Page 29 of Second Chances at the Board Game Café

Once inside, Sylvia glanced around the room. ‘You have a little boy, don’t you?’

‘I do. Max.’ She wondered how Sylvia knew; she tried to keep her workspace free of toys – of all personal stuff really – during the daytime. ‘He’s eight,’ she added.

‘Lovely age,’ said Sylvia. ‘I love children. I have three grandchildren, but I don’t see them much.’

‘Oh?’

‘Likes trains, does he?’ Sylvia nodded towards a model engine that was sitting on the arm of the sofa. Taylor hadn’t realised it was there; she must have missed that one.

‘Loves them. Bit obsessed really.’

She wondered if she ought to offer the woman a cup of tea to be neighbourly, but as usual, she had a mountain of ordinary work to be getting on with, not to mention the upcycling project. Agreeing to the fashion show had been a bit rash, but deep down, she was excited about it. If she could only find another twenty-four hours in each day.

‘My son and his wife have moved abroad,’ her new neighbour was saying now. ‘To er… Spain.’

‘Costa del Sol?’

‘Yes, that’s right. The Costa del Sol. And they’ve taken my three lovely grandchildren with them.’

‘Have you been to visit?’

The woman looked blank. ‘No, not yet. It’s a bit hot for me. But I’m hoping to. Perhaps in the autumn. I miss them so much.’

‘Sorry to hear that.’

‘Oh, I’ve just had a thought,’ said Sylvia. ‘I know you don’t know me from Adam, but if you ever need a babysitter, you only have to give me a shout.’

‘I er…’ She hesitated.

‘You’d be doing me a favour. I miss my grandkiddies so much.’

Taylor had been about to say no, thank you. Force of habit when anyone offered help. Only if she’d be doing Sylvia a favour – well, that was different. Although an evening with a sullen Max wouldn’t in any way make up for the woman’s own family living so far away.

And the timing couldn’t have been better. It seemed almost too good to be true that she would appear like this, so soon after the idea for this upcycling event had been mooted. Besides, she’d feel far happier leaving Max with an experienced granny than a teenager. On the other hand, Sylvia might be a neighbour, but she was still a stranger. She couldn’t leave Max with a stranger.

‘We do have a mutual friend,’ said Sylvia as if she’d read Taylor’s thoughts. ‘I believe Mr B is one of your clients. Lovely man. I often meet him and his fiancée for a game of Scrabble.’

‘He’s engaged?’

‘Yes, quite recently.’

Taylor hadn’t seen Mr B for a while now. Perhaps his new fiancée was sewing on his buttons for him. She winced, remembering that she hadn’t seen him since he’d paid for her shopping that day. She still owed him for that.

‘Anyway, let me know if you need me,’ Sylvia said. ‘I’m three doors down. At number twelve.’

‘You wouldn’t happen to be free on Monday evenings, would you?’

‘Well, as it happens, I am.’

After mugs of steaming Yorkshire tea had been drunk, arrangements discussed and phone numbers exchanged, Sylvia went on her way and Taylor sat for a few moments and contemplated the morning’s unexpected turn of events. She had a babysitter, which meant the upcycling evenings – and therefore the fashion show – could definitely go ahead. Taylor’s fingers felt twitchy, restless, as if they were itching to get started on the sewing.

The only problem now – aside from her constant lack of time – was how to tell Max. He wouldn’t be thrilled about spending one evening a week with their elderly neighbour.

*

Sylvia knocked on the door at exactly ten past six, as she’d said she would. Max was squeezed into one corner of the sofa now, arms folded defiantly, eyes screwed shut.

Taylor opened the door to Sylvia, and ushered her and her shopping trolley inside.