Open Arms

Chapter Thirteen

Skies were blue and temperatures were hot in the weeks to follow. The middle of January saw them with nothing less than a few good sunburns. Angus winced from the stinging sensation on his fingertips made by newly acquired blisters formed by his guitar. It seemed forever since he played outside of a studio, and he spent the whole day plucking away a few song ideas. Taking a small break he went to go get his mail, eyeing the hallway for any sign of Mr. Nelson. There hadn't been a mixup in a long time, and it had been quite peaceful without all the knocks at their door. 

A stack of envelopes was all he could find, and he winced again as he pulled them out. Quite a few were bills, putting a stop to all fan's fantasies that the band was simply filthy rich. Holding them by the balls of his fingertips, he returned to his apartment and closed the door. There on the kitchen table, he made three stacks. One for bills with his name on it, one for any envelopes with Hannah's name, and one for any he could throw out. Several were for him until he came across one pink envelope with Hannah's name scribbled in blue pen. At least, it didn't look anything like his. The return address was illegible. 

Hannah sat at the kitchen table just across from him, watching the rabbit in her cage. Pencils and papers were strewn in front of her, or rather behind her from her position. A few papers had paragraphs and scribbled out words, while others had doodles on the margins. One pencil had broken while another's tip was chipped. Hermione stood alone in her cage, the three little bunnies all enjoying themselves in their new homes. The two wouldn't have asked any money for them, but it did help cover the cost of the veterinarian bills, which Angus was just now putting in the bill pile. Giving the pink envelope one last glance, he passed it across the table.

"You uh, got somethin'," he said. Hannah gave him her attention and picked up the envelope. 

"Who's it from?"

"Can't tell. Anyone askin' for a picture?" Hannah opened the letter and read it, taking a long time. Angus assumed the handwriting inside reflected the scribbles on the outside. Before he could pick a bill from the pile to open first, Hannah smiled.

"Susan's had her baby!"

"She did?" he asked raising his eyebrows. "Huh. When?"

"Last week, she says. It's a girl named Cassie." A silence passed as Hannah kept reading. "Oh..."

"What?"

"She's asked us to stay with her. On Thursday." Angus stretched out his hand and took the letter from her. Never in his years of school did he remember her writing being that sloppy, then again, he hadn't ever received a love letter back. 

"For how long?"

"A week."

Angus glanced up at her. "D'ya' feel like goin'?'

"I certainly want to," she said tapping her fingers. "I want to see the new itty bitty, don't you?"

"Sure," Angus shrugged. "She can't possibly best Cara, of course, but she'll be alright in her own way, ya' know."

"She lives in Queensland..."

"Yeah?"

I felt like we were just there."

"It's been a while since Christmas." Hannah rubbed her arm up and down, both of which were still covered by long sleeves. This action didn't escape Angus' notice. "They hurt?"

"Hmm? Oh, no-" She pulled her hands away from her arms, folding them on the table. Picking up the broken pencil, she attempted another drawing, a cartoon. Angus watched her a few minutes, handing her the end with the eraser when she couldn't find it.