Chapter 3 #2
She perched on the stool, as much as the tight fitting gown would allow, in the centre of the stage as the other band members either sat or stood around her and the spotlight shone down on her as the guys began to play their first song.
The start of the night went well, the audience were responsive and clearly having a great time, and soon the band appeared to have forgotten that they weren’t happy with their attire as they vibed along with each other, smiling and seemingly enjoying themselves.
But as the night wore on, Angelia’s legs began to feel like lead and her eyelids were doing their best to close but she put it down to the bright lights overhead and the myriad late nights she’d had in recent months.
Determined not to let the audience down, she rallied as she looked out at the sea of people swaying in time with their number-one hit ballad that she had co-written called ‘Without You’, and she smiled.
It was always surreal hearing her own lyrics being sung back to her and she loved it so much.
She took a deep breath and aimed for the G5 in the finale but much to her concern she found the note, that she usually sang with ease, completely out of reach.
It shocked her, and more than a little panicked, she turned to face Heath, who frowned briefly, clearly surprised too.
He gave an infinitesimal head shake and smiled, clearly trying to ease her fear and encourage her to carry on.
She quickly changed to the octave below and, thanks to the acoustic nature of the set, it sounded okay.
Although not as good as Angelia was used to. She was nothing if not a perfectionist.
Worryingly, it happened a couple more times in other songs and she even resorted to holding the microphone towards the crowd for their participation, in the hope of disguising her struggle.
Thankfully the audience seemed none the wiser and revelled in this and the band received a standing ovation at the end of the evening.
Once the show was over and the band were backstage, Angelia swiftly retreated to her private dressing room where Meghan helped her out of the dress and into a beautiful Japanese robe she had purchased on the Asian leg of one of their tours.
‘You were amazing as always, Angel,’ Meghan told her, as she hung the dress back on its hanger. ‘The change in “Without You” was unexpected but I liked it.’
Angelia chewed the inside of her cheek. ‘Hmm, it wasn’t intentional.
I just couldn’t hit the note tonight.’ She shook her head and sighed as she rubbed her hand up and down her neck over her throat.
It wasn’t particularly sore. ‘I’m not sure what’s going on.
It felt weird… like there was a restriction on my vocal cords. ’
‘I’m not surprised with how skintight that dress was. It’s like I said earlier, it’s a wonder you could breathe, let alone sing.’
Angelia sat and stared down at the array of creams and lotions on the desk before her. ‘I’m so wiped out, Meghan. It was a struggle to even hold the microphone up. What’s that all about?’
‘I don’t know but maybe…’ Meghan fell silent for a few moments, and Angelia turned to face her.
‘Maybe what?’
Meghan sighed. ‘Look, it’s none of my business… but… you’ve been tired a lot lately and of course the tour has been full on but maybe you should go see a doctor and get checked out. You might be anaemic or something. Or lacking some vitamin or other. I dunno.’
Before Angelia could answer with a protest there was a knock on her dressing-room door. Meghan answered it.
‘Hey, Angel, I just wanted to check you’re okay,’ Heath said as he stepped into the room. Like Josh’s accent, Heath’s Inverness twang had softened to the point he sounded more American than Scottish these days.
Angelia smiled at his reflection in her dressing table mirror as she wiped the makeup from her skin. ‘Yeah, I’m fine, thanks. I think I’m just coming down with a cold, that’s all.’
‘Aye, no doubt. It’ll be the air conditioning on the bus, I reckon. Sean’s had the lurgy for a week now. We’ll blame him, eh?’ He chuckled.
Sean, their driver, was a middle-aged man with at least fifty tattoos, a huge beard, shaved head, and arms like tree trunks. Nothing much fazed him, but he had been coughing and spluttering for a while, so Heath was probably right.
‘Yeah, my eyes have been quite heavy, and my arms and legs too. It’ll be just my luck to come down with the flu right as we take our break.’
Heath walked over and placed a hand on each of her shoulders. ‘Get some vitamin C down you. And get plenty of rest when you get back, yeah?’
Angelia nodded. ‘I will, don’t worry. What do you and Agda have planned for the break?’
Heath had met his Swedish wife, Agda, when she styled the band for a photo shoot while on their European tour before Angelia joined.
She was originally from Uppsala and her parents still lived there.
Heath and Agda now had a four-year-old son, Rosco, who was the spitting image of his daddy.
Even at his tender age, the boy was bilingual and already learning to play the guitar, professing his desire to be a ‘wock star just wike daddy’.
He was such a cutie and was at that age where he questioned everything.
Heath kept them all amused with updates on his latest enquiries; the most recent being, ‘Why do dogs have four legs and can’t talk but people only have two legs and can?
’ Everyone had been amused by his supposed correlation between limbs and the ability to vocalise.
‘We’re taking Rosco back to Uppsala to see his mormor and morfar. He can’t wait, bless him.’
Heath had often spoken of Agda’s parents, so Angelia felt like she knew them. Keeping the smile on her face, she replied, ‘Aww, that’ll be lovely, make sure to send me plenty of photos.’
‘I will.’
‘How is Agda doing now?’ Angelia asked with genuine concern. Agda was in the midst of her second pregnancy and had been exhausted but refused to stay home, regardless.
‘She’s much better now. I just wish she’d actually do what the midwife has told her to do and stay home to rest. You women can be so stubborn,’ Heath replied with a laugh and a shake of his head.
‘I’m hoping she’ll at least listen to her parents when we get there.
Hey, you could always hop over to Sweden for a few days if you get bored. ’
‘That’s good to hear. But I won’t be bored, don’t worry.
I’m heading to my flat in London to do some online property shopping, and some songwriting too.
Might see my doctor and have a bit of a physical while I’m at it.
Although I’m sure I’m just run down.’ She glanced sideways at Meghan who smiled and gave a single wink.
‘More property, eh? You’ll own half the world at this rate. Where are you looking to buy this time?’
Angelia had always kept a check on the housing market both in the US and UK and had earmarked a few she was interested in that were coming to auction very soon. ‘I’ve seen a couple on the Isle of Skye that I’m looking into.’
Heath nodded. ‘Cool, your first property close to your actual home, eh? And I bet you can’t wait to see Scrappy. How is the little dude? I’ve missed having him around this month.’
‘He’s great,’ Angelia replied as she smiled at the memories of her little salt and pepper miniature schnauzer. ‘Getting spoiled rotten by the dog sitter just now from the photos he’s been sending me. But you’re right, I can’t wait to see him.’
The little dog, who had been the smallest of his litter, hence his name, had become the centre of Angelia’s world since she adopted him as a nine-week-old puppy.
Scrappy’s mother, Luna, had been handed in to Battersea Dogs Home while heavily pregnant with him and his two siblings, when her owner couldn’t afford her care any more.
Angelia had read an article online about the dog and it had been her intention to adopt Luna but thankfully she had found a loving home as her pups reached an age that it was safe to rehome them.
And at that point Scrappy had stolen her heart.
‘Well, take care and give the little guy a belly rub from me. And the offer stands about visiting if you change your mind. Agda would love you to come and visit so she can take you shopping again.’ Agda had a real eye for detail and Angelia loved shopping with her because she made her step out of her comfort zone and try on things she would never even consider if she was by herself.
Heath’s phone pinged to notify him of a message, and he glanced at the screen.
‘Ah, I’d better get going. Agda’s feet have swollen and she’s tired out.
’ In Angelia’s opinion, the beautiful Swede was glowing, but it was clear this pregnancy hadn’t been quite as easy as her first.
‘Aww, give her a hug from me. Enjoy your break.’
‘You too. Keep in touch and I’ll see you in the studio in a few weeks. And don’t forget to get your Taylor Swift on and write that revenge song, eh? I can’t wait to hear what you come up with.’ He grinned, and with that he left.
Angelia had been involved in the songwriting for the band from day one and the guys had all said she had a real talent for capturing raw emotion with her poetry.
She wasn’t sure she could be bothered wasting her energy on writing revenge songs but she’d had so many lyrics floating around her mind recently as she had reminisced about her feelings for her best friend, Ed, and how she couldn’t help thinking they could have been perfect for each other.