Page 67 of Second Chances at the Board Game Café

He climbed back onto the sofa beside her. ‘Don’t worry, Mum. We’ll live happily ever after too. You’ll see.’

35

Taylor’s phone pinged as Max was finishing his usual Monday night tea of cheesy pasta.

So sorry, Taylor. I’ve a migraine coming on and cannot babysit this evening. Sylvia xx

Damn. That was all she needed. With only three Monday evenings left before the fashion show, she couldn’t afford to miss one. She’d have to take Max with her.

‘Sylvia can’t make it,’ she said.

‘But Mum, what about Ticket to Ride?’

‘Well, you’re in luck, Max, because my group meets upstairs in the board game café. Harry might be there, so we could ask him if he’d forego his sewing this evening and play a game or two with you. What d’you think?’

‘Hot chocolate?’

‘Yeah, whatever you like, love.’ She sighed. She was going to have to cut back on luxuries like fancy coffees in the café now she was paying more in rent and wasn’t able to work. She had been hoping that Tarquin would phone that day, to announce that she could retrieve all her stuff, but he hadn’t. How long did it take to get a structural engineer? Didn’t they offer emergency appointments like dentists? And would she get all the items for the fashion show back in time?

The downstairs of the board game café was unusually busy when she and Max arrived. Many of the upcyclers were queuing for drinks. Kate was standing behind the counter, chatting to Emily who clearly was too busy to actually listen, and Ludek was at the coffee machine, frothing milk. There were several tables occupied. Taylor watched Max glance towards them, sussing out which games were being played, and was surprised to notice Mr B in the corner, playing Scrabble with a woman. His fiancée, presumably. A second later, she realised it was Mrs Ridley, one of her trickiest customers. There was no point sizing her up for a wedding dress; she always bought her clothes at Alessandra’s, the old-fashioned boutique on Essendale’s high street, and would no doubt have a fancy gown on order from there.

‘Taylor, how are you?’ Kate was beside her now. ‘And you must be Max?’

Max mumbled hello, before asking if he could go and look at the games shelves.

Taylor nodded.

‘I heard about the house,’ said Kate.

‘It’s a nightmare.’

‘Where are you living?’

‘In an Airbnb for the moment. I need to find somewhere more permanent, but I’ve no idea how. Rental properties are like hen’s teeth round here.’

‘You could have stayed with me. Why didn’t you call?’

‘I didn’t like to ask.’

‘Is something wrong?’ said a voice from behind.

Taylor turned to see Harry. ‘My bathroom floor collapsed,’ she said. ‘So we’ve nowhere to live, and I can’t work either. I can’t go into the house till they’ve made sure it’s safe and my sewing machine’s still there. And all the upcycled garments too. Hopefully they’ll let me get them before the show.’

‘Taylor, that’s terrible. Why didn’t you call me?’

‘That’s exactly what I said,’ said Kate. ‘Now, I think we ought to make contingency plans in case you don’t get your clothes back before the show. Work out what garments everyone else has made and whether it will be enough without yours. I’d prefer not to postpone the whole thing.’

Taylor bit her lip. The whole reason for doing this was to show off her designs. What was the point if none of her own work was on that catwalk? Well, school stage. ‘So we’d go ahead without the clothes I’ve made?’

‘If we have to. Unless…’

‘Unless?’

‘Could you make some new stuff between now and then?’ Kate had taken out her notebook now and was beginning to make a list.

‘Not without my sewing machine. Everything’s in the house. I’ve not much time anyway. I need to start looking for a new place to live. I’ve got the Airbnb at a discount for four weeks, but I can’t afford to stay any longer.’

‘Let’s see if anyone can lend you a machine,’ said Kate. ‘And you never know, someone might know of a property to rent. If they don’t, you’re moving in with me.’