Remember me
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 10
"True colours"
Juliet went back at the Reagan's. She found the Great Aunt and Mrs. Reagan in the living room.
- Juliet, said the Great Aunt, we have to talk.
- It's about the wedding between Neil and you, said Mrs. Reagan.
- Yes, said the Great Aunt, you have to set a date.
- Why? Asked Juliet sceptical.
- Because that's the way it is, said Mrs. Reagan.
- There is no way I'm marrying Neil without my memory… said Juliet.
- Can you guarantee us it's going to come back? Asked the Great Aunt.
- No, but… Juliet started.
- So it could take years, said Mrs. Reagan.
- I don't see what your memory has to do with your wedding, you'll marry Neil with or without your memory, said the Great Aunt.
They were insisting because they knew that if Juliet recovers her memory, she would never in a million years, marry Neil even if he were the last man on this earth! They had to use the big guns… thus, lie.
- Mrs. Reagan, Great Aunt, with all due respect, I will not marry Neil without my memory, said Juliet.
-It's an order, said the Great Aunt, the wedding will take place in one month!
- You don't seem to hear what I'm saying: I SAID NO!
- In one month, said Mrs. Reagan, you're dismissed…
- You can't force me…
- Yes, we can, said the Great Aunt, William is not here, I'm the head of the family, you have to obey me…
Juliet went to her bedroom and she was feeling very said, she was crying. Did she the Great Aunt had the right to force her to marry Neil? Who was the head of the family? Uncle William… she had to find a way to contact her Uncle William, he's the only one who could stop the Great Aunt from forcing her to marry Neil… but how? Who could help her? Terrence… Yes, he always seems to want to get her out of there… what if she went to the little house? But what if he didn't come? She had to see him to tell him to come to the little house later… The theatre, that's where he was during the day, but how will she get to the theatre? Dorothy entered at that moment with clean laundry and found her in tears.
- Miss Juliet, are you ok? Why are you crying?
- Oh, Dorothy, they want to force me to get married in a month.
- Who's they?
- The Great Aunt and Mrs. Reagan… I can't make such a big decision without my memory.
- And you're right…
- I have to see Terrence, but I don't know how to contact him.
- At the theatre. I'm going to give you the address and money for the taxi.
- Really? Thank you, Dorothy.
- You're welcome. I owe you that. When you regain your memory, you'll understand. I'll be right back.
Dorothy got out of the room and came back a few minutes later with an address and a little money.
- Thanks, Dorothy, Terrence will pay you back, said Juliet hugging her.
Candy sneaked out of the mansion and took a taxi to the theatre. She got in and saw a lot of people having auditions. It was crowded, and she couldn't get through to talk to Terrence. She had to stand in line. When she finally arrived, she was on stage!
- What are you reciting?
It was Terrence's voice, his head was down in his papers and he didn't see her. Juliet wanted to have a little fun. Seeing Terrence cheered her up a little…
- The balcony scene from "Romeo and Juliet", she said.
When he heard her voice, he lift his head surprised. The actor who was helping the candidate make the auditions, took his book and went to the balcony scene. Terrence stood up and went on stage.
- Charles, he said, allow me to give the reply to the young lady.
- Ok, said Charles making himself scarce.
- Terrence, I… started Juliet.
- Go ahead, said the producer.
She recited Juliet's role; the balcony scene. Terrence gave her the reply and they were in perfect harmony. The producer was ecstatic by their performance… when it was over he said:
- Wonderful, you're perfect! You have got the part!
Juliet looked at him clueless.
- What part? She asked.
- The part of Juliet, replied the producer.
- Oh… no thanks, I don't want it… she said.
- What do you mean you don't want it? Said the producer.
- I came to see Terrence for an emergency and the only way to get in here, was to have an audition…
- Oh… but you're perfect for the role… I'm hiring you.
- I said NO! She yelled, what's wrong with people today? They won't listen to me!
- Juliet, calm down, said Terrence.
- Her name is Juliet? Said the producer, this is even better…
- Martin, can we take a break?
Martin Jones, the producer was a little surprise by Juliet's out burst, but he agreed.
- I'm sorry, sir, said Juliet, I'm in a bad mood.
- That's ok, said Martin laughing, let's take five…
- Thanks, Martin, said Terrence.
Terrence took Juliet to his dressing room. As soon as he closed the door behind them, Juliet fell into his arms. Terrence was a little surprised but he held her.
- Juliet, are you ok?
- Terrence, oh Terrence, hold me hard, she said.
- Ok, said Terrence, who was only too happy..
After a while, she let go of him. Terrence gave her a chair and she sat down.
- Terrence, she said, it's awful!
- What? What's wrong?
- I sorry to bother you during work.
- You can bother me whenever you want, Juliet.
- The Great Aunt and Mrs. Reagan want me to marry Neil in a month…
- What? What did Neil had to say about that?
- He wasn't there…
- But he's you fiancé, started Terrence, shouldn't he give his opinion? And didn't you have to get married anyway?
- Yes, but I still don't have my memory, I'm my own stranger… they won't hear it, they say it could take years…
"Yeah, right!" thought Terrence in his head. "They're afraid you're going to get your memory back and get out of there before they could say: "marriage"!"
- And Neil is not there, but I'm sure he's going to comply, especially if it's about us getting married.
- Juliet, why did you come to see me?
- Because I didn't know what to do… you're the first person I thought about…
Terrence felt so happy, she turned to him, she trusted him… or she was starting to …
- I don't know where my Uncle William is… why is the thought of marrying Neil, terrifies me so much?
"Your subconscious is telling you not to trust him…" thought Terrence.
- Were you right? Did Neil lie to me?
- Juliet, you know your memory has to come back on it's own, I can't tell you anything…
Juliet felt her head spinning, all the events of the day; she saw some images in her head, but she couldn't make anything about it. She was frustrated and powerless, nothing, the void! She started to cry in silent. Terrence approached her. She looked at him and she hugged him and cried some more. He started to talk to her.
- Juliet, it's going to be ok. Miss Freckles…
"Miss Freckles, Miss Freckles" that nickname was resounding in her head, why did it seem so familiar? "Miss Freckles"…
- It's ok, I'm going to take care of you… let me get everything ready. I'll come to dinner tonight to see where the situation is… Ok? Everything is going to be ok, Freckles…
"Freckles" again… but there was way too much confusion in her head…
- I'm going to let you work, she said, I'll see you tonight.
- Ok.
- I need money for the taxi, she said blushing a little, Dorothy lend me some money, I have to repay her.
- Of course, Freckles, he said smiling, there.
He gave her more.
- That's too much, she said.
- You can have another emergency. Better safe than sorry.
- Thank you, Terrence. Thanks for everything.
He walked her to the exit; he hugged her again before she left.
A pair of eyes was looking at them with anger. Eliza Reagan was very mad…
"The little slut wants to steal my Terrence away! I'm not going to let her get away with it!"
Juliet went back at the Reagans' and locked herself up in her room. Neil arrived later and found her still locked up in her room.
- Juliet? He asked coming in, Juliet, what's wrong?
- Your mother and the Great Aunt want us to get married in a month…
- Why does that bother you?
- Because you promised me that you were going to wait until I get my memory back…
- But my mother is right, it could take years…
- Is that the real reason or are you afraid I'm going to remember something you don't like?
- No, he said uncomfortable.
- You found me to force me to marry you? Tell me the truth, Neil, why are you in such a hurry?
Neil didn't say anything. All he wanted was to marry Candy-Juliet, by fair means or foul.
- Juliet, it's dinnertime, you're going to stop acting like a baby and come downstairs!
Juliet looked at him surprised. He was finally showing his true colours.
- You're really going to force me to marry you?
- Uncle William is not here; the Great Aunt makes the decisions….
- What do you mean? Uncle William adopted me, so that gives the Great Aunt the right to do with me as she pleases?
- Juliet…
- If you force me to marry you, I swear to you, I would never forgive now and when my memory comes back!
- I want you Juliet, whether you're willing to, or by force…
- You're finally showing your real face…
- Juliet, I love you, I want to marry you… why is that so wrong?
- Let's go downstairs, said Juliet without looking at him.
They arrive downstairs and found Eliza in Terrence's arms. To see him gave Juliet a little courage to go through that evening. She barely ate her diner. The parents talked about the wedding and Juliet was not participating. Terrence could see she was still in a very bad mood.
At one point, Eliza felt bad and asked Terrence to take her to her room. Once they were upstairs, she asked him for a glass of water. He went and got a glass of water downstairs. Eliza spilled the water on purpose on his shirt.
- Eliza… oh careful, I'm all wet…
- I'm sorry, she said with a fake weak voice, take your shirt off.
Eliza was wearing a brooch on her dress. She got near Terrence to undo the buttons of his shirt…
- Eliza, you're not feeling good, let me handle it…
- But I want to help you…
Juliet was passing by and she heard their last words, the door was ajar. She thought something else was going on and she became white as a ghost. Terrence and Eliza? Didn't he tell her that he was not interested in her? Did he lie? But, she can't be sure of what's happening behind a closed door… She gave Terrence the benefit of the doubt.
Meanwhile, Eliza got closer to Terrence and her brooch was stuck in the buttons on his shirt…
- Eliza, easy… said Terrence.
But she took advantage of the situation to pull him on the bed. Terrence fell on her. Juliet looked and saw the scene; Eliza and Terrence in bed together! Her heart was broken into a million pieces! Eliza saw her and said with a mean smile:
- Juliet, can I do something for you?
- Eliza…Oh…
- Yes?
- I just wanted to see how you were, and if you need something, or someone… but I can see you're in good hands… I'm sorry for interrupting, she said closing the door.
- Juliet! Wait said Terrence; it's not what you think! Wait!
- Why are you giving her explanations? I thought it was over between the two of you…
- Do you even care about your reputation? I think you're feeling better, if you were even really sick at all…. Bye, Eliza.
- But your shirt…
- I can take care of it.
- Terrence, wait!
- I don't think your parents would appreciate it if I stay longer in your room… Bye, Eliza, he said getting out.
He decided to leave the manor altogether and avoid the parents. He met Dorothy on his way out.
- Dorothy, thanks for helping Juliet. Did she reimburse you?
- Yes, Sir… Thank you.
-Give her a message for me. Tell her to go to our meeting place at the usual time, ok?
- Ok, Sir. Goodbye.
- Goodbye, Dorothy, and thank you.
Juliet was on her bed crying. Terrence and Eliza? She couldn't get the image out of her head. Why was she hurting so much? He'd lied to her; he said he wasn't interested in Eliza. He'd promise he'd help her; he would take care of her… oh. It hurt too much! She spent the whole night crying. The image of Terrence and Eliza was hurting her a thousandth times more than Neil's betrayal…
The next morning she woke up with a headache. She was sad and miserable and felt like a prisoner. She didn't go downstairs for breakfast. Dorothy brought her a tray in bed.
- Miss Juliet, said Dorothy smiling, Good morning!
- That's a matter of opinion whether this day is good or bad!
- Ok…. You're not in a good mood this morning…
- I'm sorry, Dorothy; it's not your fault… I have the impression that everybody betrayed me; Neil, his aunt, his mother, his sister, Terrence…
- No. Mr. Terrence is trustworthy…
- He was in bed with Eliza!
- Miss Eliza is a schemer; she would do anything, so you'd think what she wants you to think. I think she wanted you to be disappointed in Mr. Terrence.
- But I'm engaged to her brother…
- You think that's going to stop her? You're very beautiful, she sees you as a threat.
- She told Terrence that Neil and I were intimate… that was a lie.
- Go see Mr. Terrence. Give him the benefit of the doubt. He told me to tell you to go to your meeting place, at the usual time.
Juliet was thinking. Should she give Terrence the benefit of the doubt? Anyway, she was feeling better thinking Terrence didn't betray her, than to think about Neil and his family who wanted to trap her in a wedding they pretended was of love. Terrence and Eliza? No… let's give him the benefit of the doubt.
Terry went to see Annie at her parent's house the next morning. She was about to have breakfast.
- Terry, good morning. Come in… have you eaten?
- Good morning, Annie, and no I have not eaten yet.
- So come and join me. My parents are not here.
- Ok, thank you.
They sat at the table.
- So, what's new? Asked Annie.
- Juliet came to see me yesterday, said Terrence.
- Oh… is she all right?
- Not really. The Reagans and the Great Aunt told her that the wedding will take place in a month.
- What?
- She was so upset, she couldn't understand why they want to force her to do something she wasn't ready to do.
- Because they know if she gets her memory back, she would get out of there in a New York minute…
- Exactly…
- Oh, poor Candy! But she turned to you, that's a good thing.
- Yes and no. Annie, I have to save her from Neil, by making her admit what she feels for me. But once her memory is back reality will come crashing down.
- I know, Terry. She'll understand, I'm sure of it. There's no other solution…
- But yesterday, Eliza tricked me to go to her room by faking illness, she wanted to put me in her bed…
- Oh… and Juliet saw you?
- Yes. She was so upset, she must have been thinking that I betrayed her too.
- That Eliza wants to make sure you two don't end up together; first she tells you that Neil and Juliet are intimate, and now wants to make Juliet believe that you are intimate with her.
- She is so vindictive!
- So what are you going to do?
- I have to tell Juliet that I want to be with her…
- Terry…
- I know… it's what I really want, but tell me what should I do? The Great Aunt in Uncle William's absence makes all the decisions. She can and she will force Juliet to marry Neil, so I have to…
Annie remained silent. It was the only way to save Candy, unless they find the Great Uncle William by magic, and that he consents to stop the forces nuptials. Neil and his family were capable to literally put a gun to her back and force her to say yes. But Terry... she will be hurt when her memory comes back, she was understanding, she'll be ok. Better Terry than Neil Reagan.
- Ok, Terry, go ahead. Do it...
- May God help us! I don't know if I'll be able to let her go a second time...