Of course Roman's house was in the nicest part of Sunset Harbor. Emily felt a little embarrassed as they pulled onto the curved driveway in Daniel's beat-up, rattling pickup truck.
"We really need a new car," she said, looking out the passenger's side window and up at the huge, vast mansion.
Chantelle whistled. "This place is awesome," she said.
There were pots containing styled topiary, creeping ivy and roses up the walls, a fountain, and Roman's cream-colored Rolls Royce parked to one side.
The family got out of the pickup truck and went to the large, carved front door. Chantelle rang the bell and a few seconds later it was opened by a humongous security man wearing a dark suit and a very stern expression.
"I'm Emily Morey," Emily explained. "This is my husband, Daniel, and our daughter, Chantelle."
The man didn't say a word but he nodded as though he'd been briefed on their arrival and stepped aside. They went through the door and into the foyer, which had vast ceilings and pristine tiled floors. The decor inside was far more modern than the outside would have suggested.
They were greeted next by a maid, a young East Asian woman dressed casually in a summer dress. She took their coats and slung them over her arm.
"Can I show you through to the drawing room? Mr. Westbrook won't be a moment."
They followed her into a large room with wooden floors, a bright red leather couch, a large patterned rug, a glass coffee table and matching glass liquor cabinet, and a very large abstract painting taking up one wall. Emily caught Daniel's eye and they exchanged a glance.
"Chantelle, don't touch anything," Emily said.
Chantelle sat on the couch, her feet not reaching the floor, hands clasped in her lap, looking very intimidated by the surrounding room.
"This is insane," Emily whispered to Daniel.
They sat also, the brand new couch squeaky under their weight.
"It looked like an old money mansion from the outside," Daniel said, looking around. "But he must have had the place gutted and completely redone on the inside."
Just then, they saw Roman descending the staircase, wearing his trademark fedora.
"You made it!" he grinned, bouncing exuberantly into the room.
They stood and he skidded to a halt, arms wide for hugs. Emily felt stilted embracing Roman Westbrook. She still didn't know him very well, even though he'd gone all out by pulling some strings so they could have the fanciest hotel room on the whole of Martha's Vineyard.
"How was the honeymoon?" he asked Emily as he let her go.
"It was wonderful," Emily said.
Roman shook Daniel's hand. "And your jazz band?" he asked. "They're still doing the wedding circuit?"
"They play at the inn once a week now," Daniel confirmed.
Emily was surprised that Roman could remember so much about them. She was rather touched.
"Chantelle," Roman said, turning to the little girl. "How's my little star in the making?"
Chantelle blushed and replied shyly, "Good, thanks."
"Want to see the recording studio before dinner?" he asked.
Wide-eyed, Chantelle looked at Daniel and Emily for confirmation. They nodded.
"Okay," Chantelle said in a timid voice. It wasn't often that she was bashful these days.
Roman led his guests out of the room and into the foyer, then to a large door. He opened it to reveal a staircase heading downstairs.
"It's in the basement, of course," he said.
They all went down. It was very dark and because of the sound-canceling walls their footsteps were almost completely muffled. It was quite a strange experience, Emily thought. Like walking into the vacuum of deep space.
The recording studio was brand new, state of the art. The walls were dark and a large glass partition separated the recording area from the mixing area. There was an old-school 1940s microphone inside the recording room, a grand piano, a large double bass and a concert-sized harp. On the producer's side of the glass was the soundboard containing a million knobs and buttons and screens that indicated noise levels. Chantelle's mouth dropped open in awe.
"I'm going to speak to your school about having a choir on the background of my charity Christmas single," Roman said. "What do you think about that?"
Chantelle was too stunned to even speak.
"I think Chantelle would be very excited to sing with her choir on your Christmas single," Daniel confirmed, answering for her since she seemed too shocked to do so herself.
"Well, we can try it out after dinner," Roman said. "What do you think about that, Chantelle?"
All Chantelle could do was nod her stunned head in affirmation.
They went back upstairs and the same maid who'd greeted them at the door explained that dinner was ready to be served. Roman led them into his state-of-the-art dining room, which was all marble and glass, a stunning room of opulence. Like in the living room, there was more artwork inside, in the same abstract style of bold colors and shapes. They sat at the peculiar dining table, which was made of glass held up by a large central steel pillar.
A door opened and a chef walked in. Emily could hardly believe that Roman had his own chef-in-residence.
"I hope you're all okay with raw vegan food," Roman said.
"I can't say I've ever had it before," Emily confessed. "But I'm happy to try anything!"
The chef placed a bowl of soup in front of her. Emily wasn't sure how she felt about the prospect of raw soup. But when she took a spoonful, she was pleasantly surprised.
"It's all about using herb combinations for the flavors," Roman told them. "Different vegetables for the textures. Then sprouting seeds and beans for maximum nutrition."
"I think it's yummy," Chantelle said.
Emily just hoped she wouldn't get any ideas and start demanding similar food at home. She was certain it would be ridiculously expensive!
"This table is amazing," Emily said. "In fact, your whole style is."
"My interior designer created it," Roman said. "She's a phenomenal young woman from South Korea. Quite a talent."
"We're redesigning the house next door," Emily explained. "Opening a restaurant downstairs and adding some family-sized apartments above."
"I'll give you her details," Roman said. "Li Suh. She's delightful. I mean she's back in South Korea now but if you want to use her services she can always fly over."
Emily felt Daniel kick her under the table and she knew exactly why. There was no way they could afford to have an interior designer flown over from South Korea! Roman moved in those realms of wealth where he'd completely forgotten what normal people's lives and incomes were like. No wonder he'd been so extraordinarily generous when he paid for the drinks at the wedding and secured them the bridal suite for their honeymoon. He probably didn't even realize how lavish his gifts had been!
"How did your recording session go in LA?" Emily asked, trying to extend the same level of thoughtfulness to Roman as he had to them.
"Fabulous, thanks," Roman said. "We did a few weeks over there then we'll be doing the rest here in this studio. The album should be ready for Labor Day. Then I'll be doing a listening party for some fans. Hey, you should all come!"
"What's a listening party?" Daniel asked.
"It's when you do an intimate gig," Roman said. "I'll be playing the album in its entirety for some of my more hardcore fans. It's a way to give back, you know, considering everything they've given me." He gestured wide to encompass his whole home, his whole life, even.
"That sounds really fun," Emily said.
Chantelle was looking more excited than ever. "Can I bring Bailey?" she asked.
Roman chuckled. "Of course. It's going to be in Portland. Are you guys all right to travel?"
Emily thought of their beat-up pickup truck with a surge of embarrassment. "Sure."
"I can arrange for some cars to take you, since you're my VIPs," Roman said. "What do you say, Chantelle? Would you and your friends like to travel for a few hours in a limo? I can get a bubble machine in there. Disco lights. Sodas in an ice bucket."
Chantelle nodded, her eyes as wide as saucers.
Once again, Emily was bowled over by Roman's generosity. It almost made her feel uncomfortable to accept his offers, but she could also tell that Roman just wanted to share his wealth and treat people. So she agreed to the family attending his concert.
They finished their meal and Roman stood. "Come on, Chantelle. Let's go and practice in the studio! I want to hear that beautiful voice of yours again."
Chantelle didn't need telling twice. She hurried off to the basement studio as fast as a rocket. Emily and Daniel followed with Roman, both wearing the same bewildered expression. Emily wondered if Daniel was thinking the same as she was: that Roman's support of Chantelle might one day lead to great things.
