Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm (Hollyhock Farm #2)

Chapter 37

37

MELODY

Six weeks later

Melody gritted her teeth. For some reason, she couldn’t get the shading right on her drawing and it was driving her nuts. She heard a passer-by laugh and thought of Zac and how incredible their night had been together at Seagull, or Barge Aground as Zac insisted it was actually called. She thought back to entering the property that evening and her delight at finding the stairs up to the roof space. So much for drinking cocktails up there and watching the stars together. Then again, she mused, she and Zac would soon be able to watch the stars, drink cocktails together and do many other things whenever they chose to do so.

She smiled to herself as she reminisced about that blissful night and the following morning. Making love with Zac had been exciting, dreamy and more perfect than she could have ever imagined. Was this what it was like to find your soulmate? she wondered, because that’s what she was certain they were to each other.

She sighed, recalling how she and Zac hadn’t left the bedroom until it was time for them to pack up and depart from the beautiful deco building. It had been the start of their future together even though she had needed to leave the island days later and Zac had flown out to join the tour. Since then, they had only been able to spend time together on a couple of occasions when Zac had been given enough of a break from the tour to catch a flight to London. Melody had flown from Edinburgh and they had made the most of every second. Even with the unusual start to their relationship she believed that their future was turning out to look brighter each day.

‘Melody?’ Patsy called from the kitchen.

Realising she hadn’t had a drink for a few hours, Melody stood and went to see what her grandmother wanted. ‘Yes, Gran?’

Patsy was wearing a thick coat and was wrapping a scarf around her neck. She pointed to a sandwich and a cup of steaming tea. ‘That’s for you. I’m off out for a bit. Glen is coming to fetch me and take me to meet a couple of friends of his for afternoon tea. They’re involved in festivals and want to chat to me about taking part in a few of them.’

Melody picked up Patsy’s woollen hat and gloves and held them out to her, kissing her grandmother on the cheek after she had put them on. ‘That sounds like fun,’ she said, then pointed to her late lunch. ‘Thanks for looking after me so well. I know I’m a bit lax when I get caught up with my work.’

‘It’s no problem at all.’ Patsy patted Melody’s cheek with her woollen glove. ‘Don’t forget about it and let it go cold, will you? I won’t be pleased if I get back later and see you’ve not had anything.’

‘I won’t, I promise.’

Hearing a car pull up outside, Patsy cocked her head towards the front door. ‘That’ll be Glen now. I mustn’t keep him waiting. I won’t be too late back, love.’

‘Take all the time you want, Gran. I’ve got enough here to keep me busy,’ Melody said, following her grandmother to the door and standing on the doorstep to wave at Patsy’s new boyfriend, before going back inside and closing the door against the bitter November wind.

She walked back to the kitchen and pulled out a stool at her grandmother’s breakfast bar. Wrapping her hands around the hot mug, Melody thought how different her and her grandmother’s lives were since hurriedly leaving Edinburgh that summer and setting off to Jersey. Both of them were in love with wonderful men, and both of them had so much more to look forward to now than they had done only a few months before. Life really had a way of throwing in a couple of unexpected twists, which was fine, Melody mused, when they were the type to change things for the better.

Smelling the tasty sandwich on the counter next to her, she picked up the top slice of bread to check what was inside. Her favourite: tuna and mayonnaise with a sprinkling of black pepper. Her gran knew her well.

Her stomach gave a noisy grumble and Melody sat quietly trying to work out how to make her sketch work as she took the first bite. She had put too many hours into it to want to scrap it and start again, but she was beginning to think she might have to do that when she heard her phone vibrate. Putting down her sketch pad, she picked up the phone to see Zac’s name.

She quickly answered the video call, her heart leaping to see his beautiful mouth smiling back at her.

‘You look tired,’ she said, wishing she didn’t have to wait another week until they were able to spend a couple of days together again. All she wanted to do was step into his arms and be next to him. He was halfway through his tour now, and although she hadn’t seen him for two weeks, she looked forward to him spending a little time with her in Edinburgh.

‘You look beautiful,’ he said, gazing at her and making her feel slightly guilty for being so honest.

‘Zac.’ She laughed, pushing her dark hair away from her forehead. ‘I look a complete mess. I haven’t left Gran’s house for two days because she needs these latest sketches finished by Monday, and I need to do something with this mop.’

‘I miss the pink,’ he teased.

She laughed, doubting it. ‘We both know you don’t.’

‘I’m not going to argue about it, but I really did think you looked cute with your hair that way.’

Her hand went to her hair. ‘You don’t like it now?’

‘I don’t mind what colour you have your hair, Melody – you’ll always look gorgeous.’

‘How’s everything going with the tour?’

Zac pulled a face. ‘The same as it was when we spoke at midnight last night.’ He grinned. ‘I’m just counting down the hours until I can take you in my arms and kiss you again.’

‘So am I,’ she said, impatient to hold him and breathe him in. ‘At least this is the last time we’ll have to go through this long separation.’

‘I agree.’

She realised she hadn’t thought to tell him her exciting news. ‘I was going to message you earlier,’ she said, excited. ‘But I wanted to tell you face to face.’

‘What is it?’

‘No need to look worried, it’s good news. My solicitor called me this morning and said that because Rhys didn’t contest our divorce proceedings that it should only be a few more weeks, probably five or six, before it’s granted through the court.’ Just in case he hadn’t worked it out, she added, ‘So I should be a single woman again by the time your tour is over.’

The look of pure joy on his face cheered her immensely. ‘That’s brilliant news, Melody. I’m so happy.’

‘I can see that,’ she said, smiling back at him. ‘I think it was Gran threatening to tell his mother that did it.’

‘And how’s your mother been?’

Melody thought of her mother’s sadness that Melody hadn’t felt comfortable enough to confide in her. ‘We’re slowly working through our issues, but we’re better than we have ever been,’ she said, relieved. ‘Anyway, never mind all that. I’m just excited that I’ll soon be returning to Jersey full-time.’

‘You’re not the only one.’ He laughed. ‘I still can’t believe how quickly things change. Good for Patsy, though. I like her spirit.’

‘Me too,’ Melody said, thinking about Patsy’s new relationship with a man she had dated in her twenties but had lost contact with for four decades until meeting at a party soon after they returned to Edinburgh. It was exciting seeing her grandmother happy again four years after losing Grandad. ‘I agree with Gran when she insists life is too short to waste time not having fun, and she’s seventy-seven. I’m just relieved they’re both into their alternative therapies and planning to take part in festivals together. It means I can work on my sketches for her books from Jersey while Gran is having a ball rekindling her romance with Glen.’

‘Your gran is a legend,’ Zac said. Melody was delighted he thought so and could see he meant it.

‘I agree,’ she said, picturing her Gran, certain she would be entertaining her new friends round about now with anecdotes about her life. ‘I hope I’m like her at her age.’

‘I’m sure you will be.’ Zac laughed. ‘Although I hope I’ll be the one you’re having fun with.’

‘I hope so, too,’ Melody said, picturing how perfect their future was going to be.