Chapter 16

The four girls had the same room as before, so settled down easily. For Willow, it was like having a slumber party without late night movies, her second in a week. In the morning, they had breakfast in the dining room and then went to get ready. Back in the reception, the band looked as if they were about to perform. The outfits were great, fitted well, and made them stand out from the crowd. Jim Jamieson was non-plussed. He hadn’t been to their shows and had never seen Summer Rose play except for the school concerts.

Chapter 14

At Monday lunch, the first person that Willow saw was Vivienne, who came over and hugged her.

“Thank you so much for your comments and ideas, Willow. You’re right, as usual. I’d been scared at putting myself forward and kept the song simple. I see why you thought it unresolved. I’ll work on it between now and the practise at the club. I’m honoured that you think it worthy of an album.”

Chapter 12

There was a table set up for them in an adjoining room, and they went and sat for a meal.

“What do you think of those keyboards, Willow?”

“They’re great! I think that we could do with a pair of those in the studio. I did see them when I bought my Nord. They were close to five thousand, but I guess I can afford one now.”

“What do you guys want for the studio, Herb?”

“Something small, like the Marshalls we use at the club, and something we can get used to, like two hundred watts, Gina.”

“What about you, Brent.”

Chapter 10

As they were driving to Birmingham, where the girls wanted to visit the Bullring, Wendy asked them if they had enjoyed the party.

“It was fabulous, Mum. So many friends and so much cake. I don’t think I could face another slice.”

“Well, there is some left over, which Malcolm will probably have out as dessert tonight. Did you know that the label was going to be there?”

Chapter 8

The orchestra started to sort themselves out, get comfortable and tune up. The school choir came in, having stayed to the end of the day and being brought by the two people movers. When Yvonne was heading for her place, she stopped by Willow.

“I just met your driver, Sebastian. He’s quite a hunk, you lucky girl.”

“I’ve never noticed, Yvonne. He is very helpful and could be described as good looking.”

“Says the girl who he takes home at night.”

“But, Miss Yvonne, he has a chaperone in Max. We’re never alone!”

Chapter 6

Willow was still sitting at the kitchen table when her parents arrived home. She was swept up in hugs and kisses from both of them.

“Fantastic show, darling. It was a real treat. I saw the Bishop with the Russell’s and the Head, and they all had big smiles. The comments that I heard from others was all positive. A lot were shocked but excited by the last song. Did everything go all right with you? What did Gina think of her outfit?”

Chapter 4

After seeing the Head, they went to their first lessons. The day was as normal as it could be, with a lot of the students looking at them and giving them shy waves. Lunch was, once again, like a party, with Zara and the Gees coming to have a chat. They were looking forward to seeing the theatre on Thursday evening and finally playing to paying customers.

Chapter 2

The three friends went back to the house and helped tidy up and put leftovers in the fridge. Jacob said that Racheal was back from the honeymoon and was going to bring him to the morning service at St. Marys. The Roses went home to have a quiet cup of hot chocolate before bed, Willow still wondering what the week ahead will bring.

Chapter 23

It was early in the morning when Willow’s phone alarm woke her. She was slightly disorientated to wake up in a strange room. She looked around and remembered that she was going home in a taxi with her father today. She went to the bathroom and prepared for the day. When she came out, wearing one of the hotel dressing gowns, her father was waiting to go in.

Chapter 21

When they had dropped Jacob off, with the box for Rick, Maisie told Willow that they would be getting the keys to the new home at the end of the next week and thanked her for suggesting it. There would be a housewarming on Easter Saturday afternoon. When they stopped at Willow’s they helped carry the last boxes in.

Chapter 19

Willow smiled at Malcolm’s statement.

“I told you that there were others who can take our place. Now, tomorrow, there will be at least twenty others. What’s the chance of putting on some food, even something light, between the end of the recording and the time that the choir get here.”

“It will be simple. I could do pie and chips, sausage and chips, egg and chips or chips on their own. With some bread and marge, you could always make chip butties.”

Chapter 17

When she had finished with her phone, she went and got her laptop and clicked on the email program. There were less who had the address, but the inbox still had a lot of messages. She found the one from Peter, looked at the statement, then went into her father’s office and turned on the printer. She sent the statement to the printer, then sat and took it in.

Chapter 15

The three sat quietly as he settled and nodded. The sound man counted down from five and the reporter smiled.

Chapter 13

On Sunday morning, Wendy took her daughter into Coventry. As they walked into the Cathedral, there were more people wanting to take pictures and wanting selfies with Willow. They saw the poster that advertised the day’s music being played by ‘Willow Rose – not only the organist of the hit song ‘Love and Marriage’ but also the leader of the ‘Summer Rose Quartet.”

The Dean met them.

Chapter 11

When the Roses walked home, they all felt that they had done well. Willow was happy at how her singing group were improving, Wendy was happy at the result of her work with what Ashley called a ‘nesting’ program, and Ashley with the thought that they would be able to cater for more in the club.

Chapter 9

Wednesday was a clear day, so Willow went over to the vicarage to speak to Reverend Russell. She found him in the church, polishing the altar furnishings.

“Good morning, Willow. Another fine winter’s day out there. What can I do for you?”

“Yesterday, Gina and I were asked to fill in on alternate Sundays at the Cathedral. The organist has gone to Germany to see his son in hospital. It may be for a few weeks, starting this Sunday.”

Chapter 7

Willow led Peter out to the front bar and introduced him to her father, then went back to tidy up on stage. Jacob gave her a look.

“Who was that?”

“If it works out, that’s our manager. Bruce Miller has recommended him and he’s coming along tomorrow to the church. There’s going to be a presentation of a cheque for the Roof Fund, and the Bishop of Coventry will be taking the service. Racheal will be there with Rick, so she might be able to bring you. I’ll be playing the church organ.”

Chapter 5

“I believe you’re right, Willow. It seems to be quite popular.”

“If the take-up of albums remains at half the views, that means that they’ve sold four hundred thousand.”

“My word. That’s almost enough for a gold record, or whatever they give out for a digital offering. These are local Coventry boys, you say?”

“I think so.”

Chapter 3

Saturday morning, Willow and Wendy carried the Yamaha to the club, making another trip to collect the stand and stool. Malcolm had put the amp in place and set out three microphones. Willow took a dining chair from the back room and set one microphone in front of it, at a level to pick up a seated singer.

Ending of Book One

Christmas day, it was just Willow and her grandmother who walked to the church, arm in arm with their breath steaming. Willow played to a church full of joyful villagers, singing the carols as she played them. Afterwards, there was a lot of hugging, kissing and love being spread around. Willow was happy that she was fully accepted by the villagers, but more so by her grandmother’s joy at being with her.

Chapter 22

Willow couldn’t help herself. She just had to laugh.

“I’ll say the same thing that the Head said when he suggested we add ‘Danse Macabre’ in May. That man!!! He’s not a person one would tell that he’s wrong, so we’ll just have to go with the flow. It will be a powerful concert, though. I’ll have to go to the Cathedral to rehearse before the show. I could perfect it here on our organ, but there are more options on theirs.”

“That will be all right. I think that he just likes hearing you play.”

Chapter 20

Finally, Willow and Gina could take their leave and go to the club to collect the keyboard. They were greeted by Malcolm, who gave each girl an envelope, with notes in them.

“That was a great show you put on, last night, girls.”

“Even the Bishop mentioned it in the service this morning.”

“We had the Bishop in here, last night?”

“We did, and he told everyone how much he had enjoyed it. Can we have a quick look at the back room, please? We’re thinking about your idea of a Christmas party.”

Chapter 18

On Monday morning, Willow felt better. She had dreamed about life back in Bristol and had pictured herself in a bramble bush after being bullied. The word ‘stoic’ stayed in her mind. She went down for breakfast, determined that life continues, whatever had happened, and you just have to adapt. She was even able to speak about things when Wendy asked what had happened.

Chapter 16

The rest of the orchestra sat quietly as Willow played the Saint-Saens piece, with fingers over strings and hands on the percussion, to dampen any resonances. When she had finished, a couple of the percussion players pushed the organ to one side as she went back to her seat. Alec smiled and made a kissy face as she sat down.