Page 44 of Forever Full Circle
Emily laughed. “Maybe she’s rubbing off on me.”
Chantelle considered, then said, “Not a bad thing. She has a cool tattoo.”
“What?” Emily was shocked. “I—did not know that.” She made a mental note to havethatawkward convo with Patricia later.
Emily’s phone pinged. This time, it was a text from Roman Westbrook himself.
Industry is losing its collective mind. They’re not wrong—she’s the real deal. Hope you’re ready for the ride.
She texted back.I’m not sure. This is much bigger than an invite to Boston.
The phone vibrated again, this time with the insistent, triple-pulse of an incoming call. It was Roman. Emily stared at it, pulse loud in her ears.
She showed the screen to Chantelle. “Should I answer?”
Chantelle shrugged, but her facial expression saidyes.
Emily thumbed it open. A warm, familiar voice flooded the line, thick with California sunshine and a velvet edge of mischief.
“Emily Morey,” said Roman, “I hope I’m not calling too late.”
Relief and anxiety spiked in equal measure. She ducked around the corner, out of Chantelle’s earshot, and put the phone to her other ear. “It’s fine. Obviously, we’re up.”
“I—should I say I’m sorry?”
Emily sighed. ‘No. I mean, it’s amazing. It’s just alot.”
On the line, the sound of music—a piano, distant, maybe a rehearsal or a bar with a decent house band—filtered in. Roman said, “I’m going to get right to it. I wanted to talk to you before the press or the agents did. I know what it’s like. And I know it’s a lot.”
Emily laughed. “Understatement.”
Roman’s tone gentled. “Your daughter is extraordinary. And she doesn’t have to be anything she’s not, no matter what people say. The industry’s a circus, but you get to be the ringmaster.”
Emily shut her eyes, letting the words soak in. “I’m terrified for her.”
“You’re supposed to be,” Roman said. “Means you’re doing it right.” He paused, let the background noise fade. “I have an idea. One that won’t send her away, or force her into anything she isn’t ready for. I just need two minutes to pitch this.”
He waited for her permission.
Emily’s heart beat faster. She put the phone on speaker. “I’m listening.”
Roman seemed relieved as he continued, “I’m coming back to Sunset Harbor next month. I want to do a benefit show for the lighthouse arts center project. Small crowd, invite-only. I want Chantelle to open for me. It’ll be live-streamed, but she’ll only need one song. That’s it. She picks it, or writes her own. No contracts, no managers, no pressure. Just playing in a room full of people who care. But millions could see her.”
Chantelle’s eyes widened. Emily sagged against the wall. “That’s—”
“She’s ready, Emily. And she gets to say no. But I think it would mean something to her. And to the town. To your project getting financial support from outside of town.”
She glanced at Chantelle, and Daniel, who had come outside. He mouthed,“Good?”
She nodded. She looked over at Chantelle, who also nodded—grinning like it was Christmas morning.Yes, yes, yes,she mouthed.
“Let’s do it,” she said.
Roman’s laugh was pure delight. “That’s the spirit. My team will handle everything. And if Chantelle decides she wants to run for the hills at any point, that’s okay, too. Or you can tell her no. You can tell me no. I don’t want to be one of those people who makes a kid feel like she owes the world her voice.”
“I know,” Emily said, the words thick. She swallowed hard. “Thank you. You’re a wise man, Roman.”
“Eh,” he replied, “I’m just older than I look. But it’s not plastic surgery, I swear.”
