Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm (Hollyhock Farm #2)

Chapter 35

35

MELODY

A couple of days later, Melody had just finished replenishing the honesty box with Lettie and returned to the house. She was thinking about the story Lettie had told her about Zac’s past relationship and wondered whether she now knew him well enough to broach the subject. Would it be too nosy of her to do that though? She wasn’t sure. But as her gran had often told her, there was no harm in speaking to someone as long as you accepted that the person you asked the question of might not wish to tell you.

She heard Zac call her name and went over to the window and looked down at him. ‘Do you want me for something?’

‘I do.’ He waved for her to join him out in the yard.

‘What is it?’ she asked, excited to see him as she always was now. He had a look of satisfaction on his face and she was fascinated to know why.

‘I’ve booked us a night’s stay somewhere special. I’m afraid I could only get one night, but it’s at least at the place I was hoping to book for us.’

She flung her arms around his neck. ‘That’s so exciting. Where?’

‘Nope. It’s a surprise.’

She pursed her lips. ‘Right then. When?’

‘Tonight?’

‘That soon?’ She was astonished, although she wasn’t sure why. She knew that Zac could be impulsive and loved him for his enthusiasm. And, she reminded herself, it wasn’t as if they had all that long before she had to leave again. She pushed away the thought and flung her arms around him. ‘I’m so excited. I’d better let Gran know.’

‘I’ve already mentioned it to her, and to my family. They all know we’re going out together for the night and that we’ll see them at some point tomorrow evening.’

She bit her lower lip, planning what she needed to pack before going. ‘Do I need something smart to wear?’

He looked a little thrown by the question and then concerned.

‘What is it?’ She hoped she hadn’t said the wrong thing.

He winced. ‘It’s not a posh sort of place, Melody. It is somewhere special though that I think you’ll like.’

She kissed him. ‘Zachary Torel,’ she said, laughing when he winced at her use of his full name. ‘You could have planned to pitch a tent up at Les Landes and I would be happy.’

‘Damn,’ he said, frowning. ‘If I’d known I could get away with that I wouldn’t have booked the place we’re going to.’

‘Very funny.’ She pushed him lightly on his shoulder. ‘When do we leave then?’

‘In a couple of hours.’

It took a while before Melody realised someone was calling for her and Zac, interrupting their stroll around the garden. Zac groaned.

‘Is that your mum’s voice?’ Melody asked, intrigued to understand the urgency she could hear in Lindy’s voice. Excitement too, she realised.

‘We’re going to have to see what this is all about.’ He gave Melody’s hand a squeeze as they made their way across the lawn together. ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart. I don’t know how she does it but my mum always manages to find a way to interrupt our time together somehow.’

‘It’s fine,’ she said. He had called her sweetheart, Melody mused dreamily. Even Lindy interrupting them couldn’t dampen Melody’s mood to hear him say that to her.

They entered the house and found his parents, sister, Brodie and her grandmother congregated in the living room. ‘What are you all doing here?’ Zac asked.

Patsy immediately hurried over to Melody’s side. ‘I’m sorry about this but there’s been some exciting news.’

‘Mum, what’s this all about?’ Zac asked. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Sorry, son,’ Gareth said, slapping Zac on his back. ‘Your mother insisted this couldn’t wait.’

‘Of course it couldn’t, Gareth, we have a plane to catch first thing in the morning.’

Zac went to stand next to Melody again, took her hand and mouthed sorry. ‘Since when are you going away so soon?’

Gareth gave them a weary look. ‘Since she booked a last-minute cruise this morning.’

‘Yes,’ Lindy said, glaring at her husband as if it was his fault. ‘Only I didn’t know then that my daughter would be getting engaged and now we can’t cancel without losing our money.’

Had she heard right?

Lindy turned her attention to Melody. ‘We had to pay the entire cost of the trip, you see.’

‘Sorry,’ Zac said. ‘Did you say Lettie’s engaged?’

Lindy held her hands up in exasperation. ‘Yes.’

Melody struggled not to laugh at the altering expressions on Zac’s face. Wanting to divert attention from his confusion with his mother, Melody sought out Lettie, seeing her and Brodie over by the dining table, setting up two bottles of champagne and several glasses.

‘Congratulations, you two,’ Melody said, delighted for them. She ran to hug first Lettie, then Brodie. ‘This is amazing news.’ She looked down for Lettie’s left hand in case she was already wearing an engagement ring, and there it was. Melody gasped. ‘Oh, Lettie, what a stunning ring.’

Lettie lifted her hand, the widest smile on her face. ‘Brodie chose it, too. My fiancé has wonderful taste.’

‘Fiancé,’ Brodie said to himself as if trying out the word. He beamed at Lettie, the look on his face one of such happiness that it took all Melody’s efforts not to cry. ‘I’m just relieved she said yes.’

Lettie nudged him. ‘But what if I hadn’t liked the ring?’ she teased.

‘I’d have changed it but taken you with me to choose the replacement, of course.’

‘Right,’ Lindy said, handing one bottle to Zac and the other to Gareth. ‘I think we should open these and toast the happy couple.’ She gave Zac a sideways smile before patting him lightly on his cheek. ‘This is so exciting, don’t you think?’

‘It is, Mum.’ He smiled at Melody, clearly happier now, then looked across the room at his sister and Brodie. ‘Congratulations to the pair of you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy, Letts.’

‘That’s because I’ve never been this happy.’ She clutched Brodie’s arm and beamed up at him.

Melody listened as Lindy tried to persuade her daughter and Brodie to decide on a date for the wedding.

‘Give them a break, love,’ Gareth said. ‘She’s only just said yes. There’ll be plenty of time for a wedding.’

Melody could see Lindy was having none of it. ‘I’m going to need to start planning everything soon though,’ she argued. Lindy grabbed Lettie’s wrist to get her attention. ‘Do you think you’ll want to have the reception at Hollyhock Farm?’

‘Mum, seriously.’ Lettie scowled at her. ‘I know you’re excited, but Brodie and I haven’t had a moment to think about any of these things yet.’

‘Don’t worry, Lindy,’ Brodie said, giving his soon-to-be mother-in-law a peck on the cheek. ‘We won’t leave you out of any of the planning.’

Melody caught Lettie’s eye and could tell she had other ideas. It was going to be an interesting few months in the Torel household.

Melody felt Zac’s arm slip around her waist and she looked up at him. ‘I’m so happy for them,’ she whispered.

‘Me too, but would you think I was selfish if I said I hope they won’t mind if we decide to go soon?’

‘No. I was thinking the same thing.’

He bent to kiss her. ‘I like that we’re on the same wavelength.’

Melody did too. She noticed Lettie place her hand against Brodie’s cheek and kiss him.

‘I agree,’ Gareth said, cocking his head in his wife’s direction. ‘Come along, Lindy. Time we were off to do that packing.’

Melody couldn’t miss Lindy’s surprise.

‘Since when do you pack a suitcase?’

He rolled his eyes. ‘I think Lettie and Brodie need a bit of time alone together.’

Lettie rushed forward and hugged Melody. ‘Sorry to interrupt your evening, but Mum did insist.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ Melody said, hugging her back. ‘I’m over the moon for you both. I’m sure you’ll be very happy. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss celebrating with you all.’ She meant what she said. Lettie had been a good friend to her, and Melody couldn’t be happier to see Lettie and Brodie this content. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow when I get back and you can tell me all about Brodie’s proposal.’

‘I will, don’t you worry about that.’ Lettie laughed, grabbing hold of Brodie’s hand.

‘See you tomorrow, lovey,’ Patsy said, kissing Lettie, then waving at Melody and Zac. ‘Enjoy your evening.’

‘I’m sure they will,’ Gareth said. ‘Let’s leave the pair of them alone.’

‘Yes,’ Zac said, congratulating his sister and Brodie again before taking Melody by the hand. ‘We’d better get a move on too.’

Melody could barely contain her excitement when Zac parked at the car park above the slipway leading to the beach at Les Laveurs.

‘Are we taking a walk on the beach?’ she asked, confused about why they were there. ‘Or are we visiting the Military Museum?’ She doubted they would be doing the second option. However impressive the museum was, it wasn’t a romantic place to visit.

Zac took her bag from her and then her hand in his and led her along the path with long Marram grass either side but didn’t answer her. All he did was smile and give her a wink. ‘You’ll soon find out,’ he said, continuing to walk.

They passed the museum and a set of steps leading to the beach but kept going. Just when she was thinking that maybe he had planned to camp somewhere for the night, Zac stopped.

She turned and looked up the pathway leading to the boat-shaped Art Deco folly, thinking how it should look out of place standing proudly above the beach but seemed to fit in perfectly well to the landscape somehow.

She waited for Zac to walk on again, or say something and when he didn’t do either, she looked at him, wondering if she was missing something. He turned to her and smiled but still didn’t speak.

Then it dawned on her and she gasped. ‘You haven’t booked us to stay here. Have you?’ She could barely breathe; the anticipation that he might confirm her suspicions was too intense.

‘I have.’

Melody’s mouth dropped open and she quickly covered it with her free hand. ‘Honestly?’

He laughed. ‘Yes. You told me how much you loved it that first time you saw it, and as luck would have it they have one night free, but it had to be tonight.’

She squealed in excitement and grabbed hold of him around his waist, kissing him. ‘You are perfect, Zac Torel. Do you know that?’

‘Er, I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m relieved you’re happy.’

‘Happy! I’m ecstatic.’ She let her arms fall from around his waist. ‘Well, are you going to show me inside, or are we spending the night out here?’

‘You’re so impatient,’ he said, leading her up to the door.

She waited for him to take the key from his pocket and unlock the door, not caring that she had a beaming smile on her face that probably made her look a little odd to the dog walker who was passing. She was trying not to show how intrigued she was to have a peek inside the property.

He stepped back to let her go inside first. Melody stood trying to absorb every detail inside the barge-shaped property. It was incredible. She listened as Zac explained how the building had been requisitioned by the Germans during the occupation, how it had also been used as everything from a clinic by a doctor who specialised in dealing with stutters to a scout hut.

‘But it’s now owned by Jersey Heritage, isn’t it?’ she said, recalling the information she already knew. Everything was perfect, from the lounge diner that took up most of the building with its perfectly polished walnut herringbone flooring, to the 1930s furniture.

‘There’s even a kitchen,’ she said, excited to see it seemed to have everything anyone might need. Finding the bathroom, Melody was relieved to see a pristine loo, basin and even a shower. ‘There are two portholes in here, too, just like in the kitchen,’ she shouted excitedly, hearing Zac laugh with amusement at her excitement. She spotted a wide ladder fitted in an alcove and read the plaque. ‘We go up here to the roof,’ she said. ‘I hadn’t noticed there was an area up there too.’ She gasped as an idea occurred to her. ‘We could go up there later when it’s dark, drink cocktails and take a blanket to lie down and watch the stars together.’

‘We could. Although I’m not sure we have any ingredients for cocktails right now.’

‘I don’t mind.’

She caught Zac watching her, aware he was enjoying her delight at all the discoveries she was making in this incredibly special place. Determined to see everything, Melody went in through the next door and found two tiny bedrooms. She tried to hide her surprise that both only contained bunk beds. She couldn’t have hidden her disappointment very well as she returned to the living room, because Zac pointed at another doorway.

‘There’s a sofa through there, which I gather opens out to a very comfortable sofa bed.’

‘A double?’ she asked, before thinking.

He nodded, looking happy that they seemed to be on the same wavelength.

Melody gazed out of the bedroom window at the view of turquoise waves rolling onto pale golden sand on the beach below the folly. She smiled, feeling Zac’s hands slip around her waist as he came up behind her.

He kissed her neck. ‘Happy?’

‘Very,’ she admitted. ‘This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.’

He slowly turned her to face him. ‘I’m hoping we’ll have many more romantic occasions.’

She liked the thought. It occurred to her that this was the first time any man had ever made her feel like they were meant to be together, and it made her question whether what she had initially felt for Rhys was anything other than naive infatuation.

She slipped her arms around him and held him tightly. ‘It’s the oddest feeling,’ she said almost to herself. ‘But I feel as if I’ve come home.’ Then, wondering if she was getting carried away by how special he made her feel, looked up at Zac, embarrassed. ‘I know that probably sounds a bit strange but it really is how I feel right now.’

Zac kissed her. ‘It’s exactly how I feel when I’m with you.’ He smiled and she relaxed, glad that sharing such feelings hadn’t unnerved him. Like it would have done Rhys, she thought before pushing his memory from her mind.

‘I wish we had more than one night here,’ he said. ‘There’s so much I want to say to you, although I also just want to be here quietly with you. Just the two of us.’

‘I know exactly how you feel,’ she said, happy that they were so in sync with their feelings.

He pulled her against him and Melody was only vaguely aware of one hand in her hair and the other holding her tightly against him. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling the taut muscles in his back, and kissed him. Finally they were alone and for a whole night.