Remember me
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 12
"A marriage of convenience"
At the Reagans', they didn't have the time to talk about Candy's problem because they had just received a horrible news. Alistair, Archibald's brother, had disappeared in a plane crash… but his body was never recovered. The Great Aunt Elroy was completely devastated. She thought about Anthony's death and she didn't get out of her bedroom. An atmosphere of sadness was suddenly down on all those who knew Alistair.
Patricia felt like they'd stuck a knife in her heart. No! He couldn't be dead! She was crying, she was crying all the tears of her body… But since they said that his body has not been found, she had hope.
"…believe in love and everything will be fine, even if everything seems to go bad…"
The words Madame Clara said to her came back in her head. Trust love, the most powerful force of the universe…
"He's alive, I can feel it…" she said. "Lord Jesus, let him come back safe and sound, I beg you…"
The people around her were consoling her; she didn't want to tell them that she believed he was alive.
The was a funeral for Alistair Cornwell, who died at war. Juliet and Terrence were in hiding, sort of, so they couldn't go to the funeral.
"Candy would understand," said Terrence to himself.
Terrence took advantage of that time to get a marriage license, so he would be ready if need be; if Neil came to get her on behalf of the Great Aunt Elroy, who was responsible for Candy in the absence of Uncle William. Even though they used that only when it suits them; the Great Aunt never cared for Candy, except now a marriage with Neil would be great for their business. That was so sad.
Terrence also went to consult a lawyer who had advised him to marry Juliet so she would be his responsibility. But it had to be a real wedding, because if they find out it was a fake marriage, it could be annulled and Juliet could still be forced to marry Neil. Susanna… he had promised to marry her… but all it took for him, was to think about Juliet and Neil together; it gave him the courage to go through with it. He will take care of Susanna later… He was still sending her money for the bills. He was providing of her.
Eliza Reagan was still angry with Terrence and Juliet. After the week of the funeral, she wrote a letter to Susanna Marlowe:
Dear Miss Marlowe,
You don't know me. I'm writing you to tell you about the activities of Terrence Grandchester. I asked him about you, and he told me that you were not together anymore. If that's the case, consider this letter as null and void. Mr. Grandchester is living in sin with a young girl who answers to the name of Juliet. That young lady until recently was engaged to be married to Neil Reagan, son a rich family of Chicago, when she ran away with Terrence Grandchester, provoking a scandal in Chicago's high society. If you are still engaged to Terrence Grandchester, come and put an end to this sordid situation.
Sincerely yours,
A friend who cares
Eliza had a mean and satisfying smile and mailed the letter.
"You're going to pay, Candy, you little slut!"
Neil finally went at Terrence's apartment and hit a brick wall; Terrence Grandchester.
- Give her back to me, you bastard!
- She's not a toy.
- She's mine.
- She belongs to no one.
- I want to marry her, make an honest woman out of her, what's so wrong about that?
- She refuses to marry you with her amnesia, you want to force her and you know why…
- You're not going to get away with this, said Neil irritated, I'm bringing back up.
- Do what you want Reagan, but you'll have to go through me first.
- You bastard! Repeated Neil, leaving very mad.
Juliet was inside and she had heard everything. Terrence closed the door and turned around, they looked at each other. There was silence. Uncle William was nowhere to be found…. So…
- Juliet, will you marry me?
- Yes, she said in a whisper.
She ran to him and jumped to his neck. She felt so lost, she wished Terrence had found her, not Neil… they sat together on the couch. He still had her in his arms.
- Are you sure it doesn't bother you? I didn't want to marry Neil with my amnesia and now…
- You want to marry me… but it's so Neil won't force you to marry him…
- That kind of sounds weird, doesn't it? But do you think Candy would want to be married to you?
Terrence remained silent. Candy left him so he could be with Susanna. She's going to be horrified to see that he married her, instead of Susanna, but less horrified than to find herself married to Neil Reagan. Juliet got worried about Terrence's silence.
- Terrence? Candy would be happy to be your wife, wouldn't she?
- Let's just say… better me than Neil Reagan.
- You're the lesser of two evils?
- Something like that…
- You left New York to come here so I could get Candy's memory back… for me; you're a good guy. She will think so too, I'm sure of it.
- From your mouth to God's ears!
- So, my British fiancé, are you happy to be forced to marry me?
"You have no idea, Freckles! It's my biggest dream!" He said in his head.
But he said out loud:
- I saw a lawyer, he said that we have to prove that our marriage is real, otherwise the Great Aunt could have it annulled and still force you to marry Neil.
- What do you mean by proving? You mean we have to prove that we're making love?
- In a way, yes…
- How do we prove that? Short of having someone in the room with us…
Terrence laughed, Juliet smiled.
- That would be a little extreme… but I'm not sure… public marks of affection maybe? Said Terrence.
- That's not a problem… said Juliet.
Terrence remained silent, he looked at her. Was it really his Freckles behind that face? He liked her daring side…
- Don't tell me Candy didn't like public displays of affection… where did she come from, a convent? Asked Juliet.
Terrence burst out laughing.
- With that attitude, we won't have any problem convincing everybody that we're intimate.
There was a little silence.
- You really want just to convince them, to pretend? Finally asked Juliet.
Terrence seemed a little surprised by the question. What did she mean?
- I mean, we're going to be married, aren't we? The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife and likewise… said Juliet.
Terrence was so astonished that he didn't know what to say. Juliet was full of surprises!
- I know I don't have Candy's memory, but I feel good with you, I want to take advantage of it… if Candy comes back… well, come what may!
- Ok, but it's her body…
- Well for now it's mine and it's also the same heart that trusts you… and it's not like I'm going to prostitute myself… I'm going to fulfill my marital duty as a wife.
- Oh, Juliet, I love you...
- I love you too, my British Terrence Grandchester…
They kissed passionately for a while and she went to sleep in the bedroom in the single bed.
At the Reagan's, Neil was yelling at his mother, his Great Aunt Elroy and his sister.
- It's your fault, you got impatient! Now, she's with Grandchester!
- Calm down, Neil, said the Great Aunt, she's my responsibility, we're going to find her and force her to marry you.
- You'll get the woman you want, said Mrs. Reagan.
- But now, she hates me again! Said Neil.
- She always hated you; she forgot, that's all! Said Eliza.
- I almost managed to make her like me, she would've learned to love me in time, said Neil.
- With Terrence Grandchester around? Said Eliza.
- You're the one that brought him here! Said Neil.
- I thought that… started Eliza.
- You thought what? That he forgot about Candy and he was miraculously in love with you? It was a ruse, you poor idiot! A ruse to be near Candy! Yelled Neil.
- Neil, calm down said his mother.
- I knew I should've brought her far away from here, maybe we would've been happy… YOU RUINED MY LIFE! He yelled going out.
The three ladies remained silent. Neil was right, they've ruined everything. They thought they would be able to manipulate Juliet, Candy without her memory, but she turned out to be more rebellious and more daring than Candy with her memory. She was giving them a run for their money…
Annie Brighton woke up early. There was a knock on her door.
- Miss Annie? Called the maid.
- Yes, Dorina?
- You have a telephone call… Mr. Terrence Grandchester…
- Thanks, Dorina.
She put a robe on, and went downstairs to answer the phone.
- Hello, Terry? Good morning.
- Good morning, Annie.
- How are you? You're calling me early…
- I have to do it, Annie… with Stear's funeral, I didn't want to bother you.
- You're going to marry Juliet?
- A lawyer advised me to marry her so she'll be my responsibility… Neil came last night and he threatened to bring back up.
- So, you're doing it now?
- I've already got the license.
- You're ready. Ok, I'm coming. I can't miss this… But Archie and Patty…
- I know, I understand. I wanted to come with Juliet, but…
- You got used to calling her "Juliet"…
- She's right, Annie, she's not Candy! Said Terry laughing.
- The Reagans could've taken her by force if you had brought her to the funerals… But I'm coming, don't do anything without me! See you later.
- See you later.
Annie hung up the phone and got ready really quickly. Juliet was marrying Terrence; she wouldn't miss that for the world. Archie and Patty were still grieving Stear's disappearance.
Patricia woke up early too. She felt like seeing Annie and Candy-Juliet. She got ready and went to see Annie. The world was expecting her to be sad but she wasn't. Stear was alive, he was coming back. If he were dead, she would've felt it, and Madame Clara's words… But to tell the others that she believed a fortune teller… they will tell her that she was deluding herself, that she was hanging on to a dream.
- Patty, said Annie who was ready to get out, Hi! I didn't think I'll see you today.
- Where are you going so early in the morning? Said Patty surprised to see her practically out the door.
- Juliet and Terry…
- Oh… they took my advice? Super!
- Are you sure? When Candy comes back…
- What? She's going to be mad to be the wife of the man she loves?
- He's not free…
- He's not married to Susanna… I think destiny found a way to put them back together…
- By a really weird combination of circumstances… Juliet is so daring with no shame…
- The opposite of Candy a little… but she's still good…
- But Susanna…
- Let's go see our Juliet for her wedding, said Patty, life it too short to spend it worrying…
Annie didn't say anything. She knew her friend was thinking about Stear. Ever since the funeral, Patty was not so shy anymore…
Terrence called Annie, reserved the bridal suite in a luxurious hotel and looked for an apartment a little bigger, furnished with a double bed… he also made arrangements to move and in the mean time they would stay at the hotel for two days. He bought some croissants and took it to the apartment. Juliet had just waked up. She took a shower first and she was now making breakfast. She smiled when she saw Terrence. He looked at her and felt warmth in his heart. That's the picture wanted to see for the rest of his life.
- Good morning, my future British husband! I have coffee ready. But there's no more bread… you want eggs and sausages?
- Good morning, my future wife, he said with a nice smile, I bought some croissants and yes, thank you.
Juliet was doing the eggs. Terrence approached her and kissed her on the neck from behind. She smiled and she had a flash… she was making eggs and there was about a dozen in the pan and a man with long blond hair was laughing at her. Terrence felt that something was happening.
- Juliet! Are you ok? Did you have a flash? I should kiss you more often…
- Yes, I had a flash; I was making a lot of eggs in the pan and a man with blond hair was laughing at me… do you know who he is?
- Yes, it's Albert…
- Albert?
- Mr. Albert, that's how you used to call him… he saved your life and he had lost his memory and you took him in… You didn't care what people were going to say…
-He lost his memory? But where is he?
- We don't know, maybe Candy knows…
- He lost his memory? Repeated Juliet.
- If it were contagious, we could've said he contaminated you…
-Really!
They burst out laughing. They ate happily talking about everyday things. There was a knock at the door. It was Annie and Patty with a lot of bags.
- Annie, Patricia, hi, said Juliet.
- Terry called me, I couldn't miss it, said Annie.
- Me neither, said Patty smiling.
Juliet looked at Patty; she approached her and hugged her.
- Patricia, I'm sorry. But remember Madame Clara's words, you need to have hope, even when everything seems to be going bad. Believe in love…
Patty was surprised to see that Juliet remembered Madame Clara's words.
- And you, did you follow your heart? She asked Juliet.
- Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, said Juliet.
- Thanks, Juliet, said, Patty hugging her hard.
Annie and Terrence were looking at them smiling.
- Let's go get you ready, Terry, we don't want to see you anymore… go and wait for us at city hall.
- Ok, he said, I'll change and I'll go. Don't take too long!
Annie and Patty had brought a white dress, they took from Candy's room at the Andrew mansion, they had white flowers for her hair, a bouquet of white roses and white shoes. Some old and borrowed; Patty had her grandmother's brooch: something new, Annie bought some earrings for her and something blue, a blue garter. They got their friend ready; she was very beautiful and very happy to marry Terrence Grandchester.
- You think Candy would be happy to be Terrence's wife? Asked Juliet.
- It's better than Neil Reagan, said Annie.
- You seemed vague, like Terrence, said Juliet.
- She's going to be glad, said Patty, don't worry about that.
- Ok, let's go! Said Juliet.
They arrived at City hall and fond Terrence waiting for them. He was wearing a suit, and he was very handsome. Juliet was very beautiful too. He smiled at her and she returned his smile. The ceremony started, and fifteen minutes later, Candice White Andrew, without her memory, became Mrs. Terrence Grandchester.
- We have to celebrate, said Annie, let's go to the restaurant, my treat!
They dined in the restaurant of the hotel where Terry had booked the bridal suite. They had a lot fun. Terrence took a few days off from work, but he had to make some phone calls to the theatre. The three friends were alone.
- It's a marriage of convenience… in name only? Asked Annie.
- You want to know if we're going to consummate our union? Said Juliet.
- Yes, said Annie blushing.
- I think that since Terrence loves me, and that I love him and were are now legal… why torture ourselves?
Annie became bright as red and Patty burst out laughing.
- I embarrassed you, Annie, said Juliet, I'm sorry, you shouldn't have asked the question then…
- No, it's just that… started Annie.
- Candy was prude? Sorry…
- It's really funny the way you talk about her, said Patty.
- Like she's another person? But she is another person. It's not Candy that woke up in that hospital room; it's me, Juliet. And as long as I don't have all of Candy's memory, I'll be Juliet.
- Did you remember anything? Asked Annie.
- Yes… the first night, or I should say the first time Terrence kissed me, I had a flash.
- Candy and Terry kissing? Asked Patty.
- Yes… they slapped each other…
- What? Said Patty.
- Yes… it was a funny memory for me.
- Oh… said Annie, so it's working…
She stopped.
- What's working? Asked Juliet.
- Your memory is coming back little by little, said Patty looking at Annie.
- Yes, this morning I was making eggs and I remembered Mr. Albert…
- Wow, said Patty, that's great!
Terrence came back at the table, and they continued their meal talking. Annie and Patty left the two lovebirds and went to see Archie. Juliet and her husband were getting ready to leave too.
- Where are we going? Asked Juliet.
- I have the bridal suite in this hotel. We can go change and go see the new apartment I rented for us, said Terry.
- With a bigger bed?
- Of course!
- Oh… nice.
- And if you want, we can go see Archie.
- Sure, he lost his brother.
They went to change in their hotel room, Terry had bought their some of their luggage there when he made the reservations in the morning, and then they went to visit the new apartment. It was bigger and more luxurious than the other one. It had two bedrooms, a big one, which would be the master bedroom, and a smaller one. There was a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a small toilet.
- Terrence, are we ok? It's not too expensive? What did Candy do, did she have money in a bank or something?
- I suppose, but only Candy can answer that. But don't worry about that, I can take care of us.
- Ok, but I have the impression that Candy wasn't the kind to stay around without doing anything.
They went at the Andrew Mansion to see Archie. They found him alone and sad.
- Archie, said Juliet, approaching him, my condolences…
She hugged him. Terrence shook his hand.
- My condolences, your brother was a nice guy.
Terrence remembered how happy Stear was in Scotland when he came to see the airplane in the shed at his father's villa.
- Thank you both, said Archie moved, how are you?
- We're fine said Juliet, we just got married.
- Oh… yes, Annie told me, congratulations, said Archie sincerely.
- It's so the Reagans and the Great Aunt won't force me to marry Neil, since I'm under her responsibility… said Juliet.
- But what if they discover it's a ploy…said Archie.
- We'll just have to prove them the contrary, said Juliet.
There were pictures of Stear. Juliet took one and looked, he had black hair and glasses, he was the one Patricia loved.
"He wears glasses like her. You need to have hope," thought Juliet.
They stayed for a little while and then they left. In normal times, Archie would've been crazy with jealousy, but for now, his brother was in his mind.
"Stear, what am I going to do without you? First Anthony and now you… Why God, why do I have to lose my brothers?"
Anthony was his cousin, but for Archie, he was his brother like Stear was.