8
Ianto was excited, the plans all coming together as he and Jack found the deal not only profitable with the sweet little business but prefect for what they needed. He just needed a few more things and one of them was a new vehicle. He had still not replaced his sweet little convertible for a vehicle large enough for the kids as one was always in the back seat which was cramped … now Jack and Alice… Lucia … wow. He was sadly resigned to the fact he needed a large SUV or something.
Like a soccer mom.
Gods.
There would be paperwork to be finalised but they were moving forward as they all knew it was a done deal now. Ianto loved the bookshop, saw it being so much more and was also a more than helpful gentleman as always, knowing a full inventory had to be done in order for the business to exchange hands. Also for insurance purposes there had to be a list of assets and chattels for the business and house.
Jack was at the airport trying to secure a hanger for his little Cesena he loved and Ianto knew from the last text message he had a few to choose from that were currently available for long term lease. Mica was with Alice playing somewhere here in the store and David was with Owen and Tosh who were exploring the town.
Seems like they were all loving it here and Tosh had quietly lamented the fact they had to leave to go back to 'the real world' soon. Ianto knew he would miss them.
He was in the coffee machine area with a table and chairs area where they were going over boxes of books that had been stored under the large table a model train set sat on. Ianto stood to let his back straighten up when he saw a notice on the notice board that made him interested and Sarah-Jane glanced over "Oh yes. Mister McGoven put that up yesterday. He is a lovely man. A local mechanic, has this habit of getting junkers and doing them up."
"So … this SUV would be sturdy?" Ianto asked as he poked at the note stuck in the board with a thumbtack.
"For your lot? Oh yes, it was the church one for when the Pastor had to go up into the hills to visit those families that needed him" she smiled as he looked at it "It is red though."
"Ooooo" Ianto said in a silly voice "Jack's favourite colour on me. Imagine it AROUND me!"
"Go check it out, I'll be here a while" Lucia said from her spot on the floor "The girls are up there."
Sarah-Jane giggled at his silliness, liking him and she was so pleased that he had come along. She really saw him in this place, in her home and filling the place she was leaving behind. She watched him head out and slide into the pretty little car, wondering how much a ride like that cost.
She might like a car like that.
A lady of leisure.
She smiled as she looked around her store again, the sound of thumping upstairs and giggles as Mica and Alice played also wonderful. Lucia stood from where she had been crouched over a box and roared up the stairs that they were not elephants for the love of chocolate and they laughed as they shouted back that there were dinosaurs actually.
.
.
.
.
Ianto was driving up the seaside road, the grassy bank on one side and the other was a sheer drop as he crawled up the incline already thinking about what he was going to cook for their tea. He knew Jack liked fish fingers. Maybe baked beans for the little beast as she didn't like fish much. He would have to …. the sound of an engine gunning had him pulling himself back to the present and he knew the rules of this country road. He was coming up, he had to give way. The vehicle ahead would surely see him and as it crested the hill it did slow. Ianto pulled as far onto the side of the road as he dared, his fear of heights making him swallow even if he knew there was a good foot between the tyres and the edge of the road.
The rattly old truck rumbled past and the one finger flicked up from the steering wheel was offered as a Dog stared out at him, Ianto replying in kind. Then Ianto put the car in gear and went to pull out when another vehicle roared out of nowhere. This one was coming up behind him so surely it had already met the truck and he was surprised to see it travelling so fast. He decided to wait until it had passed, then follow it as he did not like it's manner.
Or the huge grill work coming towards him at speed.
Ianto barely had time to register the fact that the vehicle was not turning to negotiate the bend and was instead heading straight for him before the huge grillwork bore down on him, slamming into the side of his car and he screamed with horror as he was shunted towards the edge.
He put his foot down, hearing the ear-splitting screeching of metal as the bodywork was creased and torn away, the engine of the vehicle roaring in his face and he knew he could not possibly outgun this monster as he glanced over and saw the drop.
He had mere seconds to think it through, once more thankful for the meditation that allowed him to slow time down and assess.
He made the only decision he could and hoped for the best.
The tyres slipped over and the car tipped, and then shuddered as the muffler system tore away and then with a sickening silence it simply … flew over the edge from sight.
