Page 37 of Your Carriage Awaits in Crumbleton
‘Consider it done,’ said Michelle. ‘Let him know I’m on my way?’
‘Erm… nope,’ said Danny, sounding apologetic. ‘I promise I’m not chickening out, but I figure it’s best just to spring it on him at the last minute. I don’t want to give him time to have a hissy fit and take matters into his own hands.’
‘You think he might?’ said Michelle, trying to ignore the dollop of nerves that had just landed in her belly.
‘Not if you turn up like an angel of mercy ready to spring him from the hospital,’ said Danny. ‘I’ve got a feeling that’ll make you instant best friends.’
‘Okay,’ laughed Michelle. ‘I see your logic. And Danny? Try not to worry. I’ll look after him.’
‘I know you will,’ Danny let out a long breath. ‘Thank you. I owe you big time for this.’
‘No, you don’t,’ said Michelle. ‘Helping each other out seems to be what we do.’
There was a pause, and when Danny spoke again, his voice was calmer. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Right, I’d better go. Thanks again.’
Michelle hung up and stared at the phone for a long moment. Then she took a deep breath and headed back into the kitchen.
‘Sorry about that,’ she said, grabbing her jacket from the back of her chair. ‘Look, I’ve got a bit of an emergency. Nothing to worry about… but a friend needs my help.’
‘Nothing serious, I hope?’ said her mum.
‘No, just… necessary.’ Michelle bent to kiss both her parents on the cheek. ‘Enjoy the rest of your meal. I made cheesecake for pudding – it’s on the counter under that cover, and there’s ice cream in the freezer box. I’m not sure how long I’ll be…’
‘Drive safe, love,’ said her dad.
‘See you later… Chaos Magnet!’ chuckled her mum.
Michelle grinned and headed for the door before they could throw any tricky questions her way.
CHAPTER 11
MICHELLE
Michelle drove past the hospital entrance twice before she finally worked up the courage to park the Buick. It wasn’t that she was having second thoughts about helping Danny - she’d have done practically anything to ease the worry she’d heard in his voice.
It was more that she was about to meet Keith Dalton for the first time in her life, and she had absolutely no idea what to expect. Caroline had said he was a sweetheart… but on the other hand, this was the one man in the world her dad loathed.
‘Come on, Michelle, man up!’ she sighed, wishing she could borrow a bit of Caroline’s confidence. ‘It’ll be fine!’
Michelle checked her reflection in the rear-view mirror and immediately regretted it. Her hair was doing that thing where it insisted on sticking up at odd angles, and she still had a smudge of flour on her left cheek despite her mum’s tender ministrations.
‘Brilliant. I look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards… again!’
What was it about meeting the Dalton men that seemed to bring out her scruffy side?! Still, there was nothing for it. Keith was probably sitting in his hospital room right now—packed andready to go—and she was his only route home. She’d better get on with it before he really did make a bid for freedom. She didn’t much fancy having to explain to Danny that his dad had escaped on her watch!
Grabbing her handbag, Michelle locked the car and strode towards the hospital entrance. The automatic doors swooshed open, and she was hit by that distinctive hospital smell - disinfectant with underlying notes of anxiety and overcooked vegetables.
‘Purple Zone,’ she muttered, following the signs through a maze of corridors. Ten minutes and three wrong turns later, she finally found the cardiac ward. The walk had done nothing to calm her nerves.
‘Can I help you?’ A cheerful, tired face appeared at the reception window.
‘I’m here to collect Keith Dalton,’ said Michelle, doing her best to sound like this wasn’t a surprise to her.
‘Oh, he will be pleased!’ The woman’s face lit up. ‘He’s been asking for his son for… well… hours, if I’m honest. You must be his daughter-in-law?’
‘Actually, I’m n—’ Michelle stopped herself. It would probably be easier if she just went along with it. ‘Yes. That’s me.’
‘He’s all ready to go,’ said the woman. ‘Just needs you to wheel him down to the car park.’
