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Jamie shrugged. ‘Didn’t we say that we were going to put that in the past? Now that we both understand a little more about why it happened, we can let it go.’
‘That’s what you said. And I’ll always be grateful for it, because it’s given us a future. That’s not my point, Jamie. My point is that when I hit rock bottom it was because I’d lost my faith in anything ever changing. You were the one who showed me I was wrong.’
‘It’s complicated, Jon.’
‘It always is. Until it’s not.’
Jamie didn’t answer. He didn’t want to think about it, because Anna had been the best thing that had ever happened to him. And losing her had been the worst.
He stared into the fire, watching the flames dance. Anna had taken his heart when she’d walked away. He’d been angry, and she probably didn’t even know that he’d do anything to be with her.
An idea occurred to him. It was crazy, a chance in a million... But it had been a long time since the Campbell-Clarke brothers had taken their one chance in a million, made a song out of it, and it had shaped both their futures.
‘There is something...’
Jon looked up at him. ‘Yeah? Name it, big brother.’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EVERYONE AT THE clinic was talking about Jonny Campbell’s new song. It had been released free on the internet, and in the first few hours had been downloaded over a million times. When Anna had listened to it, it had made her cry. ‘Whatever’ was a love song. One that promised a true and faithful heart. Whatever the cost and whatever happened.
The ticket had arrived by courier, and Anna had been called down to the clinic’s reception desk to sign for it personally. There was a note inside from Jon, asking her to come to the first of four concerts, which would be taking place in one of the central London parks, the following week.
She couldn’t go, of course. She’d made discreet enquiries, and it seemed that no one else at the clinic had received a ticket so she’d been singled out. If Jamie was behind it, it would only lead to more heartbreak.
But she couldn’t shake the words of the song. It had the same haunting quality as ‘Everywhere’. What if Jamie had written it?
The Saturday of the concert was a bright, clear day, and Anna couldn’t help herself. She had to go. Whatever the cost, and whatever happened.
There had been a frenzied demand for tickets, and security was tight at the entrance to the area where the tent was pitched. She’d heard that it held a thousand people, and it was enormous, with a stage at one end ringed by security. Her ticket got her into the front section, just yards from the stage.
Excitement hung in the air, and Anna stood alone to one side, watching the hubbub around her. The promise of new, ‘unplugged’ versions of Jonny Campbell’s greatest hits had attracted both young and old, and there was a friendly, almost holiday atmosphere. Anna felt sick from the cacophony of feelings that were tugging her in so many different directions. She was about to leave when a roar went up and the crowd surged forward as Jon stepped out onto the stage.
He looked good. There was a spring in his step and he’d lost the haggard, disconnected look that he’d had when he’d first checked into the clinic. He’d ditched his signature leather trousers in favour of jeans and a casual shirt, but he hadn’t been able to resist a leather jacket, lined with studs across the back. The scars on his face were still there, but they seemed less vivid against the healthy colour of his face. It was good to see the change in him.
He started to speak, thanking everyone for coming, and receiving a cheer in response. There were a few jokes and some banter with the crowd, and then Anna froze.
‘My brother Jamie is half an hour older than me, and a great deal better looking. He wrote “Everywhere” when we were eighteen, and since then we’ve been through a lot together. So it’s my great pleasure to welcome him here this afternoon...’
She wanted to run, but that would only draw attention to herself. And this was what she was here for, wasn’t it? She’d been drawn like a moth to the flame, needing to find out if this new song was what she didn’t dare hope it might be. She pulled the woollen hat she’d brought with her from her pocket, putting it on and stepping behind a group of people so she couldn’t be spotted from the stage.
There was a cheer when Jamie came onto the stage, and he acknowledged it diffidently, sitting down on one of the two high stools at the front of the stage and picking up a guitar. Jon joined him, reaching for a mandolin, and the two of them started to play.
The new arrangement of ‘Everywhere’ was more beautiful than the original. Anna couldn’t tear her gaze from Jamie. He was so close, but she knew he couldn’t see her, and she felt tears of frustration and uncertainty run down her face.
‘You like this version?’
A roar of approval answered Jon’s question and he laughed, caught up by the sheer delight of being on stage.
‘Okay, it’ll be released in a couple of weeks. Jamie wrote “Everywhere” sixteen years ago, and it’s taken a very special lady to make him pick up his pen again. Anna, if you’re here, this one’s for you...’
Everyone was looking around. Anna felt her cheeks burn. ‘Whatever’ really was her song? Jamie seemed determined not to look at the crowd, and walked over to the piano, sitting down to play the first few chords. Jon began to sing, and was walking up and down at the front of the stage, seeming to be scanning the audience.
Suddenly she knew. The song said everything. Jamie wanted her, and he’d always love her. He could give up anything else in his life, but he couldn’t lose her. Anna waved, desperately trying to catch his attention, to show him that she was here, but he seemed oblivious of everything but the piano keys. But Jon saw her, and signalled to one of the security men around the stage. The man cleared a path through for her, and she ran forward.
‘Jamie! Jamie!’ He had to look up and see her.
Jon stopped singing, leaving the backing players to continue with the melody. Then Jamie looked up and saw her. His reaction was immediate, and he ran to the edge of the stage.
