a good crowd in on a Saturday night too. Hey,’ she turned to Em, ‘what about you and Max? He’s coming up tonight, isn’t he? Be something different for you to do.’

Yeah, that might be good, she and Max hadn’t been out in ages, and a few drinks, some chat with the locals, spending time with Holly and Adam and some live music, sounded good. Max and Adam always got on well too, despite the almost twenty-year age gap.

‘Yeah, okay. Thanks. What time are you heading down there?’

‘About eightish,’ Adam answered. ‘We’ll see you there then, shall we?’

‘Great. Yes.’ That’d give them time for a bite of supper once he got here, and then to wander down. She was sure Max would be up for that.

It was twenty to nine by the time Emma and Max got to The Fisherman’s. Yet again, he’d been held up. It was getting so tedious. What was it with this job down in Leeds? There always seemed to be something to delay him.

An hour earlier Emma had found herself sitting waiting in her lounge, worrying. At least this time he had managed to call her to explain as he left. But then all sorts of weird thoughts began whirling around her head. Maybe it wasn’t just the job. Was it a cooling off in their relationship? It happened to couples all the time. Why not them?

But then, she countered her own argument, it didn’t feel like that when they were together, most of the time it still felt precious. But spending all week apart, well, who knew how he was really feeling? And hey, she’d done it herself, with a couple of short-term relationships she’d tried since Luke, when she realised they were getting nowhere and eased off, drifted away.

Ah, these thoughts were getting her nowhere fast. She’d stopped herself and gone downstairs to make a start on some chocolate bars – yes, chocolate she could always count on to calm her nerves.

So, they finally made it for their night out. It was rammed in there – The Fisherman’s Arms at full pelt on a Saturday night. There was a younger crowd in for the music as well as some of the regulars that Emma recognised. A buzz of excitement filled the warm air, along with sounds of animated chatter and laughter. Pints were being poured on repeat and drinks passed across the bar. The band were doing their final sound checks and looked as though they were about to start.

Holly was standing up, waving, in the far corner; she and Adam had managed to get a table in the main bar area. Max did the ‘What do you want to drink?’ universal glass-tipping hand signal, and they got a round in before heading across to join them.

‘Hi, guys, sorry we’re late,’ Emma said, her voice raised above the din.

‘Hey, no worries,’ Holly replied.

Max delivered a pint of pale ale across to Adam and a gin and tonic for Holly, her drink of the moment. Em had chosen the same.

The first sip of the gin was dry and fragrant with a touch of lemon that was delicious.

They were soon chatting, but once the band started, it was hard to hear over the music, so they relaxed and listened to them. They were a male duo and Emma had to admit she was really impressed – they were much better than the usual fare down at The Fisherman’s. They played guitar, and keyboard as well as singing, performing several covers of Coldplay, Kodaline and the like, then they did some of their own original tracks too, which were great.

Adam got another round in and the night was going well. The band took a break and Emma’s group could talk more easily then.