The Call of Love…
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 14
"The King Lear…"
The day of the King Lear representation by the Stratford troupe arrived. The tickets from the third class were distributed among young people who were very interested by theatre and who couldn't afford it. Most of them were poor and they didn't have any nice clothes to wear. Candy gave then some gift certificates so they could get what they need for the theatre in local stores, compliments of the Abel and Arthur Community Centre.
The Stratford troupe was on the train taking them to Chicago. Terry was sitting by the window and looking outside. He was thinking about his beloved, he missed her so much. They passed the stop for the Pony Home and he thought about that snowy day, when he went to see the house where Candy had grown up and the famous Pony hill she talked about so much.
- Terry, are you ok? Said Susanna's voice
- Yes he answered still looking out the window
- You seem…out there! Said Susanna
- He's thinking about Candy! Said Karen
Terry didn't answer, he wanted to see Candy so much that sometimes he thought about disappearing for one day to go and see her. She was sending him a telegram every night, in every city they passed. He was always so happy to hear from her.
Susanna had tried to get close to Terry during the tour, but without any success he was only thinking about Candy! But she loved him more and more and she wanted to be near him. Karen was trying to reason with her. Susanna was blinded by her obsession for Terry. Terry on his end didn't seem to have noticed Susanna's infatuation, he only had one woman in his head, Candice White Andrew….
Candy and Annie had finally finished their work for the day. Annie was going to change in Candy's suite. Trey was supposed to come and pick them up.
- What time is Trey coming? Asked Candy
- 6h30, said Annie
- You, know, Archie is annoyed every time we bring him with us…
- Archie who?
- You're hurt; he doesn't even notice you…
- Trey is wonderful, and he thinks I'm wonderful and if Archie didn't see that, too bad for him! Life goes on…
- You're right, never let an opportunity to be happy pass you by… I'm going to see Terry tonight… I'm so excited!
- He doesn't know you're here?
- No… and he's going to be surprised not to receive a telegram from me, for the first time…
- He's going to be happy to see you…
- As happy as I will be. Let's get ready…
- Candy it's good to see you so elegant and pretty. I thought the tomboy in you would never go away!
Candy burst out laughing.
- Annie, if I want to climb trees, I will put some pants on, not a pretty dress…
- I sure hope so…, said Annie, it would a pity to ruin a nice dress on a branch…
They finished getting ready and then, Annie did Candy's hair, and hers. They were ready. Trey arrived at exactly 6h30 pm. Candy and Annie were waiting for him in the hotel's lobby.
- You're punctual, Trey, said Annie smiling
- A gentleman is always on time said Trey with a smile, Annie, Candy you are, both, very beautiful…
- Thank you, said the two ladies
- Let's go then, said Trey…
- You two go, said Candy, I'm taking my driver…
- But Candy, said Annie…
- Annie, I'm going to see Terry later, he would probably want us to go somewhere more discreet…
- Oh…said Annie blushing
She was going to be with Trey alone, without Candy for the first time and she was a little afraid… Trey had been a perfect gentleman and he hadn't tried to kiss her yet, maybe it was because Candy was there.
- Annie, everything will be fine said Candy who guessed her fear… follow your heart
- Ok…
They went to the theatre in separate cars. They found Stear, Archibald, Neil, Eliza, their parents and the great aunt. Eliza and her mother were upset to see Candy with her own driver. They were more determined than ever to talk to Georgie….
- Candy, said Stear, you both are very beautiful… Hi Annie, Trey…
- Good evening, said Candy, how are you?
- We're fine. And I agree with Stear, said Archie, you're very elegant, Georgie Jr.
- Candy, said Eliza, I didn't think you'll have the time for the theatre, with your busy schedule… I thought you were in your orphanage…
- Come on Eliza, you didn't really think I was going to miss Terrence's play, did you? Said Candy with a smile
- Let's go said Archie, the play is about to start
They went to take their seats.
- Are you coming with us in the family lodge? Asked Archie
Eliza wanted to say something, when she heard;
- No, said Trey, we're going in my lodge
- You can come with us, said Candy…
- With pleasure, said Stear, great aunt, we'll be in Trey's lodge
The great aunt didn't say anything and got into the family lodge. Eliza was sulking; Trey didn't even look at her! But why did those damn orphans always had the best men? Mr. Reagan didn't say anything, and got inside the lodge. He was still upset to have missed the opportunity to talk business with Trey Gloucester… Mrs. Reagan was thinking about what she was going to say to Georgie about Candy to have her thrown out on the streets.
The three knock were heard and the play started. When Terry entered the scene, Candy forgot about the outside world; there was only the two of them in the world. He was wonderful and she fell in love with him every time she saw him. Terry… she couldn't wait for the play to be over so they could see each other. She wiped a tear of joy.
- Candy, said Annie, you're going to spoil your make up…
- I'll go powder my nose before I go to the reception…
The play was over and people started to get out, going to the reception. Candy went to powder her nose. The reception had started and the actors were all there. Terry saw Candy's friends and was walking to them when Eliza stopped him.
- Terrence, what a nice surprise! You're going to spend the evening with me…she said taking his arm
Susanna who was always next to Terry was wondering who Eliza was…
- Eliza Reagan? Do you mind? He said freeing himself
- Come on Terrence, we can pick up where we left off at St. Paul…
- Don't tell me you want a repeat of our last encounter? Said Terry with a mocking smile
Eliza blushed, when she thought about the humiliating scene where Terry spit on her. Terry left her to walk toward Stear and Archie, followed of course by Susanna. She never got tired of following him.
- Terry, said Stear smiling…
- Alistair, Archie…. Said Terry
- You seemed to be in good company, said Archie looking at Susanna
- What do you mean? Said Terry who didn't get what he was saying
- Your colleague… Susanna Marlowe, that's it? Said Archie, what are you going to tell Candy? You're every where with her…
- I'd like to hear the answer to that question too, said Candy's voice…
Terry turned around surprised to hear the voice of his beloved.
- Candy?
- Terry! She said jumping into his arms
He hugged her and turned around with her in his arms laughing… The others were also laughing.
- We have to stop meeting like this! Said Candy laughing
As an answer, Terry looked for her lips and kissed her passionately… Candy was a little surprised but she kissed him back.
- I missed you so much he said…
- I missed you too…
- What are you doing here?
- I'm on a business trip…
- Business trip? That's why I didn't get your telegram?
- No, it's because I wanted to surprise you….she said with a loving voice
- You've succeeded, he said smiling to her
- Good evening Terry, said Annie smiling
Terry turned around; he forgot he was at the reception…
- Good evening, Annie, said Terry smiling
- Let me introduce you to Trey Gloucester….
- Pleased to meet you, said Terry
- Pleased to meet you, said Trey
They started to talk altogether… Susanna went back to Karen sulking.
- Susanna…, said Karen shaking her head
- I can't believe she's here!
- She's his fiancée….
- But she was suppose to stay in New York, not follow him here… she ruined everything!
- Ruined what? Terry's indifference for you?
- Karen…
- Susanna, for the thousandth time, leave Terry alone…
- Never!
Karen had an exasperated sigh and left to talk with their other colleagues. Eliza, Neil, the great aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Reagan, were looking at the scene from afar.
- How dare she behave so shamelessly in public with my Terrence! Said Eliza
- He's her fiancé…. Said Neil
- You're defending her? Asked Eliza
- Her behaviour is vulgar, said Mrs. Reagan, that girl has no manners what so ever…
- But darling, said Mr. Reagan, I brought you this young girl so you could teach her good manners, and what did you do? You turned her into a maid… you can't insult her now because she's with her fiancé, the son of the duke of Grandchester, and that he kissed her in public… I don't see any arm in that…
- But, he's my Terrence dad…said Eliza
- Enough Eliza, he's engaged to Candy, he can't be your Terrence! Said her father
- She stole him from me…
- If she really did stole him from you, like you said, it means he wasn't in love with you in the first place…
- But dad… started Eliza
- Eliza, that's enough! You're getting ridiculous! Said her father
- My dear friend, said Mrs. Reagan, calm down…. This is all Candy's fault!
Mr. Reagan had an exasperated sigh and left them to go talk to some acquaintances. His family was hopeless. He adopted Candy, all those years ago so that her goodness would rub off on his family… but… he underestimated his dear little family. The poor child ended up being sent so Mexico…. He was regretting not being stronger with his family… Every action has consequences, even years later…
Candy and Terry continued talking to their friends and then they decided to leave.
- We're going to leave you, see you later… said Terry
- Goodbye, said the others smiling
Candy and Terry walked towards Hathaway to say goodbye, Susan was also there…
- Mr. Hathaway, said Terry, I'm leaving earlier to spend some time with my fiancée
- But Terry, you can't leave the reception, said Susanna, we have to meet the people responsible for the theatre and the fundraiser….
- No, said Hathaway, you can go Terry, you haven't seen your fiancée in a long time…go and have fun with her….
- Thank Mr. Hathaway, said Terry
- Yes, thank you said Candy
- I've seen what you've done in the other cities and here; you make sure all the seats in the theatres are full and the third class is full of people who can't afford it but who really love theatre… we're not only acting for the rich… Congratulations, "Georgie Jr." your mother thought you well…, said Hathaway
- Thank you, Mr. Hathaway, said Candy
- Have fun… said Hathaway
- We intend to, said Terry smiling
He took Candy and left with her, holding her by the shoulders under Susanna's hurt eyes.
- Are we taking a cab? Asked Terry
- No, I've got a car and a driver…said Candy making a sign to Smythe
- A driver?
- My mother takes good care of me…
- I can see that, said Terry smiling
Smythe arrived and they got into the car.
- So you didn't get my last letters? Asked Terry
- I'm going to find them in New York if Georgie doesn't send them to me…answered Candy
- Enough with talking, said Terry taking her lips…
They kissed for a while and then they heard someone clearing their throat.
- Hum hum…
It was Smythe.
- I'm sorry; Miss, but you haven't told me where we were going…
- Oh… I'm sorry Smythe…
- Where do you leave? Asked Terry, at the Andrews?
- No, my mother booked a suite for me… and you know, the great aunt and I ….
- Adore each other? Said Terry ironically
- Like you said… said Candy with the same tone…
- Which hotel?
- Congress Plaza hotel…
- No kidding?
- That's your hotel too…?
- Yes…we could've cross path in the hallways or the lobby…
- Really! But it's great, so you won't be too far from your troupe… So, my room or yours?
- Yours is a suite and it's bigger, more luxurious, more fun…
- And we could order room service… Mr. Smythe, you heard us, let's go to the hotel
- Very well, Miss…
They went to the hotel and they were lip locking during the whole ride. Once in Candy's suite, she ordered room service and she was telling Terry about her adventures in Chicago. She told him about the tower incident with a very little voice and she avoiding his eyes…
- You've got a weird tone while you're telling me that story and you're not looking at me… did something happened I should know of? Asked Terry
Candy blushed a little. She didn't want to hide anything from Terry, but the incident with Michael made it a little uncomfortable for her; she had flirted with him…
- Well, he helped me come down the tower…
- That was very nice of him…
- Yes, said Candy blushing
- Freckles, you can tell me anything …
- Ok… then, I spent the whole evening flirting with him to get on Eliza's nerves… she said very quickly, looking down
There was a little silence.
- Flirting? You mean you were very very nice to him…?
- Just to make Eliza angry, because she played that dirty trick on me; forcing me to come down the tower in front of everybody and calling me a monkey… Please forgive me Terry…I shouldn't have used Michael that way… I gave him my address so he could write me… as a friend only…
- He didn't get the impression you had a thing for him?
- He saw my engagement ring… but he told me, that if by some miracle, you dump me, to send him a telegram and he will come running… but I think he was joking…
- I don't think so… It's great to have a pillow to fall back on…
- Terry, I'm sorry….
- Candy, honey…. Come here….he said opening his arms
She approached him, and he held her in his arms, tightly
- Thank you for being honest with me…
- I don't want to keep anything from you… but I hurt you… I'm sorry Terry…
- It hurts to know that you were getting saved by a handsome French officer in uniform, and that you spent the rest of the evening dancing with him… but… you told me about it, that's the important thing. I forgive you for flirting with another man…
- Thank you Terry, she said smiling, I love you and only you, you know that?
- Yes, I know… and I love you and only you…
- I missed you…
- No more than I missed you…
There was knock on the door, it was room service with their diner. They ate together talking and laughing.
- How's the situation with Susanna?
- Why are you asking me that?
- Because she's in love with you… she tried to stop you from leaving the reception…
- Well she's always trying to talk with me during our free time… maybe she's very friendly…
- Very very friendly….
- Candy…
- I'm not jealous, because I know you love me and whatever happens, you're going to tell me the truth, like I just did… I don't want any clouds between us. I want everything to be out in the open; that way, no one could use anything against us….
- You're thinking about Eliza and her trap in college, aren't you? How easy we fell into it… she used our love against us…
- If we had talked more, more openly, we would've known that we would've never send ourselves a note saying to meet in the barn when we could've met in our rooms… we didn't hesitate for a second, because of our mutual feelings…
- Candy, we're together, we're engaged, everything is fine…
- Yes, everything is fine she said taking his lips…
Georgie called her little protégée and she told her about the events of the day.
- You're with Terry?
- Yes…
- Be good, honey…
- Don't worry about that…
- I trust you, Candy. Ok, I'm going to leave you take advantage of Terry's presence. Good night honey. Say hi to Terry
- Good night Georgie and thank you. I'll tell him
She hung up and Terry was looking at her smiling.
- She told you to be careful with me? Asked Terry
- She doesn't want me to find myself in trouble…
- I'm a gentleman, who might have to call upon all the strengths of the universe to resist temptation, but still a gentleman…
- I know, my love. I totally trust you… and me… said Candy hugging him
They spent the rest of the night, talking until morning and they slept with one eye only…. Georgie called Candy in the morning and she was surprise not to hear a sleepy voice on the other end.
- Candy? You sound awake…
- I didn't sleep, we talked all night…
- You had a lot of things to say to each other
- Yes…
- Did you tell him about your handsome French officer?
- He's not my handsome French officer, and yes, I don't keep anything from Terry…
- That's good, that way the outside world won't be able to hurt you….
- Have a nice day Georgie. I miss you.
- I miss you too…I'll talk to you later
They ate breakfast together, had fun laughing and then, Terry went to get his luggage in his room and they left for the train station.
- You don't have any business appointments today?
- No, I didn't make any appointments, because I knew I was going to be with you…
- Do all your business appointments look like Trey Gloucester?
- Most of them, but I know how to blow them off… don't worry
- I don't doubt it for a second….
At the station, they met Eliza who had come to see "her Terrence" off…
- Terry she said, you're late, you're going to miss your train because of her…I wanted to tell you yesterday; did you know she flirted openly with my suitor Michael, a French officer. First she made a spectacle of herself by coming down the tower like a monkey. I sent Michael to help her, and she thanks me by stealing him away from me…
- You sent your suitor to help Candy? You've got to be kidding me, Eliza! I'm sure you tried to stop him from helping Candy, said Terry
- Oh, but… she was in public with another man…. That behaviour is not one, worthy of the fiancée of the son of they duke…
- I'm sure she did it to get on your nerves, and I applaud her…
- But… she's a slut…
- Candy, told me about the incident in details, so that people like you, won't use it against us, like in college….
- But…. Said Eliza
- Eliza, said Candy, you really like to get yourself humiliated, don't you? Terry was pretty clear in college that he didn't want you, but I suppose to get the spit of your beloved Terrence in your face is priceless…
Eliza didn't respond and she left fuming; mumbling to herself that Candy was going to pay for what she did. Candy and Terry burst out laughing.
- Thanks for being honest with me, because if I had had learn the news here, now, from Eliza's mouth….
- You're very welcome, my love. The truth above all…
Terry smiled to his beloved and they went to the platform, so that Terry could get on the train. The rest of his troupe was already on board. Susanna was watching at them heartbroken; she wiped a tear of sadness. Terry got on the train after kissing his fiancée.
- Goodbye, honey. I love you
- I love you. Goodbye Terry…
The train left and Candy stayed on the platform until the train disappeared. She was sad, but she was also happy to have spent all that time with Terry. She went back to the hotel to sleep, she was going to wake up later and take care of whatever she had to do. She was now in a hurry to go back to New York, go back home, to her mother. Her work in Chicago was over.