Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm (Hollyhock Farm #2)

Chapter 7

7

ZAC

The following morning Zac stood behind his sister’s and Melody’s chairs in his father’s study, watching as Melody talked them through the website she had set up for the wellness festival. His couple of drinks with Callum had ended up with them having a few more than he had expected and walking home from the pub. It was the first hangover he had endured for a long time and he wished he didn’t have to stare at a bright screen this early, but he wanted to show his appreciation of her efforts so did his best to concentrate on what she was showing them.

‘Where did you get that picture of me from?’ he asked, grimacing. ‘I look bemused by something.’

Lettie turned to scowl at him. ‘We can always change the photo if you’re that bothered by it.’

Melody laughed. ‘We can. Anyway, don’t blame me for it. Lettie found it and thought it was fine. And I have to agree with her. I think you look sweet,’ she said, clenching her teeth together in embarrassment when she realised she had said the words out loud. ‘That is…’

‘Sweet? Is that what you think of me?’ he asked, trying to keep his voice light but wishing she saw him as something far more exciting. ‘Not mysterious, or…’

Lettie groaned. ‘Zac, please stop going on about yourself. This is far too important and we have too much to do in far too little time. Be quiet and let Melody talk us through what she’s done here.’

‘I’ve kept it simple,’ Melody said, glancing at Lettie. ‘We only need a holding website to begin with. Later, when we know the dates the event is being held, what it’ll entail and cost to attend, or more about requesting a stand, we can update it with that information. Then ask prospective businesses to contact us for further information.’

‘Such as what if we don’t have all the information yet?’ Zac asked, wondering what else there might be to say.

Melody turned slightly in her chair and looked over her shoulder at him. ‘People will hopefully contact us to let us know about their business and ask whether we feel it will fit into our plans for the two days.’ She looked at Lettie. ‘For example, we’ve discussed yoga and Pilates, but what about nutritionists, or people who sell products, or give talks on various complementary health aspects, like essential oils, crystal therapies, acupuncture and sound baths.’

Zac noticed a tab at the top of the website and pointed to it. ‘What’s that Market one for?’

‘We don’t have to keep it,’ Melody said, ‘but I thought it would be an added incentive to businesses if they thought we would share links to their websites, show their logo and contact details. It could simply be advertising for businesses unable to attend but encourage those considering the festival to take that step and sign up to join us in order to showcase the benefits of their business products direct to the public at the event.’

‘Sounds good to me,’ Lettie said. ‘I like it.’

‘Won’t it be a lot of extra work for you to set each one up though?’ Zac asked, concerned Melody might be taking on too much for herself.

She shook her head. ‘No. Each one will only take a couple of minutes, if that, and it adds another layer to the site.’

Zac realised he hadn’t been doing as much as his sister and Melody and wanted to rectify it. ‘What can I do to help?’

Lettie thought for a moment. ‘Maybe before you start work on the website, you could make a list of anyone, either business or person, we can think of who could be interested in signing up to take part, then contact them.’

It was a good idea.

‘How about trying to find some sponsors?’ Melody asked. ‘It would help cover the merchandise we’ll need to buy for the event.’

He hadn’t thought of merchandise and by the expression on his sister’s face neither had she. ‘Like banners, stickers for them to take away, that sort of thing?’ He tried to think of what else they might need.

‘Yes,’ Melody said. ‘Also tote bags are good. They’re light and easy to store somewhere and we can ask businesses who sign up to take part to send us their promotional products and add one of everything into each bag, ready for whoever is on the door taking admissions to hand out. All of this is good advertising for us for future events if we do decide to do this again, and also for businesses taking part.’

He noticed his sister looking thoughtful. ‘What’s the matter, Letts?’

She shrugged. ‘I was just thinking how we had been planning to put on events anyway but not this soon.’

He wasn’t sure what her point might be, but waited for her to continue.

‘I had expected to have more time to consider what to do and then make all the preparations.’ She smiled at Melody and then at Zac. ‘I am grateful, especially to the pair of you and Patsy, but I’m worried that because we’re having to rush this that we won’t be making the most of the wellness theme and that it won’t be as polished as the corporate events I’d hoped to hold.’

He understood his sister’s concerns, but when she caught his eye, he inclined his head in Melody’s direction, relieved she was too busy updating the wording on the website home page to take much notice of Lettie’s fretting. It was all very well his sister worrying, but there was little time to change much now. Zac didn’t want his sister’s panic affecting everyone else’s confidence in their plans especially with all the effort Melody had already put in to help them set up the event.

Lettie widened her eyes and grimaced. He saw her swallow then turn to look at Melody. ‘I don’t mean to downplay everything everyone has been doing,’ she said. ‘Especially you, Melody. You’ve been amazing and I know we could never pull this off at all without all the help you’ve given us.’

Melody smiled and looked back at Zac. She stared at him for a couple of seconds, then turned back to face the screen. ‘It’s perfectly natural to worry when you’re trying to do something for the first time. I’m sure that everything will work out.’ She smiled at Lettie. ‘We’re here to support you and do our best to see that it does.’

Lettie gave her a grateful smile. ‘I think I’m panicking about not succeeding in raising enough to cover the shortfall on the insurance.’

‘It will be fine, Lettie,’ Melody assured her. ‘I know it will.’ She looked away from Lettie for a moment and Zac watched as she bit her lower lip thoughtfully, wondering what was going through her mind.

‘What is it?’ he asked, unable to stand the tension a moment longer.

‘Only that we want to entice as many people here as we can.’ She thought for a few more seconds. ‘It occurred to me that you have a wonderfully close community here and maybe we should mention the reason behind putting this event on this quickly to them?’

Zac thought of people setting up crowdfunding pages online. ‘I agree. If people we know understand why we’re doing this it’s bound to encourage them to come along and support us in any way they can.’

Lettie pulled a face. ‘You don’t think it’s taking advantage of people’s kindness though?’

Melody turned to look up at Zac. ‘I don’t think that, but what do you think, Zac?’

He considered her question and came to the conclusion that there was nothing dishonest about doing it. ‘I suppose it will answer anyone’s question about us pulling this together in such a short time. Add to the transparency of the thing too.’

‘Yes, it would, wouldn’t it?’ his sister said, seeming happier at that point of view. ‘Go on then, Melody. Add something about our reasoning behind this. Maybe put in a paragraph letting people know we’re also looking for sponsors, or suggestions for sponsors.’

‘Yes,’ Zac said, liking the idea the more they spoke. He recalled something from his night out. ‘I forgot to mention Callum has offered to interview one or two of us about the festival on his radio show.’

‘That’s kind of him,’ Lettie said.

Melody nodded. ‘It is.’

Relieved to have remembered to share this snippet of information, Zac peered over Melody’s shoulder at the website again. ‘The logo.’

‘Sorry?’ Melody turned her head to one side and looked at Lettie. ‘He’s right. We don’t have one yet. Damn. We’re going to need one quickly if we’re to order promotional merchandise. Well done, Zac.’

‘I could give it a go – coming up with one?’ he said, wanting to be helpful.

Lettie shook her head and grinned at him. ‘No, it’s fine. I think I know just the person who will enjoy doing this for us.’

‘Who?’ he and Melody asked in unison.

‘Brodie’s sister, Maddie. She’s an interior designer and loves anything creative. I’ll ask her. Then if she doesn’t think she can do it the three of us can put our heads together and come up with something. Or—’ she smiled at him ‘—you could do it for us.’

Zac thought of the doodles he had always done on notepads and on the front of his schoolbooks when he was growing up. His teachers were always telling him off about drawing on things but none of it was very artistic. ‘I’m not the one to do that,’ he admitted.

‘The first thing we should do though is come up with a name for the festival,’ Lettie said thoughtfully.

‘Now that I can do,’ Zac said proudly. ‘How about Hollyhock Farm Wellness Festival.’

Melody laughed.

Trying not to be offended by her amusement at his suggestion, he shrugged. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘Sorry,’ she said, resting her hand on his arm and making his skin tingle from her touch. ‘It’s such a simple but perfect name for it, I think. Don’t you, Lettie?’

Lettie nodded. ‘I do. It’s to the point and at least people will automatically know where the event is being held too.’

He hadn’t thought of that. He glanced at Melody’s hand on his arm just as she removed it, his skin cooling immediately when her hand moved away. He really needed to rein his emotions in. She was only here for a short while and he had no intention of getting his heart broken again. Although he suspected she had the power to do that to him, even if unintentionally.