Book 1: 1982 Rose Arcana

Proposition

Candy stood there, stunned. The gentleman, who looked no older than 35, was impeccably dressed in a dark suit. Sister Lane cleared her throat a bit impatiently and Candy, befuddled and knowing what that signal meant, greeted, "Pleased to meet you Mr. Johnson, how do you do?" She held out her hand and they shook. He noticed that for such a young, tiny girl she had a strong, determined handshake. "I'm fine thank you. I would like to speak with you, Miss White." he replied. His voice was strong yet soft, almost gentle.

Candy looked over at her two mothers, unsure, but they both assented in agreement so Candy nodded in reply…her heart raced…what was this all about? It couldn't be an adoption, because the mommies and daddies came to adopt…or was this gentleman a bachelor and wanted to adopt her? No, she knew all too well that only married couples could adopt. "You may use my office…" Ms. Pony suggested. Candy felt reassured; this gentleman had already been cleared by Ms. Pony and Sister Lane…still, her mind swirled with confusion as they went into Ms. Pony's office and closed the door. He sat down, not behind the desk, but in one of the chairs facing the desk. Candy stood next to the other one and Mr. Johnson said with a kind smile, "Oh, please do sit down…I'm not that much of a stickler for formalities…"

Candy smiled back and put her hands in her lap, trying to look prim.

"I am sure you are wondering who am I and what am I doing here…" he started.

"Yes…I've already tried to figure it out, and it doesn't make any sense..." she murmured.

He took out a card and handed it to Candy, the print facing her. "This is who I am…and whom I represent…"

Candy took it and barely saw what was printed…what riveted her eyes was the logo on it! It was the same spread eagle from the pin she had found, so long ago.

George Johnson, Esq.

General Counsel

The Andrew Trust

Andrew Enterprises, Inc.

One Michigan Avenue

Chicago, Illinois

(312) 790-2908

Astounded, she looked over the business card, unable to utter a word. George continued, "I represent the Andrew family of Chicago…have you ever heard of them?"

Candy shook her head, still dazed.

"The Andrew Family, currently headed by William A. Andrew IV, owns many companies around the world, mostly in manufacturing, technology and services. They are privately owned by the Andrew Family; William Andrew is the majority shareholder. The Andrew's are a long time Chicago family and the headquarters is in downtown Chicago, on the Magnificent Mile…in the Andrew Tower…"

Candy felt as if the words spun around her and nothing made any sense still. The surname meant nothing…only the symbol…she wanted to ask so many questions about it but that would be rude and impolite; that much she knew.

George took her in, appreciating her frank innocence and recalling to mind someone who he had once been so very fond of…he had not been sure what to expect, but the girl in front of him was so charming and näive…still, he felt that he knew everything there was to know about this girl and that she still had no idea of who he was, whom he was representing or what all this meant to her. It was he who had done the investigations, drawn up the necessary legal papers and presented them to all legal and interested parties for review and signing.

"Mr. William Andrew wants to adopt you as his heir, Miss White." he explained plainly.

"But how? Where has he seen me? I don't even know him…does he know me? Why isn't he here?" Candy felt skeptical…was Ms. Pony sure she had talked to this gentleman?

"Mr. Andrew's position takes him away on frequent business trips…he travels most of the time, around the world. However, whenever he is in the Chicago area, he comes to church to St. Paul of the Lake. He has seen you there and observed you…your personality has won him over and he finds you so much like family that he wishes to adopt you…it is as simple as that, Miss White…"

"Is he married?"

"Not at present…"

"Then how can he adopt me?" Candy was astounded.

"He can legally adopt you, regardless of his status…it is the environment that the state of Illinois wants to ensure is a family environment…therefore, he wants you to live with the family of his sister, Sarah…she has two children about your age, Eliza and Neil. You would be well received into this family and it will provide you with a home atmosphere…"

"When would I meet Mr. Andrew?"

"I promise, you will…but right now, that is not possible…"

Candy wasn't sure about the whole enterprise…this was too strange…why would she accept to become this man's, William Andrew, daughter, sight unseen? And he was some sort of singleton, traveling who to knows where all the time and she would live with his sister's family? What was the point here? To be family was to live together, to experience life's joy's and sadness together…to create memories and bonds…what was the use of having an adopted father if he was going to be absent?

She looked at the card again and her heart raced…that symbol…exactly the same one that was on the pin that boy had dropped so many years ago…was that boy a member of this family?

"Excuse me, may I ask a question, Mr. Johnson?" Candy just had to know.

"You may call me George…"

"George…tell me, what is this symbol on the card?"

"That symbol was once a part the coat of arms of the Andrew family….they were once English nobility, a few generations ago…they have the right to bear it…" he detailed, secretly curious as to why the girl had fixated on it.

"Does any body else use it?"

"No…not that I know of…only the Andrew family of Chicago…"

"Are there any blonde haired, blue eyed boys in the family?" she asked.

George looked at her quizzically, "Why, yes…there is...but why…"

Candy had no doubt then…this was a dream come true! Maybe this boy could become a cousin or an older brother of sorts!

"I will gratefully accept to become Mr. Andrew's daughter!" she cried, before George could finish. She still had so many questions, but if that nice boy was a member of that family…that was enough for her!


Candy lay in her bed, for the very last time. Mr. Johnson said he would come for her the next day, so that she would have enough time to collect her few personal belongings and more importantly, to say goodbye to the home she had known for the last 15 years. The other children were long asleep; their collective breaths going softly sweet, most of them too young to really realize what was going to happen…earlier, they were happy to see the cake and the happy bunting in Candy's honor…the older ones had shouted "God bless you Candy!" while Sister Lane had hurriedly wiped a tear with a back of her hand. Candy was happy too, but the reality of what she was about to embark on was starting to sink in.

In the darkened space, she looked around; the simple yet cozy room she had slept in since she was a baby. She knew from attending school once that she did not have the latest toys and things other children had…the recently acquired group TV was black and white, her small AM radio where she could barely get the Chicago radio stations was a Christmas gift, but secondhand. She never had any Barbies to play with, and her few Christmas gifts were hand made mementoes such as bookmarkers or small, cherished antique pieces from Ms. Pony. Yet there was nothing more dearer to her in the entire world…she already knew she would miss her Hill and Tree, for when she went to watch the sunset and feed the squirrels that knew her she felt a pain in her heart. She would miss the tantalizing scents coming from Ms. Pony's kitchen during holiday mornings, delicious aromas of cakes, cookies, pies and roasting turkeys that the Stevens always sent for their holiday dinners.

She heard the door to the room open and heard the familiar steps come in and sit by her.

"Ms. Pony?" Candy asked her voice hushed.

"I just came to check on you, for one last time…"

Candy's eyes welled with tears, hearing the feeling in her voice.

"Oh, child…please don't…it is a happy day for you…" Ms. Pony replied, feeling Candy's sentiment in the dark, her voice almost cracking.

"Ms. Pony…now I'm not so sure…"

"Oh, of course you are sure, Candice…I know of the Andrew family, you will be very well taken in, Sister Lane and I have no doubt…you are very lucky…" Ms. Pony patted her hand.

"You…you know them?"

"Well Candice, as you know, I'm originally from Chicago…I know of the Andrew clan…you have nothing to worry about…the patriarch that I once knew of had a great, generous heart and philanthropy was his second name…I am sure this adoption is yet another gesture of the classic Andrew kindness…you will be just fine…" Ms. Pony reassured her.

Candy leaned herself into the woman's warm bosom.

"Still…Ms. Pony…I…"

"I know, Candice...this has been your home for so many years…this has been your home and it will always be…there was never a child more loved, Candy…I will miss you terribly…just keep us always near to you in your heart, for we will always be there for you…" Ms. Pony embraced the girl and gave her a warm hug.

Candy held back a sniffle. "I will…"she replied.

Ms. Pony maternally cupped her chin. "Now listen, Candice…this time you are truly going out into the world…you once had a glimpse of it when you went to school and when we go to church at St. Peter's of the Lake…but this time, you will go out into the world by yourself…I hope what Lane and I have taught you will carry you far and wide…there are many people in the Lord's garden, Candice…good and bad…and you will meet both, for that is the nature of humanity…but either good or bad, they all teach us something about ourselves…and remember this, Candice, and remember it well…no one can make you feel inferior without your consent…that is what a great lady1 once told me, and it is a great truth…"

"Yes, Ms. Pony…" Candy promised.

She then saw Ms. Pony take off her cross and lovingly put it on her.

"When I decided to become Ms. Pony, taking a personal vow to devote myself to the children who would need me, I decided that this cross, which once belonged to my beloved grandmother, would be one of the symbols I used, much like we know Lane is member of her order by the habit she uses. But I want you to have this now, child, so that you find in it the same inspiration I did…it has given me strength when I needed it, comfort when I sought it, light when I felt a little lost…remember you are a child of God, first and foremost Candice, and that you have a gift…let this remind you of that gift when you wonder what your purpose in life is…"

Candy couldn't say anything…Ms. Pony's cross! It was a heavy gold cross, hung from and equally rich woven gold rope, with cabochon emeralds on each tip and a larger one in the center. There was a natural fissure in the larger one that if you looked closely enough, it looked like the profile of the Madonna holding the Baby Jesus.

"Oh, Ms. Pony…I couldn't possibly take your cross…" Candy gasped.

"Please, take it…you would be its most deserving bearer…" she smiled.

Candy hugged her and they held each other for a very long time. No matter what, Candy thought, this was her true mother.


The morning air had carried a hint of warmth; as the approaching summer was announcing itself. Candy had gone out one last time to watch the sunrise on Pony's Hill. She had reveled, almost transfixed, at seeing the pulsing sphere make its way up from the horizon. She was happy, for she knew today was the first day of her new life. When she had taken her fill of the sun in, she returned to Pony's Home, to have her last breakfast there and await the arrival of George Johnson. She hummed cheerily as she came in, and saw the upbeat visage of Sister Lane smile at her, from the back door of the Home.

"Good Morning, Candice was it a good sunrise?" she asked, knowing that Candy had gone to the Hill.

"Yes, Sister Lane…" Candy replied, as the nun touched her face and smoothed her hair.

"Very metaphoric, indeed…" the nun murmured, "You have grown up so much...I know that sounds like something you read in a novel, but it is true…you were just a little bitty bundle, not long ago…and now…" she admired, her voice almost faltering…Candy was surprised…Sister Lane was always so stalwart and practical…but the nun continued, "I am very happy for you Candice, I have a feeling you will surpass anything Pony or I or even yourself have envisioned…"

Candy smiled sheepishly. "Oh Sister Lane, truth is I'm not sure I can even say how I have thought of myself or what I'm do to…". They started to walk into the kitchen, and Candy could smell Miss Pony's bacon crackling and the pancakes being stacked.

"You are leaving us at a very interesting time, Candy…you are on the brink of becoming a woman…but now you will truly go into the world…and you will discover many things about yourself…" she said, stopping and taking Candy by the shoulders. Candy's eyes looked at her, and Sister Lane smiled gently. "Oh, don't worry Candy…it is just my way of saying that you will experience many new things from this day forth…just remember who you are, what you believe in…only by living, can you experience, can you grow as a person…be open to the experiences Candy, the good and the bad…and remember, this small piece of the world is always your place in case you need of it…"

"Thank you…" Candy answered while Miss Pony called, "Lane! Candice! Breakfast!"


It had been a somewhat pedestrian goodbye, all parties involved did not want to make it too dramatic or upsetting. Candy had settled in the back seat of the Mercedes Benz George had come and picked her up in, all her possessions had fit into a new piece of Louis Vuitton luggage he had brought for her. She was wearing her Sunday best, a bone white linen dress with a drop waist with same color Mary Janes and crocheted white gloves…it had been second hand, but no one could tell unless Candy told them. She proudly wore Ms. Pony's crucifix and her cascading hair in a half knot…she had been surprised to see how grown up she looked. If George had noticed, he had not said anything. In fact, he had complimented, "You look very fine, Miss Candy…"

As the car left the premises, George became abuzz with conversation. "As you know Miss Candy, we will be leaving the town of Lake Forest and head inland towards the Village of Lakewood…The Andrew family usually keeps residence in downtown Chicago, but tend to spend the summers in Lakewood, as it has been for the last few generations…"

"Why do they spend the summers there?" Candy asked, curious.

"Chicago can get pretty warm in the summer…" George said, although the truth was more like Chicago in the summer was almost unbearable. "And since Lakewood is on the shores of Crystal Lake and it is less populated, the summer is much more agreeable…people do the same thing in New York City, they leave for the Hamptons during the summer…"

"Oh, I see…" Candy knew she was going to have to become familiar with a great many things, very soon.

As I explained to you, since Mr. William Andrew cannot quite live with you yet, you will be living with the family of his sister, Sarah. Her married name is Leegan, her husband's name is Addison. She has twins, Eliza and Neil, both aged 15. They go to private school in Chicago but spend the summers in Lakewood. Addison Leegan is the CEO for Andrew Heavy Industries, one of the many companies the Andrew Family owns and runs under the main Andrew Corporation umbrella, and…" he stopped when he saw Candy's quizzical stare.

"Don't worry, soon you will become familiar with all the intricacies of the Andrew Family and Businesses…" he assured her, knowing that the girl's head must have spun with what was effortless day to day with him, but wholly unfamiliar to her.

"What does Mrs. Leegan do…does she work?" Candy asked.

George barely stifled a laugh. "Work?"

"Yes…work…I mean, just because you have money doesn't mean you don't have to work…if it's something you like to do and are good at it…" Candy noted.

George smiled. "That is absolutely right, Miss Candy…but in this case, Mrs. Leegan has never worked…she is however, Chicago's most prolific hostess and she has had many a fund raiser for the Andrew Charitable Trust…"

"Oh, okay…" Candy didn't know what else to say. She looked outside and saw they were on a freeway, headed west.

"Are there any other family members?' Candy inquired, wondering if that boy with a kilt was going to be around to help her out.

"Yes, but they are not in Lakewood yet…don't worry, Mrs. Leegan will make sure you meet them…there will be a coming out party for you in a few weeks…"

"A coming out party?" Candy gasped.

"Why yes…as a new member of the family and as Mr. Andrew's legal heir, it is not only recommended, it will be expected…"

"But I …" Candy stuttered.

"I assure you, it will be alright…" George's eyes were kind. Candy realized the sound of his voice was both soothing and authoritative at the same time.

"Will Mr. Andrew be there?" Candy asked.

"He is working on it…I cannot commit, at this time however…but I do guarantee a good party…" he slightly winked. Candy felt reassured. Shortly, the Mercedes got off the freeway and entered a wooded looking area. Soon, the Mercedes turned into a road, came up to a gate that the driver opened with a switch inside the car, and Candy soon saw the biggest house she had ever seen in her life.

"Oh….wow…" she murmured, awed.

"This is the Leegan Residence…" George explained. "It is one of the few Andrew homes in the area, and it was built even before the Village of Lakewood was incorporated in 1933…it was built in the 1890's…"

"It's beautiful!" Candy mouthed…she wasn't sure what the style was; she later would come to know that it was Georgian Revival.

The car stopped and the driver came around and opened the door. Candy got out, looking up and around, her mouth open, excited and almost overcome with the spectacular scene. Everything was on a grand scale…the house, the landscaping, the statuary….

"Oh, George, this is…" she started, when she felt as if she had been drenched.

"OH! I'm SO sorry! I didn't realize you had arrived, George Johnson!" a voice said. "I was just emptying my rose vases' old water…." Candy looked up towards where the voice was coming from. There, from the second floor window, was a girl about her age. She was looking down at Candy with the most imperious gaze she had ever seen on anybody, her hazel eyes almost trying to make her feel substandard. She had auburn colored hair almost as curly as Candy's, except hers was more curlicued and wanted to hang in heavy ringlets. She had a very pretty face and a patrician nose by which she was looking down at Candy.

"Miss Candy, are you alright?" George asked horrified; then, "Miss Eliza, this is most unfortunate..." his voice carried tinge of discontent.

"Oh, George, you are the biggest worry wart on the planet! I'll tell Mother you're here with the Foster Child…" before George could say anything, she was gone. Candy noticed she had not even bothered to say sorry, ask if she was alright or to say she was at least sending down a towel for her to dry off.

George had taken his suit jacket off and apologized profusely. "I'm so sorry, Miss Candy, Miss Eliza didn't mean it…"

Candy was too dumbstruck to say anything but manage to reply politely, "It's alright, George…"

A servant came to take her bag and George escorted her up the marble steps into the large entry hall. Despite feeling like a wet cat, Candy's awe at the home continued once inside. Everything she was seeing was reeking of wealth, elegance and gentility…she had only seen houses like these in books about the English aristocracy.

"Well, there what have we here?" a polite male voice said. Candy turned around and saw a man in his early forties. From the way he was dressed and carried himself, he was surely the man of the house. His eyes were kind towards Candy. "Miss Andrew…I'm Addison Leegan…welcome…" he said, extending his hand out.

Candy took it and reciprocated the greeting. "Pleased to meet your, Mr. Leegan…thank you for receiving me in your home…"

"Am I missing something, or are you wet?" he asked, curiously "George?"

"I'm afraid Miss Eliza didn't see Miss Candy when she decided to dump the water from her vase out…" George said. Candy thought he didn't sound very pleased.

"Oh, my little girl has a peculiar sense of humour…you may want to go change, Miss Andrew, my wife will be besides herself if she meets you thus…"

"But…" Candy blurted…this was her Sunday Best! It was her best outfit!

"Miss Andrew has not yet acquired clothes that befit her position…" George interjected. Candy almost sighed with relief…the man was sharp!

"I'm not that soaked…" Candy piped, sounding cheery.

"Oh! Well, go in the powder room and dry yourself off…then we will go into the salon, the family is waiting to meet you…" Addison motioned to Candy.

"I will be going then…" George announced.

"Going?" Candy asked…wasn't he going to stay?

"Yes, I have to go now, I have business to tend on behalf of Mr. Andrew…everything will be fine…the Leegans will make sure you have everything you need…you know where to contact me, if you have to…" George said, as he bade goodbye. "I will see you soon…"

"Thank you, George…" Candy wanted to hug him, but somehow felt it would be awkward and possibly inappropriate. She went into the powder room and soaked up the wetness with a towel. She came out and found Addison Leegan waiting for her. He proffered his crooked arm to her and said, "Very well! Let's go meet my wife and children…" they walked down the hall, Candy trying not too ogle too much at the décor and when they came into a wonderful drawing room. Classical music softly played, and there was a fire lit in the fireplace. Candy now saw for the first time the members of her new family.

"Sarah, Eliza, Neil…this is Candice White Andrew, William's adopted daughter. As you know, she will be living with us from this day on…"

Candy gave her broadest smile and said very eagerly, "I'm so glad to meet all of you!" Her exuberance was quickly cut off upon the stony looks the threesome were giving her.

Eliza, of course, she had already met somewhat; Neil, her brother, similar in facial features and physical characteristics seemed to be looking at her with a mixture of disdain and fascination…but the gaze coming from the lady of the house, the sister of the man who adopted her, was cold enough to freeze fire on the spot. She was beautiful, with rich caramel colored hair, doe colored and shaped eyes. She was gracefully thin, refined and impeccably dressed in cashmere with a string of pearls around her neck and had fine gold accessories on her wrists and ears. She also wore what must have been the biggest diamond Candy could fathom ever seeing in her entire life on her left ring finger. The two looked at each other, Candy feeling with every passing second that this woman was carefully inspecting every single inch of her and forming the inevitable judgement that Candy didn't measure up to her exacting standard.

"Well! I must say William has really done it this time!" she finally said.

"Eww, Mother, look at that old linen dress she's wearing…she's so…so…hick!" Eliza wrinkled her nose. "She smells funny too, like cheap drugstore soap…"

Candy felt awful…cheap drugstore soap? Hick?

"Now Eliza, be nice…" Addison Leegan said.

"She's so 847(2)…" Neil sneered. "And she looks like a fish out of water…"

The siblings laughed, but Addison cleared his throat. He exchanged a displeased glance with his wife, who slightly sighed and said, "Well, Candice White, my brother William has thought that you should be here with us instead of with him, so I might as well show you to your room…." Sarah Leegan got up and walked past Candy, who was still stunned at the reception she was getting…maybe rich people do act differently, she thought for a moment, and at the same time promising herself that she would be darned if she was going to allow herself to become that way.


Candy had followed Mrs. Leegan quietly, still taking the entire events of the last hour in. She had never been challenged so hostilely in her life and she was a bit amiss at what to do. She felt if she kept quiet and was pleasant, things would wash over…for all she knew Mrs. Leegan was just in a rare bad mood and her children were too…everyone had bad moods, she herself knew that. Mr. Leegan had been nice and welcoming, so it couldn't be that bad. Still, the fact that the lady had not said one word since she told her to follow her, somewhat unsettled Candy. They came up the grand staircase which had a huge stained glass window with a style Candy would know later as the Beaux Art style with a large peacock and purple wisteria. She stopped momentarily to admire it, for the sun was shining through it and the colored glass gave off wonderful rich jewelled hues that slivered down into the hall.

"It is impolite to make people wait, Candice White…haven't they taught you anything? Mrs. Leegan barked from the top the landing of the second floor.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Leegan…it's just that…it is so beautiful…" she admired the window and its effects, smiling pleasantly.

"It's just an old Tiffany window, like many that were created by Louis Comfort Tiffany…" Mrs. Leegan brushed off.

Candy wondered at what point people got jaded and forgot to see beauty in small things, even if they were everyday…she vowed to herself she wouldn't, because if she did, there would probably be a great many things she wouldn't like about herself at that point.

"I should have had Dorothy show you up, since this is a complete waste of my time…" she huffed as Candy joined her.

"Dorothy?" Candy repeated.

"Yes, Dorothy the maid…she's more your speed…I'm assigning her to you…" Mrs. Leegan announced, then they arrived at the bedroom door. "This will be your room. I don't expect you to know much of anything, so we need to make sure you catch up, and catch up quick…we can't possibly have you making a fool of yourself in public…"

Candy had almost not heard the last part, because she was so delighted with her room.

"Oh, it's marvelous!" she gushed. It was nicely done in soft pastel greens, a canopy bed and nice furnishings. She wasn't sure what to call Mrs. Leegan so she asked, "I'm sorry, how should I call you…Aunt Sarah?" she ventured.

"You shall call me Mrs. Leegan, I am not your Aunt…" she retorted. "I'm sending Dorothy up to deal with you…"

Candy was astounded…if she was Willam Andrew's sister, and Candy was William's adopted daughter, why was calling her Aunt Sarah inappropriate? Wasn't that the relationship? Still…maybe she had a thing about being calling Aunt…she did look pretty young to be the mother of a couple of teenagers. She saw she was motioning to leave, when suddenly she realized something. "Mrs. Leegan, I apologize for asking…George Johnson mentioned something about getting new clothes?" Candy sheepishly asked.

"Right…new clothes…most definitely, that old hand me down simply won't do. I'll arrange for you and Eliza to go into Chicago tomorrow and do some shopping…" she said, her face almost curdling.

But Candy saw none of this…shopping? She had never thought she would get to go! "Oh, thank you Aunt Sa…I mean Mrs. Leegan…" she made a move to thank her more personally but the woman left and closed the door behind her.

"Oh! Well…" Candy said to herself, then turning around to admire the room again. Her new satchel was in there and she went to open it. She put her antique keepsake box next on the end table next to her bed. She looked around again before letting herself collapse on the soft bed with the canopy, feeling the soft cotton cocoon her. She sighed contented…despite everything, she felt as if she was the luckiest girl in the world.


Sarah Leegan was pacing impatiently in her sitting room that adjoined her master bedroom. She had been in a foul mood since the day she was told that her brother had adopted an orphan. This was much to her puzzlement and most certainly done to annoy her, she was sure of; but now that she had seen the girl, she was livid. The girl resembled the family member she had been the most envious of, in every which way. She felt as if a ghost had come back to taunt her.

"I will not have it Addison, I will not have this orphan fostered in my house…!" Sarah stammered, feeling her vein pulse in anger at her temples.

"Sarah…she is no longer an orphan, William's adopted her…" Addison had the patience of Job with his wife, he realized. Their marriage had long been dead but they managed to get along for the sake of the children. He buried himself in work and business travel and she buried herself in her active social life in Chicago and in her children, funneling all her pent up desires and energies into them…it was no surprise that the children were spoiled rotten.

"She is not of Andrew flesh and blood, and therefore I will not take her in...that half wit I call brother, even though he is really anything but, what on Earth has gotten into him?…I've never really seen him in the last 15 years, he's always off goofing off, galavanting around God knows where like his parents did, acting irresponsbily, leaving dear Auntie Elroy to really give face for him…first Rosemary babied him and now Auntie seemingly just really left him to his own devices!"

"Sarah, please…you know as well I do that he is the head of the family, the majority shareholder and that he is the figurehead of the Andrew's…and he's not irresponsible…I find his gesture quite commendable…" Addison knew his position wasn't going to be heard.

Sarah shot him an icy glance. It summed up their differences of opinion and outlook.

"HUMPH! Well if he really wants to be the head of the family and go adopting snotty nosed kids with dubious pedigrees, then he should show up and take charge of his responsibilities and stop foistering them on me…and if he's feeling charitable and wants to make a true lady his heir, all he had to do was to look at our darling Eliza!"

Addison Leegan sighed…there was no use talking to his wife when she was in this state. He was worried that he would be leaving on a business trip soon, and that the unsuspecting Candice White Andrew was going to be fed to the wolves…when he was around, he was sure Sarah and the children would be curtailed…but when he was not….

Sarah dismissed him from her sitting room with a huff, and as Addison walked away knew his wife was going to be anything but nice…she would feign it for a while, but then everything would come to a head.

"William needs to know this…" he murmured, making a note in his mind to write a letter to the enigmatic William Andrew, whom he himself had never really met. "I can't believe he was so naïve in thinking that Sarah would take an orphan in and treat her like family…she's never once in her life shown that level of compassion…he truly is out of touch…" he sighed. "And Sarah is right, in a way…if he wants to go around adopting children, he better show up and be a father instead of relying on others to do his duty…"


Chapter Footnotes:

1 Eleanor Roosevelt

2 This happens to be the telephone area code of the City Candy used to live in. In the Chicago area, you want to be a 312, otherwise, you are considered a "hick"…a person from the suburbs, backwater, call it what you will… ;)


Time after Time, a fanfic by CC Lady Gato (Ana Luisa Aldana). Copyright 2004-2006 CC Lady Gato and Candy Candy Nation. Candy Candy characters copyright Mizuki and Igarishi, worldwide. Fiction for entertainment purposes only, including the use of non fictional persons and places.Any song lyrics used copyright to their composers and musicians.