The hill of happiness
Chapter 9
"Happy events"
Time passed... Eleonor spent her time with her son, when she wasn't shooting a movie and being a big movie star, she was allowed to choose the scripts that suited her better and she could give her own work time table. It was great to be a superstar.
Candy and Annie's bellies were bigger. They were doing everything together and of course after the conversation with the old hag, Archie and Annie didn't the Andrew manor... Sarah and her children were there less frequent, after what she had done to Rosemary, William didn't want to see her and her family. On the other hand he was courting Eleonor Baker, he took her to dinner and they were seeing everywhere together, at the restaurant, in receptions, that's counting without the showbiz news on the television.
Candy and Terry were avoiding Mrs. Grandchester; they were practically running away from her when they saw her in a public place.
Candy was living a dream pregnancy with Terry, always taking care of her. He would spend a lot of time with Candy. He had taken a leave of absence from his father's company and would only go to the office if it was absolutely necessary. With all the noise Mrs. Grandchester had made, their lives was also in the papers...They speculated on the paternity of the child Candy was carrying and she thought it was very weird... She thought it was an invention from the Medias, so she didn't think about it too much. Terry was relieved to see her ignored the papers. Archie was talking with Terry...
- You should've taken advantage to tell her the truth...
- I know, I'm a coward...
- Terry, you'll have to tell her, especially since your step-monster knows the truth...
- Everything is perfect between us; I don't want to ruin it. I want to take advantage of the moment to the maximum...
- Terry, you have to tell her the truth... she thinks she's having Richard's baby...
- I know! It's killing me, believe me!
- Well your family can't be worse than ours...
- Like you said... I'm wondering what my father would say about this whole mess...
- He's left for a long time your old man...
- He probably wants to stay far away from the step-monster...
- My uncle William seems to have a lot of fun with your mother...
- She's not too old for her?
- No, she can't be his mother... so it should be fine, right?
- Your uncle William as a stepfather...
- If he marries her, said Archie laughing, my uncle marries your mom! Oh my God, if you knew how many times I've had phantasms about her...
- Shut up corn cob! That's my mother you're talking about!
Archie burst out laughing with Terry.
Richard Grandchester senior was in Australia for years. He was taking care of the family business. Spending time far from his family was good for him. With his wife who kept provoking fights between his two sons. He wasn't happy. He was conscious that he had neglected his family. He had also learned the death of Richard Junior, but he wasn't able to free himself on time to come to his own son's funeral! You have to say that Australia is on the other side of the world and when his son died, he was in the middle of the Australian desert helping the aborigines with their civil rights, he was negotiating to build in the desert and give them jobs. When he came back to civilisation, he had learned that his youngest son was dead for a while... he had also learned by his wife that Terry had an affair with Richard's wife and had gotten her pregnant. What was that all about? He knew Terry was the good boy and Richard was the bastard... if someone was stealing the other one's mate, it was Richard and not Terry. How many times had he seen Terry standing back to leave Richard alone? Terry getting Richard's wife pregnant? That didn't sound like him at all, but if it were Richard, on the other hand, he would've believed it, but not Terrence... He had married Richard's widow... He was going to be a grandfather soon. He has also learned that Eleonor Baker, formerly known as Nelly Graham, was in Chicago and that she was going out with William Andrew, the billionaire...And it also seemed that Candice Grandchester, Richard's widow and Terry's wife, was William Andrew's niece... Richard Jr didn't live long enough to find out that his little orphan was in fact a very good catch: the niece of the billionaire, William Andrew. Eleonor was in Chicago, which meant that Terry knew she was his mother... His wife didn't keep mum, especially after the death of her dear Richard Jr... He had to go back to America to see if his family was fine... But he had business to finish first...
oOoOo
Candy and Annie spent a lot of time at the Pony Home on the hill.
- I always feel very good on this hill, I have the impression that everything is going to be fine, said Candy
- We do feel at peace here, said Annie
- I made sure there was enough food and sweets for Thanksgiving...
- Yes and my baby could come one of these mornings, said Annie
- I hope it's going to let you eat your dinner...
- We'll have to wait and see...
For Thanksgiving, Candy and Terry went to the manor; Terry didn't want Candy to spend the day cooking. At the manor, Eleonor was with William, who didn't want to change his mind about the Reagans.
- William, it's Thanksgiving, said the great aunt.
- No! She learned that Rosemary had had a baby, had she said something, we could`ve looked for her earlier...
Candy would`ve grown up with us! I don't want to see the, even if it's been months!
- Very well, said the great aunt.
Eleonor looked at William.
- Are you going to calm down one day?
- Maybe...
- Candy is happily married to my son... and I'm going to become a grandmother soon... it's not good to be in bad terms...
- The advantage of being the head of the family, it's that I can do everything I want...
- All right, said Eleonor, it was only a suggestion...
- I love you, he said kissing her on the lips
Terry looked at his mother...
- At least I know William... it's not one them actors, drugged, high and drunk from dust 'til dawn, said Terry
- Terry, William is a good man and he's a billionaire, on top of that! Said Candy smiling
- I suppose it counts to know she's going to be taken care of with him...
- Grandchester, look at the bright side, it could've been me, your mother's lover, said Archie
- That would've been a real nightmare! Said Terry laughing
They burst out laughing again. They went to eat and everybody than ked God for this wonderful year. The great aunt closed:
- This year was full of surprises... My heart attack, finding my dear Candy... I'm also grateful that Archie and Annie didn't leave the manor and that we're going to have a baby in the house very soon... I blessed all the members of my family, present or absent... Amen.
- Amen, said the others...
The meal happened in a nice and joyous atmosphere. After the meal, they all went and have tea in the living room and Annie...
- Oh my God! She yelled
- What? Said Archie
- It's time Archie...
- Let's go to the hospital, said Archie taking his wife in his arms...
William went to get the car and everybody went to the hospital, Candy and Archie were in the room with Annie during the birth. A few hours later, a beautiful little strong boy was crying very loud.
- He's beautiful, said Archie smiling, our little Anthony
- Yes, Anthony..., said Annie smiling
- He's blond, said Candy
- And he's got blue eyes, he's perfect, said Archie smiling
- Candy, when they say it hurts to give birth, you really have no idea how much it hurts...
- Oh Annie, stop scaring me! Said Candy laughing
- Don't believe me, said Annie, you'll see...
The great aunt cried when she saw her great grand nephew Anthony... She almost died without seeing the next generation of her family...She thanked God some more.
oOoOo
On Christmas Eve, Candy was on the Pony Hill breathing some air. It was snowing on the Pony Hill. She had brought presents for the children. Terry was waiting for her. He was always by her side. She could give birth at any moment.
- Let's go back to Chicago, said Terry
- All right, said Candy, I'm tired...
- Are you ok? Do you want to lie down?
- Terry calm down, I'm fine..., said Candy smiling
They went back to Chicago in their apartment. They still hadn't found the perfect house yet...
- You know to accelerate contractions, they recommend making love often...
- Really? Anything talking about making love, I like it, said Terry smiling.
They went to the bedroom to make love, again and again... Terry's mother was in Los Angeles with William for Christmas Eve. They were coming back the next day for Christmas. Around 2 AM, Candy got up to go to the bathroom and she felt like something popping and a warm liquid between her legs...
- Terry!
He appeared right away on the bathroom doorstep...
- What's going on?
- It's time...
- Oh...oh! Let's go to the hospital!
- I'm going to call Annie...
- Are you sure? It's Christmas and...
- She'll never forgive me...
- All right, said Terry, anything you want...
They arrived at the hospital and Annie and Archie arrived a few minutes later.
- How are you Candy? Asked Annie.
- I'm fine, thanks for coming.
- That's normal.
- But it's Christmas...
- Oh Anthony is a baby, he doesn't know it's Christmas, said Annie
Terry was also in the delivery room and Archie was in the hallway waiting. He called William in Los Angeles.
- Archie? Is everything fine?
- Yes, we're in the hospital with Candy...
- Oh... the baby?
- Yes…
- I'm going to take the jet and get there.
- I hope she'll wait for you, said Archie smiling
William and Eleonor took the Andrew's private jet to get back to Chicago for the birth of Candy's baby.
Candy was irritable...
- Oh Annie, you were right!
- It's going to be ok sweetie
- Terry, since this was an artificial insemination, I can't even blame Richard!
Terry had to bite his tongue so he wouldn't tell Candy the truth. Candy gave birth to a beautiful little girl, blond like her mommy with her father's traits.
- Richard's traits, said Candy looking at her but also Terry's traits, since both brothers look alike...
She wanted to be sad, but she couldn't. Terry was the baby's father...
- Rosemary, said Candy look at your daddy!
Terry took his daughter and he had tears in his eyes.
- Hello y pretty one, you are so beautiful, too beautiful! You're perfect! Rosemary Eleonor Grandchester, said Terry crying of joy.
- It's wonderful.
He kissed his daughter on the forehead and didn't understand the joy which was invading his heart, he was a dad! He had a baby with Candy! Everything was fine... The love of a parent for its child was something very powerful... He almost understood why Mrs. Grandchester hated him so much.