Remember me
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 7
"The little house in the wood"
The days passed and Terrence went to see Eliza as much as possible so he could see Juliet. This last one started to expect Terrence's visits with impatience. She felt a little disloyal towards Neil, but Terrence's presence was making her happy. And besides, she wasn't doing anything wrong, she talked to Eliza's boyfriend… or one of her suitors; because she had a lot of them…
One day Neil and Eliza were out and Terrence arrived at the Reagans without any notice. Eliza didn't know, otherwise she wouldn't have gone out with her brother. The twins, actually went to visit their other boyfriends and girlfriends. Neil was frustrated not getting anything from Juliet, so he turned to other girls. He was crazy about Juliet… but hoping that she would let herself be touched or kissed without being married… and he tried… Well, he might as well wait for pigs to fly!
Terrence had kept an eye on the Reagans and he knew that Juliet was alone. The great aunt and the parents were on a trip for a few days.
-Terrence, said Juliet, hi…
- Hi... Juliet.
He wanted to call her "Freckles", but he almost bit his tongue, to stop himself from doing it.
- Eliza is not here, started Juliet.
- But you're here…
- Oh… but that would not be appropriate, without a chaperon.
- A chaperon? I'm not your suitor…
- That's not the impression I got at the debutantes' ball…
Terrence smiled.
- Ok, I'll give you that.
- You're Eliza's suitor, officially, and I'm engaged to Neil.
- So, there's no problem…
- No problem with a boy and a girl alone? What planet did you come from?
- We're just talking, Juliet, he said smiling.
- Ok, as you wish. I'm going for a walk outside…
- I'll go with you.
They went outside and they walked towards the stables. Once inside, Juliet had a little dizziness, like the place looked familiar to her. But it happened really fast. Terrence saw her little dizziness.
- Juliet, are you alright?
- Yes, I'm just a little light headed. Let's go see the horses?
- Ok.
She walked to the horses, it was her first time she was in the stables, ever since she was living with the Reagans, but the stables felt familiar to her. She pet the horses who responded happily.
- It's like they know you, said Terry.
- It's like I know them too, that's probably from before the accident.
- Probably, said Terrence who knew that it was long before that…
He couldn't tell her that her "fiancé" and his sister had send her to live in a stable, once upon a time, and that the horses, probably recognised her because she lived with them, literally.
- You want to ride? Asked Terry.
- I don't know if I know how to ride, I don't remember.
- You can ride with me…
- With you?
- On the same horse…
- Oh… but I'll have to hold on to your waist.
- You'll be in front of me; I'll be the one holding you by the waist.
Juliet hesitated a little. Terrence inspired trust in her, but to be so close to him… that could only be a delicious sensation that she didn't want to pass. The temptation was too strong.
- Ok, she finally said.
Terrence looked at her. Ever since she lived at the Reagans she wore different hairstyles. Today they were curled like Eliza's and she was always elegant. But she still was his Miss Tarzan underneath there…
Terrence harnessed a horse and they got on it. They rode slowly and peacefully in the wood. Terrence had Juliet's hair in his face and he didn't get tired of smelling the scent of freshness from it. Oh, he missed her so much, and like every time he was with her, he didn't want to let go of her. He wanted to stay that way forever. They arrived at a clearing space in the wood, where there was a little inhabited house. They stopped to walk a little.
- Look, Terrence, the little house…
- It looks empty. It must be a shelter for those who get lost or stranded.
Juliet ran to the house and opened the door.
- It's not locked!
- Of course, so that those who get lost or stranded in a storm could enter and take shelter.
Juliet entered the little house. Terrence tied the horses to a tree and followed her to the house. The inside was clean. There was a little living room, three little bedrooms, a bathroom and a toilet, and a little kitchen. There was also a little fireplace in the living room.
- It's so cute in here, said Juliet, can we sit a little, Terrence?
- Ok.
Juliet sat on the sofa and Terrence was on the armchair; there was also a love seat.
- So, said Juliet, Terrence, you like acting?
- I love being on stage. That's always been my dream.
- You like playing Romeo?
- I was my big break. You like the play you said…
- Yes, because of the name Juliet, even if it's in ancient English and the sense of the phrase, sometimes means something else…
- Like…?
- For example; the lines I recited at the country club the day we met: "O Romeo Romeo, where for art thou Romeo…?" The way it's written seems to mean "Where are you Romeo…" but it really means "Why are you Romeo, or why is your name Romeo?" in ancient English.
- Wow, not many people know that, I'm impressed…
- I had time to read in the hospital and analyse, re-read…
- I can see that. Juliet, do you want to help me practice my lines?
- Ok, Romeo.
They started to recite the roles of Romeo and Juliet, playing for a while; Juliet was even doing the British accent.
- I wished you were the actress giving me the reply on stage…
- Oh no… I'm just fooling around, I couldn't do it on stage.
- Nonsense! Said Terrence; can I put you on my list of understudies?
- You're kidding, right?
- No, I'm very serious.
- Well, I'm not too sure…
- Come on Juliet, there's one chance in a million that we could need you,
Juliet thought about it for a minute. They would never need her, so why not?
- Ok she said, anyway, unless all the actresses found themselves sick, or indisposed at the same time… there's no chance in the world that you could need me one day.
- We never know, said Terrence, Juliet, I know the subject bothers you, but did you think about your uncle William?
- Why is this subject of any interest for you?
- Because you don't know who you are and it wouldn't be wise to make a big decision like marrying Neil without your memory. And what if your memory comes back, and you realise that marrying Neil was not on your list of priorities?
Juliet remained silent for a while. Neil has been pressuring her to marry him, without her memory. Terrence was right; what if her memory comes back and she realised that she didn't want to marry Neil, but someone else?
Waiting for her memory and Uncle William seemed like a wise decision.
- But the Great Aunt and Mrs. Reagan want me to marry Neil as soon as possible, she said.
- Juliet, your Uncle William is one of the richest man in America, he's not married. You're his only heiress… don't take it the wrong way…
- You think Neil's parents want me to marry their son because of my inheritance.
- That's a possibility…
Was Terrence right? He inspired trust. He was interested by Eliza, but he was so nice and sweet with her.
- You're right. But like I told you before, I'm not getting married without my memory.
- Neil is going to try to make you change your mind…
- Oh, he's trying… He wasn't able to convince me to kiss him… Why are you so nice to me?
- Because I think you're likeable… and I like your freckles…
Freckles"… she'd heard that before. "Miss Freckles"… But where? Terrence saw the expression on her face and got worried.
- Juliet, are you ok?
- Yes, she said, Terrence, it's really nice of you to worry about me, but I thought that you were interested in Eliza…
- Eliza is a friend…
- But she's crazy about you.
- Is that why she has so many suitors?
- You know…
- Yes and I don't care, because the only reason I'm talking to Eliza, it's you…
- Oh… said Juliet a little flustered.
She felt attracted to Terrence, like she never felt attracted to Neil and that confused her.
- Terrence, why are you doing this to me?
- What am I doing?
- All this, those words… I'm engaged!
Terrence couldn't resist the temptation. He went and sat next to her on the couch.
- Exactly, if you really loved Neil, do you think you would feel like this with me…?
- How dare you? She said getting away from him to hide her confusion, Neil saved me from the void!
Terrence had an exasperated sigh.
- You're telling me that if a hobo had told you that you were his fiancée, you would've believed him!
- Why are you saying this? Did you know me from before? If that's the case, where were you? Why didn't you save me?
- I…
- Neil saved me…
Yes, Neil had found her a few days before the private investigator, Terry had hired got there. If he had been there a few days earlier; Terry and Candy's friends would have found her and it would have been a whole different story…
- Can you take me back, please?
- But Juliet…
- Please. I don't have the strength to continue this discussion.
They went back at the Reagans on the horse, like they came. During the ride, Terrence talked in her ear. He couldn't leave her like that.
- Juliet, I'm sorry, I didn't want to make you angry.
-What do you want, Terrence?
- I want to be your friend, I want to see you alone, only if you want to, I want to talk about all and nothing… I want you to learn to know me.
Juliet remained silent, because the feelings she had when Terrence was around or not, for that matter, were becoming stronger. But there was a reason for everything.
- I want to be your friend too, she finally said, but I don't thing that Neil and Eliza would agree…
- They don't need to know…
- What do you mean?
- We could meet in the little house in the wood, sometimes, to talk.
- But that would be like cheating on Neil…
- You want us to be friends…
- Yes, but…
- You think that you're doing something wrong by being my friend?
- No…
- So, don't feel guilty. I can assure you that you're not doing anything wrong by being my friend.
- Do you know something I don't?
- You're the one with amnesia, aren't you? He said laughing.
- Ok, British… she said laughing too.
They burst out laughing, the tension was gone. They went back to the manor, and had some tea. Then Terrence left. Dorothy, one of the Reagans maids, was looking at the situation with sadness. Candy humiliated herself to save her job. She decided it was time to help her, after all that time, after seeing how the Reagans were lying to her… She followed Terrence outside.
- Mr. Grandchester…
- Yes…
- My name is Dorothy.
- Hello, Dorothy, can I help you with something?
- I wanted to talk to you about Juliet, I work for the Reagans.
- Yes, I recognised you. But not here… come and join me a the corner pub in 5 minutes.
- Ok.
Five minutes later, they were sitting in a hidden corner of the pub.
- Thank you for your time, sir, said Dorothy.
- You wanted to talk about Juliet…
- Yes. I want to help her, she humiliated herself once upon a time, so I could keep my job.
- You know what they're doing to her?
- You mean making her believe that she's engaged to Mr. Neil? That's disgusting!
- That's the appropriate word, said Terry smiling, if only my private investigator had arrived sooner in that hospital….
- How can I help?
- We can't tell her the truth, she has to remember on her own, so she won't confuse, her memory and what she's told but she also has to believe me. But we have to stop her from marrying that snotty-nosed kid!
- Yes, that's the most important, said Dorothy.
- Try to help her when she's depressed and when she's asking herself some questions about Neil. Try to discourage her and tell her to follow her heart… I'm sure that her heart is not Neil… but me.
- Ok, Sir. I hope that you'll be able to get her out of there…
- I hope I can convince her.
- Me too. Thank you, sir.
Meanwhile in New York, Susanna was down in the damps. Her mother had come to stay with her for a while.
- Susanna, you can't stay like that, feeling for yourself…
- Mom, Terry he's gone after Candy…
- I know, honey. I've been following…
- Mom!
- She's the woman he loves. What did you expect?
- But he chose me….
- Because you saved his life, I was pressuring him and she had left him so he would be free to stay with you…
- But…
- Susanna, didn't Candy saved your life?
- Yes…
- It's normal that he wants to help her. He loves her, Susanna.
- Mom, I don't need to hear this from you! You're not helping at all!
- Honey, let's go for a walk in the park instead of staying here moping around.
So they went to the park; it was a beautiful day. They arrived at central park and they saw children playing and their parents sitting on public benches. She pushed Susanna's chair near some benches.
- Mom, I don't want to be here, said Susanna grouching.
- Stop being the little spoiled brat, said Mrs. Marlowe, I'm going to get some ice cream.
Susanna stayed in her wheelchair sulking.
- Hello… Hello Miss… yes, you on the wheelchair, I'm talking to you, said a man's voice.
- What do you want? Said Susanna brutally.
- To say good morning…
- That's a matter of opinion!
- Whoa! Did we get up on the wrong side of the bed, this morning?
- Leave me alone!
- Ok! With you're mood, gladly! Life is too short as it is… I don't need party-poopers…
Susanna finally turned around, to see where the voice was coming from; she saw a handsome young man, blond with another lady next to him he was wearing sun glasses.
- I'm sorry, said Susanna smiling, I'm in a bad mood.
- You can say that again! He said smiling, my name is Lionel Sands and this are my eyes for the moment, Mama Sally.
- Your eyes?
- Yes, I'm blind…
- Oh… I only have one leg… I'm sorry.
- Thanks and I'm sorry too…
Mrs. Marlowe came back with the ice creams.
- There you go, said the mother.
- Thanks, Mom. Mom, let me introduce you to Lionel Sands, Mr. Sands this is my mother, and I'm Susanna Marlowe.
- The actress?
- Yes…
- Oh… I'm sorry for your accident, you were an excellent actress. You can call me Lionel.
- You can call me Susanna. You saw me on stage? Oh… I'm sorry.
- No, don't apologise, I could see until a month ago… I had a car accident… and I woke up in the darkness.
- That must've been shocking.
- You must know something about it; waking up without your leg…
- I wanted to die.
- Me too…
Mrs. Marlowe looked at them and was glad to see her daughter opening herself to someone. Susanna and Lionel continued talking about their mutual experience. Lionel was a playboy, with a good life until his accident that made him blind and bought him crashing down, back to earth.
- Ever since I became blind, I use my sense of touch more, and my hearing too… I had to the Braille, to read…
- For me, the hardest is to move around in a wheelchair… not many buildings are wheelchair accessible…
Mrs. Marlowe and Mama Sally started talking to each other.