Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm (Hollyhock Farm #2)

Chapter 8

8

MELODY

By the following week, Melody felt as if she had lived at Hollyhock Farm for months rather than days. The Torel siblings were funny, friendly and made her feel as if she was one of their close relations rather than someone who had only recently started working for them. She liked them very much and wanted to do her best to be helpful wherever she could.

She was sitting in Gareth’s office having just ordered tote bags, T-shirts for the volunteers they hoped to find to help run the event, several banners, stickers and biros, all with the cute logo of the outline of a hollyhock flower with the word Wellness underneath, which Brodie’s sister had designed for them.

She felt satisfied that their efforts were finally coming to fruition. It was a relief. When she had made her initial suggestion for the festival it hadn’t occurred to her exactly what it would entail. This was an important fundraising event for the Torel family and she wanted to make sure nothing she did took away from any success the event might bring.

Today she was excited that they were meeting with a group called The Book Club Girls that Lindy had apparently contacted.

She looked at the list she had printed earlier that morning with the different businesses they had signed up so far. There weren’t many, which was a worry, but they still had six weeks before the event and although Melody would rather they were further along in the planning, it couldn’t be helped. She intended to make the best of what they did have. Positivity was key, she decided.

Hearing footsteps, Melody closed her file, ready to go and meet their visitors. She looked up as Lettie entered the study. ‘Ready?’

‘As I’ll ever be,’ Lettie said, sounding nervous.

Melody presumed her new friend was anxious because this was her first event at the farm. ‘You’ve got this,’ she said, hoping to reassure her. ‘After all, you’ve arranged events at the fashion house so it’s not as if you don’t have experience.’

Lettie sat on the edge of the desk. ‘Those were with people who knew what they were doing, and only for a few hours. I’ve never arranged anything like this that’s going to last two days.’ She groaned. ‘To be honest, I think I should have started with just one and taken it from there.’

‘Rubbish,’ Melody said. ‘You were only being ambitious and two days is manageable, especially as you now have me and Gran on board to help with everything.’

‘I’ve been thinking about that too,’ Lettie said thoughtfully. ‘You were only going to come and stay here to help work on the farm initially. Now, you’re doing all this work for the event, setting up websites, doing marketing for the festival, and heaven only knows what else. It’s unfair of me to expect you and Patsy to do this without any payment.’

Melody raised her hand. ‘Stop right there. We’ve offered to do this because we want to help you. Being here has been a wonderful experience for us both and I know Gran would agree with me when I say that neither of us expect or want any payment.’ Lettie went to argue. ‘No, I mean it. I needed to get away for a bit and I’m loving every moment being here. I don’t want any more payment than to stay here and be involved in everything that’s going on.’

Lettie didn’t seem convinced. ‘But that doesn’t feel right, or fair.’

‘Seriously, Lettie. I don’t want paying for what I’m doing.’ She smiled. ‘Now, let’s focus on the festival. Right now, my most important concern is you being stressed about everything. I know it’s vital you make money from this event, and that the worry is getting to you.’

‘You’re right. I get in a state and then panic. I think it’s because I was comfortable in my job in London after doing it for a few years and these past few months have pushed me to learn so many new things. Maybe I’m a little tired. I’m not sure.’

Melody suspected she knew what might help her friend. ‘I was thinking when I was on my mat in my room this morning, that I should really give you and Zac some yoga classes. It’s very good for relaxation and will also show you how I work for when I host a couple of classes during the festival.’

‘I’d love that,’ Lettie said. ‘I suppose Patsy does yoga too. She seems very fit and strong.’

‘She’s always loved it, as does my mum.’

Hearing a couple of cars, Melody presumed Lindy’s friends had begun to arrive. She stood and picked up her file. ‘I’ll wait for our prospective programmes to finish printing, then go and find Gran. We’ll join the rest of you in the kitchen…’

‘Sure. Let’s hope they’re ready to offer their help. We could do with as much as possible.’

Melody watched Lettie leave and as soon as the last sheet had slid from the printer, picked up the small stack, grabbed a few notebooks and pens and went to join them in the kitchen.

‘What can I do to help?’

Lettie indicated the pantry with her head. ‘I picked up a couple of cakes from the bakery yesterday. You’ll find them in of the cake tins.’ She lowered her voice. ‘The group are used to coming here. Mum always hosts them because she has the largest space, or that’s what they tell her. I suspect it’s because they like her baking. She always treats them to cakes and scones.’

Just as Lettie had expected, Melody found two cake tins in the neat pantry. She lifted them out and set them down on the table.

‘Aw, how typical of Lindy to think of us even though she isn’t here,’ one of the women said, beaming at the tins.

Melody counted eight women in total. As she fetched plates and cake forks, she wondered if Zac might be joining them. She hoped so. She hadn’t seen him since the previous day and was surprised to find she missed his company.

Melody placed the notepads and pens on the table and, not wanting to hold up the gathering, quickly took a seat.

‘Thank you all for coming. Mum said she had asked you to meet here because you might be able to help us with the wellness festival we’re putting on very soon.’

‘We’re more than happy to help where we can,’ said the grey-haired lady who seemed to be the head of the group. ‘I’m not sure how yet, but I’m sure we’ll all figure something out.’

‘Well, it’s very kind of you.’ Lettie sat at the head of the table. ‘Maybe we should begin with introductions.’

Melody grinned at her gran’s friend. Kathleen had been kind introducing the pair of them to the Torels and Melody was very grateful. She hadn’t met Kathleen’s daughter Phyllis before though and neither, it seemed, had Patsy. The two women who worked at Brodie’s practice, Tina – a friend of Lettie’s – and Bethan, the practice nurse, introduced themselves and Melody listened as the others gave their names. She couldn’t help thinking what a lovely sense of community there was in the village.

Lettie indicated Melody. ‘This is Melody, she’s staying here for a couple of months with her grandmother, Patsy.’

‘Hello, everyone,’ Melody said. ‘It’s good to meet you, and lovely to see you again, Kathleen, and finally meet your daughter I’ve heard so much about over the years.’

‘Likewise,’ Patsy agreed, exchanging smiles with the other women.

‘Welcome, Melody,’ they all said in unison.

She looked at the smiling, friendly faces, each of them happy to be there. ‘Thank you,’ Melody said. ‘I look forward to getting to know each of you.’

‘These lovely ladies have kindly agreed to bring their expertise in wellness to help the festival,’ Lettie explained. ‘They’ve been a wonderful help already.’ Lettie took two large plates and lifted the cakes from the tins. She picked up a knife ready to start cutting slices. ‘I really appreciate your offers to help but want you to only do whatever you’re happy with. Some of you will probably have more experience in wellness than I do.’ She grimaced. ‘Which won’t be very difficult. Melody, would you like to start sharing the ideas we’ve already been working on?’

Melody flicked back the cover of her notepad, opened her file and handed out copies of the plan to each of the women. As she pushed the pieces of paper towards each of them, she got ready to speak but then heard footsteps coming down the tiled hallway.

Everyone looked up to see who was coming and Melody did the same, the words she was about to say lost as Zac stepped into the room.

‘Hello, everyone,’ he said in his usual cheery way.

She felt the atmosphere in the room lighten and she relaxed slightly. She had been unaware of just how tense she was.

‘I hope these ladies haven’t been giving you a hard time,’ he said, bending to kiss Kathleen and then Phyllis on their cheeks.

Kathleen slapped his arm, frowning, but Melody couldn’t miss the amusement in her eyes. ‘Behave yourself, you cheeky devil.’

‘Stop winding everyone up,’ Lettie said, shaking her head. ‘Make yourself something to drink and come and join us.’

‘Have I missed much?’ he asked, as he passed Melody. He clicked the kettle on and took a cup from the cupboard.

‘We’ve just started,’ Lettie said.

Melody sensed him looking at her but daren’t catch his eye. She had only just met these women and needed to get along with them, so didn’t want their first impression of her to be acting silly with Zac. He clearly knew everyone well and there was obvious affection for him by their reactions.

She wasn’t exactly sure what being a sound engineer entailed, but presumed his work involved some lifting and shifting of equipment. His T-shirt did little to hide his impressive biceps and she had to force her eyes from them back to his face, horrified to realise he had noticed her reaction.

He sat down and Melody was relieved there were two people between them. She had already made a bit of a fool of herself and looking across the table she caught Kathleen’s eye and saw the lady’s amusement as she raised a grey eyebrow and gave Melody a kind smile.

‘I was expecting you to be here earlier,’ Lettie said, rolling her eyes. ‘Where’ve you been all morning?’

‘Places to go, people to see,’ he said mysteriously.

‘He’s always been a cheeky boy, this one,’ Phyllis said to her mother.

‘He has,’ Lettie agreed. ‘He’s been allowed to get away with too much, being the baby of the family.’

‘Baby?’ Zac raised his eyebrows and gave Phyllis a questioning look.

Melody giggled. She loved this friendly banter between the siblings.

‘I think it’s more to do with the dear boy needing time to himself,’ Kathleen said sombrely.

Melody saw the change in the woman’s expression. There was no less affection in her tone, but she seemed to be referring to something only the others were privy to.

Lettie’s expression was serious. ‘Maybe.’

Melody looked from one to the other of them, her focus resting on Zac. He was scowling and didn’t catch her eye. She sensed he wasn’t doing so on purpose and wondered what might have happened to him to cause this reaction from the women.

‘Er, I am in the room, you know,’ he said quietly. ‘And secondly, I’m fine. I promise you. All of you.’ His amused expression returned and he shook his head at Melody. ‘Don’t believe a word they say about me.’

‘I won’t,’ she said. She realised she liked him very much but couldn’t help wondering what had happened to him. Whatever it was the others cared very deeply for him, and that only happened when someone was considered lovable. She knew it was silly of her, but Melody couldn’t help wondering if Zac might ever have any feelings for her. Not that she was at a stage in her life when she was looking for a new partner. Heaven forbid. She studied Zac’s handsome face as he spoke. She had experienced enough heartbreak to keep well away from men. Especially handsome men with this much confidence.