Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm (Hollyhock Farm #2)

Chapter 22

22

MELODY

Melody was relieved to know that Zac and Callum would be speaking. She hated to think that her presence had caused a rift between the two close friends. It wasn’t as if she was completely free of Rhys yet, or that anything much had happened between her and Zac. Which was a good thing, she decided, not liking to think of Rhys discovering she was attracted to anyone else. Not until she knew he understood that their relationship was well and truly over.

An hour later she heard a van coming down the drive followed by Lettie’s excited voice a couple of minutes later. ‘Girls, come and look at what’s just arrived.’

Patsy nudged Melody as they walked along the hallway to the kitchen. ‘I love how she includes me when she calls for the girls to join her.’

‘When you have more energy and enthusiasm than the rest of us, I think I can understand why she would class you as a girl.’

They walked into the kitchen and Melody noticed two boxes. The first one had the flaps open already and Lettie was busily cutting the tape on the other with a knife.

‘What is it?’

‘Have a look,’ Lettie said, giving a satisfied sigh as she released the tape on the other box and opened it.

Melody delved into it, pulling out rolls of rubber. ‘Are these mats?’

‘Yes, yoga mats and hand towels for people to use. In here—’ Lettie lifted a corner of the second box for Melody and Patsy to peep in ‘—are exit signs, first-aid signs and coffee and tea station signs.’

Patsy looked bemused. ‘Exit signs?’

‘Yes,’ Melody explained. ‘The first thing we’ll need to do after welcoming everyone and opening the event is to do some housekeeping and let attendees know where the exits are.’

‘Why, won’t they realise they can leave out of the barn doors they’ve just entered through?’ Patsy asked.

Melody understood her confusion. ‘I know it sounds a little odd, but we need to let people know. The insurers I contacted about the event insisted we did.’

‘We never needed to jump through all these hoops in my day,’ Patsy grumbled, shaking her head. ‘It’s all very odd, if you ask me.’

‘I dread to think of the lack of health and safety arrangements at events in your day.’ Melody laughed. She decided to change the subject. ‘Lettie, do we know yet when the chairs and trestle tables we’ve ordered will be arriving?’

‘I phoned earlier this morning and they promised me they’ll be here first thing tomorrow, in good time for us to set everything up. We also have the tea and coffee urns and deliveries of pastries being brought in by a vegan baker Mum discovered recently.’

Lettie’s phone pinged and Melody watched as she peered at the screen. ‘This is amazing,’ Lettie said, holding up her phone and showing somebody sitting in what looked like half a barrel of ice. ‘We’ve had confirmation that one of the women from the book club has a sister wanting to do ice baths for our attendees. I think the smaller barn will be better for those. We still have a little space to the right-hand side to set them up.’

‘That’s brilliant. This really is coming along well,’ Melody said. As well as that, she had checked the long-distance weather forecast earlier and relaxed when she saw that the mention of inclement weather seemed to have been wrong and that when the event was being held in a few days constant sunshine with only a gentle breeze was expected. At least the animals could be left out and it was one thing less to worry about. The temperatures were comfortable, so that was another thing she was relieved to know.

As she helped clean the barn for the final time before they began setting up, Melody couldn’t help wishing she could have some time away from the preparations to continue with her sketches. The deadline for the next book was looming ever closer and she had no intention of letting her grandmother down.

‘You OK there, Melody?’ Zac asked, bringing in another couple of boxes that must have been delivered at some point.

‘Fine, thanks,’ she said, wondering how his call with Callum had panned out. ‘Do you need a hand bringing anything else in here?’

He cocked his head over his shoulder. ‘Dad and Lettie are bringing stuff in behind me.’ He shot a look to the door and lowered his voice. ‘I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for this thing to be over and done with. I’m desperate to get back to normal. We had enough to do without all this extra stuff.’

‘Stop moaning, Zac,’ Lettie said coming up behind him. ‘Anyway, did you manage to get hold of Callum?’

‘I did.’ He gave a satisfied nod. ‘He’s giving the festival another shout-out on his show today and tomorrow.’

‘That’s kind of him,’ Lettie said. ‘But then he’s a lovely bloke and always willing to help others.’

Melody decided that she probably should have a chat with Callum too. He hadn’t asked her out again after that initial drink at the pub, but she presumed he must have picked up some chemistry between her and Zac. She decided she needed to do the right thing and catch him on his own and check that he really was fine about any misunderstandings between them.

Feeling a little better, Melody realised she hadn’t asked Lettie whether she needed her to help. She leant the mop handle against a stall door and went over to her. ‘Here, let me take those from you.’

‘These aren’t heavy but they’re awkward,’ Lettie said. ‘If you take the top one that’ll be great.’ Melody lifted the box. ‘Follow Zac through there,’ Lettie said.

Melody followed the siblings and Gareth through to the back storeroom.

‘We’re storing everything in there until tomorrow when I know this place is spotless,’ Lettie explained. ‘You’re doing a brilliant job by the way, Melody. You and Patsy have been amazing through all of this.’

‘Thanks, we’re only too happy to help out.’ Melody wondered what was in these boxes.

‘There seems to be a lot of stuff,’ Gareth said.

Melody placed the box on one of the trestle tables Zac had set up. ‘Is there much more to come?’

‘Only fresh stuff, like food and milk,’ Lettie said, motioning for her father to place what he was carrying on the table next to hers and Zac’s. ‘The stallholders will be bringing in their products and any banners tomorrow afternoon. I said they could arrange everything and let them know we would padlock the barn doors closed at six-thirty. I thought that way they would be able to arrive fresh for the first day of the event and at least they would feel confident that all their wares were safely behind locked doors.’

It was a good idea. Melody hoped that Lettie’s confidence was building. She was far better at arranging these things than she probably thought she was and if this was a success then there was no limit to what she could do to make money in the future.

‘I could do with some fresh air,’ Melody said. ‘I’ll finish washing the floor after I help you with the animal feed.’

‘OK, thanks.’ Lettie led the way as the three of them left Zac to carry on checking everything while they went outside.

‘When were you thinking of starting to put your ecotourism plan into place?’ Gareth asked.

Lettie held out a hand in Melody and Patsy’s direction. ‘We’re already doing it, Dad. Melody and Patsy are staying here as guests but also getting a flavour of what living on an organic farm entails by helping out with the work.’

Gareth nodded thoughtfully. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. Yes, I suppose that is what these hardworking ladies are doing. But what I really meant to ask was when you’re going to try and make a going concern out of it?’

‘I hadn’t got that far,’ Lettie answered. ‘Once this festival is over with I’ll put more thought into how to go about it and what to charge.’

‘So you’re still thinking of doing it in the future then?’ He seemed impressed with the notion.

‘I think so.’

Melody saw her grandmother’s expression change. She knew that look. ‘What were you thinking, Gran?’ she asked, intrigued to hear what she had to say.

‘Only that I have quite a few contacts,’ Patsy replied. ‘Well, friends, mostly younger than me who I’m sure would be interested in trying something like this. I would be very happy to mention it to them when I go home. Spread the word for you, if that’s what you’d like me to do.’

‘You’re both thinking of leaving soon then?’ Gareth asked, looking surprised.

Pasty seemed surprised by the question. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure we’d both much rather stay here than return home.’ She sighed. ‘In fact, I know Melody would probably move here in a heartbeat if she was free to do so.’

Melody saw Zac give her a quizzical gaze.

‘Then what’s stopping you both?’ Gareth asked. ‘I’m sure Lettie and Zac could do with the extra help.’

Gareth’s eyes focused on Melody, making her wish her grandmother hadn’t said anything about her being unable to stay. ‘I don’t understand. What’s stopping you from staying here if you wanted to?’ he asked.

Melody cringed. She wasn’t ready to divulge more about Rhys. Thinking quickly and aware that the family knew that she had been in a relationship that had ended badly, she said, ‘It’s just that Gran and I have this next book to finish working on, and I need to sort everything out with my ex. Finalise things completely.’

Gareth didn’t look as if he understood but was clearly too polite to say as much. ‘I see. Well, you’re both always welcome here.’

‘That’s very kind of you, thank you,’ Melody said, grateful for his kindness even though Lindy had already made the same offer to them.

Or maybe she was simply overthinking things after having to be on high alert with Rhys for all those months. She shook the thought away, deciding to focus instead on the Torel family. She went to find Lettie.

‘I was thinking that maybe I could finally give you all a yoga lesson on the beach this evening?’

‘Yoga?’ Lindy asked, walking into the kitchen to join them. ‘Tonight?’

Melody smiled. ‘Only if you want to. It occurred to me how busy we’ve all been and I thought it might help calm us all before the event to have a go if you’d like to.’

‘On the beach?’ Lindy asked, looking unsure.

Lettie clasped her hands together and beamed at each of them. ‘I think it’s a great idea. We could make an evening of it and take a picnic down with us. I’m sure the tide is on the way out by now and it would be exciting to try something like that.’

Lindy pursed her lips. ‘I think I’ll keep an eye on the food and watch you do it,’ she said, making Melody and Lettie laugh.

‘Fine, Mum. You do that.’

‘You don’t mind, do you?’ Lindy asked, resting one arm on Melody’s.

‘Of course not.’ She shrugged. ‘If we’re going to do this, I’d better go and let Gran and Zac know.’

‘And I’ll tell Dad and Brodie,’ Lettie said.