Page 62 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

‘I’m having that chicken pie again,’ said Eddie.

‘And I’m going to go for the salmon,’ said Katy, putting down her menu.

‘Great minds think alike,’ added Ethan, obviously not intending to stop flirting any time soon.

‘But you hate salmon,’ said Ryan in a pointed tone.

‘I think I’ll just pop to the ladies’,’ said Katy, getting up. ‘Excuse me.’

As soon as she left, Ryan tore into his younger brother.

‘Can you knock it off?’ he whispered, leaning across the table.

‘Great legs,’ said Ethan, staring after her and not listening.

Ryan agreed as he looked at the black skirt and knee-length boots that she was wearing, but he wasn’t going to let his brother know that.

‘And a pair of blue eyes that could fell any man within three miles,’ carried on Ethan before turning to look at his brother. ‘So you’re telling me that you’ve noticed none of these things about Katy?’

‘No,’ Ryan told him through gritted teeth.

Ethan broke into a wide grin. ‘I was just doing it to wind you up. I prefer blondes anyway.’

Bob looked stern. ‘I invited Katy because I like her company, not so that you can go all Valentino on her.’

‘Never needed to be like that in my day,’ said Eddie, looking equally unimpressed. ‘It’s all about chemistry. That certain something, not your smooth patter and overbearing attitude.’

‘Overbearing?’ Ethan gave a start. ‘That’s my tried-and-tested technique which has worked many many times.’

‘Well, perhaps Katy is a lot brighter than your normal dates and isn’t so easily swayed,’ snapped Ryan. ‘Anyway, we didn’t come out to watch you fail at flirting with her, no matter how amusing it would be to see you trip up. We’re here to celebrate Dad’s birthday.’

‘Not much to celebrate this year,’ said Bob, looking downcast. ‘Didn’t even get a card from your mum.’

Eddie and his grandsons exchanged glances across the table.

‘Did we tell you that we got the engine to turn over?’ said Eddie in an overly bright tone.

‘Using that chain link that you sourced online?’ asked Ethan.

As Bob replied, Ryan watched as his dad relax a little again. Thankfully, Ethan had caught the engineering bug early on. Ryan was practical but had always preferred the kitchen as his workshop. He looked down the menu once more. It was very impressive, a modern take on traditional English food.

Katy returned at that moment, along with the waitress, who was ready to take their food orders.

Eddie swiftly turned the conversation onto how Cranbridge had come back to life, along with the pub they were sitting in.

‘It wasn’t this busy before?’ asked Katy, looking around at the packed dining area. The bar was equally full of customers.

‘Oh no,’ said Eddie, giving his son a nudge. ‘Don’t you remember how bad it was, Bob?’

Bob nodded. ‘The food was dreadful and the whole place was falling down, as I recall.’

‘Well, they’ve certainly had a successful renovation since then,’ said Ryan.

‘All down to the landlord Pete and his fiancé Belle,’ said Ethan. ‘Which reminds me, I must see Pete afterwards. I haven’t caught up with him for ages.’

‘Because you’re always out of the country,’ murmured Ryan.

‘Well, maybe,’ said Ethan, flashing him a wide grin.