Читать книгу The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop: The perfect heartwarming summer escape from the Kindle bestselling author - Caroline Roberts, Caroline Roberts - Страница 15

Emma found herself rather floored by the surprise arrival of Nathan yesterday – or Nate, she reminded herself. Her mind was still in flux. It was such a blast from the past, and yet he had changed so much from the teenager she remembered … was so like Luke.

Well, enough of the nostalgia trip; she had to shake herself up. Today was the day of Bev’s trial prosecco party and now that she had closed the shop for the day, there was a party to organise! She’d decided to welcome all the guests with a flute of prosecco and a chocolate-dipped strawberry on the side. Then they could have a go at making the dipped strawberries themselves – they were really easy to do but looked delightful and tasted delicious. Just perfect with a glass of bubbly too.

Then they would move on to the truffle-making session. She’d lined up a selection of alcohol flavourings – Irish Cream, whisky and rum worked really well – so they could choose their own favourite. She’d also have some vanilla extract for a non-alcohol version, just in case. Hmm, that set her thinking – at the professional party nights there might well be a non-drinker, or perhaps someone pregnant. Yes, she’d put out a bottle of sparkling elderflower and some non-alcohol drink options too – the elderflower was still gorgeous and bubbly. It was good that she was doing this trial run – a useful business experiment. And, even better, it was a damn good excuse for a get-together with friends.

She set out the big round table in the window with a dozen champagne flutes – she’d had to borrow eight of them from Bev, as she rarely required that many. Next, she needed to go and turn on the tempering machine, so as to keep the melted chocolate just right. That way, the beginners could work with the chocolate easily. She then went upstairs to find her festive decorations that had been packed away after Christmas, pulling out a strand of white fairy lights to give the shop a pretty glow.

After setting everything out, she looked around The Chocolate Shop – it really was lovely. She felt proud of how much she had achieved in these seven years, both for herself and her shop. The new soft furnishings in their pretty shades of blue, grey and white gave it a cosy coastal feel for the summer months and a soft toy seal that one of her nieces had given her sat on the hull-shaped shelf rack along with the rows of goody bags of fudge and truffles. On the walls, there were some black-and-white photos of Warkton in the old days, showing the fishing boats down in the harbour. Old Mrs Clark, whose husband Jim had been a fisherman, had given them to her. One image was of his old coble boat, Silver Spray. He’d died over twenty years ago, so Mrs C had told her sadly.

It was after Emma shared a little of her own loss that the old lady came up with the photos, saying she wanted Em to have them, so they could be displayed in the shop for all to enjoy, far better than being tucked away gathering dust in her cupboard.

The shop was very much a part of this community, of its history. It had seen its share of love, laughter and loss too. But tonight, Emma had a good feeling, was going to be a particularly fun one.

Next some music. She took out her small portable speaker and chose some easy-listening tracks on her iPhone to give the shop a more relaxed ambience. Great.

It was soon time to dash upstairs for a quick shower and change. The girls were due around seven-thirty. She chose to wear her black work trousers, trying to keep her outfit true to how she might dress for the formal party nights, and teamed it with a soft-pink floral top. She popped her long red hair into a ponytail, to keep it neat and out of the way.

She was just about to head back down when she heard a knock at the back door and then Bev’s voice calling up the stairs, ‘Only me! I take it I’m the first. I’m a bit early. I’ll come on up, shall I?’

‘I’m nearly ready, so I’m on my way down, actually. Hang on.’

Emma was soon heading down the stairs.

They greeted each other with a hug in the hallway. Bev had brought a lovely square glass vase filled with pink and cream roses. ‘For you.’

‘Aw, thanks Bev. They’re beautiful.’

‘Well, I can’t exactly bring you chocolates, can I?’ She smiled. ‘Oh, and these, to help with supplies.’ Bev winked, and presented her with three bottles of prosecco, which Em placed on the kitchen side.

‘Ooh, I’ll put these flowers straight through into the shop. They will complete the look perfectly.’ Em placed them carefully on the second window table. The first table being ready with the glass flutes, the bottles of alcohol to add to the truffles that she’d set out earlier, and a set of black aprons she had sourced online especially for the truffle-making session and had printed with The Chocolate Shop by the Sea logo and gold writing that read: ‘Love, laughter, chocolate and prosecco!’

‘Hah, these are brilliant.’ Bev was opening one out.

‘Thought it’d be worth the investment. Make it feel more professional, yet fun.’

‘Love them. This is so going to work, you know, Emma. It’s such a bloody good idea, dare I say so myself.’ Bev was virtually preening. ‘Prosecco parties are so my thing … Let’s pour out a glass and toast their future success.’

‘Oh, yes. Why not.’

There’s nothing quite like the sound of the popping of a cork; the sight of straw-coloured bubbles rushing into foam down the side of a glass; that first blissfully refreshing mouthful.

‘Cheers, Bev.’

‘Cheers, hun. To the most fabulous chocolate and prosecco parties ever! And to The Chocolate Shop by the Sea making lots of money.’

‘Yay! Now that would be brilliant.’ A secure financial base would be just wonderful, for who knew what might happen next to the rent or the property after the bloody landlord’s last visit. But, those negative thoughts needed to be pushed back for another day. Tonight was for enjoying themselves. ‘Well, the good news is, it might not be too long before I can do the proper licensed parties. I’ve done my research and I’ve already booked a licensing course. Once I’ve passed the exam, I have to make an application to the council.’

‘Ooh, landlady Em. You’ll need to invest in some leopard-print gear, big dangly earrings and a push-up bra!’

‘Hah, you’re thinking Bet Lynch or Barbara Windsor’s character at the Queen Vic!’

‘Ooh ah, I bet Max’ll love it.’

‘Behave woman, but hah, he probably would. Though may I say, it’ll be a much classier affair here.’

With that, two eager faces appeared at the shop door. Holly and her best friend, Jess.

‘Come in. Come in. It’s open,’ Emma called out.

‘Hi Em. Wow, it looks a-mazing in here. Love the new evening ambience.’ Holly grinned.

‘It’s really pretty,’ Jess agreed.

Within a half hour all nine guests were there, including Chloe and her friend Hannah, and were hands-on, dipping strawberries into bowls of white and dark chocolate that Emma had set out in the centre of the table.

‘I want to eat them all already. How long do they take to set?’ Jess asked.

‘Um, about twenty minutes for these. I’ll pop them in the cooler kitchen area for a while.’

That gave them time to have another glass of bubbly and have a chat. It all seemed to be going well, Emma mused.

‘Top-ups anyone?’ Bev was wielding the next prosecco bottle promisingly.

‘I’ll skip this time.’ Em intended taking it steady for now whilst she was teaching and observing how the session was going.

The others were keen for refills.

‘Okay, so next we are going to make the chocolate truffles. There’s a little more technique to this.’ Emma was trying to keep it sounding professional.

‘Oh my, so I need to concentrate,’ Sheila, from the grocer’s, piped up.

‘It’s like being back at school,’ added Jo, with a smile.

‘Hah, school was never this fun!’ Ali grinned.

‘And since when did you ever get served prosecco at school?’ Holly added.

‘Good idea if they did, mind,’ said Jess. ‘Might ease the pain of exams.’

‘You’d never get any work done, girls,’ Sheila retorted sensibly.

Emma went off to fetch more bowls of tempered chocolate for the truffle-making session, to which they would add cream and their chosen liqueur. The mixture would then need to be chilled in the fridge for at least an hour before being moulded into small balls and dipped into even more chocolate to coat. Chloe offered to give her a hand.

‘Seems to be going well. It’s a really lovely idea, Em,’ she said, once the pair of them were in the kitchen.

‘Yeah, fingers crossed. Even if I could only do one or two a month to start, that’d be good.’

‘Well, I’ll help spread the word. There are lots of mums at the school gates, desperate for a night out. And this would be right up their street.’

‘Thanks.’

They were soon back out carrying bowls of melted dark chocolate.

‘Right, I’m going in with the Baileys liqueur.’ Laura took the bottle of Irish Cream in readiness.

‘I fancy the whisky,’ piped up Ali.

‘Ho ho ho, and a bottle of rum for me, then.’ Holly took up the last bottle. ‘We can share, Jess.’

‘You only need a tablespoon for your mixture. So it’ll go a long way.’ Em was passing out the small dishes of melted chocolate – one for each person. ‘Don’t add the alcohol just yet, by the way. There’s another step to do first.’

‘Em, do you have any of that raspberry gin left?’ Bev asked as the hostess-with-the-mostest reached her. ‘You remember, we opened it at New Year.’

‘I do remember, and yes, there’s still half a bottle upstairs. Mmm, raspberry gin truffles, you might be on to something there, Bev.’

‘I know. I have a taste for this stuff. My taste buds are the equivalent of Jo Malone’s nose!’

The whole group creased with laughter at that point.

‘Just saying.’ Bev sounded slightly put out.

‘I’ll just nip up and fetch it.’ With that, Em dashed up the stairs. She couldn’t be long, or all the chocolate would start cooling. Kitchen cupboard, there it was. Result. She was back down in two ticks.

‘Okay ladies, watch and learn. We all have a bowl of melted dark chocolate each and next I’ll bring through the hot cream to mix. So, wooden spoons at the ready.’ She poured a little into each bowl, judging the right amount instinctively. ‘Don’t worry, you can all have the recipe sheet to take home, so you don’t need to remember all this. Okay, so now to add your chosen liqueur – just a tablespoon is enough – and stir through again.’

‘This is fun.’

‘Smells divine.’

‘When can we lick the bowls?’ Laura, from the hotel, asked cheekily.

‘Hold fire on that. The mix needs to set in the bowls so we can handle it later to mould into truffles.’

‘Darn.’

‘Spoilsport.’

‘Going to have to test a little on my fingertip then, if that’s the case,’ said Laura.

‘Don’t panic, folks, you can have the chocolate strawberries you made earlier while you wait,’ added Em.

‘And I suppose another glass of prosecco might help,’ Bev said, grinning. There were still plenty of supplies, after all, as everyone who had come along had brought a bottle.

‘Come on, then, let’s have a brainstorm while you’re all here. I’m always looking for new ideas for flavours for the shop; any suggestions for some new chocolates?’ Emma was keen to hear their thoughts. ‘And I promise I’ll make the best suggestions a reality.’

‘Ooh, now then …’

‘Gin and Tonic.’ Jo started the ball rolling.

‘Toffee vodka.’

‘Whisky and orange,’ added Chloe’s friend, Hannah.

‘Hah, they don’t have to all be alcoholic, mind. But what else can I expect with you lot!’

‘Ginger beer,’ came from Holly.

They all pulled a face.

‘What? I love ginger beer.’

‘Porn star martini,’ called out Bev.

‘Sex on the beach.’ Ali.

‘Now we’re talking,’ Jo rallied. ‘What’s that other one? Long slow screw up against the—’

‘Okay, enough, enough. I think we’ll stop the brainstorming now. You lot have one-track minds. I’d have to have an adult section in the shop with a black curtain over it at this rate.’

‘Ha ha, yes, an obscured section in the refrigerated counter for X-rated chocolates. Hilarious! How can I help you, madam?’ Bev winked.

‘We could have chocolate willies,’ Holly joined in. ‘We had them at Ellen’s hen do. They were brilliant.’

‘Oh, just imagine handling those.’ Jess pulled a face. ‘Were they life-sized?’

‘Nooo!’

‘We are not that kind of an establishment.’ Emma tried to keep a snooty voice going but ended up in a fit of the giggles. She should have realised a brainstorming session with her girlfriends after several bottles of prosecco may not have been the best idea.

The group chatted on about love, life and the latest village gossip, and it was soon time to do the next stage of the truffle-making. There was white and milk chocolate to coat, once the truffle centres had been rolled into little balls. This was the messy bit, and the girls had a hoot at this stage. There was much licking of fingers by the end.

‘Mine look like little turds.’ Jess wrinkled her nose at the end results laid out on her plate.

‘How come all my decorating chocolate has slid off the outside?’ frowned Sheila.

‘The chocolate was probably a little too warm. Were you handling the bowl a lot?’

‘Hmm, maybe.’

‘Ah.’

‘Well, look at these little beauties.’ Bev was beaming.

‘These are brilliant, Bev. Ooh, you can help me crafting in the shop, now I know you’re a natural.’

‘It’s been so much fun,’ added Laura. ‘Now do I get to lick the bowl?’

‘Sure do. And when they are finally set, I’ll give you all goody bags of them to take home.’

‘That sounds great,’ said Chloe. ‘Better keep James away from them or I’ll not get a look-in.’

‘Brill, but can I take Bev’s ones instead? They look so much more appealing than mine!’ said Jess.

‘Keep your hands off, you!’ Bev threatened. ‘Oh, okay, I’ll donate one or two then.’

The evening carried on with the sounds of chatter and laughter, ending with an impromptu medley of chocolate and confectionery inspired songs. ‘You’re Sweet Like Chocolate’ being Holly’s contribution (they all knew she was singing about Adam), ‘Sweet Caroline’ a tentative link from Ali, ‘Sugar, Sugar’ from Jo, ‘The Candy Man Can’ from Sheila, and a fabulous twist on ‘I Love Rock ’n’ Roll’ by Bev which turned into ‘I Love Rocky Road’ which they all chanted happily along with as a grand finale, with much table drumming and arm swaying.

All too soon, it was time for the group of ladies to go; the time had flown and it was nearing midnight.

‘Past the Cinderella hour,’ Sheila sighed. ‘Sorry, folks, it’s been great fun, but I have a shop to open in the morning.’

‘Hotel Reception to run,’ echoed Laura.

‘Yes, “Doctors’ surgery, how can I help you?”’ Ali put on her best receptionist voice.

‘Sixth Form …’ Holly began. ‘Ooh no, bliss, it’s Saturday.’ Holly was gleeful.

‘But you are working for me,’ Emma reminded her.

‘Oops, yes. I’ll be here, never fear.’

‘Well, it’s been amazing, Em.’ Jo was sporting an extra-wide prosecco-fuelled smile.

‘Just brilliant. Thank you,’ said Jess.

‘These prosecco nights will be fabulous.’ Chloe gave her a big thumbs-up. ‘As soon as you get your licence we’ll all spread the word for you.’

‘I’m sure the hotel guests will love it, too. Especially for birthdays, special occasions and the like. It’ll be perfect,’ Laura added. ‘I’d be happy to put some fliers out for you. They already love the turndown chocolates as it is.’

‘We’ll be behind you all the way.’ Sheila grinned.

‘And if you ever need any more practice runs …’ offered Ali with a cheeky smile.

‘Aw, thank you. Love the support from you lot.’ Emma gave them all hugs on their way out.

She closed the shop door with a happy sigh. There was just her and Bev, who’d offered to stay and help tidy up. It had been such a good night, and just what Emma had needed after the shock of Nate’s appearance and that blast from the past.