Page 69 of Second Chances at the Board Game Café

‘Okay, that’s quite enough from The Railway Children fan club,’ said Kate. ‘Taylor, don’t be a Perks. Take the help. Most people would love to live in a community like this where everyone rallies round and looks out for each other. What d’you say?’

Taylor looked around the café again, at the sea of expectant faces, then her eyes met Max’s.

‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Mum, you just say thank you.’

‘Thank you,’ she said.

‘Great, so that’s sorted,’ said Kate. ‘Now, Mr B, when are you moving out? And has anyone got a van to help him shift his stuff?’

36

Harry opened his eyes and reached for his watch to check the time. Twenty past seven.

He often woke up before the alarm these days; he wasn’t quite sure why. He put on his dressing gown and padded downstairs to the kitchen. He poured some beans into the grinder; he’d given up on weighing them, instead estimating the amount, and set about making his usual morning brew, before returning to the bedroom to choose what to wear that day.

It was Monday. He’d spent the last week dreaming about the day when Taylor would move her business into his dining room and he’d get to see her every day. So lovely to see how everyone had rallied round to help her at the previous week’s recycling class.

He opened the wardrobe, umming and ahhing for a bit before deciding upon a fitted shirt with thin red and white stripes and a white collar. He chose a dark red tie. To any casual observer, it was hardly a mind-blowing colour combination, but looking at his reflection in the mirror, Harry barely recognised himself.

He tucked the Tupperware containing his lunch – a falafel and hummus wrap – in his briefcase and set off for the station at about five past eight, walking at a relaxed pace through the little town, and stopping for a brief chat with a woman outside the library.

A few minutes later, the train pulled into Hebbleswick station. Harry looked out of the window and saw Max waiting on the platform with Ava from the upcycling group, and another boy, her brother presumably. Harry waved. The two boys were chatting and at first Harry thought Max hadn’t seen him, but, as his train pulled out again, Max began to wave back as usual.

*

On Tuesday, Harry made an early start, sitting at the desk in his little home office in his pyjamas. He didn’t get dressed until eleven o’clock, and only then because he had a Zoom meeting with a client. By half past three, having put in a good eight hours for Grayson Accountants Limited, he turned off his computer and went into the dining room, where he spent a few moments admiring his N-gauge model railway.

‘Righty-ho,’ he said to himself. ‘Let’s get cracking.’

It wasn’t long since he’d set it all up after Taylor’s visit, but now he began to pack it all away again. He would miss it, but it was in a good cause. If this meant Taylor and Max could live in Mr B’s cosy cottage but she could continue to run her business, it was worth it. He planned to clear out his garden shed, and create a permanent home for the railway in there. The shed was large, larger even than the dining room, so he thought he might take the opportunity to create a new layout, expanding his landscape, and maybe even adding to his collection of locomotives. He was excited at the prospect, but not quite as excited as he was at the thought of Taylor working away here, every day, under his roof.

He’d recently ditched the ready meals along with his weekly menu, so cooked himself a roast chop with new potatoes and green beans for his dinner, which he ate – as usual – from a tray in front of the television. He flicked through the channels but there wasn’t much on, so, when he finished his meal, he decided he’d pop along to the board game café and see if Ludek fancied a game or two, assuming Emily could spare him from behind the counter. He changed into the jeans that Taylor had mended for him and a casual purple shirt that he’d bought online, wanting to look smart on the off-chance that she and Max might be there too. He had a bit of a dilemma about whether you were meant to tuck in a shirt like this or wear it loose, but opted for untucked in the end.

The café was busy as it often was these days. There was only one free table, so Harry placed the plastic carrier bag he’d brought along on it, to reserve it, and then went up to the counter to order.

‘Hi, Harry,’ said Emily.

‘Good evening, Emily. Could I have a decaf latte, please?’

Above the hubbub of the café, the conversations, the sound of dice being rolled, a hammering noise could be heard coming from the floor above.

Harry looked up at the ceiling. ‘What’s going on up there?’

Emily leaned across the counter. ‘It’s top secret at the moment, but we’re converting the upstairs so that we can have more tables. This place has got far too popular.’

‘Exciting stuff,’ said Harry.

‘Take a seat, Harry, and I’ll bring your coffee over.’

Harry did as she instructed, and went back to his table.

‘Harry!’ Ludek placed the latte on the table and sat down opposite him. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m fine, thank you. How about you?’

‘Busy as always. We need more staff. Em’s here every day and I’m juggling working part-time at the surgery. We love it though. How’s your day been?’

‘Good, thanks. I’ve been packing away my model railway so that Taylor can start working in my dining room.’