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“There’s some chicken salad in the fridge, if you’re sure you don’t mind,” Cam said.

“No problem,” Nina said. She turned to Isla.

“I’ll have—”

“A chicken sandwich?” finished Nina. It was Isla’s go-to lunch.

Isla smiled. “Please.”

Nina left the room for the kitchen, making up the plates and also getting some bottles of water. It wouldn’t be any good for Isla’s voice if she were dry.

She found a tray to carry everything downstairs then managed to open the studio door with her elbow. They all sat on the sofa to eat and Cameron and Isla discussed further what they wanted to do with the song.

“Do you want to jump in the booth and try it out?” he asked.

Isla nodded, placing her empty plate on the table. She went into the singing booth and shut the door, putting on her headphones.

Cam smiled at Nina. She lifted her water bottle toward him. He smiled and clunked his against it. He took a drink then went to sit at the desk again.

Nina leaned back as Isla started singing against the track, but after a couple of minutes Nina winced. Isla’s voice was a little hoarse over the top of her range. Nina had been right about the dehydration. She slipped out of the room to go fetch more water.

She snuck back in and placed a few bottles into the small studio fridge, then signalled to Isla to come out and get a drink.

Isla left the booth and took a bottle from Nina. Her voice wobbled a little. “Thank you.” She took a sip and Nina had the feeling she was close to tears. Nina touched her arm.

Isla smiled weakly and drained the bottle.

“Should we take five?” Cam asked.

Isla shook her head. She turned and went back into the booth. Nina sat on the sofa, her anxiety mounting.

Isla started. It seemed to go a little better at first, but she once again struggled to hit the high notes. She shook her head as she sang, and her voice started to wobble.

That’s it. Nina stood and made a cutting motion across her throat. Cameron killed the music. Nina went over to the booth and opened the door, at which point Isla put her hands over her face and sobbed. Nina pulled her into a hug, murmuring that it was going to be okay.

Isla put her arms around her. “I’m so tired.”

“Come on,” said Nina. She led her out.

Cameron was stood just outside the booth, clearly having heard their brief exchange. “Listen… Let’s take a break. You go have a lie-down upstairs and we’ll pick up later.”

Isla rubbed her eyes. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Of course. Choose whichever room you want.”

“She can use the room I stayed in,” Nina said. “Saves getting more sheets dirty.”

Cam shook his head. “There’s plenty of space. You guys might as well have one each in case you want to stay over again while you’re here.”

Nina smiled. “Thank you.”

He smiled back and moved over to the door to open it for them. Nina took Isla’s hand and led her up the stairs onto the ground floor, then along to the first floor. She took the doorway next to her room and Isla practically collapsed onto the bed. Nina helped get her under the sheets. She wanted to talk to her in order to get the bottom of what was going on but Isla seemed too exhausted. I’ll speak to her after she’s rested. Nina gave her a kiss on the forehead and Isla smiled then closed her eyes.

Nina went back to the kitchen where she found Cameron holding two bottles of beer.

He handed one to her. “Want to sit by the pool for a bit?”

She took the bottle. “Yes, please.”