Remember me
Chapter 3
"A new beginning"
Neil Reagan arrived home on a cloud. His sister asked him why he looked like the cat that had just swallowed the canary. Neil hesitated a little. Will he stay with his family or run away with Candy to make her fall in love with him? He decided to throw himself in the water, praying his family will stand by him and don't spoil everything.
- Eliza, I need you. Tell me "yes"…
- Yes to what, bro?
- Tell me yes, please…
- Ok. I hope I didn't sign my death warrant…
- But you might kill me….
- Oh oh… Neil, what's happening?
- Ok. I found Candy.
- WHAT! Where is she? She couldn't disappear for good?
- Stop it Eliza! I'm in love with her…
- WHAT! Did you fall on your head or something? Are you crazy?
- Yes, in love with Candy…
- Neil…
- She's very beautiful. Ever since I learned she disappeared, I can't stop thinking about her.
- Oh my God! You're crazy…
- …in love with Candy.
- Stop saying that!
- Look I found her…
- Where? In an insane asylum?
- Almost. In a hospital…
- Which hospital?
- The hospital of Hope, the one out of town…
- Why isn't she back to her crappy place?
- Because she lost her memory….
- Lost her memory? Her Albert contaminated her, or what?
- Stop saying nonsense, Eliza! You want the rest or not?
- Sorry. Go ahead!
- I saw her in her hospital room while I was visiting. I got into her room and she was looking at me like I had three heads…
- That's nothing out of the ordinary….
- Eliza!
- Sorry.
- I told her who I was and that's when she asked me if she knew me and that she had lost her memory. I couldn't resist the temptation…
- Oh oh… I'm almost afraid to ask… what did you do?
Neil remained silent for a little while. He was suddenly afraid to tell the truth about his plan. But it was too late; he had to continue, because Eliza is not going to leave him alone. He said softly:
- I told her I was her fiancé…
- WHAT? Are you out of your mind?
- A window of opportunity opened, and I took it…
- OH MY GOD!
- She doesn't remember anything, she won't know the truth…
- But her friends and our dear cousin are going to tell her…
- Not if we keep her far away from them… For Candy, I'm her saviour; she's going to listen to me.
He didn't tell his sister that it took him a little time to convince Candy to come with him.
- You want to bring her here, guessed Eliza.
- I can convince her to marry me, before her memory comes back he lied.
- Neil, you're playing with fire… If she remembers…
- We'll cross that bridge when we get there. So, you're going to help me sell the idea to mom and the great aunt?
Eliza thought about it for a moment. Candy hated Neil and if he succeeds in marrying her before her memory comes back, Candy is going to have a cow! And that, she couldn't miss! A nice revenge!
- Ok, bro! Let's go sell the idea to mom and the great aunt…
- Thanks, sis! One more thing, since she didn't have any memory, she was been called "Juliet"…
- "Juliet"? Why "Juliet"?
- Because she probably just came from seeing that good-for-nothing son of a duke, now, a no good actor… play in "Romeo and Juliet"…
- Hey, easy when you talk about Terrence… I love him…
- Eliza, he spit on you!
- And you, Candy beat you up!
- That's enough! You're going to call her "Juliet", ok?
- Whatever!
They went to the living room where Mrs. Reagan and the Great aunt Elroy were having tea.
- Mom, great aunt, said Neil, I have a favour to ask you…
They explained the Candy situation. The great aunt listened to the end without saying a word. Mrs. Reagan had a little scream of surprise and said:
- Neil, you're brilliant!
- Did I miss something? Said Eliza surprised, how is he brilliant?
- Candy is William's heir; she's worth a fortune! Said the great aunt.
- Oh… said Eliza, so this marriage won't bother you?
- On the contrary, it will suit us nicely. The Andrews have a higher social rank than ours…
- So this marriage will make Neil higher in the society? Asked Eliza, and the money…
- You're thinking about her social standing and her money? Said Neil, whatever! So you agree, I can bring her here?
- Yes, we will keep your fiancée for you, said Mrs. Reagan. Dorothy is going to prepare a room for her. And we'll need to go shopping for her clothes tomorrow morning.
- One more thing, don't forget to call her "Juliet", said Neil, thanks, mom, thanks, great aunt.
- Ok, said Mrs. Reagan.
- Whatever, said the great aunt Elroy.
It was settled. Candice White Andrew, without her memory, and who was making others call herself "Juliet", was going to live at the Reagan's pending her nuptials to Neil Reagan. This last one was overjoyed and Eliza too, but not for the same reasons.
When Juliet woke up the next morning, she was getting ready when she realised she had nothing to wear. Well, too bad! She will borrow the hospital gown. The children came to see her with pictures they drew for her as souvenirs.
- You'll come and see us, Juliet? Asked a little girl.
- Yes, of course. Thanks for the drawings.
- Bye, Juliet. Good luck, said the children kissing her.
- Bye, kids, said Juliet.
They got out to go back to their room. Juliet was alone with Leticia the nurse.
- I have nothing to wear to get out of the hospital.
- You don't have to worry about that. There's a parcel for you or should I say parcels…
Juliet looked at her clueless. Leticia got out of the room and came back with a lot of packages.
- What's all this?
- It's for you… from your fiancé.
- Oh… said Juliet opening one of the boxes, oh my God!
- It's very beautiful, said Leticia.
Juliet took out a beautiful green dress, the same green as her eyes, with a hat to go with it. There were also shoes, to go with the dress. In the other packages, there were combs, brushes, hair ribbons, hair pins… There was also a make up bag, body creams, perfumes… in another package there were underwears. Neil had thought of everything! Or actually his mother did! Juliet got ready with the help of Leticia and she was really beautiful. She let her hair down on her shoulders. Neil arrived and kissed her on the forehead.
- You're very beautiful, honey. You're ready, Juliet?
- Yes. It doesn't bother you to call me "Juliet"?
- Not at all! I like that name.
- So, let's go!
Juliet left at Neil's arm after saying good-bye to the entire hospital staff that was waiting for them at the exit with the patients. Juliet had tears in her eyes. The trip home was made in silence in the beginning. Neil knew that she was preoccupied.
- Are you ok, Juliet?
- Yes, but…
- What?
- About the two of us… you're not going to expect that I…
- You're talking about intimate moments? Don't worry… little by little.
- I don't know what we did before I lost my memory…
"Nothing!" Said Neil in his head.
- But for now… I'd rather do nothing…
Neil was disappointed. Juliet's resilience to go with him showed him that she was not so easy to manipulate, without her memory. He will handle her later.
- You don't even want me to kiss you on the lips? He said disappointed.
- Don't take it wrong. When my memory will be back, I sure I'm going to kiss you as much as you want… we'll catch up!
- Ok, he said, disappointed so she would have pity on him.
But Juliet didn't fell in the trap. There was no way she was going to kiss Neil, until she gets her memory back. But was that really the real reason? Neil was a little disappointed of course. But he said to himself that he would be able to convince her with time.
When they arrived at the Reagan manor, Eliza, Mrs. Reagan and the Great Aunt greeted her with warmth.
- Candy! Said Eliza, I'm Neil's sister, Eliza.
- I'm Neil's mother, said Mrs. Reagan.
- And I'm the Great Aunt Elroy.
- Pleased to meet you all and thank you for having me in your house, said Juliet smiling, but call me "Juliet", please.
Acting was not a problem; Juliet was so nice.
- I'm going to show you your room, said Eliza, then we're going to go shopping, you need a whole wardrobe…
- Ok, said Juliet smiling, let's go!
They went to the bedroom to leave Juliet's stuff. Then, they went down for lunch. Juliet adapted herself to be with those people that she considered strangers. They went shopping, Neil went with them, he didn't want to leave Juliet alone with Eliza.
- Take everything you want, said Neil.
- But it's way too much, she said.
- It's for you bride's trousseau, said Eliza, come on!
- Since you're insisting.
They had fun trying on different dresses. Eliza also bought some dresses, like she needed them! They did lots of different stores of the city.
Candy's friends saw them from afar, but they didn't pay attention. Neil and Eliza shopping, was nothing out of the ordinary. If only they had paid more attention, they would've seen the young girl accompanying them was no other than their dear best friend, Candy, who was missing in action.
In New York, Terry was not the same since the visit from Candy's friends. His dreams had become more intense. He went to confide in his mother.
- WHAT? Candy has disappeared? Said Eleonor, since when?
- Since our separation at the hospital. Her friends said the she never returned to Chicago.
- You're sure?
- Yes. I wanted to take her to the train station, but she refused.
- She didn't want to prolong the pain of your separation.
- But I should've gone with her anyway. Make sure she was alright, that she took the train.
- Maybe she took the train and something happened to the train during her trip…
- Yes…. Mum, you're a genius! I'm going to go to the police. Thanks!
- The pleasure was all mine… good luck, honey!
He kissed her on the cheek and got out of there like a fury, before Eleonor could finish her sentence. He first went to the library to consult old newspapers and he found a paper talking about a train wreck that happened near Chicago at the end of November. There were a lot of wounded, a lot of casualties and missing persons.
"Candy is not dead, I would've felt it… I feel bad since she left, since the accident. I miss her so much… she's asking me to help her in my dreams… she's alive"
He hired a private investigator, so he could do some research in all the hospitals were the wounded from the train wreck were brought. He also went to the police to give them the heads up on the situation. When he went back home, that evening. Susanna was waiting for him.
- Good evening, Terry, she said smiling.
- Susanna… you didn't have to wait for me.
- I like waiting for you, Terry.
- I was doing some research for Candy.
- Terry, you have the police for that.
- I hired a private investigator so he can do the research exclusively. The police don't really have the time to take care of the missing person cases. You know I won't feel good until I hear from her. We're the last ones to have seen her…
- I know but…
- Susanna, Candy passes before everything, even the theatre. I'm sorry if I hurt you…
Terry had always been honest with her. A little too honest. He had just said that nothing came before Candy, even the theatre… she wasn't on the list of his priorities. Could she even blame him? He was forced to stay with her. She knew that he loved Candy, that she will only be a friend to him, if that! This entire story with Candy was driving her crazy. She barely saw Terry, and the little time she saw him, he wasn't saying anything, or he'll go back out again. She was dining alone; she had all the comfort, except Terry's attention, which was the most important thing for her. Until Candy is found, Terry will not take care of her like he should. Candy had left them free, but even though she had disappeared, she was more present than ever in their lives.
Terry went to his library and called Annie. Mrs Brighton answered.
- Mrs. Brighton? Good evening. Can I speak with Annie, please? It's Terry.
- Oh, Terry, good evening! Yes, she was expecting your phone call. One moment please.
A few minutes later, he heard Annie's voice.
- Hello? Terry? Good evening. Do you have any news?
- Good evening, Annie. It's not a lot, but the train that Candy took that night, had an accident…
- Oh my God! Don't tell me that…
- No, she's not on the casualty list. But there were a lot of wounded and missing people.
- It's been months, Terry. If she were wounded, she would've contacted us, by now. Maybe there's no more hope…
- No, Annie, she's alive. I'm sure of it.
- How?
- I didn't want to talk in front of Susanna the night you came to see me, but ever since Candy and I broke up, I've been having the same dream every night.
- What kind of dreams?
- I'm with Candy, we're happy, but then she disappears, or gets sucked in little by little crying to me for help.
- And you've been having those dreams every night for all those months?
- Yes, I think it's a premonition or something…
- You think? But if she's alive, where is she?
- I don't know Annie, all I know is that we have to find her, otherwise, I will never live in peace.
- You still love her…
- That's not what's important…
- Yes, Terry, it is important. Wherever she is at this moment, she sent you a telepathic message. Your connection is indestructible…
- I love her more than ever, Annie. If you hadn't come to tell me that she had disappeared, I would've turned to the bottle and left everything, because I couldn't live without her…
- Terry, love, true love always wins. You need to have hope.
- From your mouth to God's ears! Let's keep in touch. I hired a private investigator so he can do some research every where; the hospitals, the clinics…
- The police looked here…
- But in the city. The accident happened outside the city. That's where he's going to look.
- It's true we didn't have the detail of the accident. I'll call you as soon as I hear something.
- Me too. Bye Annie, and thanks.
- Good night Terry. Have courage and thanks again.
Annie hung up the phone a little relieved. Candy had sent Terry a telepathic message by his dreams, she was sure of it.
"Oh my God, let her be alright!" she prayed.
Annie, Patty and Archie were at a wedding reception a few days later. They were late, because Archie had some work to do. They really went out of courtesy, since it was going to be their turn soon. The reception was almost over. Annie saw her mother for afar but she was attracted by the young girl that was standing next to Neil. She had curls in her hair and was very well dressed. She was laughing.
"That laugh, she said to herself, but…"
She would have recognized it among thousands, for having hearing it her whole life.
- Archie, Patty did you hear that? She asked.
- Heard what? Asked Archie.
- I didn't hear anything, said Patty.
Annie started to doubt her hearing. Maybe she heard wrong, because if it was her childhood friend, she will never laugh like that with the Reagans. They went near Mrs. Brighton.
- Annie, finally! You've missed the ceremony!
- I'm sorry, Mrs. Brighton, it's my fault, said Archie.
- By the way, Neil Reagan has a fiancée, do you know her? I haven't seen her yet, said Mrs. Brighton.
- No, and I don't care said Archie, I pity the girl…
- She doesn't know in what she's getting herself into, the poor girl, said Annie.
- Maybe we should warn her, said Patty.
- What's the use? Said Archie, if she agreed to marry him, that means she's in love with him and you all know that love is blind.
- You're right she will realise soon enough the mistake she's making, said Patty.
They continued talking at the reception with other acquaintances without a worry for Neil Reagan's "fiancée".
Eliza saw Candy's friends from afar.
- Neil, she whispered in his ear, Archie, Annie and Patty at 12 o'clock, behind you. We have to go…
- No! She doesn't remember anything.
- But they could tell her the truth…
- Don't worry; they will be so stunned they won't say anything. Look at me and follow my lead when we see them.
Juliet was talking with Mrs. Reagan and didn't hear anything. Mrs. Reagan was regretting her past behaviour with Candy. She was really a very charming young girl and Neil was in love with her. She prayed inside that Juliet really falls in love with her son, so that when her memory comes back, it won't be important that Neil lied. She wanted her son to be happy. He respected her and she was uncle William's heir.
When the people started to leave the reception, Neil bumped into Archie on purpose, who was of course with Annie and Patty.
- Oh, Archie, Annie and Patty, said Neil smiling, let me introduce you to my fiancée, Juliet… Juliet, honey, this is my cousin, Archibald, his fiancée Annie and her friend Patricia.
The trio was, speechless, flabbergasted, frozen on the spot! They were so stunned they couldn't get a word out!
- Hello, said Juliet with a smile, Archibald, Annie and Patricia, I'm very happy to meet you. Are you ok? You look sick…
- They're fine, said Neil, they are only surprised to see you so beautiful.
- Stop it, Neil, you're going to make me blush said Juliet laughing, see you around! She said to the trio.
Neil took her by the arm to their car with his mother and the Great aunt. Eliza was glad of the spectacle. She had a mocking laugh and went to join her family.
The trio was still speechless for a while. Mrs. Brighton and her husband arrived and brought them back to reality.
- Annie, Archie, Patty, are you coming? You look like you've seen a ghost… Annie?
- Oh… yes mom, we're coming… Archie?
- Euh… I'm going to drive them, Mrs. Brighton. Let's go.
- Ok, said Mrs. Brighton.
Archie took Annie and Patty to the Andrew manor. They didn't say a word during the ride. Once in one of the living rooms, Archie finally broke the silence.
- For a surprise, that's a big one!
- That's the least we can say! Add Patty.
- I knew I heard her laugh! Said Annie, but I though my ears were playing tricks on me, she couldn't be laughing with the Reagans!
- What happened? Why didn't she recognize us? And why did he called her "Juliet" Asked Archie.
- She acted like she was seeing us for the first time, said Patty.
- Never mind that! Said Annie, ENGAGED TO NEIL REAGAN! She must've hit her head pretty hard during that train wreck…
- Train wreck? Repeated Archie and Patty.
- Oh yeah, I didn't tell you anything. I was waiting for some news from Terry; I didn't want to worry you….
- Annie… said Archie.
- I'm getting to it, Archie. Terry called me a few days ago to tell me that he learned that the train Candy took after their break up, had had an accident a little outside of Chicago and that there were a lot of casualties, wounded and missing persons. So I told him that it had been months and that maybe she was dead… he told me that he felt she was alive, because he dreamt about her every night and that she was asking for help.
- Why didn't he tell us that the night we went to see him? Asked Archie.
-Because Susanna was there. So he hired a private investigator to do some research in hospitals and clinics outside of Chicago… oh, he's going to be surprised!
- It's his fault! Said Archie, if they hadn't broken up…
- Archie, Susanna saved Terry's life. I read it in old magazines. So I conclude that Candy left him so he could take care of Susanna… Terry still loves Candy.
- Oh my God! Said Patty, Neil Reagan! No… it's too horrible! Even you Archie, you must prefer Terry!
- Yeah, my cousin is a little snotty-nosed kid…and he will not let us go near her…
- We have to find a solution, said Annie.
- Let's put our brains to work! Said Patty.