Candy stared at Mr Hathaway like if he was an alien. Mr Hathaway was the one who arranged that kidnapping on Terry's request. She would have never guess he was able to do such a thing. But she didn't know much about him; she had never even been introduced to him. Robert Hathaway noticed Candy's astonished face and explained:
"Terry came to see me three days ago. It was so early in the morning that he woke me up. He explained me the situation about, you, Suzanne and his disappearance. He was facing a great dilemma. He was torn between the will to help you and the Othello's audition that took place today. Both were very important for his future life and he could not find a solution so he came to ask for my advice. I knew Terry wasn't happy with Suzanne and that he was with her only by duty thinking he owed her something. After "Romeo and Juliet's premiere he was not himself anymore and when he finally left the company I was really disappointed that he wasted his talent and his life. I feel a bit like I am his godfather. I have known his mother for a very long time and I immediately recognised his talent although at that time I did not know who is mother was" Robert Hathaway made a pause and took Candy's hand.
"When he came and explained me everything, I realised that you were what he needed to be happy and in peace with himself. So I assured him that I would take care of everything and that he should only focus on the audition to get the role"
Candy was carefully listening to each single word he was saying. Each word was filling her heart with love for Terry. He had put his pride aside and asked for help only to be with her. Oh Terry, she thought, I love you so much.
Robert started to talk again seeing the wonder in her eyes.
"The two guys who have kidnapped you are actors from the troupe. They owed me a favour and had accepted to play these bad guys roles."
"They are very good actors indeed" said Candy with a trembling voice just to think back about what happened.
"Yes they are, my only concern was that they would not be caught by the police until they bring you here. But everything went fine" smiled Robert with satisfaction. He was happy to have played the Samaritan's role in this love story.
"I am glad it was not a real kidnapping though. Tell me, when will I see Terry? " asked Candy with a little voice
"Oh of course, whatever am I thinking off?" He said laughing, "Do not worry, he will be joining us shortly, he had something to fix at the theatre but I am sure he is as impatient as you."
The maid interrupted him.
"The diner is ready" she said with a little bow.
"Thank you Mary, we will be there in a minute"
"I wanted to tell you that you look ravishing in that dress. I wish I could let you believe I chose it but the truth is that Terry had bought it especially for you" he added
Candy caressed the dress with the back of her hand. It was so nice of Terry, she had never ever dream Terry would buy a dress for her one day. Life was so beautiful since an hour.
They were about to enter the dining room when they heard the doorbell. Candy looked at Mr Hathaway with hope in the eyes. Robert covered the hand she had on his arm with his and only smiled.
They turned to the door and Terry appeared behind the maid.
"Terry" she said with tears of joy in the voice.
Candy left Mr Hathaway and ran to him. He welcomed her closing his arms around her and giving her a sweet kiss on the forehead. Candy was shaking of happiness. She was evacuating all the tension and the fear of the day and was crying of joy. She was in Terry's arms again and nothing else matters.
Terry looked at her and caressed her cheek lightly with his thumb then he wiped her tears and smiled.
"Freckles, I am so happy you are here. I have been thinking about you all day, I was really worried when I received the telegram from Annie and I was scared Robert's plan would failed" He held her tighter to console her. He never wanted to let her go again.
Candy raised her head to look at him. He was so handsome and he loved her, Candy.
"Oh it didn't fail. I have spent the most scary day of my life" she faked to reproach him
"I am sorry, this is the only way Robert and I have thought about. Taking you away by force from your family was the only way to get you here. They would have never let you go without that" he said feeling a bit guilty.
"You are right but I would have prefer to know the truth right from the beginning. I would have been more cooperative" she continued
"Well the guys didn't know the reason why I asked them to kidnap you. I apologise for this. This is my fault not Terry's" said Robert Hathaway.
Candy smiled "Well let's forget about it. It worked and I am here with you now. Nobody will force me to marry my horrible cousin anymore" she was still holding Terry's waist and could feel the warmth of his body against hers and she was savouring each seconds of this sensation.
"Candy, today was the audition for Othello and I got the main role" Terry announced with fiery and happiness.
"This is wonderful, Terry. I am so proud of you, I knew when I saw you in Rockstone that your true talent wasn't gone"
"You gave me the will to keep going Candy. Today is the best day of my life, you are here, I got this role and…"
He put a knee down and took Candy's hand diving his blue eyes into hers
"Candy, after such a long time I am asking you in front of witnesses, would you do me the honour to be my wife?" he asked
"Terry, I…" She was about to answer "yes" when she suddenly remembered Suzanne " What about Suzanne ?" She asked afraid of the answer
"Forgive me I forgot to tell you. Suzanne and I have broken our engagement. She let me go with relief as she is in love with another actor. She wished us good luck and you will have the occasion to see her as she also got the main woman role in the play… so your answer is ?"
"hum, I am not sure really" she started teasing him "you have such a bad temper, you kidnapped me, you are always laughing at my freckles and my nose and you even call me Miss Tarzan sometimes"
"Candy!" exclaimed Terry
Robert was watching this amusing scene and could really feel those two were made for one another
"Yes, yes, yes, thousand times yes.." Candy finally shouted
He rose again and this time took her lips in a passionate kiss without bothering that Robert and the maid were watching them.
Once the separated, they couldn't let there eyes go of each other
"hum, hum, Congratulations my children. I am delighted for you"
"Thank you Robert, you have been of great help" said Terry while shaking his hands.
"It was my pleasure. Shall we go for diner" he asked
He hadn't finished his sentence that the doorbell rang again.
Robert Hathaway put one eyebrow upward. He wasn't expecting anybody else tonight.
The maid opened the door for the third time in the evening and to everybody's surprise, Albert appeared.
"Albert" cried Candy running to hug him "What are you doing here? I can not believe you have managed to find me here"
"Candy, thanks god you're here and safe, I was so worried" Albert exclaimed taking her in his embrace. He was so relieved. His little Candy was safe and the weight he had on his breath had gone.
Terry had a strange feeling. The hint of jealousy was making him unhappy all of a sudden. He made a big effort to smile and went to welcome Albert.
"Albert, what a surprise? What are you doing here? Candy told me you had suddenly disappeared" he declared
Albert turned to Terry and to Robert Hathaway keeping an arm around Candy's shoulders. Terry was boiling inside.
"Mr Hathaway, let me introduce you to my best friend and my guardian angel, Albert" said Candy
"Albert ? Nice to meet you" said Robert carefully
Candy wasn't noticing the tension between the men as she was on a cloud since she had accepted to marry Terry.
"So Albert, tell us. How did you find me?" She asked
"I learned by Annie and Archie that you had been kidnapped. Annie mentioned your encounter with Terry at Rockstone and I decided to come to New York to see if he had some news about you. I arrived one hour ago and went straight to the theatre where I met your ex-fiancée Terry." Said Albert staring at Terry. "She told me that I would find you here and gave me the address, so here I am"
" You are a real detective, Albert, you should think about recycle yourself" said Terry with a mocking tone dictated by the jealousy. He couldn't let his eyes go off Albert's possessive arm around Candy's shoulders.
"Yes but what I do not know is how and why you ended up organising all this masquerade. Because I suppose you organised it didn't you" asked Albert. He was a bit angry with Terry for all the worry he had supported since 2 days. On the other hand, he should only blame himself for what happened, this time he wasn't there when Candy needed him but Terry was.
Mr Hathaway started to talk before Terry could answer.
"In fact, I did organise everything, Terry needed help to save Candy from her horrible family but he was stuck here for an audition that would be determinant for his future with Candy. I know all this was a bit radical but you must understand that I am Theatre man so I have theatrical manners and theatrical ideas thus the kidnapping"
"That was radical for sure. Can you imagine in which state was here family and friends ? They were completely devastated" said Albert thinking about himself.
"Her family was worried? Oh come on Albert, you know them better than me. They wanted her to marry Neil against her will. What kind of family is that? And talking about her friends nobody did anything to try to help her except Annie Brighton" said Terry with anger
Albert looked at Terry. He could feel the jealousy of the young man. Robert kept quiet observing the scene.
Candy suddenly realised the tension in the air ; she went to take Terry's hand and declared.
"Well, everything is ok now Albert. And I am very glad you are here so that you will be the first person to learn this great news: Terry asked me to marry him and I have accepted" her eyes were sparkling with joy.
"Really !" said Albert pretending to be surprised. Since the first time he had met Terry he had witnessed his love for Candy and hers for him. Those two were made for one another and they would soon learn the role he had played in their reconciliation. But he couldn't help to say
"But you will have to ask for my agreement and my benediction before getting married with my dear Candy" he declared looking straight into Terry's eyes.
Candy and Terry got frozen on the spot. What did Albert mean with this ?