AN UNFORGETTABLE LOVE
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 8
"A glimpse of hope"
The next day, Candy was feeling very bad. After the surprise meeting with Terry and Susanna the night before, she had spent the whole night crying. She was jealous of Susanna, because she was with Terry and she was alone, because of that stupid accident ! The doctor from the hospital came to see her. Albert had called him. He put her wheel chair in the closet and installed her on the couch. She sat laying her legs on the couch. The doctor took a little knitted blanket and covered Candy's legs. He examined her and concluded that her dizziness was due to stress and advised her to rest. He said goodbye and was getting ready to leave.
- Do you want your wheel chair from the closet? He asked.
- No, that's ok, doctor. My friends are coming to see me; they'll take care of it. Thank you.
- Ok. You get some rest, and Merry Christmas!
- Merry Christmas doctor! She said with a smile.
"What a charming young woman, the doctor said to himself, such a beautiful smile, not to mention her beautiful green eyes always full of sadness."
The doctor opened the door and saw a young man about to knock on the door. He recognized the actor, but said nothing. He just smiled and let the young man in. Candy was reading the bible; the passage on the nativity. She didn't know Terry had come in.
- Good evening, he said.
Candy was a little startled. Her heart jumped in her chest.
"He's here, she said to herself, here in my apartment!"
They looked at each other. They both try to appear indifferent, but the love they were feeling was too strong. The deep blue eyes and emerald green eyes were filled with fondness and love.
- Good evening Terry, she said shyly.
He put his coat on a chair near the door.
- How are you? He asked.
- I'm fine, and you?
- I'm fine, thank you.
- Long time.
- But, we saw each other the other night.
- Have a sit, please.
- Thank you.
He sat on an armchair and was almost facing her.
- Longtime, repeated Candy.
- You said that already. I won't stay long.
- No problem.
- You probably wondering how I got your address.
- Yes.
- I was in the area, and I was looking for a childhood friend when I came across your name. And I said to myself, what if I go see how she's doing? After all, I owe her that, for standing her up five months ago.
Candy had the impression the world around came crashing down. He wasn't there?
- You wer… she started.
- No, I wasn't. I said to myself I have to apologize. Don't you think people should apologize when they miss a meeting?
- Yes, of course. It's the least you can do …. Apologize she said entering in his game.
- So here I am!
- That's nice of you.
- I know.
- I often wondered how you were.
- Humm humm.
- Really!
- I thought about you too. Weren't you mad that I didn't come? He said continuing his game.
Candy decided to continue playing the game. Maybe he'll leave without figuring out that she couldn't walk.
- Yes, I was very mad she lied, I said to myself, how dare he treat me that way! Who do he thinks he is?
- How long did you wait? Did you wait long?
- I waited until…. She started.
- …until midnight?
- Oh, she simply said, when she understood he was talking about himself.
"He was there! I knew he was there! She said to herself."
- And what did you do?
- Oh, I was very mad; after all I was just standing there…
- …in the storm.
- The storm, she repeated softly.
- And what did you say to yourself?
- That I will go and make out with the first guy I see!
- But you didn't do that.
- I didn't?
- You didn't. But not for lack of trying…
- You don't blame me?
- No, I should've sent you at least a note.
- Maybe when you thought about it, you didn't know where to find me.
- You probably said to yourself that when you'll see me, you'd ask me why I didn't come.
- No, no. I remember we said that we will be there and if one of us didn't show, it will have to be for a very good reason.
- We said that?
- Yes. That's exactly what we said. So no more questions, please. You want something to drink? She asked to change the subject.
There was some lemonade on the coffee table in a pitch with some glasses on a tray.
- Yes, thank you. You want, some?
- Yes, thank you.
He poured some lemonade for her and for himself.
- Thank you, Terry
Terry couldn't take it anymore. Enough with the comedy! He had to know. And he said.
- Isn't it strange? I walked all the way here to find out why you didn't come, and I can't even ask you why. When I think of how well we understood each other on the ship… things have changed!
- I know.
He looked at her hand and didn't see a wedding band.
- You're not married to… I don't see a wedding ring.
"Don't you know that I only want to marry you and nobody else? She said to herself."
- Oh, the other night? He was with me as a friend. What about you and Susanna?
- Oh, you can ask questions? Just a friend too.
Candy's heart jumped with joy. He wasn't with her! They looked at each other for a while, and then Terry finally says.
- I have something for you. It's one of the reasons of my visit.
He went to take a parcel gift-wrapped under his coat, and gave it to Candy.
- Thank you said Candy a little surprised, I have nothing for you... I didn't know I was going to see you.
She opened the gift and saw Yaya's beautiful lace shawl, Terry's grand-mother had passed away. She had tears in her eyes.
- That's why my letters were coming back to me.
- She wanted you to have it.
- Thank you.
- Wait, I'll help you put it on.
He took the shawl and put it on Candy's shoulders. She had tears in her eyes. She wiped them with her hand.
Terry decided to go. He knew where she lived, and he'll get her back., because he felt she still loves him, he saw it in her eyes. He was going towards the door.
- The shawl looks good on you. I made a painting of you wearing it. Since we didn't see each other, I gave it to the gallery with my other paintings. Monica, the lady from the gallery, called me to tell me that a young lady wanted to buy it but she didn't have any money on her. Not only that, she said that she was….
He stopped talking, looked at Candy, and was looking all over the room like he was looking for something.
"He's looking for the painting! She said to herself".
Candy wasn't moving.
- …so I told her to give it to her for free, if she loved it so much…
While he was saying that he was still looking around with his eyes. He opened Candy's bedroom and finally stopped. On the wall was the painting he did of Candy wearing the shawl. It was her! He came back to the living room and looked at her intensely.
- Don't look at me like that, Terry! She said with tears coming down her cheeks.
- Why didn't you tell me?
- It was so stupid, I wasn't looking where I was going, I was looking up, I knew you were there, I was sure of it… I didn't see the car…
- Oh my darling! He said kneeling in front of her, if a bad thing was supposed to happen to one of us, why did it have to be to you? My Candy, my darling, my love he said hugging her, you were there! You were there! Nothing will ever keep us apart again. I love you.
- I love you. Oh Terry, if you only knew how much I missed you! Not a day or a night passed, that I didn't think about you. I'm so sorry.
- Why darling?
- For not paying attention to the car that ran me over…
- Oh no, my love, stop he said kissing her softly on the face, it was an accident. It's not your fault.
- But, it made us waste so much time….
- Shuuut! I'm here now, it's over he said tenderly, we'll make up for lost time, starting with something I've bee dying to do for almost a year
He took a little box from his pocket; the engagement ring he'd put in his pocket, like he knew what was going to happen.
- Candice White Andrew, would you do me the honor of being my wife? He asked kneeling in front of her.
Candy had even more tears coming down her cheeks, tears of joy this time. She couldn't believe what was happening to her.
- Oh yes! Terry, I want to marry you, my love.
He took the ring and put it on her finger. He put his lips on hers and kissed her passionately. Candy longed for those kisses for almost a year and responded with the same passion. Their lips seemed not to want to separate. Terry took her in his arms and carried her to her room and put her on the bed. They were still kissing and caressing each other. He took her clothes off and started caressing her intimate parts. Candy felt all of Terry's touches, but she was afraid of not feeling anything because of her paralysis. Terry felt her hesitation.
- Are you ok, darling? He asked worried.
- I'm paralyzed you see, I was afraid of not feeling…. But don't worry; everything is fine, you can continue.
- Are you sure you're all right?
- Absolutely.
They made love like there was no tomorrow. They were not taking anything for granted anymore, after what had happened to Candy. One hour later, they were breathless and resting. Candy had her head on Terry's nude chest.
- Darling?
- Hum humm?
- Why didn't you contact me to tell me what had happened to you? Because of our agreement?
- We said that if one of us didn't come…
- But that's just it! You were there! It didn't apply anymore…
- But I couldn't walk. And I didn't want to risk you feeling obligated to…take care of me… in case you didn't come, I didn't…
- You didn't want my pity.
- I'd rather die!
- But, whether you walk or not, doesn't matter to me! I love you. From the first time we saw each other, I couldn't get you out of my head. Even when you missed our appointment, I couldn't stop thinking about you. This whole year was an agony for me. The only thought that you didn't love me was making me miserable. I had found my soul mate, my other half, my missing piece, the main piece and she didn't come to the most important appointment of our life. Can you imagine how I felt? Since we said no contact if one of us didn't show… My whole world came crashing down.
- I was hysterical when I woke up in the hospital and realized I had missed our meeting, they had to sedate me. I wanted to leave the hospital to come and see you, but I couldn't feel my legs… not only I missed the meeting, but I couldn't walk! I never stopped loving you. Terry, I'm sorry, for everything.
- Come on, freckles, it's was not your fault….
- Did you get cruise pictures back from Yaya?
- Yes, they're in her personnel papers; I couldn't look at them…
- It hurt too much, didn't it?
- That's in the past. We'll put them in an album.
- My friends are coming soon. They shouldn't find us in a compromising position…
- What ? I don't mind mind them finding me in bed with the woman I love, he joked.
- Terrence Grandchester !
They started laughing.
- Ok, we have the rest of our lives to be together, let's get ready said Terry.
- They'll be here in an hour. I'm not ready to leave my bed or your arms. Make love to me again, darling.
- With pleasure, he said kissing her again.
An hour later, Albert, Annie, Archie, their two children, Patty and Joe arrived with gifts and food. They were surprised to find Candy with Terry. But they saw the immediate change in Candy's attitude and they didn't ask to many questions. Candy was with the man she loves and he seemed to love him as much as she did.
- Good evening everybody! Candy said with a nice smile, Merry Christmas! Allow me to present you, Terrence Grandchester, my fiancé.
Her little group of friends was speechless for a second, then Annie finally said:
- Hi, I'm Annie Cornwell.
- Archie, Annie's husband and our two kids, Anthony and Jessica.
- Patricia O'Brien, you can call me Patty.
- Joseph Connery, you can call me Joe.
- Albert William Andrew, we didn't meet the other night.
- I'm pleased to meet you all said Terry smiling, you can call me Terry.
- Mom, he looks like the man in the magazines Anthony said. Then looking at Terry, are you the man in the magazines?
- Euh… yes he said.
- Wow!
- Are you going to marry Auntie Candy?
- Enough Anthony. Don't bother the man, said Archie
- It's no bother… euh Archie? That's it? I like children, Terry said and turning to Anthony, yes I'm going to marry your auntie Candy.
- Awesome! My friends at school are going to be jealous.
Annie went so sit next to Candy.
- Aren't you full of surprise? She whispered in her ear.
- It happened only today, Annie, I swear to you.
- You're happy…
- It's the best Christmas gift I ever got in my life. I haven't told anyone yet, Annie, but I felt some tingling in my legs.
- Oh Candy, that's wonderful! Terry has a great effect on you. Do you realize that you were caught in a vicious circle? You didn't want to see him, because you couldn't walk. But you couldn't walk because you didn't see him?
- Annie, come and help me with the table, Patty called.
They all had diner together talking happily. They opened their presents later. Everybody was happy. Candy was on cloud nine; she had the love of her life back and she was with her friends.
When they were ready to go, Archie was looking at Terry and was asking himself when he will be leaving.
- You want us to drop you off somewhere? Do you live far? Archie asked Terry.
- No, thanks. I don't want to bother you. I'll manage.
- It's really no bother, Terry, it would be a pleasure.
- That I'm sure of it, mumbled Terry to himself, then out loud, I have to talk to Candy, I'll take a cab later on.
- But…
- Goodbye Candy, Terry and Merry Christmas interrupted Annie, come on darling, let's go.
And she took him by the arm outside and closed the door. When they were outside, Archie asked her.
- Why did you do that? He's probably going to spend the night with her…
- And that bothers you because….?
- She's still vulnerable…
- That's enough, Archie! Your jealousy is ridiculous and not very flattering for me…
- I'm sorry darling he said honestly, I just want to protect her.
- She knows what she's doing and she has Terry to protect her now.
- You're right. I'm sorry if I sounded like a jealous boyfriend.
When the others left, Candy and Terry were in the living room getting ready to go to bed. Terry was still a little puzzled by Archie's reaction.
- What was that all about? He asked Candy.
- What? She said innocently.
- I felt a little chill from Archie. He couldn't get rid of me fast enough! Even Albert was warmer and he's your ex-fiancé! Freckles, do you have something to tell me?
- Well, he's Annie's husband…he just wants to protect me.
- From me? Seems to me, that he was jealous… Freckles…?
- Ok. After Anthony's death, I had the impression Archie wanted to tell me he had feelings for me.
- Really? What happened?
- Annie heard him and screamed "no" and ran away. Archie never finished what he wanted to tell me, and I encouraged him to go after Annie. I, unfortunately for him, never shared his feelings.
- Let me get this straight… If I understand correctly, every male members of your adoptive family is or was in love with you!
- Stop that darling, you're the one that I love, she said with a smile.
He smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
- Freckles?
- Yes, honey?
- Why did you stay in New York? Why didn't you go back to Chicago to be near your friends and family?
Candy remained silent for a moment. Why did she stayed in New York? Finally she said;
- Honestly, I don't know. After the accident, Albert wanted to take me back to Chicago, but I didn't want to. It was like a part of me wanted to stay here hoping to see you one day, or when I'll be able to walk again and I would've explain to you what happened. We saw each other and…..
- …the next day I was on your doorstep.
- It worked …
He took her in his arms and held her strongly, like to reassure himself he wasn't dreaming.