Endless Love
Chapter 35
"Hope makes you live"
There was a silence in the room. Candy and Terry were looking at each other…
- Snow White? Said Roselyne.
- Prince Charming? Said Dawson, tell me I'm dreaming!
Terry looked at who has spoken and he saw his son…
- Oh my God! Snow White?
He became paler when he realized that Nora was his daughter and on top of that, he had a son too!
Candy felt caught in a trap, all of a sudden. She had thought about going to see Terry eventually… but she wanted to wait the longest time possible, to be married to Winston, to give herself more insurance.
- Mum? Said Roselyne, do you have something to tell us?
- I'm curious to hear the answer to that also, said Dawson.
Candy wasn't saying anything, and she was looking at Terry. She was trying to restrain herself, but an unknown force pushed her, she stopped fighting it and … she ran into Terry's arms! This last one hugged her hard and they stayed like that for a few minutes.
The children were looking at their parents stunned. Winston was sulking. Susanna and her mother were white as sheet. Rose and Jack were smiling. You could feel the love between Candy and Terry, just by looking at them. A maid was passing by and she looked at the scene and ran to tell the other what she had seen…
Terry had the one he was dreaming for , for 16 years in his arms and he didn't want to let her go, he was feeling too good in seventh heaven. Candy closed her eyes and savour the moment which she had missed during all these years. She was in her Terry's arms and nothing had changed, it was still so magical and wonderful.
- Candy? Said Winston, what's going on?! Who is this man?!
- That's the man she loves, said Rose smiling.
Candy heard Winston's voice and Rose's voice. She let go of Terry and ran to Rose and they hugged for a long time…
- Oh little sister! I've missed you so much!
- I've missed you too, big sister! Said Candy crying.
She let go of Rose. This last one took her son and introduced him to Candy.
- You remember Jack, your godson?
- Yes! Said Candy, oh my God! You're your father's spitting image!
She hugged him crying.
- Oh Jack! He would've been so proud of you! Said Candy
- Godmother? Said Jack smiling, I'm happy to finally meet you!
Candy let go of him… she walked to Eleonor.
- Mom? Said Candy.
- Yes, my daughter! Said Eleonor opening her arms.
Candy ran into her arms and Eleonor hugged her tenderly. Susanna was jealous. Eleonor had never treated her that way and much less let her call her "mom"!
- Oh Candy! Said Eleonor, It's so good to see you!
- I'm happy to see you again…!
She let go of Eleonor and she looked at Terry and she looked at her children who came closer to her
- Terry, said Candy, let me introduce you to your children; you already know your daughter, Roselyne Eleonor and this is your son, Dawson Jack Terrence. Children, this is your father… Terrence Grandchester…
Roselyne jumped into Terry's arms…
- Oh daddy! My dream just came true!
- Oh my God! Said Terry, I felt it inside of me, I knew it! You're my daughter!
Dawson was stunned… he couldn't believe what was happening to him, their father was not dead? He was alive and it was Terrence Grandchester?!
- Mum? Said Dawson, what does this mean? You lied to us? Our father is not dead?
- I'm sorry Dawson, said Candy, he's alive and it's Terry…
Roselyne let go of Terry who turned to Dawson. His son, he was having all kind of feelings… violent feeling, very strong and very good too. He had a son!
Dawson had always dreamt of having a father… and he's had one all this time! It wasn't fair! He wished he could've played with his father, discuss with him, talk about girls and about love… but… he was happy to know that now he had one. He approached Terry and fell into his arms. Terry hugged his son and he felt complete, like he had done everything he needed to do in this world…
- Terry! Said Susanna upset, you can't believe a word she's saying! She didn't have your children! She's lying!
- Shut up Susanna, said Rose
- Candy, said Winston angry, I thought you were a widow? You lied to me! My mother was right! I never should've trusted you! How could you humiliate me like that? You've had two children out of wedlock?
- Winston, said Candy, this is not the time…
- Well I say this is the time! I thought you were from a good family, one of the richest of Chicago and you behave like the first slut in the street! Having two children out of wedlock? What a dishonor! And your two bastard children who keep disrespecting me! And you don't even want to make love to me! You wanted to wait for our waiting! You slut!
Terry looked at Winston and he wanted to strangle him! He let go of his son and walked to Winston.
- Who are you sir, to dare insulting my wife in my house?
- I'm Candy's fiancé, Winston Knight… and Candy is not your "wife", she's my future wife…
- There is no way you're marrying my "wife", said Terry.
Susanna was outraged.
- But Terry, what are you talking about? She asked.
- You have to marry my daughter! Said Mrs. Marlowe.
- Terry, said Candy.
- My son now has a family, said Eleonor coldly.
- I didn't come here to create polemics, said Candy
- Really? What did you think was going to happen once Terry would have seen you with your bastard children? Asked Susanna.
- Susanna, don't say that, don't call them that… They are not bastards… I was a bastard child, an illegitimate child, but my children are not…
- Please explain yourself Master the actor! Said Winston with disdain
Terry gave them the look.
- Shut up Wright!
- You have no right to speak to me that way! You bastard child! I part of English nobility! I will not tolerate that a man like you, to disrespect me. Your bastard children are already treaty me like poop… you didn't raise them and they still took after you!
Terry had had enough.
- Listen to me and listen to me good Wright. If I hear that word cross your lips once again, I'm going to put my fist on your smug face!
- But…
- I may be a bastard, but I'm the eldest son of the duke of Grandchester, do you know him?
- That's your father? I know his son, a real sissy, a loser!
- It's not like you're worth much more yourself, said Dawson.
- Dawson! Said Candy.
- You take the words right out my mouth son, said Terry looking at him smiling.
- Terry! Said Candy.
Dawson looked at his father and smiled back at him. They were on the same page! The others, aside from the dandy, Susanna and her mother, all wanted to laugh.
Terry turned back to Winston and continued.
- You're probably talking about my brother, but I'm the eldest, I'm the heir and for your information, this actor, this bastard has royal blood! And my two beautiful children, whom you're calling bastard, have royal blood! Now shut your mouth and let me finish what I have to say! Then you can leave my house and never ever come back!
Winston shut up sulking some more. Terry was the son of the duke of Grandchester… his family was a lot more powerful than his and close to the English royal family!
Susanna, despite everything, was proud about her Terry and she was surprised to see that he was not only from English nobility, but he also had royal blood in his veins… Her future husband had royal blood… but that damn Candy had come back to ruin everything again… Because, whatever Candy's attitude was going to be, Terry is never going to let his children not have a real family… Susanna was going nuts with worries…
Terry turned to Candy.
- Snow While, why did it take you so long to come back to America? Is this meeting hadn't happened by pure chance, you would've have come to show me the children, right?
- I left America when I learned I was pregnant and that you were going to marry Susanna… I couldn't stay and see you do that, it was beyond my strength …, said Candy
- I went to Chicago before my engagement, I saw you with Michael on the terrace…
Candy looked at him stunned.
- With Michael? You were there? Why didn't you come and speak to me?
- I got discourage when I heard you and Michael making plans…
- Oh Terry! I had just learned that I was pregnant… I decided to leave America without telling you, despite Albert's advice… Michael was leaving for France, so I was going to travel with him and he was going to take care of me… During the trip. But he convinced me to come and see you to tell you I was pregnant; I went to the theatre and I saw you celebrating your engagement… So I took the boat with Michael… We separated in France, Terry. There's never been anything between us…
- You came to my engagement? Said Terry surprised, oh Freckles, you should've stayed in America… Oh my God! If only you knew…
- I wanted to come back as late as possible and find you married with your own family… But by the way Terry, why didn't you get married? Asked Candy.
- I was ready to do my duty, I even printed a wedding announcement, well at least I tried…
- What? Said Susanna, you haven't told me anything! You wanted to marry me? Why didn't you…?
- I was called and they told me I couldn't publish the wedding announcement…
- Why? Asked Candy
- The only reason for something like that to happen is if one of the parties is already married…
- Oh my God! Said Candy looking at Terry
- I'm not married, said Susanna, and Terry either! It was obviously a mistake Terry! You should've clarified…
- I tried, believe me, I tried to clarify the situation, but it was no use…, said Terry
- What do you mean Terry? Asked Susanna, so it's true? One of us was married? It wasn't me because I would remember if I were married…
- Unless you've had amnesia like Terry after the sinking of the Titanic, said Eleonor
- My memory is fine mum, said Terry
- You couldn't have forgotten that you got married! Said Susanna, who did you marry Terry?
Everybody was looking at Terry who was looking at Candy who had her eyes big open… Roselyne, who super exited during Terry's revelations, decided to talk…
- Come on, this a no brainer! She said smiling, dad is saying that we're not bastard children, which means were legitimate, which means that mom and dad are married!
- That's impossible, said Susanna, Candy would never would have left if she was married to Terry!
- She's got a point, said Candy, I would've never abandoned my husband even less pregnant!
- Unless you didn't know about it…, said Terry
- Terry? Said Candy
- How could she not know she married you? Said Susanna outraged
- She's right, said Candy, I would remember something like that…
- You don't remember marrying me? Said Terry looking at her.
- No…
- Are you sure? Insisted Terry, absolutely sure you've never exchange rings with me?
- The only wedding I remember was when we pretended that Christmas day, so that Father Jude prac… Oh my God! He didn't dare!?
- But he did! Said Terry smiling
- Who the heck is Father Jude? Asked Susanna.
- He was the son of Florence, our landlady, who had just become a priest, he wanted to practice, saying that he had a wedding to celebrate, said Terry
- He didn't like the fact that Terry and I were living in the same apartment, without being married, said Candy
- So he tricked you by marrying you without your knowledge! Said Eleonor.
- But it was fake, said Susanna, it's not legal…
- I tried that, said Terry, but, he was a real priest, it was legal!
- But… you didn't sign anything…
- It wasn't necessary, we had said "yes" to the priest's question without being forced to…, said Terry, I even talked about it to my lawyer, he couldn't do anything, and I was married!
- It's like you were looking for a way to get out of that marriage Terry, said Susanna, why didn't you have it annulled?
- Because the "marriage" was consummated…
- But it was without your knowledge, said Susanna.
- Not at all, I really wanted to marry Candy … and nobody forced Candy either… we were a consenting couple… if I insisted with my investigation, it was to make sure that everything was legal, because if I was really married to my Snow-White… I had no intention of annulling it or divorcing! For better or worse, 'till death us do part!
Candy's head was spinning. What? She was Terry's wife?
- Terry, if this is a joke, it's a very bad one! Said Candy.
- I've never been so serious in my life, Snow-White, we're married and we have two children. We have five more to go to have our 7 dwarfs…
- I have a headache, said Candy.
- Mum? Are you all right? Asked Roselyne.
- I need some air, said Candy looking at Terry.
- I understand that this is a shock for you… I've had years to get used to the idea that I was married to a woman who had disappeared on me… Albert didn't want to tell me where you were, and I didn't want to tell him why I was looking for you…
- Terry, said Candy, can you stay with the children for a few days?
- Of course…
- Thank you… Winston, let's go… Goodbye everybody!
She hugged her children.
- Stay with your father, said Candy.
- All right mum, said the twins
Candy got out of Terry's manor, almost running, Winston in tow.
- Terry? Said Eleonor, you letting her got?
- She's going to come back mum, you'll see, said Terry.
Terry turned to his children.
- We're going to take advantage to know each other better, he said smiling.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy went back to her place with Winston.
- I think you should pack and leave, said Candy.
- You're sure he's telling the truth?
- You've insulted me Winston, said Candy, I don't want to see you in my house again!
She went to her bedroom to pack her suitcase. She came down and she found Winston sulking…
- Candy, you lied to me, saying you were a widow, I learn that you had your two children with a theatre actor…
- Well, Terry and I happen to be married, our children are legitimate and I have no reason to keep this engagement ring you gave me…
She took off the ring and gave it back to him.
- You can tell your mother that she was right, that I lied to you… I'm not a widow, but that I'm in fact a married to the heir of the duke of Grandchester… a better match than you! Good luck Winston, she said getting out of the house.
The driver arrived to take candy's suit case to take her to the train station and she took the train to Chicago… She didn't like being mean to Winston, but he had insulted her in front of everybody and called her children bastards… She will never forgive him for that! She needed to see her friends.
Winston left Candy's manor…
oOoOoOoOoOo
The twins were at Terry's and they were having a lot of fun with their father and the barbecue was a success. Terry showed his children to his guests and he stuck to them like glue.
He was talking to Susanna and her mother in the bedroom.
- Terry, said Susanna, I suppose you're going to ask me to leave?
- I have a family Susanna, and even if there were not children, Candy is my wife for better or worse, there is no way I'm abandoning her… I told you a lot of times to leave and get a life… that I would help you with anything you want…
- What about Rose in all this? You're still seeing her?
- Susanna, don't worry about that, you can stay until you find a place to stay with your mother… take advantage to have a new start… put on a prosthesis and go back on stage and live your life
- Candy is gone, you're sure she's coming back?
- Oh yes, I'm sure, said Terry, I felt she had come back to America
- What? How?
- Just like that, we have an invisible link… and I knew that sooner or later we would meet again…
- And you call her daughter, your daughter… like you knew… You and Candy are really made for each other, you understand each other without having to spell it out… Very well, she said crying, I'm going to look for somewhere to stay and I will leave as soon as I get one… I love you Terry…
Terry got out of the room. Mrs. Marlowe looking at her daughter.
- You're happy now mom? You got what you wanted!
- I've been telling you for years to leave Susanna… Terrence was in love with another woman, we never should've forced him to be with you… but you were going crazy…
- I was faking it mom! I had to find a way to get Terry to stay with me! He didn't want to let his dear Candy go!
- Well, she was pregnant and she still left you her main… Susanna… You've ruined a whole family and two children grew up without their father!
Susanna was in tears… she had ruined so many lives… But it wasn't too late… she could still redeem herself… and get a new start on good bases.
Yes, it was a new start for everybody because a crazy woman faked her illness to steal another man from his beloved… Father Jude, Florence's son…who had seen that the young couple was living in sin, had find a way to make sure they regulate their situation unbeknown to them… He kind of meddle into something that wasn't any of his business , but that gesture prevented Terry from marrying Susanna, which had made him so happy, he was in seventh heaven when he found that out… And Susanna when she saw him so happy, thought he had a mistress… she didn't know that Terry was faithful because he was in fact married to his Snow-While…
Life was really full of surprises for Terry he had met the woman of his life on a doomed ship… he had miraculously survived and found his beloved again and then his memory and he swore that nothing will ever separate them again…until the Susanna matter… But in fact, he was married to Candy, so his wish was granted, they were linked forever… for better or worse. He was a very happy man ever since that discovery, and ever since Candy was back, he knew that everything was going to be fine… It's true what they say; hope makes you live.
Deep down inside I still have that hope
Even during the darkest moments
I imagine a future with a ray of light
Allowing me to see a lightning
The heart swollen like never before
I hope to see those traits
That face and expressions
Everything to have passion
On top of the fruit of our love
Which is lasting forever and ever
I would see your smile in those eyes
Which will sparkle with thousand fires
I could finally caress those lips
With mine grazing her skin
With the soft noise of the sea
Waves crushing on rocks
And with a sudden movement
Able to entwined our hands
Like a breath of oxigen
To get freed from what's taking us
To everything, to nothing, to the desire
To often go further
But restraining until the bets
And to say to ourselve, maybe tomorrow
It doesn't matter, I can feel her skin
Slip through my fingers
A lot of shills, never too much
Deep down inside yourself
Those moments will happen
I know it , I can feel it
And any season
I believe it I can feel it
Hope make you live
Hope makes me believe
That one day I will see you drunken
By me to losing your mind
By Dieu