The call of love

Chapter 9

"Candy's birthday"

Georgie inaugurated her American branch with a big reception at her apartment. The winds of war were starting to blow in Europe. Charlotte was writing about the situation that was not very good and that it would be safer to transfer the majority of their operations in America. Georgie told her to get ready in case of an emergency, to also come to America. Charlotte decided to comply; she left the associates in charge of the operations and started to get ready to join her daughter in America.

Georgie's research for her child continued. She had a surprise one day when she got to the private eye's office.

- Laurent? What are you doing here?

- Well, I'm doing research on… started Laurent

- The baby? Said Georgie

- You knew it was alive and you didn't tell me?

- You're one to talk! You did the same thing!

- I didn't want to give you false hope…

- Me neither. And I didn't want to disturb your marriage…

- My marriage was already a failure, Georgie…

- I'm sorry…

- I'm not. I've fulfill my duty. My grandfather should be satisfied… I now can be with you…

- Laurent…

- I don't understand, ever since the New Year, it's like you're avoiding me… we had a good time together, it was wonderful, but since then, it's like you're pretending nothing happened…

- I have a lot of work, Laurent, my company…

- You're company is fine…

- Yes, but for now, I don't have the time for a relationship… I want to find our child… you understand me?

- Of course, said Laurent sadly

The private investigator arrived and found them both.

- Mrs. Bateman, Mr. Grey…

- You can talk to us at the same time, is that ok, Georgie?

- Of course, said Georgie, but make two reports…

- Euh… ok, said the private investigator

He gave them an update on his research that were progressing very slowly, because very little thing were documented.

One evening, Candy was in the living room with Terry when Georgie arrive.

- Hey the couple! Said Georgie

- Hi Georgie, said Candy

- Good evening Georgie, said Terry

- Candy, I have a proposition for you…

- I'm at your service Georgie, said Candy

- Candy, stop, said Georgie, if you decide to do nothing, I will still keep you with me anyway. But It's not your type. You like to help other people… I saw it with Sherman Woods… what would you say to make it your mission? Not Sherman Woods, well… I mean help others

- How? Asked Candy

- Well, there's a wind of war blowing in Europe. Charlotte is coming here soon, to stay with us

- Great!

- Isn't it? So… I was saying, in England, I was helping a lot of charities like you figured it out. Here, I want to do the same thing, but a little differently…

- How? Asked Candy

- I wanted to create shelters for the homeless, for orphans, for all the people I can help, who need help one way or another and … also for young girls that find themselves in trouble…

- Unwed mothers? Asked Candy

- Yes… I know you care about that…

- Yes, if my mother had a place to go to ask for help with me… maybe she wouldn't have abandoned me…. Said Candy

- So we're going to create programs to help all those who will come to us and put them back on their feet continua Georgie, by finding them a job, a place to live or families for children and orphans, and also a free clinic…

- Georgie, this is a wonderful project said Candy

- Would you like to help me put this into motion?

- Of course, she said, but what about the office?

- Don't worry about that, concentrate on these projects, if you agree of course!

- Of course I agree! Oh Georgie, this is wonderful, we will be able to help so many people! Said Candy

- That's really generous of you, Georgie, said Terry

- I know what it is to be without money… and I want to be able to help those who need it… Otherwise what's the good of money if not for helping others?

- I know a lot of people who wouldn't agree with you said Terry

- Thanks Georgie for this opportunity you're giving me…said Candy

- You're welcome Candy, I'm the one that should thank you. You goodness and your generosity to other people… gave me the idea. There should be more people like you…

- And like you, said Candy, right back at you!

Georgie smiled. Yes, she and Candy had the same ideas in plus of their physical resemblance. Terry looked at Candy and Georgie, and he smiled inside. Candy was very lucky to have met Georgie in London…

The project was put into motion. Georgie and Candy had a group of people helping them in that project. They bought a buildings for the offices, the community center and for housing. Earl Gerald, Georgie's father had found a building with at a good price, the owners had just inherited them, but they didn't want the responsibility to take care of it. The building had about 20 apartments. Georgie thought it was perfect to renovate for low income housing. Candy did some brochure which she distributed in hospital, clinics that explained their services. For the name, she had an idea she suggested to Georgie.

- I have an idea for the name, Georgie, I thought of your two brothers…

- Abel and Arthur?

- Yes, The Abel and Arthur community centre…

- That's a really good idea, said Georgie with tears in her eyes, I don't know what I did to deserve you Candy. I'm so glad I met you, I thank God everyday

- Thanks Georgie, said Candy moved

Candy was so busy that she wasn't thinking about her adoptive family in Lakewood, the great Uncle William… the great aunt Elroy… she stayed with Georgie, she was working and getting mothered, that's more than she ever had in Lakewood.

The work was going fine, in the winter… Then spring came with its buds and green leaves that dressed up the trees that were naked due to the fall and the winter… the Abel and Arthur community centre, had to open its door in May. When you have the money, the work goes very very fast…

Candy's birthday arrived. Georgie and Terry decided to make her a surprise. She was coming back from a homeless shelter where she was helping in the kitchen. She was completely tired. She wanted to change to go see Terry. When she entered the apartment everybody screamed:

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Candy opened her mouth and her eyes! There was Georgie, Laurent, Terry, Eleonor, Earl, Monica and a few guests.

- Oh thank you so much! All of you she said with tears in her eyes

- You're welcome, Candy the pleasure is all ours, said Georgie

Georgie gave her a little chine statue about a mother and her daughter sitting on a bench. Candy understood the message; Georgie was seeing her like a daughter. Georgie also gave her an envelope. Candy opened it and saw that Georgie had bought her a horse, a mare…

- Oh my God! Said Candy

- You always go ride with Terry, so I thought I will offer you your own ride, said Georgie

Candy jumped to her neck crying with joy. She opened Terry's present; it was a big box, and took out the content, it was a doll that looked exactly like her, she even had the freckles. He had it made. The dress was the little replica of the dress she had on the day they kissed for the first time.

- Oh Terry, she looks like me! That's great! Thank you… she said kissing him on the cheek… and the dress, from the summer in Scotland… oh…

- You're welcome Freckles, said Terry

- Terry, said Georgie, shouldn't you keep that for you?

- Who says I don't have one? He said smiling

Everybody burst out laughing. Laurent's present was an order of cake for the homeless shelter and orphans from "Georgie Jr.". That evening, in shelters and orphanage where Candy was volunteering, everybody ate a peace of cake in honour of Candy's birthday.

- Laurent, you're an angel said Candy hugging him

- I knew you would want to share your cake with everybody…

- No kidding!

She hugged him again. Eleonor gave her a pair of gold earrings.

- Thanks, Miss Baker, said Candy kissing her

- You're welcome Candy, said Eleonor smiling

She opened the rest of her presents and they spent the rest of the evening talking , playing cards and dancing. Candy was really very happy.

The next day, she got a letter from her friends from London who were wishing her a happy birthday.

"We miss you so much, the school is not the same without you. But with all the rumours about the war going around, I don't thing we're going to be here much longer…" wrote Stear.

"The war, said Candy, how awful!"

The rumours and the threat of the imminent war didn't seem to want to go away. Everybody was feeling the tension between the nations. The situation was very fragile; the vases were full, all it needed was a simple drop of water to make it overflow. Those who knew about the situation, were praying with all their heart for nothing to happen. But the tension was there, too tight to go down. And they knew the last drop was unavoidable, that last drop was going to fall eventually and detonate the unthinkable. They were praying it would be the latest possible…

Candy went with Terry at the stables to see her new mare and to ride with Terry. Like Terry's, it was a beautiful mare, Arabic pure blood, she was black. Terry had called his horse, which was also an Arabic pure blood; "Aladdin".

- Your mare is really beautiful, said Terry

- Yes, she's as beautiful as Aladdin said Candy

- She needs a name, said Terry

- Since she's Arabic and to stay in the Arabian nights theme, I'm going to call her "Scheherazade", said Candy smiling, hi Scheherazade….

- What a good idea, Freckles, Aladdin and Scheherazade! Come on! Show me what your mare can do!

They raced laughing out loud both of them.

The inauguration of The Abel and Arthur Community Centre happened 10 days later. Georgie organized a big reception that was a fund raiser for the centre. Some gave money; others gave food and clothes, furniture, etc… People were more than generous; it was a success.

A few weeks later, Terry had to leave for his tour across the country with his troupe.

- I'm going to miss you Freckles

- You too, Terry

- But I'm going on stage tonight for the first time…

- And I can't miss that…

- I'm happy you're here to see it

- Thanks for the tickets, I'll be with Georgie and Laurent

- "Your parents" said Terry

- With our blond hair, no one is the wiser….

Terry was a real triumph on stage. Candy was crying of joy during the representation. She was overwhelmed by an indescribable joy to see Terry on stage. He was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. The critics were not going to stop singing his praises.

Georgie observe Candy while she was looking at Terry; she saw her eyes full of love and the tears of joy that her little protégée was shedding for Terry, the love of her life. And Terry on the stage; he was on the stage for his Candy, he was acting for her. Those two were bounded by an invisible link unbreakable. If there was more love like theirs, maybe this awful war that wanted to start in Europe, wouldn't happen.

But the wind of war was real and those responsible didn't want to stop it or were making excuses. Candy went to see Terry in his dressing room after the play. He had told the staff to let her pass so she could come to his dressing room. When she entered, she ran into his arms and hugged him.

- Oh Terry, you were wonderful! I'm so proud of you! You're an excellent actor.

- Thanks Candy, I was acting for you, honey. You're my inspiration, you're the reason I'm here.

- Thanks Terry, thanks with all my heart. I'm so happy…

- I'm happy to share this moment with you and thanks for being there

- There's no other place I would rather be…

They kissed for a long time. Then Terry changed and they went together to the reception. It was a fundraiser for charities.

- I wished that the poor part of the population could've seen the play said Terry

- I'm going to make it my mission, said Candy, with all the work I'm doing, I'm going to make sure your wish is granted. I'm going to miss you

- Thanks, honey and I'm going to miss you too.

- Georgie, did you like the play? Asked Candy when she saw her coming with Laurent

- You're an excellent actor, said Georgie to Terry

- Thank you said Terry

- You were born to be an actor, said Laurent, I've seen King Lear a lot of time with different troupes, and I can tell you without a lie that you're the best king of France I've ever seen…

- Thank you very much, Laurent said Terry

- When is your troupe leaving? Asked Georgie

- Tomorrow at noon, said Terry

- What would you say to spend the night at our apartment? We have a lot of rooms… you won't see each other for months…

- Oh, Thank you Georgie said Candy, what do you say, Terry?

- I have to go home take my stuff, but yes, thank you Georgie

- You're welcome…said Georgie

- Let's go get my luggage, said Terry to Candy

- Ok, I'll see you later then, Georgie

Candy and Terry left the reception on a cloud. Susanna was looking at them go sadly. She thought about the tour and she said in her head;

"I'm going to take advantage of it to get close to him. His dear Candy will not be there…"

Georgie stayed with Laurent.

- Are you sure it's a good idea to have them both under the same roof?

- They won't do anything, Laurent

- Maybe, but you're giving them an apartment with more rooms than a hotel….

- Laurent stop worrying about Candy. You sound like her father…

Laurent didn't reply. Candy's father… that sounded so good in his ears…

- I just don't want anything to happen to her…

- Laurent, Terry sacrificed himself for her and he would do it again if he has too. She's safe with him…

- Two youngsters with desires…. Well… if you trust them…

- You got attached to her?

- Georgie…

- You can't help thinking that our child is Candy's age. I know how you're feeling. Maybe that's why I got attached to her too… I understand you…

Meanwhile, Candy and Terry were at Georgie after picking up Terry's luggage at his apartment.

- I'm giving you our itinerary. I will be able to write you, but you won't be able to answer me

- Oh… I'll be happy to receive your letters. Did you choose your room?

- I wanted the one next to yours, but it's also the one next to Georgie's room…

- Terrence Grandchester, do you have the intention of doing things not very catholic?

- No…

- So whether Georgie's room is next to yours or not is irrelevant… she said softly

- I'm making you the promise that we're going to be married before we consummate our love…

- I didn't expect any less from a gentleman, she said smiling

But you shouldn't tempt the devil… a bedroom was to sleep in it, but when you find yourself there, your head start to think about something else… Candy and Terry sat on the couch in one of the living room, curled up against each other. They talked all night. They weren't going to see each other for a while and they didn't want to go to bed. So they stayed in the living room until morning. Georgie that had came in later, saw them and smiled. Their love was so pure. She hoped the nothing would come and disturb them.

Candy took Terry to the train station; the whole Stratford troupe was there, with Susanna and Karen.

- Susanna, said Karen with a mocking tone, look at the object of your affection with his girlfriend…

- I can see them Karen, I'm not blind, she said annoyed

- Apparently, you are, said Karen, you can see that he loves Candy and he barely notices that you exist…

- I love him so much Karen that it hurts…

- Susanna… look at him with her! In fact until I saw him with Candy, I was wondering whether he liked women…

- She won't be there during the tour, said Susanna

- She was not there before, and he didn't look at you then, Susanna, said Karen exasperated

Susanna continued playing deaf. She was looking at Candy and Terry the heart broken. Terry kissed Candy on the lips before he got on the train.

- I love you, honey; I'm going to miss you… I'm going to write you…

- Goodbye my love, said Candy I'm going to miss you too. Good luck. I love you.

The train left and Candy stayed on the platform and she wiped a tear of sadness. Terry was going to miss her terribly.