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Before I can ask what he means, a sharp train whistle makes me jump. Eric tightens his hand around mine and leads me around the side of the building.
A black steam engine rounds a bend in the tracks and moves slowly toward the platform. Behind it, a line of deep-blue carriages follows, warm light glowing through their windows.
I stop. “Are we getting on that?”
“Yes.”
The engine comes to a stop beside the platform with a long hiss of steam.
“Where is it taking us?”
“To dinner.”
I look from him to the train. “You flew me for half an hour so you could put me on another form of transport?”
“Yes.”
“This date has an alarming number of vehicles.”
“Only two. I canceled the yacht.”
A laugh escapes me. “So where’s the restaurant?”
He nods toward the nearest carriage. “You’re looking at it.”
I turn back to the train. Now that I know what I’m seeing, I notice a table set with white linen behind one of the wide windows.
“That engine is more than a hundred years old. It spent decades in storage before a local group brought it back. They saved everything they could, replaced only what they had to, and put it back to work.”
His voice softens.
“I know you care about old places being cared for and kept alive. I thought you’d appreciate it.”
I do. Even from here, I can see how carefully the train was restored. Each carriage has been painted a rich blue with fine gold trim. The numbers have been added by hand in old-fashioned lettering, and the brass handles shine like new. The whole experience feels rare…like something people would book months in advance.
“You arranged all this since last night?” I ask.
“I made a call.”
“That was all it took?”
“Steam trains are expensive to maintain. A small donation made them very accommodating.”
Small to me means a few hundred dollars, maybe a thousand. Small to Eric could probably keep this train running for another year. I decide I don’t want to know what he gave them.
I look along the empty platform. “How accommodating?”
“The train is ours.”
“All of it? For two people?”
“You gave me one evening. If it’s the only one I get, I’m not sharing it with anyone.”
24
ERIC
The helicopter was showing off. I know that. The train is the part I care about. I chose this for her.
