My Best Friend's Wife

Chapter 9
"Lunch and diner"

The Grandchester villa was more impressive than in Candy's memory. It was very elegant inside and decorated with taste. It smelled like good food from the caterer. Candy felt her stomach cry hunger. She was hungry. She followed Terry in the living room where his family was; his father, his brother and his step mother. They all stood up when they arrived and Terry made the introductions.

- You know Rick, said Terry.

- Good evening Rick, said Candy smiling, I'm happy to see you again.

- Good evening Candy, he replied smiling

- And this is my father, Richard Grandchester Senior.

- Good evening, said Candy smiling

- Good evening! So you're the widow of Terry's best friend?

- Yes…

- And this is his new wife, Nelly…

Candy looked at Terry's father's new wife. She had sense Terry's hesitation when he replied. He has lost his mother barely 6 months ago… he was still grieving. And the fact that his father was already remarried… The new Mrs. Grandchester was very beautiful with her blond hair falling on her shoulders. She seemed young. Terry's father had grayish hair, an older version of Terry and Rick, very charming and very attractive for a man of his age.

- Good evening, said Candy smiling.

- Good evening, said Nelly with a nice smile. When is the little love due?

- Two or three weeks, said Candy

- One of these days, then! You're going to be ready Terry?

Terry looked at her strangely…

- Ready for what?

- Well, for the birth!

- Oh…

- Yes, by going taking her to her Lamaze class, you have to be there when Junior decides to come, to help her!

- Well…

- It's ok, said Candy, he did it just to be nice, my sister will be there for me for the birth…

- I'm sure Terry would also want to be there, right bro? said Rick

- Of course, said Terry, Candy call me when the time comes.

- Are you sure? Asked Candy

- Yes, I'm sure, I won't be able to come and pick you up with my F16, but I will be there.

- I'm going to drive him myself, said Rick and I'm not a race car driver champion for nothing.

- You're going to get there alive, I hope , because dead, Terry would be no good to me! Said Candy smiling.

- My son is the best driver in the world, said the patriarch standing up the table is ready.

They went to the dinning room and Terry sat next to Candy. The conversation during the meal was mostly about the honeymoon Richard Senior and his new wife had just had. Candy realised that Terry wasn't very enthousiastic during the time his father and his wife were talking… His mother had just died… But she understood, because she had just lost her husband too… And she was having feelings for Terry. Did she have the right to move on that fast? There was only one life to live and that was it… But… she preferred not to think about it too much, because giving Terry's reaction to his father's remarriage… She concentrated on her meal, which she ate with appetite. The cannellonies were spicy and very good.

After dinner, the men were in the living room while Candy and Nelly were in the kitchen making tea. They were talking.

- Can I ask you a question? Asked Nelly

- Yes, said Candy

- Are you in love with Terry?

Candy felt her heart jump in her chest.

- Is it that obvious?

- The way you two look at each other, is a dead giveaway…

- Oh my God! You think he figured it out?

- I don't think so, said Nelly, men are not very perspicace unless they're looking for something…

- Good if he doesn't know anything…

- You're not going to tell him?

- Tell him what? That I love him? I'm going to make him run! He was Anthony's best friend.

- "Was" is in the past, your husband is no more… you have the right to continue your life…

- Yes, but for the moment, with Anthony's baby in my belly…

- I understand… what about your libido? I heard pregnant women are insatiable…

- Don't mention it! Said Candy laughing.

- Oh my God! You don't regret being a good girl?

- When it itches? Oh yes I do!

They bust out laughing, they brought a tray with the tea in the living room to serve the men.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Meanwhile at Georgie's the phone rang. Georgie answered.

- Good evening said William's deep voice, can I speak with Candy please?

- She's not here, said Georgie

- She's at the hospital? Asked the panicked voice

- No, no! Excuse me! She didn't have the baby! She went to her Lamaze class.

- And she hasn't come back yet? Isn't it a little late?

- She was invited for dinner by a friend of her husband's, said Georgie innocently.

- A friend of her husband's? She's dating him?

- Euh no, she's not dating him, she just went to dinner with him after the Lamaze class.

- Oh, because he took her to her Lamaze class too?

- Yes… Can I take a message?

- Well, it's William Andrew, Anthony's uncle.

- Good evening William! Said Georgie warmly

- I just wanted to get some news and find out if she's available tomorrow afternoon.

- Tomorrow it's Sunday, we will be going to church and then we will have Sunday brunch…

- I'm going to call in the morning, tell her I called her tonight.,..

- Very well, Uncle William, said Georgie smiling. Have a great evening!

William hung up on his side and the great aunt was looking at him.

- She not there?

- She went out.

- Out?

- She was invited for dinner.

- By whom?

- A friend of Anthony's.

- A friend of Anthony's? You're too late William!

- Too late for what?

- To seduce her and raise your nephew's son!

- Aunt Elroy! Are you going to stop with that already? Candy is still young, and she has the right to start over with her life!

- Promise me that you're going to try to take care of her.

- Aunt Elroy…

- Promise me!

- All right. I'm not promising anything though…

- William!

- I'm going to go see her and make sure she's fine, that's all! I'm not going to try to charm her! She's my nephew's wife, for heaven's sake!

- I'm coming with you tomorrow!

- As you wish!

oOoOoOoOoOo

After having tea, Terry's father showed them the pictures they took during the honeymoon with his wife. Then, Terry took advantage to show some old pictures with Anthony when they were younger.

- This one is very pretty, said Candy looking at one back and white one, I don't think I've ever seen it …

- I can give it to you.

- Really? Said Candy moved, thank you so much!

She took the picture and she put it in her purse.

Later, Terry drove Candy back to her sister's.

- Dinner was wonderful, Terry. Thank you for taking me…

- I hope you were not too bored with our family stories.

- Of course not!

- You seem to get along well with Nelly.

- Well, she was the only woman there, we understood each other.

Terry was thinking about his mother and he wondered what she would've thought about Candy.

- Nelly is not pregnant, right?

- I don't know and it's none of my business… I'm sorry.

- No, I'm sorry…I don't want meddle…

- Is everything fine between you ?

- Everything is fine…

Candy didn't seem convinced, but they had arrived at Georgie's.

- You think that your brother in law is waiting for you?

- I know he's waiting for me and Georgie too! Said Candy smiling

They looked at the house and they saw that the lights were on. They smiled. Terry got out of the car to open the door for her and he took the bags and walked her to the door which opened. Lowell was smiling.

- You didn't need to wait for me.

- Sorry Candy, said Lowell, you're living in my house, you're like our daughter and you're carrying a baby on top of that. We're going to look after you!

- That's why I love you, she said smiling

Terry put the bags in the hallway.

- Ok, I'm going to go. Good night Candy, good night Georgie, good night Lowell.

- Good night Terry, said everybody at the same time

Terry left and Candy looked at him go, with a heavy heart. She was wishing so much he would've stayed with her! They all went to bed while talking and climbing the stairs.

oOoOoOoOoOo

The next day was Sunday. The whole house got ready to go to church which started at 10 AM.

- By the way Candy, your uncle William called last night…

- When?

- When you were having dinner with Terry and his family!

- Great! What did he say?

- That he was going to come bay today after church.

- Wonderful! On the Lord's Day… Everything is going to be fine!

- It's great to be optimistic… on the Lord's Day.. Evertything is going to be fine! We're going to get blessings.

- And The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

- That the great attitude! Said Georgie.

Then she went to yell at her boys asking them to hurry up. They went to church as a family. Candy like signing and she felt the baby move too when the music was playing… after the service, everybody felt good, everybody was talking for a moment before they left. When they went back home, they found the phone was ringing, Candy went to answer the phone, while Georgie was taking care of the little ones.

- Hello?

- Candy! It's William

- Hello, uncle William. Happy Sunday!

- Happy Sunday! I called you last night to get some news.

- I wasn't there, I know! My sister told me…

- We're arriving in half an hour

- "We?" Asked Candy

- The great aunt Elroy insisted to come with me…

- Oh…

- We'll see you in half an hour, then?

- In half an hour, Uncle William!

Candy hung up and she had a sigh. The great aunt Elroy… everything is going to be fine. William is going to be there… She went to the kitchen to help her sister out with the Sunday brunch. Candy wasn't looking forward to meet the members of Anthony's family. She decided not to worry.

When William's car arrived in front of Georgie's house, Candy started screaming that the guests were there, Candy went to look out the window and she saw William getting out to open the door to the great aunt Elroy. Such a familiar body shape… Anthony had inherited the muscled body and the blond hair. The great aunt hadn't changed at all since the first time she had seen her. She still looked like a royal eagle. When she saw them, Candy felt a lot of affection and her heart was tight at the same time, they had always been nice to her. She simple had the impression that they didn't want to let her go after Anthony's death. They had the arms charged with presents.

Candy went to open door.

- Hello Candy! Said William smiling warmly.

- Hello William, she said.

He kissed her on both cheeks. The great aunt was behind him.

- Aunt Elroy? Said Candy.

- Hello Candy, she said coldly kissing her on the cheeks, how are you!

- I'm fine! Come in, please.

- Thank you, said William obeiying followed by the great aunt.

They went to sit in the living room where Lowell was and he stood up to greet them warmly. Candy went to the kitchen to help her sister. Then she went to the living room.

- So Candy, said William, it's good to see you again.

- It's good to see you too, she assured him.

In all sincerity, it was a relief to see them without confronting them. Candy was worried about the meeting, fearing that the pain would engulfed her like the first day. But it wasn't the case. Somewhere along the way, without knowing at what precise moment, she had said goodbye to the past, Anthony was in a part of her heart, where he would reside forever. She was at peace.

- Thank you for the present, said Candy opening them, you're so generous! Everything is wonderful! I wish the baby were here already to use them!

- So do we, said William, our second little Anthony

- It could be a girl, said Candy

- It's too unfair that he didn't live to know his child…

And from that moment, the conversation focused on Anthony, Candy participated. Georgie's children had come to sit with their aunty Candy.

- My poor Candy, said the great aunt Elroy, it must be hard for you to live this pregnancy alone…

- Aunt Candy is not alone, protested Joay, we're here with her everyday!

Candy stood up and hugged him…

- Where are you going to put my great grandson.

- Come, I'll show you…

They went upstairs with the baby's presents, followed by Candy's nephews an they visited the baby's room. They saw the other presents previously bought and what other people had offered her.

- You even have a book? I'm glad I didn't buy one…you should have Anthony's.

- We have a book too, said Joey, mum did it for us!

- Really? Said the great aunt with an absent tone

She was looking at the book empty pages and she saw the calling card Terry had slipped inside… she read what it said:

- Terry? Terrence Grandchester

Joey gave himself the right to reply.

- Yes, he's uncle Anthony's best friend, he an Air Force pilot.

- I know him.

- He brought present for the baby and his brother Rick brought a drink for Aunt Candy.

- Terry came here? Asked William

- Yeah! They came for dinner the other day and his brother it's Rick Grant, the racecar driver champion! You know him too? He's pretty cool!

The children were the only one talking, especially Joey…

- You want to see what Terry brought for the baby? He said opening the drawers of the dresser…

He was about to take the little bathrobe when Georgie materialised at the door.

- Joey, Axel! Come and help me in the kitchen! Go downstairs! I'm coming!

- The children were telling us that Terry had dinner here?

- Yes, he came to see how Candy was doing…

- We didn't see him at the funeral, we didn't understand why, said William, we would like to see him again.

- His mother died in an accident a few day before Anthony, said Candy

- Oh my God! Said the great aunt… poor boy! Do you think we'll have the opportunity to meet him?

Lowell arrived to say:

- In fact, he just called and I invited him for Sunday brunch. So you're going to see him later… how long are you staying?

- We're just doing a quick trip… we'll take the plane tomorrow morning, said William.

- He coming later with his brother, said Lowell

- I'm going to join the boys downstairs, it's almost ready…

Georgie went to the kitchen and the others went back to the living room. Half an hour later, the children went to open the door to Terry and his brother. They way they greeted them you'd say they came there everyday, because they were so familiar with the children.

- Uncle Anthony's great aunt and uncle are here! Said Joey

Terry got stiff and looked at his brother who was smiling.

- Really? Where are they?

- They're in the living room!

They pulled them by the hand and dragged them to the living room.

- Aunt Elroy? Uncle William?

- Terry! Said William smiling and hugging him

Terry hugged him back. Then he hugged Aunt Elroy. She had tears in her eyes!

- I heard about your mother… my deepest condoleances, my boy.

- Thank you, said Terry moved.

Rick introduced himself:

- I'm Terry's brother, Richard Junior, they call me Rick.

- Pleased to meet you, said William shaking his hand.

Then he shook the great aunt's hand.

- My condolences to your father, said the great aunt.

- He's fine, he already re-married, said Rick.

Terry gave him the look.

- Already? You must be sad, so soon after the death of your mother!

- It's his life, said Rick and he can live it the way he wants to and he's not getting any younger an everything could end in an instant like with my mother, so he's not wasting any time…

- That's one way to see things, said William.

- The table is ready, said Lowell.

Terry turned around and he saw Candy and he smiled at her.

- Hello Candy,said Terry.

- Hello Terry, she said softly

They walked together to the dinning room. William was looking at them and the great aunt too, Rick joined them so did the children, so it wasn't just Candy and Terry….

William also talked a lot ot Candy and a little on the side and Terry couldn't help but feel a little twinge of jealousy in his heart… But what was he thinking? It was his best friend's wife… But he couldn't stop thinking about her and it wasn't something recent…

- Looks like Anthony's family wants to take care of her…

- She would be in good hands, said Terry

- You're not going to miss tje birth are you?

- Why not?

- Stop it Terry! You know why! She's counting on you and you can't let her down, unless you don't care at all about her…

He wasn't sure of anything, but he was sure that he cared a lot about Candy!