Page 117 of The Little Board Game Café

Where was Dad? Where was Ludek?

And where was Kate?

The plan has failed, Peter texted. Your dad’s not at home.

Please could you look for him, Emily replied. Shop? Library? Garden centre? He never leaves Thornholme. Thank you.

The door opened. Emily looked up anxiously. It was Kate. With Rob. And they were holding hands.

But she didn’t have a chance to think about that because Rob had suddenly dropped Kate’s hand and was holding the door open for someone. Dad? Emily wondered for a moment, but then she saw it was Ludek. The next best thing.

He was walking slowly, holding onto someone’s arm. Not Rachel, but a shorter man with the messiest hair Emily had ever seen and jeans that looked about three sizes too large for him. She went straight over to greet them all.

‘Kate, Rob. Lovely to see you.’ Emily flashed Kate a look intending to convey, ‘Since when?’ but Kate flashed one back that said, ‘Obviously I can’t tell you now.’

‘Come on, Rob. Let’s go and get some drinks,’ Kate said.

Emily turned to Ludek and his friend. ‘I’m so glad you made it, Ludek.’

‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Em, this is Rasmus. He’s going to be my locum for a few weeks. Longer, maybe.’

‘Pleased to meet you, Rasmus. Do you like board games?’

‘I’m a bit of a Scrabble addict, as it happens,’ said Rasmus.

‘Perhaps we can broaden your tastes,’ said Emily. ‘Is Rachel not coming?’

‘She’s out with her husband,’ Ludek said. ‘Wedding anniversary.’

He was seeing a married woman? She wouldn’t have thought it of him. And in such a small town. Word would soon get round, if it hadn’t already.

She left them to peruse her new games collection and sidled over to Kate.

‘She’s married,’ she hissed.

‘Who’s married?’ said Kate.

‘Ludek’s girlfriend. The woman who was visiting him in hospital when I went.’

‘She mightn’t be his girlfriend.’

‘She had the keys to his house. I saw her coming out one day.’

‘Even so…there could be another explanation. Don’t turn round but…I said don’t turn round, but he’s looking at you now. A man doesn’t look at a woman like that unless he’s seriously interested.’

Rob came over then bearing two glasses of Emily’s virgin cocktail mix. He planted a kiss on Kate’s nose. Emily left them to it and went to help Marjory behind the counter. There was quite a queue forming.

Her hands were trembling with excitement as she served the growing line of customers. There was a buzz in the air. Mum would have loved it. She’d never heard of the concept of a board game café, of course, but she’d have loved the way this place was bringing people together. Emily wished her dad could see this.

The door opened again and her stomach lurched, but it was one of Annie’s friends.

Ping! Another text from Peter. He’s not at the library, shop or garden centre. Went back to the house. Still no sign. I’ll drive round the town one more time, then is it okay if I head back to Essendale? I don’t want to miss your launch.

That’s fine, Emily replied. She had to accept it; there’d be no Dad at her launch party. The plan hadn’t worked. He’d never even seen the Austin.

*

Half an hour later, she was wondering if she should invite everyone to play some games, when the door opened again. Peter poked his head round and beckoned her to come outside.