Page 2 of Coming Home to Crumbleton

‘Home’s looking lovely this morning,’ said Brian happily. ‘Looks like we’re in for a beautiful day too.’

Ruby nodded and slumped back in her seat. If only the sight of Crumbleton made her half as happy as Brian! She knew she should be excited - after all, she was going to get to see her parents on their home turf for the first time in forever.

‘You know,’ said Brian, cutting into her thoughts, ‘everyone’s been talking about who you’ve based all your characters on. Half the town reckons they’re in there somewhere!’

‘Well… good for them,’ she sighed. The worthies of Crumbleton could wonder all they wanted, but they’d never know the truth.

‘You alright back there, Rubes?’

Brian cast a concerned glance over his shoulder, and Ruby promptly forced a smile back onto her face. This was exactly the kind of thing she’d been dreading - and precisely the reason she had zero chance of flying under the radar during this visit – even the taxi driver had known her since birth.

‘I’m fine, thanks,’ she said, forcing herself to sound as cheerful as possible. ‘I just… hate this song,’ she said, quickly inventing an excuse. There was no way she was going to tell him the truth - she’d be a pariah if she said anything in the least bit negative about Crumbleton to anyone who actually lived there. ‘Any chance you can turn the radio off?’

‘Sure!’ he said with an easy shrug, hitting the dial with a flourish. ‘Anything for our home-grown celeb. I couldn’t believe it when I got the booking through from your fancy-pants publisher, you know!’

Ruby felt the smile solidify on her face. ‘How’s Michelle?’ she said quickly, desperate to steer the conversation away from anything to do with her book, her publisher, and her so-called celebrity status. She’d gone to primary school with Brian’s daughter – and they’d been in the same class all the way until the end of secondary school.

‘Oh, she’s right happy!’ said Brian, breaking into a wide smile. ‘That young man of hers is something special, and they’ve got a lovely place. I wish they’d settled a bit closer of course, but…’

Ruby smiled and nodded along as Brian filled her in on everything from the new carpets his daughter had just fitted, to the fact she’d won a karaoke competition on the cruise she’d enjoyed the previous summer. Her plan had worked a treat. Brian’s daughter had always been the apple of his eye. Combined with the fact that he could chat for Britain, Ruby was seriously hoping that his fatherly monologue might get them all the way to Crumbleton.

‘You know… I should thank you,’ said Brian, glancing at her again.

‘Oh?’ said Ruby.

‘Michelle’s coming back to visit this week… and it’s all down to you,’ said Brian.

‘Me?’ said Ruby, with a sinking sensation. She had a feeling they were about to stray straight back onto the topic she was most keen to avoid.

‘Absolutely,’ said Brian, nodding vigorously. ‘She said there was no way on earth she was going to miss your event.’

‘Oh,’ said Ruby.

‘She loved your book,’ said Brian. ‘I’ve not started it yet - but I got my copy from Crumbleton Bookshop the minute it came out. Gotta support our own!’

‘Right, right…’ said Ruby. ‘Well… it’ll be lovely to see Michelle. At least I know someone’s going to be there on the day!’

‘I’ll be there too. I’ve taken the time off work specially,’ said Brian. ‘Can’t wait. Not often we get a local celeb… and even less often they played in my back garden when they were little!’

Ruby nodded but couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

‘You sure you’re okay, Rubes?’ said Brian again after watching her in the rear-view mirror for a long moment. ‘You don’t quite seem like yourself.’

Ruby raised her eyebrows. How Brian Singer knew when she was being “herself” was beyond her, considering he’d not seen her since she’d scarpered. That was the thing with Crumbleton, though. Everyone thought they knew you inside and out - and they thought they knew all your business too.

Well… that just went to show, didn’t it. She was pretty confident that no one in the little town had the first clue why she’d done a disappearing act practically overnight. Other than Caroline, of course – but Caroline was her best friend and basically knew everything about everyone. That was her thing. She also happened to be his cousin…

‘Ruby?’ said Brian. ‘Love… do you want me to pull over? You’ve gone all pale.’

Ruby shook her head quickly and gave herself a mental slap. If she wasn’t careful, it’d be all over town that she was ill… or losing her marbles… or maybe both. It definitely wasn’t the look she was going for!

‘I’m fine, thanks Brian,’ she said yet again. ‘Really. I’m just a bit wiped out. It’s been a busy month… I’ve been here, there and everywhere.’

‘Must have been exciting!’ he said.

‘Exhausting, if I’m honest,’ said Ruby with a little laugh.

‘Well… you’re nearly home now,’ said Brian.

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