A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

Chapter XXXVII: Isn't This a Lovely Day?

Molly beamed as she accepted her drink from Angus. "Thank you, dear, you're such a sweet boy," she said. Angus smiled shyly and sat next to me on our shared beach chair. Being the middle of winter almost nobody came to the country club. The ones that did stayed inside where it was warm. The pool was covered up for the season and only the hot tub remained open. Molly invited me over for another round of badminton and I agreed to come, but told her I didn't feel much like playing. Angus said he would and I let him use my racquet. 

Close call, but Molly won.

He offered to buy her a drink and he had just come back. "You're welcome," he said wrapping an arm around me. "Almost ordered a Coke on reflex."

Molly sipped at her mimosa and fanned her face with a program. The country club was having a special show tonight during dinner. Surely the place would fill up by then. Molly intended to go but said she required a change in clothes. Angus and I were offered a chance to go. It might be fun...

I hadn't said much the entire time. Angus drove most of the conversation with Molly and I didn't think either of them minded. It had been so long since they'd seen each other. I kept to myself and slowly sipped my ice water. 

"The mosquitoes got so bad last summer, we had to call a fumigator to clean up our whole house," Molly said. 

"I heard it was hot," Angus said. "We were up north for most of it, ya' know? But Hannah here braved the heat." He smiled at me and I managed a small one in return. Molly gazed at us lovingly. 

"You two really ought to see the Maldives," she said. "Absolute Paradise. I've never seen water like that in my life!" She put a hand to her heart and reminisced. "What I wouldn't give to go again before I die."

Something uncomfortable settled in my stomach.

"Hey, well...we might one day," Angus said. "Expensive though, isn't it?" Molly's eyes widened and she nodded. 

"Ludicrously," she said. "But worth every damn cent."

"Well...maybe in a few years when...we're a little better off, ya' know?" Molly frowned.

"You're not having money trouble are you?"

"No," Angus said. "Not trouble, really, but...ya' know, the past few years have been a little tougher...ya' know, not every album is a big seller an' that's a chance ya' take with a job like this. An' we haven't been plannin' any...major expenses lately, so..." Angus shrugged. "But, ya' never know. One day we'll strike it rich."

"And...your next album comes out in..."

"July," Angus said. "In a few weeks. Mal an' I...you've met Mal, right?" Molly searched the sky.

"I think so, once," she said. "Is he the little one with the two kids?" Angus started laughing. 

"Yeah, he's the little one," he said and Molly started laughing with him. I gave a little smile. "Well me an' him have been in the studio longer hours than normal 'cause we took it upon ourselves to produce the thing, ya' know? Ya' know, we'd like to get George back...my other brother," Angus clarified. "I think we wanna find a way to get him back to produce the next one. Mal an' I aren't producers, we're players. An' we're jus' fine with that."

"I'll be sure to buy your next album," Molly said. "Anything to help a couple of old friends." She reached over and patted Angus' hand. "Such good boys like you deserve all the support you can get."

"Thanks," Angus said, gushing in his seat. The attention of a young woman was always exciting to him but something about an older woman calling you things like "sweet" and "good" were just as nice. Like your grandmother bragging about you to her friends and how proud she was of you. I wasn't sure how well Angus knew his grandparents. 

I leaned my head on his shoulder. He smelled like cologne and smoke. 

"You alright?" Angus asked looking at me. I only nodded. "Had enough for today?" I shrugged.

"Feeling okay, Hannah?" Molly asked gently. I nodded and closed my eyes. I wasn't feeling sick or anything. Just...not well. I knew this feeling all too well. But it had been getting worse lately. And Angus was starting to notice. "You two don't have to come to dinner with us, you can go home if you'd like."

Angus didn't answer right away, trying to gauge my reaction. I couldn't possibly ruin everyone's days by taking Angus home with me simply because of my foul mood. I sat up a little straighter. "I'm fine," I said, trying not to snap too hard.

Everything is always fine. 

"I don't know, dear, you look a bit pale," Molly pointed out. Well...sure I looked pale, it's winter, isn't it? Or maybe I just haven't been eating enough. My appetite was still shit. Dinner was actually the last thing on my mind. But who was I to ruin Molly and Angus' time? Besides, I was used to hiding the truth from my family back home all the time. Forcing myself to eat when I wasn't hungry and taking small bites or cutting my food up to make it look eaten. Chewing slowly, hiding it in napkins. 

It'd be much harder to trick them at dinner. Unless the room was dark enough...

"I think I'd better get ya' home," Angus said helping me off the chair. I wouldn't argue if they insisted. I really didn't feel like being there anymore. "Feel a bit warm to me anyway."

I had a fever? Strange, I didn't feel anything. 

Molly stood up and helped Angus lead me through the country club. There were a few people at the bar and some were dining for lunch. Most of them were dressed in fuzzy jumpers and jeans. We turned in our guest passes and handed them over to be locked away until next month. Molly saw us out to the front and wished us well. 

Angus and I walked home. 

I fell into bed.

Zzzzz.