Now all she needed was some customers. The market opened at noon and it was now nearly 1.00 p.m. and she had only seen a half a dozen people and sold one bag of fudge. So, as well as freezing her butt and fingers off, she hadn’t made any money yet, though as the event wasn’t closing until eight, she’d try and stay positive. Right, she was going to head across to the Coffee Cabin place opposite to get herself a hot drink and try and thaw out a bit.

She ordered a cup of coffee from the blonde-haired, rather buxom, fifty-something lady there.

‘Bit slow,’ Emma commented to the lady who had half-turned to start working the coffee machine.

‘Yeah. It’ll get going, don’t worry. Your first year here?’ She must have spotted Emma on her stall, and realised she was a newbie.

‘Yep. First market ever, in fact. I have a chocolate shop over at Warkton-by-the-Sea. Thought I’d see how a Christmas market might go.’

‘Ah well, this one’s always a bit slow to start, then it begins to fill. By evening it’s usually bustling, when folk finish work, school, and that. Gets a nice atmosphere after dark with all the Christmas lights and everything. That’s why I think people like coming out later.’

‘Oh okay. Well, good to know it should perk up.’

‘Yes, it will. This is my sixth year.’

‘Right. So, it must be worth coming back to, then.’

The woman was busy frothing up some milk to pour in to the rich-smelling coffee. Emma couldn’t wait to get her hands round the warm cup.

‘Definitely. Your stall looks great by the way, really pretty. Do you make all the chocolates yourself?’

‘I do indeed. I usually sell them at my shop, The Chocolate Shop by the Sea.’

‘Ah, so that’s you. I saw something in the local paper the other day, I think. Have you just opened a café or something?’

‘Yes, that’s me.’

‘Going well?’

‘Yeah – pretty good. Early days yet and all that. But it’s keeping me busy. Got some help in there today.’ Holly was there, with Bev as second in command. They’d assured Emma they’d be fine and she hoped they’d seen a few more people than she had so far today.

The woman handed the coffee over with a smile, and Emma paid.

‘I might have to pop across and get something from your stall later. Love a bit of chocolate. Going to be drooling here, looking across at it all day.’