Page 48 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

But Ryan shook his head. ‘Absolutely not,’ he said, in a firm tone. ‘You need to rest up for at least another day. Besides, I’m heading out to pick up Dad from the hospital later, so I’m glad someone will be keeping an eye on you.’

‘Bob’s coming home today? I’m so glad.’ Katy was pleased. ‘I seem to have lost track of the days.’

‘I’m not surprised.’ Ryan nodded. ‘Yeah, they’ve finally signed him off, so I’ll go and get him late this morning. In the meantime, you’re going to sit on the sofa in the warm.’

She let him gently manoeuvre her towards the fireplace and sank down on the sofa, next to the flames licking up inside the hearth.

‘See?’ he said, smiling down at her. ‘You must still be a bit under the weather if you let me boss you about like this. Normally it’s the other way around.’

‘I don’t boss,’ she said quickly.

He laughed. ‘It’s okay. I’ve kind of got used to it.’

But as he walked away, Katy was left wondering why she felt upset that Ryan would think that she was bossy.

After breakfast, she rested and had a look at her phone until the girls arrived. She was pleased to see them, despite normally preferring her own company and grateful for their generosity, especially when she saw that they were bearing flapjacks and a beautiful quilt that Grams had apparently made for her.

‘How lovely,’ said Katy, relishing the heavy warmth of the pretty material as she looked at Flora. ‘Please thank your grandmother for me.’

‘She just thought it would keep you snug and warm,’ Flora told her.

‘And the flapjacks are delicious,’ said Katy, licking her lips. Her appetite had returned with a vengeance.

‘They’re from Maggie,’ said Harriet. ‘We must introduce you when you’re feeling better.’

‘I’ve heard nothing but good things about her, especially her baking,’ said Katy.

Once they’d established that she was feeling brighter and had plied her with coffee and delicious flapjacks, they all curled up on the sofas.

‘So, Ryan took care of you?’ asked Harriet, nodding her approval. ‘That’s good.’

‘Yeah, it is, but what gives?’ asked Libby. ‘Between you and Ryan, I mean.’

Katy was quickly learning that Libby was always quick to the point, but even so found herself blushing.

‘Nothing,’ she replied, hoping that her blushes would recede as she took a sip of her hot coffee.

‘Leave it,’ said Flora to Libby. ‘You’re making a mountain out of a molehill, as per usual.’

But Libby was frowning. ‘I’m just saying that if he’s single and so is she,’ she began. ‘By the way, what happened with the ex? Loser? Cheater? Commitment-phobe?’

‘Door number two,’ Katy told her.

Libby grimaced. ‘Ugh! Men! This is why I don’t have relationships.’

Flora laughed. ‘Yeah, that’s the reason.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Libby, trying and failing to look affronted.

‘You’re the commitment-phobe, not them!’ Flora told her. ‘I can’t remember a single relationship of yours that has lasted more than six weeks. And I’ve known you since I was born.’

‘Well, that’s where you’re wrong,’ Libby told her. ‘You and Harriet are my significant others, so I have had long relationships, haven’t I?’

Harriet shook her head. ‘You know I love you, but I’d far rather snuggle up with Joe than you two, no offence.’

‘None taken,’ said Libby. ‘Anyway, Flora’s footloose and fancy-free, so I can always snuggle up with her if I get desperate.’

Flora appeared to hesitate. ‘Actually, I might have a date at the weekend.’