Page 92 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

Emma stepped back from the car and on to the pavement.

They were face to face now. ‘You – you asked me if we could try and find a way round this,’ Max continued, ‘if what we have is worth fighting for, yeah?’

Emma nodded, almost too afraid to speak.

‘The truth is, I can’t imagine a life without you now.’

‘Oh, Max!’ She could hardly believe it. Then found the warmth of his arms about her, pulled herself tight against his chest. To think, she might never have felt that again. They stayed like that for a while, relishing the closeness, with a huge sense of relief.

When they moved slowly apart, it was Max who spoke. ‘We go forward now, not back … together.’

‘Together,’ she repeated with tears in her eyes. What a beautiful word.

‘Look,’ Max continued, brushing away a stray tear gently from Emma’s cheek with his thumb, ‘I know I can never take Luke’s place, and that’s okay. Honestly, I don’t want to. But we can be something new. I want to be there for you, Em. If you’ll let me in.’ His eyes locked on hers.

‘Of course, Max.’

They felt exhausted with all the emotions of their conversation, and the night they had both put in. They found comfort in Max’s double bed, making love, then resting in each other’s arms, the room hushed and darkened with the curtains closed. Like a cocoon of warmth and love.

Lying there, Emma still found herself feeling vulnerable after all that had happened. ‘Max … do you still love me?’

‘How could I not love you.’ It was a statement, not a question.

Could it really be that simple? Where not loving someone was just unimaginable.

‘I’ve never felt this way before, Em.’ Max sounded so earnest.

Emma had. It had been that way with Luke – a simple, honest love. She realised that she had the chance to have that kind of love again with Max. After losing her fiancé in such a tragic way, she’d never thought that would ever happen. That kind of love didn’t come along often and, bloody hell, she wasn’t going to damn well waste it.

‘Max,’ she whispered in the half-light, ‘I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll never hurt you again. It was a horrid, stupid mistake with Nate. I think … he reminded me so much of Luke, I got swept up in it all. It’s no excuse, I know that. And, I mean what I wrote in that message before, outside the house. I do love you. Always will.’

‘I know. I love you too, Em.’ He gave her a tight hug, his arms wrapped around her from behind. ‘Now, can I get some sleep?’

Alfie gave a big dog sigh from the floor beside them, where he’d nestled down in Max’s discarded T-shirt, still wearing his ‘Sorry’ top.

‘’Course,’ she answered. And fell into a deep sleep beside Max. In fact, the best sleep she’d had in ages.

46

With the busy Bank Holiday weekend and the wonderful developments with Max, Emma hadn’t had a chance to visit Mrs C at the care home in Alnwick, so she headed off straight after work on the Tuesday, to find the old lady sitting up in the residents’ lounge. The TV was on in the corner but no one seemed to be following it particularly.

Mrs C’s face lit up when she spotted Emma coming in.

‘How are you getting on?’ Emma had brought in a bunch of bright-yellow carnations for the old lady to put in her bedroom – and of course a bag of chocolate brazils. There was also a large selection box of chocolates for the other residents and nurses to share, which Emma had handed to one of the nurses on the way in.

‘Ooh, how lovely. Thank you, pet.’ Mrs C was smiling. ‘Well, I’ve had some good news, Emma dear. They’re letting me back home tomorrow.’

‘Well, that’s wonderful news. I bet you’re thrilled. How will you manage, though?’ Em was a little concerned. The old lady’s hip was still a long way from healed and the last Emma knew was that she was using crutches and would be for some time.

‘There are carers going to come in twice a day. And they’ve rigged up a bed downstairs for me in the living room for now.’

‘Oh, well that will make things easier for you.’

‘Thank goodness I’ve got a downstairs loo. I’ll never be able to get myself up those stairs to the bathroom as yet. Gonna have to wash at the kitchen sink. Hah, hope no one comes around the back door at that point.’ She cackled with laughter. ‘They’ll get more than they bargained for, for sure. A sight for sore eyes, at my age, I tell you.’

Emma had to laugh too. ‘I’ll remember to use the front door then, Mrs C.’ She grinned. ‘And I’ll shout loudly as I come in.’

One of the assistants came across to offer them both a cup of tea.