The Crying Rain

Chapter 2
"The date"

St. Jules Hospital was always the same; calm when there was no wounded brought there. Candy started her early shift giggling and singing. She had left the apartment very early and Susanna was asleep, or so she thought. This last one was tossing and turning in her bed when she heard Candy getting ready to leave for work singing and cheerful. Ever since she had known Candy, she had never seen Candy so cheerful and happy. She kind of like the gloomy and sad Candy, because she was invisible, literally, until yesterday evening when she was in the living room reading for the first time in months, the day she brought Terrence to the apartment only to have him fall of Candy! Candy was still singing and then she left for work. Susanna was sad, angry and furious against her roommate!

Candy was at work singing and smiling at the patient, who where surprised. Her colleagues and the doctors were also surprised. A young doctor name Joey Sherman, liked Candy, but she was always so sad in her little corner and barely talked to anybody ever since her husband died all those months ago. He saw a window of opportunity to talk to her.

- Well Mrs. Brown, he said.

- Doctor Sherman, said Candy smiling, hello!

Dr. Sherman looked at her, she was so much prettier when she smiled.

- Well hello! He said, it's so good to see you smiling.

- It's good to be smiling, said Candy laughing.

- Well, I'm glad you're feeling better!

- I haven't forgotten about my husband, but I don't think he would want me to be sad all the time…, said Candy.

- That's the spirit! Said D. Sherman smiling.

- I have to go doctor, said Candy, I'll see you later.

Candy went back to her work, singing and smiling to everybody. Another nurse showed up and she followed Dr. Sherman's eyes.

- Mrs. Brown? She said.

- Yes, she's cheerful today…

- Really? I wonder who made her so happy…

- What? Said Dr, Sherman, you think she got lucky?

- I would be smiling if I got lucky last night…

- But she loved her husband so much…

- Now she's happy with someone else.

- How do you know it's another man?

- I know from a experience, that only a man can make a grieving widow this happy…

The nurse left and Dr. Sherman was a little sad. Candy was seeing another man? He wished he had made his move, but she was so cold , so sad and almost invisible…

Candy's colleague name Dana was looking at her.

- Ok, Candy, out with it!

- What? Said Candy smiling.

- You're smiling…

- I always smile.

- Not since your poor hubby died…

- He wouldn't want me to be unhappy for the rest of my life…

- I know he wouldn't, but it took you more than 6 months to smile again…

- I had lost my husband and I thought I would never be able to smile again, then last night…

- What happened last night?

- My roommate came with this guy from her work …

- What did he do to make you smile?

- He kissed my hand…

- That's it?

- Yes, and it made me laugh out loud! I hadn't laughed like that in weeks!

- Wow!

- Then he invited me for diner, first, I tried refusing, then he invited me for lunch…today at 1 pm.

- So I'll get to see him… what does he look like?

- He's tall dark and handsome and he's got the most gorgeous blue-green eyes…

- Oh my God! You've fallen in love again! Don't let this guy go! Keep him!

- I will! Said Candy smiling, now can we get back to work?

- Yes, let's go! Said Dana smiling.

Candy was smiling, but she was also thinking about Susanna's reaction, she was sulking the whole time Terry was nice to her. But … Terry was good for her, she felt hope when he was there, she felt fine, and Susanna would've said something if it really bothered her… Terry … She will have to ask him when she sees him later. Time couldn't go fast enough for Candy. She was eager for 1 pm to come… She concentrated on her work and then, it was finally 1 pm.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Terry was counting the minutes until 1 pm. He was nervous, he was anxious and exited at the same time. He felt like a little boy on Christmas morning. The world was going to hell with the stupid war, and he was more excited than anything!

"I can't stop thinking about this girl! I'm going to go to the hospital and wait for her." He thought

So Terry was in the waiting room around 12:30 pm, waiting for Candy's lunch time. Since he was an actor, some people recognised him, and so did the medical staff.

- By the way, girls, that young actor, Terrence Grandchester, is in the waiting room…, said one.

- Is he sick? Asked another one.

- No, I asked him and he said he was waiting for someone…

Candy heard them talking. Terry was already there waiting for her? Was he as excited as she was to see him? Dana looked at Candy.

- Candy? Is that your date? Terrence Grandchester? Asked Dana.

- Yes, said Candy looking down.

- What? Said the other nurses! The little widow has a date with Terrence Grandchester?

- Girls! Said Dana, be nice! Candy, you're lucky, he's a very very good catch and if he wasn't an actor, his father is a duke…

- I'm just having a lunch date with him, said Candy, I'm not going to marry him!

- I'm just saying, if you like him and if he likes you, it's ok… you can go for it, if not for the financial security…

- My late husband's family is very rich too… he set up an account for me so, I'm fine financially…

- Right! So if you go be with him it won't be for his money…

- Who cares about his money? said another one, he's drop dead gorgeous! You lucky little widow! You deserve some fun!

- I still miss my husband, said Candy

- Yes, but he's dead. You have a new guy and he's alive and kicking…, said Dana

Candy didn't respond to her friend. She was excited to see Terry, but she was thinking about Anthony too… she couldn't help it.

"Oh Anthony, I need your help to move on baby… please help me" She thought

Candy change to go on her date with Terry. She walked to the waiting room and he was talking to children. Her colleagues were snooping on her…

- Hello, she said smiling

Terry looked up, their eyes met… he smiled.

- Hello, he said, you look lovely…

- Thank you, you too… she said.

She felt stupid, but she didn't know what else to say.

- Thank you, said Terry smiling, shall we go?

- Yes, said Candy smiling.

They left together talking. Terry took her to a little restaurant not too far from the hospital. Candy realised for the first time that she was really hungry that day; her appetite was back. They ordered their lunch. They were sitting facing each other.

- Tell me about yourself, said Terry, I want to get to know you.

- All right, said Candy, my name is Candice White Andrew Brown, I'm a widow, at this young age of mine, my husband died 7 months ago…

- What about your childhood?

- I was abandoned on the doorstep of an orphanage and raised there until I was 12, they I got "adopted" she said doing the bracket sign with her fingers, by a family from hell, for several months, after that I was officially adopted by William Andrew, the billionaire and I fell in love with his favourite nephew, and I married him…

- So young?

- We loved each other, so we figured, why wait?

- Why wait indeed? And what made you leave America to come to this terrible war?

- We wanted to help the wounded. He was a biologist and he studied medical plants which helped wounds heal faster…so he was very helpful…

- What about his patent?

- I got the rights on it of course… but this was not about money…

- I believe you, said Terry; you don't look like a selfish money grabbing widow!

Candy smiled.

- Being in this war together was a project we thought about long and hard. We had to fight his family, first when I wanted to become a nurse, then when we wanted to come here…

- They accused you of influencing him…

- He was a grown man…

- I'm not accusing you…

- I'm blaming myself…

- You didn't force him to come with you, he wanted to come…

- Yes, he did…and now he's dead.

- I'm sorry if I'm making you relive painful memories

- No, it's fine. It's the first time I'm talking about it without bursting into tears…You …

- What…?

- You , make me feel better, she said with a little voice.

Terry's eyes lit up and he smiled.

- I'm glad I could help, he said happy.

- Thank you so much… my days were so happy when he was alive, because we were going to see each other in the evening, so no matter how bad the day was, the thought that I would be in his arms in the evening made my days better…

- What would you do?

- Depending on our moods, sometimes we would buy food at a restaurant and go back home to eat it, or, I would cook something fast in our little apartment… then he would come back home and we would make love before we eat, we would eat together, holding each other and we would make love again like it was the last time, since we didn't know what tomorrow would bring…

Candy had tears in her eyes.

- But that didn't diminish the pain, the day he didn't come home…I was happy I got to make love to him the night before he died, but… the pain was still unbearable… I wished I had made a baby, at least I would've had something from him…

- Why didn't you have a baby?

- We wanted to wait the end of the war, but if it had happened, we would've been happy…Now he's dead!

- It's ok, Candy said Terry holding her hand and giving her his handkerchief, you can cry…

- I'm sorry, she said, I didn't mean to be so emotional, I don't think I would ever get used to this.

- Don't be sorry… and you shouldn't get used to it… we're getting to know each other…

- Actually you're getting to know me… what about you?

- Me? Well, I was born out of wedlock…my mother is an American Broadway Actress…

- Really? Do I know her?

- Do you know Eleonor Baker?

- Oh my God! You're Eleonor Baker's son! My husband had the biggest crush on your mother! Oh my God! That sounds so weird!

- It does, he said smiling.

- So you didn't grow up with your mother, since you've got the English accent.

- My father had custody of me, and he's married to my stepmonster…

- Not a very happy childhood, I gathered…

- Not! He said, I was in boarding most of the time and had a big fight with my father because I became an actor like my unworthy mother…

- What about your mother, does she support you on this?

- I don't talk to her.

- Why?

- A few years ago, I actually ran away and went to America to look for her… big mistake! She sent me back to the house of hell saying nobody should know she was my mother if I wanted to inherit the title of the duke of Grandchester!

- I'm sorry… maybe she wasn't thinking…

- She came a few months later to speak to me, and I rejected her… I haven't spoken to her since…

- That's not good…Terry, I don' t have a mother, but I can tell you, if I had one, I would do everything to have a relationship with her…you're very lucky to have a mother, don't take her for granted

- It's funny, hearing it from you, makes sense to me…

- Maybe you just needed to hear it from the right person

- Do you believe in soul mates?

- Soul mates?

- Yes, they say God did all the souls and split them in two and put them into a man and a woman…that man and that woman are destined to find each other during their life time…

- How do you know when you found your soul mate?

- When it happens you'll know it, everything is going to feel right, you'll feel so good with that person, you'll feel like you're with yourself…

- Really? I hope I feel that way one day, said Candy looking into his eyes.

They remained silent for a while looking at each other. Candy was feeling a little scared by all the feelings that was growing inside her.

- I hope so too, he said.

- I never thought you'd be a hopeless romantic…

- Shuuut! He said putting his finger on his lips, don't tell my fans.

- Your secret is safe with me! She said smiling.

- I knew I could trust you! He said smiling.

- You're fun to be with, Terry. You made me laugh again. Thank you so much, said Candy moved.

- You're very welcome, you should smile more Little Miss Sunshine; you're much prettier when you're smiling than when you're crying…

Those words sounded like an echo in her head…

"You're much prettier when you're smiling than when you're crying…Anthony used to say that to me…"

She looked at Terry and she smiled.

- Candy, he said, I'm not going to lie to you, I'm going to be straight forward. I really like you. I would like to be your friend and maybe more if you're ready. I'm not pressuring you

- What if I'm never ready…?

- Then, you're never ready, I'll move on….

"I'm going to spend the rest of my life convincing you, if it's the last thing I l do, thought Terry"

- All right Terry, thanks for not pressuring me…

- The fact that you're here is giving me hope…

- I never thought I would go on a date with another man, but you gave me hope…

She smiled. It was happening too fast… She had met him the night before and he heart just opened itself to him, she felt alive all of sudden in his presence. She had died with Anthony and she came back to life with Terry, when she looked at him, when he kissed her hand.

They finished their lunch and he took her back to the hospital and he kissed her hand.

- I would like to have dinner with you tonight too…

- I thought I told you I couldn't tonight…

- Why you have another man dating you?

- Well, Susanna…

- That's what I thought! She's just a colleague, I'm not dating her, I'm not dating anybody

- But she seemed like she wanted something to happen between you two

- Well, I'm going to be honest with you, if I hadn't seen that night, I might have kissed her…

- Just kiss her….

- I don't know what might have happened, and we'll never know, because from the moment I saw you, you were the only woman in the world for me…

- Oh Terry, she said moved

- Nothing happened with Susanna, I promise you. So you're not betraying your friend

- Thanks for reassuring me…I'll have dinner with you then…, she said smiling

- What time does your shift ends?

- I have to stay longer today, I'll be done a 6 pm.

- I'll come and pick you up.

- All right, said Candy, I'd like that, thank your for the lunch, it was very good and I enjoyed the company.

- The pleasure was all mine, he said smiling.

- I have to get back to work, she said smiling.

He took her right hand and kissed it.

- Have a nice rest of the day, he said, I'll be here at 6 pm to pick you up…

- All right, she said smiling and looking at him in the eyes

She felt so good in his presence. She walked back to change and to work and he went back to the theatre. He met Susanna who was sulking, but she smiled when she saw Terry.

- Susanna! He said.

- Terry!

- I just came back from my lunch date with Candy, she's the sweetest girl I've ever met! I would like to thank you for allowing me to meet her!

He hugged her, he was very happy.

- Anytime, she said without enthusiasm.

- She's the woman I've been waiting for, I feel so good with her, and it's incredible! I'm glad I took you to your apartment yesterday!

- It's funny because she used to lock herself in the bedroom and I never see her when I bring friends home…

- I guess it was my lucky day then, to come to your apartment the day she decides to come out of her bedroom. It was fate, it was meant to be…

- You believe in fate?

- You just said she was always in her room and the day I come to your apartment for the first time, she's in the living room reading?

- I guess you're right somehow…it was meant to be…

"I wanted you to be with me…I love you Terry! But you took one look at Candy and that was it! Damn you Candy! Why did I ever needed a roommate?!"

oOoOoOoOoOo

Candy at the hospital had her colleagues all over her.

- How was he? Asked one

- A perfect gentleman, she said

- I bet he is, his father is a duke, said another one

- You're lucky Candy! Said Dana

Candy put on her uniform and was ready for her rounds.

- I lost my husband, whom I loved very much, I don't consider myself lucky at all! All right girls, let's go…

- Sorry Candy, but you know what I mean. I know you suffered from your husband's death, but life is giving you a second chance with the son of the duke

- It was only one lunch date! And you guys have me married to him already!

- Just keep an open mind, ok. The last time we saw you this happy was when your husband was still alive. He's good for you… God knows the doctors here tried to get your attention…

- They did? Said Candy stunned

- You see what I mean? You didn't even notice them! You couldn't see them, but you saw the son of the duke…

Candy remain silent; Terry was indeed the only man she saw, since her husband died, that must mean something.

- Dana, let's go back to work…Thanks for the pep talk, she said.

The nurses went back to work. The was still going strong, lives were lost, lives were taken, but the world continued to turn.

Candy finished her shift and Terry was waiting for her. She was so happy to see him. He came out of the car and opened the door for her.

- Hi, she said

- Hello little Miss Sunshine, he said smiling, I have to pass by the theatre before we go to the restaurant for our dinner

- It's all right, I'm all yours! She said smiling

He looked at her smiled. He got in the car and they drove to the theatre. He took her to his change room and there was a table for two ready with some food.

- Oh, said Candy dinner is ready!

- Yes. You like my surprise?

- Yes, I do and I'm starving!

He helped he pulled the chair for her and they sat down and they ate dinner. They talked about everything. He told her about his college years.

Candy was alive again, she was feeling hungry again, she was looking forward to something, to someone, even if it was all so sudden, it was a good thing. She had a really nice dinner with Terry.

After dinner he took her home and walked her to her apartment door. He wanted to kiss her so much, but he didn't want to scare her, it took him everything in him, but he managed to take her hand and kissed it.

- I had a really good day Terry, thank you so much, she said.

- I'm glad I made you smile, he said, life is too short to be sad.

- You don't have to tell me that. I needed a reason to smile again, and you made me smile again. Good night Terry and thank you.

- Good night, Little Miss Sunshine…

Candy got in the apartment and Terry left. She found Susanna in the living room reading.

- Susanna? Hi!

- It's weird to see you coming from a date…

- Terry wanted have dinner with me…

- On top of lunch?

- Yes…

- You really must have marked him, but he's a womaniser, she said, once he gets what he wants, he's going to drop you like a hot potato…

Candy felt sad.

- Really? He's done this a lot?

- Girls are a dime a dozen for him!

Terry told Susanna that Candy was the one he was waiting for, so she was trying to discourage her…

- You're a grieving widow, the perfect target. He's just playing with you, just be careful, have your fun, but don't expect much from him, no commitment! He's a dog!

Candy felt her like they were tearing her heart out.

- Well, he just wants to be my friend and help me move on with my life, that's all. There's nothing between us, just friendship… thanks for introducing me to him…good night Susanna!

Candy went to her room with tears in her eyes. It was too good to be true. Terry only wanted to play with her! She was a grieving widow and he wanted to take advantage of her vulnerability and have a little fun.

"But he seemed so sincere! He's an actor, he can play any role and he did say that I wouldn't know if he was acting or not…no no no! That's not fair, I feel so good with him! No, Terry! You really just want to have fun with me? Well after the war, I'm going back to America, so… I guess I can use him as my rebound guy…"

Candy was trying to find excuses to still feel good about Terry… the rebound guy? Why not!?