Chapter 7
MICHELLE
‘ I think I’m in love!’ chuckled Michelle, as she put her foot down on the long, straight stretch of road that led towards Crumbleton Clump.
Only… Danny wasn’t her bad boy, was he?! She needed to stop thinking idiotic things like that. Having a bit of fun with him and hopefully taking his mind off his dad for ten minutes was one thing, but imagining he was anything more than a mechanic doing her a favour was… dangerous.
Besides, Michelle was off men. Very off men!
Lawrence had pretty much throttled any fun out of the idea of dating. She just needed to keep her head down and figure out how she was going to pick up the tatters of her life.
‘Love, huh?’ said Danny, shooting her a sideways look she couldn’t quite read.
‘Well… yeah. I mean, I know declaring undying love on a first date is a bad idea, but have you seen her?!’ said Michelle, stroking the leather steering wheel with reverent affection.
‘I have,’ said Danny, not taking his eyes off her.
Michelle swallowed and quickly re-doubled her focus on the road ahead. Danny Dalton should come with a health warning when he said things like that!
‘Anyway…’ she said, doing her best to get her mushy brain to think straight. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind me borrowing her? Seriously?’
She knew she was repeating herself, but Michelle was having a hard time believing this was really happening.
‘It’ll do her good to be used for a while,’ said Danny. ‘Engines don’t particularly like sitting around doing nothing. Just make sure she’s got the right fuel, and if you have any problems, give me a call.’
‘I can’t believe it,’ said Michelle, shooting him a grin. ‘Thank you so much. I really owe you one!’
‘Well… I like cake,’ said Danny. ‘So, if you’re out this way when you’re cruising around?—’
‘Crumbleton bakery?’ said Michelle.
‘Always,’ said Danny. ‘Dad’s got a thing for their fruit slices, but I’ll take anything, especially if it’s covered in chocolate!’
‘Noted,’ said Michelle, trying to keep the pure joy off her face. Danny had just given her the perfect excuse to see him again… without having to break down first! ‘So… am I allowed to ask why there’s basically a world-class car museum at the back of your garage?’
Danny grinned at her. ‘It’s Dad’s thing… at least, it was to start with. He just loves buying them—no matter what state they’re in—and restoring them. Then he got me hooked, too. To be honest, it’s how I learned the trade.’
‘And the cars just sit there?’
‘Pretty much!’ said Danny. ‘I’ve always wanted to do something with them—start another side of the business.’
‘What, like hiring them out for films, or TV, or weddings…?’
‘Yeah, that sort of thing would be one part of it,’ said Danny, nodding. ‘But I’d also love to build up a side of the garage that specialises in vintage restoration.’
‘That’s an amazing idea,’ said Michelle, easing the car around a bend and revelling in its velvety purr. ‘I mean, there must be loads of people who adore their classics but don’t have the first clue how to do them up.’
‘Exactly,’ said Danny. ‘I just wish Dad was as enthusiastic!’
‘Isn’t he up for it?’ said Michelle in surprise.
‘Whenever I’ve mentioned it, he’s not exactly been excited,’ said Danny.
‘To be fair, though, I’ve never really pushed it.
It’s the one thing he does as a hobby. I can totally see why he might not want to turn it into work.
Anyway… after everything, who knows what’s going to happen with the garage. ’
Danny fell silent and turned away from her to stare out at the waterlogged fields.
‘I didn’t mean to pry,’ said Michelle after he’d been quiet for several long minutes.
‘Oh, you weren’t,’ said Danny, turning to smile at her again, though a quick glance in his direction showed Michelle a pair of eyes that were etched with worry.
‘Actually, I was wondering…’ Michelle trailed off and swallowed nervously. Urgh , she was being ridiculous. All she wanted to do was offer to take Danny out for lunch to say thanks for everything. It wasn’t like she was asking him on a date, was it?
Because she didn’t date. Not anymore!
‘Wondering?’ said Danny, raising an eyebrow.
‘Well… if you’d like lunch?’ she blurted. ‘With me. Now, I mean.’
Michelle bit her lip before she could start spluttering and waffling on about something random to cover her embarrassment.
‘Wouldn’t that be risking your mum and dad seeing us together?’ he said with a wry smile.
Michelle shrugged. She’d been about to suggest they ate somewhere other than Crumbleton… maybe even take a detour down to the beach instead… but Danny was already shaking his head.
‘I really wish I could,’ he said. ‘I’m just a bit snowed under.’
‘Of course,’ said Michelle quickly. ‘No worries. It was just a thought.’
‘And I could do with getting back to Elvis,’ he continued. ‘The poor lad’s been stuck inside more than he’s used to while Dad’s not been around.’
Michelle nodded again. They’d decided to leave the excitable dog behind in his luxury bed under the desk in the garage’s little office.
Danny had put a plastic cover over the Buick’s seat to protect it from Michelle’s mud-splattered bum, but Elvis’s claws would have been another thing entirely.
He’d have probably shredded the soft leather of the back seat in a matter of minutes.
It was just as well. It was one thing to lend the Buick to a sworn enemy, but quite another to let Elvis’s claws play havoc with the leather stretched across the back seats.
‘I really am sorry,’ said Danny, looking genuinely gutted. ‘Normally, I’d have been well up for lunch. I’m never usually one to turn down a good skive. Maybe we could do it another time?’
‘Cool.’ Michelle nodded. ‘We’ll do that.’
She would not sulk !
‘So, have you thought how you’re going to sneak your new car past your parents?’ said Danny, as they headed back in the direction of the garage.
Michelle bit her lip. She’d been thinking about that. ‘Would you mind if I park her in the town carpark instead of taking her to the cottage? It’ll keep me out of Dad’s way whenever he needs to take the taxi out, and it might help me put off the interrogation… for a little while, at least.’
‘Sure,’ said Danny. ‘Actually, she’ll probably be safer down there than having to deal with the cobbles.’
‘Great. Thank you.’
‘And what about your boxes?’ said Danny. ‘I mean, we can see if we can fit them on the back seats if you’d like?’
Damn, the boxes! If she was honest, the joy of test-driving such an amazing car and hanging out with Danny had pretty much wiped their existence from Michelle’s mind.
‘Erm… I mean, I’m not desperate for any of the stuff,’ she said. ‘Will they be in your way if I leave them in my car for now?’
‘Not at all,’ said Danny.
‘Great. I’ll just have to make something up if Mum or Dad asks what’s happened to them. Problem solved!’
‘Just one more left, then,’ said Danny, as the entrance to the garage appeared ahead.
‘What’s that?’ said Michelle.
‘Your mum’s bike,’ said Danny, nodding to where it was still leaning against the low wall.
‘Ah, crumbs,’ said Michelle. ‘You’re right! I guess I’m going to have to ride home after all. I’ll just have to walk back sometime for the car.’
Michelle blew out a long, disappointed breath as she indicated and then swept into the forecourt. The engine purred as she drew to a halt and applied the handbrake. Not only was she going to have to say goodbye to Danny… but the car, too! She really didn’t want to leave this baby behind.
‘Don’t be daft!’ chuckled Danny. ‘I usually drive past the town carpark several times a day. How about I bung the bike into the back of the truck when I go to the hospital later? I’ll leave it chained up in the racks there for you, and I’ll text you when it’s done.’
‘Really? You sure you don’t mind?’ said Michelle, turning to face him. ‘I mean, I’ve already caused you enough trouble.’
‘I don’t mind one bit,’ said Danny. ‘And anyway, life’s way more interesting with a little bit of trouble in it.’
His words—along with an accompanying wink—made Michelle’s toes curl in delight.
Maybe it was a good thing she was going to have to say goodbye to Danny after all.
If she spent much more time with the guy, she was going to jump on him!
She needed to get back to her parents’ place and take a shower. Preferably a cold one!
‘Here,’ said Danny, pulling out his mobile, ‘let me grab your number.’
Michelle didn’t even notice the walk from the town carpark beyond the City Gates to her mum and dad’s cottage.
Her head was full of Danny and the horrible news about his father’s illness.
He’d clearly been doing his best to stay positive, but Michelle had been able to feel his worry lingering in the silence between his sentences.
Weirdly, the other thing busy plaguing her thoughts was that scruffy, disused showroom.
She’d meant to ask Danny about it, but they’d been too busy chatting and it had slipped her mind.
It had captivated her attention again just as she was turning the Buick around to leave…
but by then it was too late to ask. Danny had already headed off to let Elvis out of the office for a run.
Now, as she wandered along the narrow, cobbled street that led around the base of Crumbleton’s hill, she couldn’t help but wonder if the building belonged to the Daltons or someone else.
The real question was… why did she even care?!
‘There you are!’
Michelle snapped out of her reverie to the ominous sight of both her parents hovering on the front doorstep of the cottage. They’d clearly been waiting for her to come home.
Great, now she’d get the third degree about where she’d left the bike!
A wave of claustrophobic frustration combined with genuine worry washed over her. Followed by guilt. Hadn’t she just seen how quickly things could change? She was lucky to have two loving parents right there in front of her.
Taking a deep breath and giving herself a good shake, Michelle plastered a smile onto her face. The minute she reached the cottage, she pulled her dad into a tight hug, only letting go so that she could do exactly the same to her mum.
‘What was that for?’ said her dad, looking both surprised and properly thrilled.
‘I just… wanted to say thanks for everything,’ said Michelle, her arms still tight around her mum. ‘And I’m sorry for being a brat earlier. You guys didn’t deserve that, I know you’re just worried and trying to help.’
They both nodded, and her mum patted her on the back. Michelle didn’t miss the glance that flew between them, though. Their smiles didn’t last long either—their faces settling back into nervous concern.
Huh . Something had definitely happened while she’d been out.
‘What is it?’ she said, frowning. ‘I know those looks… what’s happened? Is someone hurt? Or ill?’ Her thoughts flew to Keith Dalton, sitting in the local hospital.
‘Nothing like that, dear,’ said her mum, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
‘Did you have a nice ride?’ said her dad, in an obvious attempt to distract her. Obvious because it wasn’t instantly followed up with a demand about what had happened to the bike.
‘Yeah,’ said Michelle vaguely. ‘It was great. Now tell me what’s up!’
‘Come inside first,’ said her mum, looking at her like she might do a runner.
‘Sure. Okay. I need a cuppa, anyway,’ said Michelle, frowning at her dad over her shoulder. He smiled at her, but there was something decidedly forced about his movements as he followed her inside and shut the door.
By the time her mum had finished fussing around, Michelle was thoroughly regretting her rash request for tea.
Instead of a quick boil of the kettle splashed on a teabag, she’d gone through the whole rigmarole of finding the rarely-used teapot, digging out the fine china, and even setting biscuits out on a plate.
Michelle raised her eyebrows at her dad, silently begging him for an explanation. All she got was the look. Brian Singer was usually a very mild man, but everyone knew that when he gave you the look, you behaved yourself and waited like a good girl.
It didn’t stop the fact that Michelle felt like she was going to start screaming if someone didn’t tell her what was going on!
‘Right, here you go, love!’ said her mum at long last, bringing a tray to the table, full of clinking cups rattling in their saucers.
‘Thanks, Mum,’ she said, taking hers and wondering how she was meant to hold the thing when the handle was too small to fit her fingers through. She quickly gave up and put it down. ‘Right… so… what’s happened while I’ve been gone?’
‘Happened?’ said her mum, shooting a nervous glance at her dad.
‘I think we’d better tell her, love.’
‘ Please tell me!’ said Michelle, with a nervous little laugh. ‘I’m starting to imagine all sorts. Is someone ill? Or… I don’t know… is there bad news?’
As she said it, Michelle suddenly wondered if this was actually something to do with her trip to the Dalton Garage. Had someone seen her? Or perhaps someone had spotted her cruising around with Danny in the Buick and dobbed her in to her dad.
She peered at her parents, wishing she was a mind reader. Her heart sank when she saw that her mum had turned pale.
Shit! Maybe she’d been closer with her first guesses.
‘It’s nothing like that, love,’ said her dad, his tone as gentle. ‘It’s about Lawrence.’