Another text bounced back. BTW I have a plan – so don’t worry about getting any supper organised. xx

Okay. Thanks. Xx She was curious, wondering what he had in mind. It would be a busy day, so whatever it was, not having to cook supper was a bonus.

She strolled the sands with Alfie, enjoying the view of the bay, the early morning sun glinting gold on the crests of the waves, the sea-salt scent of the air. There was just a hint of breeze and it was mild for the time of year. Emma felt a strange tingling sensation in her stomach at the thought of seeing Max tonight, and couldn’t help but wonder what he had in mind for the evening. And, of course, Luke, her lovely Luke, was there very much in her thoughts too, the what-ifs and what-might-have-beens always there in her heart.

Back in the shop half an hour later, Emma was busy in the kitchen making choc-chip shortbread. She was going to pop the biscuits into a large glass jar on the counter, ready to tempt her café customers, and her brownies were all cut up and ready to go. She had made one batch into mini cubes, as she had decided to give every customer a mini brownie on the side of their tea or coffee. It might well become the Cosy Chocolate Shop Café’s ‘thing’, and make them stand out from any other café in the area. As well as the fact that they were surrounded by chocolate!

She began to feel a little nervous. The Chocolate Shop Café was going to open at 2.00 p.m., only six hours’ time. The paint was still drying on the windowsills, the shelves needed restocking – there wasn’t a single chocolate in the shop yet – and there were still curls of wood shavings and dust loitering. She turned the radio up loud and set to her task.

Chloe turned up mid-morning, just after Adam had dropped off the red seat pads that had been beautifully sewn by his gran. Emma spotted her sister-in-law half-hidden by a stack of cushions at the shop door and dashed to help her.

‘These look amazing, Chloe – they must have taken you ages. Thank you so much.’

As they got the cushions inside the shop, and positioned them in the first window seat, it was obvious how well the colours would go. The cushions were in reds, creams and greys, some plaid. Emma spotted one that was the same deep red as the seat pads with a beautiful appliqué star in a silvery-grey that had obviously been hand-stitched on.

‘Wow – I love this one. Did you do all this needlework?’

‘Yes, I got a bit carried away. Thought that might look pretty on the centre of each window seat. There’s another one the same in the car.’

‘Aw, I love them.’