Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm (Hollyhock Farm #2)

Chapter 15

15

ZAC

Zac was surprised by how much he was enjoying helping out on the farm. Most years he would be inundated with work during the summer months with music festivals and events, but this year he had found a replacement for several of his bookings in order to help his sister prepare and run her wellness festival. He thought it was the least he could do to help her keep their childhood home.

He pressed send on his final email and sat back in his father’s office chair with relief. He checked his watch and realised he had been working for three hours. He promised himself he wouldn’t leave his admin for so long next time. Strangely enough working on the farm had seemed like being on holiday, despite the strenuous physical work. Maybe it was because it was so different to being in a recording studio or touring with a band, but the simplicity of the fresh air and doing what his sister told him to was like taking a proper break, which he supposed it was.

He thought of Melody wanting him to take her to meet up with Callum later. He didn’t intend staying for long and end up playing gooseberry for the evening. The most he intended doing was staying for one friendly pint and then leaving.

He closed his laptop and went to find Lettie and Melody. Seeing Lettie in the top field with the alpacas, he whistled for Spud to follow him and went to join them.

‘Can I help with anything?’ he asked, stroking the soft fur of Gideon.

‘Where have you been all this time?’ Lettie grumbled, a hammer in one hand and several nails in the other.

Zac leant to one side to peer around his sister. ‘Something broken?’

‘Not any more, it isn’t,’ Melody said, coming up behind him.

‘Where did you come from?’ he asked, surprised to see her there suddenly.

Lettie handed the nails to Melody. ‘I noticed a couple of the rails were getting old and a bit unstable, so Melody has been helping me replace them.’

Feeling guilty for not helping out, Zac grimaced. ‘You should have let me know. I could have done it for you.’

Lettie pulled a face. ‘With all due respect, Zac, I don’t think you’d have been any better at this than we were.’

Not wishing Melody to think badly of him, he gave her an apologetic smile. ‘Can I help fix them now?’

‘Nope,’ Melody said, holding up the hammer. ‘I only need to put in one extra nail to a rail back there and we’re done.’

He patted the alpaca once more and joined his sister, following Melody to where she still had to fix the last rail. He watched her working and seeing how proficient she was said, ‘You’re right, I wouldn’t have been any better than either of you at this.’

‘Maybe you need some practice,’ Lettie joked.

‘Hey, I’m happy to give anything a go here, so just point me in the right direction and tell me what you need doing.’

He gave Melody a satisfied smile and could see she was amused. Wanting to change the subject, he told them about one of his emails.

‘I’ve been offered a job going on tour with one of the bands I’ve been employed by a few times.’ He was surprised to see Melody’s smile vanish.

‘When?’ Lettie asked. ‘I hope you’re not thinking of leaving before the festival is over, Zac. I need you here to help with everything.’

Wishing he had been clearer about his next booking, he pulled an apologetic face. ‘Sorry, I was going to say that I’d be leaving soon after the festival but you interrupted me.’ He hated the thought of Melody thinking he was being selfish. ‘I’ll do all I can to help clear up in the time I have, but don’t forget I’m a sound engineer and these jobs pay decent money.’ Hoping to soften the blow, he added. ‘I’m hoping that with what I’ll make I should be able to contribute more to the cost of the barn repairs.’

‘Really?’

His sister seemed surprised and, concerned that her expectations might be unrealistically high, Zac decided to explain further. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be able to cover a large amount, but I should be able to let you have a couple of thousand.’

‘Pounds?’ Lettie asked.

He frowned. ‘Of course pounds. What else would they be?’

‘That’s wonderful, Zac,’ Melody said.

Lettie gave him a hug. ‘It is. Thank you.’ Her arms dropped away from him and she stepped back. ‘We forgot to mention that Melody has had an idea about tonight.’

Unsure where the conversation was going, Zac looked at Melody. ‘Tonight?’ Had she forgotten they were going to meet Callum at the pub? If she had, was that a good thing?

He listened while they explained about Melody’s idea for locking in a time for them to appear on Callum’s radio show.

‘So,’ Lettie said. ‘What do you think he’ll say?’

Zac shrugged. ‘Well, yes, of course. He’s already said he’d happily give you, or us, a spot on there and he will have meant it.’

‘Brilliant,’ Lettie said. ‘Then don’t either of you forget to ask him. We need all the publicity for this event that we can get.’

That evening as Zac accompanied Melody up to the pub’s front door, he greeted a few people he knew then stopped by the door to hold it open for her when he realised she was a short distance away. Melody seemed nervous about something and he watched silently as she looked around her. It was almost as if she was expecting to see someone there.

She noticed him and hurried over, thanking him as she passed him and walked into the pub.

‘Everything OK?’ he asked quietly, not wishing to draw attention to any concerns she might have.

She gave him a look that made him think he had imagined what he had seen. ‘Yes, of course. Why?’

Confused, Zac shook his head. ‘Nothing. Take no notice of me.’ He thought he saw a shadow of shame cross her face and knew she was hiding something from him. But what? Who could she have expected to appear outside? It couldn’t be Callum because he had said he would meet them inside the bar. Callum had just spotted them and was waving them over. And anyway, Zac reasoned as he walked with her to the other end of the bar, she had no reason to be bothered by Callum.

Strange, he thought, deciding to keep alert in case he spotted her doing it again. If he did, he would definitely have to press her to tell him what was wrong. He hated to think that Melody might not feel completely safe here in their village.

‘Good to see you, Melody,’ Callum said before frowning. ‘And you, Zac,’ he said, putting his arm around Zac’s shoulder and laughing to show he was only teasing.

‘I’ll only stay for one drink,’ Zac said. Even though he was sure Callum didn’t mind him being there too much, he didn’t want to interrupt their date. Well, he did, but had more pride than to do so. ‘Melody and I have something we’d like to ask you, so I thought I’d make the most of enjoying a cool pint of lager before I leave you both to your evening.’

‘I’m intrigued,’ Callum said, motioning for them to quickly grab the table next to them as a couple stood to leave. ‘I’ll get us some drinks.’

‘No, I’ll get them,’ Zac insisted. ‘I’ve come to ask a favour of you and you can consider it your payment.’

As soon as they were seated with their drinks, Zac brought up their being featured on Callum’s radio show. ‘I’m a bit nervous but we need all the publicity we can get and you did say we only had to ask.’

Callum smiled at him and then at Melody. ‘And I meant it.’ He narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. ‘We really need to get on and do this soon. How about in two days’ time? I can give you twenty minutes at, say, three fifteen. Would that suit you? If you’re busy…’

Zac was relieved and by the look on Melody’s face, she was delighted. ‘We’ll be there.’

‘You won’t need me to talk too, I shouldn’t think,’ Melody said, before taking a sip of her lemonade.

‘Er, you’re the one who knows all about this wellness stuff,’ Zac argued. His idea of any entertainment involved him being very much behind the scenes. ‘You’re going to need to explain what it’s all about.’

Melody pulled a face. ‘I suppose you’re right. But I’m not doing it by myself. You’ll have to be in the studio with me.’

‘Fine then,’ he agreed.

Callum laughed. ‘Honestly, you two are like an old married couple the way you bicker.’ He smiled when Zac glared at him. ‘And you, Zac. I know you well enough that once you get going there’ll be no shutting you up. You’ll be fine. Chatting on the radio isn’t scary at all.’

‘Hah,’ Zac scoffed. ‘Says the radio DJ. Of course it isn’t for you. For us it is though.’

‘Yes, it is,’ Melody agreed.

Zac felt her elbow in his side as she nudged him, and he looked questioningly at her. ‘What is it?’

‘We’re going to have to sit down before we go on and make some notes. I don’t want us to mess this opportunity up by not mentioning something important about the event.’

Happy to have a reason to spend more one-to-one time with her, he agreed. ‘Absolutely. We still haven’t gone out for that coffee yet, have we?’

‘No, we haven’t.’ Melody smiled thoughtfully. ‘And I presume you’re suggesting that would be the perfect time to discuss our promotional strategies?’

‘That’s exactly what I had in mind.’

‘Sounds good to me.’