Page 99 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

* * *

A short while later, she appeared at the doorway to the kitchen.

‘Hey,’ she said softly.

‘Hey,’ he replied, keeping his tone steadier than he felt. ‘So you’re all set?’

She nodded. ‘The taxi should be here any minute.’ She looked back over her shoulder at the restaurant decorated for Valentine’s Day. ‘If the trains run well, then I should be back in plenty of time for the party later.’

‘Okay.’

‘I’ve left the instructions for when the blogger checks out,’ she told him, placing a piece of paper on the counter. ‘It should be self-explanatory.’

‘Great.’ He hesitated before picking up an envelope that was on the nearby counter and handed it to her.

‘What’s this?’ she asked.

‘Happy Valentine’s Day,’ he said, trying to smile, but it felt strange on his face that morning.

‘You too,’ she replied, but her eyes were sad. ‘I didn’t think to get you a card,’ she told him.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

At the sound of a car outside, they both looked out through the window.

‘That’s my taxi,’ she said frowning and looking nervous. ‘Look, I think we’re all set for tonight.’

‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘Well, good luck for the job. I’m sure you’ll wow them.’

‘Thanks.’ She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

He stepped forward to give her a hug, unable to find the words that had caught in his throat. He wanted to tell her not to go. He wanted to tell her that he loved her and that her life was there with him.

But he couldn’t be selfish. It wasn’t fair on Katy. If he loved her, then he wouldn’t hold her back from her dreams. Because he cared for her so much that her happiness would be his. Even though when she got the job and left he would be heartbroken.

He finally let her go and her eyes were glistening as she looked up at him.

The taxi gave a honk on the horn and she sighed. ‘I’ve got to go,’ she told him with a gulp.

‘I know,’ he replied. ‘I’ll see you later.’

She nodded. ‘See you later.’

And then she was gone. And Ryan knew that he had lost her forever.

* * *

Katy sat on the train, the first-class carriage quiet on a Sunday morning. She thought back to how busy Platform 1 would be that day, with the hustle and bustle of the villagers preparing for the Valentine’s Day party that evening.

Would it be her last evening in Cranfield? The last time to joke and laugh with her friends? The last time to enjoy being in Ryan’s arms, if he even wanted her any more? He had been cool with her that morning, but she couldn’t blame him for that. She was leaving again.

He had already sent her a text to say that the blogger had left, promising a rave review on her website. Highly influential, Katy was pleased that her idea had gone so well. She was sure that the railway carriages would become very popular and found herself wishing that she could be there to see it.

She looked out of the window and saw that there were snowdrops dotted all over the ground. Now that it was the middle of February, the sun was just that little bit higher in the sky and the days were growing longer and lighter. She would never have noticed any of that before. She had been too busy chasing down a career, instead of looking for a life well-lived. Now she enjoyed each day and relished the passing of the seasons, taking the time to be in the moment.

She shook her head. She had to get her mind back into business so that she was going into her interview fully prepared.

But as she opened up her handbag to look at the notes on her phone, she found the Valentine’s card that Ryan had given her. She tentatively opened it up, feeling nervous as to what it might say. It was a simple card with a heart on the front. Inside, it read,With love always, Ryan.