Page 198 of The Pearl Sister
‘Oh, nothing.’ I had a horrible urge to giggle hysterically, but Linda wouldn’t understand, so I controlled myself. ‘I really have to go now, but why don’t I give you my number and we can keep in touch?’
‘Yes, I’d like that,’ she said. We exchanged numbers, then I stood up and walked swiftly to the front door before the dam burst inside me.
‘It’s been good to talk to someone who understands, and who cares for Anand like I do,’ she said, laying a hand on my arm. ‘Thank you for coming.’
‘Please, Linda, even if you can’t go to court to speak up for him, think about going to see Ace in prison. He needs you. You’re . . . well, basically, his mum.’
‘Yes, you’re right. I will think about it, dear. Goodbye now.’
Outside, I walked along the road and down a narrow lane until I found a green. I sat down on a bench, and howled with what I knew was inappropriate laughter, but I couldn’t help myself. If itwasthe cursed Roseate Pearl that Ace’s dad had bought, which it definitely sounded like it was, then it could not have gone to a more deserving home.
Not that I wanted him to die, of course . . . well, not much, anyway.
I shivered in the cold and reached for my mobile to call the taxi driver. When the car arrived, I climbed inside, and called the Scrubs to book myself in for another visit.
When I arrived home, I realised I felt far calmer about the Ace situation. I had the strongest feeling that the Ancestors had everything in hand and David Rutter’s destiny had already been set.
* * *
When I went to meet Ma at Heathrow, she emerged from Arrivals, looking elegant despite her long journey. I pushed through the crowd towards her and gave her a tight hug.
‘Chérie, you look wonderful!’ she said as she kissed me on both cheeks.
‘Thanks, I’m feeling pretty good as it happens,’ I said, and linked my arm through hers. We took a taxi to Battersea, and I led her into my apartment.
‘Mon dieu!This is stunning.’ Ma stood in the centre of the sitting room and waved her arms to indicate the enormous space.
‘It’s cool, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, but Star tells me you are selling it?’
‘Not any longer, no. The estate agent tells me that property prices have tanked round here since I bought it, so I’m going to rent it out. The agent called earlier today. He’s already found tenants for the apartment, so that’s good. Can I take your coat?’
‘Thank you.’ Ma removed it and handed it to me, then sat down and smoothed out her tweed skirt. She looked utterly immaculate as always and, comfortingly, exactly the same.
‘Can I get you a cup of tea?’ I asked her.
‘I would love one. I refuse to eat or drink anything on a plane.’
‘I don’t blame you,’ I said as I went to switch on the kettle. ‘Though I might have starved on the way to Australia and back if I hadn’t.’
‘I still cannot believe you made all those journeys by yourself. I know how much you hate flying. I am proud of you,chérie.’
‘Well, life is all about facing your fears, isn’t it?’
‘It is. And you have made amazing progress.’
‘I’m trying.’ I took a cup of her favourite Darjeeling tea over to the coffee table and sat next to her on the sofa. ‘It’s great to see you. Thanks for coming, Ma.’
‘Well, even if Star hadn’t invited me to England previously, I would not have let you go off to Australia without visiting you. I’m so glad I have. And it’s good to be away from Atlantis for a few days. So . . .’ She took a sip of the tea. ‘Tell me everything.’
‘There’s a lot to tell,’ I said.
‘We have plenty of time. Just start at the beginning.’
So I did, feeling embarrassed and awkward at first, because I realised that I’d never really been alone with Ma without Star beside me. But this was another step I had to take, now that I was my own person. Ma was the best listener I could have hoped for, and held my hand at the emotional bits, which was a good thing, because there were quite a few of them.
‘Oh my, it is quite a journey that you have been on,chérie.And I would love to meet your grandfather,’ Ma said after I’d brought her up to date.
