Page 76 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘How are you feeling today, Mrs C?’

‘Just fine, pet. Other than being a bit stiff when I walk on it, I’m getting on grand. Being looked after well.’ She lowered her voice, ‘Shame about the food, but other than that I cannot grumble.’

‘Oh … Well, is there anything I can bring in you might fancy?’

‘Another bag of those chocolate brazils might be nice. I’m nearly through the last lot.’

‘Of course.’

They chatted about the Festival event, Mrs C remembering fetes of old, with her dancing around the maypole as a little girl. Emma began to feel tired as she tried to keep the conversation going but then Mrs C paused.

‘Come on now, Emma, I can see you’re not yourself. What’s troubling you, pet?’ The old lady placed a gentle hand over hers, where it rested on the bedcovers.

‘Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired, that’s all. I’ve come to cheer you up, not spread my own doom and gloom.’

‘A problem shared …’ The old lady smiled. ‘Look, I might be a crotchety old thing, but I have lived a bit. I’ve come across most things in life.’

‘Oh, Mrs C of course you’re not that.’ Maybe it would help to share her troubles. ‘I think Max has left me for good.’ Em let out a sigh. ‘And on top of that I’ve had a potential purchaser viewing The Chocolate Shop. Other than that, everything’s hunky-dory.’

‘Ah, I see. Life’s full of ups and downs, pet. Let’s start with your Max, then. What’s happened to change things so suddenly? Last time I saw you together you looked all loved-up.’

Emma started on the whole sorry tale. Mrs C already knew about Luke and her past and she felt guilty and horrid when she got to the part about the kiss.

‘I don’t know how I can put it right, Mrs C. I wish I could go back and change what happened, but I can’t.’

‘You’re right, you can’t go back, pet, and we all do stupid things at times. What’s done is done. There’s a saying my old mam used to say, “All mistakes are lessons to be learned.” You just need to find a way forward, Emma.’

‘I know, and I’ve tried. I’ve said sorry and promised to never to do anything like that again, but Max just looked so damned hurt. Now he’s not even taking my calls. I’m scared, Mrs C. I really love him and I’ve messed up big time.’

‘Oh my. There, there, pet.’ The old lady gave her hand a rub. ‘Maybe he just needs a little time. It might be his pride that’s been knocked more than anything.’

‘I hope it’s as simple as that.’

‘And then this other stuff with the shop. Is there no way at all you can afford to take it on yourself, Emma?’

‘I’ve looked at so many options, but no, there’s no way. I can’t raise enough capital as a deposit to start with, though the bank would give me a business mortgage if I could. I’ve been saving like mad but I’m still so far off. Oh, Mrs C, it’ll break my heart to leave, but I suppose I’ll have to and start over somewhere else.’

‘Now that’s a shame. You’re a part of the village. Maybe we can try and help you find somewhere else in Warkton you could use?’

‘I’ve thought of that too, but I need a working kitchen, space for a café, a shop to be all shelved out, and now I have the outside courtyard just right too. It’d cost so much to convert somewhere else, even if I could rent, or buy another place.’ It all felt very out of reach. Like fate was about to crush everything she had achieved, and stamp on her dreams. She gathered herself. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs C, I shouldn’t be moaning on like this.’

‘I asked you to tell me about it, remember? Anyway, it’s been good to talk about something other than me and my hip. I’ve had Sheila here, driving me to distraction with a load of drivel about parking fees at the hospital, dog fouling in the village and Mrs Jenkins going out on a date with Mr Jones for coffee. Well why on earth shouldn’t they? They’re both single – and if they are over eighty, so what? Good on ’em, I say. Why the devil do I need to know about all that! I was like a sitting duck here for her barrage of tales and gossip. It’s enough to send a bugger crazy.’

Emma’s mouth creased into a smile. She could imagine the pair of them bantering. It was a real love–hate relationship but everyone knew that, underneath it all, they got along fine. The sparring was part of the fun.

Visiting time was coming to a close, the clock on the wall showing 7.00.

‘I’m going to have to go soon, Mrs C.’

‘Yes, thanks for coming to see me, pet. And remember, we all fall down sometimes, Emma, whether it’s the stairs or making a mistake, but then we get up again. It’s what you do next that matters.’

‘Thank you.’ She gave her elderly friend a kiss on the cheek. ‘You get well and take care. I’ll be back again very soon with those chocolate brazils, I promise.’

‘You’d better.’ The old lady grinned.

And Emma left with a wave, a tear in her eye, and a glimmer of hope in her heart.

Back at the flat later that evening, there was a knock on the courtyard door. Emma’s heart surged. She raced downstairs, to find Bev there on the step.