Page 120 of The Little Board Game Café

Peter locked the antique car and they walked towards the café.

‘It seems a shame to make Dad sit in the café when he’d probably rather be driving round in that car,’ said Emily. ‘But then, the whole point of hiring the car was to get him to be here for the launch.’

Peter put his hand on the door, but he didn’t open it. ‘How about later?’

‘But you’ve got to return it. I only paid for four hours.’

‘You did. But I paid for the rest of the weekend.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. I was going to ask you to come out for the day with me tomorrow. I’d planned a picnic. Bought the food and everything. I thought we might rekindle things but I can see now that’s not going to happen. I’ve seen the way you look at Ludek. You’ve never looked at me like that.’

‘Peter, I’m so sorry…’

‘No, Em, it’s fine. Perhaps you and I were never meant to be. Looking back, I always felt that you held me at arm’s length somehow. That you liked me but you weren’t head over heels in love with me.’

Arm’s length? Not head over heels? He was beginning to sound like Kate and Dad.

‘I know Mother’s a dreadful old battle-axe at times,’ Peter continued, ‘and when Dad was alive, he was a little… Well, shall we say henpecked? But you should have seen the way she looked at him. Pure adoration. If I’m going to marry someone, I’d like them to look at me that way too.’

‘You deserve that, Peter. You really do.’

They were still standing on the doorstep. Peter’s hand was resting on the handle. Emily glanced into the café and saw Annie laughing as she handed a snakes and ladders cupcake to little George.

‘I know,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you take Annie out for a picnic tomorrow?’

‘Annie?’

‘Why not? She’s always liked you.’

‘Annie has?’

‘Yeah. I mean, she’s never said anything. But when we both worked at Ridley’s, I always suspected she did.’

‘Annie.’ Peter shook his head. ‘I’ve never thought of her in that way. Annie.’

‘She’s lovely, Peter.’

Peter opened the door to the café and stepped aside to let Emily in first.

Always the gentleman, she thought. She hoped he would find someone who adored him.

‘I might ask her out for a drink,’ Peter said. ‘Keep it, you know, a bit casual. But we hired the car for your dad, didn’t we? How about I take him and Marjory out for the day? They seem to be getting on well together.’

He nodded over to the table in the window where her dad and Marjory were drinking punch together. Her former neighbour’s hand was on his arm; she was looking at him almost coquettishly. Emily wasn’t having that. She went straight over to them.

‘Marjory, could I have a word in the kitchen please?’

‘Sure, Em.’ She stood up then leaned towards Dad and whispered, ‘Won’t be a minute. Stay right where you are.’

Honestly, thought Emily. Brazen. Pensioners these days.

In the kitchen, Annie was arranging some more cupcakes onto a plate.

Emily shut the service hatch so they wouldn’t be overheard. ‘Are you flirting with my dad, Marjory?’

‘He’s a lovely man.’