Page 98 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

‘Oh, they look wonderful,’ Katy told him, licking her lips. ‘Don’t suppose there’s any going spare?’

‘I may just have prepared a special one for you for tomorrow night,’ he told her, drawing her close.

Katy hesitated before speaking. ‘Sounds great,’ she said cautiously.

The thought of the following day made her stomach drop.

Ryan frowned. ‘Have you suddenly decided that you hate chocolate?’ he asked.

She shook her head. ‘No, silly. It’s just that I, er, well, I’ve got an interview tomorrow in London. The agency think that I’ll be a shoo-in with my experience…’ Her voice faded as Ryan stared down at her, so she rushed to carry on speaking into the silence. ‘But I’m sure I’ll be back in time for the party.’

A few weeks ago, they had decided to hold a special Valentine’s Day themed party in the waiting room on Sunday night in celebration of the opening of the railway carriage accommodation.

‘I see.’

‘Sorry. I only got the email last night,’ she told him. ‘And it’s been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to tell you before now.’

He nodded. ‘Sure.’

But, to her dismay, he dropped his arms from where he had been holding her.

‘Well, I’ll make sure I keep a dessert back just in case you’re late,’ he said.

‘Great,’ Katy told him in a bright tone. But he had already turned away to start preparing the vegetables and she found she was speaking to the back of his head.

* * *

There was no opportunity to talk to him for the remainder of the day as they were rushed off their feet preparing for the restaurant opening later. In addition, the coffee shop was always busy on a Saturday, as well as the early pizza takeout service.

‘Wow, it smells amazing in here,’ said the blogger when she and her partner came in later to sit down for dinner.

The atmosphere was particularly convivial that evening as the romantic atmosphere appeared to soften even the hardest of hearts.

But Katy was still worried about Ryan’s reaction to her interview despite the success of the evening.

‘Tonight went really well,’ she said, as they headed back up to the apartment later. ‘You must be pleased. Everyone loved the food.’

He nodded. ‘Thanks for all your hard work.’

‘Ryan,’ she began, wanting to explain her mixed feelings to him.

‘Listen,’ he said, almost immediately. ‘I’m pretty tired, so I think I’m going to call it a night as it’ll be a late one tomorrow with the party.’ He leaned forward to give her a kiss on the cheek. ‘Goodnight.’

He walked into his bedroom and closed the door.

Katy gave a shiver as she walked across the lounge towards her own bedroom. The mood had changed since she had told him about the interview. Of course it would, she reminded herself. If the job was hers, then she would be leaving. Leaving Cranfield and Ryan too.

He had every right to protect his heart against hurt. She couldn’t blame him for that. But she felt cold and alone as she snuggled down in her bed that evening, missing the warmth of his arms and the soft touch of his lips on hers.

54

The following morning, Ryan was in the kitchen of Platform 1, but his mind wasn’t on food. It was only on Katy.

He had seen her briefly that morning before heading downstairs and it had been a shock. She was back in the power business suit that she had worn that very first time that he had met her. After so long, it took him aback to see her dressed so formally. She looked so stiff, so cold. It was like staring at another person, from another time.

Perhaps it was, he thought. So much seemed to have happened. And yet, when she left, everything would revert back to how it was.

He still had his friends and family in Cranfield. But without Katy there alongside him…? He shook his head and tried to concentrate once more on the menus for the following week, but it was no use.