Page 123 of The Little Board Game Café

Emily reached into the fridge and pulled out a jar of Golden Shred. ‘And what’s that?’

‘Grandchildren. Right, I think I’ll go and have a shower. Can I use your shower gel? Want to smell my best for Marjory.’

Chapter Forty-Three

‘How about this?’ Emily said to Kate, holding up the navy dungaree pinafore with a chunky necklace of red beads.

‘Not chic enough.’

‘Chic? I’m only going to Ludek’s house for lunch.’

‘Hmmm,’ said Kate. ‘Even so…’

‘Okay, how about your black dress? You could lend me that.’

‘Not after seam-gate. Anyway, you don’t want to look like you’ve made too much of an effort. With men, it’s important not to appear too keen.’

‘I can’t win. The pinafore’s not chic enough, but your black dress makes me look too keen. Anyway, Ludek and I…it’s probably just a friends thing. Isn’t it?’

‘We’ll see.’ Kate rummaged through Emily’s wardrobe. ‘I think jeans. Your smart jeans. The tight ones. And a plain white t-shirt. And the chunky necklace. And comfortable shoes.’

‘All my shoes are comfortable. I don’t do heels, remember?’

*

It took another hour of pencilling in her eyebrows, straightening her hair and squeezing herself into her jeans before Kate finally deemed Emily smart enough – but not too smart – to head over to Ludek’s.

She walked over the perfect flagstones, past the neatly trimmed bushes and rang his bell with a trembling hand. Why was she so nervous? This was just lunch, she reminded herself, wondering if he’d be cooking. Or would it end up being another take-away?

He opened the door and Emily stepped into the hall. There was a rucksack sitting on the floor.

‘Oh, are you going away somewhere?’ she said.

‘Yeah. No. Er…come in.’ He took her jacket, hanging it over the stairpost. He glanced at his watch. ‘Do you fancy a quick coffee?’

A quick coffee? Were they in some kind of hurry?

There was something a little odd about him this morning. Emily couldn’t put her finger on it. Perhaps he was nervous too.

She followed him into the kitchen.

‘What’s for lunch?’ she said as he put the kettle on. She couldn’t see any signs of cooking.

He opened a Sainsbury’s carrier bag that was sitting on the table to reveal two bottles of water, two pre-packed sandwiches and two bags of Walkers crisps.

‘Meal deal,’ he said. Didn’t know if you’d prefer ready salted or cheese and onion so I got one of each.’

‘I’d prefer ready salted.’

‘I love cheese and onion so that’s perfect.’

A meal deal? Had he seriously asked her to leave her beloved café, her brand-new business, in the hands of Mr B, Kate and Annie on its second Saturday of opening for a quick coffee and a meal deal from the supermarket? Perhaps it was churlish of her – after all, he was still recovering from a serious injury – but she’d been hoping for a little more than this.

They sat down with their coffees at his dining table. To her surprise, he made no attempt to get out a game.

‘Aren’t we going to play something?’ she said.

‘Not yet. We’re going on a surprise trip.’