HE'S MY HEART'S DESIRE
Chapter 15
"To forget a dream…"
- But Terry, Candy promised… started Susanna
- "Candy promised…" do you hear yourself when you talk? It doesn't do anything to you that Candy was forced to dump me, in order for you to be with me?
- No, I saved your life. I love you so much…
Terry had an exasperated sigh. He was so angry that he left the room slamming the door behind him. He had spent all those years thinking that Candy didn't love him, that she didn't want him anymore, when she really sacrificed herself for Susanna… He went down to the hotel bar and ordered some scotch that he drank in one sip. He ordered a second one, when he heard and familiar and irritating voice.
- You're getting drunk from despair?
- Brown… I'm not in the mood said Terry
- Did you have a fight with your pretty one?
Terry was really not in the mood to talk, least of all with Anthony. He didn't answer.
- At least that time you took your responsibilities…
Terry understood that he was talking about Rosemary, so he decided to play along even though he was angry. He liked the fact that Anthony thought he was Rosemary's father, that he had to special link to Candy…
- What do you mean by "that time"? You know some responsibilities I didn't take? Tell me…
Anthony heard Candy's voice in his head "please, don't tell him anything…"
- Nothing, just a slip of the tongue, that's all
Terry couldn't help provoking him.
- Do you realise if Susanna's accident hadn't happened, your family would've been mine?
Anthony started to lose his temper.
- What do you mean by that? That I'm the consolation prize? He asked with anger
- You said it…
- You bast…!
- Anthony?
It was Candy's voice.
- Our table is ready she said
Anthony turned around and saw Candy, Rosemary and Aurelia. He let go of his anger in front of the little one.
- Ok, let's go
Candy looked at Terry and he had an icy look for her. He continued drinking. She didn't say anything and followed Anthony to their table. The atmosphere was heavy and tense. Even the little one felt the tension and was not saying anything.
Before they went to bed, Candy decided to break the tension.
- Anthony, are you going to be mad for long? Even Rosemary felt the tension
Anthony took her in his arms and held her tight, like he wanted to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He looked for her lips and they kissed passionately.
- I'm fine he finally said, I'm sorry for my bad mood.
But he couldn't help thinking about Terry's words. Was he the consolation prize for Candy?
The next day, Candy met Susanna in the hallway when she was getting out of her room.
- Susanna…
- Candy! You had to tell him! You had to tell him about our arrangement! You couldn't stand that he hated you, couldn't you?
- Terry doesn't hate me, and you know it…Susanna, we were wrong to make a decision of that magnitude without him…
- But you promised
- Yes, if he was happy with you… but he's miserable! It didn't work Susanna…
- You're taking him back, aren't you? She said with tears in her eyes…
- Susanna, I have to go to my conference
She left. Susanna remained there, thinking about the whole thing. Terry was unhappy. She did everything to make Terry fall in love with her but without any results. She often saw him read Candy's letter and play the harmonica. She had asked him how he started to play the harmonica.
- It's a friend that gave it to me so I could play instead of smoking…
- Candy? She guessed
- Yes.
So every time he played the harmonica, she knew he was thinking about Candy. She will never be able to make him forget about Candy. Despite all those years, he couldn't forget her. She knew it, because he often played the harmonica.
During diner in the evening, all the doctors were reunited like the first night. There was a friendly discussion between men and women. The women were complaining been mistreated at med school, because they were women.
- I have a teacher that said the women didn't have the necessary intelligence to be a doctor, that they should limit themselves to being nurses, said on of the women
- What a sexist remark! Said Candy, but if doctors listened more to nurses at least; look at Florence Nightingale, she modernized the sterilisation, disinfection and hygiene in hospitals…
- Yeah! Said the other women
The discussion continued like that until late at night. The conference was over, Susanna had a prosthetic leg on and she could now walk very well, she still needed her wheel chair to rest, but she was making progress with her leg. Terry felt a weight off his conscience. Susanna could walk! Now he had to convince her to go back on the scene. Her mother should be able to convince her, if Terry couldn't.
The return to Chicago was short and peaceful. Candy was happy to go back to her routine. She found Annie almost ready to open her new boutique in New York. She had told her what had happened at the medical conference.
- You're coming with me to New York? Asked Annie
- Of course, honey, you need a doctor in your condition she joked
- How was it to see him again?
- Oh, Annie, I wish I could tell you I didn't feel anything…
- But your feelings were still there? You know my opinion on the subject, I not going to repeat myself
- Thanks Annie. So, when are we going to New York?
- In three weeks, for everything to be ready. I have to make the invitations and send them…
- After that, you promise me to stop working till the birth of your baby?
- Ok. Archie will be happy…
- I will be happy about what? Said Archie's voice, Candy! How was your trip? Full of incidents I heard…
- So, you don't need me to tell you about it… said Candy, Annie, I have to go. Don't over do it. See you later
Annie stayed with her husband, Archie. He had gone to law school and had become a lawyer. He had opened his own office and he had partners. Business was good. He was also very proud of his wife that had opened a boutique and was about to open another one.
Stear went to war and was missing in action until the end of the war. They even had a memorial service for him, but his body was never found. Everybody was stunned and happy, when Stear came to the Chicago villa and crutches but alive, after the horrible nonsense war! Albert was very happy to have found his nephew. Stear married Patty once he was back on his feet. He continued his engineer studies and Albert had helped buy a small factory that had prospered to become one of the biggest construction companies of the country. Since he was passionate about planes, he invested in the constructions of planes and trains. With the technology progressing, his investments wind up being a gold mine. The company didn't stop at planes and trains, but it started to build all vehicles of public transportation, buses, streetcars etc. But he hadn't stopped his inventions. He continued trying them during his free time. Patty was in the family way, but she was in her fifth month, in her second trimester.
Neil worked with his father in the family business. Eliza continued being a tramp. She didn't even bother to know what had happened to the child she abandoned in Candy's name. And curiously, she didn't say anything unpleasant to Candy when she learned that she had a little girl or even when she saw her with the baby. Maybe the fact she abandoned her own daughter was preventing her from insulting Candy to have kept hers, like she thought.
Albert was still friend with Candy. He encouraged her when she decided to become a doctor. He took care of her tuition expenses. He was hurt to see her with a baby, he thought that Anthony was the father like everybody else, and they didn't deny it. But he loved his friend and had respected her choice to keep the baby. He had met a woman missionary like him during his trips and he had become very attached to her. He name was Christina Powell. He had given up hoping to have Candy one day, he was secretly in love with her. He wished he were in Anthony's place or even Terry's.
Candy was talking with Diana in her office at the clinic.
- So, Candy, how was it to see your former lover boy?
- Diana…
- He must've been a little shock to see you with Anthony's baby…
- Without being married… that's what shocked him the most
- Oh… but when you were with him, you were a teenager…
- We promised each other not to do anything, until we were married. He didn't marry Susanna
- How did that make you feel?
- I know I shouldn't feel anything, but I was a little relieved, he's not happy with her… he would've been with me, I'm sure of it. She has a prosthetic leg, she can walk, now. Do you think it's wrong of me to think like that, Diana?
- No, Candy, it's normal, I think that you still love him… but you have Anthony and Rosemary… you're a family
She remembered how she was hurt to learn that Candy and Anthony had a baby together. She didn't see anything, and she was her roommate. But Candy was gone a lot at that time. But she couldn't hate Candy; she was a good friend and didn't want to be without her.
The famous opening of "Annie's" New York boutique had finally arrived. Everybody went to New York to support Annie, aside from Eliza of course who said she had better things to do, and Neil was on a business trip.
Candy was having a glass of fruit punch when she heard someone call her.
- Candy?
It was Eleonor Baker, Terry's mother.
- Miss Baker! Said Candy hugging her! It's been a long time, I'm surprised you recognised me…
- I will never forget your face. Because of you Terrence reconciled with me
- I didn't do anything special… by the way…thanks for the robe
- You're very welcome. It was the least I could do.
- You like the boutique? It's my best friend's…
- Very impressive said Eleonor, I will definitely do some of my shopping here
- Candy? Said Anthony's voice
- Oh Anthony, let me introduce you to…
- Eleonor Baker, I'm very pleased to meet you, he said kissing her hand, I'm one of your biggest fan!
- Thank you said Eleonor very flattered. Candy, I'll see you later?
She left to talk to other acquaintances.
- I didn't know you knew her, said Anthony
- It's Terry's mother…
- Oh… I understand
- I met her in Scotland during that summer…
- You never told me that…
- Like you were in a mood of hearing stories about Terry at that time… or even now for that matter
- That's true…
- Freckles? Said a familiar voice
- Terry! Said Candy, Susanna
- Good evening Candy, said Susanna
- Brown
- Grandchester, Susanna
- Good evening said Susanna
Terry was there with Susanna who was standing up with a cane. Candy cursed Annie for this trick!
- Terry, Susanna, said Annie, thanks for coming, make yourself at home
- Good evening Annie, said Terry, thanks for your invitation
- You're very welcome, Terry! What are friends for? If not to remember each other?
Candy took Annie by the arm.
- How could you do this to me?
- What? Said Annie innocently, I invited the cream of society of New York, and Terry is part of it
- Oh Annie! You really love to torture me…!
- You'll thank me for it later… said Annie going away
Candy thought to herself that Annie was starting her teen tricks again. She walked towards Patty and Diana.
- How are you Patty? Said Candy, you want to sit a little?
- I'm fine, Candy said Patty, how are you?
- Did you know she invited Terry?
- I'm as surprise as you to see him here, said Patty
- Patty! Said Terry arriving and kissing her on the cheek, you're in the family way too, as I see. Is there something in the water or something?
- Good evening Terry, how are you? Said Patty laughing
- I'm fine. I'm happy to see everybody said Terry
- Good evening, Diana Trevor, I was in med school with Candy
- Pleased to meet you, Terrence Grandchester, you can call me Terry he said kissing her hand
- Ok, Terry said Diana smiling, charming…
Candy left to go near Anthony and she fell on Susanna.
- Did you make a decision yet? Asked Susanna
- Not tonight Susanna…
- I want to know if I have to wait for Terry to leave me for you…
- I said, not tonight! Said Candy going away
She needed some air, she couldn't breathe anymore. She went out on the terrace to get some fresh air. Why did Annie do that? Ever since the conference, she was in turmoil of confusion. She had seen Terry again and it had affected her more than she though. Knowing him unhappy, knowing that she could've made him happy… but she would made Anthony unhappy… she loved Terry like the first day, but he will never know about it. She never told him, she loved him.
- Penny for your thoughts…
- Terry…You're not angry with me anymore?
- I wasn't changing anything about the situation by being angry… but to know that you sacrificed yourself, so that another woman could be with me… You gave us up, so that I could take care of Susanna. Freckles, you're too good for your own good. I think that's very attractive…
- Go back to your fiancée Terry, leave me alone.
- She's my fiancée in name only and with a little chance, she will never be my wife…
- How could you say that?
- Candy, you've got your doctor that you love and who loves you, what about me? I have a woman crazy in love with me, that I don't love and that I will never love…
- I'm sorry
- I'm coming to Chicago with my troupe, but also to purchase some horses. The Coleman Ranch had just received some Arabic horses… I hope to find another Napoleon and another Josephine…
- Why not call them, Clitandre and Henriette?
- Good idea!
- I was kidding…
- I wasn't.
- So, I'll see you in Chicago soon, said Candy
- How's my daughter?
Candy blushed, but she managed to answer.
- She's fine, she stayed in Chicago…
- Do you miss her?
- A lot!
She said to herself that it was no use to fight it, that Terry will come to Chicago whether she likes it or not. She let the universe do whatever it wanted.
- I'm going to see Anthony, said Candy
- See you around, said Terry
Terry looked at her going. She didn't forget about him, he was sure of it. He felt like the time they were at St. Paul… He had made the promise to leave her alone if she didn't love him anymore. But she came to New York and she sacrificed herself for Susanna, God knows why… Now, she was not married yet…
- Terry? Said the voice of his mother
- Mum? I'm here
- Are you ok? I saw you with Candy… you still love her?
- I never stopped loving her, mum
- But, what about Susanna?
- Mum… Let's see what the future as in store for us… said Terry taking her arm, let's go back to the reception
The rest of the evening went on without an itch. Archie and Alistair saw Terry from afar and they decided to ignore him. Terry knew most of the guest and he talked happily with them recommending them to shop at his old childhood friend's boutique, Annie Brighton Cornwell. Annie was pleased. Archie was sulking and Candy was impressed. Stear and Anthony looked at him with indifference. Susanna was fuming. Terry was helping Annie. She remembered that evening in Chicago when Terry had disappeared from the reception after talking to Annie and she had then found him in his hotel room with Candy, top less. She thought Annie was unpleasant; she was Candy's best friend.
During the trip home the next evening. They were all on the train talking.
- This was a success said Annie, I'm relieved, I can now rest
- Thank God! Said Candy
- You got some free publicity from Terry, said Patty
- He just wanted to show off, said Archie, no one hired him as a spoke person!
- Maybe, said Patty, but he behaved like a friend and made the publicity of the boutique
- Even you guys, have to give him that! Said Annie
- It was the first time for me to see him in person, and I'm completely under his charm, said Diana
- You too, Diana? Said Anthony, what do you all see in him?
- I don't know, Anthony; the fact that he's handsome, likeable and absolutely charming said Diana
- Ok, Diana! Enough with that actor! Said Anthony
Candy didn't say anything, because everything she would say, would certainly be interpreted as "fanaticism" to use only that word. She just smiled. The guys couldn't say a lot because Terry behaved like a true friend with Annie, he did some free publicity to his friends and acquaintances. After meeting Terry, Diana understood Candy's dilemma, Terry was absolutely charming and very hard to resist…