Page 54 of Venus Was Her Name

Ace

Ace didn’t really want to go down to the gate and face the cameras, but he would do it for his dad. Not just that, he was shattered and had hardly slept, watching the clock by the bed flip numbers while by his side, Edie had snored the night away. He didn’t begrudge her a peaceful slumber because he got it now, why she’d been so restless since arriving. He was glad her mind and soul were at peace. He only wished his was.

Ace believed Edie loved him, he really did, and he believed his mum, who had taken him to one side and asked if he was okay, then said that in relationships there are many hurdles, some higher than others but when you were meant to be with someone, you found a way to get over them. He thought she was going to go all Zen and mystical on him or ring her psychic and get him a reading down the phone. Instead, she reminded him how easy it was to mess up, and how terrible it was when you couldn’t change the past.

‘And Ede’s a good kid, I know it here,’ she’d touched her heart, ‘and look at me and your dad, we made mistakes, hell’s bells I made so many, but we understood each other for who we are, and managed to stay friends so if anyone can get through this, you and Ede can.’

That had cheered Ace up a lot, because it meant that other people who felt as confused and let down as he did, somehow got back to their happy place.

They were ready to go. Lance had the statement that Oliver had prepared, and he’d been told to stick to it like glue, no deviations.

Joe had sworn on ‘me old mam and dad’s life’ that he would not comment on or react to any questions.

Jenny was channelling her own take on the country-living look; glittery silver wellies, a tatty checked fleece, and a yellow hat with the biggest bobble he’d ever seen. Yep, that’d look great on the front covers’ ‘local nutter photo bombs the Jarretts’ press call’.

His dad looked more normal, wearing his usual jeans and shirt, Aviators glued to his face. No way would he let anyone see what was going on in his head by looking into his eyes: that was restricted access. Family only.

Edie was nervous and had tried to get out of it, saying she’d stay and keep Nanou company and take Gus his breakfast if he still felt ropey. When Ace had gone up with a drink for him earlier that morning, he’d found Gus dozing, his laptop by his side on the bed so he assured Edie he’d be fine for a while longer, and anyway, she couldn’t wimp out now because he needed a hand to hold.

It was time, and Joe gathered his troops. ‘Come on, let’s get this over with. Then with a bit of luck they might all just piss off once they’ve got their shots. I’m taking the dogs too. Might let Bob and Vic loose on some ankles if the paps get nasty.’ He opened the kitchen door and led them all out, whistling his hounds over as Pierre radioed ahead to say they were on their way down to the gate.

It took six minutes to walk from the house to the road where the press was camped out and on the way down, as he held Edie’s hand and his mum linked his arm, it occurred to Ace that things were never going to be the same again. Not with a stalker on the loose, not now the world knew where Joe Jarrett lived. Gina Zilli may have made a bold and brave move when she spoke out and her film and book would bring great awareness and not before time, but she had in some ways exposed more than the truth. She’d exposed his family.

His mum and dad had tried so hard to keep him safe, let him live as normal a life as possible and now it was blown to pieces. Maybe for once Lance was right and they’d been burying their heads in the sand, thinking they could have it all, the trappings of fame and the bliss of privacy when all it took was for the past to catch up with you and blow everything you’d taken for granted out of the water.

His dad was hoping that eventually they’d be able to halve the security detail, maybe manage with just one guy and his dog, but while there were Marnies in the world, and the possibility of more with an axe to grind, their rural idyll was no more. And as moody-boy had hinted, Ace knew it was a foregone conclusion that his and Edie’s relationship would come under the spotlight and the thought of it made him sick. Which was why, as soon as it was possible, he wanted them both to disappear. Head to the Far East like they planned, blend in with the backpackers, be themselves. Edie and Ace, camera, a notebook, and their rucksacks.

Snapping him from his worries, Jenny gave Ace a nudge. ‘Here we go, Lancy-boy’s big moment… you think he rang his agent and told him he’d be on TV? I bet ya he’s been practising in front of the mirror half the night and was up early choosing his outfit. I mean seriously, he looks like he’s going to read the news on Fox. He got Nanou to iron his shirt and chinos. At least he managed to polish his shiny shoes himself which proves there are such things as miracles. Who knew?’

Edie laughed beside him, and he suspected it was partly from nerves, then she turned to Jenny. ‘Do you think? He definitely seems to be in his element… not bricking it like I am. I so wish I’d worn a hat like you, and some sunglasses.’

Ace actually thanked God that Edie hadn’t borrowed one of his mother’s hats. But it was too late to worry about the dress code because as they rounded the bend and the camera crews came into sight, Ace could hear the whirring of shutters and cries of ‘they’re here’ before they’d even got close to the gate.

Turning to Edie, Ace gave her hand a squeeze, conning himself into being brave. ‘Don’t worry, just stay by my side and hold on tight, it’ll be okay. I’ll look after you.’

Her face broke into a smile, and she squeezed back. ‘I know you will, and that’s why I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.’

That’s when Ace knew that his mum was right, amidst calls and whirs and flashes and clicks, that no matter what, they would get through all this, him and Edie, his dad, all of them. They just had to stick together and hold on tight.

Everyone was gathered in the kitchen for a late breakfast, now that nerves had left the building and they’d survived the media frenzy, without Joe telling them to fuck off, or someone being savaged by an overprotective Spaniel. On the walk back, after showing a united front, Ace hadn’t let on to Edie how much the whole spectacle had rocked him, the awful questions they’d hurled at his dad:

‘Joe, Joe, are there any skeletons in your closet? Did you sleep with underage girls? Is it true you slept with Harlem too? Have you anything to say about Wendy Parker, the girl who died on your tour bus? Was she abused by Denny Sullivan?’

His dad had simply turned his back and walked away, muttering the worst expletives under his breath while Lance milked his moment by insisting there would be no further statements and repeating the words ‘no comment’ about twenty-five times. He could be such a dick.

Lance, the press, the flashbulbs, they’d all made Ace nauseous, like he was going to throw up on the driveway. But it was done with now and they were home, safe inside the house, and the very place where he’d felt so cooped up was now a sanctuary. He absorbed himself in his surroundings. Familiarity calmed him.

Nanou was fussing over everyone, Edie was by his side pouring coffee, his dad was feeding the dogs and telling Riva off for being greedy, Silvestre was handing out glasses of his home-made guérir-tout that he swore would cure anything, regardless of the hour or malady. His mum had gone to check on Gus and Lance was watching himself on Sky News, again.

Just another normal day at The Jarretts’.

He was just about settling down, almost enjoying the vibe when he saw Jenny enter the room, her face alabaster white, her eyes round and instead of speaking, for a moment she just stood there, her hand flat against the door frame for support.

Ace’s heart lurched. ‘Mum, MUM, what’s wrong?’

The room fell silent, and all eyes focused on Jenny as she spoke, her voice barely audible. ‘It’s Gus… he’s gone… I thought he was sleeping at first but then I realised.’ Her eyes searched for Joe. ‘Oh Joe, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry but Gus is dead.’

Six days. The worst of Ace’s whole life had gone by in a blur. Nobody had ever died before. Well, they had but not in his family, anyone close like this. He’d mourned pets and had to have a day off school when Bunny, his rabbit, went over the rainbow bridge but this was like the sky had come down and was squashing him flat against the floor.

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