Page 24 of Your Carriage Awaits in Crumbleton
‘I am, though!’ The words came tumbling out now, all the hurt and humiliation she’d been carrying. ‘I ignored all the red flags. The way he talked to other women, the way he had to be right about everything, how he made me feel small whenever I had an opinion. I knew something was wrong, but I convinced myself I was just being paranoid.’
‘That doesn’t make you an idiot!’ said her mum, her voice. ‘It just makes you human. And it makeshima manipulative, cheating shithead.’
Michelle’s eyes widened. Her mum never swore.
‘Too right,’ said her dad. ‘If he ever shows his face around here again, I’ll show him exactly what I think of men who treat my daughter like that.’
‘Dad, you’re a taxi driver, not a gangster,’ said Michelle, sniffing and smiling at the same time.
‘Yeah, but my taxi is extremely heavy, and I know how to aim it,’ he replied with a wink.
‘We’re sorry, love,’ said her mum, reaching across to squeeze her hand. ‘Sorry we pushed when we should have listened. Sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell us the truth.’
Michelle wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘I should have told you from the start.’
‘Water under the bridge,’ said her dad. ‘Though I have to say, your behaviour makes a lot more sense now.’
‘I agree,’ said her mum. ‘And as for Lawrence, he can take his delicate laundry and shove it up his backside.’
‘Mum!’ Michelle gasped.
‘What?’ said her mum, looking like butter wouldn’t melt.
‘You should have heard your mother on the phone,’ said her dad, looking proud. ‘She was magnificent. The minute the penny dropped, she tore Lawrence a new one.’
Michelle raised her eyebrows, caught somewhere between tears and laughter. ‘You did?’
‘Yep,’ said her mum. ‘I can tell you one thing for certain—you don’t need to worry about him calling here ever again!’
An hour later, Michelle let herself back out through the front door of the cottage. She took a deep breath of fresh air, then let it whistle out between her teeth. It was a relief to get back outside and be on her own again.
Sure, it felt great to get the whole Lawrence disaster out in the open at long last, but that wasn’t the only thing she was hiding, was it? One cat might be out of the bag and dealt with, but there were plenty more still squirming around in there, desperate to make a break for it.
What with her car stranded at the Daltons’, her mum’s bike abandoned in enemy territory, and the warm-fuzzies sweeping over her every time she thought about Danny, Michelle couldn’t help but feel like she was balancing on top of a whole hill of secrets!
Still, after the emotional whirlwind of her parents finding out about Lawrence, she felt oddly lighter. Her mum and dad knew the truth at last, and instead of disappointment, Michelle hadfound nothing but fierce protection and unconditional love. It had given her a gift she hadn’t felt in months.
Courage.
Which was why her feet had already route-marched her up Crumbleton’s cobbled high street, and she was now staring at the sage-green door of the Crumbleton Times and Echo office.
With one secret dealt with, Michelle was ready to tackle another one… but this time, it was the big family mystery she had in her sights. She couldn’t solve this one on her own, though. She needed help… and a bit of a history lesson. Who better to ask than the font of all local-gossip-wisdom—her old school friend, Caroline Cook!
Michelle’s hand hovered for several long seconds over the heavy brass knocker. Was she really ready to prod this particular hornet’s nest? An image of Danny Dalton’s melting gaze flashed through her mind, and Michelle felt her stomach flip.
‘Yep, I really am,’ she muttered, grabbing the knocker and giving it three loud taps.
‘Hang on, hang on!’ came a familiar voice from somewhere deep inside the building. ‘This had better be important - I’m on a deadline!’
Michelle grinned. As far as she could remember, her old friend wasalwayson a deadline.
After a great deal of puffing and clattering, the door swung open to reveal Caroline Cook in all her no-nonsense glory. She had her sleeves rolled up, a pencil stuck behind her ear, and a look of mild irritation on her face… that immediately transformed into a broad grin.
‘Well, well, well. Michelle Singer!’ said Caroline, stepping back to usher her inside. ‘What brings you to my humble empire of local gossip?’
At a nod from Caroline, Michelle bounded up the narrow stairway ahead of her friend and headed straight for the officeon the next floor. She hadn’t been up here in years, but the Crumbleton Times and Echo headquarters was just as tiny as Michelle remembered. It was organised chaos, with stacks of newspapers everywhere she turned, and an ancient computer whirring away on a massive desk. The faint smell of strong coffee hung heavy in the air.
Caroline gestured to a battered chair across from her desk, and Michelle sank into it with a grateful smile.
