Page 115 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘Do we need more apples?’ she said, peering into the barrel and finding it half full.

‘I thought I’d better pick up the last few, just in case the shed falls apart in those high winds tomorrow.’ He put down the barrel and smiled. ‘Here’s hoping it’s a sell-out, anyway.’

Lily frowned. ‘I hadn’t thought about people not showing up,’ she said. ‘What if you’re right?’

‘They’ll show,’ he told her, laughing. ‘Rock stars in the middle of the countryside. Who’s not going to want to see that?’

Lily laughed and went to turn away, but as she did so she caught her foot on something and tumbled to the ground.

‘You alright?’ said Jack, holding out a hand to pull her up again. ‘Have you been trying out the cocktails already?’

‘I wish,’ said Lily. ‘No, I tripped over something.’

‘Probably a tree root,’ said Jack. But then he frowned at something near her feet. ‘What’s that?’

He reached down and tugged at something in the ground. Lily saw a glint of something silver in the earth. After a bit more pulling and effort, finally the object was freed. Jack sat back on the ground and stared at the large article in his hands.

‘What is it?’ asked Lily, bending down.

Jack wiped the earth from the flat, round object. ‘Looks like some kind of plate,’ he said.

‘What’s it doing in the ground?’ said Lily.

‘No idea,’ said Jack, standing up. ‘Anyway, we haven’t got time for this at the moment. I’ll show it to Arthur later and let him have a look at it.’

He placed the flat object on top of the barrel and carried it back towards the shed. As they walked, Lily glanced across at Willow Tree Hall and didn’t think it had ever looked prettier. It seemed to glow a dusky red, reflected from the setting sun.

‘By the way,’ said Jack as they neared the barn, ‘put my name down for a dance later.’

Lily raised her eyebrows. ‘I thought we were working tonight.’

‘Remember what I said about living as well,’ Jack told her before disappearing into the barn.

Lily found she couldn’t stop smiling as she headed towards the main house, watching as a faint wisp of smoke began to rise from the bonfire.

Whatever happened that evening, whether the album launch was a huge success or not, she was pretty sure her highlight was going to be dancing with Jack.

She was clinging on to the tiny ray of hope he’d offered her when he’d opened up enough to ask her to dance. Just maybe there was a future for them after all this time.

46

The album launch was a huge success. Everyone who had been invited actually turned up, many of them with their families.

Arthur had unearthed many sets of croquet and bowls, which were keeping the children occupied in any quiet moments. Will and Tom were busy on the barbeque serving up the food, and Lily was behind the bar with Jack serving up the drinks.

Annie and Skye were greeting everyone as they arrived with smiles and cowboy hats to be handed out.

Contrary to Alex’s own opinion, Hazy Memory had actually turned up wearing jeans with their leather jackets and looked very relaxed the whole evening.

Perhaps a little too relaxed, thought Lily, as she overhead their various conversations whilst serving out the drinks.

‘It’s a lovely setting,’ one of the music journalists was saying.

‘Yeah,’ said Mick, nodding. ‘It’s great to be here. Actually, it’s great to be anywhere after surviving all the drink and drugs we’ve done over the years, to be honest.’

Lily glanced over to where Sam was grimacing and shaking his head nearby.

‘The album’s all about heart and soul,’ carried on Mick. ‘Like this place.’