Five Words

Chapter 42

~Ace

A year earlier...

"Mom."

"Ace."

My mom and I call out each other's name at the same time. I enter the living room and between her hands is a large white envelope. The divorce papers are the first thing that comes to my mind. I pray that I am not too late. I hope that these are not his signed ones.

I drag my eyes up to her face, and I sigh when I realize that these can't be them. An enormous yet brightening smile is plastered on her face. I force a smile on my face as I try to shake the nervousness out.

"Come sit here." She pats the small buff in front of her.

I do as she tells me, and she hands me the envelope.

"Open it." She pushes the envelope towards me more.

I carefully open the envelope. If this is what I think it is, I will be soaring and I will toss my plan in the trash before it even began. I will live every fucking day of my life making it up for all her hard work. And I will never be thankful enough.

I take out the papers inside and disappointment washes over me. This isn't what I have prayed for but I try my best not to show my disappointment.

"What is this?" I ask her.

"They are plane tickets." She claps her hands excitedly.

"I can see that," I tell her and my tone indicates that I want an explanation, so she gives me one.

"These are two tickets to France, Ace. You deserve a break from people's eyes and their judgemental assumptions. And I deserve one too. So I thought this summer we would go to France and stay with Adele and her daughter. They have a very beautiful house, and it is big enough for all of us. We will--"

"Hold on a second." I raise my hand to stop her, "We are going to France this summer?"

How the hell am I supposed to leave with Eric if I will be in France?

"Yeah. You know my friend Adele, and she knows that you have been to juvie, and she agreed to let us stay. Her daughter is so nice and she is your age. You will get along very well--"

I cut in again. "You think her daughter will look to my face when she knows that I am accused of a sexual offense?"

My mom frowns and I hate to be the one who upsets her but this is bullshit.

"I know Adele very well, and she would not tell her daughter. You will get out of here, and take a breather. It's a town called Rochefort-en-Terre. It is so small and it's a beautiful town. You will love it there. You will be able to jog in the streets as you used to and no one will be there to bother you. You will meet new people who wouldn't judge you. I just want to take you somewhere else for a change."

I set the tickets aside and take her hands in mine.

"I really appreciate it, mom. But Adele won't look at me now because you told her, and her daughter, if she found out, we will be in a tight spot. You will be bothered and as will I."

She smiles at me, "Don't worry. Adele knows everything. You know that we have been best friends since I can remember, and she didn't leave us when we needed money. She supported me even though she knew you were in juvie. She knows that you did nothing wrong. I know that she won't tell your story to her daughter. I trust her and I trust that she won't sell me out."

"I don't know, mom. It is just--"

"Come on, Ace. Please. You will soon go off to college, and I know that you are planning on attending college somewhere else."

Fear consumes me as my eyes widen. "Mom, I can--"

"I will help you search for colleges outside of the state, and I don't mind you going off somewhere as long as I know where you are and that you are close to me."

All the fear dissipates. She doesn't know that I have already decided to go to Australia with Eric. She doesn't know where I am going or when I am going yet. She will be heartbroken when she finds out that I will be nowhere near her.

"Let's spend one great summer together and I promise you that I will do my best to help you find colleges that are worthy of having you. Okay?"

She cups my face between her hands. Her eyes are radiating with too much hope. She seems so happy about this trip. She is ecstatic that she will get to spend a summer away from all the trouble and stress. I can't turn her down. I will never be able to.

"Okay," I say with a smile.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," I confirm.

She throws her arms around me and pulls me tightly to her. "I promise you that this will be the best vacation ever. You will be happy." I rub her back and hope that her words will come true.