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Ace
Even though he knew the route from the airport back to the farm from memory, Ace was having to force himself to concentrate on the road because the urge to stare at Edie was hard to resist.
When she’d emerged into the arrivals hall, then rushed over and hugged him for so long that they caused a bit of an obstruction, Ace knew then that she felt the same way as he. Which was why when she looked up, her face only centimetres from his, he couldn’t resist and did a crazy thing and kissed her in public, not caring who saw. And when she’d kissed him back, her hand on his cheek, what passed between them was something else. It said, ‘Do you get the message? I’m here, with you, at last. So, let’s do this.’
They’d held hands all the way to the car park and once he loaded her case into the jeep, and they’d left the busy roads around the airport and settled onto the autoroute, she’d reached over and taken his hand, only letting go when he changed gear.
Ace couldn’t wait to get home so she could meet his dad and the others, Lance not included, and at the same time he wanted the journey to last longer and to have more time alone, the two of them. The forty-five minutes it took to get to the farm were flying by mainly because they’d chatted the whole time, her asking questions about places they passed, him being her tour guide. He sensed she was nervous, and he got that, because meeting someone’s family was always a kind of test and no matter how hard they all tried to act like theirs was normal, Edie was about to meet The Big Guy, Joe Jarrett and that fazed a lot of people.
It had been the same when he was growing up. Not so much in his younger years because at écoles maternelles and école élémentaire, four-year-olds didn’t know or care. And by the time his friends realised, to them, Ace’s dad was just cool Joe, who let them run wild on his farm and race around on quad bikes. Thankfully by the time he went to collège at eleven, he was part of a close-knit group who helped him wheedle out the kids who were fake and merely wanted an invitation to his house to meet Joe, and those who just wanted to be his friend. Nanou always said it was a shame that Ace had to be on his guard but necessary, because some people weren’t who they seemed.
Lance was definitely one of them and when Edie asked how long he’d be staying, Ace’s heart plummeted. ‘No idea but I wish he’d go soon because he’s already caused a row with Dad and upset Nanou again.’
‘Why, what did he do?’
He’d already told Edie all about his relationship with Lance, so she knew to watch out for his smart mouth and two-faced ways. ‘Just the usual. Treating her like a servant when Dad’s not around… she can handle him in her own Nanou way, but it still annoys her.’
‘Why, what does she do? I can’t wait to meet her and Silvestre.’
Ace smiled and rubbed Edie’s finger with his thumb, their hands still resting on the gear stick. ‘Funny stuff really. She’ll hide one of his trainers because no matter how many times she tells him he leaves them all over the place, then blames the dogs when he loses his shit and can’t find them. And this is so bad, she once stuck the dogs’ muddy blankets in the washer with his stuff. She said it gave her great pleasure watching his designer undies and jeans swirling around in hairy brown water. She never buys him special food like she does me and Dad and at mealtimes, always gives him the smallest piece of everything; chicken, roast potatoes, gateau. In fact, she makes a point of cooking the things she knows he doesn’t like just to piss him off. It’s incredible how many times we have sausages when Lance stays.’
Edie was laughing. ‘That’s so funny and I imagine that doing stuff like that is much more effective and a hell of a lot more fun than trying to get Lance to change. He sounds vile.’
‘He is, and sly, so please be on your guard with him and I swear if he upsets you he’ll be sorry.’ Ace meant it. They’d never come to blows before, almost on a few occasions, but it wasn’t his style. All that would change if Lance did anything to hurt Edie.
Edie jiggled his hand. ‘Hey, I can handle myself. Don’t you worry about that. Where I grew up I learned to deal with idiots every day so I doubt LA Lance will bother me. Don’t let him spoil things, okay? So, tell me what you’ve got planned for us.’
Ace was glad Edie had changed the subject and he was also surprised she’d mentioned her home because it was something she rarely talked about. He’d always sensed it was off limits. All she’d told him was that her mum had died when Edie was two. A tragic accident, and she’d been brought up by Ro, her gran, who she was very close to. He’d seen a photo of her on Edie’s phone and she looked nice. They had the same pale-brown eyes but unlike Edie’s shorter cut, her gran’s hair was very long and tied to the side, and she had a lovely smile just like her granddaughter’s, kind and genuine.
Edie’s dad hadn’t been in her life until she was ten because he’d been in prison. They had a good, but long-distance relationship because shortly after he was released he relocated to the Scottish Highlands. Ace knew what it was like having people poke around in your private life so respected that Edie felt the same and hoped that someday, she’d tell him more, but until then there was no need to pry. Where she came from didn’t matter, it was who she was that counted.
‘Okay, plans. Well, today we are having a family meal to welcome you to La Babinais so don’t expect to move from the table for hours because Nanou is very excited about having someone new to fuss over. Then tomorrow I want to show you everywhere properly, take you around the farm that’s basically fields and then down to the beach. Later in the week we’re hanging out with my friends in town. Dominique and Charles are looking forward to seeing you again and the others can’t wait to meet you. We’re not going to the village bar because that’s where the old guys like Dad go. Is that okay?’
Edie nodded. ‘Yep, it’s all cool. Which town is it?’
‘Locronan, where I went to collège, which is like your secondary school. We’re meeting at McDonalds. There’s a couple of restaurants too, one that does great pizza, oh and the Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet. I still remember us all being so excited when we found out they were building McDonalds. It was like the biggest thing that had happened in ages so imagine how we felt about the buffet, it was off the scale and when it opened we all went and made ourselves so sick trying to eat everything, we still do. The owners hate us so much. See, this is the real world of rock and roll, right here in my backyard.’
He liked making Edie laugh, and he hoped he was also putting her at ease so she wouldn’t be worried about meeting his friends who were all just regular people, like him. Her next question was one he’d been asked many times.
‘How come you didn’t go to a private school, or a boarding school like most kids of famous parents do?’
‘I almost did. Luckily, when we arrived at La Babinais, Mum fell in love with the simple rural way of life and wanted to keep me away from the rock-and-roll side, so they enrolled me in the village school in Herval. I was only four when I went to école maternelles, chucked in at the deep end but little kids pick up language quickly and I settled in well. Mum loved that I was bilingual, that I think and dream in French, but speak English, call them Papa and Maman when I’m around my friends then flip it when we’re alone. The teachers said I was bright, and Mum knew I’m what she calls quirkier than the other kids but because it was a small school I got the attention I needed there. So, when Mum and Dad split up, the sensible solution would have been to send me to boarding school, so that they would know I was looked after when they were working. Back then Dad was always touring or something, and Mum was off on one of her voyages of self-discovery.’
‘So how come you didn’t get packed off?’
‘Because I have great parents who listened to a seven-year-old kid who had it all worked out so, in my very meticulous way I presented them with a detailed plan, written on A4 in pencil so I could rub out any amendments should they arise. I have a thing about crossing out.’ Ace grinned at Edie.
‘Oh, that’s so sweet. I can actually imagine you doing that… writing it all out really neatly. So, what did the plan say and how did they react?’
‘I told them that I wanted to stay at school in Herval with my friends and then go with them to collège in Locronan. When Dad was away, Nanou and Silvestre could look after me, maybe move into the main house or I would go to their cottage, whatever they preferred. And this is the best bit, and I can remember reading it out loud and Mum and Dad’s faces… “I have already asked Nanou if she will take care of me, and she has agreed but I am prepared to accept a nanny if you think it is too much for her and Silvestre. But you must promise they will leave the second Dad gets home. I will also require a mobile phone so that I can contact you both if the nanny is a weirdo and I feel that I am in danger. I know Mum said I can’t have one until I go to collège, but this is a life and death situation, and I will miss you both, too”.’
Edie had tears of laughter. ‘Did you really think a psycho nanny would kill you? And I love that you played the emotional blackmail card at the end.’
Ace raised his eyebrows, feigning shock at her question. ‘Moi? As if I’d do something like that.’
After Edie whacked him on the arm, clearly not taking any notice of his protestations, he continued. ‘Honestly, I really was worried that a cleverly disguised lunatic would come and stay because I was a really shy kid and totally invested in the concept of stranger danger and, I even believed in the bogeyman thanks to Lance. However, you judged me well because there was another more cunning reason for my request.’
‘I don’t doubt it with you! Go on, amaze me.’
