Chapter 25
When the coast was clear, Ed drove Angelia home and she stared out of the window, absentmindedly stroking Scrappy’s head where it rested on her lap from his position in the passenger footwell.
‘Well, I think I know what I need to do about the record shop now,’ she said, her voice breaking and her heart sinking to a new low.
‘What’s that?’ Ed asked.
She shrugged. ‘I need to get someone in to run it, or maybe even sell it so I have no connection to it, and I think I need to go back to London.’
‘Wait, what?’
‘You saw what happened back there, Ed. The people of Glentorrin and the people of this island don’t need that kind of thing happening on their doorstep.
It’s clear that me being here would cause too many negative issues.
Obviously not everyone is okay with the fact that the band has folded, and they blame me for it.
The last thing I want to do is bring trouble here.
The lovely people don’t deserve that. They don’t deserve me and the problems I bring. ’
Ed pulled the car into a layby and parked.
He turned to her. ‘Hey, look at me.’ She turned slowly, her eyes now foggy with tears.
He reached over and took her hand. ‘This isn’t you.
This isn’t how you think. And can I point out that Heath wanted to quit, Anouk wants a solo career, and Bear wants to keep bloody chickens for goodness’ sake.
If you want to run that record shop, then we’ll make that happen.
Don’t go throwing that away because of a lone psycho with only two brain cells to rub together.
This is the first time anything like this has happened, so you haven’t caused anything negative.
That nutcase has clearly watched that interview you did on TV, taken her brain out, got pissed and placed blame where there isn’t any.
The real fans don’t think like that. It’s stupid and so was she.
The people of that village love you.’ He pointed back in the direction they had travelled from.
‘It’s clear when we’re at rehearsals how well thought of you are and how grateful they are to you too.
But ultimately, Angel, you’re one of them.
’ He shrugged as if it was obvious. ‘And you deserve to be happy. You’ve had a hell of a lot thrown at you, but you still insist on putting other people first. Well, maybe it’s time to do what you want.
And if running a record shop or heading a choir in Glentorrin is what you really want then you should absolutely do it.
I’ll help in any way I can, you know that.
But please don’t give up because of what happened today.
’ If she’d had any doubt about her feelings for him before, they had just evaporated, which wasn’t exactly helpful.
‘It was so scary though, Ed. I’ve never really experienced direct hate from fans of the band, and it made me so sad that she sought me out.
I hate to think what would have happened if the people in the café hadn’t protected me.
She threw a bottle. What if someone there had been hurt?
There was a thirteen-year-old girl in there with her family. ’
‘Think about what you just said. They. Protected. You. They didn’t all stand idly by while you were attacked, Angelia.
They stood up for you. That speaks volumes.
And Ferris is such a good bloke. I can totally understand why you’re drawn to him.
I think… I think he might be just what you need.
’ She opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her.
‘Now, let’s get home, chill out for a while and then freshen up because you have a rehearsal to get to later.
And I need to call Fee and tell her you’re okay because I made the mistake of telling her about the incident at the café and now, she keeps bombarding me with messages because I told her not to tell you I’d said anything.
Good grief, what a tangled web we weave,’ he said with a laugh and a shake of his head.
You’re not wrong there, she thought and inwardly sighed as his mention of Fiona reminded her that her feelings were misplaced.
* * *
When they arrived home, Angelia went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
She was still a little shaken up after what had happened and each time she thought about it she began shaking again and was plagued by what ifs.
What if the woman had found her when she was alone, what if she had hit someone with the bottle she had thrown, what if one of the kids had been hurt.
When she was done, she made her way back to the kitchen and could hear Ed talking on the phone in a hushed voice.
‘No, she’s fine, don’t worry. Honestly, she’s still definitely shaken up but she’s a tough person.
She’ll get through it, I promise… Yes, absolutely…
I’ll make sure to give him a call… Yeah, maybe I should press charges.
Nah, it’s fine… a bit swollen but nothing serious.
The utter moron needs psychiatric help if you ask me. Okay… no worries. See you soon… bye.’
‘Is everything okay?’ Angelia asked as she took a seat at the table, presuming he had been talking to Fiona.
He smiled. ‘Everything’s fine. It was Ferris, he wanted to check that you’re okay and ask if he was okay to give my number to Inspector Donaldson so he could call me about making a statement, but I’ve said I’ll phone the station.’
Angelia crumpled her brow. ‘I didn’t know Ferris had your number.’
Ed scratched his head. ‘Yeah, I gave it to him when I saw him after Meghan had left. I figured it was a good idea.’
‘Ah, okay. How’s your lip?’ The skin near the cut now had a purplish hue and his lip was swollen.
He lifted his hand to it and gave it a prod.
‘Oh, it’s fine. I can hardly feel it, don’t worry.
How are you doing?’ She nodded but her chin trembled and her emotions got the better of her.
‘Hey, come on.’ In one stride he was scooping her into his arms. ‘Shhh. It’s okay.
You’re okay. Which is more than that cow bag will be if I ever see her again. ’
She smiled at his turn of phrase. ‘Thank you for staying with me,’ she said as she clung to him, inhaling his aftershave and relishing the feeling of his smooth skin against her cheek and his familiar strong arms around her.
He stroked her hair. ‘I’d do anything for you, Angel. You know that.’ Then after a pause he added, ‘Best friends for life.’
* * *
That night, as she walked into the church for their final rehearsal, Angelia was surprised to see the choir already assembled. They were all deep in conversation about something that appeared serious and none of them seemed to realise she had entered.
When Isla spotted her, she glared at Ferris who was seated at the keyboard and hissed, ‘The eagle is in the henhouse!’
Bella turned to her, and with a quizzical expression said, ‘Pick a metaphor, Granny. Either the eagle has landed, or the fox is in the henhouse.’ She shook her head and rolled her eyes but went back to her conversation.
Isla scowled at her granddaughter and then shouted, ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, everyone, Angelia has landed in the henhouse!’
Everyone fell immediately silent and turned to stare at Angelia who giggled. ‘Is everything okay?’
Ferris counted to four and began playing as the choir launched into a rendition of ‘Stay Another Day’ by East 17 and Angelia stood there, open-mouthed and a little watery-eyed. Their harmonies were a bit bizarre, but they sang with such passion that she couldn’t help it when a few tears escaped.
When the song was over, she applauded and Ed joined in, adding a whistle for good measure. ‘That was wonderful. But I don’t understand, it’s a Christmas song really and the concert is for summer. And we’ve already finalised the set list.’
Isla cleared her throat. ‘Aye, hen, we know it’s a Christmassy song.
It’s by that East Enders group. We performed it at the Christmas concert.
But you see we wanted to sing it for you because of the words and the sentiment.
I think I speak on behalf of everyone here when I say these last few weeks of working with you have been wonderful.
And we’re kind of hoping you might stay on the island and maybe…
I don’t know… open a shop selling vinolay flooring or something.
’ She smiled and gave a little wink. ‘Although it’s a strange choice for a former rock star,’ she added, but quietly, and probably to herself.
‘Vinyl, Granny. As in records that you play,’ Bella whispered.
A puzzled expression briefly crossed Isla’s face.
But then in true Isla fashion she replied, ‘Aye, that’s what ah said,’ through the corner of her mouth, without moving her head.
‘Anyway, Angelia dearie, we know you’re feeling a bit shaken up after that wee mad grouper tried to get to you.
But we want you to know that we’d love you to stay, and you’ve not to let that thug derail any plans you might have had, that’s all.
We’re used to celebrities on this island, you know,’ she said with a glint in her eyes.
‘And if this is somewhere you think you might like to make a new life for yourself then we’d be happy to have you, and we’d look out for you.
And…’ She glanced around at her friends.
‘We’re sort of, selfishly, hoping you might like to stick around and direct the choir too.
’ Everyone else enthusiastically added their agreement to this.
Angelia looked to Ferris who was smiling at Ed, and then she turned to Ed who was also smiling back.
When he saw her looking at him, he simply shrugged but his smile remained fixed in place.
He was clearly very pleased with himself; they both were.
So that must be what their phone call was about, she thought.
The two of them have been in cahoots. But she was so grateful they had.