CHAPTER 4: Suddenly Clear
Neal, Daisy and Eliza were playing cards in Daisy's train compartment on the way back to Chicago. All of a sudden, they heard someone knocked at the door frantically. Before long Dorothy came to report what happened.
"Master Neal, the conductor is here. They found an unconscious woman outside. According to her paperwork, her name is Candice Ardlay. I think she does look like Ms. Candice. They wonder if we want to care for her," said Dorothy.
Neal, Daisy, and Eliza went outside to confirm the news. They saw one train staff carrying Candy's seemingly lifeless body. Neal came forward to check. Yes, she's Candy, unmistakably her. His heart melted instantly with worries. Knowing all eyes were at him, however, he tried to look calm.
"Mr. Leagan, we found her unconscious outside," said the conductor repeating the information Dorothy just told them.
"Yes, I know her," said Neal. "Could we get an additional room for her?"
"All VIP room is taken tonight, Mr. Leagan. The train is fully booked, the emergency beds are all taken," said the staff.
"Fine, we'll take care of her," said Neal.
Neal took Candy and carried her himself in his arms. Eliza gasped. Daisy almost fainted.
As though that's not enough, Neal said, "Daisy dear, would you be so kind to let her use your room for tonight?" He tried to use the most pleasant tone possible.
Aware that all eyes were at her, Daisy could only nod. Neal then put Candy on her bed. Eliza grabbed Neal's arm to have a private conversation with him.
"You give Daisy's room for her?" snapped Eliza.
"It's a better option than we put Candy in my room and stay with me all night long," responded Neal.
"That's not what I meant, put her outside, she doesn't deserve this treatment," said Eliza.
He lowered his voice and said, "The press is everywhere, our family would get a bad reputation if we did that." He knew that would shut his sister up.
"Humph," grumbled Eliza and pulled her best friend, Daisy, with her to go out.
"Thanks Daisy," said Neal giving her a light comfort kiss.
Neal requested a doctor to come to inspect Candy. The doctor came, inspected her and assured him that she's fine.
Everyone soon left much to his relieved. He hurriedly attended Candy, panicked.
"Candy... Candy," Neal called but she gave no answer. Her eyes were now open but she's still irresponsive.
"Candy are you alright?" asked Neal again and again.
He kept calling her with the most caring voice which genuinely came from the bottom of his worried heart. He clasped her hands, squeezed them gently trying to awake her. She finally moved her eyes to meet his. His eyes look so tender, so caring that it hit her. If only she could swap him with Terry. If only it were Terry instead who's here and giving her this much attention. Terry, why do you leave me? At this thought, tears ran unchecked down her cheeks. Her heart which had broken in two broke into several more pieces.
"Say something," said Neal. "What happens?"
"Terry is gone," said Candy finally flooded in tears.
"Gone?" asked Neal.
"He left me for another woman," said Candy. Tearfully, she told him the story of him and Susanna.
He gave her one of those rare looks then he said seriously, "I see. Then, you shouldn't cry."
"What do you mean?" asked Candy tearfully.
"Look at Daisy. At this moment probably she's crying as hard as you, while I am enjoying myself with another beauty. You shouldn't be in her shoes. He's with another woman, then you should be with another man. That's only fair, isn't it?"
He grinned. She stopped crying right away.
"What a way to look at it!" She laughed right away. "Where am I?"
"Daisy's room."
"She'll sleep in your room, I suppose?"
"No, of course not, we're not married yet," he said with a grin.
"You're kidding me," said Candy looking at him intently to see if that's the true answer.
He grinned but didn't say anything anymore. Instead, he moved his palm and put it on her forehead to asses her temperature. She tried to struggle but he gently said, "Shh, that's okay."
She looked at his caring face, who would've thought that this man could be kind and serious too. His warm soft palm warmed her frigid heart, comforted her wrecked soul.
"No fever, Candy." He looked visibly relieved. "Have you had dinner?"
"No," she said.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Dessert."
"You should eat some carbohydrate and protein, too," said Neal. He rang the bell and told Dorothy to order a full scale dinner for Candy.
She ate excitedly.
"I haven't been eating since last night. Annoying Terry."
"That's a good attitude. Do you want some more food?"
Neal ended up ordering more food for her. She ate heartily. She felt so much better after eating. They chatted briefly before he got up and said, "Get some rest, Candy. Ring the bell if you need anything."
"I feel much better, Neal. I can go back to my seat so Daisy can…"
"Forget about her. You sleep here. Good night, Candy," said Neal. He turned off the light and left the room.
-0 -0 -
Neal wandered outside to find a place to be alone, to reflect and to calm down. The night was chilly and he's grateful for that. The chilliness helped to cool down the chaotic heat and nerve which were swirling inside him. He played snapshots of Candy images in his mind since the first time she stepped into their house to today especially when he danced with her, holding her for the first time in his arms... He heaved a long sigh... In the past, she was a cute girl who's fun to tease. She then turned to be an attractive young woman whom he admired from the far. But now she became a mature woman, what a blast she became.
Who would've thought..., he thought. Candy... What have you done to me?
He could have stayed there all night long if not because of the disruptions by the train staff who kept coming periodically for safety routine check. Out of obligation, he went to Eliza's room to pick up Daisy and take her to his room to comfort her.
"Well Daisy... You see, the Leagans and the Ardlays are just parts of one big family, therefore...," said Neal as he closed the door behind him.
Daisy didn't let him finish his sentence. She moved forward to hug him, tightly.
"You are cold, Neal," whispered Daisy caringly.
"I was from outside," he explained, suddenly felt awkward.
"Kiss me, I'll warm you up," she whispered softly.
Neal hesitated. After what had happened that night, he wasn't in the mood to do anything romantic. But she pressed her mouth against his in no time. As soon as they kissed, helplessly his mind wandered to Candy. He tried to shake it off, erased it and removed it but it stubbornly stayed still. Surprisingly it became much easier to kiss. Never before kissing became this naturally enjoyable. With the image of her blonde hair, emerald eyes in his mind he kissed Daisy passionately and longer than he had ever before, unstoppable,...
He could have gone further but his tongue stumbled upon salty taste of grief. He stopped instantly. His eyes met a heartbroken looking face which was wet with tears.
"You're crying?" asked Neal.
"Neal, you had never kissed me like this before. Honestly, who's in your mind? Was it me or her?"
Seeing Daisy's dark eyes and not the green eyes he had been imagining during kissing, he felt so wrong.
"It's her, isn't it?" Daisy asked between her sobs. "You had never danced with me the way you danced with her. I'd die to have you look at me the way you look at her."
"It came so sudden. I didn't plan this. It just happened that her man didn't show up just now. Daisy please, I am sorry," said Neal.
"No, I am not angry." She forced herself to smile. "In fact, it's fine. Shout her name if you like when we make love, I don't care as long as you make love with that much passion with me." She hugged him tightly and cried all her might. "I love you, Neal. Since the moment I was introduced to you."
"Daisy, you have been an angel, I am grateful for the all the time you've spent with me...," Neal said.
"Oh no, no...! Don't leave me... Love me please," pleaded Daisy tearfully.
"I've tried not to think about her. But... I just can't. I wish I could. This is not fair for you."
Neal let her cry for a moment before he took her to the sofa where he knelled in front of her. He wiped her tears and said, "You deserve someone better, you will have someone better and he will be one lucky man. Stay in my room tonight. This is the only decent thing I could do for you." *
Neal kissed her cheek and left, relieved that he had told her the truth. Having no where else to go, he went to Eliza. As soon as she saw his face, she could guess what happened.
"I broke up with Daisy," Neal said shortly.
"Her family is rich. You're stupid to break up with her. I don't know what you look at that orphan."
"If that's how you measure it then she's an Ardlay. Uncle William's favorite daughter." He sighed. "Whatever, allow me to sleep in your sofa tonight, sis."
"You're out of your mind. What you did to Daisy today was too heartless even for my standard. In front of everyone you danced with Candy with that way of dancing. Then, you gave Candy her room. You're becoming over sentimental with Candy. Since when?"
He shook his head, "I don't know, honestly it just happened... Heck, I can't think of anything right now."
"I go to look for Daisy." said Eliza. She left the room much to his relief.
Before she slammed the door, he called her back. "Eliza, do me a favor. Tomorrow, take Daisy home."
"And you?"
"I will take Candy home."
She slammed the door without answering which he took it as yes.
ooOoo
The following day as planned, Neal picked up Candy from Daisy's room to take her home. She was very much well rested and looked beautiful and radiant. Unlike him, she slept really well and fully rested that night. He took her home.
"You could stay with us. I make sure someone look after you until you get well," offered Neal.
"No need, thank you. I have Albert. He's living with me," said Candy.
The skunk owner, thought Neal... First Anthony, then Terry, now Albert? Gezz Candy, give me a break. But, I will fight this time. No more waiting on the sideline.
Without warning, he lifted Candy, carrying her upstairs to her apartment door on the second floor.
"Put me down," she screamed. "I can walk alright, put me down."
"If you kept screaming, Albert would hear you. He'd come out to see me carrying you," answered Neal.
Ignoring her request, he kept carrying her. At the door he put her down.
"There, he didn't see me carrying you, happy now?" he said.
SLAP. Suddenly he felt a warm sting on his face. She just slapped him on the face.
"Who do you think you are?" said Candy glaring madly at him.
She pushed him away. But his square chest, hard as granite, didn't move a bit. With one hand, he swiftly locked both of her wrists and put his other hand on her back to bring her closer to him. Before she knew it, he had his mouth possessing hers. It was the silkiest, softest, gentlest kiss she had ever tasted which left her utterly mesmerized. Slowly her sanity abandoned her, sensation poured into her, defying all logic, melting rational away. Her mind telling her that this was not right, she's not a fickle woman who received a kiss from another man one day after breaking up with her soul mate.
But... something in the kiss made her unable to resist. Quiveringly she accepted his affection, easing her aching heart. Pushed by instinct she returned his affection. The tension in her arms slowly loosened, he released his grips. Her arms resting around his neck to support her weakened knees with his hands cradling her back. His lips gentle caress slowly turned more ravish satisfying his own hunger, quenching her deserted heart, setting her senses ablaze.
Just when she felt all hell was about to break loose, he retracted his kiss, leaving unforgettable devoid pangs within her.
"That's the punishment for hitting me," he murmured softly, his brown colored eyes sparkled at the brightest.
She stared at him in silence, speechless overcame by the most supreme kiss she had ever experienced in her entire life.
"Candy?" he said gently, observing her irresponsiveness. "Say something."
But, she stayed silence with eyes nailed to his.
"Let me help you to regain your consciousness." He planted one more deep kiss in her lips. "Say something now."
She blushed, hitting his chest playfully with her fists. "Go away," she murmured
He grinned. "Candy, take care. Don't shed another tear for Terry."
Before she could react, he knocked at the door and fled downstairs. He grinned and waved to her from the bottom of the stairs. He disappeared as soon as Albert opened the door.
She stood nailed down on the floor watching him leave. What a kiss! then she felt someone tapped on her shoulder.
"Candy what are you looking at?" asked Albert. "How come you're back?"
"Albert, Terry left me," said Candy hugging him. They went inside and she told him the complete story, but the moment she wanted to cry she remembered Neal's unconventional wisdom and his magic kiss. She secretly smiled at that.
"Oh Candy, don't be too upset, you did the correct thing," said Albert.
"No, I am not upset and yes, I did the correct thing." She got up. "What's cooking, Albert?"
"I was about to make pasta, now you're here, I should make some more."
"I help you," said Candy smiling, walking to the kitchen. Home sweet home, with Albert, can't complain with that, she thought. Thanks Neal.
Albert nodded, watching her walking into the kitchen, surprised, she took it better than I imagined.
Then, his heart pounded. He thought he wouldn't see her anymore. Who would've thought that she came back this soon and now would cook with him as usual? Without her, living in that apartment didn't feel quite the same. It's quiet, empty, lifeless...
Now that Terry was out of the picture, he wondered if he should enter into the picture...
-To be continued-
Thanks for reading.
* For those who think that Neal is "nice" to Daisy (not as playful/hostile as to Candy), that's because in manga he is like that. I don't watch the anime, I don't know about the anime.
Sabrina, the story is still long... Thanks for the review and the support.