Page 201 of The Pearl Sister
‘Honestly, Ma, it doesn’t matter. We love you anyway, even if you are a rubbish cook.’ I stifled a laugh at her distraught expression. ‘We all have strengths and weaknesses, remember? That’s what you’ve always told us, anyway,’ I added as I dumped the tortilla chips into a bowl and put the champagne and beers into the fridge.
‘It is,chérie,and you are right, I must accept my own.’
‘Yeah.’ I saw she needed a hug, so I went over to offer one.
‘Oh CeCe, I think that just now, out of all of my girls, I am proudest of you,’ she said as she stroked my hair.
‘Why?’
‘Because you know how to be yourself. Now, I will go upstairs and get ready for the party.’
* * *
They all arrived just after six and I saw that Star’s mum, Sylvia, was literally an older version of Star in more expensive clothes. She was really sweet, and told me she’d heard lots of good things about me, before giving me a hug.
‘Thank you for looking after her when I couldn’t,’ she whispered in my ear.
I immediately warmed to her, and was glad that Star had someone else who loved her as fiercely as I did.
Mouse was his usual gruff self, and I decided that if I was casting Mr Darcy in that Jane Austen novel Star went on about all the time, I’d definitely pick him. I had to admit he was handsome, if you were into that sort of thing, but a bit stand-offish, like most English aristocrats I’d met. Then I remembered that technically I was descended from a Scottish aristocrat too, and felt a bit more on the same level.
I watched as Sylvia approached Ma, and wondered how Ma felt about it. Then I closed my eyes and visualised a human heart beating. I watched it expand as it encompassed all the new people that I loved. And I understood that the heart had an infinite capacity to extend itself. And the fuller it was, the more healthily and happily it beat inside you. Best of all, my fingers itched, and I knew immediately what the inspiration for my next painting would be.
I came to as Ma pressed a glass of champagne into my hand. I noticed that everyone had quietened and was standing around me, watching me expectantly.
‘Erm . . .’ I said stupidly, still dazed.
Ma came to my rescue. ‘I would just like to say,’ she began, ‘that I am so proud of you, CeCe, for how far you have come on your journey.Chérie,you are talented and brave, and your heart is true. I hope that Australia will give you everything you have been searching for in your life. We will all miss you, but we understand that our little dove must fly.Bon voyage!’
‘Bon voyage!’ everyone chorused and clinked glasses. I stood back and watched them, this eclectic collection of people who had been knitted together by love. And I would always be a part of this patchwork quilt of humanity, even if I was flying off to the other side of the world tomorrow.
‘Are you okay?’ Star nudged me.
‘Yeah, I’m fine,’ I swallowed. ‘Your family’s great, by the way.’
Mouse appeared at her elbow. ‘We need to leave now or we’ll be late. Sorry, CeCe.’
‘Okay.’ Star looked at me miserably. ‘Cee, are you sure you don’t want to come to the party with us?’
‘Really, don’t worry about me. I need to do some final clearing up and packing. It’s just bad timing.’
‘I should stay here with you tonight.’ Star bit her lip as Mouse handed her her coat. ‘Oh Cee, I have no idea when we’ll see each other again.’
Sylvia came to say goodbye to me and wish me luck, then it was Ma’s turn.
‘Goodbye,chérie,promise me you will take good care of yourself, and keep in touch?’ Ma hugged me, and I saw Star shrug on her coat, then begin to walk back towards me.
‘Darling, we’re going to be late.’ Mouse took her arm and led her firmly towards the door. ‘Bye, CeCe.’
I love you,Star signed to me from the doorway.
Love you too,I signed back.
The door swung shut with a bang behind her, and I did my best not to howl my eyes out. I hated Mouse for not even allowing us a proper goodbye.
I put the glasses and plates into the dishwasher, glad of the distraction, then I went to my studio and dismantled my installation, taking it down piece by piece to the communal rubbish container outside the building.
‘You’re binned,’ I said to Mr Guy Fawkes as I stuffed him inside and slammed down the lid. Upstairs in the apartment, I watered Star’s plants for the last time. She’d handed me her key earlier, entreating me to make sure the new tenants took care of her ‘babies’, as she called them.
