Page 95 of The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop

‘Thanks, Em. Catch you soon. And thanks for chatting.’ Holly stood up from the stool she’d been on and started getting her purse out.

‘Hey, no need for that. It’s on me. You’ve been a brilliant help this last year, and you’ve brought a sunny smile to the place.’

‘Aw, I can feel a hug coming on.’

‘Come here then, you.’ Em came out from the counter and gave her assistant the biggest of hugs. ‘And you know you’ll be welcome back here to work some hours in your holidays and the like. There’ll always be a job for you.’

‘That means so much. Thank you.’

Emma watched her go, silently wishing her well, wanting her to soar and find her wings in the world. She hoped to goodness she could keep her promise and that there would still be a Chocolate Shop of some sort, premises or not, for her to come back to.

After work, Emma walked around to Mrs C’s house and knocked loudly at her front door.

She heard the old lady shout, ‘Come on in, pet. I’m here in the lounge. I’ll not get up just now, it takes me an age.’

‘Of course.’

Emma found Mrs C sat up in her high-backed chair with some knitting tucked beside her. She turned down the volume on the television. ‘Hello, pet. Good of you to come.’

‘How are you? Good to be back home?’

‘Yes, wonderful. Though it’s a bit frustrating not being able to get on as normal just yet. But I’ll manage. I’ve been trying to do my exercises. They’re a bit of a bugger, I must say, but it’s good to be back. You can’t beat home comforts can you?’ She smiled warmly.

‘You’re right.’

‘Have you got time for a cup of tea?’

‘Yes, I’d love one – but I’ll make it.’

‘Well, I put everything out on a tray in the kitchen earlier, whilst I was up and about. Just in case.’

‘Great. I won’t be a minute.’

‘There’s some custard creams in the tin there too,’ Mrs C called out from the living room. ‘Probably a bit boring compared to all the lovely goodies in your shop.’

‘Nothing wrong with a custard cream,’ Em called back.

Soon after they sat nibbling their biscuits and sipping tea.

‘Now then, Emma. There’s something I’d like to tell you.’ Mrs Clark sounded quite serious.

Emma hoped to goodness they hadn’t found something else wrong with her, something more sinister.

‘Well then, I’ve had lots of time to think about things these past few weeks. And I’ve come to a decision. I’d like to help you to buy The Chocolate Shop – and I’m going to give you £10,000.’

Emma’s jaw actually dropped, and she splashed some tea in her lap. ‘Oh, that’s so kind, but you can’t do that, Mrs C. That’ll be all your savings.’

‘Not quite. I’ve kept back enough to see me comfortable and I’m going to splash out on one of those stairlifts, so I can get myself back up to the bathroom and bedroom as soon as—’

‘But I can’t possibly take all that!’

‘Yes, you can. I’ve thought very carefully about it. You’ll make an old lady very happy if you do, Emma.’

‘But …’ Emma was lost for words.

‘Look, my needs are few. I love coming up to The Chocolate Shop and what am I going to do if it’s not there any more? That’d be a real bugger. And I have no close family of my own. You’ve been so good, like the daughter I never had, the way you’ve kept visiting and looking out for me, even when you’ve had so much on yourself.’

‘But what about your future? What if something happens and you need more care?’