Forever, Plus One

by Sophie Love

  “But what about the ocean views?” Emily asked. She desperately wanted every room to look out over the gorgeous sea.

  “We could try to design them so that as many as possible had a view. But it would be impossible for all of them to. Probably three. Four at the most.”

  Emily knew that it would make things a little more complicated when it came to the booking forms on the website, but Bryony would probably relish the challenge so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

  Wayne spoke again. “Why don’t we create the new designs over the next few days and you can see what you think?”

  Emily looked at Daniel for an opinion. He just gave a little shrug. She turned back to Wayne.

  “We may as well try some new designs,” she said.

  “Sure,” Wayne replied. “The rest of the work we can get started on right away, though.”

  “When do you think we’ll be able to get all the work done by?” Daniel asked.

  Wayne Erik looked down at the plans spread on the table and pondered. “Considering we’re going to redraw this floor,” he said, pointing at the second floor, “we’re probably looking at Labor Day for the whole thing to be complete.”

  “That soon?” Emily asked, surprised. She’d been expecting years of work.

  “Yes, for this place,” Wayne explained. “For the spa over at the inn it may take a little longer as you’ll need different constructors in there. Pool specialists and the like.”

  Emily had quite forgotten about Chantelle’s spa plan to transform the empty old swimming pool. She realized then that they hadn’t yet looked at the brothers’ options for converting that place

  “Can we look over those designs now?” Emily asked.

  “Of course,” Wayne said.

  “We should fetch Chantelle,” Emily said to Daniel. “It was her idea, she should be involved.”

  They left Trevor’s house and collected Chantelle from the inn. Then they all went into the dark, unused outhouse that stood on the inn’s grounds. It was cold inside, despite the warm weather, dark and filled with shadows. Emily was glad for the sensation of Chantelle’s warm hand in hers, and drew comfort from it.

  The brothers produced their plans for Emily, Chantelle, and Daniel to consider. The most impressive (and, once again, the most expensive) was to convert the space into a part indoor and part outdoor spa, overlooking the ocean. The barn area in that specific design would have two floors, a spiral staircase connecting the two, and the top floor containing an infinity pool with views of the oceans.

  “I can’t resist the staircase,” Emily said. She’d wanted one ever since she’d set eyes on the yacht club’s.

  Daniel grew animated then. “We could design it. The team at Jack Cooper’s, I mean. We’ve done spiral staircases before and it would help keep costs down. In fact”—he looked again at the plans and Wayne’s lightly scribbled notes—“we could do this paneling work here as well. The changing area doors. The reception desk.”

  He looked excited by the prospect and Emily was glad to see that glint in his eye once more. He’d seemed so stressed recently it was good to just see him enthusiastic again.

  “And if we hire Jack Cooper’s for the woodwork then I’ll be onsite, closer to home,” he added. “I can project manage the whole thing.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Emily said, thinking of the baby and how much more relaxed she felt knowing Daniel was close by as opposed to the other side of town. Not that she was anticipating going into labor anytime soon!

  Chantelle nodded her agreement. “It would make it even more special to know you’d made some of it yourself,” she said.

  With the decision made, they bade farewell to the architects from Erik & Sons and went back to the inn. As they crossed the lawn, Emily was happy listening to Chantelle and Daniel’s merry chatter and all their grand ideas. But as they went, Emily couldn’t help notice the disparity between how excited Daniel seemed about the renovation work in comparison to how stressed and muted he seemed about the baby.

  When they reached the inn, Emily was so wrapped up in her thoughts she’d become completely distracted. Her main focus in life at the moment was the baby; it was the main source of her excitement, the thing that she thought of last thing at night and first thing in the morning. But she felt like that wasn’t the case for Daniel. He seemed more enthusiastic about making a wooden spiral staircase!

  “I think I’m going to head upstairs for a rest,” Emily said, wanting to excuse herself and take some time to sit with her thoughts alone.

  She went up to her room and sat on her vanity stool, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Why was Daniel behaving this way? Amy had acted a hundred times more enthusiastic when she’d told her. Amy had wanted to instantly run out and buy things for the nursery, but Daniel hadn’t even mentioned all the things they would need for the baby. Even if he went into his practical, logical, sensible mode and started researching strollers and car seats that would be better than the overwhelmed and slightly stressed state he seemed to be in.

  As she mulled on her thoughts, Emily realized then that the only people other than immediate family who even knew about the baby were Amy and Harry. She’d told a friend but hadn’t yet told the person she wanted to the most, the person whose reaction would be the best of all: her dad.

  She rummaged in her drawer for some paper and pen. Knowing full well that her father had next to no connection to the internet, and only a pay phone in the village which would be difficult to coordinate, she knew that writing to him would be the quickest way to get him the news. Plus, there was something extra special about writing an old-school letter. He could keep it and cherish it for years to come. Holding onto scraps of paper was one of her father’s great pleasures, after all.

  She began to write.

  Dear Dad,

  I miss you so much! The house just isn’t the same without you. Coming home after the honeymoon was bittersweet because I knew that you wouldn’t be here. I hope we can fly out to England to see you this summer as you suggested. I know Chantelle would love that. She’s pining for her Papa Roy!

  My reason for writing to you is actually two-fold. I’m not just writing to tell you how much I miss having you around, but because I also have some exciting news. Daniel and I have recently discovered that I’m pregnant! Can you believe it? You’re going to be a granddad! The due date has been set for early December.

  Of course I would prefer to have been able to tell you my news in person but I thought this would be the best way to get the news to you. Plus you can frame this letter or add it to your hoards of paper, which I know you’re fond of doing!

  I look forward to getting your return letter. Or, even better, you could invest in a cell phone and then we could FaceTime! Video calls, Dad, can you believe it? It’s like we’re living in the future!

  All my love, always, forever,

  Emily Jane xx

  She read the letter again, hoping Roy would appreciate her slightly cheeky tone and not be offended by it, then folded it up and put it in an envelope.

  Just then, Emily heard a knock on the door. She turned to see Chantelle poking her head around.

  “What’s wrong, Mommy?” she asked. “You’ve been up here for ages.”

  Emily gestured for her to enter and the little girl walked inside, padding across the rug with soft footsteps. When she reached Emily she folded into her open arms.

  “Nothing’s wrong,” Emily told the little girl. “I just wanted to write a letter to Papa Roy to tell him about the baby.” She held up the now sealed envelope. “Would you like to come and mail this with me?”

  Chantelle nodded her agreement. Emily handed her the envelope, which she clutched in her hand, then they left Emily’s room together. They went downstairs and out the front door, then headed along the lane slowly toward the mailbox, hand in hand. Emily noticed that Chantelle was awfully quiet as they went. Usually the child never stopped talking, but she hadn’t uttered a word
since they’d left the B&B.

  “Are you okay, love?” Emily asked, giving her hand a little squeeze.

  Chantelle looked up at her sadly, her other hand tightly clutching the envelope. “I miss Papa Roy,” she said.

  “I do too,” Emily replied wistfully.

  “Doesn’t Papa Roy have a phone we can call him on?” Chantelle asked. “We could do a FaceTime call?”

  Emily laughed and tapped the envelope. “I asked him the very same thing in that letter,” she said. But despite her attempt to lighten the mood, she couldn’t help but share in Chantelle’s disappointment. Getting a cell phone was the last thing she could imagine her father doing.

  “He did say he might get a phone,” Chantelle said. “Remember?”

  Emily did. Just before they’d left for Martha’s Vineyard. She’d been wishing him goodbye, something she hadn’t had the chance to do since the age of fifteen, and he’d joked that he might get a phone to keep in better contact. At the time she’d felt filled with hope. Not that he’d get a phone but that he would remain in regular contact. Sadly, it didn’t seem to be panning out that way. If he couldn’t stay in letter touch, what chance was there of him breaking with the habit of a lifetime and getting a phone!

  “I’m going to pray that he does get one,” Chantelle said affirmatively. “And that we get to FaceTime each other.”

  Emily nodded, hiding the grief that was creeping up inside of her. “I think that’s a very good idea,” she told the child.

  Chantelle closed her eyes and Emily watched, her heart swelling, as the girl’s lips moved in silent prayer. Then she opened her eyes and grinned. “Amen.”

  They reached the mailbox and Emily helped Chantelle put the letter inside. As they headed back to the house, Emily heard an incoming text message on her cell. She instantly thought of her father. Perhaps Chantelle’s prayer had been answered already!

  But when she pulled her phone out of her pocket she was surprised to see that the name on the screen was Roman Westbrook.

  Emily felt a jolt of shock. She didn’t want to act star-struck around Roman at all. He’d made it very clear how important his privacy was, how much he appreciated being respected in Sunset Harbor. It was among his reasons for wanting to stay in contact with Emily and the rest of the family after checking out. But she also couldn’t quite get her head around the fact that Roman Westbrook, famous singer, mega superstar, was a contact in her phone!

  She opened the message and read it in her head, then exclaimed aloud.

  “What is it?” Chantelle asked quizzically.

  “Roman’s bought his house,” Emily said to Chantelle. “The one in Sunset Harbor.”

  “Cool,” Chantelle said. “Does that mean we can do a welcome party? Take him a gift basket?”

  Chantelle loved making up packages for the neighbors. She’d created several care packages for Trevor when he’d still been alive.

  “He wants us to come over for a dinner party,” Emily told the child.

  Chantelle looked excited and clapped her hands. “When? When?”

  “Today!” Emily exclaimed. “Quick, go and put on a nice dress and wash your face. I’ll get Daddy!”

  They hurried back to the inn, both as excited as each other that they would be spending the evening with none other than Roman Westbrook.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  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!