Page 94 of New Beginnings on Railway Lane

‘So, what’s the gossip?’ she asked, hoping it wasn’t her and Ryan. Their kisses had been delicious, but they had tried to keep their relationship quiet, especially in front of Bob and Eddie. For some reason, she didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up that she would be staying beyond Valentine’s Day.

‘I’m doing dry January,’ announced Harriet before breaking into a smile. ‘And it’s nearly killing me.’

‘I always think of it as Gin-uary,’ said Libby. She looked around. ‘It’s a bit quiet in here this morning.’

‘A lot of people are still away with the schools not being back until later this week,’ said Flora.

‘At least it gives me time to catch up with everything,’ said Katy.

‘Is that new?’ asked Harriet, peering at the opposite wall.

Katy nodded. She was particularly pleased with the noticeboard that she had put up. Once a few of the villagers began to come in for coffee, she had learnt of the many people working from home, some with amazing skills. So she had already placed adverts on the noticeboard for a local seamstress, as well as news of a yoga class that somebody held in their conservatory.

‘Great idea,’ said Flora. ‘I think this is going to be the hub of the village from now on. Somewhere to gather, even when the weather is dreadful.’

Everyone but Libby glanced out of the window where the rain was lashing down.

Libby put her head on one side. ‘Is that noticeboard slightly wonky or is it me?’ she asked.

‘Maybe it’s the Gin-uary,’ said Flora with a grin.

‘Heaven only knows I need a few days to dry out my liver after all the excess of Christmas,’ said Libby. ‘Nope. That’s definitely wonky.’

They all looked at Katy, who took a sip of her coffee. ‘I’ll look at it later,’ she said, not too bothered about it.

Her friends burst into shocked laughter.

‘When we first met you, that would have driven you insane!’ Libby told her.

‘Yeah, I thought you hated all the wibbly-wobbly walls around here,’ added Flora.

Katy gave a shrug as she looked around the walls, which weren’t perfect but to her were magical. ‘Actually, I’ve decided that I quite like it. Maybe life is better not being ever so perfect.’

It was true. Somewhere along the way she had decided that it didn’t matter if the walls weren’t perfect. She had focused on the wrong things, when she should have been concentrating on family, love and laughter. Of life, in fact. She’d held herself back and had no one else to blame but herself. But now she was starting to learn and hopefully changing too.

‘Who are you and what have you done with Katy?’ murmured Flora.

‘It’s okay,’ joked Katy. ‘I’ll make sure the walls in my next home are extra straight, just for you lot.’

There was a short silence. ‘Your next home?’ said Harriet softly, with a frown. ‘You’re still leaving then?’

Katy gulped. ‘It’s not that I want to leave,’ she told them.

‘So don’t,’ said Libby bluntly. ‘Stay.’

Katy groaned. ‘Of course I don’t want to leave you all. And Bob, of course. And Eddie. And…’ Her voice trailed off but her friends said nothing as they waited patiently.

She couldn’t lie to them any longer.

‘Ryan,’ she blurted out. ‘I don’t want to leave Ryan, okay?’

They all broke into smiles once more.

‘Of course you don’t,’ said Harriet. ‘Ryan’s great.’

‘Yeah, he is,’ said Katy. ‘But you know, life has to go on. I can’t stay here just because I’ve got all these unexplained feelings. I live in London! I need to get back into paid employment and pursue my career.’

‘But you said you had no life in London,’ Flora reminded her.