Page 55 of Your Carriage Awaits in Crumbleton
Danny snorted in amusement.
‘How about you start by taking me for a spin in the cab?’ said Keith. ‘She could do with a run. Then we can come back here for a brew, a piece of cake… and a nice game of darts?’
‘You still play?’ said Brian.
‘Of course,’ said Keith. ‘Got a board here in the garage. I had to keep my hand in… just in case.’
‘It’s not been the same without you, you know,’ said Brian, taking Keith’s arm as the pair of them moved away towards the taxi.
‘Don’t mind us!’ chuckled Danny.
The two men turned back to them, identical joy on both their beaming faces.
‘You don’t mind showing Michelle around her future diner, do you?’ said his dad. ‘There’ll be plenty of time for me and Brian to step in and improve your plans!’
Michelle laughed, squatting down to grab hold of Elvis’s collar.
‘I’m fine with that if you are,’ said Danny, raising his eyebrows at her.
Michelle nodded.
‘Brian… before you go, I do need to ask you something,’ said Danny.
‘What’s that, lad?’
‘Now that we’re no longer sworn enemies… may I have your permission to ask your daughter on a date?’
Keith grinned at him approvingly.
‘I don’t think you need my permission,’ laughed Brian. ‘And Michelle definitely doesn’t!’
‘No… but I’d like it anyway… if you’re willing,’ said Danny, his hands suddenly clammy with nerves.
‘Then have at it, my boy,’ said Brian with a little nod.
‘Come along, old man,’ said Keith, clambering into the passenger seat of the taxi. ‘Your carriage awaits!’
‘So…’ said Michelle, after they’d watched their dads disappear down the road with a cheerful toot of the taxi’s horn. ‘You’re going to ask me on a date, eh?’
‘I’m thinking about it,’ said Danny. ‘But first, how’d you fancy having a look around your new empire?’
‘I’d love that,’ said Michelle, her arms still around Elvis.
‘I meant to ask, do you have a name in mind?’ said Danny.
‘I was thinking,’ said Michelle, dropping a quick kiss on top of the dog’s glossy head before straightening up, ‘how does Elvis’s Diner sound to you?’
Danny grinned as he unlocked the door to the old showroom. ‘What do you reckon, lad?’
Elvis barged his way inside, his entire body wagging as he let out a little woof.
‘That’s your seal of approval, right there,’ said Danny, standing back and holding the door open for the girl of his dreams.
EPILOGUE
CRUMBLETON TIMES AND ECHO - 5TH SEPTEMBER
Elvis Has Entered the Building!
