Chapter X
In Chicago, everybody was sad. Candy and Terry had left to live their lives. Terry's children were gone. Melanie was heartbroken. Annie and Archie arrived to see Candy. They found the children all sad.
- What's going on? Asked Archie, what's with the long faces?
- Where's your mom? Asked Annie
- What happened after we left? Asked Archie
- Why did you leave uncle Archie? Asked Anthony
- Well, we knew Candy had to talk to you after the reading of the will…, said Annie
- What happened? Where is your mother? What did she tell you?
- Mom is gone, said Melani sadly
- Gone where? Asked Annie
- To Scotland…, said Anthony
- Scotland? Said Archie, just like that? Out of the blue? Asked Archie
- Did she go alone? Asked Annie who already guessed the answer
- With Grandchester! Said Anthony angry
- WHAT? Said Archie upset, who could you have let something like that happened, Anthony!
- She's my mother, she made a decision. I couldn't do anything!
- Grandchester took advantage of her! I should've been there to stop her.
- And army wouldn't have been able to stop her, uncle Archie, she's been waiting for this moment for so long!
- She loved Albert! Said Archie
- I'm not saying she didn't love dad, but M. Grandchester is the love of her life…, said Melanie
- You're talking nonsense Melanie! Said Anthony, your loverboy agreed with me…
- Loverboy? Said Annie
- Yes, she fell in love with Richard Grandchester! Like mother, like daughter!...
- Stop it Anthony! Said Melanie in tears
- He called mom names! He called her a slut! Said Anthony
- He was angry against this whole situation! He was very close to his mother!
- You're defending him! If you really loved him, you go be with him! Juliet! Your Romeo left you!
- Shut up Anthony, said Melanie leaving the room crying
Annie followed Melanie to console her.
- That damn Grandchester! Said Archie, I should've thrown him out when I had the occasion
- Mom was protecting him, uncle Archie… I had to watch without being able to do anything, see her getting back together with that man…
- In your father's house
- They didn't do anything here, aside hugging, they didn't even kiss!
- You believe that?
- Yes… they respected dad's house…
- We're going to attack the Grandchesters? Asked Archie
Anthony looked at him, he was angry… the war between the two families started, they started fighting each other in the business world.
Melanie was crying, because she knew that the anger Richard was feeling was not going to pass so fast… Like continued, without Richard Grandchester. She got married and she saw how her son Albert, who was close to Anthony get into the business world and the war with the Grandchesters… It continued and that's in the atmosphere Candy, her granddauthter met Terry, Richard's grandson and they had fallen in love…
When Albert had called her to let her know what was going on with Candy… She was in Lakewood and she was taking care of the Pony Home orphanage, which had taken her mother in when she was a baby…
- Mom! Said Albert
- Are you ok, honey? What's going on? You seemed upset…
- Candy…
- She hasn't come back from her Europe trip yet?
- She did…
- So, what's going on?
- I planed to marry her to the son of one of my associates, a Greek tycoon…
- Did you at least let know him first?
- He's rich, she's going to learn to love him
- Albert…
- I know I'm behaving like in the old days…
- You think?
- But I want my daughter to be safe and secure
- Albert, she has linved in Europe backpacking and she knows how to take care of herself, you know that right? She doesn't need a rich husband, Albert… but what's going on? Why are you upset?
- I don't know if you're away of the society news, there was supposed to have a wedding between Richard 's son and Lacy Bartlett for their financial problems to be solved
Melanie looked up. That damn war is it going to end one day?
- Don't tell me you sabotaged the wedding?
- No, but it's almost like I did, indirectly…
- What do you mean by that?
- Well, your granddaughter came back from Europe and she went to see her friend Roberta, who asked her to make a portrait of the future bride and groom, as a wedding present…
- Candy is very talented… what happened?
- Well, during the ceremony, or should I say, before the ceremony, when the priest asked if someone had something to say…
- "…let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
- And guess what? The groom changed his mind!
- What? But it was an arranged marriage, wasn't it?
- Yes, but something was more important for them and his family
- What?
- He had met a young girl who was supposed to make his portrait…
- Candy?! She said surprised
- Yes! My little princess ruined the plans of the enemy without even know it!
- What happened?
- The groom said he has something to say and he couldn't marry Lacy and he turned around to run… but he took your granddaughter on his way out…
- He kidnapped her?
- I wish! But no. She followed him of her own free will!
- Oh my God!
Will the third generationhave more luck? Well, they were more daring… they were doing everything to be together? Well Richard's son chose love instead of money!
- My little princess is sleeping with a Grandchester!
- Albert, please
- I'm sorry for the crude language mom! But I'm upset!
- What did you do?
- Well, Liam Grandchester called me to accused me of sending my little princess to ruin the arranged wedding, that was supposed to save them…
- Oh oh… what did you say?
- I laughed and I told him it was true! But he had just given me the news at that moment…
- Albert! How could you? I'm afraid to ask what you did after that
- I went to get my little princess… in Grandchester's bed!
- What?
- I took my sons and we went to get Candy. They wrapped her in a sheet and carried her to the apartment!
- How could you make a spectacle of yourself that way? You should be ashamed of yourself!
- My daughter is sleeping with the enemy!
- She was a virgin…
- What?
- Candy was keeping herself for her wedding…
- Are you sure mom?
- Yes, I'm sure. If you found her in Richard's grandson's bed, he was her first…
- Oh my God! A Grandchester?!
- How did you punish her?
- She's my princess mom… I wanted her to marry the greek tycoon to be financially safe…
- And?
- Grandchester disguised himself as a waiter and he came to get her and she followed him…
- You threw my mother out?
- I didn't throw her out, she left with the enemy!
- Because you didn't want her to be with the man she loved… same difference!
- Mom…
- William, she said, you have to find a way, a solution and stop this war…
- Too many things happened…
- There's no problem without a solution. I have some engagements and as soon as I finish them, I'll come to Chicago and I won't go back until that stupid war is over…
Melanie hung up the phone angry. This war had cost her Richard… So she went to Chicago and her son was avoiding her so he won't talk about the war… She hadn't seen Candy and she missed her. She has also heard that she was pregnant. She wanted to see her so much… so when William her grandson came to invite her at the theatre one night… he had come with his wife and son, Melanie was happy to be a great grandmother…
- Hello William Robert, said Melanie carrying her great grandson… you are so cute! You look like my daddy, your namesake… his name was William Albert Andrew and he was the best of all men…
She continued talking to her great grandson and tell him stories,,, After dinner, William gave them tickets for the theatre.
- At the theatre, tonight? Said Albert
- Yes, I'm inviting you to come and see Pygmalion on stage, said William, some kind of family outing
- What's the occasion? Asked Melanie
- A little family reunion, for William Robert, we're celebrating the birth
- By going to the theatre? Said Albert
- Yes, dad…
- Thank you William, said Melanie, we're going to be there…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Nelly Grandchester was doing the same thing. She was inviting her family at the theatre. Even grandpa Richard was there that evening, he had come for diner.
- The theatre? Said Richard
The theatre reminded him of his father… He didn't get the acting bug like his father and his grandmother; the great Eleonor Baker…
- Please, come, said Nelly
- What's the occasion? Asked her father
- A family outing, that's all. I wanted to do something with the whole family…
- All right, Nelly, said her father, we'll be there!
- Super! Said Nelly smiling
oOoOoOoOoOo
The night of the famous premiere of Pygmalion happened. They were all at the theatre and in the end, everybody was talking. Then it was the reunion, Candy saw her family and everybody hugged, then Terry's family arrived and the arguing started… Then Candy lost her waters and they rushed to the hospital… Melanie looked at Richard, who was also looking at her. It was like they were seeing each other before, but this time around, it was different. It was a family reunion… Candy and Terry's mothers were in the room with Candy when she went to the hospital… Melanie was in the waiting room with the rest of the family… When the news came that Candy had a little boy, everybody was happy and kissing and smiling, they were hugging… Richard approached Melanie.
- Congratulations Melanie
- Congratulations, Richard, she said smiling
Anthony had move to stay in Europe and he would come from time to time to see his family in America. The rest of the family didn't know about what happened in the past and Anthony never talked about it. It was like he had decided to forget that his sister was in love with the enneny… So both families didn't know about Richard and Melanie… for Brian was also living in another city and never talked about it either…