Page 43 of Hollywood Games
‘Why don’t you take your head out your arse and listen!’
‘Jamie, just give her one minute!’
Liam, startled, began to wail. ‘Now look what you’ve done you big lump,’ shouted Fiona.
‘That’s not me, it’s you lot!’
Morag went around the table and steered him into a chair. ‘Just open your ears and keep your mouth shut for five minutes, this is your big chance with Brad Bauer! He wants you to play for him again.’
Jamie sat down and shook his head. ‘No way. Once was enough. Sitting there on my own? Playing for him? Never again.’
‘But you won’t be on your own, Sam will be with you,’ said Morag triumphantly.
Jamie looked at Sam, who had the decency to blush. ‘What?’
‘Sam’s arranged for the two of you to perform for him the night before the shoot ends,’ said Zoe.
‘But that’s at the end of next week! Even if I agreed, which I haven’t, it would be a mess.’ The women looked nervously at each other. ‘What?’ What aren’t you telling me?’
Sam cleared her throat. He fixed her with a glare that could have stripped paint. ‘Erm. We aren’t going to be singing your songs. We’re, er, going to be singing some new ones.’
‘New ones?’ asked Jamie, his tone dangerously low.
‘Yes. I, er, told Brad he’d inspired us to write an album.’
‘Us! Analbum?’
‘Yes,’ replied Sam with determination. ‘And the title track is called “The Heart of Scotland”.’
Jamie looked at her with complete disbelief, then put his head forward and thumped it repeatedly on the table. Liam cried again and Morag pulled Jamie up. ‘Don’t be a ninny. This is an incredible opportunity! You two are amazing together!’
‘Mum, I can’t dash off songs that quickly. It takes time. I need inspiration. “The Heart of Scotland”? I wouldn’t even know where to start!’
Sam thrust a sheaf of paper in front of him. ‘I’ve already written the lyrics. And for at least four other songs.’
Jamie didn’t look up.
‘Jamie!’ said Morag sternly. He sighed and took the papers from Sam. The room was silent. No one dared move. The only sounds were Liam snuffling and twisting in Fiona’s arms, and Jamie’s hands on the paper as he turned the sheets. After reading through them, he started again at the beginning. Zoe noticed the tips of his fingers moving slightly as he imagined the music and his guitar in his hands.
Eventually, he put the paper down. ‘They’re actually quite good,’ he said grumpily. A collective breath was let out.
‘See! I told you, this is going to be amazing!’ cried Morag. ‘Let me get your guitar and you can start immediately.’
She bustled out of the room and Jamie sagged his shoulders. ‘Do I get a choice in this?’
‘Not really,’ replied Fiona breezily.
Morag returned with his guitar and held it out to him. ‘Now, why don’t the two of you go upstairs to your room? I’m going to put tea on.’
‘Why can’t we do it in the living room?’
‘Because I’m in there with Liam,’ retorted Fiona. ‘It’s quieter upstairs. Anyway, you’ve got the biggest bloody room, you might as well use it.’
Jamie stood, took the guitar from his mother and walked upstairs. Sam took the sheaf of papers and Morag passed her a pen. She mouthed ‘thank you’ at them before scooting up the stairs after him.
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