Page 73 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Yeah, it was. It really got to me, more than I thought it would, but what the hell can I do? It’s not my shop to keep. And this couple have no intention of running it as a shop in any way. Holiday cottage material. Needs gutting. That was the impression I was left with. Argh, it made my blood boil. They didn’t seem to like it that much, from all the negative comments the woman kept spouting, so who knows, they may not even get to the offer stage.’

‘Oh dear. Sorry, Em.’

‘Let’s move off the subject. So, tonight: I wondered about walking down to The Fisherman’s for a drink before supper. Adam and Holly are keen on coming down too, just for a while. Though Holly won’t be there until a bit later – her mum’s taken her to Newcastle for a bit of shopping as a reward for all the hard studying she did for her A-level exams. Think she’s feeling a bit nervous – it’s a long wait for the results.’

‘Yeah, I bet. I hated exams. Far happier building with bricks.’ His gorgeous grin was back. ‘In fact, if you are busy here a while, and Holly’s going to be coming a bit later too, I might just give Adam a ring, see if he’s finished his shift yet. We might sneak a quick half pint in before you girls join us. If you don’t mind, that is?’

‘Sure, you may as well. That’ll give me a chance to crack on here – I’ll just be half an hour.’

Emma was humming away happily when Max left five minutes later, having organised meeting up with Adam. She was looking forward to a lovely evening.

37

Max and Adam were sitting opposite each other on a bench in The Fisherman’s Arms beer garden. They’d chatted about work, and Adam admitted how Holly was a bit stressed out lately. ‘It’s waiting for those exam results,’ he commented. ‘She’s so keen to have done well.’

‘Ah, it’s understandable.’

‘Yeah, I’m trying to support her, but she’s the one who had to do all the studying, at the end of the day. And then,’ he sounded a bit down, ‘if she’s got the results she needs she’ll be off soon with a whole new world and future ahead of her.’

‘She wants to train to be a midwife, doesn’t she?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Good for her.’

‘Yeah.’ Adam’s answer was brief – there seemed to be a lot more unsaid.

Nate was on shift and turned up clearing glasses at the next table. Max nodded an acknowledgement, Nate did the same back.

‘He’s still here, then,’ Max commented. ‘Funny, Emma hasn’t mentioned him at all lately. Not seen him about when I’ve been up here either. He used to call in the shop a bit, but I suppose I’ve been pretty busy and away a lot.’

Adam looked troubled, then admitted, ‘Can’t stand the guy.’

‘Why, what’s he done?’ Max wondered if he’d been hitting on Holly. He seemed to like chatting the girls up from behind the bar.

There was an awkward silence.

Adam took a deep breath, ‘Look, mate … about Nate … just be careful okay.’

‘What do you mean? Has something been going on?’

‘Ah, maybe I shouldn’t say any more – but if it was me, I’d appreciate the truth.’

‘What are you trying to say, Adam? Come on, mate. Spill.’

‘Okay, it might be nothing. But a few weeks ago … that night there was a BBQ, when you were away …?’

Max could feel the back of his neck prickling. He had a feeling that he really didn’t want to hear this, yet he had to know.

‘Well, the thing is … me and Holly were walking back up from the beach. It was late, everyone else had gone.’

‘What? What happened?’

‘Okay, we saw him with Emma.’

‘And …?’

Adam took a second, then said, ‘They were kissing.’