We don't always get what we want
-'' After all, I'm not the only one, who didn't feel like napping!'' He said in a cheerful tone Archie to Tom, at the time he found him to lighten up a cigar at the small lounge next to the dining room.
-'' No one ever told you, that as we get older we sleep less?!'' answered Tom, chuckling under his whiskers.
-'' Your wife knows that you still smoking cigars ... an old man?!''
-'' Yours knows that you still playing like… a juvenile dandy?!''
"... dandy…" For a moment Archie had a déjà vu, but eventually he smiled sincerely to his friend; sat to the armchair next his and accepted the cigar Tom offered him.
-'' Hmm... very good.''
-'' I know...'' muttered Tom through a puff of smoke.
-'' Where did you get them?''
-'' A gift from Candy on my birthday last year.''
-'' Don't tell! Let me guess…she gave them secretly from Patricia ...?!''
-'' Of course!''
They laughed loudly.
-'' Always mischievous our Candy !'' Said Archie through his laughter.
-'' ...And stubborn! If she has something in mind, no one can take it off by any way!'' added Tom,'' …however let's not waste these marvelous cigars, let me offer you some brandy Archie?''
-'' Of course, if even our good nurse permits some naughty habits!''
Tom served brandy into two crystal glasses and offered one to his friend.
-'' Thanks... and going back to the stubbornness'' said Archie,'' that was not the reason, which made her capable of to deal with everything? Do you know a stronger woman than Candy?!''
-'' Definitely not, I will never forget her crying on the day Sister Lane found her; a tiny baby, that had so much will to live ...'' said nostalgically Tom.
-'' Someone else in her place might have quit, especially after Albert's death...She lost the love of her life and yet she continued, clenched her teeth and continued ...''
Tom suddenly started laughing.
- ''Archie, my friend, you must be deeply benighted, if you believe that Albert was the love of her life!''
Archie looked at Tom and lifted his eyebrows in amazement. Tom laughed again with the reaction of his friend.
-'' You really believe that?!'' He asked again within his laughs.
-'' Of course Tom! What makes you think it's so funny and believe the opposite?!''
Suddenly Tom became serious.
-'' I loved and respected Albert, Archie my friend, and I was glad that started a family with him, my sister Candy and she definitely loved him very much, but ... actually I didn't believe even for a moment, that he may have been the love of her life!''
-'' Tom it seems to me either you lost your mind or the Havana cigars are blurring your brain! '' Said Archie in a type of waggishness.
-'' Well, here's my opinion ... in our life unfortunately or fortunately we don't always get what we want, but what we are given; because otherwise we end up alone! It's selfish, I know! But such is the human nature, we don't want to be alone, we need a partner ... There are very few people who can withstand the solitude, if they don't have by their side the person they really want ...''
-'' I cannot agree with you Tom.''
-'' You might agree, when I finish my reasoning.''
-'' Ok then, let me hear it…''
-'' In simple words ... I will speak first about myself ... I, Archie my friend, I wanted Annie and I was given Patty! Ha! Don't give me that look Archie! ... Yeah maybe I'm the only guy that wasn't in love Candy! And yes! I was in love with Annie, this doesn't mean that I didn't love or not love my wife ... God only knows what trials we passed, when we lost our son on the second war ... but we stayed together, because there was love between us... but that's different of the dreams and the desires of our youth ... Respectively Patty wanted your bother Stear, he was the love of her life... but accepted and did well, what she was given, me! And completing ... my thinking ... you got Annie, while you were madly in love with Candy, and Candy ... ah! Our Candy…'' Tom made a short pause.
Archie continued staring incredulously Tom but not interrupted him.
-'' ... and to conclude Archie, our Candy many have fallen in love with her... and many the suitors ... but one was the love of her life, and he wasn't Albert; I 'm sorry to say this and to disappoint you, Archie. ''
-'' Tom... don't tell me that you mean the Grandchester guy, because I'll go nuts!''
Tom chuckled.
-'' You never liked him, right?!''
-'' Naturally! A snobbish, bum aristocrat was and still is! He took advantage of Candy's heart in such a tender and innocent age and eventually broke it to pieces!''
-'' Archie, can I ask you a question?!''
-'' Sure, anything you want!''
-'' Do you think that he not loved her?!''
-'' Well, I don't know... maybe, not enough however! ''
-'' Do you know, that he never made family of his own?''
-'' Suited him the life of a playboy obviously!''
-'' You have an answer, for everything eh?!'' Said Tom laughing,'' and what do you say, about the fact that he disappeared from America, the same period that Candy had her wedding?''
-'' Coincidence!''
Tom burst out laughing.
-'' Okay ... you won Archie, I raise my hands up! ''
-'' Alas my buddy Tom, the price of the cigar was heavy on me!'' Said Archie, supposedly teased and laughed.
-'' All I tried to do was to put you in some realistically thinking, not to be under surprises, later ...''
Archie looked at Tom and for a moment; he tried to ask what he meant but entered the room his son Stear.
-'' Father, Uncle Tom, I see you started really early the bad habits!''
Like a couple of young children who was caught with the hand in the jar of cookies, Tom and Archie, looked at each other and smiling conspiratorially; Tom offered a cigar to Archie's son. They started chatting cheerfully, and although Archie looked focused on their conversation, his mind couldn't send away the last sentence of Tom concerning the surprises...
The little voice
Like yesterday Archie still remembered his surprise when one day Candy called him in her office, three years after Albert's death, to inform him of her decision to take over the office at London.
Those three years Candy had spent them by working ceaselessly and tirelessly, from the day that she decided to work for the Ardley's company. At the beginning she started her training together with George and Archie but very soon she was capable of conducting any issue alone and closing excellent deals. She may not have knowledge of financial and business transactions, but she was brilliant, hardworking and stubborn. She devoted herself with fury on her purpose and she succeeded.
Chicago's society of course, initially was shocked that a woman took over such a position. The men saw in the beginning with great skepticism Mrs. Ardley, but they admired her courage and pretty soon gave her the title of "Frozen Iron Lady."
The combination of beauty, with her powerful state, was one more reason of admiration and many men tried of flirting her, but always were falling on an icy wall. The women on the other hand, there was a portion of those who shared her passion and secretly wished they had the courage to do the same, but of course there were the rest of who were commenting negatively the fact that a woman entered in men's fields. Very soon, however, Candy herself proved that she wasn't a random woman.
At the same time she became one of the greatest benefactresses of the local, and not only society. Building up foundations and helping as much as she could the weak poorest classes.
- ''Good morning, Candy'' said Archie as the door was closing behind him.
-'' Hello Archie, have a seat please; do you want to bring us coffee or tea?'' told him hastily and typically Candy.
-'' Nah, no thanks.''
-'' Archie I'll go straight to the point, because after I have an appointment with the mayor about the construction of the asylum for the homeless.''
-'' Yes, yes I know, everything indicates that it will finally become a reality now that was found the area.''
-'' Hmm, indeed,'' agreed with him making a short pause,'' therefore Archie, I want to tell you about a decision I took, it might seem a bit sudden, but I talked with George and agreed that it's a good idea''.
-'' What is it about?''
-'' I will take over the offices at London for a while''
-'' For how long?!'' he asked her surprised.
-'' For as long as needed; after the "Black Tuesday" things there eventually went much worse than we thought and if not go any of us there, we will lose everything.''
-'' And here, who will be left in charge?''
-'' You Archie! I will take with me George and we will be often communicate to inform each other; don't tell me you cannot handle the office here?!'' she asked somewhat teasingly Candy, and for a small moment, Archie thought he saw the old Candy.
-'' No, no it's not that ... with Anthony and Rosemary what will you do?''
-'' I'll take them with me to England; I already arranged they will attend at Saint Paul's college''.
-'' What did you do?! I can't believe you Candy! You wrote the children at that prison?!''
-'' Nowadays it's not like used to be; after the war ended, the management changed. Sister Gray has retired and now in her position is Sister Margaret. The classes are mixed now with boys and girls, certainly not the dorms; but the courses have changed and improved a lot, definitely the school is targeting on education now, and not to create young ladies of the high society!''
- '' Candy, are you sure about that ...?'' Archie of course wasn't asking about the school, but for her decision to leave.
-'' Yes, absolutely! In fact, I already gave to college, a donation.''
Archie was left with his mouth open and then said something, perhaps from his anger, perhaps from his sadness that Candy would be leaving so far away, maybe even himself knew how he had emitted it ...
-'' You are walking on the footsteps of Duke Grandchester? Buying off the education of your children, like did the father of that snobbish punk?! Truthfully Candy, why are you going to England?! ''
Her icy green eyes flashed with anger and pierced Archie.
-'' Don't you dare to say his name here, ever again!'' shouted Candy outraged.
Archie at that moment he wished actually he had dipped his tongue in his brain and utter nothing of the words that he said.
- ''… Candy'' said slowly attempting to apologize.
-'' Archie ... please get out of my office, before I say something that afterwards we will regret it both of us...''
Archie lowered his head and walked out silently from the office, leaving Candy alone.
The moment the door closed behind him, Candy collapsed on her chair; her gaze stuck on a corner of the room and tried to find her composure, as fast as she could. In vain. A war had broken out inside her. Archie's words had knocked the tower's door of the Sleeping Beauty and now she was awake, strucking her shackles inside Candy's mind. "What's bothered you?! ... That he said the truth?! ..." – he's not telling the truth!
She stood up from her chair and went to the hidden deposit box, on the side of the library. She opened it and pulled out a small wooden box. She placed it on her desk and stayed looking at it as if expected to be opened by its own. "... Open it! ...", ordered the small little voice. Like a second Pandora, obeyed the command of the voice and she opened the box; leaving breaks loose from inside the memories and smells of the past.
With trembling fingers, she took the thin white envelope that was on top. She felt an electric current piercing her. "... So, Archie hasn't told the truth?! ..." cried out the little voice. She opened the envelope and took out the letter from inside. "... That's it, well done! ... Now read it again! ..." ordered her again, "... see his words again with your own eyes!... ". There before her eyes came alive a sentence, spreading out throughout the room, wrapping her like a rope and immobilized her.
Nothing has changed in me
"... Now see when he wrote it! Dare to see how long, you left it like that! ..."
-'' Oh shut up!'' she scolded the voice and with a sudden move placed the letter into the box and closed it fast.
The little voice didn't speak again, but left a playful giggle; had won its first battle, the moment one single tear rolled down Candy's cheek.