Chester and Madelaine live in a small bungalow on the edge of the resort and as I walk there hand in hand with Chester’s son, I feel a little nervous. It’s one thing dining with the other staff, but this feels so different because of who they are.
Nate is also uncharacteristically quiet, and I squeeze his hand. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine.” He sighs. “It’s just that I prefer it when we’re alone. These dinners are hard to endure sometimes because of their high expectations.”
“Like what?”
Now I’m worried and feel like something the cat dragged in when I think of my charity shop dress and flip flops.
“They are so high powered, so driven. They expect everyone else to be the same. I always feel as if I need a lie down after an evening in their company and I’m worried I’m a disappointment to my father.”
“I doubt it, Nate. You’re amazing.”
He laughs out loud. “You are my favourite cheerleader, Katrina. I’ll need you to hold that thought because after tonight, you may think differently.”
I’m curious and say nervously, “Is Madelaine ok about the fact Chester’s your father. It must have come as quite a shock.”
“She’s fine.” He smiles. “Madelaine’s great in every way. I don’t think anything shocks her. She just accepts it and moves on.”
I wonder if there are any more sons or daughters in the shadows and can’t help asking, “Does he have any other children, or Madelaine perhaps?”
“A few.”
“A few!” I’m stunned, and he laughs slightly bitterly. “They don’t live here, but he showed me some photographs. A half-sister who lives in Monaco and a half-brother who is a whizz with computers and landed a great job in Silicon Valley. There are the twins who live in Germany and the sister, half of course, who lives in New York and is about to be married to a very wealthy man.”
“Nate.” I’m so shocked I just gasp his name and he shrugs. “It appears my father is quite free with his favours.”
“And Madelaine, does she know?”
“She does and doesn’t seem to care.”
“Wow, that’s very liberal of her.”
He shrugs. “They’re a strange couple and you must hand it to them. They certainly live for the moment and I’m guessing Madelaine is no saint when she’s away either.”
“What about her? Does she have any children?”
“A few I believe.”
“A few! For goodness’ sake, Nate, this is weird.”
He looks sad and I feel bad for him. “I don’t want to be like them, Katrina. I want to fall in love with one woman and spend my life with her. Make a family and raise them with love. Maybe one day I’ll leave Catalina and find it on the mainland, or maybe it’s here all along.”
The intense look in his eyes burn through to my soul and I feel a shiver pass through me as he appears to be searching for answers.
“I’m sure it will happen one way or another.” I try to make light of an increasingly tense situation, and he grips my hand a little tighter. “Maybe it already has.”
We walk in silence the rest of the way because I have no words and neither does he, it seems. He has laid his cards on the table, and I wonder how I feel about that. Should I allow him in, or slam the door in his face? I’m too young and inexperienced to know, but something still feels strange about this whole situation and I need to learn more before I agree to anything.
* * *
Chester’s house is amazing and if I thought the guest’s bungalows were impressive, they are nothing like this.
We head through a large white door into chic elegance I have only seen on television programmes about the super-rich. Marbled floors and white silk curtains, abstract art and modern furniture, make this house serene and luxurious and just the large white sofa and deep pile rugs make me feel as if I’m in paradise.
The man himself watches us approach, and I see why he’s so popular with the ladies. His white linen shirt hangs open, and he is wearing low slung trousers that look as if they are made of silk. The designer black stubble on his face is the only rough thing about this man and his obsidian glittering eyes watch us approach with a great deal of interest.
“Come in and grab a drink.” Smiling, he hands us both a flute of champagne each and I feel self-conscious as I stand feeling very much like the hired help amid such elegance.
Before he can speak, however, a vision wafts into the room and I openly stare as Madelaine drifts in wearing a white silk maxi dress with her blonde hair piled Grecian style on the top of her head. The jewellery hanging from her throat and wrists is elegant and tasteful and her nails look professionally manicured, both on her fingers and toes. She even has a silver toe ring decorating her tiny feet and I wish I had made an effort more than anything right now.
Chester hands her a glass, and she smiles lovingly into his eyes.
“Thanks, darling, it’s good to be home.”
She heads across to the sofa that’s facing the view, providing the perfect vista through bifold doors leading onto white decking where a private hot tub is bubbling away.
Curling her legs underneath her, she sits with her hand resting on Chester’s knee and she rubs it absentmindedly.
“So, Katrina, I hope you’ve recovered after the shock of the will. Such a terrible thing to happen.”
“It was.” Leaning forward, I say eagerly, “Did you find out who this company is?”
She nods. “Yes, The Green Valley Foundation is perfectly legitimate. It survives on many similar donations and uses the money for charitable purposes. You may not like hearing this, but it was a very honourable thing your parents did in donating their money to such a worthy cause.”
“It doesn’t feel honourable from where I’m sitting.” They raise their eyes, and I don’t care about that because charity begins when the basics have been taken care of and leaving me with nothing has scorched my soul.
Nate places his arm around my shoulder and pulls me against him. “Of course you’d feel like that. It’s understandable.”
“I wouldn’t worry, Katrina.” Chester’s smooth voice sounds like a calm breeze through a hot, scorching wildfire. “You have us now and we will be happy to take care of you.”
“Of course.” Madelaine smiles. “You are the perfect addition to our island family and who needs money when you live like a queen on other peoples?”
She laughs out loud and Chester grins, clinking his glass with hers. “True enough. The guests pay for paradise and we live in it. It’s why Madelaine’s job is so important.”
“What does that involve?”
I’m curious, and she leans forward, her eyes sparkling. “I’m the saleswoman and the ambassador selling this place to people who can afford it. I travel the world promoting our private island and keep a steady stream of visitors coming through those doors.”
I’m still a little confused because surely that would cost more than they make and she must sense that because she smiles, looking as if she’s indulging a small child who can’t grab simple multiplication.
“I’m not talking about normal people, Katrina. These are people who crave something different. Usually, we are recommended, and I follow up leads. Mix in their circles and befriend them. One customer here is usually worth at least ten more as they recommend it and then their friends recommend it. I scour the world for eligible people and make sure I choose my guests carefully. One day I’ll show you how it’s done if you like. If you decide to make Catalina your home, of course. After all…” She smiles up at Chester lovingly, “I may want to ease off a little and spend more time here. It will be good to have a successor I can share the job with.”
As I think about the possibilities and look with envy at their lifestyle, I find myself being sucked deeper into this amazing world they have created. What’s not to love about it? It’s the perfect life and they are living the dream, and with Nate beside me, I could imagine myself firmly wearing Madelaine’s shoes. It’s an option I never even considered, but one I’m keen to explore further because out of pain and misery, a future is unfolding that I would be a fool to turn away from.