The memory of the heart:
The Forgotten Lover
Chapter 14
"The wedding"
Terry called Candy and he learned that she was with his mother at a restaurant after they bought her wedding dress.
- You're eating what you're craving? What do you want to eat tonight?
- I don't know, I'll let you know later. I bought a dress for Bianca Rose.
- I'm sure she's going to be very cute in it.
- Are you ok?
- Yes, why?
- I have the impression that something is bothering you.
She really knew him too well!
- I had a little problem at the theatre.
- Is everything all right?
- Everything's fine, Freckles, don't worry.
- All right. I'll see you tonight, then?
- Yes, I'll come by, after the theatre.
- See you later.
- See you later.
Then, Terry's cellphone rang. It was Annie.
- I was expecting your phone call.
- Really? Said Annie, you could've called me to warned me, don't you think so?
- I wasn't premeditated.
- You sound like you're talking about a murder, Terry. It's a wedding! You're going to marry Candy! And you're going to tell me that you weren't thinking about it?
- She's pregnant by another man. No, I wasn't thinking about marrying her.
- Then why are you marrying her?
- Because I love her more than anything.
- What about the baby?
- I love the baby too.
- But Terry…
- I know. If the baby's father comes back, if Albert comes back…
- What are you going to do?
- Si Candy gets her memory back and Albert comes back, and she wants to raise the baby with him, I'm going to let her go.
- You're going to fight to keep her first, right?
- Of course.
- Are you sure about what you're doing ?
- I'm sure of one thing: I love Candy and she loves me.
- Give-me the phone, said Archie, taking the phone from Annie's hands.
- Grandchester! You're taking advantage of her! You coward! Albert is not there and you steal his girlfriend?!
- If you were in front of me, you would've had my fist on your face, Cornwell!
- Really? I'm not so sure about that!
- I'm helping Candy.
- You're marrying her.
- She didn't want to have a baby out of wedlock.
- And you offered your services, just like that? How nice of you! You're taking advantage,since she doesn't remember you!
- Oh stop it! You know she loves me!
- She loves Albert! She's carrying his child!
- You don't know that!
- You did say it couldn't be your child right?
- I'm going to marry her and the baby will become mine.
Terry preferred avoiding answering that. He would ratherhang on to the hope that the fetus was small for its age.
- Listen Cornwell; if she gets her memory back and she wants to be with Albert, I will let her go.
- Yeah right! My ass!
- F*uck off Cornwell, said Terry hanging up.
Annie looked at her husband.
- You couldn't restrain yourself?
- Why would I restrain myself with that snotty nosed kid? He's going to marry Candy, knowing she's having Albert's child! Why did Candy agree to marry him knowing he's not the father of her child? She doesn't want to have a child out of wedlock? It's pretty common these days!
- You know Candy, said Annie, she trusts Terry.
- He's the only person from her surrounding! He influenced her! We should go see her and stop this fiasco!
- No, Archie. We are not going to risk Candy's health! Let her marry Terry!
- What about Albert?
- Well. " Absentees are always wrong…"
- Annie…
- Listen, for the moment, she's with Terry and he's taking care of her.
- What if Albert loses her for good?
- We don't know anything about her relationship with Albert.
- How? She didn't tell you anything?
- No. What about you? Did Albert tell you something?
- No.
- Then, we might just be speculating. She might be pregnant by another man than Albert?
- Candy? No, said Archie, it's Albert.
- We won't get any answers until she gets her memory back. So we wait. The wedding is a godly institution, Archie.
- So God is going to bless them?
- But of course Archie and God knows they need his blessing.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Hunter arrived at the theatre after the play.
- Sir, I've pulled a few strings and I was able to get you your marriage license, he said giving it to him.
- Thank you Hunter! Said Terry smiling.
The conversation with Archie had made him angry. He had to marry Candy the soonest possible. If Albert came back… He didn't want to think about that. He wanted to marry Candy because he loved her and he wanted to protect her. He wanted to marry Candy because he loved her with all his heart and that baby was his, in his heart, because he loved its mother with all his heart. Candy had left him a message that she wanted Chinese food. He went to Candy's apartment after the theatre with the Chinese food that Hunter had ordered.
- Good evening, he said smiling.
- How was your day?
- I missed you.
He took her in his arms to kiss her.
- I got the license. We can get married, he said
- When? Right away?
- Tomorrow?
- All right, said Candy whose heart was beating hard. Are you sure it's what you want?
- Yes Candy, I love you.
- I love you too, Terry!
They kissed again.
- Let's go eat, he said.
They went to sit at the table. Candy brought the plates and the cutlery. They serve each other and they ate in a joyous atmosphere. After diner, they curled up to each other on the couch.
- Are you all right?
- I'm fine, said Candy.
- You're scared.
- With my memory loss, you'd think I'd forget how to be afraid.
- Don't worry about tomorrow, you'll have time to worry tomorrow.
- " …do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "
- You're quoting the Bible, your memory is coming back.
- I'm going to follow our Lord's advice.
- And I'm going to go back to my place, said Terry standing up. I'll call you tomorrow to tell you at what time I'm going to come to pick you up.
She had also stood up and she had walked him to the door.
- Good night Juliet.
- Good night Romeo.
They kissed and Terry left. Candy spent an agitated night. She was afraid that something would come to ruin her happiness with Terry again.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry woke up at dawn to prepare his marriage to Candy. His assistant was helping him out. He had hired people to go get Candy's things at her apartment. He had called Eleonor so she could go get Candy in the morning. He had called Candy who was still in bed.
- What?! She said irritated.
After a sleepless night, she had just fallen asleep.
- Freckles? Are you still asleep?
- Since I'm talking to you, I'm not sleeping anymore.
- The wedding is later this morning. My mother is coming to pick you up so you can go get ready at her place.
- You're lucky I love you Romeo, otherwise, I would've hung up on you!
- I love you too, Juliet, said Terry laughing.
Candy had to wake up against her will and get ready; she took a quick shower. When she was ready, she received her dailey croissant and her hot chocolate. Terry was perfect like that. She loved him so much. She took her croissants and her hot chocolate with her at Eleonor's who had sent her the limousine. The car was spacious and she was able to put her hot beverage on cup holders. She waited until she got at Eleonor's to eat her croissants.
Eleonor Baker was very elegant in her pink satin robe. Even without make up on, she was very beautiful. She was at her dining room table having breakfast.
- So Candy, are you ready to tie the knot with my son?
- I know I don't really look good to you to marry him, giving the fact that I'm pregnant with another man's baby.
- I'm not here to judge you Candy. You've lost your memory, what's happening is not your fault. The answers are inside your memory.
- What if I don't want to remember? What if marrying Terry is so good with me that I refuse to remember?
- I'm sure your memory is going to come back, Candy. Marrying Terry might calm your mind. We don't know what made you lost your memory. But being with the man you love can only be a positive thing for your healing.
- I hope you're right. I still can't believe that I'm pregnant without being married!
- You're going to get married in a little while, so you'll be calmer on that side.
- As a matter of fact, said Candy smiling.
Terry wanted her to be calm, so he was marrying her. He was so wonderful and she loved him with all her heart. They finished their breakfast and they went to get Candy ready for the wedding. A hairdresser and her esthetician were there. They did Candy's hair, they did her nails and she also got a pedicure.
- You are so nice to me, said Candy to Eleonor when they were ready to go.
- When you get your memory back, you'll understand why I love you so much Candy.
- I love you too, said Candy hugging her.
Eleonor hugged her back and she felt Bianca Rose move.
- Whoa! Hello my pretty one! She said touching the belly smiling looking at it.
She burst out laughing with Candy. They took the limousine to get to the church. Terry was inside and Hunter was waiting for her at the door to walk her down the aisle. He was going to be the best man with Eleonor, the maid of honor.
Terry was at the altar waiting. He saw Candy walking towards him, so beautiful, in her pink and white wedding dress. She had a nice up do with white flowers and roses on her hair. She has a little veil covering her face, held by a crown of white and pink roses. She was holding a bouquet of "Sweet Candy". She walked slowly. He was looking at her like in a dream.
He was going to marry the woman he loves…temporarily? No, he was going to make sure it's forever. Candy came to stand by his side and the pastor arrived to start the ceremony. Then came the time for the vows.
- Did you prepare some vows?
- Yes, said Candy smiling
- Then go ahead.
- I was in a black hole, in a void and you were the sun that came to shed some light into my life. I swear to love you and to cherish you, for better or worse, for richer of poorer, in sickness and in health, til' death us to part.
- Candy, you're the chance I never thought I have. You are the sunshine of my life. You are my love, you are my soul mate. I swear to love you and to cherish you, for better of worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, til' death us do part.
They put on their wedding band and they repeated after the pastor.
- With this ring, I thee wed.
- With this ring, I thee wed.
At the end, the pastor said:
- By the power invested in me, I know declare you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.
Terry lifted the vail, took Candy in his arms and put his lips on hers in a fiery kiss. Candy kissed him back. She was ecstatic. With or without her memory, her heart was ecstatic. Hunter took some pictures.
They left the church and took the limousine to Eleonor where a meal ordered at the caterer's was waiting for them. When they got at Eleonor's , the staff threw rice on them when they got out of the limo. They celebrated alone. And they ate the excellent meal. Candy and Terry also danced.
In early evening, Candy and Terry went to Terry's apartment. He carried her to cross the threshold of his apartment.
- May God bless this house, said Candy smiling.
- Amen, said Terry.
He put her on the floor when they got in the living room. Candy took her shoes off and walked on the thick carpet.
- You want to eat something? Asked Terry.
- No, maybe later.
She sat on the couch. Terry has a big flat screen TV on the wall. He gave her the remote.
- You can look whatever you want. I'm going to check my messages and you'll tell me what you decide when I come back.
- What I've decided about what? Oh…!
Candy became bright as red. Terry burst out laughing and left the living room. Candy was changing channels when she heard someone ringing at the door. She stood up to go answer. Was Terry expecting some visitors? Terry's building has tight security, they would only let authorized people, upstairs. So, it's without any fear that she opened the door. She didn't recognize the person in front of her. But that person smiled at her, taking her in his arms saying:
- Candy! Oh my God! I finally found you! Finally! My darling!
Candy was frozen on the spot. Her nightmare was just starting!