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.
