Page 200 of The Pearl Sister
I surprised Ma the next day with my new early morning routine, and after a quick breakfast of croissants and coffee together, I left her to prepare for the drinks party and caught the bus to Wormwood Scrubs.
Ace slumped down in the plastic chair opposite me, looking irritated.
‘I thought I told you to leave me alone,’ he said, crossing his arms defensively.
‘Well, hello to you too,’ I responded. ‘Guess who I met yesterday?’
‘CeCe, tell me you didn’t—’
‘Yes. I found Linda, and we had a chat, and she loves you so much,’ I blurted out and leant across the table towards him. ‘She told me the truth about your dad, and he’s got to help you, and . . . did he know what you were doing? ’Cos if he did, then—’
‘Stop! You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he hissed, his eyes slits of anger. ‘It’s all much more complicated than you can imagine.’
‘I know. Linda told me, but David is your dad, and that’s not complicated at all. And he should be there for you, as your dadandyour ex-boss, because I think hedidknow, and you’re protecting him, and it’s just not fair!’
Ace regarded me for a moment, then silently handed me a tissue from the box on the table between us. I hadn’t even realised I was crying, but I supposed the guards were used to that in the visitors’ centre.
‘CeCe,’ Ace said more gently. ‘I’ve had lots of time to think since I’ve been here, and when I was in Thailand with you. I knew that I would have to face up to what I’d done eventually, and that’s what I’m doing now. Whether or not my dad knew – or even whether heismy dad – is irrelevant. It wasmethat pressed those keys on the computer to make the illegal trades. I’ve also realised that my fa—that David never loved me, or cared about me. Though to be fair, he doesn’t care much for anything except money.’
‘Agreed,’ I said vehemently.
‘So, he – and what I did – have made me realise exactly who I was becoming and don’t want to be. In a way, this whole experience has saved me. The counsellor has told me I can do a degree while I’m banged up. I think I’m going to take philosophy and theology. I’m only twenty-eight – I have plenty of time to make a different life once I get out of jail.’
‘Well, that’s a positive attitude,’ I said, beginning to understand where he was coming from and admiring him big time for it.
‘And by the way, I know you didn’t sell me out, CeCe. I checked up and that photo of us is copyrighted to a “Jay”. You were right, and I apologise for thinking it was you. I have a lot of happy memories of us on Phra Nang Beach and I want to keep them like that.’
‘Me too,’ I gulped. ‘Listen, I’m moving to Australia, like, tomorrow. When you get out of prison, please come and visit me. Maybe that’s where you could start your new life. It’s the land of opportunity, remember?’
‘Who knows? We’ll keep in touch for sure. By the way, did you find out more about Kitty Mercer?’
‘Better.’ I grinned. ‘I found my family.’
‘Then I’m happy for you, CeCe.’ For the first time, his face lit up in a full-blown smile. ‘You deserve it.’
‘Listen, I have to leave now, but I’ll send you my new address once I’m settled there.’
‘Promise?’ He grasped my hand as I stood up.
‘Promise. Oh, and by the way,’ I whispered, ‘don’t worry about your dad. I’ve got a feeling he’s going to get everything he deserves.’
* * *
I spent the afternoon packing the rest of my stuff into bin bags, which Star had said she would store at High Weald. Then I went out to buy all the bits I knew I couldn’t get in Alice Springs, like Heinz baked beans and a gigantic bar of Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut chocolate. Star, her mum and Mouse were due to come to the apartment at six o’clock for my leaving drinks, before heading off to the East End. I splashed out on three bottles of champagne and some beer to send them – and me – on our respective ways.
When I arrived home, loaded down with all my shopping bags, I saw that Ma had taken Star’s place and was wearing her white apron, neatly tied around her waist. She greeted me at the door with a look of despair.
‘Mon dieu!Is there a local patisserie nearby? The canapes I tried to make have gone wrong. See?’
She pointed to some weird – and actually quite arty – green pastry things that looked like someone had stamped on them.
‘It’s okay, Ma. I’ve got some tortilla chips and dip from the shop.’
‘Oh CeCe, I’m so embarrassed! You have found me out.’ She sat down at the kitchen table and buried her face in her hands.
‘Have I?’
‘Mais oui!I am French, yet anything I cook is a disaster! The truth is that I have hidden behind Claudia for all these years. If it had been left to me to feed you girls, you would have been starved – or poisoned – to death!’
