Page 53 of Your Carriage Awaits in Crumbleton
Elvis scrambled to his feet. He let out a whine and pawed at Brian’s leg. ‘Sorry lad. Not you,’ he said, laying his hand soothingly on the dog’s head. ‘Anyway, you’re talking rubbish. Michelle knows nothing about what you did. I’ve protected her from you and your family all these years, and I’m not about to?—’
‘Michelle here knew enough to give me a clue,’ said Keith. ‘Just enough to get me thinking and on the right track. And I’m here to tell you… you got it wrong!’
‘What a surprise,’ said Brian with a dry, humourless laugh.
‘Danny? It’s time,’ said Keith.
Danny nodded and jogged off without a word.
‘I think we should go,’ said Brian.
‘Just wait, you impatient git,’ huffed Keith. ‘I can’t make you, but at least do me the courtesy of waiting two minutes.’
‘Take me home,’ said Brian, turning to Michelle.
‘Two minutes, Dad,’ she said. She had no idea what was going on, but the pleading look Keith shot her was enough to make her pause.
‘Fine,’ huffed Brian. ‘I’ll just walk.’ He turned on his heel and started to march towards the road. ‘Go home, dog,’ he muttered, as Elvis followed him.
Elvis simply wagged his tail and continued to trot alongside him.
‘Stay!’
Elvis threw himself down in front of Brian, turning on his back for a belly rub.
Michelle bit her lip. She was caught between wanting to giggle at the sight of her dad trying to navigate his way around the wiggling dog, and bursting into tears because he was so upset. She prayed Danny and Keith knew what they were doing!
As if in answer to her prayers, the purring rumble of an engine made her turn. It was Danny, and he was behind the wheel of the glossy black London taxi from their collection of classics.
‘That’s your answer?!’ shouted her dad, striding back towards them.
Michelle caught the look of thunder on his face and reached out to grab his arm, hoping to slow him down.
‘You think parading that car in front of me is going to make this all better?’
‘Dad, wait,’ said Michelle, clinging to his hand now, hoping to calm him down.
‘Get down off your high horse!’ laughed Keith.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Michelle, glancing between Danny’s grinning face behind the wheel and her dad’s - which was now white. His entire body seemed to be trembling with anger.
‘This is the car you told me about,’ said Keith, turning to her. ‘The one that started it all.’
‘Because you STOLE it from me,’ growled Brian.
‘Dad?’ said Michelle.
‘That car was your grandad’s taxi,’ said Brian, his words choked with emotion. ‘My dad. I spent years hunting for it. Then I found it.Wefound it.’ He shot a hard glare at Keith. ‘It was coming up for auction. But, before I could get my hands on it, it was sold in a private agreement before the sale.’
‘Oh, Dad!’ breathed Michelle. ‘But… then…’
‘That’s right. I bought it,’ said Keith with a wide smile.
Michelle felt her jaw go slack.He’d done what?!This whole time, she’d assumed that there must have been some huge misunderstanding. That somehow, her dad and Keith would be able to reconcile their differences if only they could get together and talk things through.
But… for Keith to do something like that… it was unforgivable!
‘Dad, I’m so sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I had no idea. Come on, I’ll take you home.’
