Page 16 of Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm

‘He’s better, thanks,’ said Ryan. ‘My grandfather lives locally as well and together they’re putting all their efforts into getting an old steam train up and running.’

Nico was impressed. ‘Sounds interesting. How’s it going?’

Ryan rolled his eyes. ‘I don’t know whether they’ll ever get it going. But it keeps them happy. We’ll have to show the train to you whilst you’re staying here.’

Nico stayed silent as Ryan chatted on. He explained that he was part-owner of Platform 1, along with his girlfriend Katy. It was a coffee shop, pizzeria and restaurant, all of which appeared to be doing very well.

‘And now that Katy and I are together and the station is doing well, it’s nice to have the family all together again, you know?’ said Ryan. ‘Although Ethan still stays away a lot of the time for work. Some people prefer the buzz of the big cities. I’m guessing your father’s maybe the same, given the headlines.’

‘He’s definitely not one for the countryside,’ said Nico, parking up the car.

He got out of the car before Ryan could ask him anything else about his father. That was all most people wanted to know about. It was no wonder he didn’t trust strangers. His strategy had always been to keep all conversations light and not let on anything personal. But it made for a lonely life, he had come to realise.

As they waited for the others to walk down the hill, Ryan looked across at the farm. ‘So I understand you might be here for a little while?’ he asked.

Nico nodded. ‘For a couple of days,’ he replied. ‘They were very kind in asking me to stay.’

Especially because he had nowhere else to go for the time being. Once more, he realised that he had to come up with a plan as to what to do next.

‘Well, heaven knows Flora and Grams need all the help they can get these days,’ replied Ryan, crouching down to look at the Ferrari once more.

Nico gave a start. His initial suspicions about Strawberry Hill Farm sounded as if they were unfortunately right. But before he could ask, Joe and Ethan joined them and the moment was temporarily lost.

9

Nico was still mulling over Ryan’s words as he walked over to the stables. Was the farm in trouble? Or was it just that they needed extra pairs of hands to help out? He wasn’t sure.

But, for the moment, as he drew open the door, he was distracted. It was a long building, housing about four stables, he reckoned. It was somewhat dilapidated but fairly solid. The roof at least looked intact.

He went inside the first stable. It was full of hay bales and not much else apart from a few piles covered with tarpaulin sheets.

Joe, coming in behind him, nodded thoughtfully. ‘I’d forgotten this was even here,’ he said, going to stand in the middle. ‘Don’t think it’s been used in a very long time.’

‘I remember playing hide-and-seek with Libby and Flora in here when we were young,’ said Ethan, with a smile to himself.

Ryan looked across at Nico. ‘We grew up in the village with Flora and Libby. I don’t know if you’ve met her yet.’

‘She’s the blonde with the permanent scowl on her face,’ said Ethan, with a grimace.

‘Only when she’s talking to you,’ said Joe, coming inside to join them. ‘Ethan and Libby have one of those hate-hate relationships.’

‘And Harriet just came home for the school holidays,’ said Joe with a smile. ‘Now we live together here permanently.’

‘Katy arrived last autumn,’ added Ryan. ‘We live in the flat above the station.’

Ethan rolled his eyes. ‘And thus all the happy couples were created,’ he drawled. ‘Well, this has been a nice trip down memory lane, but what’s so interesting about an empty block of stables?’

‘That,’ said Nico, pointing to the furthest corner where a large piece of tarpaulin hopefully held another family treasure. He went over and pulled it off and there was the motorbike. ‘Bellissima,’ he said with a sigh.

The other men headed over.

‘Wow,’ said Ethan, blowing out a long whistle of appreciation. ‘Always loved a Ducati.’

‘Me too,’ said Nico, nodding. ‘I had no idea Nonno even owned one until Grams told me about this.’

‘And it’s been here all this time?’ asked Ryan, peering at the motorbike.

‘Since it broke down in 1961,’ replied Nico.