She smiled, remembering one of her Great-Aunt Emily’s phrases which she’d chided her with when she was a teenager: ‘Just because he makes your toes tingle, it doesn’t mean he’s right for you.’

Luke had made her toes tingle, mind you. Many times.

She sighed and stroked the soft fur of Alfie’s head. Though he’d been asleep, his tail responded instantly, thwacking down happily on to the sofa cushion.

‘We’re okay, aren’t we, Alfie?’

It was meant to be a statement, but it came out sounding like a question.

5

Though the shop was closed for another day over the New Year break, Emma was in the kitchen early making up a batch of whisky truffles. She liked to keep herself busy, would spend the time off preparing for the next few weeks, and warming whisky truffles were always a good seller through the winter months.

She melted the dark chocolate, then warmed the whisky just to the point where a little vapour was coming off it, next she’d whisk them together. The smell was rather delicious, even this early in the morning. She’d look forward to trying one with a cup of rich coffee later. The ganache mix she’d made had to refrigerate for at least four hours before it would be ready to roll into the circular centres, ready to dip in melted dark chocolate. Bliss.

There was a knock at the back door, footsteps, then a head popped round, all dark-brown curls and a cheery smile.

‘Oh, hi, Holly. Good to see you.’

‘Hey, Em. Happy New Year! I was just in the village fetching some milk and the papers for Mum. Thought I’d pop in and say hello.’

‘Happy New Year. But we did see each other on New Year’s Eve.’

‘Ah yes, so we did – it’s coming back to me now. I was slightly squiffy at that point. Soz. Anyway, I wanted to find out when you’ll need me back in next.’

‘Well, it’s going to be pretty quiet for a few weeks …’ She saw Holly’s face drop. No doubt she’d spent all her recent wages on her New Year’s Eve outfit. ‘But you could maybe help out for a couple of hours each Saturday afternoon. It’ll give me the chance to do some crafting. I’m sorry, Holly, I really do wish I could give you more hours, but January’s just not a great time.’ She’d be counting the pennies as it was. ‘We’ll be busier in Feb for Valentine’s Day, though. I’ll need you loads more then, and on the build-up to Easter, of course.’

‘Okay. No worries.’ The young girl smiled, though she still looked a little disappointed.