It dawned on her that she would not be ready to leave even if she didn’t have this issue with Rhys and the need to broach the difficult subject of her situation with her mother. She was glad she had decided to wait for the time being before phoning. Perhaps it would be better speaking to her about this face to face anyway, Melody thought. At least then she would have the time to go over what she told her mother as many times as her mother needed to hear it.
‘You’re looking thoughtful,’ Zac said quietly.
Melody jumped. ‘Oh, I didn’t see you there.’
He frowned. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a fright.’
She rested a hand on his arm. ‘It’s fine – you didn’t. I was miles away,’ she said, not wanting to admit she had been thinking about the call to her mother and what she would say.
He stepped back to let a group of people pass by on their way to the sound bath class that was about to begin in the meadow by the stream.
She realised she hadn’t told him about staying on the farm. The teacher welcomed the class and, not wishing to interrupt everyone, Melody motioned for Zac to follow her outside. ‘We’d better talk somewhere where we won’t be bothering anyone.’
They walked outside and sat on the low wall to one side of the yard.
‘Is everything all right?’ he asked, looking concerned.
She explained about the offer for her to stay as long as she wanted at the farm. ‘It’s so kind of them. I never imagined they would do something like that. I mean, they’ve only known me a few weeks.’
Zac smiled. ‘Maybe so, but they know you well enough to be comfortable offering you a room here at the farm. I know without doubt that you’ve made a very good impression on my parents.’ He nudged her with his shoulder. ‘And they’re not the only ones.’
She went to say something but noticed his expression change slightly. ‘What is it?’
He stared at her for a few seconds, then shrugged. ‘I can’t help wondering how long it’s going to take for you to be divorced.’
She hadn’t expected him to say that. ‘I’ve no idea,’ she said. ‘But I intend getting straight on to it as soon as I’m back in Edinburgh.’ She thought how she would feel if she had discovered the same thing about Zac and sighed. ‘I understand how much of a shock this must have been for you and I wouldn’t be happy to discover you had a wife, if things were the other way round.’
‘It is what it is, though,’ he said, his voice filled with resignation. ‘Now I’m mostly concerned Rhys doesn’t come across you while you’re by yourself again.’ He frowned. ‘Your time here is coming to an end though, and I’m dreading you leaving.’ The sadness in his voice reaffirmed his feelings for her.
‘I’m not ready to leave this beautiful place either.’ She rested her hand on his. ‘Or ready to leave you.’
He kissed her. ‘That makes me happy.’
She noticed Lettie rush out of the larger barn and look around for someone. Presuming she might be wondering where Melody was, she jumped off the wall to her feet.
‘I’d better go. We’re so busy today and I really shouldn’t be sitting around chatting with you.’
He stood. ‘You were due a break. You’re right though – we should be getting back.’
‘There you are,’ Lettie said, hurrying over to them, her attention going to Zac. ‘I need you in the smaller barn, now,’ she added when he didn’t move.
‘What for?’ His eyebrows lowered. ‘Is something the matter?’
Melody tensed, hoping it wasn’t anything to do with Rhys. She was still mortified by what he had done the previous day and couldn’t bear to think he might have somehow found a way to sabotage the event. She would never forgive herself if he had caused trouble.
‘The volunteers for the ice bath can’t do it,’ Lettie said frantically. ‘Joe had agreed to be one of those demonstrating but he’s been called in to work, so can’t do it, and the demonstration is in two minutes. I need you to get undressed and get in the barn ready to help out.’
Zac cringed. ‘If the volunteers have changed their minds then I can understand why, but I don’t see why I have to be the one to take their place. Who the hell voluntarily sits in ice?’
Melody watched as a steely glint appeared in Lettie’s eyes. ‘Zachary, I don’t care whether you want to do this or not. I can’t let the owner down.’
He winced. ‘Please don’t call me that. Anyway, why can’t she do it herself?’ he asked, and Melody had to wonder the same thing. ‘She must think they’re a good idea.’
Lettie took one step closer to him. ‘Because, Zac,’ she said through gritted teeth, her voice low, ‘she has a cast on her foot. Now, will you do this to help raise money for our roof, or not?’
She had never seen the siblings at odds like this before and Melody wanted to quash their quarrel before it escalated. She hadn’t ever tried out this particular therapy, but aware that therewas little time to persuade anyone else and wanting to pay back all the support the Torel family had given to her, she took a deep breath.
‘You’ll need two people to do it,’ Melody said, recalling there were two ice baths set up near the front of the barn. ‘Zac can do it with me.’
