A tumble of emotions was building within as Max leant across the vehicle and took her in his arms.

‘Another time maybe?’ he said with a gentle smile, his stubble catching her cheek, gently abrasive, as he moved in to kiss her. His kiss wasn’t saying that he was uncertain, or desperate to leave. She felt herself gradually melt into it, as she told her brain to shut up, set aside those thoughts of Luke, and be in the here and now.

As she pulled away, she spoke. ‘Thank you for this evening, Max. It was really special. I loved it.’

‘You’re welcome,’ he said, with a smile to make her heart sing.

She got out of the truck, let Alfie out from the back, and the pair of them stood watching from outside the front door of the shop as the vehicle moved off, Max giving them a final wave out of the open window and a toot of the horn. The wave of emotions that hit her was so powerful, she found herself sobbing right there out on the pavement.

‘Come on, Alfie,’ she sniffed, as he gave a little whimper beside her. ‘Time to go home.’

34

‘Okay, so what’s going on? I’ve been trying to ring you, to see if you need any help with the coffee shop this week. Couldn’t get hold of you at all last night, I tried to ring you at home on the landline and nothing, and your mobile went straight to answerphone.’

‘Hi, Bev. I’m allowed to have a social life, aren’t I? Isn’t that what you’ve been nagging about for years? I was out. And, anyhow, my mobile doesn’t get signal down on the beach.’

‘What the heck were you doing down on the beach? It was after dark when I tried … Okay, what are you hiding from me?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Are you okay, Em? Come on, what are you doing taking Alfie down on the beach after dark? If there are things on your mind, you know you can always talk to me.’

‘I know, and thank you.’

‘You never know who you might meet down there on the beach at night.’ Bev was still concerned.

Emma gave a smirk, remembering her romantic picnic. Then replied cheekily, ‘What, like a couple of seagulls and a cormorant? This is Northumberland.’

‘Stop being sarcastic. I can’t help worrying about you.’

Emma started giggling then. She might as well put her friend out of her misery and share a little of what was going on in her life. ‘I was actually with someone on the beach.’

‘You were? It so has to be Max.’

‘Uhuh.’

‘See, for all your complaining, I knew it was right to get in touch with him. And?’

‘I like him. We’re getting on quite well. He’d made a picnic supper.’

‘It’s almost winter! Is he mad?’