Page 86 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

Katy nodded enthusiastically. ‘Trust me,’ she told him. ‘And just think, when the lavender fields are open next summer, we could take advantage of all those visitors that everyone keeps telling me about as well. It’s a golden opportunity.’

‘We?’ Ryan looked at her. ‘So you’ll be here next summer?’

She blushed. ‘I meant you, of course,’ she said quickly. ‘Anyway, I was thinking that it might be ready for opening on Valentine’s Day. That would be perfect for promotion purposes and to give it a great push with marketing.'

‘So you’ll stay until then?’ he asked. ‘To see the job through?’

Katy’s mind whirled. She hadn’t dared wish that she could stay on for a while longer, but now that was a reality and it filled her with joy.

Finally, she nodded. ‘Okay. I’ll stay until Valentine’s Day.’

‘Good,’ he said, looking as relieved as she felt. ‘I need a chief pizza taster.’

They shared a smile and Katy’s relief was mixed with emotions.

It had begun to feel as if they were a team, facing everything together. The thought that she would leave eventually upset her. But a couple more months wouldn’t do any harm, would it? And then she would be able to get her life back on the career track.

But right at that moment, she looked around the station with its pretty decorations, at the carriages waiting to be renovated and then at Ryan smiling at her, and she couldn’t think of anywhere else she would rather be than in Cranfield.

46

The following day, Maggie came into Platform 1 just as Katy was finishing having an early coffee with her friends.

‘Good morning,’ said Maggie.

‘Good morning,’ replied Katy. ‘I saw you and Bob enjoying an early-morning stroll out there.’

‘It was too beautiful a morning to resist,’ said Maggie shyly.

Katy smiled at the others but didn’t say anything. Bob was slowly beginning to spend a little less time in the railway workshop and a little more time having a drink or a walk with Maggie and she was pleased for them both.

‘Anyway, we just saw Ryan at the other end of the platform and I forgot to ask Bob what he was up to,’ carried on Maggie. ‘Is he scrapping those lovely old carriages?’

‘Scrapping?’ Katy shook her head. ‘I hope not. That’s our latest money-spinning venture. It’s going to be turned into overnight accommodation for paying guests.’

‘Really?’ Maggie’s eyes were wide open. ‘Wow. I guess that could work.’

‘Eddie assures me that it’s solidly built and once he, Bob and Ryan complete the repairs, then it just needs dressing.’ She frowned. ‘Which is where I’m going to need your help again,’ she said, looking around at her friends. ‘I have no skills or imagination like that.’

‘Well, you’ve been able to think up a pizza restaurant, a coffee shop and overnight accommodation.’ Libby stood up. She was in her flight attendant uniform and was about to head off. ‘I’m exhausted just thinking about it and I haven’t started work yet.’

‘You’ve certainly achieved more than I have this autumn,’ said Flora, making a face.

‘How’s the farm?’ asked Katy.

Flora sighed. ‘Well, if you want your new accommodation to overlook quiet fields, you might just have your wish come true as it’s been so wet, I’m not sure there’ll be any crops come the spring.’

‘Poor you,’ said Harriet. ‘What about the guest room accommodation?’

‘That’s the only thing keeping us afloat at the moment,’ Flora told her. ‘And even that’s with only a couple of nights booked each month.’

‘Listen,’ said Katy, reaching out to squeeze her arm. ‘We’re not in competition with you and Grams. If the railway carriages get fully booked, then we’ll recommend the farm as an alternative accommodation. Okay?’

Katy felt anxious that she didn’t want to make her friend’s situation any worse than it already sounded.

Flora nodded and smiled. ‘I know that,’ she replied. ‘Anyway, the rooms were only supposed to be a temporary measure until we start making some real money. I still don’t know how though.’

She looked so downcast that Katy stepped forward to give her a hug, desperate to alleviate her friend’s worries. That was when she realised how much she cared for these women, her true friends.