Page 84 of Musical Games
‘How are you doing?’ Chris asked.
Jamie shrugged. Sam pulled a tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose.
‘Have you ever played with a drummer before?’ Chris continued.
Jamie shook his head.
Chris rubbed his jaw. ‘I can’t remember the last time I worked with an acoustic set up like this, especially someone who hasn’t worked to a click track or drummer.’
‘Sorry.’
‘God, don’t apologise, Jamie. This is entirely on me. We’re going to ditch the click track and work from the two of you. The engineers will route whatever you’re playing to me and the rest of the band. You’ll set the tempo and we’ll follow. Does that sound like something you can work with?’
Jamie nodded.
‘Chris, can you give us half an hour?’ Sam asked.
‘Sure, of course. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed. Take as long as you like.’
He left the room and Sam wrapped her arms around Jamie. ‘You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.’
He dropped his chin with a sigh. ‘You want this.’ It was a statement, not a question.
Sam didn’t reply.
‘I’ll do it. I’ll do my best.’
Her heart howled. She knew what she was asking him to do, but equally couldn’t bear the thought of this chance passing her by. Her tears splashed onto his hand and he looked up.
‘Hey, don’t cry. Please don’t cry.’ He looked in so much pain as he wiped her cheeks. ‘I’m choosing to do this. It’s okay. I promise.’
He drew her onto his lap and rocked her as the sounds of the musicians outside filtered through the door.
When they finally came out of the room and put their headphones back on, there was nothing but blissful silence awaiting them. They angled their chairs so their legs were touching and Jamie closed his eyes. As he plucked out the first notes of ‘The Heart of Scotland’, the music wound its magic around them, lifting them up. After the first take, the room erupted with stamping feet and cheers.
Chris was grinning from ear to ear. He spread his arms wide. ‘And the Oscar goes to… Sam Adamson and Jamie McDougall!’
Sam smiled at Jamie, relief flooding through her and he smiled tentatively back.
‘Okay, ladies and gents,’ said Chris with a big smile. ‘Let’s go again. Whenever you’re ready, Jamie, take it away!’
They arrived backat Sam’s flat late, having stayed after the session ended to grab some food with Chris. When they got in, Sam put an exhausted Jamie in front of the television and went to make him a cup of tea. When she returned, he was asleep, his face finally soft and calm. She arranged pillows at one end of the sofa and carefully rolled him onto his side, covering him with a blanket. He didn’t stir. She turned everything off, leaving the light in the corridor on, then went to bed. She managed five minutes of well-practised self-loathing before sleep stole her.
23
Jamie woke and enjoyed a brief moment of bliss before reality hit like a collapsing wall. Memories of the previous day tumbled onto him, brick by brick, until he couldn’t breathe. Everything was new and utterly overwhelming. Sam, sex, London, recording. Just one of those things on its own would have been enough, but together they were paralysing. He’d slept all night, fully clothed on the sofa, but didn’t feel rested. His brain and body were in meltdown.
There was a knock on the living room door.
‘I’m awake.’
Sam entered, already dressed. ‘The taxi is due in half an hour. I didn’t want to wake you until the last possible minute. Do you want to have a shower or anything?’
He sat up and rubbed his face.
‘Yeah, I do. Are we going straight from the studio to the restaurant for your sister’s birthday?’
She paused. ‘Er, kind of. I’m meeting a journalist friend beforehand for a quick drink.’
