Open Arms

Chapter Fourteen

Four days passed at the Krauss-Lockhart residence. The kitchen window was open, attempting for some sort of relief in the hot weather. Susan had sent her sons off to a friend's with an extra water bottle packed in their lunches as well as Victor's. Winifred tugged on her mother's pant leg, taking a small cookie from the hand offering it to her. She skipped off to her room, Angus watching her depart from his post by the window. He turned his attention back outside, a few birds perching on the neighboring fence. His eyes narrowed, a solitary cloud exposing the sun. 

"Nice day to do some gardening later I reckon," Susan said from her spot by the counter. Her knife sliced through a few freshly picked tomatoes, her hands a mess. "It was Victor's idea to plant one."

"Hannah might like one," Angus said taking a drink from his glass. Ice clinked around hitting his lips. "But apartments don't really allow for those, ya' know, can hardly even keep a rabbit."

"You could buy a house," Susan suggested wiping her hands off. "There've been a few houses going up for sale down the road, we wouldn't mind some familiar neighbors."

"Eh, we don't exactly have the money for a house right now," Angus said. Another bird landed on the fence, taking the sunflower seed from his company's beak. "If we did we'd get somethin' small to start off with."

"There are a few small houses," Susan continued. "I don't mean to pressure you or anything, but there's always the option." Angus kept his view to the window. "I know Queensland is a bit far from the studio and from the rest of the band..." The diced tomato was placed in a small bowl, set aside to make room for a block of cheddar cheese. "Or I believe South Australia...Adelaide maybe has some houses for rent. They're small, could get you started."

"That's real sweet of ya' Susan," Angus admitted. "If we did get a house Hannah would bug me for a dog, I'm sure." He smiled. "An' I'd probably give in."

"We've been thinking about a dog too, but not with Cassie so young. You really should move down here, Angus." Susan set a cheese grater on the counter, moving to the sink to wash her hands. "We'd love to see you both more often, what with our childhoods not syncing up well."

"That wasn't no one's fault, ya' know," Angus reminded her. 

"I know. You could come over for Christmas or a weekend or..." Susan shrugged, pushing her slightly longer hair behind her ear. "Something." Angus turned back to the window, another cloud moving in front of the sun. A light breeze picked up, the curls on Angus' forehead swaying. A hand touched his back, startling him. "Victor could use his new grill he's been itching to buy."

"I dunno," Angus replied after a fashion. "Travelling does no good on Hannah sometimes an' we've...already been thinkin'..."

"About what?" Susan gently rubbed her hand up and down his shoulder. He closed in on himself a bit.

"Well...my brother George has been thinkin' about gettin' us more acquainted with the studios around the world, not just Australia. Ones in England an' some in America maybe, but he wants to start in London," Angus explained. 

"So, what does that mean?"

Angus wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and set down his glass. "We'd be movin' to London soon. I don't mind that, it's closer to my real home. My first home, I mean." A second hand took to Angus' other shoulder, again, causing him to shrink. "An' we'd have snowy Christmas', Hannah loves those. It'd be good for the band ya' know, an' we'd meet more people. Ya' know if you're famous in England, then you're doin' pretty good."

He grew warm at the sudden hug given to him from behind. Deciding pushing her away would be rude, he instead clung to the counter, keeping his eyes on the window. Some blonde locks fell on his shoulder, hitting his neck. It seemed as if Susan had a hard time putting together a new sentence. "How is the band by the way?" All the words came out at once. "Malcolm, I mean?"