Chapter 3

Days were passing by easily and softly at Pony's Home. Annie had started to feel comfortable with her past again and together with Candy and Patty helped Miss Pony and Sister Maria to take care of the children. They all felt very nice about this reunion, even though it had happened not under the best circumstances. Archie also needed this time away from his home, where the memories of his brother where still fresh.

It was a rather warm summer and during these lovely sunny days they all tried to be more optimistic about the future. Life ought to be better from now on. The youthful company enjoyed the magnificent landscape full of blossomed fields and the wonderful weather with trips here and there.

When Archie and Annie were ready to leave, they were surrounded by a crowd of children and everybody was there to see them off. Miss Pony and Sister Maria were touched and invited them to come back soon. They were satisfied that Annie did not feel ashamed about this place anymore and was happy with Archie.

"Goodbye! We'll meet soon! Take care of yourselves!" said Candy and Patty with one voice.

As the couple was leaving, both girls had the same thought.

"I hope you won't end up like me…"

Although not admitted nor discussed by either of them, both Candy and Patty were thinking about their lost love. At Pony's Home the girls had a lot of things to do, their days were full of work; taking care of the children wasn't easy at all. However, sometimes when left alone during the evening or when they were going to bed, thinking of their lost happiness was inevitable.

Patty thought a lot about Stear. She could not easily accept the fact that he went to the war. Without a significant reason, without a good excuse, according to her opinion. He didn't have to, he didn't need to go and get himself killed. She was devastated. In her dreams she still saw him calling her name "Patty, one day we'll fly together! The sun is so beautiful from up here." Then he was flying away and his plane was crashing into the sea. Patty woke up terrified and could not easily calm down. Then she cried. He was dying once again in her dreams, in her heart. She could not easily forgive him because he left. He left her all alone, despite knowing that she loved him, knowing that he meant everything to her.

Candy, who was sleeping in the next bed, was trying to console her.

"Why? Why did he have to go there anyway? Didn't he know how much I loved him?" Patty cried.

"Of course he knew, and he loved you, too. Stear was a decent man. He could not stand seeing people dying. He just wanted to help. He didn't want to die. He never thought about that. He was hoping that he would have come back to you."

"But, he didn't!!" Patty cried.

Candy understood very well how Patty felt. She had also lost Anthony some years ago. She was just standing there over his moveless body and calling his name. How hard those times were! How many nights she had cried about her beloved! Time was the best medicine for her, for Patty too.

"Hold on Patty, it will pass. Then it will pain less. Till you forget..."

"I hope I will, too. I will never see Stear again…Just like Anthony…"

There were times when Candy also thought about her lost love. Not Anthony's, he had gone a very long time ago and their moments were now only a sweet memory. He could never come back.

She was grieving over her love for Terry. When she went in New York to meet him she was so happy. She was sure that he would ask her to stay with him. And she would. After their heartless separation in St. Paul's College, she always hoped that they would meet again. "As long as we're alive" she had thought when she cried at the port looking at his ship drawing away. It was not like with Anthony, Terry was alive and she could see him again.

But that cold night at the hospital, when Susanna tried to kill herself, it was his look that took all her hopes for happiness away. He was standing and looking frozen at her. When she saw him holding Susanna in his arms, she realized that this girl needed him more. At that moment, that terrible moment, she decided that she should leave. He grabbed her at the stairs but that was only their goodbye. It was so unfair! How she wished the time had stopped! Terry was crying, he loved her, she loved him too. However, once more life was playing games with them. First was Eliza's trap, then was Susanna's accident. Why should this happen? This girl almost sacrificed her life to save him. She even tried to kill herself so that she would not bother him anymore. He was her only reason to be alive. What could Candy do? Nothing… She was helpless. She was the one who should draw away. How much she loved him was meaningless. She could never be happy with him knowing that Susanna suffered. If Susanna was selfish, mean, things would be different. But she wasn't…

What a nightmare! Now she was trying to forget. It did not pain as it used to do, of course, and she had managed to lock their precious moments deep in her heart, as if they had happened a very long time ago. Still, sometimes she was very sad thinking that they loved each other so much and they could be together now. He would practice his lines for the play and she would make him breakfast. Tears filled up her eyes at these thoughts. Reality then reminded her of the reason why they were apart. That was the right decision.

Her sense prevailed over her heart most of the time and she didn't feel bitterly. She was content that Terry was back on Broadway and he acted again.

"On stage I can be whatever I want; a king, a thief, a lover." These were his words. This imaginary life maybe would soften his pain after their separation.

But… all that belonged to the past. Life still went on. The pain was less as time passed by. And living in Pony's Home, helping with the children, it was the best way not to think about herself. This peaceful environment was her shelter, where she could pick up the strength to continue with her life. The only thing that Candy missed at this place was Albert's company. She felt completely comfortable when he was around; he could always say the right thing to console her. She missed a lot the days they had passed together. But it couldn't be otherwise. He had other responsibilities now and could not be available as in the past. Although she was very glad that he was the leader of the family, sometimes she was sorry because those carefree moments would never come back.

Almost a month had already passed when a letter from Albert arrived. She was so happy to hear from him. She missed him already.

Candy took the letter and went to Pony's Hill to read it under her favourite tree. She sat down on the grass and opened the envelope anxiously.

"I wonder how he's doing…"

She unfolded the little piece of paper and started to read the well-written lines:

"Dear Candy,

I hope you are fine. I am sure that you work hard and are tired all the time as usual. I wonder who has the hard task of waking you up in the morning!"

"What? Now, you are really mean, Albert!!" Candy got angry. She then remembered that he had once this "task" and laughed.

And the letter continued:

"…Unfortunately, for me things aren't easy. I have to get up early, go to the office and stay there all day until late in the evening. I haven't gone even for a walk in the park since I have come back. I feel miserable. George is always here to help me. I am very lucky to have him around me.

Aunt Elroy scolds me all the time as if I were ten years old. She's unbelievable! She's watching me and is recording every move I make!

I am planning of going to Lakewood next month. I'm so longing for that! I will have the time to stay there perhaps for a couple of weeks or even more.

If you and Patty have time, come and visit me. I will be glad to see you both. Who knows? Perhaps we'll have the chance to climb a tree without Aunt Elroy seeing us!

Take good care of yourself. My best regards to Miss Pony and Sister Maria.

Yours, Albert"

Candy laughed. She imagined Albert sitting on a tree and Aunt Elroy saying that he dishonours their family name, having a headache and locking herself up in her bedroom. Poor Albert! He practically lived in his office! How difficult this could be for him. He always wanted to be free and live in nature. And climbing was one of the interests they shared! She wished she could help him in any way.

"Next month… I have missed you so much! It would be marvellous if I could come," she said smiling. "We surely could clamber a tree together!"

A thought crossed her mind. She had not climbed up her father's tree since a long time. "Why not?" she said. Every time she was up there she felt so calm and nice. As the wind was blowing, one could say it was taking all her troubles and sorrows away. She derived strength to go on with her life.

At once she grasped a branch and stretched her arm trying to reach the next one. Suddenly she felt something dropping down. That made her stop and she looked down. It was the brooch of her Prince that had slipped off her pocket. She had found it some days ago in her treasure box and she put it in her apron's pocket because it reminded her of Albert, now that he was absent. Candy kneeled down on the grass and picked it up. The brooch was shining beautifully in the sunlight. She held it in the palm of her hand and caressed this precious object tenderly with her thumb.

"My Prince's brooch! He dropped it the day I first met him," she said.

Candy forgot immediately her intention of climbing, lain down on the grass and crossed her hand behind her head forming a pillow. She looked up at the blue sky and the leaves of her favourite tree, as the latter were dancing due to the slight breeze. She closed her eyes.

"My Prince of the hill… Once I thought that it was Anthony. He was so alike! When Anthony was gone, I had never hoped that I would see my Prince again. His vision left with my dear Anthony. After that he was only a dream, a story within my mind and only this brooch made me think that I had really met him… So many years have passed without seeing him. How strange to come into my life again! "

She sighed.

"All my life my beloved persons come and go. First Anthony, then Terry and Stear… the only one left is my Prince of the Hill. Yet, he's not here with me. He would say: You must be strong, Candy. Life still goes on. The sun is rising and you have to breathe… Oh, Albert, will I lose you, too?"

She was about to begin to cry again when she heard someone calling her.

"Candyyyyyy!!"

Patty's voice roused Candy from her deep thoughts. She stood up and saw the girl calling her from the bottom of the hill.

"Here I am, Patty!! Coming!!" she answered loudly.

Patty's interference in her thoughts brought Candy back in reality. She had some responsibilities at Pony's Home. She neatened her dress and started to walk downhill.

"Yes! I'm coming. That's enough with crying, Candy! You have other things to do in your life, too."

Late in the evening the two girls were sitting in the kitchen and enjoying their tea. Candy decided to ask Patty about their visit in Lakewood.

"I received a letter from Albert today. He invites us to Lakewood for next month. What do you think of this? Would you like to go?"

"That's a wonderful idea! But… do you think that it will be fine with Miss Pony? Is it possible for us to leave now? If there isn't any problem it would be really nice. Stear has lived there and I would like to go."

Candy was a little disappointed. Patty's mind was constantly on Stear. It would not be easy at all to forget him.

Lakewood and especially the rose garden, which should be in full bloom this season, reminded her also of Anthony, but the pain was less after all these years and she could go back there without being triste.

The next morning the two girls discussed Albert's invitation with Miss Pony, who was delighted on hearing that.

"This idea is great! Of course, there is no problem. You can stay there as long as you like, my children." She said joyfully.

"Thank you, Miss Pony!!" both girls exclaimed in delight.

Time passed quickly and the day of Candy and Patty's departure was drawing near. During this time Patty had decided that she would return to England after Lakewood. So she thanked Miss Pony and Sister Maria for the wonderful time she had at Pony's Home. These peaceful days were all she needed in this difficult period of her life.