Emma felt awful; she so wished she could give her more work. Holly was a great help and lovely with the customers, chatty and friendly behind the counter. She was nice company for Emma too. But the business really wasn’t making enough for her to keep paying for extra hours. As it was, she probably could have managed without Holly for the whole of January. She could craft the chocolates in the evenings – she had enough time on her hands – but she wanted to help the young girl and she’d really need her to stay on for when it got busier in the spring. Some other business might snap her up otherwise, and that would be such a shame, both for Emma and The Chocolate Shop.
‘Making more supplies, I see.’
‘Yes, dark choc whisky truffles.’
‘Mmm, I love those.’
‘Actually, I’ll only be two more minutes making the mix for these. Do you fancy staying for a coffee?’ Em realised the company would be great. She hadn’t seen a soul yesterday.
They were soon settled on stools in Emma’s kitchen with cups of coffee in front of them. The whisky truffles weren’t quite ready, but she did have a few chocolate-orange ones left that she’d made just before the New Year.
‘Aw, thanks, Em, this is so nice. I always used to love coming in here, even before I got the job. It’s such a magical little shop. I used to stand there, browsing the shelves, choosing my favourites, or sometimes trying something new because you have such gorgeous flavours. And the smell …’ Holly smiled. ‘All that cocoa scrumminess; just amazing.’
She’d spotted the sign that Emma had put in the shop window one day, saying a part-time assistant was required and had walked right in and introduced herself there and then, not wanting to miss the opportunity. The work was ideal for Holly, fitting in with school times, study, and exams, yet a welcome break from that too.
Emma had tried to make her feel welcome and they got on well despite the age gap. She took time to train her on how best to deal with the customers and let her watch and learn the chocolate-creating process, even asking for Holly’s advice on new flavours and chatting about ideas. They’d come up with a cranberry and pistachio truffle in the run-up to Christmas which was a real hit with the customers. Holly’s confidence had grown so much since starting here and it was lovely that the two of them got on so well. There was a big age difference, nearly twenty years, she found out, so Em felt a bit like a mum-figure and friend all rolled into one.
‘So, looks like you had a good night on New Year’s Eve?’ Emma commented.
‘Yeah, The Fisherman's Arms was buzzing, wasn’t it? We were at a party before that, at my mate Laura’s house.’
‘Was Tom there?’
Tom had been Holly’s crush for years and she’d spilled out all her romantic hopes and dreams to Emma. The pair had been school friends for years but, for Holly, something had changed at around sixteen. She felt they could be more than friends. As yet, Tom had been slow to catch up, or lately even notice her.
‘Ye-es.’ Her answer was noncommittal. ‘He was there, but I might as well have not been, for all the time he spent chatting and canoodling with bloody Kirsty Chase. Okay, so she is the best netball player in the school. And she’s tall and leggy, with silky, long blonde hair. But she can be a bit dim, sometimes.’
‘Ah, I see. Sorry, petal. Doesn’t sound like it was your night.’
‘Not really. But hey-ho … Did you have a nice night? I thought it might have been just you and Alfie and a night in before I saw you?’ Holly looked at her in horror, though that didn’t sound a bad option to Emma really.
‘No, I do have some friends, you know,’ Emma laughed.
‘Oh, I didn’t mean it like that!’
‘I know. Well, I had an early supper with Bev and Pete, and then we met Joanne and a few others for drinks out in the village and then ended up in the Fisherman’s like you lot, of course. It was nice.’
Fine, pleasant, amusing. It didn’t make your toes curl.
‘Yeah, it was a pretty good night. Didn’t feel so hot the next day, mind.’
‘Hah, no, I bet.’
‘So, I’ll come in next Saturday then. What time?’
‘About one-ish.’ Emma pulled a sorry face; frustrated that she couldn’t give Holly more hours. ‘Say one till three. We can sort out the window display if it’s quiet, think of something bright to cheer January up a bit.’
‘Oh yes, I’ll have a think on it. I like being creative.’
‘Fancy a chocolate-orange truffle, Hols? They’re like a posh version of the Terry’s.’
‘Ooh, don’t mind if I do.’
‘We have to check for quality control, naturally,’ Em grinned.
‘Of course.’
One became three each, just to triple-check the product. They ended up with chocolate-smeared lips, grinning like loons.
‘That definitely passes the taste test. Wow!’ Holly was beaming.
Oh, yes. This was one of the best parts of the job – the chocolate tasting!
‘January’s doing my head in.’
‘Hello, Bev,’ Emma recognised the voice of her best friend. ‘What’s up?’
‘It’s just so dull and grey. Christmas is over and I have no money left, and no parties to look forward to.’
‘Ah, and we’re only a week in to it, too.’
‘I know, and that’s even more depressing.’
‘We could have a girlie night in. Needn’t cost more than a bottle of Prosecco.’ In fact, she’d been given a bottle as a Christmas gift – even better.
‘Now you’re talking.’
‘Yes, a movie night. I can get something up on Netflix. Funny or sad?’
‘Not sure. I need some cheering up, I think, but then I do like a good sloppy romance that makes you get the tissues out.’
‘Well, I’ll have a think on it. I’ll get some popcorn in too. We’ll do it properly.’ It sounded fun. They could chat and cosy up. It might just be what Emma needed too.
‘You don’t have any chocolate, do you?’ She could hear the smile in Bev’s tone.
‘Nah, never keep it in.’
They both laughed.
‘I’ve just about finished my Christmas supplies, Em. Well, to be honest, let’s say Pete has just about finished my Christmas supplies. The gorgeous ones you gave us were gone within the day, the Heroes tin has a couple of mini Milky Ways left, and that’s about it.’
‘Do you want a goody bag to go down to the shop with, before the movie? A bit like a pick ’n’ mix?’
‘Oh my, you know me too well, Emma Carter. Can I really? That would be heaven. I get to raid a chocolate shop, drink Prosecco and watch some hunk in a movie, all in one night. That is such a plan. I feel cheerier already, just thinking about it. Thanks, Em.’
‘You’re welcome. That’s what friends are for.’
She could spare a few chocolates from the shop; yes, funds would be a little tight for the next couple of months for sure, but right now she had her Christmas takings safely banked, and she could always steer her friend towards the last of the festive favourites. After all, no one