Page 85 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

‘Oh yes,’ said Eddie, nodding. ‘Things were built to last in those days. The roof’s intact and the walls. Why? What did you have going on in that busy brain of yours?’

Katy smiled at him. ‘Just a little idea.’

Eddie grinned back at her. ‘Well, here’s hoping it’s as good as the rest of your ideas.’

Katy hoped so too. And that Ryan agreed with her as well when she went to find him.

He was sitting down in the waiting room, going through the pizza menus for the following weekend.

‘With December just around the corner, I’m going to start looking at some Christmas specials,’ he told her. ‘Cranberry and brie pizza, what do you think?’

‘Sounds great,’ she replied.

When he offered to make them both a coffee, Katy decided it was the perfect time.

‘What?’ he asked, as he switched on the coffee machine. ‘You’ve got that look about you.’

‘Whatever do you mean?’ she asked, laughing.

‘I mean, the look which normally means you’ve had one of your ideas, which spells trouble for me.’

Katy’s smile grew wider. ‘Well, whilst you’re feeling un-Grinch like and positive, can I show you something?’

Ryan looked surprised but nodded. He looked even more surprised when she led him out of the back door and onto the platform.

‘There,’ she said, pointing her finger across the tracks.

Ryan followed the direction of her hand but was a little non-plussed. ‘The fields?’ he asked.

Katy laughed. ‘No, the carriages,’ she told him, turning to face him.

‘What about the carriages?’ he asked, confused.

‘Well, you know you told me to concentrate on finding a job in hospitality around here?’ she began. ‘That’s my speciality, as you know. And bijou little carriages like that can bring in quite an income with overnight stays.’

‘Who’s going to want to stay in those?’ asked Ryan, looking back at the dilapidated carriages.

‘Not at the moment,’ she told him, laughing. ‘But when they’ve been done up retro chic? With a little bit of heating, not forgetting water and a small kitchen, then yes, I absolutely think that we’re onto a winner.’

‘And who’s doing the renovation work?’ asked Ryan.

‘Ah, well, I was thinking…’ she began.

Ryan laughed. ‘In between running a coffee shop and a pizza restaurant, you now want me to renovate a railway carriage?’

‘Two actually,’ she said, with a sheepish grin.

‘Two!’ he groaned. ‘Katy…!’

‘I know but think of the profits,’ she said quickly. ‘I really think it will work. You know, diversifying here and there. It will soon all add up and maybe you’ll be able to keep the station.’

Ryan ran a hand through his hair. ‘You think this would really work?’ he asked.

She looked more serious. ‘Absolutely,’ she told him. ‘Self-contained accommodation is a quick-growing market right now. It’s a beautiful location and with our lovely coffee shop serving up some kind of breakfast in the morning as well, then I think it could really work.’

Ryan was silent for a moment as he looked across the railway track.

‘Well, you’re the expert,’ he said finally.