Chapter 9 #2
“Don’t be daft. Of course.”
“I thought you might need a coffee.” She places a steaming hot cup on the desk beside me.
“Thank you. I could do with a pick-me-up.”
“How are you getting on?” she asks.
“I don’t know, Cal. There’s so much to take on board.
Chris has the business under control, but I can’t rely on him forever.
Soon, I’ll have to decide if I should continue or sell my shares.
Can I handle running a kitchen business I know nothing about?
And then, of course, I need to find a new house. ”
“Hey, calm down.” She places her hand over mine. “You have plenty of time to think about the business and, as for the house, we’ve already decided you’re staying with us until you find the right one. Have you got a moving date yet?”
“Not yet.” I bite my lip as my stomach rolls. The thought of packing up our home gives me nightmares.
“Well, there’s no rush. As you said, Chris has the business under control, so why don’t you wait until after the baby is born?” Her hand squeezes mine for reassurance.
“I don’t want to wait that long. I’d like to get everything organised before then.” I’m putting my best brave face on here. I have to get settled somewhere else for Ash and Calla’s sake too. They need their own space and me being here constantly isn’t fair on them.
“Oh, and don’t forget, we have the reading of Scott’s will tomorrow.” My throat dries as the words leave my mouth. It’s another gut-wrenching consequence to face.
“I haven’t. Don’t worry,” Calla says, holding out her arms with sadness in her eyes. I get out of my seat to give her a hug.
A knock pulls us apart. “Hey, ladies. Okay to come in?” Ash asks, poking his head around the door with a stupid grin.
“What is wrong with you two?” I look between Calla and then Ash as he enters the room with a smile. “This is your bloody house.”
“You were probably talking about stuff I don’t need to know,” he says, screwing up his face.
“What if we were gossiping? You love listening to that.” Calla smiles, kissing his cheek.
“Oh, yeah. I lurrve the gossip.” He winks at his wife, then smirks my way. “How are you doing today, Angie? Any better?” His eyebrows raise in hope. It must be exhausting to support someone constantly when you’re grieving yourself.
“Much better.” I half smile. But in truth, packing Scott’s things away is playing on my mind.
I don’t want to put them in a box or storage crate.
It’s like I’m moving on without him. We will never make another plan together.
He will never tease me about my non-existent painting skills.
No more touching. No more holding. No more kisses.
I miss him so much; it hurts like nothing else and I’m still not ready to let go.
“Are you sure?” Ash asks with a furrowed brow.
I shake myself out of my thoughts. “I’m trying not to think about him too much, otherwise I’ll disintegrate into a heap. I’m better off if I keep busy.”
“Hey, I miss him too.” Ash steeples his hands together and closes his eyes as if praying.
“Oh, God. Please don’t make me cry.” Tears well in my eyes. And I thought I was getting better at hiding this.
“Shit. Sorry, Angie. His arm goes around me again. “You know, this will hurt less and less as time goes on. It's early days.”
I doubt it will ever stop hurting. “Yeah, I know, and thank you.”
Ash nods in an ‘Okay’ kind of way as his phone rings in his pocket. “Excuse me a sec, ladies,” he says, then answers the call.
“Hey, man. I was wondering what happened to you since you didn’t stay here last night. Where are you?”
Calla and I sit at the desk and search local estate agents, but I’m half listening to Ash’s phone call, and I guess Calla is too.
“What the hell? What are you doing there? We’ve got a meeting with the label in London on Thursday.
” He pauses for the reply. “Yeah, I’m listening.
” His face turns pale. “You’ve done what?
” He paces the room, combing his fingers through his hair.
“Dude. Tell me you’re kidding. If this is a joke, I’m not laughing.
” There’s panic in his voice. “I can’t believe it.
Why would you do something like that? Jesus, Tommy. This is insane.”
Calla glances my way, her eyes wide. Now I’m even more intrigued.
“I need a little time to digest this. I don’t know what else to say.” Ash looks up at the ceiling, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, okay. Talk soon.” He ends the call. “Fuck,” he says to himself while he hammers his fist against the wall.
“What’s wrong?” Calla questions while Ash drops to the cream sofa by the window.
“You won’t believe it.”
“Look, if this is private, I can leave,” I say to them both.
“No, it’s fine,” Ash says, sitting forward. “We’re all family, and you’ll find out soon enough anyway. You may as well hear it from me.”
“Jesus, what is it?” Calla asks.
Ash runs a hand down his face. “It’s Tommy. He took a plane to Vegas yesterday.” He blows out an exasperated breath. “He got married last night.”