Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop

by Jessica Redland

  ‘From what I’ve seen, I agree. If I’m going to do this in Whitsborough Bay, it has to be Castle Street.'

  I’d only been out an hour so Ricky wouldn’t be back at Coral Court yet but, by the time I’d arranged my flowers, unpacked my shopping and made some lunch, he would be.

  At half twelve, I prepared a sandwich for each of us on a fresh baguette I’d bought in town. Ignoring my stomach growling in protest, I covered the food and waited for Ricky. And waited. And waited.

  One o’clock arrived. Then quarter past. With each minute ticking past, I battled with feelings of disappointment and frustration. Would it have killed him to text me to say he was going to be late? And why was he late when we were meant to be spending the afternoon together?

  At half one, I gave up and grabbed my sandwich. I was halfway through it when Ricky’s key turned in the lock.

  ‘I thought I was going to have to send out a search party,’ I called. I tried to keep my voice jovial, but I could hear the edge to it.

  ‘Sorry,’ Ricky called from the hall. ‘They kept us longer than expected. I won’t come through. I’m covered in sawdust. I’ll jump straight in the shower.’

  I heard the bathroom door open and close before I could respond. Sighing, I finished my sandwich while flicking through the latest copy of Chocolatier Magazine. Images of melting chocolate and delectable creations would help me calm down. I loved reading the real-life success stories and became engrossed in one about a master chocolatier who’d set up her own business after being made redundant. She’d now moved into bigger premises and her story filled me with hope that I could do the same. I’d suggest to Ricky that we drive up the coast to see whether any of the other towns or villages would be suitable locations for Charlee’s Chocolates just in case I had to rule out Whitsborough Bay.

  When Ricky appeared with a towel fastened loosely round his waist, my stomach did a little backflip at the sight of him, damp and half-naked. He leaned forward to give me a kiss on the cheek.

  ‘I missed you,’ he said, still leaning over me.

  ‘How much?’

  ‘Loads.’

  I glanced at his towel. A quick flick and it would be free, but I had no confidence when it came to things like that.

  ‘Fancy showing me how much?’ I asked, cringing that I sounded desperate rather than seductive.

  He hesitated. It was only for the briefest of moments, but it was long enough for the colour to rush to my cheeks and for me to curse myself for trying to play the role of temptress when it was so not me.

  ‘Joking,’ I said. ‘You must be starving. I’ve made you a sandwich. I’ll just fetch it.’

  I ducked under his outstretched arm and pretty much sprinted into the tiny kitchen. Yanking open the fridge, I grabbed a can of lager and held it against one cheek, then the other.

  ‘Maybe tonight?’ he called.

  ‘I thought you were going out for Smurf’s birthday.’ I put the can back in the fridge, took out his sandwich and removed the cling film.

  ‘I am,’ he called. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to come?’

  I took a deep breath and exited the kitchen, hoping that the lager had done its job and my cheeks didn’t look radioactive. ‘I’m sure.’ I didn’t fancy another night in alone, but it was still more appealing than a night out with the lads.

  Handing him his sandwich, I curled up on the sofa beside him. He took a huge bite and made appreciative groaning noises as he chewed.

  ‘Where did the flowers come from?’ he asked, stopping mid-chew.

  I recognised that same flicker of jealousy from when he’d met Neil Winters. ‘I bought them in town earlier. It would have been Nanna’s birthday today.’

  ‘Shit! Really?’ He swallowed his mouthful and put his plate down in his lap. ‘I didn’t realise. Are you okay?’

  His concern was touching. I nodded, blinking back tears. ‘I’m fine. Nanna loved flowers and I felt like I wanted to acknowledge the day.’

  He picked up his sandwich and took another bite. Thinking about his jealous reaction just now, it struck me that I wasn’t jealous of him spending time with his friends, but I was jealous of how much time they had with him when I had so little. This was the perfect opportunity to suggest some ground rules before it came between us.

  ‘You know I don’t mind you going out with your friends,’ I said. ‘You can’t be expected to stay home just because I don’t know anyone yet.’ It genuinely hadn’t bothered me that I didn’t know anyone in the area because I’d hardly had a busy social life in Hull, but saying it aloud suddenly made me feel very alone and my voice cracked at the end of the sentence. I took a deep breath. ‘But between you working late and seeing your friends, we’ve barely seen each other this week. Can you make sure there’s still time left for us, otherwise I might as well have stayed in Hull?’

  Ricky put his half-demolished sandwich down on the floor and took my hand. ‘Do you regret moving here?’

  ‘No! It’s just that…’ I swiped at a rogue tear. ‘I’m just frustrated at not finding suitable premises. I think it’s getting to me.’

  ‘Are you sure that’s all?’

  ‘Definitely. I really like Whitsborough Bay. I’ll be fine when I’ve got the shop to focus on.’

  ‘Good.’ He picked up his sandwich again. ‘I just want you to be happy. You know that, don’t you?’

  I nodded. He’d done everything he could to help me feel settled. He’d shown me round, he’d introduced me to his friends, he’d invited me out with them. It was my issue that I didn’t like spending time with them and I wasn’t going to become one of those women who demanded he didn’t have a life of his own so I encouraged him to go out, despite my niggles about money. As long as it wasn’t to the detriment of our relationship.

  When he’d finished his sandwich, he wiped his hands down his towel. ‘That was the best sandwich ever. Thank you.’

  ‘You’re welcome.’

  ‘Why don’t you ring Jodie and see if she’s free tonight?’

  I shrugged. ‘I could do.’

  Ricky stared at me for a moment, frowning.

  ‘I’m fine,’ I reassured him. ‘Honestly. I’m glad I sold the house and I’m glad I moved here. I love this town and I love you. I’m just having a moment, so you can stop looking at me like that. No regrets.’

  His frown remained and he sighed. ‘I’ve got a regret.’

  His voice was dripping with it and my heart thumped. Was he going to say that he regretted telling me he loved me? ‘Oh yes…?’

  ‘My regret is that I put a shower and food ahead of you. That was my bad.’

  I smiled, relieved that it was nothing more serious than that.

  ‘You should always be the top priority,’ he continued. ‘I’m sorry if I haven’t made you feel like that recently. I got carried away being back with the lads. I promise there’ll always be time for us.’

  ‘Good. That’s all I want.’

  He cupped my face and ran his thumb over my cheekbone, sending a flutter of passion through me. ‘You’re so beautiful when you’re angry.’

  ‘I’m not angry.’

  ‘You are and you’re right to be. This afternoon I’m going to make it up to you.’

  ‘How?’

  He winked at me. ‘I’m not wearing very much but you, Charlee Chambers, are wearing far too many clothes and that’s something we’re going to have to rectify.’

  He leaned forward and gently tugged my T-shirt over my head. He cocked his head to one side. ‘It’s an improvement but still not quite right.’

  I giggled as he unzipped my jeans, then pulled them off in one speedy manoeuvre, causing me to slip down onto my back on the sofa.

  ‘Looking a lot better, but you’ve still got two items of clothing on and I only have one…’

  I swiftly released his towel, my pulse racing at how ready for me he clearly was.

  ‘…and now I have none. You don’t play fair.’

  Instead of whi
pping off my bra and knickers and getting on with it like I expected him to, he straddled me and stared into my eyes. ‘Was there anything you had planned for this afternoon?’

  I shook my head. Exploring other locations for my chocolaterie suddenly didn’t feel like my top priority.

  ‘Then let’s take this really slowly. I’ve been neglecting you and I need to make it up to you.’

  And, oh my God, did he make it up to me? Wow! He kissed, caressed and teased until I was begging for him to take me. Straddled across his body on the sofa, I screamed as I finally let go and multiple orgasms shook my body for the first time ever. That would never have happened at my grandparents’ house. Moving to Whitsborough Bay had definitely been the right decision. I just needed to be patient about the shop as it would happen eventually. I’d make friends of my own here eventually too and Ricky was going to make more time for us. If I stopped stressing and relaxed more, look at the amazing things that could happen!

  6

  ‘Have I told you lately how jealous I am of you living in Whitsborough Bay?’ Jodie asked as we walked round The Headland later that evening, heading for a few drinks in Blue Savannah in North Bay. At Ricky’s suggestion, I’d given her a call and she’d been more than willing to drive straight up.

  ‘Only every time I speak to you,’ I said.

  ‘I mean it. I absolutely love this place.’ She stopped and leaned on the stone sea wall, looking out towards the North Sea and to the curve of the bay in the distance where we could just make out the white domes of the Sea Rescue Sanctuary thanks to a bright moon. ‘Look at it. It’s stunning, even at night-time.’

  I couldn’t argue with that. There was something so calming about being by the sea. I’d always felt it at Spurn Point and I felt it here too. ‘I wasn’t sure if you’d be free at such short notice.’

  She shrugged. ‘I’d love to say that I ditched a hot date or a big night out but, let’s face it, my ninety-six-year-old great grandma has a better social life than me.’ Jodie had severed most of her friendships when she dumped Karl because they were mutual friends. She didn’t want to hear them telling her how sorry he was or how much he missed her, so it was easier to make a clean break. ‘And now my best mate in the whole wide world, the only person who I care about spending time with, has bogged off to live at the seaside, leaving Billy No Mates here with nothing to do except gorge on Spam sandwiches and watch the soaps every evening.’

  Although her tone was humorous, I could tell there was truth in her words and I felt terrible. She was right. We’d been inseparable for the past two decades. Even when she’d moved in with Karl, we’d spent loads of time together, but now I’d gone and abandoned her with very little warning. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘You do understand why I moved, don’t you? I couldn’t work for that woman.’

  ‘I know. Gabby was an absolute cow. I’m amazed you stuck it out for as long as you did. It was the right time for you to move on and coming here was definitely a good move for you, or at least it will be when you find a shop.’ Jodie straightened up. ‘I’m not annoyed with you. Well, maybe a little bit, but only because I miss you so much.’

  ‘And I miss you too.’

  She smiled. ‘Come on. Let’s get a drink before we both start crying.’

  ‘Why don’t you move here?’ I suggested when we set off walking again.

  ‘I’d move here in a heartbeat. But playing gooseberry to you and Ricky…?’

  ‘Believe me, you wouldn’t be. He goes out loads with his friends so we’d have plenty of time together and, even if he didn’t, I’d still have time for you.’

  ‘Does that bother you?’ she asked. ‘Ricky going out so much, I mean.’

  ‘Not at first but it has bugged me this week as he’s been out with the lads three times. To be fair to him, he has invited me, but I don’t like them. That sounds awful, doesn’t it? They’re just so loud and laddish together. His best mate, Smurf, is okay but the rest of them are a nightmare.’

  ‘Smurf? Is he blue and white?’

  I laughed. ‘I don’t know his real first name but his surname’s Smurthwaite so everyone calls him Smurf, even his mum, apparently. When they’re all together they act like they’re sixteen instead of in their early thirties. It’s as though they’ve just discovered alcohol but the world’s supply is about to run out so they need to consume a lifetime’s quantity in one evening. A couple of them can’t string a sentence together without the f-word and their idea of a good night out is to fall over, throw up, or get into a fight. And don’t get me started on how they talk about women.’ I shuddered as I thought about the lecherous comments and behaviour I’d been witness to.

  ‘They sound like absolute charmers. Have any of them got girlfriends?’

  ‘Why? Do you want to audition for the part?’

  Jodie laughed. ‘Can’t imagine anything worse. I was just thinking that they sound like blokes who’ve either gone through life with no meaningful relationships or ones who have some stupid ditzy lass hanging on every word who thinks they’re hilarious instead of offensive.’

  ‘It’s actually a mix, although I don’t think any of the ones with girlfriends are particularly long-term except for Smurf who’s been with his for six years. She’s often out with them and, I hate to say it, but I can’t stand her either. She’s like a real-life Barbie doll with long blonde hair, huge boobs, tiny waist, and trowelled-on make-up. I know I shouldn’t judge her for her appearance, but her personality is as fake as her nails. She pretends to be friendly to me when Ricky’s in earshot then walks off when he’s not around.’ My fists clenched just thinking about her unbelievable rudeness. ‘Bloody BJ. She’s so two-faced.’

  ‘BJ? What sort of name’s that?’ Jodie giggled. ‘Does it stand for blow job?’

  I giggled too. ‘I suggested the same thing to Ricky and he got a bit shirty with me, although what it really stands for isn’t much better. It’s Big Jugs apparently. She was an early developer so it became her school nickname and, bizarrely, she loves it. All the boys adore her. She can drink nearly as much as them, she’s into football, and she was a gymnast when she was younger so her party trick is doing the splits or the crab in the pub, flashing her knickers and bra to everyone.’

  ‘She sounds like a delight too. I’m not surprised you don’t want to socialise with them.’

  ‘BJ and her girlfriends have made it clear that I’m not welcome and I don’t have anything in common with any of the lads.’

  We walked along in silence for a few minutes and I felt quite tearful now that I’d put it in words. Was it me? Was I the unreasonable one not giving his friends a chance? No. I’d gone out with them twice with every intention of making new friends but it hadn’t worked. They were a clique with years of history and I couldn’t infiltrate.

  ‘I really wouldn’t be cramping your style if I moved here?’ Jodie asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  I stopped walking and grabbed her arm, a squeal of excitement building in me. ‘Are you seriously thinking about it?’

  She shrugged. ‘With my parents back in Bradford and you being here, there’s nothing to keep me in Hull except my job. It’s not like they don’t have teaching assistants in Whitsborough Bay, although I’m wondering if it’s time for a career change anyway. I’ve always fancied living here and taking up sailing or surfing. Karl and I talked about moving here but he decided it was too quiet for him. Probably not quite enough women for him to work round in his shagging season.’

  ‘I still can’t believe he did that to you. Such a waste. You were so perfect together.’

  ‘Yeah. I thought so too, but apparently not.’ She looked out to the sea. ‘Living here would be a dream fulfilled, but are you sure I wouldn’t be in the way?’

  ‘Yes! Having you here would be the best thing ever.’

  ‘I’d better hand in my notice, then, hadn’t I?’

  ‘Oh my God! You’re really going to move here?’

  She grinned. ‘I’d love to move he
re.’

  I flung my arms round her and we bounced up and down together, squealing.

  ‘That’s the best piece of news I’ve had all year,’ I said, when we’d stopped our happy jig. ‘This calls for cocktails. Do you have to drive back? Can’t you stay over? I know it’s not ideal but the sofa’s really comfy.’ I blushed as I thought about what Ricky and I had done on the sofa earlier.

  ‘Go on then. I’ll have to be home by lunchtime, though. I’ve got stuff to do. Will Ricky mind?’

  ‘I’ll text him.’

  ✉︎ To Ricky

  Hi you, I’ve convinced Jodie to have a few drinks. Would you mind if she sleeps on the sofa? xx

  He responded a few minutes later:

  ✉︎ From Ricky

  Why don’t you both have our bed? I can have my old bed at Smurf’s. Have fun xx

  ‘Aw, he’s such a sweetheart,’ Jodie said when I shared his response. ‘You should hang onto him.’

  ‘I’m certainly going to try.’

  ‘But maybe detach him from those Neanderthal mates.’

  I sighed. ‘That may be slightly harder.’

  My mobile rang when I was half way down my second cocktail. I didn’t recognise the number.

  ‘Hello, Charlee speaking.’

  ‘Charlee. Hi. It’s Sarah from Seaside Blooms. We spoke earlier about business premises.’

  My heart thumped. Did she have news? ‘Hi Sarah. I wasn’t expecting to hear back from you so soon.’

  ‘I always think that there’s no time like the present. I’ve done some digging and one of the bigger premises is about to become available.’

  I nearly squealed with excitement. ‘Which one?’

  ‘The one next to the teddy bear shop, almost opposite me.’

  I frowned. That couldn’t be right. ‘Next to the bear shop? But that’s Oak Bespoke.’

  ‘That’s the one.’

  ‘Someone told me that it had only just opened and was doing well.’