Page 108 of Musical Games
‘Thank you.’ He cleared his throat. ‘The next song is the new one. I started writing it with Sam Adamson, but it never got finished. For those of you who know me, I don’t say much and when Sam was here, I didn’t say the most important words of all. I’ve put them into this song and if you think it’s good enough, I’m going to send it to her. It’s called “My Heart”. I hope you like it.’
He closed his eyes again and played the first few chords. In his mind he saw Sam smiling, laughing, pulling faces at him, holding onto him as they floated in the hot air balloon, lying in his arms as she slept.
He sang his deepest truth – the love he had for her. He finished the verse and let his voice soar as he sang the chorus, ending with the words he’d once said to her across the kitchen table: ‘The only thing I can offer is my heart and my life. I love you.’
Starting the second verse, his eyes shot open. There was another sound in the room, a humming that harmonised with his words. He looked around but couldn’t see anyone new. It was so soft it was hardly there. Was he imagining it? As he reached the second chorus, a voice joined his.
It can’t be.
His fingers carried on playing, but the words stuck in his throat. A murmur rippled through the room as people realised what was going on.
The crowds parted and Sam was there, holding a microphone, singing his words back to him. ‘The only thing I can offer is my heart and my life. I love you.’
He stopped playing. Was this really happening?
The pub was silent. Everyone held their breath.
He was so full of emotion he couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.
Sam’s smile faltered and she bit her bottom lip. She wasnervous?
He shook himself and started the second verse, pulling a chair towards her with his foot. She sat down, their knees touching. Electricity shot through him. He struggled to get the words out, his voice cracking. He focused on the lyrics and not their meaning as he kept playing. She harmonised with him on the third verse, then they sang together for the chorus, which they repeated as if exploring how the words felt being vocalised for the first time.
When the song finished the room exploded with clapping, whistling, cheers and screaming. Jamie held Sam’s gaze, the one still point in the storm. She was here. She was really here.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Clive take Sam’s microphone. ‘Right then, ladies and gentlemen,’ he barked. ‘I think that’s a good moment to have a wee break for half an hour and leave these two alone to catch up.’
Jamie looked up. The women were crying, their hands on their hearts or over their mouths. The men were either furiously blinking or yelling, ‘Go on, Jamie my son.’
Clive took the guitar from him and placed it on the stand. ‘Come with me you two.’
He led them out the back of the pub and unlocked a gate in a high wall.
‘This is our private garden. You’ll get a bit of peace and quiet here.’
They entered a small courtyard filled with tubs of flowers. A pergola was hung with wisteria and fairy lights. Underneath was a table.
Clive put the keys down. ‘When you’re done, and if you’re up for it, lock up and come back and do another set.’
He left them to it and Jamie sat opposite Sam. He reached his hands across the table towards her and she took them.
* * *
Sam’s stomachwas jumping out of her throat. She thought she might feel more in control when she saw Jamie, but her body was one breath away from fainting. He was so much more than her memories had allowed her to experience. He was bigger, his eyes darker, his hands warmer. Her heart couldn’t keep up.
He took a breath in as if to speak, but she interrupted him.
‘Jamie, I need to apologise.’
He shook his head and she squeezed his hands.
‘I do. Right from the moment we met, I railroaded you. I took advantage of your sweet nature. I was selfish and did not behave well most of the time.’
‘No, no, that’s not true.’
‘It’s how I feel. I couldn’t read you and didn’t want to lose you. I thought if I made you sign the contract, I could force you to be with me.’
‘You didn’t think I wanted to be with you?’
