Small Word
Chapter 3
"An unexpected development"
Candy was depressed after Terry's departure. He wasn't coming to the community kitchen anymore, or he would come when she wasn't there. But according to the other volunteers, Terry wasn't coming at all. Candy didn't want to talk to her father about what happened with Terry. She didn't want her father to be saddened. and it was her problem,it wasn't her father's... And her father wasn't a bad man. If he bought the Grandchester's family, that meant it was for sale, but the business world was ruthless. Scheeming? Her father maybe had done some but there must be a plausible explanation.
She called Annie in tears.
- Candy? What's going on?
- Oh Annie, said Candy sobbing
- Candy? I'm on my way…
Annie hung up the phone and she ran to her friend's house. She rang at her door and Candy opened, she was still crying. She fell into Annie's arms sobbing louder.
- Oh sweetie, what's going on? Everything is going to be fine. Tell me what's wrong, it can't be that bad…
They walked together to the living room and they sat on the couch and Candy was still crying in Annie's arms who was giving her Kleenex from a box that was on a coffee table next to the couch. Candy told her what happened…
- He refused to listen to you?
- He was very angry…
- Candy, he just dumped you… stop defending him…
- Annie you're not helping…
- You should ask your father what happened…
- No, I don't want to bring him in this story
- He's already in the story…
- I don't want to get upset with him…
- But if he's guilty…
- I want to find out what happened first before I accuse him
- You love him a lot, don't you?
- He's my family…
- You can have a family with Terry…
- He just dumped me, and I don't want to beg him! He can go to hell! I should've stayed in my corner and not talk to him
- Candy, life is made of risks… who risks nothing, gets nothing.
- I risked and in the end, I still got nothing…
- You'll get over it…
- Yes and I'm going to forget Romeo…
- And Juliet… you've redone the story, with families enemies
- Romeo and Juliet loved each other…
- And you don't love Terry?
- I do, I love him like crazy… but he doesn't love me… je just wanted a roll in the hay…
- Then, he ran out of here…
- You say that like he was looking for a way to run away…
- Men are so stupid some times
- Well, I don't want stupid men! He can go to hell!
- Everything is going to be fine Candy, you'll see…
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Terry arrived at Archie's in rage. He was ringing like a nutcase… Archie got out of his bed with difficulty to go open the door. He was wearing shorts.
- Are you out of your mind! Why are you ringing like a nutcase?
- I want to come in, said Terry getting in
Archie moved from the door.
- Make yourself at home…
Terry came in with big steps. He went to the bar and he poured himself a glass of Scotch.
- This early in the morning? What the heck is going on dude?
- I just came from Candy's…
- This early in the morning?
- Don't you have anything else to day? Said Terry drinking his glass with one shot.
- You spent the night with Candy…
- That's why I was at her place so early in the morning, like you were saying…
- What happened for you to barge in here in rage… it wasn't good? You couldn't perform?
Terry gave him the look.
- What? I'm trying got understand your anger…
- My performance has nothing to do with my anger… I have missed with a girl and you know it…
- All right Mr. Arrogant, so tell me why showed up at my door ringing like a nutcase, so early in the morning…
- I saw a picture on Candy's fridge
- And…?
- She was with William Andrew…
- She dated him?
- Worst, she's his daughter…
- Oh my God! But her name?
- She didn't give me Andrew as her last name…
- Oh my God Romeo… your Juliet is really Juliet, your families are enemies…
- Be careful what you wish for…
- This is really the case to say it… what did she say?
- I don't know…
- You didn't ask her for explanations?
- No, I was so angry I stormed out of there…
- What? But you'd just made love, you could've asked her for explanations!
- She's William Andrew's daughter! She must be in on it with her father! No scruples! She could've seduced me to make fun of me…
- Terry sometimes you surprise me with your stupid reasoning! Candyloves you and you love her too!
- She's William Andrew's daughter, I'm going to stop loving her…
- Those things don't work like that…
- Well it's going to work for me! I'm going to stop loving her! Said Terry angry
- All right dude… don't yell at me…
- Sorry dude
- What are you going to do now?
- I want to find proof that the sale of my company was illegal and I want to buy it back…
- That's not going to be easy, but we can do it… I still have the money you got from the sale…
- Good…
- What about Candy?
- What about Candy?
- You don't want to talk to her?
- I don't want to see her ever again…
- We'll talk about it later…, said Archie, now, I'm going to go back to bed. You can stay here and calm yourself down…
Archie went back to his room. Terry, had a headache, because he was so angry. Candy had played him, she was William Andrew's daughter! The man he hated more than anything in the world…
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Weeks went by and Candy was still working with her father. She still looked sad, she was having lunch with her father in his office.
- Daddy?
- Yes my darling?
- Can I ask you a question?
- Of course my darling…
- All the acquisitions you make, you negotiate them yourself?
- Sometimes…
- Not always?
- No, your ex-father-in-law was one of my associates
- Was?
- Yes, when your marriage ended, I chose to part myself from him…
- You didn't need to do that , said Candy
- Yes I did, especially since I suspected him using not very legal ways to acquire companies…
- Really? But that wasn't your fault…
- It was indirectly… I was responsible…
- What if you tried to find out and fix the situation?
- That's a good idea, but I don't have the time to do that …
- I could do it…
- You? Why the heck would you want to do something like that
- I don't like the image that gives you…
- What image?
- That you're a ruthless man who eats companies for breakfast…
- My darling, they say all kind of things about me…
- And a lot of those things are not true…
- What's going on honey? You had problems because of what I've done?
- No, I just want to clean up your image, if I can…
- All right sweetie, you go ahead… but it's a big job…
- It doesn't scare me… thank you daddy! Said Candy smiling
They finished their lunch. Candy cleaned up the table and kissed her daddy on the forehead.
- Did you like it?
- Chinese food is always good, but if you've been craving a lot of things lately…
- That's true, I'm been craving chinese food lately, said Candy smiling
- You're coming for dinner tonight, right?
- All right daddy! See you later.
- See you later sweetie
Candy got out of her father's office and she went to ask the staff to send her all the files on the last acquisitions her ex-father-in-law made… And she started studying them with attention…
Later that night, she went to her father's manor. It was very big. Her father lived alone with his mother.
- Candy, she said, it's good to see you. You should live her… I don't like it that you're living alone…
- Grandmother, I'm a big girl, I have to manage on my own… I can't live with you forever…
- Yes you can, said her grand-mother, there's enough space for an army here… I thought after your marriage ended you would've come and live here to get consoled
- You've always been wonderful with me, but I'm fine. I got over the fact that I couldn't have any children…
- With modern technology, there are other ways to have children, said her father and I can pay for the treatment
- Daddy, that's very nice of you, but my biological clock is not ticking yet, said Candy laughing
- I want to be a great-grandmother, I'd like a great-grandchild
- Grandmother, you still have a few years to live, said Candy smiling
- From your mouth to God's ears, sweetie…
A maid arrived to say:
- Dinner is served
- Thank you DOrothee, said the grandmother
They went to the dining room and had diner in a good atmosphere.
- So Candy, how's your love life? Asked her grandmother
- Well I really don't have much time to go out
- Why? You're young and pretty, you have to start thiking about yourself, honey… all the men are not like Daniel Reagan…
- Thank God for that, said William laughing
Candy smiled and didn't say anything. She thought about Terry, her attempt to live a new love story was a big fiasco. She didn't want to think about men… anyway, she was thinking about Terry…
She went back to her place, despite her grandmother's insistence to spend the night.
- Grandmother, I'm going to be fine, I'll come back soon.
- I hope your father doesn't treat you like a slave.
- Daddy is the best boss in the world, you know that.
She hugged her father.
- Good night daddy, I love you.
- I love you too honey, he said hugging her back
Candy was in her bed thinking about Terry…
- Oh Romeo, I love you so much… come back to me please. I love you…
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- Candy! Hurry up! Yelled Annie, we're going to be late!
- Annie, I'm not feeling good… I don't think I can make it
- What's wrong?
- I keep throwing up, I probably ate something not very fresh…
- Something not very fresh? Maybe you've got a bun in the oven…
- What? No. That's impossible… I can't have children, remember?
- I say all the puking are a sign that you've got a bun in the oven…
- I have to get laid first…
- Earth to Candy: didn't you get laid with your Romeo, a few weeks ago?
- Yes, but…
- Did you use protection?
- No, it was useless…
- Candy! Condoms are not only good to prevent pregnancies; they're also good to prevent diseases!
- You're right, in my enthousiasm, I didn't think about AIDS…
- Candy! Do you know how many people forgot and regretted it because of the consequences? Let's forget about our shopping, let's go to the hospital and have some tests done…
- Annie you're exaggerating…
- Maybe so, honey, but I don't want to lose you. Let's go!
The two young women went to the hospital, the went to St. Joan's for the tests. They took Candy's blood. She was on a hospital bed in the emergency room, she had a hospital gown on. Annie was waiting for her.
- We're going to spend the day here, said Candy, we're going to spend our Saturday at the hospital! Couldn't we have just bought a home pregnancy test at the pharmacy?
- Those tests are often wrong… and her they can also seeif you have any other disease…, said Annie
- I like it when you behave like a mom with me, Annie
- You miss her don't you? Your mom?
- Of course I miss her, and daddy misses her too, said Candy sadly
Two hours went by before a doctor came to see them.
- Miss Andrew? Said the doctor
- Yes, said Candy
- I'm doctor Michael Durant, he said smiling
- Hello, said Candy smiling
- What's nice face like you, is doing in the emergency room on a nice Saturday afternoon?
Candy burst out laughing and Annie shook her head.
- I think I have a stomach flu
- A stomach flu?
- I can't keep anything in my stomach
- That's not good… you need something and you have to drink, otherwise you're going to be dehydrated…
- I have to eat indeed, but for the moment, I'm craving a sub with assorted meat…
- And the sauce?
- Yes!
- I know a place where they make the best submarines, continued the doctor, I'd liketo take you there for lunch…
- Why not? Said Candy smiling
A nurse arrived with Candy's file.
- Let's see what your files says
- What's wrong with me?
- We have the result of your tests… your stomach flu is a bun in the oven…
- WHAT?! But that's impossible! I can't have children…
- Your test results are saying the opposite…
- But… my marriage fell apart because of that…
- So you go tell the good news to your husband, said the doctor with a little sadness
- I'm not married anymore, said Candy blushing
- What a great news! Said the doctor smiling, so I can still have lunch with you?
Candy 's head was spinning. Pregnant? She was pregnant with Terry's child? But…? With Daniel,she had tried for so long… they had told her that she had a problem… Pregnant?! She was going to have Terry's baby! Her heart was full of joy all of a sudden…
- Lunch? She said
- We have to celebrate that! It's a miracle! Let me invite you for dinner tonight.
- Yes, a real miracle, said Candy smiling, Annie! I'm pregnant!
Annie stood up and hugged her friend laughing.
- Yes, sweetie, that's wonderful! Said Annie laughing, absolutely wonderful!
- Doctor, other than that. I'm fine, right?
- Everything is fine, you need some prenatal vitamins, but aside from that, everything is fine.
- Thank you, said Candy smiling
- I'll need your address to come and pick you up, said the doctor
- Seriously? Said Candy
- Seriously…
- All right, since I'm in a good mood… here is my address, she said writing it on a piece of paper
- Thank you ,said the doctor
- That's not unethical? Asked Annie
- I'm the doctor on call, not Miss Andrew's doctor…
- Annie, that's enough, I'm just going to have dinner and he's a doctor, so he'll be able to take care of me…
- But Candy…
- Good bye doctor, see you tonight.
- See you tonight… you can go back home. Here is your prescription for you prenatal vitamins.
- Thank you
The doctor left. Candy got dressed.
- Don't tell anybody…
- I can't hide it from Archie
- If you're sure he's not going to say anything…
- I can make him swear…
- Annie, please, don't say anything… he's going to be forced to hide it from Terry, who is his best friend…
- You're right. Ok, I won't say anything… you're going to tell your father and grandmother?
- It's going forward Annie… I will have to tell them eventually, even if I don't say anything…
She put her hand on her belly.
- Isn't that true, my love ? I already love you so much, you know that? My little miracle… Thank you Lord! I'm pregnant!
She hugged Annie and they were both laughing out loud.
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