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‘Your dad is no saint. Fact. So don’t set him up in your head as one. He was no priest either and he played fast and loose, had one-night stands, broke hearts, almost broke up a marriage until the good lady in question realised he wasn’t a keeper, and her husband’s millions were the better deal.’
‘So, what are you saying? That you think he did go to orgies and sleep with underage girls? Or are you standing by the sisterhood, right when dad needs you to stand by him?’ Ace suddenly felt angry with his mum who in his eyes was being disloyal. It was so unlike her, and it unsettled him further, another woe added to his list.
When Jenny spoke, her voice was resigned, sad even. ‘Son, I’m not being mean, but I was there. I lived that life and I know how guys behaved back then. I saw women throwing themselves at your dad even when we were married, so can you imagine what it was like before Darlene, and me, and then when he was single again?
‘And just because a woman tells you she’s twenty-one, how do you know it’s true? Yeah, you can say “honey, show me your ID” then what do you do? Pray it’s not fake? So, your dad says he didn’t go to orgies, and I believe him, but if he did, so what? You only live once! It’s not my thing, but it’s not a crime. But you’d better pray that when he passed out next to some hot chick in a hotel room, that her best friend didn’t slide in too, or three of her friends, and then smile for the camera. I’ve seen it done, yeah, in a fun moment at a party when there was no malice or guile. But those photos end up on a reel of film, tucked away in a paper wallet for years and then bingo, someone remembers they are there, and that cheeky little scene takes on a whole new meaning and you can spin the truth any way you like.’
Ace begrudgingly saw the logic in his mum’s words, kiss-and-tell memoirs meant big bucks, an innocent moment twisted out of all proportion and the only ones who knew the truth were the people in the room. The ones who could remember because they weren’t stoned or pissed, and even if they were stone-cold sober it came down to one thing. Your word against theirs.
‘What does all this mean for dad?’
Jenny gave a deep sigh. ‘It means that your dad has had his hand in the cookie jar and after all these years, he got caught and as I said before, as long as you accept the past for what it is and that he made mistakes, then whatever they say about him will be easier to bear.
‘Somehow, we will find a way to see him through all this. Get him to the other side. It’s as simple and as hard as that. Like a kick in the teeth that’s gonna hurt like hell, but when the pain wears off, the damage can be fixed.’
‘You make it all sound so easy, like checking into a clinic and getting veneers.’ As much as she’d oversimplified it all, Ace knew his mum had done so for a reason: to help him straighten out those tangled wires and for that, as always, he was grateful.
‘Hey, I threw all I got at that, so don’t knock it.’ They both managed a smile. ‘Now, I think you need to go downstairs and see that lovely young lady of yours. She was very gracious when I suggested I came to see you, even though I could tell she was worried.’
This was good, that his mum liked Edie who’d been quiet for most of the previous evening, and he sensed she was eager to impress the new arrival. ‘Do you like her?’
Jenny took a second to answer. ‘I don’t know yet, and that’s the truth of it but all the signs are good. Give me a few days and I’ll let you know but remember, I’m not sleeping with her, and I’m not planning to go round the world in eighty days with her – you are. So, if she makes you happy, then even if I wanted to scratch those cute little eyes out I wouldn’t dream of standing in your way. As long as she doesn’t hurt my boy it’s all good. If she does I’ll get my gun and go all Annie Oakley and run her out of town. You got me?’
Ace got it. Pulling his mum into a hug, he knew that there was no chance of any of that happening because his Edie was the real deal and she’d never hurt him. Of that he was sure.
The mother and son moment was short-lived. Their attention was drawn to the sound of an approaching vehicle and as Ace loosened his grip, one of the black Audis entered the yard at speed, flicking up dust and stones and sending the dogs crazy. The guard who was on his phone ended the call and hurriedly made his way over, greeting the two men in the car.
Ace glanced in Joe’s direction and saw his dad heading over, no doubt sensing something was up, a worry mirrored by his own heart. He and his mother watched from above as the driver gave instructions to the guard with the dog who immediately walked away, towards the back of the barn and in the direction of the fields. Then Joe was asking questions, dragging one hand through his hair. Ace couldn’t stand it any longer and called out.
‘Dad, what’s going on?’
Joe looked startled as did the two remaining guards, one of whom answered Ace’s question. ‘Monsieur, madame. Please go inside at once. You might be seen.’
Jenny leant over. ‘Why, is something wrong?’
‘Do as they say. And tell the others to stay inside. Two television crews have turned up at the gate, BFM and Canal. I don’t want anyone taking long-range shots and Hervé is worried they might send up a drone, so go, do as he says and close the curtains too.’
Not waiting to be told twice, Ace put his arm around Jenny and herded her inside and once in the loft, they automatically began pulling the drapes. It only took seconds and then they were heading downstairs to warn the others and as he followed his mum, Ace made a vow. That he wasn’t going to fall apart, and that what was going on outside would not get to him anymore. Whether they were under siege or not La Babinais was his home, his refuge and place of safety. It was a great big box, with a sturdy lid and inside it were all the people he loved most in the world – even Lance – and together, they’d get through it.
