HE'S MY HEART'S DESIRE
Chapter 20
"All is well, that ends well"
Annie had a very beautiful little girl that she called Vanessa. She was in seventh heaven. The little one had brown hair like her mommy and she had big bleu eyes. Candy had been her doctor and she also had the joy of bringing little Vanessa to the world. She was absolutely adorable. Candy went in the waiting room to announce the news to Archie and the others. Patricia had arrived in the mean time.
- Candy? Said Archie went he saw her
- Archie… said Candy, it's a girl…
The others screamed of joy and started to congratulate the father.
- Can I come in?
- In a while… we have to transfer her in a private room, said Candy
- Ok, said Archie crazy with joy
Candy walked to Terry. They went a little aside.
- Are you ok Terry?
- With your ex you mean? We're polite…
- Polite?
- Yes… he told me in no uncertain terms to take care of you, otherwise I will have to answer to him…
- Oh… so I hope you'll take him to his word, I wouldn't want Anthony to beat you up…
- Who says he's going to beat me up?
- You want to make me miserable just to prove that you'll win?
- Of course not, Freckles, I'm not going to risk our happiness under any circumstances…
- I thought so…
- You're stuck with me forever…
- Stuck? I can't be stuck with a part of myself, she said softly with so much love
- Oh Candy… he said taking her lips
A nurse had come to get Archie and the others to go see Annie. Anthony couldn't help looking at Candy and Terry kissing … his heart hurt, a lot.
Candy and Terry joined the others in Annie's room.
- Candy, Terry! Said Annie smiling
- Congratulations Annie said Terry smiling
- Thanks Terry… hurry up and give Rosemary a brother or a sister…
Candy became bright as red.
- Annie, she said uncomfortable
- You making my fiancée blush, Annie said Terry smiling
He bit his tongue not to say "wife". Every body burst out laughing, expect for Anthony.
The wedding ceremony of Candy and Terry happened in the garden of the Andrew manor, a few weeks later. Candy had spent the night at the manor. The wedding was big of course, with hundreds of guests. The whole Pony house had made the trip to Chicago for the event. Everybody was having fun. Anthony and Diana had become a close, very close. Diana was patient, she knew he needed time to get over Candy.
Candy , Terry and Rosemary left Chicago for New York. Terry's villa was big and Susanna had moved out a few weeks ago.
- You can change the furniture and decorate it the way you want; Susanna was the one who decorated
- She's got good taste, said Candy, but I think I'm going to make this house to my taste…
- No problem, Freckles, you can do whatever you want…
- Thanks Terry
- I want you to feel at home…
- That's just it… this house, you bought it with Susanna…
- Yes…
- Would it bother if we buy our own?
- I'm one step ahead of you, he said giving her a paper with houses for sale…
- Oh Terry… thank you
Candy didn't change the furniture in Susanna's house. They chose their new house and they bought it. Terry gave the other house to Susanna… He went to see her one evening. She was at her mother's.
- Terry, she said when she saw him, what a nice surprise!
- How are you, Susanna?
- I'm fine. How are you…?
- I'm very well…
- How are your wife and daughter?
- They're fine… We bought a house…
- Oh… said Susanna hurt
- Did you come here to put salt on my daughter's wounds? Said Mrs. Marlowe
- No…I'm sorry Susanna… I didn't want to hurt you…
- So why did you come here? Asked Susanna
- It's about the house…
- Yes?
- Well you lived there for a long time, you've decorated it… I wanted to give it to you…
- Oh…, said Susanna who didn't know what to say…
- Do you want it? You can live there, you can sell it…
- Thank you Terry, she said with tears in her eyes
- Here is the deed for the house, I've changed the name and I put yours…
- You think a house is going to replace her leg? Said Mrs. Marlowe
- Mom! Said Susanna, forcing Terry to be with me didn't replace my leg either… it made him miserable… I'm sorry for everything Terry. I'm sorry for keeping you from the one you loved…Be happy with her.
- I am. Thank you Susanna. Bye…
- Bye Terry
Susanna had finally turned the page on Terry. She was now looking at the future. She made the decision not to ignore all those young men who were interested in her, from now on.
Candy was raising Rosemary and it didn't take her long to be expecting a blessed event. Terry was reading the paper in the morning during breakfast.
- Terry… she said
- Yes, my love
- What would you say if you we have an addition to our family?
- Addition?
- Yes… a boy or a girl…
He looked at her surprised. Then he stood up and went to hug her for a long time, and they he gave her a really deep kiss. After that he touched her belly very gently
- Candy… when are you due?
- In 5 months…
- 5 months… so it's since
- Our wedding night…
- Oh… the universe is with us this time around
- We could have the world Terry
- Yes. But all I want is you, Rosemary and the future baby
- You have us, my love… forever… we can now have the world, like you told me on that tree in Scotland… You can pursue your other dreams…
- Thanks, my love for all this happiness…
A few months later, Candy was at her house. She had a few children over for a play date with Rosemary in the garden behind the house. The employees helped her with the children. Her belly was big and Terry didn't want her to get tired. The day was coming to an end and the mothers came to get their children. She was sitting in the living room knitting and Rosemary was looking at a book with pictures, when the butler announced to her that she had visitors.
- Let them in, Holmes
- Right away, madam
Candy looked and saw a couple come in, she didn't know them; the woman was in her thirties with strawberry-blond hair and the man in his forties with black hair with light strikes of grey.
- Hello, said Candy, what can I do for you?
- Hello said the woman, My name is Mellicent Candice Greenlee and this is my husband, Woodruff
- Hello he said, they call me Woody
Candy was looking at them; what did they want? She didn't understand.
- You're Candice White Andrew? Asked Mellicent
- Yes…Grandchester now, said Candy
- And this is your daughter?
- Yes, her name is Rosemary… say hi, honey…
- Hi, said Rosemary with a smile
- Hello, said the couple
- You want something to drink? Said Candy
- A cup of tea, would be nice said Mellicent
- For me too said Woody
The butler went to the kitchen and came back with the platter of a teapot, cups and sandwiches. While he was serving them, Mellicent started to talk.
- Mrs. Grandchester…
- Call me Candy, please
- Candy…I came to see you to tell you a story. A long time ago, when I was only a teenager, I found myself pregnant. I wanted to keep my baby, but my parents forced le to abandon it… I tried running away with her, but life was not easy for an unwed teenager with a child…So I complied to my parents wishes and went back to them, after abandoning my baby…I obeyed my parents and I married Woody, whom they had chosen for me…After a difficult beginning, I finally fell in love with my husband… and I told him that I've been a teenage mother only recently…
- I of course forgave her, and I suggested to look for this child… said Woody
- Our researches took us here; in your home…Candy…I think you're my daughter…
Candy had remained silent and she had her hand instinctively on her belly. Her baby was moving a lot. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.
- What? Said Candy
- Candice is my middle name. I gave you that name…I'm your mother…
- Oh my God! Cried Candy
They heard some noise at the door. The master of the house was back. Rosemary stood up and ran to him saying;
- Daddy!
- Rosy! Said Terry, how's my little girl?
- Fiinne! Said Rosemary laughing
Terry took her in his arms, kissed her and got into the living room and he was surprised to find visitors.
- Good evening, honey, he said smiling, we have visitors…
He saw his wife's upset expression…he got worried.
- Candy? Are you ok? The baby?
- No, honey, I'm fine said Candy
He went to sit next to her and kissed her on the cheek. He put Rosemary on the floor.
- Terry, this Mellicent and Woody Greenlee said Candy
- Hello, Terrence Grandchester, Candy's husband
- Hello, said the couple
- What's going on? Candy why are you so upset? Asked Terry
- Mellicent thinks I'm her daughter…
- Really ? Said Terry, are you sure?
- Yes, said Mellicent, Candice is my middle name, I gave it to my little girl…before I abandoned her in front of an orphanage
- You left her in front of which orphanage? Asked Terry
- The Pony house… there was another baby in front of the door.. said Mellicent…look, I'm not asking for anything, I just want to know my daughter…
Candy was crying, all those years, she had dreamed of her mother, she was wondering why she was abandoned… she blamed her mother for not having the courage to keep her…now she learned that the poor teenager had tried… but she still had to abandoned her.
- Do you remember the date? Asked Terry who wanted to be sure
- I will never forget that day… it was May 7th 1898…
- Oh my God! Cried Candy again curling up to Terry and then she burst into tears…
- Mommy? Said Rosemary frightened
- Mirna! Called Terry
A few moments later, a maid showed up in the living room.
- You called sir? Asked Mirna
- Take Rosemary to her bedroom please… Go honey, mommy is all right… said Terry to Rosemary to reassure her
- Ok, said Rosemary…
And she left the room with Mirna.
- I'm sorry said Mellicent, I didn't want to scare your daughter…
- No, said Candy who was calming herself, it's not your fault… mom…
Candy stood up and looked at Mellicent, and she felt very good looking at her.
- Mom…can I call you "mom"? Asked Candy uncertain and walking to her
Mellicent stood up and walked to Candy and they hugged, crying, the both of them.
- Candy, I'm asking you to forgive me, please, I wanted to keep you, I tried…I'm sorry, forgive-me please for abandoning you, my parents didn't want me to take care of you…
- Oh…all my life, I wanted a mother, I wanted to know why I was abandoned…why you didn't keep me, to suffer with you…Oh my God!
The two ladies continued catching up and being emotional, still hugging. The two men started to talk.
- Grandchester? Any relation to the duke? Asked Woody
- Yes… said Terry
- I met your father a lot of times in parties and receptions; you're the rebel son who's an actor in theatres?
- Yes, said Terry smiling, I think my father never got over it…
They burst out laughing. They continued talking. The two ladies had stopped crying and were now talking. Candy took her to Rosemary's room and introduced her to her grandmother. Rosemary was happy to have another granny who was going to spoil her.
- When is the other baby due? Asked Mellicent looking at her belly
- Very soon said Candy with a smile, you have other children?
- Yes, I have a boy Leo and a girl Whitney…they're 18 and 17 years old…
- Oh my God! I can't believe what's happening to me!
- We live in Chicago for the moment, we were in Australia said Mellicent
- I was living in Chicago before I got married, said Candy, I'm a doctor
- I know, and I have a niece who's a doctor too…
- Really? Who?
- Diana Trevor…
- What? You're Diana's aunt? Oh my God, Diana is my cousin!
- You know her?
- We were in med school together, we were roommates!
- Small world, said Mellicent smiling
- She always invited me in her family…oh…
- I was never there, I was in Australia with my husband
- I also know Bertrand Chandler…
- Really?
- I was at the Royal College of St. Paul with him…
- My sisters' children…. oh Candy! She said hugging her. Are you happy?
- I'm married to the man I love like crazy, I have a little girl and another baby on the way… You were the only thing missing to my happiness… Thank you so much for finding me!
Candy had a big party in honor of her reunion with her mother. Mellicent invited all her family and Candy invited all her friends and adopted family. Diana and Bertrand had arrived first and they still couldn't believe that Candy was their cousin!
- Diana said Candy hugging her
- Candy… AAAAHHHH! I'm your cousin!
- I know, said Candy, isn't that wonderful!
- Yes, said Bertrand, to think that I had my eye on you at one point…
- Really, Chandler? Said Terry, on my Candy….?
- You were not in the picture said Bertrand, she was free…
- You're lucky she only had Terry in her head…, said Diana
They burst out laughing. The party was full of joy and emotions. Candy was able to meet her brother and her sister. Mellicent's parents met Candy and they were sorry they had forced their daughter to abandon her. Candy with her big heart, forgave every body, she was so happy and nothing could spoil that.
Candy had one more reason to go to Chicago often; she went there to spend time with her mother. This last one went to the Pony house to thank them for doing such a good work in raising her daughter. And she thanked them with a monthly generous cheque. The Pony house, between Candy, Annie, Albert and Mellicent, were not missing anything anymore.
Candy had a baby girl that she named Kimberley. Then she had a boy, Andrew and another Richard. She and Terry were very happy. Anthony finally got over losing Candy and realized that Diana was very attractive. Annie had a boy and another girl and she couldn't stop working. Patricia had a little boy and she was expecting another one. Eliza never got married again, she continued to be a men eater. Albert and Neil, also had their little family. Albert made an ultimate effort not to travel while his children were little.
Candy had learned something in this entire story, that the heart has its reasons that the reason doesn't know; that the heart was in anatomy an involuntary muscle. In the figurative sense it was also an involuntary muscle, its desires and its wishes came from who knows where, and there was no way to control them, or even to get rid of them. She also learned that when her heart had told her "He's my desire…" she should've listened and followed it from the beginning. That would've saved her a lot of grief and heartache…But she finally listened to it, and she was happy as anyone could be, in her element… Better late, than never.