She pouts at me, which I take as my cue to say, ‘Could you possibly dust those shelves and restock them? I like to see them nice and full. I haven’t had time to check what’s in the stock room yet, so is it all right if I leave that to you?’ That was really polite, right?
With a flick of her hair, she disappears again and then comes back with a duster and a few boxes of chocolates. She might not like me being in charge – resentment radiates from every cell of her sexy French being – but at least she’s doing what I ask.
While Ms France is occupied doing that, I titivate the window display. The chocolates here look a bit faded and tired, so I replace them with new offerings. And, though it goes against all that I stand for, with a slight whimper, I throw the old ones in the bin.
Marcus texts me. All OK?
Yes, I text back. Chocolate Heaven is in safe hands again.
I love you, he sends back and there’s a big row of kisses, too.
I’ll say one thing for Marcus: he never gives up.
While I’m arranging some fresh muffins on a plate, Autumn arrives. She does a double take as she sees me behind the counter.
‘Hi!’ I give her a cheeky wave.
‘What are you doing here?’ Her eyes widen. ‘More importantly, what are you doing here on that side of the counter?’
‘It’s a long story and I’ll tell you when the other girls arrive, but I’m certainly glad to be back.’
‘It’s great to see you.’ She frowns. ‘Everything smoothed over with Marcus?’
‘Kind of.’ I nod towards Ms France tidying the shelves.
‘Oh.’ Autumn grimaces at me and I shrug.
‘Now then, can I get you your usual, Madam?’
‘I’m so glad we’re back!’ Autumn claps her hands with excitement. ‘This is permanent?’
‘I hope so.’
‘Wow. I’ll have a celebratory latte and a selection of chocs, please. I’ll let you choose.’
‘I can heartily recommend the almond cream in white chocolate.’
‘Hit me with it,’ she says. ‘Yay! This is just like old times.’
We have only been displaced and nomadic chocolate-eaters for a few months, but it does feel like a lifetime.
Next to arrive is Chantal. She manoeuvres Lana’s buggy through the door with the skill that comes with a lot of practise. Nevertheless, I go to help her. I think she looks quite drawn today and that makes me worry about her even more. ‘All well?’
She shakes her head. ‘So, so. Once I’ve had a double espresso to restore my equilibrium, I’ll tell all.’
‘What do you think?’ I point to my Chocolate Heaven apron.
‘You are a Malteser above a candle flame when it comes to Marcus.’ She sighs at me. ‘I knew you’d be back. It was only a matter of time.’
‘He’s giving me a great fat salary.’
‘And a load of grief to go with it, no doubt.’ Chantal looks at me ruefully. ‘But you look happier than you have in ages, so who am I to criticise? You go for it, girl.’
‘I can manage Marcus,’ I assure her.
My friend raises her eyebrows and I think better of telling them the story of Marcus finding Crush and I getting jiggy on the sofa in here and cajoling/coercing me into returning. When I think about it, it doesn’t sound that great. Instead, I opt for, ‘Anything to eat?’
‘Cake.’ A relieved breath. ‘A huge slice of it. The biggest you’ve got.’
‘Coming up!’
She goes to sit with Autumn while I oblige. I kick the coffee machine into life, the peculiarities of operating it all coming back to me. And to think that I could be in a temporary office position now doing filing. Hurrah for me!
I’ve just delivered Autumn and Chantal’s order when Nadia arrives. She hugs me straight away. ‘Look at you!’
I give her a twirl with my apron.
‘It’s as if you’ve never been away.’
‘I swear that my soul has relaxed today.’ Even the scent of cocoa is making me chill.
‘And so it should.’ She gives me a look. ‘I’m sure Marcus pulled off some hideous scam to get you in here.’
‘Yeah,’ I confess. ‘He did.’
‘Wouldn’t be Marcus otherwise.’
‘Latte and a muffin?’
‘Sounds good to me. I can’t stay long.’
I make up the order and, because the girls are currently the only customers, I sneak a minute to sit with them. I can dash back to the counter in a second if a customer comes in. Rather that than let Ms France serve them in her customary style, eh?
I’m so happy that we’re all here again, where we should be – The Chocolate Lovers’ Club back at Chocolate Heaven. I could jump for joy.
‘Marie-France,’ I shout over to my colleague. ‘These are my friends. You’ll be seeing a lot of them in here.’
She turns and regards them all coolly. ‘Bonjour.’
‘Hi,’ they say as one.
I wave to her. ‘Come over and join us for a minute.’
‘I am busy.’ Ms France returns to her task, flicking her duster a little more briskly.
Tricky, Chantal mouths.
Ver y, I echo. But even the one fly in the ointment can’t rain on my parade – if you know what I mean.
‘Right. News,’ I say. ‘I want to hear it all.’
‘Well,’ Chantal says, looking very coy. ‘Jacob has proposed to me.’
‘Fabulous!’ We all smother her with hugs and kisses.
‘That’s really great news,’ Autumn says. ‘And just the tonic you need right now.’
‘It will give you something to look forward to,’ Nadia agrees. ‘Another chance to be bridesmaids!’
‘Not so fast.’ Chantal holds up a hand. ‘I did point out to Jacob that I’m not even divorced yet.’
‘Technicalities,’ I say. ‘When is the wedding?’
‘I’ve told him that we can only go ahead when I’ve had my treatment,’ Chantal says. ‘I don’t want that hanging over me. Plus I don’t want to steal your thunder, Lucy. We have your wedding first.’
I clap my hands with glee. ‘Now that I’m back working again we can actually go ahead and book the venue.’
‘That’s great,’ Chantal says. ‘I can’t wait!’
‘And you have to be better by then.’
She laughs. ‘I’ll do my very best. I’ve got another appointment tomorrow to see the consultant. Hopefully, she’ll have more to tell me about my treatment then, and I can start making arrangements.’
‘I can change my plans if need be,’ Autumn says. ‘Don’t go alone.’
‘Jacob’s coming along,’ Chantal replies. ‘He’s organised the time off work. But it would be a big help if you could look after Lana.’
‘No problem. I’ve got Flo, too. I can take them both to the park.’
‘You should just set yourself up as a permanent childminder,’ Nadia says. ‘You’re brilliant.’
‘I do love it,’ Autumn agrees. ‘Maybe it’s something I should think about. I’ve been out of work for too long and I need to do something constructive.’
‘How did it go with Willow?’ Chantal asks.
Autumn grins happily. ‘Better than I could have hoped. She’s an amazing girl. You can’t believe how relieved I am. It was a bit difficult at first. She didn’t exactly rush into my arms, but she’s young and hurting. I’m sure it’s been a lot to take in.’
‘Did you get a photo?’
Autumn opens her handbag. ‘She took a lot of coaxing, but eventually she let me take one.’ She passes round her phone and a miniature Autumn stares back. But with more make-up.
‘She’s confused, very cross about everything and a bit lost,’ Autumn says. ‘Yet she seems willing to have a relationship with me. She’s agreed to come down to London so that we can go out for the day.’
I give Autumn a big squeeze. ‘I’m so pleased for you.’
‘If you’d told me last year that this would happen, I’d never
have believed you.’
‘You’ll have to bring her here so that we can meet her. When is she coming?’
‘I’m not sure yet, but as soon as we can arrange it. I can’t wait to see her again. I just regret all the years we’ve been apart, but I’m so grateful that she looked for me. She’s struggling a bit at the moment but, underneath the hard little exterior she’s trying to create, she’s lovely.’
‘She’s her mother’s daughter,’ I remind her.
‘I feel as if I’m trying to tread a very fine line. I don’t want to undermine all that Mary has done for her. She’s the one who’s been there for Willow all of her life. I want to take it slowly so that Willow doesn’t feel crowded.’
‘You know that we’ll do anything to help you,’ Nadia offers.
‘Thanks.’ Autumn grins. ‘Miles has been brilliant, too. So understanding.’
‘You deserve some happiness after all you’ve been through.’ Chantal pats her knee.
‘It’s only sad that Rich will never get to meet her. He would have loved to be an uncle.’
I don’t think Autumn will ever get over the death of her brother and it’s times like this that must bring it all to the forefront again. Thank goodness she’s got Miles now.
‘What about your parents? Have you told them that you’ve been reunited with Willow?’
‘No,’ Autumn says. ‘That’s something I’ve yet to address. Part of me feels that they don’t even deserve to know about her. They were so quick to give her away and I don’t know if I can ever forgive them for that. I’m going to have to think on it a bit more. It also depends what Willow wants to do. If she wanted to meet me, then surely, she’ll want to meet her grandparents, too.’
‘It might soften their hearts,’ I suggest.
‘The death of their only son simply served to make them even colder,’ she says, ‘so I won’t hold my breath.’
That’s a bleak view for Autumn, the eternal optimist, but she may be right.
‘I had a visit from Anita last night,’ Nadia says. ‘My mum and dad want to meet up with me again.’
‘Oh, Nadia,’ I say. ‘That’s great news.’
‘Is it?’ she says with a weary air. ‘After so long, I thought I’d be thrilled, but I don’t feel much at all. You’ve been my family through the difficult times. They weren’t there for me at all. Perhaps my heart has hardened towards them.’
‘You never know, you might feel differently when you see them,’ I offer.
‘It’s not long before I go up to Cumbria, so I’ll wait until I get back. It might not go well and I don’t want anything to spoil the mood.’
‘Are you excited?’ I’m beside myself with glee for her. After all that’s happened recently, it will be good for her and Lewis to get away from London for a break.
‘Yes,’ she admits with a shy smile. ‘But I don’t feel I can go with you unwell, Chantal. I should cancel until you’re better.’
‘I don’t even feel that bad,’ Chantal says. ‘A bit tired, but who isn’t? You must go. You can’t put your life on hold just because I’ve got a lump that needs to be gone.’
‘I could rebook the tickets for the summer holidays.’
‘No,’ Chantal says. ‘Absolutely not. You need to get up there and grab that man before some tweed-wearing country type gets her claws into him.’
Nadia laughed. ‘Now you’ve given me something else to worry about! I admit that since I’ve finally plucked up courage to book the tickets, I can’t wait to see him again.’
‘This is all so lovely,’ I say. ‘I think it deserves another round of coffee and chocolate.’
Strangely, none of my friends disagree.
‘Before you do that,’ Chantal says, ‘I think you need to tell us how Marcus finally lured you back.’
‘I’ve sworn myself to secrecy. You’ll only laugh.’
‘Promise we won’t,’ Autumn says.
‘You know you can’t keep a secret, Lucy,’ Chantal says. ‘It will come out one way or another.’
I sigh. ‘Promise that you won’t laugh,’ I say. ‘Or think badly of me.’
‘Promise.’ All of them.
I take a deep breath and lower my voice so that Ms France can’t hear. ‘My dad’s still living with me, so Crush and I can’t . . . well . . . you know. My walls are paper thin. I hadn’t given my keys back to this place, so I let myself in here, so that Crush and I could have some . . . er . . . privacy.’
They all stare at me.
‘What? Tell me you wouldn’t have done the same if you were desperate.’ I plough on regardless. ‘Things were just getting interesting when the police arrived. Apparently, Ms France had called them. She thought we were intruders.’
‘You were,’ Nadia points out.
‘Yeah, I know. But not in the strictest sense of the word.’
Already there are little outbreaks of giggling. I do my best to ignore them.
‘So while I was still standing there in not much more than my undies and the policemen were swinging their handcuffs, Marcus coerced me into coming back by promising not to press charges.’
Now there is a group guffaw.
I’m mortally wounded. ‘You promised you wouldn’t laugh.’ ‘Oh, Lucy,’ Nadia says. ‘Even for you, that’s priceless.’
Between chuckles Chantal manages, ‘Marcus will never, ever change. You’d better have your wits about you, girl.’
‘Well,’ I say, ‘by hook or by crook, I’m back. And I’m delighted.’
Then they’re all falling about with laughter again, which I assume means that they’re glad too. So I stomp off and get more chocolate.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I’ve been back at Chocolate Heaven for a week now and Marcus is behaving himself. More or less. He’s been in every day and there’s a lot of giggling in the staff room when he disappears with Ms France, but business is on the up already and he’s pretty much staying out of my hair.
I’m tidying the place, ready to leave for the evening, when his car roars up.
‘Hey,’ he says as he swings in through the door. ‘What’s new?’
‘We have some lovely pecan pralines on offer, if you’d like to try one.’
‘You know I’m not a big chocolate fan, Lucy.’
‘Strange for a man who owns a chocolate shop. I should educate you.’
Marcus grins at me. ‘That, I’d look forward to.’
I tut at him. ‘Don’t forget I’m leaving early tonight. I did text you to remind you.’
‘You did.’
I undo my apron and strip it off. ‘Because you are paying me a fabulous salary, it means I can afford to go and book my lovely wedding venue. So thank you for that, Marcus.’
‘Aw.’ He pulls a face. ‘Don’t marry him, marry me.’
‘We’ve been there before, Marcus. Remember?’
‘I was young, foolish.’
‘Now you’re older and even more foolish. You could be one of my bridesmaids, if you like.’
‘Harsh.’
‘Besides, I’m not sure how Ms France would like you proposing to me.’
‘Marie-France and I are just good friends.’
‘It looks like it.’
‘You’re determined to go through with this?’
‘Of course I’m going through with it. I’m in love. I’m happy.’
Marcus does his best sulk. ‘What has wotsit got—’
‘Aiden,’ I supply.
‘ . . . that I haven’t?’
‘Integrity. Loyalty. Fidelity.’
‘You could get a puppy if you wanted that. Don’t you like a challenge, Lucy?’
‘No. But clearly you do.’
‘You must miss us just a little bit.’
‘That’ll be a no again,’ I tell him. ‘I’m marrying Aiden and that’s all there is to it. Don’t waste your words, Marcus. Wish me well and let me go.’
‘If only it were so easy. You’re a hard woman to forget.’ He takes my h
and, lifts it to his lips and graces it with a lingering kiss.
That moment, of course, is the one that Crush chooses to arrive. He’s all smiles, but when he sees me and Marcus, his expression darkens.
I pull away from Marcus, who stands there grinning smugly.
Crush nods tightly at my boss. ‘Marcus.’
‘Hello, er . . . ’
‘Aiden,’ I supply.
‘We’d better get a move on, Lucy,’ Crush says. ‘We’ve got an appointment with the wedding organiser soon.’
I don’t think any of us missed the emphasis on that.
‘Yes, yes. I’ll get my coat.’ So I rush into the back room and grab it off the hanger. I don’t want Crush and Marcus left alone together for more than two seconds. Goodness only knows what might happen. There could be a full-on brawl. Coat in hand, I scurry back.
When I return, they are, indeed, standing as if they’re squaring up to each other. Crush’s hands are clenched into fists by his side. Time to leave.
‘I’ll be in first thing in the morning, Marcus,’ I say. ‘Don’t meddle with anything.’
Marcus raises his hand. ‘Have fun.’
We swing out onto the street.
‘He’s not a problem,’ I say.
‘Marcus is always a problem,’ Crush counters. ‘I know only too well what he’s like. I can’t help it, Lucy; I just don’t like you spending time with him every day.’
‘He’s totally wrapped up in Ms France at the moment. He’s not bothering me.’ I stop still and turn to him. ‘And it’s you that I love. We’re on the way to book our wedding.’ I get a thrill just saying that. ‘Let’s not argue about Marcus.’
Crush breaks into a smile. ‘You’re right. I’m being an idiot. A possessive one at that.’
‘Don’t ever stop,’ I say and I wind my arms round him to kiss him.
‘I called Jacob,’ Crush says. ‘We’re meeting him at the venue. He’s never organised a wedding at this place before, so he’s looking forward to it.’
‘Me too.’
* * * One crowded, stuffy Tube ride later and we rock up at Golders Hill Park. Jacob is helping us with the planning and, as agreed, is waiting for us at the gates. We go into the park. It’s a beautiful evening. Every day is stretching out that little bit longer and the sun is still making a respectable effort to warm us. We walk down to the wedding pavilion that we’ve chosen and the area is bathed in a golden glow. It’s even better than I remembered. Jacob is suitably impressed.