Page 85 of The Little Board Game Café

‘What are you working on at the moment?’ Emily asked Rob as she served his workmates their breakfast butties and handed him his keto bacon and boiled eggs.

‘A barn conversion. Once that’s finished, we’ve two extensions lined up. There’s always building work round here. People wanting extensions. Renovations. And newbuilds too. Such a demand for homes in this valley.’

Emily nodded. Sooner or later, she’d have to think about getting a place of her own. She couldn’t impose on Kate for ever. She’d look for somewhere in the next couple of months. Assuming Costa’s opening didn’t completely decimate her business and put her out of a job.

*

Two days to go.

Emily had her busiest day ever. She couldn’t quite believe the amount in the till at the end of the day, and the tips jar was pretty full too. There hadn’t been an empty seat in the place at four o’clock. Coming in for coffees, cakes and milkshakes on the way home from the school run had become a daily thing now for Julia and her crowd of friends. Emily wondered how they could afford it, but she wasn’t complaining. She just hoped it would continue and that the Frostinos and Gimme S’mores cakes in Costa wouldn’t be a bigger attraction for the children than the games were.

*

One day to go.

‘Are you worried?’ asked Mr B when he and Marjory arrived for their usual cappuccinos and Chorley cakes.

‘No,’ said Emily. ‘I’m hoping the games are enough of a unique feature to keep drawing people in, and our little town will prove to be big enough for two cafés and a Costa.’

She sounded much surer than she felt.

*

Thursday morning.

A huge arch of balloons in Costa’s trademark shade of maroon towered in front of the new shop’s door, reminding Emily that today was the day. Not that she needed reminding. The windows were now sparkling clean, she noticed as she walked down the high street, and a large sign proclaimed: ‘Free coffee for the first fifty customers’.

Great, Emily thought. Fifty free coffees? That was sure to affect her trade.

She crossed over the road and peered in. A brand-new glass-fronted counter. Wooden floors and tables. A maroon banquette along the entire length of one wall and huge pictures displaying a variety of tempting offerings: a latte with the froth shaped like a coffee bean – Emily still hadn’t got the hang of that despite watching several YouTube videos; a chocolate milkshake topped with a perfect swirl of whipped cream; a selection of golden pastries.

It looked inviting, she had to admit.

‘But it doesn’t have board games,’ she said out loud as she walked on. ‘It doesn’t have board games.’

An anoraked man with a greyhound gave her an odd look. Emily glanced across the road to see Peggy watching her. Emily felt a sudden wave of sympathy for her; the new Costa just a few metres from the front door of Sweet Delights. She held up her hand and waved, but the rival café owner didn’t wave back.

The workmen arrived for breakfast as usual.

‘You didn’t fancy a free Costa coffee then?’ she said.

‘Nah,’ said one of Rob’s friends. ‘No one makes a bacon butty like you, Emily.’

She was on edge all day. It reminded her of those early days when the Little Board Game Café was The Lancashire Hotpot, when she watched the door all day, praying for customers. But this time, she needn’t have worried. The free coffee at Costa might have lured a couple of people away, but not many. By closing time, her feet were aching as usual.

‘I think everything will be okay,’ she said to Kate later, when her friend had dropped in to pick up another change of clothes.

‘That’s a relief after all your hard work.’

‘Why don’t you just keep more stuff at Freddie’s? You’re practically living there.’

‘I suggested that. He went a bit quiet.’

‘That’s odd. I thought he was really keen?’

‘So did I. But we haven’t even had the discussion about being exclusive.’

‘Seriously? After all this time?’