Page 51 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Everything else okay with you there?’ Emma asked.

‘Yeah, not bad. I’m tired and fed up with staying over in B&Bs, but that’s par for the course.’

‘No, it’ll not be like home, will it?’

‘A bed, four walls, TV and a coffee machine. But I could be worse off, I suppose.’

‘Yeah, look on the bright side, you’re nearly done there.’

‘Of course. And it will be so worth it in the end. It’ll boost my business no end, both profits and reputation. That’s why I want to do the best job I can this weekend and get it finished on schedule too. You know how powerful word of mouth is.’

‘Yes, well, I’ll see you in a week or so. It’ll soon go by.’

They chatted for a while, but it was hard sounding upbeat when they were both so tired and so far apart.

‘Love you, Em,’ Max brought the call to an end.

‘Love you, too.’ It was becoming easier to say that now. To say those words to someone new. Emma turned off her mobile with a sigh. Was loving someone enough?

So, it looked like she’d be going to Saturday’s beach BBQ on her own then.

The following morning a van pulled up alongside The Chocolate Shop, blocking the light. Emma was about to go outside and remind them that that was a yellow line area and no parking – after all, it wouldn’t be nice for her café customers to sit and look at the side of a van – when she saw the sign on it. Something inside her went cold as she stood in the shop and watched the male driver get out and remove a set of ladders from the roof rack. He then climbed up beside the shop window and the next thing she heard was a hammering noise.

She felt a bit light-headed and had to steady herself by holding on to the counter’s edge before her emotions swiftly turned from shock to anger. Out of the shop door she marched, past the van with ‘Fawcett’s Estate Agents – Your Home in our Hands’ emblazoned on the side.

From the base of the ladder she shouted up, ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

The ladder shook a little as the man was startled. ‘Instructions from the owner, madam. It’s up for sale,’ he called down.

Of course, the owner wasn’t her. He had the right, the slimy little eel, but he could at least have had the decency to inform her in advance. Oh, her precious Chocolate Shop up for sale. Yes, she’d feared this moment for over a year now. But this was it, it was now a reality. She felt her knees buckle.

‘Whoa, hang on there,’ came a voice beside her. With that she felt a pair of strong arms around her, supporting her. She felt herself sink into them. Her head was a bit woozy. ‘Em, you okay?’ It was Nate.

‘Is the lady all right? I’m only doing my job.’ The chap was down off his ladder, his task completed and the ‘For Sale’ sign mounted next to Emma’s lounge window.

Suddenly Sheila appeared on the scene along with old Mrs Clark, who’d been taking her time ambling up the hill.

‘What’s happening here, then?’ Sheila raised her voice. ‘Ah, looks like she’s feeling a little faint. Give her some space, people … And let’s get her back into the shop, young man.’

Sheila and Nate helped Emma inside and to one of the window seats, where they sat her down. She seemed to come to a little then.

‘Ooh, sorry, I’m not quite sure what happened then,’ Emma said, her head starting to pound.

‘I’ll make a cup of a sweet tea, shall I?’ said Holly. She was helping again today as revision was ‘doing her head in’, and had been serving in the back courtyard at the time of the drama.

‘Yes, pet, that’d be a good idea. Thank you.’ Sheila’s voice was calm and kind.

Nate had sat himself down next to Emma. ‘You feeling better now?’

‘Yes, I think so. Uh, is that sign really up outside my shop?’

‘The “For Sale” one? Yes. Sorry Em,’ Nate replied.

‘Surely they can’t just do that without telling me?’

With that, in waltzed The Eel himself, her back-stabbing landlord – now she knew what all those photos were about.

He’d evidently overheard Emma’s comment. ‘My apologies, Emma. They were meant to be coming to put up the sign in an hour or so’s time. I’m here to advise you now. So yes, the property is for sale, and the lease will continue on its month-by-month basis as agreed with yourself at Easter. I will, of course, inform you if there are any developments.’