The Girl from Lace Island

by Joanna Rees

  ‘Hey yourself, Cara,’ Blaise said, kissing her cheek. ‘This is the lovely Jess. And I hope you’ll be able to help her overcome her fear of diamonds.’

  ‘That’s what I’m here for,’ Cara said.

  Jess listened, feeling embarrassed as Blaise told Cara how he wanted to show Jess off at a business dinner, while Jess added that she had yet to find anything to wear.

  ‘I have just the thing,’ Cara said, unlocking a cabinet and taking out an intricate necklace made of diamond-shaped flowers. ‘This is pretty and elegant and guaranteed to go with just about anything,’ she added.

  Blaise put the diamond necklace round Jess’s neck, lifting her hair to fasten it. Jess stared at herself in the mirror, putting her fingertips on the cold jewels.

  ‘That’s gorgeous,’ Blaise said, his lips close to her ear. She looked at their reflections in the large oval mirror. ‘Does something with your eyes.’

  Jess was entranced by how sparkly the diamonds were. She remembered once shoplifting a plastic tiara and necklace from Poundland for one of the little girls, Trisha, in the home and how much she’d loved it. She wondered what Trisha would be doing now. Not trying on diamonds in Dubai. That was for sure. She’d most likely ended up like Angel, Jess thought with a shudder.

  ‘Let’s have it,’ Blaise said, smiling at Cara.

  ‘No, Blaise. No. I can’t. I just can’t,’ Jess said, reaching for the clasp.

  The necklace was worth more than she earned in a year and Blaise was treating it as if it was just a trifle. What would Tony think, she wondered, if he saw Jess accepting diamond necklaces?

  ‘I’ll be right back,’ Cara said, clearly picking up Jess’s panic and giving them some space.

  ‘I don’t want you to buy it for me, Blaise. Honestly,’ she said, ‘I mean it. It’s too much.’ As it was, she felt uncomfortable that he was the one who paid for all their hotel rooms and hire cars, even though he said he claimed them as business expenses.

  ‘Why won’t you let me buy you a gift?’

  ‘Because this isn’t a gift. It’s a diamond necklace.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘It makes me feel . . . I don’t know . . . It’s just too much.’

  ‘It’s rude to refuse a gift. I insist.’ She couldn’t help feeling as if she’d transgressed some sort of social etiquette. ‘It’s just money,’ Blaise said. ‘It’s no big deal.’

  ‘It is to me.’

  ‘Then sell the necklace, give the money away to the poor or the homeless or whatever it is you feel you need to do with it.’

  She’d offended him. ‘I didn’t mean it like that.’

  ‘Don’t you want nice things?’ She heard the implication in his voice. That she didn’t have nice things. That if she was going to be with Blaise, then she needed to sharpen up, look the part and that her refusal was exasperating to him. ‘Don’t look like that,’ he said. He pulled her into a hug and put his nose against hers. ‘I’m just a guy buying you diamonds.’

  ‘Oh, that is so typical,’ she said, exasperated herself now. ‘I’m very touched, but I don’t want you to,’ she said. ‘That’s the point. I want to be able to afford these things myself.’

  Blaise stared at her, then turned away, defeated. ‘OK. Then I won’t buy you diamonds,’ he said, putting his hands up in surrender. ‘It’s just very beautiful, that’s all. I’d like you to have it.’

  There was a tense moment of silence between them and Cara came back over. She’d clearly overheard their argument.

  ‘How about we loan you the necklace?’ she said to Jess. ‘That way, you can wear it, then drop it back to our store in London.’

  Wanting to save face and cheer up Blaise, she nodded. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘That’s an idea.’

  ‘You are so stubborn,’ Blaise said, as Cara went to pack up the necklace. Jess reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘I bet you’re not going to let me buy you an outfit either, are you?’ he said.

  ‘No. But you can help me choose,’ she said.

  Ten shops later, they left the shopping mall and headed down to the famous aquarium. As they walked hand in hand through the glass tunnel, Jess reflected on how much fun she’d had shopping with Blaise. She’d tried on loads of outfits and had eventually decided on a body-hugging black Louis Vuitton dress. It was the most expensive item of clothing she’d ever bought, but she didn’t regret it. She felt great in it.

  She had relented and let Blaise buy her some Louboutin heels to go with it, but she was pleased that she’d proved to him that she wasn’t the kind of girl who wanted to spend all his money.

  It was just so hard to feel on an equal footing with someone like Blaise, when he had so much more than her. But the girls on the plane had hit home. If their relationship was going to work, she had to prove to him that she wanted so much more than to be some kind of trophy girlfriend.

  ‘Look at these fish,’ she said, staring up through the Perspex. ‘Aren’t they amazing? It must be what it’s like to go diving. I’ve always wanted to do that,’ she said, pointing at the fish, darting among the coral plants. The colours were breathtaking.

  ‘Then I shall take you.’

  ‘I bet you’re fabulous at it. Like skiing and everything else,’ she pointed out.

  ‘You’re a quick learner. You’ll catch up. I’ll take you to the Barrier Reef. There’s nowhere better,’ he said.

  ‘Australia? That’s another place on my list.’

  ‘We’ll have to go there anyway so I can show you off to my family.’

  ‘You want to take me to meet your family?’

  ‘Don’t you want to meet them?’

  ‘Of course I do.’

  She only wished she had family that he could meet too. But maybe Blaise’s family would make up for her lack of relatives. She felt a shiver of something so tangible it took her breath away. To finally belong to a family, even if it was Blaise’s, would be wonderful. She imagined family Christmases together, children running around and Jess being at the centre of it all. They walked on in silence for a minute longer, then stopped to look at the stingrays.

  ‘So, at the dinner next week, when people ask . . . ?’ he began.

  ‘Ask what?’

  ‘About us. I mean, they’ll assume that we’re together and that it’s serious. And I just wanted to check that’s OK with you. I mean that they would think that.’

  Jess smiled at him. She loved the patch of freckles on the indent of his neck and the white tan line on the bridge of his nose where his sunglasses had been. Of course it was OK with her.

  ‘Is it OK with you?’ she asked.

  ‘Come here,’ he said, grabbing her and trapping her, holding his hands behind her lower back. ‘I want you to be my girlfriend. I want us to be together. Properly, I mean.’

  ‘Me too,’ she said. She felt like she could dive into his eyes.

  ‘I know we haven’t known each other very long, but the thing is, Jess, I think I’ve fallen totally in love with you.’

  Jess gasped as she realized what he’d just said. Nobody had ever told her that they loved her before and she was awed now with how profoundly the words rocked her.

  ‘I love you too,’ she whispered, meaning it. Knowing that this was it. This was finally what she’d been waiting for.

  She could feel her own heartbeat as she reached up and kissed him. She didn’t notice the shadow crossing them as a massive shark swam overhead.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Lace Island, 1990

  Leila woke suddenly as the gravel stone skittered across the wooden floorboards in her bedroom. She flung aside the mosquito nets and ran to the open window. Rasa was outside on the gravel staring up at her window, preparing to throw another stone.

  She felt relief flooding through her veins. All evening she’d been on tenterhooks. Chan hadn’t been at supper, and Bibi had been busy with paperwork and had insisted on the radio news being on. She hadn’t even noticed that Leila was only picking at her food, waiting an
d waiting for Rasa to send some kind of message to tell her he was OK. Despairing and worried, she’d gone to bed early to read her book, and she was amazed she’d dropped off to sleep given that she’d been so anxious.

  ‘Wait,’ she said, leaning out of the window. ‘I’ll come down.’

  She grabbed her robe and leather flip-flops and quietly opened her bedroom door. She could see Chan’s door was open. She couldn’t risk him finding her.

  The only way to get out without being seen or heard was to climb down the vine outside her window. She pushed the chair underneath her door handle and then went to the window, pulling her hair into her T-shirt. She flung aside her robe, hitched up her loose pyjama bottoms and climbed out.

  ‘What are you doing?’ hissed Rasa. ‘Are you crazy?’

  ‘Shhh,’ she laughed, suddenly remembering how she’d escaped at night in school with Judith. She felt the same sense of excitement now, only ten times more. Rasa had come to see her. He was here and all that mattered was getting to him.

  She pushed her foot through the vine and secured the grip on the trellis, holding on to the window ledge.

  ‘Careful,’ Rasa called up.

  Leila bit her lip, concentrating hard and trying to ignore the spiders she knew would probably be nesting in the leaves. Quickly, she hurried down the trellis, the plants rustling wildly.

  ‘Shhh,’ Rasa said.

  ‘I know. I’m coming,’ Leila said.

  ‘You’ll have to jump the last part,’ he told her, and she did, crashing into Rasa, who staggered backwards. A light went on in Bibi’s room.

  ‘Quick,’ warned Leila. ‘Come on.’

  She grabbed Rasa’s hand and they ran round the house into the kitchen garden. All around them, the air was alive with the sound of insects. In the distance, there was the faint sound of music from a radio.

  ‘Come in here,’ Leila said, pulling Rasa through the gateway to the small stone courtyard. There was a bench under a bower at the end of the canopy of creeping vines. The air was filled with the scent of night jasmine.

  They walked through the shadows to the stone bench at the end and huddled together, the moonlight shining through the vines, casting everything in a soft mauve.

  ‘You’re cold,’ Rasa said, seeing that Leila was shivering, but it was from excitement, not cold. She was self-conscious now, aware of her thin pyjamas and the fact that she didn’t have any underwear on.

  ‘I’m OK. What did you see?’ she urged.

  ‘They are taking something to the lighthouse,’ he said. ‘And that guy Adam, he knows about it. He’s in on it too. It’s not good, Leila.’

  ‘I told you. I knew something was wrong.’

  ‘You mustn’t say anything. Not until we find out more.’

  ‘What are they taking into the lighthouse? What could it be?’

  ‘Whatever it is, they are guarding it closely.’

  ‘They didn’t see you, did they?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so.’

  ‘I’ve been so worried.’

  Rasa smiled. ‘I’m fine. I’m just annoyed they came. When I was talking to you.’

  She looked down, embarrassed that he’d brought up their earlier conversation.

  ‘About that thing in school. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you.’

  ‘Yes, you should. And I understand that it was hard. But I’m even more sorry that someone took advantage of you. That they didn’t respect you.’

  Nothing . . . I mean nothing physically bad happened. Not really. Not, you know . . .’

  ‘You still . . . you mean?’

  Did it matter to him that she was still a virgin? That she was still untouched by any other man? He held her gaze for a moment.

  ‘Did you mean what you said? About us being best friends?’

  He nodded and still his eyes didn’t leave hers. ‘Of course. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Do you think . . .’ She fizzled out. She couldn’t ask him if he’d ever consider being more than friends. If she asked him that and he didn’t answer, then she would have lost him forever.

  ‘Think what?’

  ‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter.’ She got up to leave, crossing her arms across her chest. She had to go. If she stayed any longer, then she’d do something she regretted. ‘Chan is still awake, and I know he’s suspicious. If he finds out I’m not in my room, he’ll come looking.’

  ‘Don’t go,’ Rasa said, standing and catching her arm. As her eyes met his, he stepped forward, holding the top of her arms, and then it happened: he pressed his lips against hers for a long, delicious moment. Then he pulled away and stared at her. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be.’

  ‘I’ve wanted to do that for as long as I can remember,’ he said.

  His eyes were searching hers, as if he wanted to look into the very depths of her soul.

  ‘And I’ve wanted you to do it too,’ she said, smiling. Then she snaked her arms round his neck and kissed him again. Tentatively, his lips opened against hers and their tongues touched.

  Leila felt as if time had stopped and this perfect moment was what she’d been waiting for all her life. They kissed and kissed, and then Rasa pulled her into a long embrace, sighing like he felt as much relief as she did.

  Laughing, he held her hand and they sat down on the bench. Leila rested her head against his shoulder.

  ‘I thought about you all the time when I was away at school. I got into a fight when one of the girls stole your photograph.’

  ‘I have your photograph by my bed.’

  ‘You do?’

  ‘I think we belong to each other, Leila. I’ve always thought that. Haven’t you?’

  She nodded, feeling as though her heart was like a balloon and any minute she would just float up to the stars with happiness.

  ‘Tomorrow, let’s go diving. Just you and me and we can be alone,’ he said; then he kissed her again.

  The next morning, Leila couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she wiped down the breakfast table. Rasa had kissed her. He was hers and she was his. It was no longer a secret between them but something real.

  All of a sudden, life had become very simple. Whatever was going on with Shang and Chan, it didn’t matter. Together, she and Rasa would find a way to stop it and to keep this island safe.

  She noticed Parva, who was sweeping under the table, using unnecessary force. She kept glancing up at Leila.

  ‘You’d better forget it,’ she said, in a low, urgent voice.

  ‘Forget what?’

  ‘Forget those thoughts you are having about Rasa.’

  Leila blushed. ‘I’m not—’

  ‘You cannot be with him,’ Parva interrupted. ‘Chan would never allow it.’

  ‘It’s not up to Chan,’ Leila snapped. ‘He’s not my father.’

  ‘He is married to your mother. You are his responsibility. And I can tell you now that he’ll want a better match for you than the odd-job boy.’

  Leila was shocked. She couldn’t believe Parva was saying such a thing. She looked desperately up the corridor, worried in case Bibi or Chan might overhear this conversation.

  ‘Rasa is not an odd-job boy. He’s going to be a lawyer.’

  ‘How?’ Parva demanded, her hand on her hip. ‘Who will pay for him to study? I certainly can’t afford it. Neither can Vijay.’

  ‘He’ll find a way.’ Leila stared at Parva defiantly. Her eyes prickled with unwelcome tears.

  ‘I don’t know what you two have been doing, or why you have that look on your face, but it will end in heartbreak. You’ll see.’

  Parva had just touched on Leila’s worst fear. But whatever happened between her and Rasa, it had nothing to do with Parva, or Bibi, or Chan. Or anyone. She felt angry now that she and Rasa had been the subject of his aunt’s scrutiny when nothing had happened. Well, almost nothing. What if they were all wrong and she and Rasa were meant to be together? What could they really do about it?

  Nothing, she dec
ided. From now on, Leila was determined to make her own decisions.

  For the rest of the day, she counted the minutes until she could meet Rasa, sneaking out just after lunch with her swimming bag. She’d almost made it to where she’d left her bike in the grove when she heard the familiar sound of Chan’s moped.

  ‘There you are,’ he said, coming to a stop on the path in front of her. His eyes were bloodshot. Had he been drinking again? As early as this?

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘Nowhere.’

  ‘I have a job for you.’

  ‘But—’

  He reached behind him into a bag balancing on the back of his moped. He took out an official-looking brown envelope. ‘I want you to take this to Mr Lonegan in his bungalow for me.’

  ‘I’m late. I’m doing something else.’

  ‘It will only take you a moment, Leila,’ he said, his look stern. ‘We are all here to serve the guests, and Mr Lonegan needs this.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Take it. Whatever you’re doing can wait. This is important.’

  Leila grabbed the envelope and scowled at Chan before breaking into a run. She didn’t have much time. If she was super-quick, she could just about make it to Adam Lonegan’s bungalow and onto the beach where Rasa would be waiting, but she would have to hurry.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  London, present day

  Tony was at the reception desk in the gym, counting the money from the till onto the chipped counter, his old boxing trophies in the glass cabinet behind him. The radio that usually blared in the background was off for once and Jess could hear the traffic on the busy London road outside.

  It felt weird being back in London but not staying at the flat. Blaise had insisted on hiring a suite at the Dorchester, but with him so tied up with emails and work calls, Jess had snuck out to Tony’s gym for a workout.

  For the last ten minutes, she’d been busy explaining her absence to him and how she’d been flying around the world, but he didn’t seem as impressed as she thought he’d be. Especially when she’d told him about Blaise.