Page 59 of Second Chances at the Board Game Café

‘This Sunday,’ she said.

32

Absorbed though he was in setting up the Netherlands edition of Ticket to Ride for him and Ludek, something made Harry glance up when the door to the board game café opened.

The last thing he expected was for Taylor to walk in, when he and the GP had spent the last hour discussing her. Harry didn’t normally confide in friends, but had on this occasion, and it had felt like a relief to get it all off his chest.

‘She said she couldn’t have a relationship because she has a child,’ he had said. ‘But was that just an excuse?’

Ludek hadn’t been able to offer any answers. The only way to find out the truth was to ask Taylor herself, he’d said. ‘If it’s any consolation, Emily did something similar to me when we first got together.’

‘What? Upped and left then said she didn’t want to see you again?’

‘Yeah, pretty much.’

Harry had been consoled by this. Perhaps there was hope after all. Emily and Ludek always looked so blissfully happy together, so he’d always assumed their relationship was plain sailing, and he’d said as much.

‘No relationship is plain sailing, Harry. At one point, Emily was convinced I was involved with one of the nurses at the practice. The woman was only feeding Catan.’

‘Catan?’

‘My cat.’

‘Oh, of course.’

Harry hadn’t known that Ludek had a cat.

‘So don’t give up hope, is what I’m saying,’ Ludek had said. ‘You need to talk to her. You might find she’s missing you as much as you’re missing her.’

Strange that Taylor herself should walk in only a few minutes after this conversation. Harry glanced at Ludek, wondering if he had somehow set this up. It seemed such a bizarre coincidence.

He knew Ludek was right, that he needed to talk to Taylor, but he wasn’t ready yet. He needed time to prepare, to plan what he was going to say. It might be best if she didn’t notice him today, so he looked down at the game and began his usual mental calculations.

19. 38. 57…

‘Do you want to…’ said Ludek, nodding towards Taylor.

‘No, no, let’s play,’ said Harry quickly. He looked down at his cards. If he was going to build a railway between Antwerp and Amsterdam, he was going to need black or white train cards, and he didn’t have a single one in his hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a movement and looked up to see a boy standing beside him.

‘Ticket to Ride,’ he said, his voice full of excitement. ‘Can I play?’

It was Taylor’s son. Harry hadn’t noticed him entering the café with his mother – he’d been too busy thinking about her. This was going to be awkward but he could hardly say no, could he? Not to that hopeful little face.

‘What do you think, Ludek?’ he said. ‘Have we room for one more?’

‘Of course.’

‘Two more,’ said the child. ‘Mum might want to play.’

Harry forced himself to look up at Taylor, who was now walking over to their table. She wasn’t smiling. She looked awkward. In fact, she looked as awkward as he himself felt.

‘Harry, I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know you’d be here. Max, come on. We can’t interrupt their game.’

‘They said we can play,’ said Max.

Ludek stood up, gesturing for her to take his place.

Taylor sat down hesitantly.