Page 82 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘So …?’ Emma prompted.

‘I just wanted to tell you that I’ll be leaving Warkton at the end of the week.’

‘Oh, okay.’ She hadn’t imagined him staying there in the village a long time, to be fair. But it was still quite a sudden decision.

‘The work at the pub is coming to an end soon anyhow, summer’s moving on and I just feel ready to go. Time for pastures new and some fresh adventures.’ He smiled.

‘Oh.’ She was trying to make sense of her emotions. It would make life easier in some ways, yet she found herself feeling sad too. ‘Crikey, well then, best of luck with everything.’

‘Thanks.’ He paused. ‘Em, look, what I really came to say as well is that I’m sorry … That kiss was really stupid, inappropriate. And I hope I haven’t messed things up for you and Max. Though from what I’ve heard from Holly lately, maybe I have. I wouldn’t have wanted that. And despite the fact he can’t stand me – and in the circumstances I can’t blame him – he does seem a decent bloke.’

‘Yeah,’ Em sighed. She watched a robin settle on the edge of one of her flower pots, thoughts of Luke, and then Max flooding her mind.

‘I hope you two can patch it up.’

‘Me too.’

‘Anyway, it shouldn’t have happened and I’m sorry. I still feel so terrible about it, like I’ve been disloyal to Luke. Not been much of a brother to him, have I? He’d have wanted me to look after you.’ He looked downbeat.

‘Hey, it takes two you know. It wasn’t just your fault. And yeah, I keep thinking of it too, how we should never have let it get to that. I don’t think Luke would have been too pleased with either of us.’

‘Ah, it was just a crazy moment. Maybe we were both just missing him,’ Nate tried to find an explanation. ‘Yeah, he’ll have thought we made a right balls-up of things, if he somehow could see, but you know … I think he might have forgiven us by now. I know it would never have happened if he’d still been alive. Yeah, I reckon he’d have called me an arse and given me a swift brotherly punch, but then he’d have let it go. He didn’t hold a grudge for long, Luke.’

Emma smiled. ‘No, he didn’t.’

‘And …’ Nate continued, his tone earnest, ‘I think you’re wrong, Em.’

‘How?’

‘What you’ve achieved here …’ He looked around him. ‘The Chocolate Shop. How you’ve made a life, a good business. I think Luke would have been really proud of you.’

Emma brushed a tear from the corner of her eye. ‘Aw, thank you. That’s lovely of you to say so.’

‘I hope we can still be mates from here on, Em. Please don’t let what happened spoil that …’

‘Of course I won’t.’ She patted his shoulder in a friendly gesture. It felt like a weight had been lifted. ‘Thank you for coming to speak with me, Nate. All this has been troubling me so much too. So, pastures new then … and what are your plans for the future?’ Em switched the conversation.

‘Well, it’s been great here. Warkton’s a cool place. But you know me, don’t like to let the grass grow under my feet. I was thinking of maybe organising a ski season in Europe over the winter months.’

‘Good for you.’

‘And I’m gonna spend a bit more time with the parents first.’

‘That’s good. They’ll be pleased. They really missed you when you were abroad all that time.’

‘I know. I’ll go back down and stay with them for a while in Harrogate, while I’m sorting out the ski stuff and applying for posts.’

‘How are they? I hope they are both fine just now? I haven’t had a chance to call for a while.’ Life had been pretty hectic lately.

‘Yeah, they’re doing good. In fact, Dad’s even threatening to come out to the Alps once I get a place sorted and try his hand at skiing. Not the best idea, first time skiing in your late sixties, especially with Dad’s bad back. In fact, I think Barney might be a better candidate on skis than my dad.’ Barney was the family’s arthritic, elderly labrador.

Emma laughed.

‘Yeah, I might tell them to wait until next spring and come and do some hiking instead. More their thing. I can see A&E written all over it, otherwise.’

‘That sounds a good plan. Send them my love won’t you, and once this Bank Holiday weekend’s over and the schools go back, I’ll arrange to pop down and see them some time.’

‘Well, I’d better get on. I’m sure you’ve got lots to do here, and I might just try and fit in a surf before I start my lunch shift at the pub.’ He stood up.