Ron turned up soon after the phone call, which helped stop Emma’s head spinning. He’d brought his son along to get the job done quicker and Emma had already emptied out the refrigerated counter.

She left them to it, using the time to make some more brownies. They called her back through three-quarters of an hour later and shifting the counter back had really opened out the space.

Lovely Maureen appeared to see how they were getting on, bringing yet another chocolate cake. It looked gorgeous, with thick chocolate frosting. Emma thanked her and asked if she might be interested in a regular baking order, on a paid-for basis, providing at least two chocolate cakes per week. Maureen seemed thrilled her cake was so popular and said she was more than happy to do so. Result!

Ron mentioned he’d had an idea for some shelving for the side wall of the café – somewhere to put small bags of treats to catch the customers’ eyeline.

‘I have just the thing in mind, lassie. Can you trust me on it?’ He had a glint in his eye, as he spoke. He began measuring up the space. ‘I’ll make it up in my workshop tomorrow and have it with you ready to pop on the wall tomorrow evening. I’ll be in around five-thirty, if that’s okay, after you’ve closed. Save all the hammering and dust annoying your customers.’

‘It sounds interesting.’ Emma was curious.

Thursday whizzed by; she was hectic manning the shop and café single-handedly, as well as trying to get a step ahead with her chocolate canapé creations for tomorrow’s launch. She’d definitely need to take Bev up on her offer of regular help if it carried on being this busy. At least she’d have Holly back on Saturday, but she’d still have to be careful with extra wages for now.

Emma put the shop sign to closed and popped upstairs to collect the Christmas decorations ready to design her window displays. She heard a knocking at the shop door as she came down the stairs with armfuls of decorations. She put them down on a table top and went to open it to find Ron there bearing a large grin and a small upturned boat, or so it seemed. He carried it in and turned it around. The mini hull was painted with blue and white bold stripes. It was the most amazing shelf-rack shaped like a boat, with four shelves inside ready to load with fudge bags, chocolate lollipops and more. Just perfect for a harbour-village chocolate shop, and for her launch.

‘Thank you so much, Ron. I love it!’ Emma had tears in her eyes as she spoke.