Page 47 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

‘Can’t all the money you earned with your stellar career as a chef contribute something?’ said Ethan.

Ryan grimaced but didn’t reply.

‘I mean, the prices you charge for a meal there must be a profit in that – forty quid for a steak and chips,’ carried on Ethan. ‘I nearly fell off my chair when I visited.’

‘Shame you didn’t,’ said Ryan. ‘I could do with a laugh at the moment. As I’ve told you before, I didn’t exactly make a fortune when I was working my way up the career ladder to chef. Catering isn’t exactly high-earning, you know. And any savings that I had have just been used up shipping the rest of my stuff back here from my expensive but now flood-soaked apartment and fixing the hole in the roof.’ He blew out a long sigh. ‘What about you? You’re the one who had a fancy apartment in Hong Kong until a few months ago.’

Ethan groaned. ‘Don’t remind me. I’ve lost an absolute fortune on the sale. It nearly put me in negative equity, so I haven’t got any loose change to go around at the moment. Hey, what about your job? Can’t you ask them for a loan?’

Ryan blanched and was grateful his brother couldn’t see him. ‘Not at the moment,’ he said quickly. He hated lying to everyone, but it was just easier until everything was sorted out in his head. He was still ashamed to have lost his job and had no idea what to do in the future, especially if he couldn’t get his confidence back with his cooking.

‘Nice to be so in demand that they’ll give you indefinite leave,’ said Ethan. ‘Maybe you can find a dating opportunity whilst you’re staying in Cranfield temporarily.’

‘Like who?’ asked Ryan.

‘Flora?’ suggested Ethan.

‘She’s like a sister to me,’ said Ryan. ‘Who else are you going to suggest, Libby?’

Ethan made a spluttering noise. ‘Not unless you want your head bitten off. You’d better stay away from her.’

Ryan smiled to himself, wondering whether his intelligent, playboy brother could be so monumentally dim as to not see what everyone else could.

‘So that just leaves your new flatmate,’ said Ethan in a pointed tone.

Ryan looked dumbly at the mess surrounding him before he realised what Ethan was suggesting. ‘Er, no,’ he said quickly.

‘There’s worse ways to keep warm with all those draughts coming through the roof,’ said Ethan with a chuckle.

‘Thankfully Katy has moved to Dad’s bedroom, where it’s already a lot warmer,’ said Ryan before swiftly ending the call.

Ethan’s gentle teasing had unsettled him. Yes, Katy had shared some secrets with him and revealed a new, softer, more vulnerable side. But he certainly had no feelings towards her. At least, that’s what he needed to keep reminding himself over and over. Despite how cute she had looked in her pyjamas and the way her blue eyes flashed when she was excited or mad about something.

But it did feel as if they’d turned a corner in their friendship.

Perhaps he needed to turn a corner as well, he told himself. When he had cooked pasta for Katy a couple of evenings ago, he hadn’t thought about it. He had just cooked on instinct like when he had been a chef. He had felt better for it and felt a bit more like the old Ryan once more. As if a piece of his soul had returned to him. So maybe it was finally time for him to face up to his fears and perhaps unburden a few secrets of his own.

25

Katy woke up the following morning with a startling realisation. The aches and pains had almost disappeared.

She stretched out in bed before slowly swinging her legs over the side and stood up. She braced herself for the inevitable sway and lack of strength, but it didn’t come. The only part of her that appeared to be exerting any kind of strain was her stomach, which was growling. She was starving hungry, having only eaten soup the previous day. But there was also no doubt that she was finally feeling better.

As she thought back over the previous two days, she felt embarrassed that Ryan had had to look after her. Having him to nurse her back to health hadn’t been on any kind of agenda. It was too close. Too intimate. She wasn’t used to anyone taking care of her.

Then there was the matter of their conversation when she had told him pretty much everything about the bankruptcy and what had followed in the years after. She sank back on the bed. What on earth was she going to do?

She stood up once more. She would face him, of course. She would thank him for looking after her and then get on with the job she had been tasked to complete.

In the meantime, she waited for the panic to set in that she had trusted someone with her innermost secrets. But the anxiety never came. Perhaps Ryan was right. Maybe it was time to start to open herself up after all this time. She was just surprised that the first person she had trusted in a very long time was him of all people, especially when they had only known each other for a week. It felt a lot longer to her.

‘Good morning,’ said Ryan, looking pleased to see her when she was dressed and had left the bedroom. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Definitely better, thanks,’ she replied.

‘That’s good,’ he told her. ‘Listen, I got cornered by Harriet wanting to know how you were feeling, so they’re coming up here this morning to see you.’

‘Oh, but what about work?’ said Katy quickly. ‘I mean, I really should be getting on with tidying up downstairs.’