"For Her Own Good" (Chapter Three)
by Ennon
Disclaimer:"Degrassi:The Next Generation" and its characters are properties of Epitome Pictures and I'm making no profits whatsoever.
"Okay, what special things did your Mum for you?" Ms. Sauvé asked as she didn't want to lose Terri's confidence.
"Dad worked six days a week in construction so she could stay home with me. Mum sewed my clothes, cooked and baked , and would often take me to the park,"Terri recalled.
Spring,1995
"Come on! It's a beautiful day outside and those steel drums are moving me! Let's dance!" the dark haired, petite and well-proportioned 5'3" 27-year-old Isabel Baird MacGregor beamed- while sitting with Terri and her friends at the park.
"Here? Now?" 7-year-old Terri asked- as her mother climbed atop the picnic table and started to dance.
"Let's show everyone how it's done! "Isabel beamed as she grabbed Terri's hand and helped pull her atop the table.
Isabel did a very fast-paced Scottish reel while Terri barely did a quarter of the pace and was conscious of the crowd stopping to watch while barely able to hold onto Isabel's hand.
"That's amazing, Mrs. MacGregor!" 7-year-old Ashley Kerwin cheered- as Isabel ended the impromptu dance with a pirouette and a set of perfect high kick that extended her tights-clad legs over head.
"Your Mum's totally cool, Terri!"7-year-old Paige Michelchuk exclaimed.
"Thank you, girls! It's what caught Mr. MacGregor's eye back in PEI," Isabel exclaimed.
"She was a Celtic dance soloist!"Terri explained.
"And James was our theatre's carpenter!" Isabel recalled.
"Is that why you married him?" Ashley asked.
"No, it's because I love him, he's honest and he worships the ground I walk upon. What more could a girl ask?" Isabel laughed.
"True that!" Paige laughed.
Spring,2004
"That sounds like you two had fun!" Ms. Sauvé exclaimed.
"Oh we often did!" Terri sighed as she grasped her locket.
"Were there. . other times?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
Spring,1995
"You have such nice friends, Terri! "Isabel exclaimed as they dropped off Paige and Terri later that afternoon
"Yeah, they like you,too!" Terri exclaimed- as she absently put her hand into a large plastic bag and started eating a chocolate chip cookie.
"Terri, what did I say about those cookies? They were supposed to be for tomorrow's church bake sale!"Isabel groaned as she stopped the car.
"I'm sorry, Mum," Terri groaned.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to eat between-meal snacks? You're getting too old for babyfat and ,if you're not careful, you'll grow up to look like a fat cow!" Isabel snapped.
"I'm sorry, Mum," Terri sighed.
" And chocolate stains all over your sweater! That's wool, you know!" Isabel groaned.
"I'm sorry, Mum," Terri groaned.
"Don't look away from me when I'm talking to you!"Isabel snapped.
"I'm sorry, Mum," Terri sighed.
Spring,2004
"She called you fat and a cow?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"She wanted me to be happy and have all the advantages she had because of her beauty," Terri groaned.
"But that's not how to talk to. .." Ms. Sauvé started to say.
"She only did because she loved me!" Terri sighed.
"Would you talk to someone you love that way?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"I guess not but. .." Terri sighed.
Spring,1995
"Aw, Terri, your Mum wasn't being mean. She was just teasing you. You know her ways!" 35-year-old James MacGregor shrugged as he Isabel was in the kitchen that evening while Terri came up to in the small living room.
" I guess you're right, Dad,"7-year-old Terri sighed.
"The whole left side of your face is red. What happened?" James asked.
" I . ..ran into the cupboard and the door was open,"Terri sighed.
Spring,2004
"And was the cupboard door open?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
" I think it's getting a bit late," 16-year-old Terri stammered.
"Terri. .." Ms. Sauvé sighed.
"Mum had her moments but she was proud of me! We had some wonderful times together. Those bad times didn't last long," Terri pleaded.
"She was proud?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"Yes, like when she took me to the bank so she could open her dream dance studio!" Terri beamed.
February, 1997
"You look so good in your Sunday best! Complimenting but not outshining me- as it should be! Those bankers won't know what hit 'em when the Team MacGregor is through!" 29-year-old Isabel beamed and gave 9-year-old Terri a hug and kiss just before entering the bank office.
"Mrs. MacGregor, I presume," the bespeckled 40-year-old Mr. Jorgenson exclaimed.
"Correct!" Isabel beamed as she shook his hand.
"And this must be young Miss MacGregor," Mr. Jorgenson's manager 35-year-old Ms. Lewis added.
"Yes, ma'am!" Terri replied.
"Couldn't get a babysitter?" Ms. Lewis laughed.
"My no! Terri is my partner in this venture and my eventual heiress!" Isabel beamed.
"We're going to open Studio MacGregor!" Terri exclaimed.
" In that case, have some chocolate-chip muffins!"Mr. Jorgenson insisted.
Terri started to reach for one from the tray Ms. Lewis put in her direction.
"No in-between meal snacks for us, thank you!" Isabel scoffed with an edge to her voice.
"How about some to take home for dessert. We can wrap them up to go!"Ms. Lewis asked.
"I'd better not go against Mum," Terri sighed.
"Oh, I'm sure Mrs. MacGregor won't mind herself and her business partner sharing in our bounty!" Mr. Jorgenson exclaimed.
" I guess you're right,"Terri shrugged.
"I can't argue that!" Isabel laughed and put the wrapped muffins in her purse but momentarily shot Terri the evil eye.
"Okay,we need to know what assets you have and why it would benefit our bank to invest in your studio," Ms. Lewis stated.
"I've been dancing all my life and I know I can teach new generations. It's excellent for honing grace and athleticism for both boys and girls!"Isabel beamed.
"But why should we invest our capital in your studio?" Mr. Jorgenson asked.
"Michael Flaherty's ' Riverdance' show has awakened a large segment to the benefits of Celtic dance and that's my speciality but I can dance everything from waltz, square, jitterbug, break, hip-hop. Here's but some of the many awards, commendations and reviews I've received since I was five- and I've brought a highlights video of my best work!" Isabel pleaded.
Mr. Jorgenson and Ms. Lewis looked over the financial charts and whispered to each other.
"Would you two wait outside while we come to a final decision?" Mr. Jorgenson asked.
"Take all the time you need," Isabel exclaimed.
A few minutes later.
"Mrs. MacGregor, you don't own your apartment, the only solid asset you have is your car and you've only tutored dance privately sporadically since your marriage," Ms. Lewis exclaimed.
"But my work is the best!" Isabel sputtered.
"Do you know how many dance studios go under before their first year? You have too few assets for us to join in such a risky venture. Perhaps you could help teach in someone else's dance studio," Mr. Jorgenson suggested.
"Or apply for a government grant," Ms. Lewis added.
" Why should I work for someone else when I know what's best- and I'd be choked on red tape if I applied for a grant!" Isabel boiled.
"Mrs. MacGregor. .." Ms. Lewis tried to add.
"Come along, Terri! We'll go find a more worthy bank to help us!" Isabel boiled as stormed out and grabbed Terri by the hand.
"Stupid small-minded bureaucrats! What did they care about me winning the Grand Prize at Inverness when I was seventeen! I'll bet they never even heard of that town or Scotland itself!" Isabel boiled as the burst out of the bank office and onto the street.
"Mum. ." Terri tried to calm.
"What kind of bank gives muffins but refuses loans to worthy patrons!"Isabel boiled.
"Mum, calm down. It will be okay," Terri pleaded.
" And you! Backtalking and smarting off in there and smarting off so you can get that muffin!"Isabel boiled.
"I'm sorry, Mum!" Terri cried.
"'I'm sorry, Mum'! 'I'm sorry, Mum!'" Isabel scathed as she meanly imitated Terri's voice.
Terri burst into tears.
"Don't look away from me when I'm talking to you! Show some respect!"Isabel boiled as she slapped Terri in the face while they were walking down the outside steps of the building.
Terri grabbed the handrail to steel herself but the handrail was slippery and she lost her balance and fell- twisting her right ankle.
"Oh, Terri! I'm so sorry!" Isabel burst into tears and hugged Terri.
"It's okay, Mum," Terri consoled while Isabel took off Terri's shoe.
"Can you stand on it?" Isabel asked.
" I'm not sure!" Terri gulped.
"We'll get you to the doctor right away! Why do you make me lose my temper like that?" Isabel asked.
"I don't know," Terri sighed.
"Lean on me! We'll get you to First Aid!" Isabel insisted as she hugged Terri again.
"It's okay, Mum," Terri sighed.
"You know I love you and wouldn't want to hurt you!" Isabel cooed as she hugged Terri.
"I know," Terri sighed as she hugged Isabel back.
"I know I lose my temper but I just want you to have the best advantages in life!" Isabel pleaded.
"I know!" Terri cooed while Isabel helped her to get inside the car.
"Now, before we go into the doctor's office what do you say?" Isabel asked.
"That I didn't pay attention to the ice on the railing or steps and I fell entirely on my own," Terri groaned.
"That's my good girl! There are some folks who wouldn't understand and if they heard about us arguing, they'd take you away and our family would be destroyed. You understand?" Isabel cooed.
" I wouldn't want that," Terri cried.
" I know, My Love! A little white lie for your own good" Isabel beamed as she clung to Terri's right hand.
Spring,2004
Ms. Sauvé looked at 16-year-old Terri aghast as she finished that story.
"But Mum loved me! She really did! She was always doing nice things for me. A few spots of temper when I didn't do what she needed didn't take away from that!" Terri cried.
"They didn't?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"No- and they taped up my ankle and I was able to go to Ashley's Birthday party that Saturday! That's when my life changed forever," Terri bawled.
"What happened?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"Mum dropped me off and. ." Terri bawled.
"It's okay," Ms. Sauvé sighed.
"I was relieved she decided not to stay at the party! I wouldn't have to watch what I said and did and not be outshone by her. I. ..I wanted her gone," Terri sniffed.
"You did?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"I know that's terrible but . .." Terri bawled.
"What happened at that party?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"My ankle wasn't throbbing so badly so I asked Ashley to let me join in playing Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey and I felt safe in that blindfold because I was making everyone else laugh and be happy with the spots I nailed that tail,"Terri sniffed.
"Really?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"Then I heard Dad's voice- and I was surprised because he usually never picked me up," Terri recalled.
February,1997
"James, come inside! Is something wrong?" Kate Kerwin asked.
"It's . .. Isabel. .." 37-year-old James MacGregor bawled.
"Stop the game! Terri, your father needs you!" Kate insisted.
"But it's still my turn pinning the tail!" 9-year-old Terri begged.
"Terri, have a heart. We can't stay! It's your Mum! She's drowned!" James bawled while a police officer patted him on the shoulder-as Terri took the blindfold off and went to him.
Spring,2004
"Mum adored ice-skating almost as much as dancing and she went to do that after she dropped me off so when she came in for a double-axle landing the pond ice turned out to be rotten and she broke it! She went into hypothermia shock and drowned before anyone could reach her,"Terri bawled.
"Terri do you think. ?"Ms. Sauvé started to ask.
"If my ankle hadn't been injured, she'd have taken me ice-skating and I could have been there with her and pulled her up in time!" Terri bawled.
"You were only nine and it was a terrible accident," Ms. Sauvé pleaded.
"But I could have been there to try!" Terri sniffed.
"Terri," Ms. Sauvé pleaded.
"Oh, I loved her so much- and she loved me! She must have! Oh, God! Rapists and murderers' mothers love them. She has to have loved me! " Terri bawled.
"Maybe in her way. ." Ms. Sauvé cautiously added.
"There's so much I've wanted to tell her all these years but I don't have any choice but to have her gone forever! So many things I've wanted the two of us to get resolved. So many times I've literally ached from not being able to see or hear her again!" Terri sobbed.
"I hate to ask you this but. . .have you ever levelled with your dad about. . .what she did?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"He was lost without her just like me and how could I have been so cruel to have said anything like that to hurt him. He loved her so much. He always felt as though he wasn't worthy of her,"Terri bawled.
"Does that remind you of anyone else?" Ms. Sauvé ventured.
"I've tried to reach her in so many ways like the tarot and the Ouiji board but they just were farces and. ..I've wanted to rewrite history so I've. ." Terri sniffed.
"Made her into a saint?" Ms. Sauvé asked.
"And dated a boy so much like HER! RICK! How could I have been so stupid?!" Terri bawled.
"You weren't but by recognizing that you need to make less self-destructive choices for your future, that's a positive step," Ms. Sauvé implored.
"And I think I CAN make more positive choices!" Terri beamed while wiping her eyes and hugging Ms. Sauvé
The next afternoon, Mr. James MacGregor went with Terri to see Ms. Sauvé and they gently let him know what had happened.
"Oh, my girl! I'm sorry I didn't listen to you back then . .but I guess I didn't want to hear. If only I had, maybe you'd have been more willing to come to me when you needed help later on with Rick," 46-year-old James MacGregor exclaimed.
"Dad, it's okay. And I want you to know that I've never minded you meeting new dates. I want you to be happy. It's time for us to remember that good but learn the lessons from the bad," Terri implored.
"She's grown so much!" James MacGregor exclaimed.
"I've still got a ways to go!" Terri laughed.
"We both do, my girl!" James exclaimed.
The road ahead for both MacGregors wouldn't be entirely smooth but they 'd each make their journeys with a steady pace from this point onward. Ms. Sauvé was glad to be able to help prevent Terri to do what was necessary from becoming another grim statistic.
A/N-Thanks to all reviews! Anonymous (whoever you are), you got it right! Since Terri's always putting down her weight and has serious insecurities, I thought it possible these may have been set in motion by her late mother instead of her father because the latter kept trying to give her confidence but Terri refused to believe him- and the portrait of the late Mrs. MacGregor showed a very beautiful woman. I wrote this AU in large part because I very much dislike what 'Degrassi:TNG' did with the outcome after Terri had cut off Rick the first time.