AN UNFORGETTABLE LOVE
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 9
"Perspective of the future"
The next morning, Candy woke up in Terry's arms.
- Good morning, said Candy.
- Am I dreaming or are you real?
- I'm very real. Come on, sleepy head wake up!
- I have to take you to my apartment and introduce you to my mother and Mrs. Henderson. They must be wondering where I am….
- You should've called them last night.
- Last night I was busy having a good time with a woman I thought I'd lost and that I found again.
- I'm not going to disappear Terry, she said smiling. I have something to tell you… no it's good news she added when she saw his worried expression, I felt some tingling in my legs.
- Really? Since when?
- Since yesterday… since we got back together.
- We have to see the doctor.
- Yes. But. It's Christmas day, honey. We'll go after the holidays.
Terry called his mother, who immediately invited them to a little party at her place. They got ready to go. He wanted to take her to his apartment to meet Mrs. Henderson. She had come on this Christmas morning, because she was worried when her boss didn't come back from his visit to Candy.
When Terry opened his apartment door, Mrs. Henderson was behind and held the door for Candy's wheelchair.
- Mr. Grandchester…. Miss….Andrew? She asked.
- Merry Christmas Mrs. Henderson! Yes it's Miss Andrew he confirmed. Candy, this is Mrs. Henderson.
- Hello Mrs. Henderson and Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, Miss Andrew. I'm pleased to meet you. So, you're the one who stole my young boss' heart? She said while they were installing themselves in the living room.
Candy laughed.
- I owe you, my dear. Because of you he stopped smoking and he paints when he doesn't act.
- I'm glad, but it had to come from him.
- And she's modest too! Then she tells Terry in his ear, I understand why you love her so much, she's charming!
The "few friends" Mrs. Baker had, turn out to be about a hundred. Terry's whole theatre troop was there. And there was another surprise guest; Richard Grandchester, Terry's father. They hadn't seen each other for years. His health wasn't very good, and he wanted to make peace with his son and the woman he once loved. Christmas was a family gathering and a time for forgiveness, reconciliation's and miracles for those who believe.
Candy and Terry arrived and were warmly greeted by everybody. Terry was surprised to see his father and his mother together. Maybe it was the fact that he found Candy again, but, he was happy to see his parents together.
Nothing, he said to himself can spoil my good mood, not even years of grudge held against my father.
- My parents together! I guest Christmas is really the time for miracles! Mom, Dad I want you to meet, Candice White Andrew, the woman I'm going to marry, Candy, these are my parents.
- Pleased to meet you, Candy said with a smile.
- Pleased to meet you, they said together.
- So this is Terry's source of preoccupation! I'm glad to finally meet you, Candy. Can I call you Candy? Eleonor said.
- Of course.
- Come, I'll present you to my friends.
She pushed Candy's wheelchair and introduced her to her guests. Among them of course was Susanna Marlowe, Terry's ex-fiancée. She looked at Candy with disdain when nobody was looking at her.
"He certainly pities her because of her wheelchair! What did she do to him? Did she save her life? She asked herself. How could he live me for that? It's like I've seen her somewhere before… I got it! She was the woman that dropped the program at the ballet! I was wondering why Terry's attitude changed after the incident… he owes me an explanation!"
- Susanna, you've been replaced by a wheelchair! Said Karen a young actress of the troop.
- It must be pity…
- I don't know Susanna, he seem to love her a lot. Did you see the way he looks at her? He's very much in love!
- He's never looked at me that way. He must be really in love with her! Where did she come from, this goody two shoes? I'll go ask Terry.
- But…
Before Karen could say anything, Susanna was walking towards Terry. He was talking to his friend Jason.
- Terry, can I talk to you? Asked Susanna.
- Yes, sure.
- Let's go in the hallway.
They went in the hallway outside the apartment.
- Terry she started, when did you meet your girlfriend?
- My fiancée…
- Oh, excuse-me, your fiancée she said ironically.
- Why?
- When! She insisted.
- About a year ago…
- A year ago?
- On the boat back from Europe…
- The boat back from Europe? Is that why you broke up with me? Don't you think you could've been honest with me and tell me the truth?
- You're right. Forgive me Susanna.
- What happened? Why did it take you so long to get together?
- It's a long story. We've lost touch and…
- … you saw each other at the ballet. That's why you didn't come to the party. I was really wasting my time trying to get you back, hein?
- Susanna…
- Wait a minute the woman who bumped into me that day at the harbour, that was her! You must've laughed at my expense…
Susanna had a very good memory; she had to, to memorize all those lines.
- Listen, Susanna. I'm sorry that I hurt you, but staying with you would've been a mistake. You deserve someone who loves you, like I deserve to be with the one I love.
- But you're the one I love…
She had tears in her eyes; she turned and went back to the apartment. Terry loved another woman. If she had any hopes of getting him back, the conversation she'd just had, dashed all her hopes.
Terry went back inside the apartment. Jason asked him what happened. He said everything was fine. He walked towards his father. He hadn't talk to him in a long time. Since, his rebellion in college. His father never tried to see him. He took care only of his family. But Richard Grandchester wasn't happy, this arranged marriage in which he was stuck had made him very unhappy. The only woman he ever loved, Terry's mother had forgiven him. He wanted to make peace with Terry, the son he'd ignored for all those years.
- Terrence, Richard said, can we talk a little?
- Sure, father.
- I wanted you to forgive me for my indifference all those years.
- Of course I forgive you father. It's Christmas, the time for miracles and reconciliations.
- Thank you Terry. I see you love your fiancée very much.
- I didn't know you could love someone that much.
- I'm happy you're with the woman you love. I made a mistake by not marrying your mother.
- Thank you, father. But you have to stop living in the past. Mom never got married. She never replaced your. I think she still loves you.
- From your mouth, to God's ears. I finally left my wife; I didn't want to spend the rest of my life unhappy. I was lucky your mother forgave me.
- My parents together! That's something I never would have thought possible after all those years… this is the best Christmas ever, I found the woman I love again, and my parents are reconciling! Merry Christmas, father.
- Merry Christmas, son.
They hugged each other for a while. In normal times, he would've been cold and brittle with his father, not as forgiving. But since he'd found Candy again, he said to himself, since life gave him a second chance with his heart's desire, he could give his father a second chance. If his mother and father get back together…. The better!
He looked around and looked for Candy. He saw her talking to her mother and another guest.
- Mom, can I borrow Candy for a while?
- Yes, of course dear Eleonor said.
He pushed her wheelchair to the terrace; he wanted her to get some hair.
- Are you ok, Freckles?
- Yes, thanks. Your mother is adorable. I remember Archie and Stear cutting of her pictures in magazines, they were crazy about her, when we were teenagers.
Terry smiled. Susanna was passing by and couldn't resist the temptation, she eaves-dropped.
- You saw Susanna? She wasn't too cold?
- I think I would've been cold in her place too.
- You! You're kidding, right? You're Little Mary Sunshine! How are you always in a good mood?
- We can see that you didn't see me after the accident! I simply tell myself that life is too short to waste it being in a bad mood.
- I love you he simply said.
- I love you too.
Terry leaned and kissed her on the lips. Susanna couldn't take it anymore. She left the place and went back to her friends from the troop. She'd lost Terry for good because he wasn't in love with her, he loved another woman.
Jason was watching Susanna for a far, he followed her. He wanted to comfort her. He knew she was suffering seeing Terry with Candy. He had always been secretly in love with her, but she only had eyes for Terry. Maybe now he had a chance?
- Susanna, Susanna he called.
- Oh Jason! She said hugging him.
That was more than Jason hoped. She was in his arms!
- Terry, he met her a year ago… she said, all that time I was trying to get him back, he was in love with her. I was wasting my time! What a humiliation!
- No Susanna, you were in love. It's normal.
- Forgive-me Jason, I don't want to bother you with this.
- It's no bother, Susanna. You want something to drink?
- Yes, thank you some eggnog, please.
Jason was very happy. He had an opening with Susanna. He spent the rest of the evening with her.
The following days, Candy and Terry went to see the doctor who gave then hope. The tingling in Candy's legs was a good sign that she'll be able to walk soon. Candy took the physiotherapy treatment, which was very painful and very difficult, but since she found Terry again, she said to herself that everything was going to be fine.
The winter passed and spring came along. The snow melted left some mud at first, then the buds all over. The trees were starting to become green again and the gardens were getting more and more flowers. Life was going on. This time it was going on with Terry. Candy couldn't believe she could be so happy. Since they were back together, not a day went by without Candy and Terry seeing each other. He was seeing after all his rehearsals and she was at all his premieres. The press had a field day with the speculation on their relationship. Terry was always telling them, "no comment" which meant he wasn't saying anything. His mother told him to give an interview to stop the rumors and speculation. The press can make you and it can destroy you she always said. He followed his mother's advice and gave an interview to present Candy to the press.
- So Mr. Grandchester, who's the lovely lady in the wheelchair? Asked a reporter.
- That's Candice White Andrew, my fiancée.
- From the Andrews family of Chicago? Asked another one.
- Yes.
- When's the wedding? Asked a lady reporter.
- In a few months…
- When did you meet? When did you fall in love? Asked another woman.
- That's all for now said Terry's agent said.
- Aww…. one more, please, Mr. Grandchester….
Susanna and Jason had become inseparable since the Christmas party. Susanna was getting over Terry and was starting to understand what it was to be loved by a man…
Annie had her little boy around the end of March. Archie was so happy and named the baby Alistair after his deceased brother. The little one seem to look like his namesake because he had black hair. After she had her baby, Annie focused on Candy's wedding. Terry was a celebrity so the wedding should be big, she was saying. Annie, Patty and Flammy will be the maids of honor. Anthony and Rosemary would be respectively, the ring bearer and the flower girl. Eliza couldn't protest, even though she hated Candy she was playing along for the public and let her daughter be in the wedding party. The whole Pony house was supposed to take the trip to New York for the wedding.
Albert contributed to the expense of his adoptive daughter's wedding. He had met a missionary in Africa and had fallen in love with her. They shared the same passion for trips, adventures, exploration. She was truly was his other half. Her name was Lee Campbell; she was an American from a rich family. Her parents had tried desperately to keep her in America so she could marry and have children. With Albert, maybe she'll stay in America a little longer. The members of the Andrew family seem to like to travel a lot, Alistair and Archibald's parents were abroad, not to mention Anthony's father. Lee's parents said to themselves that marrying an adventurer like Albert was better than nothing; at least their daughter would be married.
The marriage of Candice White Andrew and Terrence G. Graham took place on May 7th, the day of Candy's birthday. All her "family" which means, the Andrews, the Cornwells, the Reagans, her two moms Miss Pony and Sister Maria and the whole Pony House, was there. The great aunt Elroy was also there. She was very old but she kept paying attention to what people were going to say if she wasn't at the wedding of a family member as indignant as she was. On Terry's side there was his parents and the whole troupe, including Susanna and Mrs. Henderson of course.
The ceremony started with the classical music; Pachelbel "canon". Little Rosemary entered spreading her rose petals. Little Anthony followed her with the rings on a cushion shaped like a heart. Annie, Patty and Flanny followed. The bride finally arrived. Albert was waiting for her at the entrance of the church. She arrived in her wheelchair, in her wedding dress with Yaya's shawl. The assembly stood up to greet the bride. The music changed to Mendelssohn's "wedding march". To everybody's big surprise, Candy stood up took Albert's arm, who was still surprised to see her standing up and they started walking towards Terry. She had told nobody that she could walk. She wanted to surprise everyone and she did! She had a satin white dress, sleeveless with the clasp in the back of her neck. The cut low at the back and low cut in the front was covered with veil and lace. Following the tradition, she had the shawl for something old, a garter for something blue, Annie's diamond earrings for something borrowed, finally an emerald bracelet Terry bought for her for something new. For the bouquet of flowers, she had the roses Anthony created especially for her. Her hair had an up-do and a long veil was hanging behind while another piece covered her face.
Terry still couldn't believe his eyes. How did he not know that she could walk? His Candy was full of surprises. He stayed stunned for a few moments. Candy had to bring him back to reality.
- Terrence, Terry, she whispered, come back to earth, you have to marry me now.
- Oh yeah, sure.
The assembly, the maids of honor and the children laughed softly.
The ceremony started and when it was time to say the vows, the priest said.
- Our young couple had prepared their own vows. Go ahead he said to Candy you start.
She faced Terry and said.
- The first time I saw you, you looked so fine. You came along and captured my heart and everyday I love you more and more. A love like ours is rare, it must have been sent from up above and I know we'll stay this way for always. You're the perfect one for me, now and forever… and I promise to love you for the rest of my life. The first time I saw you, I knew you'd be mine.
Candy had tears of joy coming down her cheeks.
- Terrence your turn said the priest.
- The first time I saw you, I felt a thunderbolt in my heart. You were the one I was looking for all my life, without knowing it. I've finally found my other half, my soul mate. You are to me all that a woman should be and I dedicate my life to you always. You're like the sun, chasing all of the rain away, when you come along, you bring brighter days. So today I pledge my love to you for always. The first time I saw you, you were already mine.
Candy was still weeping tears of happiness, so were her maids of honor. The children couldn't understand why the bride was crying.
- Why is she crying? Asked Rosemary.
- Because she's happy explained Miss Pony, with tears in her eyes herself.
The rest of the ceremony finished without an itch.
In the car taking them to the reception, Terry asked:
- Well, Mrs. Grandchester, I love your present a lot. You have more present like that?
- You haven't seen nothing yet, Mr. Grandchester.
- Really, is the next surprise?
- Well, if you fulfill you conjugal duty like you should tonight, maybe we'll have a surprise in nine months…
- Nine months, I get nothing till then? He joked. No, I'm sorry, having you by my side for the rest of my life is the most beautiful present the universe gave me.
- I love you, Mr. Grandchester.
- I love you, Mrs. Grandchester.
He took her in his arms and put his lips on hers in a passionate kiss. They had the rest of their lives in front of them. The year they've lost had just reinforced their love. They've made up for lost time and had no intention of wasting anymore of it.
THE END