16 Going on 30….
Chapter 7
"The best of both worlds"
Terry was on the train for Chicago and he thought it wasn't going fast enough. He wished he could fly in the sky, he wished he had an airplane to get to Chicago faster. When the train finally reached its destination, he was almost running out of the train. He took a cab to the Chicago mansion. He looked at it when he got there, it was crawling with people, working on the wedding. There was so many people, he won't have any trouble going in the mansion and see Candy in her room. He opened several doors and he finally found her in one of the bedrooms. She was looking out the window, wearing a wedding dress, she was so beautiful.
- Freckles…
She was startled and she turned around to face him.
- Terry…, she said with eyes full of love
- What the hell happened… we made love, we were in perfect harmony… Susanna told me you came to the office to see me, whatever she told you, it's not the truth… I'm not the man she told you I was, I'm still the same boy from college who came to meet you in that barn…If you believe that, then you'd be marrying me, not Albert,… I love you Candy…
- Oh Terry, she said with tears in her eyes, so much things have happened during all these years, we've had different paths for so long… We've made our choices on those hospital stairs all those years ago… I admit that those past few weeks you made me feel so good and so happy like during the time we were together in Scotland… But it's too late to go back Terry, we can't go back… I choose Albert… That's my life now… please accept it. Please Terry, it's my wedding day, if you love me… don't make a scene…
- Candy…, he said with sad eyes. All right, I'll do what you want, because I love you… I will love you forever…
Terry approached her and kissed her on the lips for a few seconds, he hugged her .
- Good luck Candy…, he said
- Goodbye Terry, she said with tears in her voice
Terry got out of the room, devastated. He went outside, he saw the tree house… He walked to it and climbed it to be alone. He looked in his pockets, he found the harmonica Candy had given him at school. He sat on the pillows there, and started playing the harmonica. He blocked everything out the noises the music the people working, the people talking… he just played the harmonica like he did back in college when he played for Candy in the dungeon. He played until he fell asleep…
When he opened his eyes, he was outside the tower, in London!
- What the bloody hell…? He said, oh my God! I'm back! I'm in college! Candy is in the dungeon… oh my God! This is wonderful!!! Yes!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!!
He was practically jumping of joy!! He screamed so loud Candy who was inside the tower heard him.
- Terry? She said, is that you?
- Freckles? Yes, it's me…
- What time is it?
- It's the morning…
- Did you spend the night outside the tower?
- Yes my love! I didn't want to leave you…
- Oh Terry, said Candy moved to tears
- I had the most amazing dream of the future…
- With me?
- Yes, but it didn't quite turned out like I hoped because of a few mistakes I made, but now I know better…
- What do you mean?
- It's too long to explain to you right now, but stay put…
- I don't think I can go anywhere Terry…
- Right, sorry, bad choice of word… but I promise you I'll get you out of there…Trust me my love…
- I trust you Terry, said Candy moved.
She could hear it in Terry's voice, that something was different about him, that he was more loving and more determined to save her. Candy felt all warm and fuzzy inside.
Terry was going to his room to change and he was trying to remember what Candy had told him in the dream about what happened to them… He left college so she could stay, then he went to New York, met Susanna Marlowe who became obsessed wit him… He didn't want to deal with that woman ever again! He wasn't going to let anything to chance. He went straight to the reverend to make the deal with her to free Candy. He saw Eliza in the hallway with her group of friends smiling at her…He smiled back at her.
- Terrence, she said with a soft voice
- Eliza! Said Terry, I'm so glad to see you, I'm so grateful to you for getting rid of Candy for me…
- Well, said Eliza, I know what a pain she can be, I thought I'd do you a favour…
- Thank you. I'd like to repay that favour… I'd like to see you in my room tonight and don't put on too many clothes…
Eliza, when it came to Terry talking to her, became crazy and wasn't thinking straight.
- Oh Terrence my love, of course I'll be there…, she said smiling
Terry approached her, almost kissing her, then he pulled away.
- I can't wait until tonight, he told her…
Eliza was so excited, she was already all wet! She was in seventh heaven. Terry walked away after touching her cheek gently. He got to the reverend mother's office, made the deal and sworn her to secrecy, then he left the school.
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Candy was freed from the dungeon and she went straight to Terry's room…and she found a note. She read the note. Then she went back to her room, packed her stuff and left the school.
She took a carriage to the Blue River Zoo. There was a bar not to far from there and she went there. There were lots of people weird looking drinking and women selling themselves. Not a very recommended place for an innocent young woman. She took a table and ordered some juice. Some men were looking at her, another one, a pimp looking for victims, especially the young and innocent ones, approached the table, pulled a chair and sat down.
- Hello doll, how are you?
Candy ignored him.
- You need a job? I can get you one…
- My husband is going to be here soon…, said Candy
- I don't see any ring on your finger
- That's none of your business, said Candy
- Well I say, your lying…
- Is everything ok here, said Terry's voice
Candy looked at Terry relieved. She jumped to his neck. The man left the table disappointed.
- Oh Terry! Thank God you're here…
- You're ready to go?
- Yes, my love! Said Candy smiling
Terry kissed her on the lips. She responded to his kiss, but pulled away…
- Terry, we're in public…
- Right! He said, let's go or we're going to miss our boat…
- Let's go! Said Candy with a smile.
They left the bar, took Terry's car and they drove to Southampton to wait for the boat to America.
*
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At Saint Paul College, the nuns got an anonymous tip that Terrence Grandchester was in his room with a girl, having sexual relations. They went to the room, and they found Eliza Reagan, naked on Terry's bed. All the explanations she gave as to why she was there naked in a boy's room, just fell on deaf ears with the reverend mother… she was expelled and sent to the dungeon until a member of her family come to get her.
*
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Candy and Terry made it on time to take the boat at Southampton and they went to America. Terry told Candy all about his dream, how real it felt, and they decided to make sure to be together , always. They got married when they got to New York, with his mother as the witness. Terry was looking for a job in theatres and Candy was waiting for him at home. They had a nice little apartment.
One snowy day, Terry arrived at the Stratford theatre and he saw Susanna Marlowe open the door… His face was drained of all colours, he looked like he had seen a monster.
- Oh my God! NO! Not you!
- I'm Susanna Marlowe, how may I help you sir?
- By staying away from me! Said Terry running away from there!
Susanna Marlowe thought he was very handsome, but she didn't understand what came over him to run away from her like that.
- What the hell was that all about…? What a shame, he was so cute…
Terry found a job on another theatre. His wife went to nursing school. They had a little boy right after Candy finished school. They were happy. Terry became a big actor on Broadway. He was happy on stage, but he was the happiest when he went back home to his wife and child.
Life is about choices we make. We all have dreams; we just need to know how to read them. Terry had a dream that made him think about his life even though he was only still a teenager, he got a glimpse of his life in shambles without his beloved, and when he woke up, he just made sure that his life would include his Freckles, no matter what. He didn't want to lose her again. Because, losing her even in his dream, was the worst pain ever!
What would you have done in his place? You would've made sure you got your happiness. Who wouldn't?
The End