Page 103 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

She and Ryan parted to look across to where Ethan had stuck his head around the door. ‘Sorry to interrupt and all that, but I’ve been ordered by pretty much everyone to find out if Katy’s staying?’

She nodded and gave him a teary smile. ‘I’m staying.’

‘You are?’ asked Bob, peeking around his younger son’s head.

‘Forever,’ Ryan told him.

Bob gave them both a warm smile. ‘That’s the best thing I’ve heard all year,’ he said in a tremulous voice.

‘I agree,’ said Ethan. ‘Right, everyone, back inside. Let’s leave the two lovebirds to it.’

With a wink and a grin, he closed the door so that it was silent once more outside on the platform.

Katy turned to look back up at Ryan.

‘Despite giving up office life, you’re going to still keep wearing those high heels occasionally though, right?’ he asked, with a grin.

Katy laughed. ‘On our date nights? Absolutely,’ she replied.

His smile faded as he stared down at her. ‘You’ve done so much for this place. For my family. For me.’ His voice caught on the last word.

She looked at him, his face filled with emotion. ‘You’ve made my life whole again. And it’s so much better than I’d ever dreamed it could be.’

‘Yes, it is,’ he told her, drawing her in for another long kiss.

When they finally drew apart, she smiled up at him. ‘So I’ve been thinking,’ she began. ‘It was a long and boring train journey, so there was little else to do on the way home. I have great plans for our hospitality business.’

‘Mmm,’ he replied, working his way down her neck with his lips.

‘You see, your dad told me there’s another carriage at the back of the workshop…’

But her words faded as Ryan kissed her. Because then there was nothing but him, the love of her life.

56

A ray of warm March sunshine lit up the platform as Ryan stood outside the entrance to the station and looked across to the other side of the railway tracks.

Spring had arrived and the daffodils were nodding their greeting as they brightened up the path alongside the lavender fields.

In the far distance, he could see his dad and Maggie walking towards Cranbridge and Ryan smiled to himself. Bob was happier these days. He could see a future for himself now, one without his ex-wife, and he was leaving the sadness of their marriage breakdown behind him at last.

Now that the station had come back to life, so had Bob. He was starting to come into the coffee shop and chat to other people, even beginning to see a life outside of the train workshop. Of course, he and Eddie were still intent on fixing up the steam engine, but it wasn’t all-compassing anymore. He had friends and family to talk to and go out with and Ryan was glad.

Ryan had also finally made his peace with his mum. They spoke once a week and it was starting to be a more relaxed conversation as time went on. He still wondered occasionally whether he should have revealed the truth to his dad all those years ago but the pain of the past was finally fading for all the family.

Down by the lavender spa, Ryan waved at Harriet and Joe, who were putting up some Easter bunting. The lavender spa was busier than ever and, when they had gone to the Black Swan Inn the previous evening, Joe had told Ryan that the online shop was gaining momentum as well.

All of Katy’s ideas seemed to be coming to fruition. Flora and Grams had just finished redecorating another of their spare rooms with the idea of renting it out. Libby seemed to be making chocolate whenever she had any free time and the Easter eggs that she had placed in the coffee shop had sold out within the first couple of days.

He turned back to look at Platform 1. It was looking far smarter these days with its new coat of paint on all the door and window frames. There was Easter bunting around the door, as well as daffodils in plant pots on either side. Despite it looking cheery and springlike, Ryan could almost feel his brother rolling his eyes at the decorations, even though he was far away once more. But even Ethan had to agree that the station looked far better these days.

Ryan smiled to himself, grateful that he and Ethan had finally had a few serious conversations and perhaps taken another step forward in their relationship. It felt good to be growing closer again, despite the many miles between Cranfield and America. But Ethan was talking about coming home for the Easter weekend so they could all be together once more.

Besides the new sign for Platform 1 was an advertisement for the next opening of the Italian artisan restaurant. Ryan was grateful that his menus were so popular and Katy had told him that there was a long waiting list already for the next supper night.

Katy had encouraged him to cook once more all those months ago and it had worked out beyond his wildest dreams. His confidence was high again and so was his enthusiasm. He was his own boss and the menus were his choice, his ideas, and his mind was buzzing all the time with new ingredients to use. He had rediscovered his love of cooking and felt revitalised each and every day.

The station was revitalised as well, thought Ryan. It was no longer the run-down untidy mess that it had been only six months ago. It was now a warm, comfortable and welcoming coffee shop and restaurant. Both were busy with locals popping in, but word was also beginning to spread and more and more people were visiting from the surrounding villages as well.