The dialling tone droned on, with no answer on her friend’s mobile.

Em stroked Alfie’s head, feeling out of kilter. She finally had the chance to relax, and now didn’t know quite what to do with herself. She flicked the TV control back to the Netflix menu. A night in beckoned and a supper of a can of tomato soup for one.

* * *

The man drove down Warkton-by-the-Sea’s main street.

So there it was, The Chocolate Shop by the Sea – a cute-looking cottage-style shop. Yes, it suited her. He felt a strange sensation in his gut as he drove past slowly, catching glimpses of chocolates and confectionery, but he couldn’t quite make out the figures inside.

Ah, what the hell was he doing? He wasn’t even sure what had compelled him to drive up here today. Just a need to get out, get away for a while. He shouldn’t really be here at all.

He slowed at the bottom of the hill and pulled the pick-up to a halt beside the harbour, turned off the engine, and looked at the boats bobbing there, the people strolling by.

Sometimes it was just the right thing at the wrong time. This felt so very much like the right thing; he couldn’t reason out why, but some instinct had brought him here … but no, right now he needed to go back, to sort things out with Siobhan and her family.

He sighed, put the pick-up into reverse, turned around and passed the shop once more. At least she was still here, he mused. Well, she might be. She could have sold the business or anything by now. He could just stop, pull up, see if she was there, say hi. But dammit, it was all too messy just now; there was too much unfinished business. He put his foot on the accelerator, and drove on by.

Emma, relaxed from her well-earned time off the day before, looked up from serving Stan and Hilda, the friendly pensioners who were regulars.

Oh, surely not! Emma did a double-take as she thought she recognised a grey, jeep-style vehicle, passing by.

Could it be?

But it had already driven on by. She hadn’t even had a chance to spot the driver. Blimey, Em, she chided herself, how many grey truck things are there around? There must be hundreds of them. For goodness’ sake, get a grip, woman.

Sometimes you might meet someone out of the blue, talk and chat for a short while, even share a kiss, but it didn’t mean it was anything significant or that you’d ever see them again. They could touch your life for the briefest of times, but it didn’t mean they were going to become a part of it. She sighed softly.