Page 116 of The Little Board Game Café

‘Bingo. You could hire one.’

‘That’s an idea. If I hired one and drove over in it to pick him up and brought him over for the launch, it might just work. Although, well, I should stay at the café on Saturday in case there are last minute things to do.’

‘I’d offer, but I don’t think I’ll be up to driving. Not on these painkillers.’

Emily glanced at the shape of Ludek’s body under the bedcovers. He hadn’t said much about his injuries and she hadn’t liked to ask.

‘Does it hurt a lot?’

‘It’s getting better.’

‘I was worried you’d…’

‘No vital organs were damaged.’

He raised his eyebrows and Emily felt her cheeks reddening again.

Get a grip, she told herself. ‘So your heart’s okay? Your liver and…kidneys?’

‘They’re fine. It could have been far worse. I might have a limp for a while. And I probably won’t be at running club for a few months. Now, is there someone else who’d drive over to your dad’s in an Austin Healey?’

‘I know. Peter. Peter would do it. He’ll probably know where I could hire one too.’

Ludek frowned at the mention of the name and Emily realised how excited she’d sounded. She wanted to explain that excitement wasn’t about her ex-fiancé, but about the possibility of her dad coming to her new café.

But she said nothing. What was the point? Ludek had a girlfriend. And, right on cue, here was Rachel now, striding down the ward, her perfect smile on her perfect face and they hadn’t even opened the Patchwork box.

Chapter Forty-One

‘I presume it’s okay if I bring a date to the launch,’ said Kate.

‘Please tell me it isn’t Freddie.’

‘It isn’t Freddie.’

‘Then who?’

‘You have to wait and see.’

But Kate’s mystery date was the last thing on Emily’s mind. She was too busy worrying about how the event would go and whether Ludek would be well enough to be there and whether the chance of a ride in an Austin Healey would persuade Dad to come. In that order. No, not in that order. The thing she wanted most was for Dad to be there. Or Ludek? No, she needed all three things: a perfect launch party with both Dad and Ludek in attendance.

There was someone at Peter’s golf club who had a business in Manchester that hired out classic cars, so, despite the short notice, a cream-coloured, open-top Austin Healey with burgundy leather seats had been hired for the day for an eye-watering amount. ‘And that’s with mate’s rates,’ Peter had said as Emily handed over her credit card. It had better be worth it. Dad had better come.

*

She smoothed down the fabric of her new meeples pinafore and pressed Play on Spotify. Abba’s ‘The Name of the Game’ began to play, just as it had when she’d launched her first board game café. She paused for a moment, remembering how she’d filled that gloomy little building with happy customers. If only for a few short weeks. She crossed her fingers and looked out of the window at the sky.

‘Say a prayer for me, Mum, if you’re up there,’ she said, ‘and please make Dad come.’

A small queue had already formed outside, so Emily opened the door, greeting her guests one by one – she was surprised to discover that she knew almost everyone’s name – and ushering them towards the counter where Annie was serving drinks.

Once everyone had arrived, she circulated, handing out meeple-shaped cookies. Julia and George were inspecting the selection of games. Richard Thorp and his wife – there’d been no hard feelings when she’d handed in her notice for a second time – were talking to Florence.

‘But have you got a fully comprehensive policy?’ Malcolm was saying to Mrs Sinclair. Or was that Mrs Scott?

Emily tried to mingle, tried to be the perfect hostess, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off the door.

Every time it opened…but no. It was the Dungeons and Dragons crowd. Then more of Rob’s colleagues, the workmen who always came for breakfast in the old café, then George’s friends and their parents.