‘I had a couple of solos and really enjoyed it, especially when I was asked to sing “Martha’s Harbour” by All About Eve… I love that song as it reminds me of Mum and Dad… but then the conductor changed and it all went downhill. I stopped enjoying it.’
‘Soooo, you’re a singer then?’ He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
‘Not for a long time and don’t be getting any ideas.’ She poked him.
He feigned shock. ‘Me? I don’t know what you could possibly mean.’
The sky was heavy and dark as they drove the journey to the club but in stark contrast the venue was alive with excitement and effervescence when they arrived. They got a drink from the bar and listened to the young man who was on stage performing a cover of ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten, accompanied by his guitar. He was really good and it was interesting to hear it sung by a man.
They listened to a few more artistes. One of which was a girl with long red hair and green eyes who must have been in her late-twenties. Greg was transfixed on her as she sang a beautiful rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, Eva Cassidy style. Mallory watched Greg as tears welled in his eyes and she realised from his reaction and from photos she had seen, that the girl bore a striking resemblance to Mairi.
Mallory squeezed his arm and he looked down at her, shaking his head as if he realised he had been staring. He leaned over to tell her he was going to the men’s room and disappeared. He was gone quite a while and Mallory was wondering if he was okay.
When he eventually returned, he grabbed Mallory’s arm and pulled her with him towards the stage. ‘You know you sang “Martha’s Harbour” in your choir that time?’ he whispered.
Mallory scrunched her nose as she looked up at him. ‘Yes, yes of course I remember. We were just talking about it.’ Her mouth fell open and she shook her head beginning to panic.Oh no. What has he done?
He grinned. ‘Aye well, I hope you remember the words, cos you’re just about to sing it live on stage. It just so happened it’s one of my favourites too and I know it like the back of my hand.’
She gasped and pulled against him. ‘You must be mad! There’s no way I’m—’
‘Ladies, gentleman, it’s time for a duet now. Next up this evening we have Greg McBradden and Mallory Westerman performing “Martha’s Harbour”.’
There was a rumble of applause and whistles and Mallory looked at the crowd, realising with horror that she was already on the stage. Unsure as to how she got there, she sat on the stool next to Greg as he began to play the opening chords to the haunting melody. He nodded and winked at her. Her mouth felt dry. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.Never expected to be doing this tonight.Somehow, she managed to come in at the right time and the beautiful lyrics came flooding back to her.
She kept her eyes closed as she sang and a strange feeling washed over her. It was a sense of calm at the lilting guitar and how well Greg played the piece, but also at her inhibitions melting away. Memories of being with her mum and dad on a beautiful long beach in the Highlands danced around her mind. The cornflour blue sky a contrast to the pale golden sand and her dad’s words ringing around her, ‘Who needs tropical beaches when we have this amazing seaside escape right here on ourownisland…’
When the song finished, there was a rousing, raucous applause which took Mallory by surprise. She looked over at Greg who was grinning from ear to ear and glowing with pride. His eyes were glassy as he applauded her too and she buzzed with excitement and happiness like she hadn’t for averylong time.
When they had climbed down from the stage, Greg put his guitar down and scooped Mallory up in a bear hug. He kissed her head and both cheeks. She gazed up into his sparkling, intense brown eyes and for a moment she was lost. He leaned down close to her face and kissed her chastely on the lips, never taking his eyes off hers.
Her heart pounded against his and they were so close she felt sure he could feel it. She desperately wanted to kiss him back but shook her head and looked away. He seemed to have got the point and released his grip on her.
He cleared his throat. ‘You were amazing up there, do you know that?’ he said, running his hands through his hair as if to occupy them somehow. ‘You’re a bloody good singer. You’ve been holding out on me, you sly lassie.’ He laughed.
‘I have to admit it felt pretty amazing too,’ she confessed, her heart still galloping, but the adrenaline that had been coursing through her veins was beginning to calm.
Greg got up and did a few more numbers throughout the night and he was wonderful. He even slotted in a rendition of Hozier’s ‘Take Me to Church’, which the audience loved.
But Mallory was hounded by confusion about her feelings for him again. The pounding of her heart wasn’t just down to the rush of being on stage and she knew it. The fact it skipped a beat or two when he was so close was playing on her mind. He made eye contact with her periodically throughout his songs, making heat rise in her face. And he performed Buzzcock’s ‘Ever Fallen in Love’ with a grin on his face and his eyes locked on her whilst he sang. The temperature of her cheeks soared yet again.
During the journey home Greg attempted to make small talk, but as always, he was better at communicating through song so the conversation melted into an awkward silence. Eventually, they parked outside her house.
He turned off the engine and swivelled in his seat to face her. ‘Thank you for a wonderful night.’
‘Thank you for making me confront my fears. I loved singing tonight.’
‘We’ll have to do it again soon, eh?’ he suggested hopefully.
Narrowing her eyes, she replied, ‘Hmm, we’ll see about that.’ She wasn’t sure if she wanted it to become a habit considering how nervous she had been.
With an intensity to his dark eyes he reached for her hand. ‘Can I ask you something, Mallory?’
She broke away from his gaze and pulled her hand away. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’
‘I’m going to ask anyway. I think I’ll be able to tell the real answer by your body language.’
She turned to him again, trying to plead with her eyes. ‘Greg, don’t, okay? We’ve had a lovely evening please don’t spoil it.’
