Chapter 14: Metal Box

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Yet, a week later...

It's been three week since Candy last saw Neal.

Candy drove pass through the Leagan's estate passing the mansion to Doug's home, a little charming cottage next to a woodland. While driving Candy noticed the similarity of the trees with the trees Neal took her for the picnic. She never thought that they were were a few hundred years old!

Candy got off of her car and walked to Doug's stone house. There's one expensive car parked in the driveway, she didn't remember Neal had such a car.

She started to feel nervous. What if Neal with someone inside?, she thought hesitatingly. Uncomfortably she tried to listen for a trace of some sound. Still, she'd hate to go home empty handedly. Clenching her first, Before she could change her mind, she walked to the door and knocked.

There's no answer. She took a step back, waiting. After a minute, she rapped at the door again. Again, no sound came from inside the house.

"Doug! Emma!" she yelled and knocked at the same thing. No answer.

Perhaps they're in the garden, Candy thought. Doug and his wife were almost always in the garden busy with the vegetation.

Candy started to walk around the house and went to the garden. She heard some sound and looked up. There was a woman and a man. The man was bending, digging the ground seemingly planting potatoes.

The woman was wearing an expensive looking dress, definitely not Emma. It's Daisy!

And the man who's digging the ground. Neal! Daisy and Neal... together.

Candy sucked in a breath. It's weird that Neal was planting potatoes but she didn't care nor wanted to know why. How could she be so foolish to trust him! She felt hurt, worse than when Terry left her in New York years ago.

Candy turned and began to run. She just wanted to escape and be far away from them.

"Hey! You. Yes, you! Stop!" A woman voice snapped behind her.

Startled, Candy stopped and turned. Daisy stood right in front, glaring straight at Candy.

"What are you're doing here stable girl?"

Neal looked up briefly before continuing digging the ground.

"I thought I wanted to look for Neal," Candy said calmly with dignity. She refused to look beaten.

Daisy narrowed her eyes. "You can't meet him. You are not supposed to be here."

"This is Doug's house. I didn't know I need your permission to come here."

"Dirty orphan! How dare you talk back at me!" Daisy shouted. She picked up one potato from the ground and hurled it to Candy.

Neal got up but he's not fast enough to block the potato. Luckily Candy ducked in time to save herself from the tough object. In a few steps, Neal stood in between the two women.

"I think you should leave, Daisy," Neal said. His back facing Candy but she could hear the biting fury in his voice

"She never gave a hoot about you when she's young and innocent," yelled Daisy. "Now she knows the value of money she was coming to you. It's not you that she's after it's your money and status. And you can't you see that -"

Gasping in outrage, Candy had to use all her self-control not to throw her handbag to Daisy's head. But she didn't want to complicate the situation.

"Watch your mouth, Daisy!" Neal warned angrily.

Daisy twitched in anger. "You're angry at me because of a useless orphan? Really?" She pointed her finger to Candy and broke into a shill of mocking laugh. "Why? What can that helpless bitch do to you?"

Much to Candy's surprise, they didn't seem to reconcile. She followed their conversation eagerly to see which side Neal was on.

"Quiet!" He frowned and made a curt gesture for Daisy to leave.

He chooses me! No man had ever done that openly before. Do I mean that much to him?, Candy wondered.

"I am leaving!" screamed Daisy. "I reiterate my offer. Take me and I give you the best lawyer -"

"We've discussed this. I say it again, I am not interested!" cut Neal. "Leave please!" When Daisy tried to keep protesting he reiterated his point. "Now," he hissed.

His fist pressed firmly at the sides of his body. Candy never saw this tough side of Neal before. He didn't have that in his youth.

Openly furious, Daisy burst some curses and fled the scene but not before giving a look of disgust to Candy.

Knowing better than making the matters worse, Candy stood quietly, pretended not hearing until she heard a car being started and pulled.

Neal said nothing. Quietly, he was back to his spot, digging the ground, picking up potatoes.

"I'm sorry to make you two fight," said Candy, approaching him.

"You don't have to apologize for her."

His hands that were always perfectly clean was covered by soil. Instead of wearing the custom made suit, he was wearing Doug's gardening clothes.

"How are you?" she asked.

Neal didn't answer.

"Don't blame Doug. It took me a week to persuade him to tell me where you are."

"Hmmm."

"Where's Doug?"

"Left this morning. Emma's parents got the flu."

"Too bad," said Candy.

Neal just nodded.

"Doug said you need to hide. What happens?"

"It's...," he paused. "Never mind. I can't tell you. There might be people listening. You should go, Candy."

His head stayed bent but his voice shook enough for her to know that he's very upset about something.

"Come," she said gently. Putting her little hand around his arm, she gently pulled him up. "Come, let's sit up there." Candy pointed to the tree over them. "No one can hear us there."

She used her gentlest tone which he loved so such. He couldn't refuse and got up. She pulled him to one tall tree.

To her surprise he said, "I know a better place." He took her to another tree. "I climb this and sit up there everyday," he said gloomily.

Candy nodded quietly. Under different circumstances she might laugh and joke knowing Neal climb trees everyday.

They climbed the tree and sat on one branch silently.

"My parents and Eliza had just arrived in Florida from Europe and got arrested in the port," Neal said after a long silent.

"Why?"

"The police found a letter about military equipment deals my father has with the Germans," replied Neal. "I don't believe it. Dad is an honest businessman who will never sell his own country!"

Neal paused collecting himself.

"The police is looking for me, too. Doug doesn't buy what the police said so he hid me here," said Neal, almost choked with anger.

"I'm sorry," Candy said, patting Neal gently on his shoulder. Neal didn't respond, his eyes were jumbled with range of emotions from sadness, anger, and desperation.

"They closed our company, froze our bank account, everything... I was hoping things will get better but today Daisy told me that mom and Eliza fell sick." His voice broke.

"Oh Neal…" She knew how close he was to his sister.

"I must get them out fast from the jail but I don't know how. No mom, no dad... I am... afraid..." he exhaled excruciatingly.

He must be really afraid to admit that he's afraid, Candy thought. She nodded silently.

"Daisy offered to help me get a lawyer..."

"And?" she asked.

Daisy offered to give the lawyer if he married her. He refused. Nothing could make him leave Candy. But it's not fair to tell Candy that. He had nothing to offer her now.

"Nothing, I don't like her demand," said Neal.

RRRRRIIINNNNGGG! A loud sound came from Candy's pocket.

"Oh so quick. I need to go back to the hospital." Candy turned off her alarm.

"Thanks for coming Candy," said Neal as they got up.

"That's what friends are for." She smiled.

They climbed down the tree. Halfway, Candy felt her foot hit something. Then, she saw a bird nest fell and hit the ground.

"Oh silly me. I kicked their home. Poor poor birds," cried Candy.

Candy slid down to pick up the nest. Luckily it was empty. In a flash, she went back up to put the nest back but Neal blocked her way.

"Neal could you move a bit? I need to put the nest back."

"Wait. There's a hole under the nest... I think I saw something. Ooh!"

"What is it?"

Neal groped his hand inside into the hole. "A box... A metal box." He pulled it out and showed it to Candy.

"A metal box inside a tree hole?" asked Candy, amazed.

Neal moved a bit to give some space for Candy.

"Maybe it's Doug's piggy bank." Candy looked at the box.

"Yeah." Neal was about to put it back when his eyes caught initials crafted on the top of the box. TPL.

"TPL?" read Candy who saw it too.

"T...P...L... Thomas P. Leagan?" Neal murmured. His brown eyes glowed with excitements. They looked so beautiful.

"Huh?" said Candy.

Neal pulled the lock down. "Argh. It's locked! Let's get some tool."

Candy carefully put the bird nest back to where it was and they both climbed back down.

-To be continued-

Thanks for reading! Hope you all will like the next three chapters.

oOo