Remember me
Chapter 5
"When Juliet met Terrence…"
At the country club, Eliza was talking to her friends, Neil was playing tennis and Juliet was talking to some young girls who'd recently got married and had babies. She was helping them with the children.
- Thanks, said one name Mirna, you're natural with children.
- Thanks, I like children a lot, said Juliet.
She went to play ball with little boys and girls around the age of six. She had a lot of fun, and she had no care in the world at that moment.
Annie, Archie, Patty and Terry arrived at the country club at lunchtime. Terry saw Candy right away from afar. His heart jumped in his chest. He wanted to run to her, but he couldn't.
- Terry, be patient. Eliza is over there, said Annie, show us your acting talent. It's show time! She can't see that we're together…
- You do know it sounds weird, right, you're sending me to Eliza instead of Candy…? He joked.
- This whole situation is weird ,Terry, said Patty laughing, now go!
Terry walked towards Eliza. This last one saw Terry and her eyes lit up.
- Terrence! She cried with joy.
- Eliza Reagan, said Terry smiling and kissing her hand, it's always a pleasure to see you again…
Eliza blushed and her friends were laughing.
- What are you doing here in Chicago?
- I'm going to spend some time here to make a new Stratford troupe here in Chicago.
- Oh… and you're going to take advantage of your time to see Candy?
Terry had to call upon all his forces to say:
- Candy? No, it's over between us, we broke up…
- Really? She said sceptical.
- Yes, it didn't work out after the premiere.
- So… you're free? What about Susanna Marlowe? Aren't you engaged to her?
- She stayed in New York. I'm alone here, and I hope I would get the pleasure to see you again, he said going away.
Eliza was on a cloud. Terry was free?
- Terrence, wait!
- Yes? Said Terry turning around.
- Did you have lunch?
-No…
- You want to come with me? I'll buy you lunch.
- Eliza, please. I'm a gentleman. I'm offering you lunch and your friends too, if they want.
Eliza's friends were giggling. Eliza gave them the look that said, "Don't even think about it!"
- No, they said, go ahead… we're going to find our parents.
- Ok, said Terry, Eliza…
He took her arm and they walked toward the restaurant. Archie, Annie and Patty were at a table and when Eliza and Terry passed in front of them, Annie said:
- Terry what are you doing here with "her"?
- "Her" is here, said Eliza.
- Hello to you too, Annie, said Terry, I'm going for lunch.
- With Eliza! Said Patty, that's enough to spoil my appetite!
- Hello, cousin, said Archie, Grandchester…
Terry and Eliza went to sit on a table with four places and they ordered their diner.
Juliet went to get Neil on the tennis court for lunch. Neil saw Eliza and Terry from afar and he wanted to turn back.
- Why don't we go home? Said Neil.
- Come on, said Juliet, we're having fun here, and I'm hungry, I don't think I can wait till we get home.
- Ok, he said against his will.
What was that good for nothing actor doing with his sister? He took Juliet to a table a little far away, but Juliet saw Eliza and insisted to sit with them.
- Let's got sit with them! Said Juliet.
- But we're going to disturb them, said Neil.
- Nonsense, said Juliet taking Neil by the hand, let's go!
They walked to Terry and Eliza's table. Eliza was a little panicked; what will Terry think? Neil decided to play the game with his sister and winked at her. She understood.
- Terrence, said Eliza, here's Neil and his fiancée, Juliet… Juliet this Terrence Grandchester, a friend.
Terry had to act surprise and he did.
- Ju…Juliet? He asked stunned.
Juliet looked at Terry; she thought he was very handsome.
"I like his long hair and his deep blue eyes she said to in head, oh… but what am I thinking! I'm engaged!"
She smiled at Terry.
- Hello, Terrence, I'm pleased to meet you.
- But… euh... me too, he said smiling.
Eliza had a sigh of relief and Neil calmed himself.
- It's the first time I see you, said Juliet, where do you come from?
- From… from New York, said Terrence.
- New York? Your accent is showing that you're British…
- Yes, I live in New York.
- Terrence is an actor, said Eliza.
- Oh… said Juliet, great. Did you have any big roles?
- He was Romeo, said Eliza.
- "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name ;or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet." Recited Juliet smiling.
- "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?" answered Terrence.
Juliet and Terrence burst out laughing and Neil and Eliza were looking at them worried.
- Honey, said Neil, you didn't tell me that you knew "Romeo and Juliet".
- At the hospital, when I had nothing to do, I was reading and I read "Romeo and Juliet" several times. It's one of my favourite stories and since they called me "Juliet"…
-What do you mean, since they called you "Juliet"? That's not your name? Asked Terrence, and you were at the hospital?
- Yes, I woke up one morning and I had no memory.
- That must've been weird…
- The void, the black hole, it's a little frustrating, but also relaxing. You don't have to worry about anything, because you don't remember anything! Said Juliet laughing.
The others were also laughing.
- I didn't remember anything. When the doctors asked me for my name, I didn't remember it. They were calling me "Sleeping beauty" and "Angel face" that sounded more like phrases than given names. They wanted to call me "Jane Doe"… but for a strange reason, the name "Juliet" came into my head…
- "Juliet", said Terrence, what a coincidence…
"You'd just came from seeing my premiere of "Romeo and Juliet," he wanted to say.
- Yes, you played Romeo… Too bad I'm already engaged to Neil, otherwise we would've made a nice couple… she joked, and your British accent is to die for!
Terrence was laughing: Juliet was flirting with him in front of Neil, her supposedly "fiancé". Eliza was not happy. Neil started to panic.
- Too bad in fact, Juliet, because you're engaged to my brother! Said Eliza dryly, don't forget it!
- You're very funny when you want to, Eliza… since I forgot who I was… said Juliet without cracking a smile.
Terry and Neil giggled. Eliza was trying not to lose her calm.
- I know I'm engaged to Neil, even though I don't remember it, said Juliet, well… so I was saying, when the time came for me to leave the hospital, I was wondering what I was going to do when Neil came into my room and told me I was his fiancée!
Neil was looking at Terrence who couldn't take his eyes off Juliet. Eliza was going to ruin everything with the presence of that good for nothing actor!
- The scene was very funny, said Neil, I called her "Candy" then I talked about other things…
- And I said, "what did you say my name was again?" said Juliet.
- And I said, "Candy" said Neil.
- So I said: "Candy"? Like the sweet? Why not "chewing gum"? Ridiculous!
They all burst out laughing and they were eating their meals. Terrence was looking at the woman he loved. She had a different hair do; her hair was not in two pigtails anymore, but on her shoulders with a headband. Her clothes were different too, influenced by Eliza, but she was very elegant; she didn't look like the mischievous little girl anymore, but like a young woman sure of herself. She was still very nice, but a little more daring than Candy.
- But said Terrence, "Candy" is a very pretty name…
- Oh, I don't disagree… it's a beautiful name, but no offence, I don't remember being Candy, so I don't think I should be called that… said Juliet.
- You're right said Terrence, "Juliet" is also a pretty name…
Candy's friends were looking at them from afar.
- Terry is acting well, said Annie.
- He has to, after all, everything is his fault, said Archie.
- Archie, said Patty, there were accidents, Susanna, Candy.
- It's like he's some kind of bad luck, said Archie, the women who love him…
- Archie, said Annie, stop please. He's doing his best. He's taking care of Susanna and now he's going to take care of Candy.
- He's taking his responsibilities, said Patty, even you, have to give him that.
Archie didn't answer. The girls were right. But deep down inside, he was still jealous of Candy's love for Terry.
After lunch, Juliet left to go play with the kids she was playing with before.
- I'm going to join the kids, she said, see you later. "British", she said to Terry, if I don't see you again, goodbye. I'm happy to have made your acquaintance.
- Bye Juliet, said Terrence smiling.
Terry stayed with Neil and Eliza. He could finally talk to Neil with anger.
- Reagan, what the heck is this?
Neil was a little uncomfortable.
- Well, I found her and the words came out on their own…
- Yeah right! You mean you saw an opportunity to make her yours and you took it! You bloody bastard!
- What? I found her… she was lost…
- And that gives you the right to lie to her? Engaged? She hates you!
- Terry, said Eliza, you can't tell her the truth…
- I know, Neil already did too much, said Terry, she has to remember on her own, and she will. Then what are you going to do? Eliza, how could you have let this happen?
- I don't like Candy and you know it. But he told me what happened after the facts… otherwise I would've stopped him; if he had told me about his intentions… But Terry, you said you're not with her anymore…
- That doesn't mean I'm going to sit back without any reaction while you're all lying to her… What are you going to do if her memory comes back suddenly without warning?
- For now, she's my fiancée and I love her, said Neil, I can make her fall in love with me…
Terry shook his head. He wanted to punch Neil, but he had to look good in front of Eliza to have access to their house and to Candy…
- Where are you staying, Terrence? Asked Eliza.
- I have a room in a hotel, said Terrence, I'm looking for an apartment.
- Can you come for diner tonight? Asked Eliza with a soft voice.
Neil kicked her under the table to make her stop. But Eliza was not listening.
- Ok, said Terrence, see you tonight…
- Diner is at 8.
- I'll be there at 7.
- Ok, said Eliza with a beautiful smile. Now, do you want go for a walk with me?
- Ok, said Terry against his will.
Juliet was playing with children and looked at Terrence and Eliza. She flirted with him, openly in front of Neil, her supposedly "fiancé"! But she couldn't help herself, Terrence was really attractive, charming and absolutely gorgeous. She understood why Eliza had a crush on him… but what kind of thinking was that? She was engaged to Neil with out without her memory! She had to start behaving accordingly. Oh… but she couldn't stop thinking about Terrence Grandchester! Darn it! Why wasn't he her fiancé! But she had just met him… she felt really weird.
"Ok, Juliet, that's enough now," she said to herself, "you can't be disloyal to Neil, he saved you from the void…"
Terry went to the Andrew Manor to see the others. Annie had brought his luggage he'd left at her place.
- So? Asked Archie.
- I had to restrain myself not to punch Neil on the face, said Terry, but I played along…
- Good, said Annie, it must've been hard to see her?
- Yes, and a relief at the same time, said Terry, she's a little bit more elegant, but she's still so full of life. She spent most of her time playing with children.
- That's our Candy, even without her memory, she's still so generous, said Patty.
- But something is different, said Terry, she's still nice and everything, but she's a little… more… daring…
- Daring? Asked Annie.
- Yes, she was flirting with me in front of Neil and Eliza!
- In front of her supposed fiancé? Said Patty.
- Eliza told her about it, but she said that she didn't remember being engaged to Neil, so… Said Terry, I had to restrain myself not to hug her!
- Ok, said Annie, that's good to know that she won't let herself be manipulated. Terry, try to find out when the wedding is going to take place… try to convince Candy to wait for her memory before she does anything. Since apparently she already has a thing for you…
- Well that's old news, said Patty, her heart is the same that fell in love with you…
- Ok, guys, I'm going to my hotel room to get ready for diner at the Reagan's, said Terry.
- Good luck, said Patty, pretending to be interested in Eliza can't be easy.
- That's why I'm an actor, said Terry, thanks.
- Terry, you have to make her be interested in you…
- You mean, you want me to hit on her?
- Well it should be easier; you're one step ahead of her, you know her better than herself! Said Annie.
- You're lucky, said Archie, how many guys get to hit on the girl they love, again, having all the facts?
- But if she's disloyal to Neil… said Terry.
- You're the one she loves, Terry, with or without her memory, said Annie.
- Ok. Thanks, all of you. Candy would be happy to know that we worked together to save her, said Terry.
Meanwhile, at the Reagan's Juliet was taking a bath. After playing all day, she had sweat. Eliza told her that Terrence was coming for diner. She didn't know why, but she was secretly happy in her heart to see him again. She thought he was likeable. He was an actor; he played Romeo, the hero of one of her favourite stories. And the lines they recited… that was fun.
"Oh Juliet, you're starting again!" She said to herself.
She was hoping Neil wasn't too upset by her behaviour towards Terry. She finished getting ready and went to the living room. There were a few guests with their children. Juliet was talking with them. Eliza wasn't there yet, she wanted to make herself beautiful for Terry, and she kept changing dresses and yelling at the maid. Terrence arrived, looked around and saw Juliet.
- Good evening, Juliet.
- Good evening, Terrence, she said smiling.
Juliet was calling him "Terrence" and he liked it, it was a distinction from Candy.
- Where's your lover boy?
- Neil is coming, he's still upstairs and Eliza will soon be here too. She making herself beautiful for you.
Terrence had a nervous laugh. The scene was king of funny; Candy was talking about Eliza in generous terms. But, all he wanted to do is hug her and kiss her. But...
- When are Neil and you getting married? So I could mark my calendar…
- I don't know yet, I wanted to wait until I get my memory back first…
- That's better, said Terry, but he's your fiancé, do you…
- What? You want to know if I let him kiss me? She asked innocently.
Terrence was a little surprised by Juliet's ingenuousness and innocence.
- Yes… if I'm not too indiscreet…
- Oh no. Neil is a stranger for me. He's the first person who told me my name.
- You trust him…
- Not enough to let him kiss me, though… he said that we're engaged, but I don't know him…
"Thank God!" Said Terrence in his head.
- Oh… and he's not frustrated? He said out loud.
- If he is, he's not showing it. He's always very nice to me and very patient.
- You don't have a parent?
- Neil said that his uncle William adopted me…
- Where is he?
- On a business trip. I never even seen him before. Apparently neither did Neil nor Eliza .
- Ok. You think he would agree for you to marry Neil?
- I don't know… why the third degree? I feel like I'm in front of a police officer…
Terrence said to himself that he had to be a little more careful.
- No, It's just that… you're like a blank page. You have no memory and anyone can come and tell you anything…
- What are you insinuating? That Neil lied to me?
- I didn't say that…
- Eliza invited you for diner. You should be more polite with her brother's fiancée!
Juliet was starting to get upset.
- I didn't want to offend you, I swear. I'm sorry, said Terrence.
Juliet saw Neil from afar and decided to join him.
- Excuse-me, I see my fiancé, she said walking away.
Terrence look at her go, powerless. Neil was her saviour, she trusted him to a point. He would need a lot of work to make her doubt of Neil's intentions.
Juliet was at Neil's arm talking happily. She felt a little guilty being attracted to Terrence. That's why she was rejecting him. Eliza finally came down and almost ran to Terrence with a big smile. Terrence was looking at Juliet every time he could, in secret so that Eliza won't suspect anything. Juliet stayed near Neil for the whole evening. In her head, Terrence wanted to plant the seed of doubt; but she knew she didn't need Terrence to make her doubt, because she already doubted… That's why she didn't let Neil kiss her. But why? Was she wrong to trust Neil and his family? They greeted her with open arms, but could she take that for granted? Neil was her saviour and Terrence was confirming the doubts she already had in her mind.
After diner, while they were having tea, Terrence had to opportunity to talk to Juliet for a brief moment.
- Juliet, I didn't want to offend you, I'm sorry.
- Forget about it, British. Did you have a nice evening?
"British", he liked that nickname, especially coming from his beloved.
- Yes…
- Eliza is on cloud nine. I thing she's totally under your spell.
Terrence didn't say anything. He didn't care about Eliza. But he had to play along.
- That's good, he said.
- There's a debutantes' ball tomorrow, are you going to be there?
- Tomorrow night? I'll try to be there.
- So, see you later then, British, said Juliet walking away.
- See you tomorrow!
Despite from the doubts he confirmed in her mind, she thought he was still likeable with his British accent. But what was that again? She was engaged to Neil and he was interested in Eliza. No… she had to stop thinking like that! But her thoughts went back to Terrence… Terrence…