‘Oh wow! This looks so cool.’ Jessica, one of Holly’s friends, was grinning as she looked around. ‘Even better than I could have imagined.’

‘Love it,’ the girl beside her added. ‘It’s so pretty. I just want to sit here sipping hot chocolate all day.’

‘Surrounded by walls of chocolate no less,’ another chipped in.

It was lovely to hear that the young ones liked it. Emma felt a surge of pride.

‘So, what can I get you ladies?’ Bev was in full swing and obviously enjoying herself behind the counter. ‘This is so much more fun than the doctors’ surgery,’ she added for Em’s benefit.

Holly picked up the menu from the counter and passed it to the girls.

‘Oh, I’d like the hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream, please,’ Jessica said.

‘A chocolate milkshake for me.’

‘Hot choc with all the trimmings for me, too.’

‘Do you do any other flavour milkshakes?’

‘I can do banana or strawberry,’ Emma offered. (She’d bought some different syrups just in case, but of course chocolate would be the best.)

‘Banana then, please.’

It was the first hot chocolates for the café that Emma had had the chance to make and she went to town, filling the clear glass mugs with plenty of swirly cream and mini marshmallows on the top. She even popped in a chocolate-flake stick for good measure. She took these out before they melted too much, pausing by the counter for Bev to add a mini brownie on the side of each. Then she headed back to the kitchen to whizz up, first the chocolate, then the banana milkshakes in her blender, served with a dash of cream and chocolate sauce swirled on top for good measure.

‘These look a-maz-ing,’ Holly said as she passed them to her friends.

‘Better than the milkshake bar in the town,’ added her friend, Lily.

It was lovely to see the girls chatting and enjoying themselves.

After the young girls had left, one more couple sat down for coffee and shortbread, which took the time to four thirty. The Chocolate Shop Café was due to close at 5.00 p.m., and after serving one more customer with a box of chocolates, Emma thanked Holly and Bev, gave them both a big hug, and suggested they ought to be getting home.

She was aware of Max’s impending arrival and felt a bit anxious. She hadn’t actually told Bev about Max coming that evening – she knew her friend would be gloating about it otherwise. Emma just wanted to see how things went without the pressure of everyone knowing. Bev would be quizzing her first thing tomorrow, otherwise. She just wouldn’t be able to help herself.