Page 68 of Second Chances at the Board Game Café

Before Taylor could stop her, Kate had clapped her hands, and the entire board game café fell silent. ‘Listen up, everyone. We have a situation here. Taylor’s bathroom floor collapsed last week, and she won’t be allowed back into her house until it’s been properly checked to make sure it’s safe. All of the garments she upcycled for the show are in that house and there’s a possibility that she won’t be able to get them back in time. So the first thing we’re going to do this evening is make a proper inventory of what you’ve all made, so that we can work out if we’ve enough for the show to go ahead. Because the show must go on. Am I right?’

There was a whoop from the back of the café.

‘Taylor’s sewing machine is also in that house,’ Kate continued, ‘and the rest of her equipment, so she can’t work either, and sewing is her livelihood. Would anyone be able to lend her their machine for the next fortnight or so?’

Three hands immediately shot up, and Kate began to jot down names in her book. Taylor wanted the ground to swallow her up. As someone who didn’t like asking for help, this was one of her worst nightmares, but she couldn’t afford to refuse.

‘Now,’ continued Kate. ‘If Taylor has time, she’s going to upcycle a few extra garments between now and the show, so if you have any spare fabrics, r clothes, please consider passing them to Taylor. Threads, zips, buttons… anything. Okay, the next and the most important thing I want your help with is this. Please can you all keep your ears to the ground for any properties that are for rent? Two bedrooms, and a garden too, if possible, for little Max to play footie.’

Taylor glanced over at her boy, but he was too engrossed in looking at game boxes to notice that he’d been referred to as ‘little Max’, or to correct Kate and say that he didn’t play football.

‘Taylor and Max may move into my house.’ Mr B had got to his feet. He looked down at his fiancée, and smiled. ‘Florence and I have discussed this over the weekend. I was planning to move in with her soon anyway.’

‘Way to go, Mr B,’ called Emily from behind the counter.

‘Now, Emily,’ warned Mr B good-naturedly. ‘As you know, we’re getting married soon anyway, so there’s nothing improper. It’s only a small house, but there are two bedrooms. Reasonable rent. Though I’m afraid there’s no garden.’

‘I don’t like football anyway,’ piped up Max from the games shelves.

So he had heard Kate after all.

Taylor thought for a minute. She shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but Mr B’s house was tiny. She doubted she’d be able to squeeze in her sewing table, let alone her mannequin, clothes rail and ironing board. ‘That’s very kind,’ she said, ‘but I’m not sure I’d be able to fit my sewing gear in, and I’ve got to have somewhere to work.’

‘Perhaps you could live in Mr B’s house and find somewhere else to work?’ suggested Ludek. ‘Any ideas anyone?’

‘You can use my dining room, Taylor,’ said Harry. ‘It’s plenty big enough and I haven’t eaten a meal in there since you came to dinner.’

‘You had dinner at Harry’s?’ said Max. He put down the game he was looking at.

‘Could you use an extra pair of hands to help with the upcycling?’ said one of the volunteers. ‘You do the designs. I’ll do the sewing and ironing. Whatever you want really.’

‘Yeah, I could do that too,’ said another.

‘And I can take Max to school with Ollie,’ said Ava. ‘And drop him home again. I’d have to ask my parents, but they won’t mind. That would save you loads of time.’

Taylor looked over at Max.

‘I don’t mind,’ he said to her surprise.

She felt overwhelmed with all these offers. There was a part of her that wanted to kiss them all, each and every one of them, especially Harry, but she’d always prided herself on her independence. It had been one thing to accept Kate’s offer to do some marketing for the fashion show and to let Harry fix the leaking washing machine. It was quite another to accept a house and a workspace and to allow someone else to do the school run.

‘You’re all very generous,’ she said, ‘but I’m one of those people who likes to stand on my own two feet, you know. I’m an independent kind of person. I’d love to borrow a sewing machine, please, to get me going again, but I don’t want to turf you out of your house, Mr B, and Harry, I can’t let you give up your dining room. And Ava, you’re what? Sixteen? Seventeen? It’s kind of you, but taking Max to school every day – well, that’s a lot of responsibility.’

She couldn’t help but notice the baffled glances that were exchanged across the café.

‘But, Taylor, everyone wants to help.’ Kate was clearly exasperated.

‘I know, and that’s lovely but…’

‘Mum.’ Max’s voice was strong and firm. ‘You are being like Mr Perks.’

‘Who’s Mr Perks?’ said Kate.

‘From The Railway Children,’ said Harry. ‘The stationmaster who’s too stubborn to accept all the things the children have collected for his birthday, because he thinks people pity him.’

‘When they actually respect him,’ said Max, ‘and they want to give him stuff to show their appreciation for all he does. It’s a good film, isn’t it, Harry? A bit slushy at the end, but I love the trains in it.’

‘I share your opinion, Max,’ said Harry. ‘I know many people love the soundtrack, but for my tastes, it’s just a bit too sentimental.’