Page 83 of Winter Magic on Railway Lane

She had spent a relaxed afternoon at home taking delivery of new ingredients, as well as researching new flavours and methods. Her fingers were itching to try out adding a scattering of Harriet’s lavender petals to the outside of some plain truffles as a way of starting to experiment with flowers for a summer range of chocolates.

‘I need to keep ahead of the trends,’ she told her dad, when he expressed surprise that she hadn’t stayed at the old school to use the kitchen.

But the truth was that she was avoiding Ethan. The kiss a few hours ago had shaken her up and it was hard to concentrate on anything else. It had felt so right and yet he had walkedaway. Perhaps it really wasn’t meant to be after all, she thought, regardless of how much her heart yearned for him.

Libby arrived early to help Katy switch everything on at Platform 1 and get prepared for what was being promised as a sold-out event.

Once darkness had fallen, the lights went back on at the station and the whole platform was lit up like a Christmas grotto.

Libby was especially thrilled to see the local television news station turn up with their cameras, which would be a great promotion for the remaining dates on the calendar.

‘Just wish I’d got that snow sorted,’ muttered Del, who had brought his mum along to ride the train.

‘It looks great anyway,’ Libby told him. ‘It doesn’t need it.’

Del’s face begged to differ and Libby was hoping that she had done enough to dissuade him from bothering about the fake snow any longer.

Thankfully, all the other passengers were delighted with the Christmas train and the decorations at the station. Their faces, both young and old, lit up in wonder at both the station but especially the train. Libby saw Ethan in the distance chatting to everyone but she stayed away from him, hovering near the station entrance instead to help with any late arrivals.

Everyone was taking photographs and videos, especially when Bob gave the whistle a pull to indicate that everyone should start boarding.

Libby also made sure that she took some photos on her phone as the train began to move. She watched until it disappeared into the darkness, only a dimly lit blur in the far distance.

‘We’ve got about an hour,’ said Katy, after checking that nobody had left anything behind on the station. ‘I’ve got to get going.’

‘You have?’ Libby was surprised. ‘Why? What are you doing?’

‘Just this and that,’ muttered Katy, avoiding eye contact. ‘Why don’t you go and see Ryan? Stay inside in the warm?’

Libby frowned, under the distinct impression that her friend was hiding something. But she headed inside anyway and chatted with Ryan whilst he prepared for a busy pizza takeout service.

An hour later, they heard the familiar sound of the steam engine pulling into the station and headed outside. There was an air of excitement as the passengers began to disembark the train. Everyone was wearing cheerful expressions as they climbed down from the train.

‘That was wonderful,’ everyone kept telling Libby.

‘Magical,’ was another popular description.

‘I loved the story,’ said someone else.

Most of all, everyone was promising that they would be back to enjoy it again before Christmas.

‘It sounds like you’ve got a hit on your hands,’ Libby told Bob as they met on the platform after everyone had left.

She glanced up at Ethan as he climbed out of the driver’s cab, but he didn’t say anything.

‘Isn’t it great?’ asked Bob, beaming with joy. ‘It was a huge success! I can’t wait to tell dad all about it.’

‘Absolutely,’ replied Katy, coming to join them. ‘Come on. You must be desperate for your dinner. I’ve got tea all ready for you and Eddie.’

‘Where have you been?’ asked Libby.

‘Ask him,’ said Katy, nodding towards Ethan as he stood nearby. ‘It was his big idea.’

They wished the others goodnight and then suddenly it was just Libby and Ethan left alone on the platform.

‘What’s all the secrecy with Katy?’ asked Libby.

He cleared his throat, looking quite nervous. ‘She’s been doing me a favour, actually. Well, you were talking about settingup your own shop and I figured now is the best time, what with all the footfall from the passengers, so there you go.’