‘Oh my, they sound scrummy. Maybe this coffee shop idea isn’t so good after all – my waistline will be expanding by the day.’

‘Hah – see you later.’

‘Look forward to it. Bye.’

It was Wednesday afternoon, and Bev had come in to help. They’d put the world to rights and had a good natter the day before – well, for all of fifteen minutes until Emma had to serve another customer.

There had been a friendly flow of customers so far today, both old and new, taking a look, and stopping for a cup of something and a chocolate treat or two. When it became quieter, at around three thirty, Bev said she was happy to mind the shop if Emma needed a chance to get on with things in the kitchen. The two of them had been chatting about ideas for the launch night on Friday, when Emma had invited the local press along, a couple of local councillors, her landlord (she felt she had to and it might keep him sweet), as well as all her friends, family, and the village community, so she needed to make everything look and taste extra special.

Em was in the kitchen deciding which moulds and flavours to use. Some of her harbour-themed chocs might go down well – she had anchor and boat-shaped moulds and puffin shapes for chocolate lollipops to keep the seaside feel, and she’d also make a selection of ‘getting-in-the-mood-for-Christmas’ goodies including her classic Christmas-pudding truffles, mini white chocolate snowmen, with Santas and reindeers in both dark and milk (Lucy and Olivia would love those). Then she’d have some whisky, brandy, and pink champagne truffles and some melt-in-the-mouth pralines too. That would give a lovely, varied selection and with flutes of bubbly – she could stretch to Prosecco, not quite champagne – it should look rather special.

She made a start on the mini snowmen and the white-choc brandy truffles, pouring white chocolate callets to temper in the machine. She then went upstairs to dig out the Christmas decorations to try for her launch-night window display.

She popped down to check on the shop after fifteen minutes of wrestling with reindeers, tinsel, and baubles, and found Bev happily serving a middle-aged gentleman with a small cafetière of coffee. She’d remembered to put the mini brownie on the side, bless her. Bev made a thumbs-up sign, and Emma headed back to the kitchen to start pouring the white chocolate into the snowmen moulds. She’d already painted a little line of food colouring in each individual mould to make a red scarf for them all.

The afternoon whizzed by as she made the brandy truffle centres ready to cover in white chocolate. It was great getting a step ahead for Friday.