Chapter 5

Sebastian smiled.

“I live between here and Coventry, in Balsall. You can continue up the Birmingham Road to Knowle, and then through Temple Balsall to Balsall and into Coventry. Getting to Aston Martin just means getting down to where we started on the Birmingham Road and getting on the M40 to Gayden. That’s probably less than twenty miles from here.”

“Thank you for that, Sebastian. It’s not that much further than my trips now. Shall we head for home, or is there anything else we can do?”

“I know a bit about this area. Lapworth is basically a dormitory suburb, with the railway station. It’s about two hours to get to London, but the only one in the morning is about half past six. The closest pub is on the Old Warwick Road.”

“That sounds good. Take us there and we’ll stop for a drink and look at this brochure the agent gave me.”

They got into the car and were driven to Station Lane and then south, past a lot of houses, the railway station, more houses and the turned left on the Old Warwick Road. They crossed a waterway and Sebastian turned into the car park of the ‘Navigation Inn’. When they went inside, they were in an old building where the black beams on the outside wall were real. They ordered drinks and went to sit in the snug. Sebastian imparted more information.

“The water that we passed over is the Grand Canal. It runs between London and Birmingham. It’s an attractive trip with a narrowboat, and a lot of people live in them full time. There are over a hundred locks on the journey, so getting off and managing the gates would keep you fit. We did cross the canal on Rising Lane, just before we got to the house.”

Ashley was thinking hard.

“Darling. If I do run in the election, would it change us?”

“No more than having a pop star for a daughter, love. If you stay at work for a year, then we can see what happens then. You do need to talk to Malcolm and his friends, to find out how serious they are, and if living here would make any difference. Willow was right when she said that this house would suit us better if you did stand. It has a certain elegance, combined with a lot of modern improvements. If Willow stays at school to the end of fifth year, she’ll only be there until summer, next year. With that course she took, she can do a degree course without needing to go for her ‘A’ levels. She can live in London for that. We could live there if you’re in the House.”

“We’ll have to think about it a bit more. I just feel so bad about having my teenage daughter buy a house for us. It seems so odd.”

“Why odd, Dad. I’ve been lucky in that I was able to make music and make money. You bought the house at Stoneleigh as a base for our life at the time. If we’re moving on, then we need a base for the future. I’ve got the studio ticking over, with a good team in place, and the music seems to be at a crossroads. Without Gina, I’m no further away from the other band members than where we live now. Without Jacob to pick up, I’m Sebastian’s only passenger, so nothing is affected there. With those two rooms in the annex, you could set up a state-of-the-art office for each of you, with the latest computers and connections. I say, talk to Malcolm tonight, talk to both your employers tomorrow, and we can have a family conference in the week. You never know, it could be an answer that pleases everyone.”

“All right. Thank you for your help today, Sebastian. Can we get home from here?”

“This road meets the Birmingham Road, not far from the Warwick intersection.”

They finished their drinks and were driven home. When Willow got out, she told Sebastian that she would see him in the morning. In the house, the family relaxed. Later on, they walked to the club. Ashley asked Malcolm if they could have a talk, coming back to their table with the news that Rising Lane was still inside the electoral boundary which included Stoneleigh. The electorate office was in Stratford upon Avon, with the sitting member retiring at the next election. He had been told that if he was willing to stand, there would be a meeting in that office on the last Saturday of the month. The party was expecting that the current government may not last the full term, so getting a replacement candidate was paramount.

“If we move, and sell the place here, I could fund my run. It would be different, seeing that I’ve always worked for a boss.”

“There’ll be no difference, Dad. You would be working for the cabinet, or the shadow cabinet, unless you get to be PM, and then you’ll be working for the whole country.”

“That’s highly unlikely!”

“Your teenage daughter being in the charts for close to two years was unlikely, Dad. Becoming PM is merely an aspiration. You’re already on the rungs, ever since you graduated from Cambridge. Remember what I told you before, you have friends in high places already.”

When they got home, Willow put one DVD in a parcel to Gina, and addressed another parcel to her grandmother, asking Wendy if there was anything she wanted to add before they were sealed. Then she took a copy into the sitting room.

“This is what was recorded yesterday. It may not look it, but it was all done inside the studio, using a lot of tricks that Xavier hadn’t found. The songs are all Vivienne’s, and I hope that it will be in the post to Jill tomorrow.”

They got comfortable and she started the DVD. When the set finished, Wendy gave her a hug.

“That was amazing, love, that team are well worth it. Do you think the same as I do?”

“Yes Mum, Viv will be visiting the studio in a month or two to present an award to each member of the team, as long as the label promotes her properly.”

“That will be more advertising for the studio, which could mean more work.”

“It could do. That reminds me, I need to email Sarah. I’ll go to bed, so I’ll be ready for school in the morning. Goodnight.”

She put the DVD in the parcel and went up to her room to turn on her laptop. She emailed Sarah, asking her if she could source a dozen free-standing boards, six feet wide, by ten feet high, and get them painted blue on one side, the same as the blue screen. She explained that the ENO might find them handy when setting up their performance practise, and that the Blue Coat would also use them when they came in to record their operetta, as they would serve as stage wings.

When she was in bed, she thought about her two laptops. Over the next week, she would set up the silver one as her business machine, with all the property and financial details, now that the studio was getting serious. She would start from the first of the month and enter up all the movements on the bank account.

In the morning, Sebastian gave her back the DVD.

“That was unbelievable, Willow. When it’s on the market, it will be added to my collection. Enjoy the ride, we’ll be back to the normal car when I take you home.”

School was normal, except for lunch when Vivienne gave her a big hug, followed by Nancy, who had seen the DVD. Willow told them that she had seen how the vision and the background sounds had been generated, and how big the libraries of both were.

On Wednesday evening, she had a phone call from Jill.

“Willow, I have just watched you and Vivienne with a fantastic show, where did you go for that?”

“That was all in the studio, Jill. I was shown how many variations of sound and vision can be added to the session. It took Saturday morning in front of the blue screen.”

“So, if we send you a band, you can put them almost anywhere without us needing to send them out on location?”

“Yes, we can. There are literally thousands of views and sounds. You want to have them look like they’re on a beach, with vision and sound, we can do it. You want to have them looking like they’re in a warzone, it’s all there.”

“All right. When you come to see us, we’ll have a schedule for you, with names and contact details, and the dates we want them in the studio. You can give us a figure and we’ll give you a cheque. Middle of the year, we have another meeting for the second half.”

“That will be good. Just remember that we’re booked for the last full week of every month.”

“Got it. Can you get down on the last Saturday of the month?”

“Can do. I’ll get my mother to drive me down and we’ll stay at the apartment.”

On Thursday, they did some more orchestral pieces. Without a big performance to aspire to, Willow had the feeling that the players were just winging it. On Friday, they expanded on the first act, with the bones of the first song or two added. On Saturday, Willow sat at her desk with the silver laptop, creating a spreadsheet of income and expenditure for the studio and big shed. The first column was all the numbers up to the first of January, and then she had fifty-two columns for the current year. The total in the first column was a gigantic minus.

On Sunday morning, instead of church, the family had a meeting. They discussed the pros and cons of moving, with the main pros being more room. The biggest con was the distance to the club, but it was pointed out that Willow wasn’t needed there every week, now that it was getting regular patronage. Malcom had told Ashley that having a club member as the local MP would be far better for the village, even if they had moved. Having somewhere that her mother could live was a big plus for Wendy.

Both her parents had spoken to their employers. Wendy’s was happy to have her working from home, as everything she was doing was computer work, so could be completed over an internet connection, with any hard copy sent to her by courier. Ashley’s was less happy about the idea but was reasonable about him taking leave without pay to campaign, once the election had been called. Any other electorate work would have to be carried out on weekends before that. When he didn’t win, they said that he could go back to full-time. Most of his managers thought that a snowball had a better chance of surviving in hell if the current government continued without a drastic crisis.

The next week, Ashley contacted the agent and made an offer. On Friday evening, Wendy and Willow went into London. On the Saturday, Ashley drove into Stratford for his meeting.

In London, Wendy and Willow had breakfast with the other two couples and then took a taxi to the label offices, where they were ushered into a boardroom. Clive and Jill were there, along with a few others who looked like other A&R men. Willow was told that her solo album was closing in on Platinum, and that Viv’s DVD would be on the market on the Monday. She was quizzed about the studio, it’s size, it’s mixing and visual systems, and her team, with the other A&R men needing to be assured. Jill was able to verify everything that was said.

As the meeting drew to a close, Willow was asked if she had another album on the way, but her own songs this time. She told them that she had been busy but would look at it. She was given a letter, on label letterhead, booking the studio for the second full week of every month, up to June, with a request that the same week for the rest of the year be reserved, including December. With it was a cheque for a hundred thousand pounds, for the five months, given to her by Clive.

“We’re block booking the studio and will be sending acts up on a Monday morning, to stay in the local hotel. Can you arrange pick-up?”

“We now have two cars and a people mover, so can do that, as long as we’re told how many, and where from.”

“Here’s a list of the first week. A couple are solo singers, and there’s a band. The band will want to record an album, with studio vision for a DVD, and will play for the singers, who will need blue screen. You met all of them in the Dorchester over the last couple of years. If everyone’s happy before the week is finished, they can do something else or come home.”

“If past experience is anything to go by, they’ll complete what they came for. The size and atmosphere in the studio seems to allow you to do things right.”

Back at the apartment, she opened her silver laptop and entered up the dates on a calendar. Then she rang Sarah, with the sound of a band in her ear when it was picked up.

“Summer Love Studio, Sydney speaking.”

“Sydney, it’s Willow. It sounds like that you have a band in.”

The sound faded.

“That’s better. Yes, we have the Vines in here again. They’ve been working on a tune for Hugh. We did his advert last week, with him and Mister Vines spending a lot of time in the rest room, and he’s back again with another company of his. They’re very thorough, and do several takes before they’re satisfied, but do go away with smiles. What can I do for you?”

“Can you get Sarah’s booking diary, I’ve just had a meeting with my label, and they’ve given me some dates.”

“Hold on a sec.”

“Right, got it. What do you have for us?”

“My label wants to block book the second full week of every month to June, with a reservation for the same week to the end of the year. They’ve given me a cheque, which I’ll get banked into the studio account next week.”

She named the band and the two singers for February.

“Wow! That will be great, I love those guys.”

“You’ll be notified of where they’re staying, and will need transport to and from the studio, so the vehicles will get a workout. Be prepared for a lot of blue screen work. Did you get the boards?”

“Yes. We’ve had a play with them and the screen, and they give us enough space to film a full band. It’s handy the floor is blue as well; the builders must have foreseen this sort of requirement. Josh has been experimenting with the floor looking like a beach, and the background looking like waves.”

“Have you had any more bookings?”

“Monday, we have the BMW dealer bringing a car in, with a local actor to wax lyrical. They have their own backing tape already, as well as their own camera operators. Should be fun.”

“It will be about time that you got that extra help with cleaning and driving.”

“We have talked about it. I haven’t moved in with Josh, but one of Sarah’s sisters is keen, and would stay with her if you OK the move.”

“I’m happy if you all want extra help. It looks like you’re going to have a busy life.”

“And an interesting one with those singers in the place. Thanks for ringing with the news, I’ll pass it on to Sarah when she has a minute.”

“How did the ENO work out?”

“Now, that was interesting to watch. We had an orchestra of twenty, with a dozen singers. They spent three days trying out different things with the opera, and then we set up the screens across the studio, with the orchestra in front of the window, to film it as if they were on stage, using the wooden screens as wings. They were very happy by lunch on Friday and took us out for a meal. We must have used up about fifty CDs and DVDs before they had a good take. We’ll have to order in a bulk supply if this is the way things are going to be.”

“You get whatever you need, Sydney. I’ll let you get back to things. See you.”

Willow and her mother went shopping in the afternoon, looking for some good, but useful, dresses and outfits, suitable for the family of a candidate. On Sunday, they took some of their purchases back to Stoneleigh. On the way, Wendy mused.

“When we first moved up from Bristol, our house was the best one that we’d ever lived in. It was modern and spacious after the one you grew up in. Now, we’re looking at possibly moving into a home that seems like a palace. I suppose that we’ll get used to it, but I’m sure that we’ll feel as if we’re guests.”

“I like the long driveway and the grounds, Mum. I want to make sure that there are places where I can sit, during the nice weather, and think about songs. Those first ones that took us from being a cover band to one with originals were written on the bench outside the church. Nothing was said about tour dates yesterday, but they do think that I’d be in smaller venues, which suits that type of song. If I get good sales, it’s ten times better for me than last year’s income, so I only need one or two albums a year to be very well off.”

“You’re very well off now.”

“I know, but there’s a whole life ahead of me. I spoke to you about wanting to manage my time for myself. That’s still on. There’s money there for Dad if he runs for election, and that would change things for both of us if he won. You would have a country retreat and the apartment in London. Next time I spend more than a few days there, I’ll move all my things into number four.”

“Do you still plan a degree course?”

“I think so. I learned so much from the certificate course, it’s helped me as I’ve set up the studio, and to be brave with purchases. The whole site owes me about three million on paper but has now started earning. The cheque I have to bank, and the bookings that are already certain, will return over four hundred thousand this year, with salaries costing about a hundred and eighty. The way that we’ve got adverts to make, with one day each at five thousand, we could turn over another hundred thousand just working a day a week.”

“So, you would have covered your outlay inside three to four years! That’s impressive.”

When they arrived home, Ashley smiled and told them that he was the new candidate for the Kenilworth constituency and had met with several of the movers and shakers of the electorate office, as well as the retiring member. He would need to be in London on the next weekend for a meeting at Party HQ. They decided that they would go down on Friday night and return on Sunday evening. Willow gave her father the cheque, asking him to bank it in the WR Holdings account on Monday, then went up and transferred the amount from the WR account to the Summer Love Studio account.

On Monday, when her father arrived home, he told her that the offer on Rising Lane had been accepted. She transferred the deposit amount from WR Holdings to his account, so he could set the purchase into motion. On Tuesday, there was another statement from Peter. Her share of the income from band sales had dropped to just on three hundred thousand, but her income from the solo album, after all costs, came in at one point seven, with the numbers showing that it would hit Platinum in this week.

The orchestra session had something new to try out. Dianne and Barbara had written a score for the overture of the operetta, using snippets of the bits of tunes that they had been talking about. Friday, they continued to work on expanding the songs. The meetings in the park had the suiters stating that the girl had to be theirs, and that she must have a say in things. Her song was short and sweet, saying ‘the quest is the quest, and the question has been asked by my father. He is the one you must woo.’ Their answering songs both included, ‘this wooing suddenly seems like work!’

When she was leaving the class, she put her phone off silent and saw she had a text from Sarah.

‘Nxt wks band short on bass. Canuhelp?’

She called to Garry, who was walking in front of her.

“Garry, would you like to earn some money next week? We have a band and two well-known singers in the studio next week, and I’ve just had a message that the band is a bass man down. It may be all week but may be just a few days to get them out of trouble. Can you adjust your classes to take a few days off?”

“Who are the artists?”

“The band is ‘Toxic Rocks’. The singers are Lee James and Cliff Jenson. Lee did four seasons as the Phantom in the West End, and Cliff won the TV talent show a couple of years ago. I’ve met them all at the end-of-year award parties. They’re all good guys.”

He looked hard at her.

“They want me to play with that band and those singers. They’ve been in the charts for years. It would be a privilege. I’ll speak to the Head before I leave, so she can get me the class notes for what I miss. This is a chance too good to lose out on.”

She got a business card out of her bag with the studio details and Sarah’s number as producer. She handed it to him.

“Go get them, Tiger.”

He hugged and kissed her with the other class members giggling. As he raced off to speak to the Head, Vivienne laughed.

“What on earth did you say to him to get a smacker like that. He’s either very happy or else he loves you.”

“Who knows what goes on in a boy’s head, Viv. I’ve just got a text from Sarah that the band that’s in the studio next week doesn’t have a bass player. Have you heard anything about your DVD? It should be on the market this week.”

“Mum said that she heard a track off it on Wednesday, so there is a little airplay.”

As soon as she got home, Willow made sure that her overnight bag was ready, with her silver laptop in its own bag, so that she could send and receive emails through the WRHoldings account. Her parents both arrived earlier than usual, and they were off south in a short time, enough to get comfortable and change. Willow had phoned the restaurant to book a table for three at seven thirty. They were in the apartment in good time, ate dinner, and retired to rest up for the next day. They had been told that the party organisers wanted to meet all the family to see for themselves what they had to work with.

They took a taxi to the party headquarters, behind Parliament, where they were ushered into an open-plan office, where a few secretaries were on the phones to electorate offices. There was a large, enclosed office where two men waited for them, shaking Ashley’s hand and welcoming him to the nerve centre of the party.

“Good morning, Mister Rose. I’m Cyril Chalmers, and this is Matthew Huntingdon. We co-ordinate the Midlands electorate campaigns. Not a happy job with the last result, I’m afraid. I expect that you’ve been told that your quest could be an uphill battle. The retiring member is quite popular,”

“I have been made aware that a snowball in hell would have an easier life. This is my wife, Wendy, and my daughter, Willow.”

“You’re Willow Rose, the singer?”

“Yes, sir. Is that a problem?”

“Never! It’s more of an asset, if you’re happy to be seen with your father during the campaign.”

“I would help my father in any way I can, as long as he’s happy with it. I do tend to organise things, given the chance.”

“If you can organise a national fifteen percent swing, we’ll erect a statue of you.”

Marianne Gregory © 2025