Page 18 of Musical Games
‘But you won’t be on your own. Sam will be with you,’ said Morag.
His cheeks were red. ‘What?’
She felt her face heating under the intensity of his glare.
‘Sam’s arranged for the two of you to perform for him the night before the shoot ends,’ said Zoe.
She could see confusion playing across his face as he did the maths.
‘But that’s the end of next week! Even if I agreed, which I haven’t, she’d never have time to learn all the songs. It would be a mess.’ There was another silence. ‘What? What aren’t you telling me?’
Sam cleared her throat. It was now or never. Meeting his gaze, she felt like a buttercup facing off against a flamethrower.
‘Erm. We aren’t going to be singing your songs. We’re, er, going to be singing some new ones.’
There was a beat and even Liam held his breath.
‘New ones?’ he asked, his tone ominously low.
Sam’s heart was galloping headlong towards the edge of a cliff. ‘Yes. I, er, told Brad he’d inspired us to write an album.’
‘Us?’ yelled Jamie as everyone jumped. ‘An album?’
Sam dug her heels in and reined her anxiety back.
‘Yes,’ she replied, sitting up straighter. ‘And the title track is called “The Heart of Scotland”.’
Jamie looked at her as if she’d completely lost her mind, then dropped his head to the table, thumping it up and down. Liam started crying again and Morag grabbed the back of Jamie’s collar and pulled him 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 took the papers from the bag at her feet and placed them in front of him. ‘I’ve already written the lyrics. And for at least four other songs.’
He looked away.
‘Jamie!’ said Morag sternly.
He sighed, picked up the sheets and slouched in his chair. No one moved. The room was silent, save for the sound of Liam snuffling in Fiona’s arms. Sam watched the movements of his eyes as he read her words, trying to read his expression as he turned the pages. When he got to the end, he started again, and his face seemed to soften. The tips of his fingers were moving ever so slightly as if he was imagining what it might sound like on the guitar. Her head felt so light she didn’t know if she was about to pass out. She dug her nails into her thighs.
Eventually he put the sheaf of papers on the table. He didn’t look up. ‘They’re actually quite good,’ he said grumpily.
The room breathed.
‘See! I told you – this is going to be amazing!’ cried Morag. ‘Let me get your guitar and you can start immediately.’ She bustled away and Jamie slumped a little lower.
‘Do I get a choice in this?’
‘Not really,’ Fiona replied.
Zoe was looking uneasily at Jamie’s bowed head. She gave Sam an encouraging smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Morag returned with his guitar, brandishing it as if she was the Lady of the Lake presenting King Arthur with his sword.
‘Now why don’t the two of you go upstairs to your room and get started? I’m going to put tea on.’
Jamie looked up at his mother as if she’d just suggested he take off all his clothes and start belly dancing. ‘Why can’t we do it in the living room?’
