CHAPTER 4

Candy opened the door and found Neil with a big bunch of flowers.

"Hi Candy, Happy to see me?" he asked pushing her to come in.

"Not really" answered Candy coldly "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you. I came earlier but you were not here. Where were you? I know you were not in that stupid little hut you call a clinic" he said with his usual spoiled child tone.

"It is not a hut, it is a clinic with a very good doctor. And do not forget that it is because of you if I am working there now" she yelled.

"You did not answer my question, where were you?"

"It is none of your business, why don't you go back where you came from, I have nothing to tell you!"

"Really, but I do. Candy I love you! I cannot get you out of my head and I promise that I will marry you whether you want it or not" he said coming closer to her.

She stepped backward with disgust.

"As long as I am alive, I won't marry you, Neil. Get that into your little empty head" she shouted.

"Come on Candy, I am sure you have some feelings for me. Don't tell me that you still think about that loser of Terry"

"I do not love you Neil, I hate you! And for the last time I want you to leave now!" She did not know how to get rid of him.

Suddenly he took her violently by the arms, trying to kiss her, he put his lips on hers with no tenderness at all. She gave him a kick in the knees and managed to escape. She was furious. She took the flowers and hit him with it.

"Go away!" she said.

"OK, OK I'm leaving. But do not think you have got rid of me Candy. I will marry you sooner or later" he said with a mocking tone.

They heard a knock on the door.

"Well it seems you have many visitors tonight" he said and he went to open the door before she could move.

"What the hell are you doing here?" said a very recognisable voice.

"Grandchester, what are YOU doing here, didn't you disappear, Mr Ex-Broadway Star?" Neil asked.

"I am going to shut your big mouth" Terry raised a fist.

"Terry, please don't! " said Candy running to them.

"Candy, you are protecting me or this loser" asked Neil.

"Do not call me loser or.."

"Stop!" shouted Candy "Neil you should leave now" she added.

"What and leave my fiancée alone with that second-rater? No way!" He said venomous.

"Fiancée? Candy what does this mean?" asked Terry. His blood was boiling and he wasn't sure of anything at that point.

On her side, Candy was horrified by the confrontation between the two men. She did not expect the visit of either one of them. But she was more surprised by Terry's visit than by Neil's. What was Terry doing here? Wasn't he suppose to go back to New York? Her heart had skipped a beat when she had heard his voice.

"Oh, she did not tell you? While you were doing the playboy Act with Suzanne Marlowe and pretending to be a Broadway star, Candy and I got engaged. The wedding will be in one month" said Neil before Candy could pronounce a word.

"I can't believe it… Candy?" Terry feverishly asked Candy.

"Neil, why are you lying? I will never, never you hear me, marry you and now go away!" she said crying and shouting at the same time.

"Candy, do not say that, you know this the will of our family and you will have to face your duty sooner or later"

"Dirty little coward, you'd better leave now because I do not think I will hold myself for long anymore..." said Terry with a mad light in HIS eyes.

"OK, I go. Bye darling" he said with a wink to Candy.

It was more than what Terry could stand, he took Neil by the shirt, opened the door, threw him out and violently shut the door.

"Now Candy, I am waiting for your explanations " he said still angry. The hint of jealousy was driving him crazy.

Candy 's face turned pale. Did Terry believe in all Neil's lies?

"What do you mean? Don't tell me you believe him? "she defended herself.

"Well, when I saw you earlier you did not mention your wedding at all and now I found you alone in your apartment with him and he said you are engaged. What should I think?" He asked aggressively.

Candy could not believe what she was hearing. Since she had found him again today, he kept on getting her either angry or crazy of hope and of love.

"I see that you still have the bad temper you had in college. You are reacting as a teen. I thought you knew me better than that. Why are you playing the jealous boyfriend? Do not forget that you are also engaged to another woman" she said a little dryly.

Terry kept a motionless face. He came closer to her and took her in his embrace. He looked at her deeply into the eyes and said, "You are right Candy. Forgive me. I get angry just to think this guy could put a hand on you. It seems I keep on apologizing to you today" he said changing HIS tone.

"Yes and you keep on getting me angry and shouting, like in college" she said with a smile. "Tell me what are you doing here?" she asked curious.

"After you left I went back to see my mother. We had a talk and decided to take the next train to New York the same day. She proposed to help me to get my career back on track but I refused. I want to manage on my own. Anyway, she went to buy the ticket for the train while I packed my stuff and we took the seven o'clock train. The train had a stop in Chicago and I thought about you very hard. I wanted to see you so much that it hurt. Everything had happened fast, I still had the impression it was a dream, it was probably the effect of alcohol. I wanted to see you again now that I have completely sobered up and make sure it was not a dream. My mum who knows me better than I thought told me to make a stop here to see you and to catch tomorrow's train. And here I am. When I knocked on the door I did not expect that dirty snake to open the door. I have not forgotten that we got separated in college because of him and his sister"

He held her tighter and bent his head to her. When their lips met, Candy felt her legs trembling. This kiss was deeper and sweeter than ever. She could feel Terry's passion and love for her and she responded to him with fever. They finally stopped breathless and a bit dizzy.

"So now tell me. What's going on with Neil?" asked Terry.

"He is after me since a few weeks now. He thinks he is in love with me and wants to marry me. I am his new whim. He even managed to get me fired from St Johanna's hospital. But I have found another job. I am sure he will forget about me as soon as a good looking little skirt will show interest for him" She said joking.

"The bastard, I should have put my fist into his face to erase his bumptious smile before throwing him out" he yelled.

Candy sighed. "Please Terry, let's forget about him. I have so many more important things to tell you" she said to change the subject.

"Yes, my little freckles, me too" he said tenderly.

He took her in his arms and went into her room.

"Terry, what are you doing?" asked Candy shocked.

"Candy, you are still so prudish! Don't worry, I don't want to offend your virtue" He said laughing " I just want to make us comfortable and feel you in my arms as I have been dying for all those months" he said with his low velvet voice.

Candy blushed. Spend all night in Terry's arms? It was more than she ever dreamt of.

He put her on her bed and lain behind her one arm under her head the other one holding her hand around her waist. His head close to her ear. He was feeling so good. He had found his true place, with Candy.

They talked for a while and finally fell asleep.

When Candy woke up that morning she found the flat empty. Terry had gone. She felt her lips on hers while sleeping but she thought she was dreaming.

She found a note on the pillow next to her. It was still smelling his scent.

My lovely freckles,

I am sorry I left without saying good-bye. But I would not have been able to leave at all if you had been awake. I do not want to say good-bye anymore. As promised, I will sort everything out and let you know as soon as you can join me in New York, this time for good. I will write you soon and do not forget

I LOVE YOU

Terry

Candy put the letter on her heart "Terry" She whispered looking at the clock

"Oh my god it is already 9 o'clock, I need to get ready to go to work" and she rushed to the bathroom.