The winds of winter
Chapter 13
Part one
"The moment of truth"
During the days Terry wasn't home, the time went on slow for Candy. She missed him. She was eager to speak to him, to tell him the truth, so they could move on, be the family with their little girl and other children… All those papers she had prepared, she didn't want to use them. She will convince Terry of it, she was sure about that. She had to call her father. She had avoided him enough as it is. While Esther was taking a nap, she took her phone to call her father. He answered right away.
- You were waiting for my phone call, right?
- It's been days since you've called me
- Good evening daddy…
- Good evening, my darling… you're avoiding me. You've made your decision, right?
- It's not the one you were hoping for…
- What was I hoping for?
- That I was going to ask for a divorce and custody of Esther…
- My darling…, said the duke slowly, when you made your decision to give up your prince for a perfect stranger, I said to myself that you were going crazy! But it was your life and not mine, so I let you do it. When you came back after the death of your baby, I could only console you… you refused to divorce and move on…It was like a part of you knew that your life w/ith your husband wasn't done yet. When you found out your daughter was still alinve, I was very happy for you… I said to myself that maybe you were ready to close that chapter of your life by claiming the custody of your daughter… but I knew that if you saw your husband again, there was a risk you go back together with him…
- It doesn't bother you?
- I took you from your mum and my wife mistreated you, I don't want your little girl to risk the same thing as you. If you can be there for her and get your husband back, do it… I don't want you to feel guilty like your mother did for leaving you… You've already missed the first four years of her life…
- Oh daddy…
- Good luck my darling. Be happy and come and show me my granddaughter… Tell me something. did you seduce him?
- Daddy! That's none of your business!
- Come on my nice little girl, I know you pretended you were a slut…
- How did you know that…?
- Otherwise, you would've dated when you came back. You were faithful to your dear husband…
- Oh my God, but the papers…
- Candy, you know me better than that, you know right?
Candy had a little laugh.
- In fact, he seduce me, daddy…
- With your disguise?
- Yes…
- And you're not upset?
- Why?
- Because technically, you 're another woman…
- Oh that… he said I reminded him of someone…
- He knows it's you…
- No, he doesn't. I'm going to tell him when he comes back. He's on a trip…
- Candy, you've made love… how many times?
- I don't see what's that go to do with it…
- How many times?
- Two nights in a row…
- He knows…
- Why didn't he say anything?
- Maybe, for the same reason you didn't say anything either…
- You think so? Well, I'm going to tel him when he comes back…
- You're a lot more implicated emotionally to see clearly… Good luck
- Thank you daddy. I love you daddy.
- I love you too, my darling.
Having her father's blessing meant a lot to her. She was now ready to take back her family, her marriage against all odds. Was her father right? Did Terry knew it was really her? Well, she will know it soon enough.
oOoOoOoOoOo
On her side, Eliza was still digging into Blanche Graham's file. She was talking to her brother.
- Daniel, have you met Esther's new nanny?
- The Terry is banging?
- Good news travel fast.
- I haven't seen her yet. Why?
- I've seen her… a redhead pretty ordinary
- A redhead?
- Yes, his tastes got better, don't you think so?
- Wait a minute, said her brother, you think he's with a redhead because of you?
- Why else?
- If that loser wanted you, you would've had you! Said Daniel bursting out laughing
- You've always been jealous of Terry, he's had Antonia, then princess euro trash… you couldn't separate them, despite your affirmations that you were her lover…
- He loved his wife…
- You're feeling guilty because she left?
- She could've come back to be with her daughter…
- It was good riddance, you mean!
- Really? But you still couldn't get into his bed! And his daughter doesn't like you much.
- She's a little pest! She loves her nanny…
- This conversation is boring, said Daniel, what do you want?
- Go see the nanny…
- Why?
- Maybe you could tell me what Terry sees in her, since you seem to share the same taste in women.
- We're going to his place for Thanksgiving, I could see her then…
- Go see her now, Terry is not there, he's on a trip…
- All right, you owe me one… I'm going to go see her…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Daniel Legan went to Terry's to "inspect" Esther's nanny. He arrived in front of the door of the big manor after he parked his car in the alley and he went to ring the bell. It took a little while before the butler answered the door.
- Yes? He asked.
- I came to see little Esther, I heard she has been sick…
- Miss Esther is busy…
- She has a few minutes for me right?
The butler let him in against his will. Daniel Legan was family and it wasn't his place to forbid him access to the manor. He was in the hallway, when he saw Candy and Esther passing by.
- Hello Esther, he said smiling
- Uncle Daniel! Said Esther smiling
She approached him and he took her in his arms to give her a big hug.
- How are you? I heard you've been sick?
- I'm feeling a lot better, thank you.
He looked at Candy who was looking at him coldly. He had told Terry they were lovers. She was still upset with him about that.
- You're not introducing me to your nanny?
- This is Snow White, Snow-White, this is uncle Daniel!
- Pleased to meet you, said Daniel smiling
Candy didn't reply. But she said to herself, she better stop killing him with her eyes.
Her thougths went far, in the past. They had met in a reception where she was without Terry.
A lot of men were hitting on her. Daniel would defend her and the indesirable men would go away. They were together on a terrace at the reception to breathe some fresh air and Daniel had tried to kiss her, She had slapped him.
- What's wrong with you? You're just like all those loser who were bothering me…
Daniel had put his hand on his cheek.
- You know your husband is a stray dog, right? We don't know where he comes from… I'm part of one of the noble family of America…You've got too much class for him!
- Daniel, I left a prince to be with Terry. What makes you think his origins are important to me?
- But what is it that you see in that loser?
- I don't know, what does your sister sees in him?
- Candy…
- If you think I'm going to have a one night stand with you, don't hold your breath! And don't ever try to kiss me again!
- You let Terry kiss you when you were with your prince, didn't you? What's the difference?
- The difference is that Terry is a gentleman who tried to kiss me only after I had broken off with the prince!
- But of course, the loser had to behave like a gentleman!
- Daniel, if insulting my husband is what you're going to do, don't ever talk to me again!
And she had stop talking to him after that. Daniel got his revenge by telling Terry he was her lover…
Candy came back to reality. She stopped killing him with her eyes and she said:
- I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, she finally said
She was really playing the biggest role of her career
Daniel looked at her curiously. Her blue eyes behind he thick glasses. The red hair falling on her shoulders. Daniel put Esther on the floor to shake Candy's hand. He had a weird impression, What was that?
- Let's go Esther, we're going to colour a turkey, said Candy
- Could a turkey be someone not very nice?
Candy burst out laughing, thinking about Eliza.
- Yes, honey. But you shouldn't say that. It's not very nice, Even if the person is mean with you. You don't do mean thing for mean stuff…
- What does it mean?
- It means it's not because a person hurt you that you have to hurt them too…
- All right . I wanted to make a card for Daddy…
- All right. Let's go.
- You're staying for dinner uncle Daniel?
- You want me to stay?
- Yes! Said Esther smiling.
Daniel had always been nice to Esther, He felt a little guilty, because her mother was gone? He had wished she had left Terry for him, not leave Terry to go back to her mundane life!
- All right, said Daniel looking at Candy. We could learn to know each other more, Snow While
Candy didn't reply and walked away with the little girl. Daniel went to Terry's office to use the computer. Something was bothering him. He closed his eyes and started thinking.
He was at a reception with Candy in Chicago where they had met James MacGregor, grandson of a rival family of the Andrew. The latter wanted to hit on Candy whose reputation had preceded her in all the receptions. Everybody wanted to see Terrence Andrew's new wife, the one who had dumped a prince. Candy was talking to James MacGregor, Daniel was listening to what she was saying.
- You're breath taking. You look like a real princess.
- And I didn't even need to marry a real prince! Thank you!
- And your British accent is absolutely charming! May I invite you for diner?
- I don't think my husband would appreciate it.
- Why? Because our families are rivals?
- No, because You're a man.
- That's your kind of partner, right?
- I'm a married woman, said Candy smiling.
James MacGregor was very attractive. But Candy didn't care one bit, She had her Terry. James continued:
- You know, you take a fruit on a tree when it's ripped
Candy couldn't help laughing with her crystal laughter.
- Hope makes you live, Master MacGregor, she replied walking away.
Daniel came back to reality. The same laugh as Blanche… No, it was not possible, He was going to take advantage of his time at diner to see if she was going to laugh again… the impression he had in her presence. And he had felt her resentment towards him. N o, he must be dreaming. He was so obsessed by Candy he had the impression he was seeing her everywhere. He was even dating women who looked physically like Candy…
During diner time, he was more than convinced it was really Candy just with her laugh, because her freckles were gone, her blond hair and emerald eyes were also gone. But she was cold with him obviously. But Esther was there, and she made an effort to be civil with him.
Daniel, had hit the jackpot! What was he going to do with that information? Tell his sister? She could ruin it all for Candy. He didn't know what her plan was, but he could see how much she was happy with her daughter. She had came back after four years… her maternal instinct took a while to appear? He loved Candy and he wanted her to be happy. So, he wasn't going to tell his sister anything. He was going to leave Candy alone. And he will not tell anything to Candy either. God knows what she was going to do if she was find out. He had messed up things between them…he should've been her friend in stead of insulting Terry all the time.
Diner was over and Daniel stood up to leave with Esther and Candy.
- I'm going to go, said Daniel, thank you so much for the invitation my pretty one.
He leaned and kissed her on the cheek and the little one hugged him hard.
- Good bye Uncle Daniel, said Esther smiling
- Snow-White, I was happy to make your acquaintance.
- Good evening Master Daniel, said Candy
- You can call me Daniel, he said smiling.
Candy took little Esther and she went upstairs.
Daniel looked at them, mother and daughter leave together. They were in perfect harmony and so happy together. He thought about Terry and he said to himself, since he loved Candy, he must've recognized her too and that's why he was sleeping with her. He wasn't unfaithful, he was doing his conjugal duty! In fact, it was the first time there was a rumour on that loser… after Candy left, he was taking care of Esther, then he was going on his business strips, he never had the time to date women, until his wife came back incognito… Nothing would please him more than to hurt Terry, but he loved Candy and he loved Esther. He was not going to tell his sister.