Chapter 2

Knowing more about each other

Candy and Anthony had really enjoyed their first date. The next afternoon, however, great-aunt was really upset.

- How did you do at the merry-go- round Candy? -She asked sarcastically and frowning. –

- It's very cute, great-aunt. Have you ever got a ride?

- Silence! A good girl should be ashamed to ride there.

- Why do you say that, great-aunt? I'm sure you'd love to do it.

- You too, Anthony, both have eaten without sitting at a table.

- Yes, a hot dog.

- Hot dog?

- It's much tastier to eat it standing. Isn't it Candy?

-Yes.

- Enough! And you went up to the church tower besides that, right?

- Oh ... how do you know everything?

- The townspeople tell me.

- I understand, there is never a busybody missing.

- Shut up! Is not that, what I mean is that people are always aware of us. We have to take care of family's honor, you've embarrassed the Andleys, Candy.

- Yes aunt.

- Think about it.

- Yes.

- You too, Anthony. Now, please retire.

- Yes, great-aunt. - They both answered. –

The two blondes went together to the rose garden, and sat down on the bench. It was an autumn afternoon; several roses had already withered. Anthony looked sad.

- What's wrong, Anthony?

- What happens is, I don't like that you're always being scolded Candy.

- I'll get used to it. - The girl answered calmly. –

- Great-aunt doesn't know you very well, that's why she looks at you with suspicion.

- I misbehaved with her.

- Not only her. But also Eliza and Neil know little about you.

- But Anthony knows me well, and that's enough for me. - She said smiling. –

Anthony closed his eyes and smiled wistfully.

- If my mother still lived.

- Your mother, Anthony?

- I'm sure she would have loved you very much Candy.

- She must have been very good.

- She loved the roses.

Flashback

A beautiful woman, with a sweet and gentle gaze, tended the garden's roses. A little blond boy with blue eyes calls her:

- Mom, Mom!

Anthony in the present

- If I don't see her I come to the rose garden, I always find her here. The roses fell soon, and I felt that she would go far away.

Flashback continues

- Mom, Mom!

- What's wrong, Anthony? - Asks the beautiful lady extending her arms.

- Mom! - The little boy runs to hug her crying.

- Anthony, why are you crying?

- The roses will die...

- The flowers are beautiful because they are defoliated. They grow and fall, they grow and fall, and they live forever.

- They don't die. Rosemary says as she wipes the tears from her beloved son. –

- And you don't either?

The woman nods in silence, which returns the smile to the sky-eyed child. And hugging him tenderly, his mother says:

- If I die I will live forever in your memory.

End of flashback

- Short time after that, mom died. Now I realize what she told me before she died Candy.

- She will always live in your memory Anthony.

- Yes, she is prettier than ever and lives forever. The blue-eyed affirms sweetly –

- That's why you like roses.

- I cultivate the ones mom cultivated, with all her love.

Anthony wanted to show Candy, a photograph of his mother that he sometimes kept in his jacket. Candy was amazed to see that look so sweet and full of love.

- Oh, she was very beautiful! I wonder if I'll ever be as beautiful as her.

- Candy... - The boy took her hand. He closed his eyes, and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. Candy was surprised. –

- You are beautiful, and every day you will be more beautiful.

- Anthony... Candy feels the warmth and sweetness of that kiss on her cheek, and is touched by such beautiful words. Without needing to say anything, she hugs him and rests her face on the strong chest of her dear Anthony.

The next day, Candy said good morning to Stear, who was working on a new invention.

- What are you preparing Stear?

- It's for family's lunch.

- Lunch?

- Didn't you know? It is an annual event. The whole family gathers for lunch outdoors.

And of course, you too Candy. Insurance will be your presentation in society.

- And what should I do?

- Nothing, act like always.

Anthony! The handsome boy came to her. –

Do you want to see my multipurpose cutter, Anthony?

- How does it work?

- I will show you. By pressing these buttons, I can choose which knife to use according to what I will cut.

Stear pressed the button that was supposed to pull the small knife for desserts, but nothing happened.

- How strange ... - Suddenly the artifact felt very hot and began to smoke. Stear released him, and struck so hard on the floor, that the invention fell apart.

- Are you ok, Stear?

- Yes, I'd better make something less risky. The inventor smiled resignedly. And then the three of them laughed heartily. –

- Hello people! Great-aunt calls you all. Archie said excitedly from the door. –

- Another sermon?

The blond asked. –

- No, she's happy today, hurry up.

The young ones came to the dining room.

- Hmm, I smell a cake!

Stear said.-

- Try for the first time, Great-aunt's cake! Archie said from the table. –

- I haven't cooked for 10 years.

- Indeed, the matriarch of the family smiled sincerely. –

It seems very tasty, great-aunt. - Stear commented. –

- Serve yourselves.

- Delicious! Anthony exclaimed.

- Good! Stear continued. –

- Thank you very much, great-aunt. - Candy said with a big smile, the cakes were her favorite dessert. –

Mrs. Elroy was very happy to see them enjoying the snack. Honestly, the night before she felt sorry for having rebuked Candy and Anthony. Actually, she realized that Candy was charming. Naughty, but sweet, brave and determined at the same time. However, having always been firmly raised, and feeling alone, she could not express her feelings. So she decided to prepare that dessert specially to show the little girl, the affection that now had for her. Once they finished eating, the lady spoke.

- Candy.

- Yes aunt?

- I'll introduce you on Sunday at the family lunch.

- Congratulations Candy! Anthony smiled. –

- What a joy! Cried the Cornwell brothers. -

- I'll tell you one thing, try to behave properly. - She said calmly, but at the same time firm. –

- Yes, great-aunt.

On Friday, Great Aunt left early. Great-uncle William, the mysterious patriarch of the Andleys, called for a meeting with her in Chicago. Candy wanted to walk and play with Clint for a while. After breakfast, she was ready to leave. But before she reached the stairs, someone called.

- Candy, wait!

- Dorothy!

- Candy, you shouldn't go out alone.

- It's all right, Dorothy. I've been walking alone many times.

- But Candy, Mrs. Elroy will be mad if you go out alone. Someone must take care of you, I will join you.

- I don't like to depend on, Miss Pony and Sister Maria taught me to be careful.

- Please, Candy, understand. If you let me go with you, we will avoid you're scolded.

- Well, OK.

The two young women left the house together with the little coati. It was a cool and pleasant day. Candy was happy to be able to spend some time with her dear friend, she didn't like to spend all day between those large walls. Clint had moved away a little and was out of sight.

- Clint, come here! - Candy called him. Suddenly, the little animal came running scared. –

- What is it, Clint?

The little one had heard a strange noise among some bushes. From there came another little animal, bigger than Clint, but adorable, it was the little black lion Candy recognized immediately.

- Licorice! What are you doing here?

The cub cheerfully approached Candy, but Clint was still scared. Dorothy was afraid, too.

- Watch out Candy!

- Calm down, Dorothy, he's friendly, look at him.

Seeing him close, the young woman in braids smiled, noting that he was really tender, encouraged to pet him, who gave a purr as answer.

- Don't fear Clint, he won't hurt you.

Clint approached the little lion slowly, and sniffed it. Licorice also sniffed the coati. And quickly, the two little animals played happily. At that moment, a voice was heard:

- Licorice! Where are you?

- Come here! There was a second voice. Candy quickly identified them. –

- Nadja, Rita!

- Candy! - They exclaimed when they arrived.

- Here's licorice.

- Naughty cub! Don't scare us like that. - Rita rebuked him, the little one ducked his head in dismay.

- Candy, do you know them?

- Yes, Dorothy, Anthony and I met them recently, along with their entire group. They are members of a circus, it's a lot of fun. Girls, she's my friend Dorothy.

- Hello, I'm Rita.

- And me Nadja, it's a pleasure.

- Equally. - Said the young woman smiling. –

- Where are the others?

- They're waiting for us in the car, we're taking a break today. - Nadja explained. –

- Do you accompany us? Asked Rita. –

- Can we Dorothy?

- Okay, but just for a while, we should go back early.

Not far away was the car, everyone was happy to see Candy again and she also to them. Everyone greeted Dorothy, they also asked for Anthony. Rita had fun playing with the cubs and Clint while Candy was climbing a tree. Suddenly, she remembered something.

- Soon will be Anthony's birthday, Stear told me it's on September 30th. She spoke to herself, did not imagine she was being heard. –

- Candy?

- Nadja!

- Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, I thought you'd want company.

- No Nadja, on the contrary, thank you. You also like climbing trees?

- Yeah, since she was little. I always climbed the big apple tree at the Applefield orphanage.

- Orphanage?! You…?

- Yes, I grew up in the Applefield orphanage in England.

- I also grew up in an orphanage!

- Really?!

- Yes, it's called: Pony's home, I climbed the Father Tree.

- Father tree?

- We call it that way, it's strong and massive.

- At home we have Miss Pony and Sister Maria, they are like our mothers. And we like to imagine that our father is at the foot of the tree.

- Wow! I didn't expect we had so much in common. Commented the blue-eyed girl.

- Hahaha!

- Candy, I couldn't help but hear you say that Anthony's birthday is coming up.

- It's true ... The green-eyed blushed.

- Nadja could see that sweet and excited look in that pair of emeralds, remembered that she herself at that age had the same. She wondered what the man she loved was doing at the moment. Honestly, when she saw the two blondes together, she reminded herself in her teens.

- Have you thought of giving him something special?

- The truth is that I'm not sure, he already has everything and I was recently adopted by his family.

- Hmmm ... Tell me Candy, you like him a lot, right?

- You are right. - Answered the blushing girl.

- Then you have what it takes.

- What do you mean Nadja?

- Candy, if you love someone, the best gift you can give is what comes from your heart. You can have many material things, but the most invaluable treasure of all is love and true friendship.

At these words, Candy remembered that Sister Maria had given her this teaching.

Flashback

- The real happiness is not to wear a beautiful party dress Candy, nor to inhabit a nice room. True happiness consists in having many friends.

End of flashback

- Nadja, that's right. Thank you very much, you have given me an idea.

Candy said making a wink to her new friend.

- You're welcome, Candy. Nadja smiled. –

Candy, let's go! Soon it will be time for lunch. The young chestnut called.

. - I'm coming Dorothy!

- See you later, Candy! - The Dandelion group said goodbye. –

- See you soon!

Candy, Dorothy and Clint returned to the Lakewood mansion. Fortunately, Great Aunt hadn't returned yet. Anthony, who had been tending the rose garden that morning, welcomed Candy with a tender embrace, smiled sweetly at Dorothy, and stroked Clint.

- Did you have fun, Candy?

- Yes, Anthony, and we met our new friends.

- You mean the Dandelion Troupe?

- Yes! Everyone sent you greetings.

- Thank you.

Candy was planning something very special for Anthony; she wanted to give him an unforgettable birthday.

To be continued…