Remember me
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 9
"Get the doubt out of me…"
Juliet woke up still with amnesia. She got ready for breakfast. Everybody was already at the table.
- Good morning, everybody, she said smiling.
- Good morning, honey, said Neil when she sat next to him, did you sleep well?
- Yes, thank you, she said pouring herself some coffee.
- What are we doing today, Neil? Asked Eliza.
- Euh, I have nothing planned…
- You can go to work with your dad, said Juliet.
- Go to work? Asked Neil.
-Yes, so he can show you what to do… you want to work with him one day don't you? Why not start in the mailroom so you won't be accused of favouritism?
The other family members remained silent. But Mr. Reagan thought the idea was good.
- Neil, he said, Juliet is right, you should go get ready to go to the office with me, instead of staying here, doing nothing…
- Yes, said the aunt, go.
- You have to get use to working, said his mother.
Neil felt trapped. He looked at Juliet, he loved her and she wanted him to work? So he was going to work to make her happy.
- But what are you going to do alone? He asked Juliet.
- I'll find something to do, don't worry, said Juliet.
- Ok, he said almost against his will, I'll go with you, dad.
The grown-ups looked at the scene surprised. They usually had to beg Neil to work… and Juliet in one minute had managed to make him accept a situation he didn't particularly like… Juliet was a good influence on Neil. He had to find a way to keep her for good.
Juliet went to the little house in the wood to read. Terrence wasn't coming anymore. She was wondering why. Ever since the dinner after the funfair, he didn't come for dinner anymore; and he wasn't coming to the little house either. Juliet was hurt. She missed him. Why wasn't he coming anymore? Did something happen to him? Maybe he was sick… They had become close and she wanted to see him. They were friends and she didn't feel disloyal to Neil because she was not doing anything wrong aside talking to a friend, she was not cheating on him… She was somehow nicer to Neil, after meeting Terrence like to make up for spending time with another boy she liked in secret. But she was sad because Terrence didn't come anymore to the little house in the wood, or for dinner at the Reagans'.
Terry was in the Chicago theatre making young actors in the making audition to make a little Stratford troupe from Chicago. There were all sorts of people, really talented actors, some who seemed to have come only to have fun on stage, because they had no talent whatsoever. Some were laughing, but some were visibly upset because they thought they had real talent. Terry had to keep a straight face to tell them the truth, sometimes the other people that were with him to judge the auditions couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Terry had found a small, one bedroom apartment not too far from the theatre and he had also bought a car. He was avoiding the Reagans for a while, since the debutantes' ball… no; since he'd heard Juliet and Neil in the bedroom… it made him sick and kept him awake at night.
Annie who had noticed that Terry didn't come to see her anymore to talk about Candy, went to the theatre to ask him what was happening. She caught him between two auditions.
- Terry, hi, said Annie.
- Annie… hi.
- I haven't seen you in a while…
- I have other stuff to do! He said dryly.
Annie was a little surprised by Terry's temper.
- Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? I thought nothing was more important than Candy…
- I have to make a living, don't I?
- Terry what's going on? Did Juliet do something to upset you?
Terry remained silent. He was jealous and hurt deep down inside. Juliet was sleeping with Neil! No… he was so disappointed… even if she didn't have her memory, her common sense should've kicked in. She had lied to him saying that she didn't let Neil kiss her. She was letting him do everything! Damn it! He didn't believe Eliza's words but he had heard them in the bedroom.
- Terry, I'm right, am I? Juliet did something… tell me what's wrong.
Terry had a sigh and told Annie what had happened at the debutantes' ball and at the Reagans.
- I don't know what to say… but, you can't be sure of what's happening behind a closed door. Eliza… the word is not gospel, you can't take what she says at face value. She just wants to make sure that you lose interest in Juliet. Terry please, put your jealousy aside, Juliet needs you, said Annie.
- But…
- I don't believe this story… it's Eliza being mean again. Did you forget what she did to you in college? Juliet needs you, don't abandon her. You love her, don't you? You reaction shows that you still love her as much as before, if not more. You're the prince that has to rescue her from the claws of evil…
Terry smiled.
- Ok, I'm sorry for biting your head off…
- No, I'm glad. You still love her… I'm going to let you work now. Bye, Terry.
- Bye, Annie, and thank you. Candy has a really good friend in you.
- She's not my friend, she's my sister!
Juliet was still going to the little house when she could, but Terrence was still not coming. Even though he'd told her that they could see each other there… Maybe she misunderstood? Maybe he wasn't serious? Or maybe he changed his mind. Well so be it! She still came to the little house to read, because she needed to get out of the Reagan's house from time to time. She was there for a while, when she heard footsteps. She turned around and saw…
- Terrence! She cried.
Without thinking, she stood up, ran and jumped at his neck! Terrence, who was only too happy, held her hard against him. Oh he missed her so much! For a fraction of a second, he thought he was in his dreams. But Juliet let go of him and she will probably apologise…
- Terrence, I'm sorry, she said confused.
There! The cold shower! She apologized for hugging him! Terrence came crashing down back to earth!
- Why?
- For jumping to your neck…
- Juliet, don't apologize, the pleasure was all mine, I swear.
Juliet blushed and she felt happy inside.
- Long time no see… said Juliet.
- Likewise… said Terry.
- Are you angry with me? She asked.
- No, but…
- Were you busy at work?
- Yes, among other things…
- "Among other, what things"?
- I don't know if I should tell you. You might get offended.
- What if I told you I wouldn't be offended?
- Are you sure? You might get angry with me and your fiancé's sister.
- I think the truth is better than anything.
- The truth is not always good to tell.
- Terrence, tell me why you're angry with me… I won't get angry with you, I promise you.
- Ok. But don't forget, you insisted…
Terrence started to tell her what had happened with Eliza at the debutantes' ball.
- What? But why would she say something like that?
- So I won't be interested in you anymore…
- But you didn't believe her story.
- No, until the last time I came for dinner…
- What happened?
- You went to your room early and Neil followed you… Eliza slipped to my ear that you wanted to be alone to…
- Oh my God!
- So, I went upstairs and I listened behind the door…
- You did what?
- I wanted to know if it was true…
- When you eavesdrop, you never hear anything good! Said Juliet upset.
- You're right. What I heard…
- Proved to you that I was doing it with Neil… That should teach you to eavesdrop!
Terrence looked at her a little amused.
- Juliet, I'm sorry…
- What made you come back?
- Eliza's credibility…
- Credibility? But you believed her, didn't you?
- Not really… or for a minute… I was hurt… I wanted to give you a chance to explain yourself…
- You were hurt because you thought was doing it with Neil?
Terrence knew it was a touchy subject, he had to be careful.
- Yes, I care about you a lot.
Juliet didn't answer. Terrence liked her. She felt a warmth submerging her. Madame Clara told her to follow her heart, that it was the key. She liked Neil's company, but nothing more. Terrence… she thought about him every time she had a free moment, which means all the time. That's why she was nice to Neil, she felt guilty thinking about someone else.
- I … I wouldn't want him to take advantage of you…
- He's my fiancé, if he takes advantage of me; he's going to marry me. We would've already be married, If I hadn't told him we should wait for my memory to come back.
Terrence felt a little sick. There was a silence and finally…
- You… you mean it's true? You're making love to Neil…?
Juliet saw that he was hurt and she wanted to reassure him.
- Terrence, I don't know what I did before I lost my memory. But for now, I can assure you and swear to you, that Neil never kissed me, or did anything else with me. I let him hug me, kiss me on the cheek, sometimes on the neck but that's all. I didn't do anything, I promise you.
Terrence felt like a weight was lifted off his heart. He had sigh of relief. He approached her and hugged her for a long time.
They didn't say anything; they stayed like that for a while. Terrence wanted to kiss her and so did she, but none of them tried to.
- Next time, said Juliet, well… promise me you'll talk to me first before you eavesdrop…
- Ok, said Terrence smiling.
They talked about all and nothing and had fun together. Terrence had to conquer her, and he was succeeding. He knew it was the only way to save her, but he also knew she was going to be hurt once her memory comes back and she realises that they can't be together. But he didn't know if he could let her go a second time.
Juliet went back at the Reagans not very happy. She found Neil and Eliza alone in on of the living rooms.
- Juliet, said Neil smiling, are you ok?
- I've been better… she answered.
- What's wrong? Asked Neil.
- Your sister… Eliza, why did you tell Terrence that I was sleeping with Neil?
Eliza was so surprised that she remained speechless in the beginning.
- But how? She started.
- That's not important! If you're not able to keep his attention, that's your problem! Don't tarnish my reputation so he won't be interested in me!
- So you want his attention? Asked Eliza.
- No…
- So why does it bother you?
- Because it's not true! I'm not sleeping with Neil! I don't even let him kiss me! I'm not happy at all! Sorry, Neil…
And she left the room and went to her bedroom without a look back.
- Eliza, said Neil, you're going to ruin everything with your stunts… Grandchester is in love with Candy; you can tell him that she's sleeping with all the men on earth, he won't care, he loves her!
- No, I tell you, he loves me! If Candy gets her memory back, she's going to be out of here so fast it will make your head spin…
- That's why I'm trying to make her fall in love with me…
- You lied to her, Neil, and she will never forgive you for that. She hates you.
- Candy is good.
- Juliet is a tiger! Did you see her reaction? Candy would've never confronted me that way!
- You wanted to tarnish her reputation.
- You're blind, Neil. She wants Terrence…
- So stop inviting him here.
- He doesn't want her.
- Now, who's the blind one?
- Shut up!
- Go to hell.
He left the room to go see Juliet in her room.
- Juliet? It's me, Neil. Can I come in?
- Yes of course, she said with a tired voice.
- Are you ok?
- I'm sorry I yelled at your sister.
- No, she deserved it.
- She had no right to tell lies about me.
- You're right.
He approached her and hugged her. Neil knew his sister was right; Juliet had a thing for Terrence, after all, it was Candy's heart… But he didn't want to upset her more, otherwise he could drive her far away from him. She could run away. He had to be patient, or he could lose Candy for good. The fact that he never had her in the first place, and all that was a fragile web of lies, didn't even cross his mind.
Terry started coming to dinner at the Reagans again, more often now. Eliza was happy and Neil was sulking. Eliza continued to believe that he was coming to see her. Juliet was happy that her British came for dinner, even if they couldn't talk like they wanted.
Juliet had given the order to the butler to let Annie, Archie and Patty in to see her. Annie and Patty came to see her one morning. Neil was still working with his father, and Eliza was visiting her friends. They went to the garden to talk.
- So, how are you? Asked Annie.
- I'm fine, thanks, said Juliet.
- What about Neil? Asked Patty.
- He went to work with his father…
- Work? Neil? Said Annie.
- Yes, I suggested that he should start to learn how to run the family business, after all it will be his one day.
- And he listened to you? Asked Patty.
- Yes…
Annie and Patty looked at each other. Neil Reagan was a big lazy boy…. Juliet had a good influence on him!
- But can I tell you a secret? Said Juliet, can I trust you? I feel like I can. I have to tell someone…
- Yes, said the girls.
- I like Neil and all, but it's Terrence that's in my head.
- Oh… said the girls with a sigh of relief.
- I know… Eliza likes him, but I think he likes me…
- What about you? What about Neil? Asked Annie.
- Oh don't know. Neil found me and he told me he was my fiancé. I have no memory and my head can't seem to get used to that idea… that's why I'm not letting him kiss me… but Terrence… he was able to win me over little by little… I can't stop thinking about him!
Annie and Patty knew that her heart already loved Terry, that her heart remembered her love for Terry.
- What did the fortuneteller say? To follow your heart… said Annie.
- But Neil saved me from the void, he loves me and he's ready to wait for me to be ready, said Juliet.
- But you're thinking about Terrence, said Patty.
- Follow your heart, Juliet, said Annie, that's the key, Madame Clara said.
Even if she knew that Terry was not free to be with her. It broke their hearts to do that, but it was the only way to rip her off Neil's claws.
- I don't know why I'm telling you all this, I feel that I can trust you.
- You don't trust Neil or Eliza?
- Neil, I can feel he loves me… but it's like he's hiding something and Eliza told Terrence that I was sleeping with Neil.
- What? Said Patty.
- I confronted her, and she didn't deny it…
- You confronted her? Said Annie knowing that Candy would've probably let it slide.
- Yes, I couldn't let her tarnish my reputation, said Juliet.
- But how did you find out about it? Asked Annie.
- There's a little house in the wood, a shelter for those who get lost I think or find themselves stranded in the rain or the snow… I go there some times to read and Terrence comes there too.
- Oh… and you talk alone, said Patty.
- Yes, it's like we've been best friends for ever…
"That's because you are best friends, best friends in love for that matter," thought Annie.
- I wanted to go see the staff of the hospital that took care of me, said Juliet, you want to come with me? I have to give them money or a donation.
- Ok said Annie smiling, let's go.
The Reagan's driver was at Juliet's disposition. They went to Hope hospital. The staff was happy to see "Angel face" and the "Sleeping Beauty".
- Miss Andrew, said the chief of staff, what a nice surprise!
- I still haven't recovered my memory, doctor.
- Not even a flash?
- Yes, I had a flash while I was dancing under a specific music… but nothing more.
- Nothing more? Don't force yourself, it will come back in due time.
- Ok, thanks, doctor.
She went to see the hospital staff, the nurses, the cook, who were very happy to see her.
- Juliet… Candy how are you? Asked Leticia.
- Fine, still in the void in my head, the black hole.
- But they're taking good care of you…
- Yes, said Juliet smiling.
- What about your fiancé?
- He's going to wait for my memory.
- That's good, at least you won't feel like you're marrying a stranger.
- Yes, said Juliet laughing.
They talked for a while and then, Juliet left with her friends. They went at Annie's house and spent the day playing models. Annie liked the new elegant side of Juliet; they could talk fashion, something she had to beg Candy to do…