SO WE COULD BE TOGETHER…
Chapter 17
"The return home"
Laurent had kept his promise to Susanna. He asked one of his doctor friend, who specialised in prosthesis to take care of Susanna's case. His name was Marc Mcabbe, but he liked to be called Mac and he lived in New York. He went to see Susanna at her place. Susanna was sitting in the living room. She saw Mac enter, he was tall with black hair and grey eyes. Mac saw a young fragile woman on a wheel chair. She had blond hair straight she had in two pigtails. Her eyes were filled with sadness.
" I wish I could put the joy back in those beautiful eyes he surprise himself thinking."
- Hello doctor said Susanna
- Hello Miss Marlowe, you can call me Mac
- Ok, you can me Susanna she said smiling
"She's charming Mac thought."
"He's hand some, Susanna thought"
- Ok, Susanna, I'm going to examine you
He did a complete exam on her.
- So, doc… Mac, how Am I?
- Well, Susanna, physically you're fine, but tell me, how do you feel emotionally?
- Emotionally, very bad doctor…euh Mac, very bad
- Susanna, your emotions are part of your recovery, in fact it's capital. If you're emotionally not well, you treatment might suffer…
- I know doctor, Mac. I'm going to tell you what happened to me…
Susanna told the whole story, how she met Terrence Grandchester, how she fell in love with him. She told him about Candy, how when she discovered that Terry loved another woman devastated her. Her diabolical plan to play the hero didn't work. Mac listened to everything without a word. When Susanna finished her story, she looked down ashamed.
- Susanna, Susanna said Mac, look at me
She looked at him shyly in the eyes.
- The fact that you're able to tell the story is a sign to you want to repent. You want to go forward?
She nodded.
- So let's concentrate on your recovery and show everybody that you're a new person.
- Ok. If you help me, Mac, I will be a new person
- I will be there every step of the way, until your completely healed, ok?
- Ok. Thank you Mac.
- Don't thank me. I want you to move forward.
Susanna said to herself that she had nothing to loose. She will never have Terry, so she had to go forward. And this doctor was very good looking. But she had only one leg….
There was knocking at Candy's apartment door. She opened the door.
- Georges? Good evening said Candy. What are you doing here?
- Good evening Miss Candy. Mrs. Elroy wants to see you. She asked to come and get you.
- Ok. I'm wondering what she wants… Wait for me, Georges
She went to the living room where Georgie was with Laurent
- Who is it? Asked Georgie
- It's Uncle William's assistant. The Great Aunt wants to see me…
- The Great Aunt? Asked Georgie, what does she want? You want me to come with you?
- No, sweetie thanks. Stay with Laurent. I'll be fine
- Ok.
She entered the manor and met Eliza in the hallway who looked at her with disdain. Candy entered the living room where the Great Aunt Elroy, Mr and Mrs Reagan and Neil.
- Good evening, said Candy. You wanted to see me?
- You're going to get engaged to Neil said the Great Aunt with saying hello. We are going to celebrate your engagement in three days. All the high society of Chicago is going to be there…
- But said Candy, getting engage to Neil? Are you out of your minds?
- It's an order from the Great Uncle William said Mrs Reagan, he adopted you and you have to obey him!
- It's because he adopted me, that he can order me to marry whom ever he wants? Neil? I don't love him!
- Neil is going to enrol in the army if you don't marry him said Mrs' Reagan
- Neil? In the army? You've got to be kidding me! He can't even fight girls!
- That's enough! Said the Great Aunt; I don't want to lose Neil like I lost Anthony. You are going to marry him! That's an order!
- But…
- After everything The Great Uncle William did for you, you dare to disobey him? You ran away from college, you owe him that said Mrs. Reagan
- The engagement party is in three days, said the Great Aunt, you're dismissed!
Candy went back to her apartment completely devastated.
- Candy? Said Georgie, what's wrong honey?
Candy told him about the meeting at the Reagan.
- But Candy, said Georgie, you're already married and you're in the family way. Terry can fix that in one minute!
- I know. But the fact that Uncle William adopted me and that he ordered me to marry Neil, my worst enemy, makes me sad, that's all. I had so much respect for him….
- That's ok. You'll tell him at the engagement party if he comes, said Georgie, for now, we have to get ready for the engagement party. We need dresses. You're going to make yourself very beautiful, so that Neil is going to regret more to have missed you…
- Why don't we dress the same, it could be fun
- Great idea. We're going to have fun
- I have to call Terry
A few minutes later…
- What? Said Terry, but what are they? Crazy?
- I know honey, but you have to come here in 3 days to stop the engagement from hell…
- You can say that again…. I'll do everything to free myself. I will be there. I wouldn't miss that party for all the gold in the world…
- I sure hope so. Bye honey. I love you.
- Kiss junior for me. I love you. Sweet dreams…
The next day, Annie went to see Candy who told her what had happened at the Reagan's.
- Oh my God said Annie, I wouldn't miss that party for all the tea in China!
- I wouldn't want you to miss it said Candy. Georgie and I are going shopping for dresses; you want to come with us?
- Just try and stop me! You know shopping is my favourite hobby…
Candy smiled.
- Georgie, let's go! Stear should be outside waiting for us with Patty
- I'm coming said Georgie
In the boutique, they tried on a lot of dresses. Candy's condition wasn't showing yet, but she didn't want a dress tight at the waist. After a few hours of trying on dresses, they finally chose a satin green dress that wasn't tight at the waist. Annie also bought a a dress for the engagement from hell. It was red. Patty didn't want to buy a new dress couldn't resist the temptation, she bought a pretty bleu dress. We they got out of the store, they saw Archie who had joined Stear in the car.
- Candy ,said Archie, you have to leave, they going to force you to marry Neil!
- Don't worry for me Archie, everything will be fine…
- But Candy, it's tomorrow already, you might not have the time…
- Archie, come to the party tomorrow and you'll see how I'm going to get out of this situation
- Ok, I hope you know what you're doing…
- Don't worry about me, and thank you.
She hugged him. Archie was in 7th heaven! Having Candy in his arms even briefly was rare pleasure for him.
Roxanne, Nathan and the kids arrived at the Winstanley's villa in Chicago; they were greeted warmly by the parents and the rest of the family.
- Nathaniel, said his mother, you got married without us? That's a surprise!
- Mom, I couldn't wait… said Nathan, I didn't want to lost her again said Nathan
- That's the girl who was lord Brydon's assistant in London? I never forget a face…I remember….you never told me her last name… Bramwell… from Bramwell Enterprises? Asked Nathan's father
- Yes sir. Said Roxanne
- Oh…
Roxanne understood that he regretted not knowing it 20 years ago.
- Welcome to the family said Nathan's mother kissing her
- Thank you Madam.
- Cassandra, Steven you like your new mother?
- Oh grandma, she's great said Cassandra
- She knows lots of stories said Steven
Everybody started laughing. They had tea and rested a little.
- We have to go see my parents said Roxanne to her husband, they are going to be shocked. I'm the black sheep of the family…
- Yes honey, but we have to tell them about the twins
- What twins? Asked Nathan's mother
Nathan told his parents the story of Roxanne and the twins. The parents and the other family members were stunned; they couldn't believe their ears.
- Oh my God, Alexander, what have we done? Said the mother; we have 2 grand daughters we didn't know existed…
The father didn't answer and left the room.
- I'm sorry said Roxanne
- Roxie, let's go see you family now said Nathan, lets let them digest the news
His father was certainly regretting, not only he stopped his son to be with the woman he loved, but also with his kids. He broke up a family. The mother was also upset to have stood by her husband in his business transactions, using his kids as pawns.
The Bramwell manor was huge. Roxanne arrived with her family. Her parents couldn't believe she was married with an instant family.
- Roxie said her mother; you're full of surprises!
- You haven't heard anything yet! Said Roxanne
- How could you get married without us?
- Roxie, we never see you said her grandmother and now you get married without us?
- I know grandma, I'm sorry said Roxanne
- You have to have a ceremony here for us, I'm sure that your husband's family will be happy to participate said the grand-mother
- Yes said Cassandra, dad it will be great, both families will be there…
- Why not said Maxim Bramwell, I will love to walk my black sheep to the altar…
- So, it's set said Roxanne's mom
Roxanne looked at her husband who nodded. She knew she had to tell them about the twins. Nathan took her hand and sat beside her.
- Mom, dad grandma, everybody, I have some thing to tell you she said with a grave tone
- Roxie, you look serious said her father
- It is, dad. It's very serious…
Roxanne told her family what had happened almost 20 years ago. Her family listened and couldn't believe it! When she finished, her mother said;
- Roxanne you had twins almost 20 years ago with the man you just married and you're only telling us now?
- I have 2 great grand daughters that I don't know? Said the grand-mother
- Roxanne, why didn't you come to see us? We could've find a solution, especially since the father was Alexander Winstanley's son…
- I didn't want to disturb his marriage. I'm sorry for everything. I let you digest the news, I will be back tomorrow morning.
- Bye said Nathan
- Bye said the kids at the same time.
Maxime Bramwell and his family were speechless. Roxanne has always been full of surprises… but this was the whopper!
Roxanne and Nathan were at their manor, the Rainbow Manor. Every room of the manor was decorated with one of the colours of the rainbow, so were every living room. They were in their bedroom and they had a sigh of relief.
- That's it, it's done said Nathan
- You think they are going to be upset for long?
- Oh, they'll get over it fast, the preparation of the wedding will make them forget their temporary anger… by the way, Roxanne Bramwell, will you marry me, again?
- Nathaniel Winstanley, I will be honour to become your wife, again…
He smiled and hugged her. He loved her so much! He had his mother's engagement ring, he put it on her finger. He kissed his wife.
- By the way said Nathan, we are invited to an engagement party at the Reagan
- Engagement? That's right on cue! Said Roxanne, it's a sign… a good sing… the Reagan…
- You know them?
- I was in school with a Sarah Andrew who is now Mrs. Reagan. She was unbearable…
- It's her son that's getting engaged…
- I hope he's has a better character than is mother…
- Not according to what I've heard, he's a spoiled brat, stupid and mean…
- Well, I'm sorry for the girl… to me going to an engagement party is a sign… we can celebrate our engagement at this party in our hearts…
- Roxie, we're already married…
- So what? We could use a little chance. Our first party as husband and wife, we're going to have fun…