Emma laughed. ‘Well, I do have brownies and shortbread as well as the chocolates if anyone is looking for something to go with their coffee.’ It didn’t look like the Coffee Cabin had food, just drinks, for sale. She’d go back over and put them somewhere more prominent, she mused. They might sell well with having the hot drink stall opposite – fingers crossed.

‘I’ll mention it to my customers.’

‘Thank you.’

As soon as Emma got back to her stall she rearranged her wares, and then headed back over to the Coffee Cabin with a dark chocolate brownie and two choc-chip shortbreads for her newfound friend. ‘A little taster for you,’ she offered.

‘Aw, thanks. They look great. And if you fancy another drink later, it’ll be on the house.’

‘Thanks.’

‘You’ve got a customer,’ the woman said cheerily, gesturing towards Emma’s pitch.

Em turned to see a woman and child browsing the mini reindeer and snowmen. ‘Ooh, fab.’ And she whizzed back to take her place behind the counter area.

‘Hello, can I help at all?’

‘Ooh Mum, look, chocolate Rudolphs! They’re so cute! Can I?’

‘Yes, okay, and you’d better choose something for Alex too.’

‘The snowy snowman.’ The little girl was pointing across, excitedly.

The mother picked up both, passed them across to Emma, then carried on browsing, choosing a couple of bags of fudge, and a box of Christmas pud chocolates. ‘They look good,’ she said.

‘Yes, and they will all last until well after Christmas,’ Emma reassured.

‘Fabulous. Well, in that case we’ll choose something for Daddy and Auntie Faye too.’

The little girl chose a big chocolate bar with honeycomb crunch topping for her dad and a box of salted caramels for her aunt.

‘Thank you.’ Emma bagged up the confectionery carefully. She had brought a stack of strong white paper bags with cord-style handles, and she popped in a pretty new business card that she had designed herself online for the shop and café – might as well spread the word. The order came to over fifteen pounds which cheered Emma.

‘It all looks so pretty. Thanks,’ the woman commented as she took the bag.

‘Can I eat Rudolph now?’ the little girl asked her mum hopefully.

‘I don’t see why not,’ she answered, and took it out and unwrapped it for her.

Two happy customers! Despite the bitter cold, Emma felt a little glow inside.

More people began to mill about the market and Emma’s parents arrived unexpectedly.

‘Oh, how nice of you both to come.’

‘How’s it going, pet? We couldn’t miss your first market, could we now?’ Dad beamed across at her.

‘Fairly quiet so far, but I’ve been advised it gets busier later.’