Page 42 of Happiness Under a Summer Skye

‘I called them as soon as the doctor explained what was happening to me. I was so relieved it wasn’t a crisis, but my mum and dad were furious and obviously really worried. They were hell-bent on coming to get me, but the nurse had already told me that the man who had come in with me had stayed. I guessed that was you, so I told my mum and dad I’d be okay to get home.’

They sat in silence for a few moments until Ferris broke it. ‘Don’t you get tired of the fame? Doesn’t it get sort of lonely? I mean, I know you have the band, but don’t you ever miss just being… you?’

She smiled but felt no happiness. ‘It’s not something I’ll need to worry about for much longer.’

Ferris’s brow creased. ‘How so?’

‘The band is no more,’ she said with a wavering voice and a deep sigh.

He shook his head. ‘I don’t understand.’

She stared at her hands where they rested in her lap. ‘Keep this to yourself, please, as there will be a press release but it seems my diagnosis has given people pause to consider their own futures and the band doesn’t actually appear to be in any of them. Well, that is apart from Josh, the drummer, but he’ll be snapped up by the Foo Fighters or someone equally as huge. He’s very talented so he won’t be out of the music industry for long.’ She explained the plans of the rest of the band and when she had finished, he huffed air through his puffed cheeks.

‘Wow. No wonder you had a panic attack. Not only have you had this major diagnosis to deal with, but the rug your future was resting on has been pulled out from beneath you too. I’m so sorry to hear that, Angelia. So sorry.’

She glanced across at him and saw genuine concern. ‘Thank you. It was a bit of a shock. But… sort of a relief too. I was going to have to make a decision on what to do but now…’

‘So, what will you do? Find another band?’

She closed her eyes briefly to fight the threatening tears. ‘No point. I sang for the first time since my diagnosis the other night with my dad. I managed a couple of songs but that was it. I really don’t see me being able to do full gigs again. My voice is pretty much gone. Or at least the strength to produce a good sound for long periods anyway. And the touring was exhausting for my other muscles, not to mention running around a huge stage, night after night.’

He fell silent, letting her words sink in and eventually said, ‘So you’re going to sell records instead of make them?’

She pursed her lips for a moment, confused by his words. ‘No, no, I’m going to be a silent partner in the record shop. That’s the plan, at least. I don’t know anything about running a business. Collecting and listening to records is completely different to selling them. And I don’t think it’d be a good idea for me to be too involved because I’m pretty sure the people of Glentorrin would hate to be swamped by fans of the band trying to get a glimpse of the singer that ruined everything for them.’

‘Hey, stop that. You didn’t ask for any of this. It’s really not your fault, Angelia. And I can’t think of a better way to live your life than doing something connected to what you love. I think you should at least consider it.’

She remembered the excitement she’d felt a short while ago when she had imagined herself behind the counter of a newly refurbished shop surrounded by rows and rows of albums, vintage pop and rock memorabilia mounted on the walls, alongside eighties and nineties band posters. Her stomach flipped again. It would be kind of cool.

‘How did you know what I meant when I was trying to talk after I collapsed?’ Angelia asked out of the blue.

‘I told you I was going to do some research on myasthenia and that’s exactly what I did. I wanted to understand it.’

She gave a light laugh. ‘But why? You haven’t known me that long, so why does it matter?’

He pulled over into a layby and turned off the engine. ‘Angelia, can I make an observation?’ Without waiting for her consent, he continued, ‘You seem to have a surprisingly low opinion of yourself and that makes me both surprised and sad considering all you’ve achieved. I researched because I get the feeling you need friends who understand what you’re going through. I’d like to think I could be one of those friends, and therefore I want to know what you’re dealing with so I can help in any way you need me to.’

‘You’re a very kind man,’ she said with a smile.

‘I’m just a human being who doesn’t like to see other human beings hurting,’ he said with a shrug.

‘Well, I think you’re one of a kind. I haven’t met many people who would go to all that trouble for someone they hardly know.’

‘I just happen to think you’re a nice person and I’d like to be your friend at a time where it’s clear you’re a little apprehensive about having them. Everyone needs friends, Angelia. But I understand it must be hard to trust people when you’re so well-known. Some people can be cruel and take advantage but not all people. I’m not like that.’

She nodded but noted the sinking feeling in her stomach, why had that happened when he’d mentioned being friends? ‘Well, thank you. But you’re still not going to convert me.’

He laughed again as he pulled the car into the road once more. ‘You’re a strong-willed woman, MacAuley, I wouldn’t dream of trying.’

19

The following day, Angelia was accompanied to the shop by Meghan and Scrappy to meet Bella Donaldson once more. She had emailed her mood board across, and it had been met with enthusiasm and eagerness, so she was keener than ever to get the wheels in motion. In the light of day, Ferris’s words had really inspired her to consider the possibility of running the record shop she was creating; especially now the band was definitely folding. She felt she owed him a huge thank you for the things he had done in the short amount of time since she’d met him. Perhaps she could stop in at the church and take him a cake from the bakery, she thought.

Meghan took a seat on the window ledge of the shop with Angelia’s laptop to do some admin, and Scrappy went on a sniffing mission just in case anything new had occurred since his last visit. Meanwhile Bella and Angelia chatted, both animatedly, about the plans for the shop. The ideas were coming together nicely. The place would be a tad twee and antiquey-looking, which was something Angelia loved the sound of, knowing she would never really have come up with any of it on her own, so she was grateful for Bella’s vision.

The idea of almost having the place appear like a Victorian period film set that had been used for something like A Christmas Carol was both ridiculous and brilliant. It wouldn’t be at all what people would be expecting from a shop selling relatively modern vinyl, so it was bound to attract attention. It would have bags of character and an ‘olde worlde’ feel thanks to the burgundy colour palette Bella had suggested. She had also sourced some chandeliers that would add an air of opulence to the place and would be a talking point seeing as such things weren’t usually used in record shops. And the old cash register would be a feature, if not necessarily used for its original purpose; modern technology was far more efficient, even if it wasn’t quite as pretty.

As they chatted, there was a knock on the door and Angelia turned to see a familiar face, its owner waving giddily at her.