Remember me...
Chapter 21
"The charity gala"
In the evening, during diner, Terrence told Juliet that there was a charity gala in two days.
- A reception! Great! Our first official party as husband and wife, said Juliet
- It's for the cause of Susanna's friend...
- Oh... your "fiancée"...will be there
- Yes...with her friend
- I wanted to stay home, but maybe if she sees us together she'll give up on you...and you and Candy would live happily ever after...
- Or she'll be so jealous that she wouldn't want to let me go...just out of spite
- Who am I kidding? You're probably right...but we have to be optimistic, British
- Ok, Mrs. Freckles...
Since the gala was of charity, Chicago's high society was invited. There was of course a play by the troupe; Macbeth
Juliet was in a loge with Terrence, Annie, Patty and Archibald. When she entered, her head started to spin a little bit, she had a flash, Eliza, Neil, the Great Aunt, refusing to let her in, she saw herself watching Terry from a far...she saw herself outside screaming with Terry's fans and Susanna telling her he was sleeping, she saw herself running after the train...
"Oh Candy, you've got a lot of painful memories! She thought"
Tears started to come down her cheeks. Terrence knew she had just had a flash. IT was becoming more and more frequent. That meant that Candy was coming back soon.
- Juliet, you had another memory? Asked Terrence
- Yes... King Lear...
- Oh... said her friends at the same time
They knew what she was talking about. Terrence held her against him to reassure her, because that flash had come with a lot of bad memories, one of which Susanna stopping her from seeing him. She felt better because of Terrence. Candy was near, Juliet could feel it.
Archibald was looking at them; if he doubted that those two were made for each other, to see them together in such perfect harmony, with all the chemistry they had, he knew without a doubt that Candy and Terry really loved each other... Or was it Juliet and Terrence? Well anyway, the couple he had in front of him were madly in love.
During the reception, everything was well. The high class of Chicago were very generous for Lionel's cause. Susanna was looking at Terrence and Juliet from afar and she felt bad. They were really a beautiful couple.
- Are you sure he's going to come back to you? Asked Lionel
- I don't know Lionel. He seems so happy with her, I don't think he will let her go this time around...
- Are you ready for that?
- Ever since I first saw Terry, I fell in love with him... I never said anything to him until we came here and I realised that he loved Candy...
Terrence and Juliet approached them.
- Good evening said Juliet smiling
- Good evening said Terrence
- Good evening said Lionel, Lionel Sands, thank you for coming Mr. Grandchester
- Call me Terry
- And me Juliet. Susanna...said Juliet
- Terry, Candy… said Susanna
Juliet smiled. She was not going to let Susanna intimidate her.
- I really like the play, said Juliet, you're an excellent actress
- You too…apparently, according to Martin, you would've been an excellent Juliet. You passed the audition
- Oh, but I didn't want it. I wanted to talk to Terrence…that's why I was there, not for the role
- He thought you were excellent. So you can act…
- But not as well as you…Susanna, the critics have talked; you're the best… and you can play any role
- You too, the amnesia girl. That's a good role for you
Susanna continued thinking that she was pretending!
- Role? This is not a role to take Terrence back, like you seen to think, it's a twist of fate to correct the mistake that was Candy and Terry's break up…
- Honey, said Terrence, come with me, I want you to meet someone…
He took her away from there.
- Honey, try to restrain yourself, said Terrence
- I can't promise you that I won't take her eyes out…She deliberately provoking me!
- I know, but stay calm.
Lionel didn't say anything, he looked at Susanna and shook his head. Terry loved Candy, and he will not leave her for Susanna a second time… He didn't love Susanna.
- I know what you're thinking, Lionel
- Susanna, he loves Candy, all you have to do is to look at them together… You deserve better
- She's faking. I'm sure of it
- You honestly think that she needs to fake it, to get your fiancé's attention?
- No, he's crazy about her, I know it… But it makes me so mad!
Since it was their first official party as a couple, Juliet and Terrence had photographs take their pictures. He was also answering their questions.
- Mr. Grandchester? Who's this beautiful young lady next to you?
- This beautiful young woman is my wife, said Terrence
- Your wife? Oh… Have you known her for long? What's her name?
- Her name is Candice White Andrew and I've known her since my school years…
- "Andrew" from the William Andrew's family?
- Yes… Thank you. We're now going back to the reception…
- Mr. Grandchester… One more question…
But Terrence took his wife away from the reporters. Neil and Eliza were there with their parents and were looking at the scene. Neil was fuming. His father saw his mood.
- Neil…he said, I adopted Candy, all those years ago, so that you could have a friend that came from the other side of the track…But what did you and your sister did? You've mistreated her from the first second you met… transformed her into a maid, sent her to Mexico…in the end she was finally adopted by the Andrews…If only you knew…Now you're madly in love with her… You could've had her from the beginning…She was in your house, since the beginning, if you had accepted her, she would've been with you now… Neil you don't see further than your nose!
Neil and Eliza and their mother didn't say anything. Mr. Reagan was right. Neil approached Juliet with his sister.
- So you're playing the big lady's game now? Said Neil
- Neil Reagan, said Juliet, I can't believe you wanted to trap me in a marriage with you, after the way you treated me, for all those years, ever since our first encounter…Yes, I remember how awful you've been to me! But I thank you, because without you, Terrence wouldn't have come here to same me, and he wouldn't have married me…Eliza your dress is too small…!
And she left before the twins could say anything. She walked to the ladies room and she found Susanna in tears. This last one, had seen the press conference and her heart was broken. She avoided the reporters questions by running to the ladies' room. She turned around and saw Juliet.
- You must be proud of yourself, Candy
- Susanna…
- I don't care what you say, for me it's a set up…
- A set up?
- To steal Terry away from me… You gave him to me! And now you've concocted all this to get him back
- Susanna, I know you're hurt, but…
- Don't play innocent with me! I had him for just a few months, when your friends came to announce your disappearance
Ok, Juliet wanted to be nice, but that was too much! Accusing her of plotting… Susanna still thought she was faking her amnesia!
- If Candy wanted to take Terry back, she wouldn't have need all this scenario. All she had to do, was to go see Terry and tell him that she changed his mind. I tired of having this conversation with you! What's really bothering you? That he's happy with me like he's never been with you? That he loves me. He's been in love with Candy since the first time he laid his eyes on her, Susanna. If you really loved him, you would want his happiness and he's happy with me…
- But our agreement…
- You're lucky it was Candy, because if it were me, I wouldn't have let you the man I love so easily, if I would've let him to you at all! Candy is coming back soon, I can feel it. So, calm down. Spend some good time with your friend, who's visibly crazy about you and you're not even seeing it because of your obsession with Terrence!
Juliet got out without powdering her nose. She will do it later, when the air will be breathable. She joined Annie and Patty.
- Are you ok, Juliet? Asked Annie
- Susanna…
- Oh…
- She's letting me have it at every occasion… I think I'm going to end up loosing my temper
- Don't worry about her, said Patty, She's going to get tired
- Well, I'm tired, said Juliet, I'm going to ask Terrence to take me home. Good bye.
- We're not going to stay long either said Patty, bye Juliet
- Bye said Annie
She looked for Terrence with her eyes and found him with a group of people. Susanna and Lionel were there too. She approached him. Terrence smiled at her.
- Sweetie, are you ok? He asked
- I'm tired, hon….
- You want to go back home?
- If it doesn't bother you…
- Of course not, my love. We're leaving he said to the group, goodbye
- Goodbye said Juliet with a smile
He took her arm and they walked to the exit. Susanna was looking at them leave, and she wanted to die! But Candy was right, Lionel loved her and all she could think about it's her obsession for Terry! But…
Juliet was really feeling very tired. She got ready to go to bed with Terrence.
- Are you ok, honey? He asked
- I'm tired…
- Of arguing with Susanna?
- That too, she didn't let me breathe…she really got me tired me tonight…
- I'm sorry…
- I don't know how Candy and you found her likeable… I think she's un sufferable! I couldn't even go to the ladies room in peace; she was there to attack me
They laid on the bed and he took her in his arms.
- You're tire, baby said Terrence, sleep. We'll talk tomorrow
- Hum hum, said Juliet closing her eyes
The next day, at the theatre, Susanna was the other members of the troupe before they take the train at the end of the afternoon.
- Terry, how are you? She asked when she ran into him
- I've been better
- How your wife? She asked ironically
- You really provoked her at every occasion…
- What do you mean
- You bothered her during the whole party…
- Oh… the little wifey went and told on me to her little hubby? Give me a break!
- Susanna… she's been very emotional lately, she needs to rest
- If that's the case, you shouldn't have brought her to the party, you should've let her home
- Maybe I should've have… to protect her from you…
- No… excuse-me if I'm jealous to see my fiancé showing off with his wife!
- But you didn't need to attack her at every occasion
- I couldn't help myself… I can't stand this anymore Terry, when will this situation be over?
- You do know that I love her, don't you? You knew that we were married… I thought you made yourself to that idea…
- Never!
- She's having more and more flashes; her memory is coming back
- It's not too soon!
- I see that I can't discuss with you when you're in that state. I'm sorry I have to go. I have to take my wife to the doctor's
Terry left leaving Susanna fuming. She took the train for New York with Lionel. She continued fuming. Lionel didn't say anything, he approached her, took her in his arms and kissed her passionately, for a long time. She was surprised, but she responded to the kiss with the same passion. When he let go of her, the were breathless…
- Now, said Lionel, think about this kiss and stop obsessing with Candy and Terry!
Susanna didn't say anything… That kiss was magnificent. Terry… Terry never kissed her before… she had a man ready to love her, he won't be waiting for her forever… he had kissed her so she will think about the kiss? Well it worked, she was thinking about the kiss and about all those feelings it had generated in her…
Terrence found Juliet in doctor Green's office.
- Mr. Grandchester, I was telling your wife to rest, to not tire herself too much and to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Ok, said Terrence
- Her memory could come back at any time, be on your guards. She might not remember about Juliet the first days…
- Ok doctor, I will be ready said Terrence
They went to the market to buy some fruits and vegetables, like the doctor ordered.
- Don't forget the lemons and the grapefruits said Juliet
- Ok, said Terrence
The was spending more time with her, since her memory could come back at any time…
On the eve of Annie and Archie's wedding, Juliet had made a special candlelight diner. There were also candles in the bedroom. She was wearing a nice night gown with fine stripes.
- Juliet? Said Terrence surprises
- Good evening my love, she said taking off his blazer
They sat on the table to eat. She had prepared a nice diner as usual, and they drank champagne… but actually it was cider in Juliet's glass…
- Be careful, Freckles, you're head is going to spin…
- It's cider without alcohol in my glass, honey…
- Oh… that's good then…
"The head spinning" " You've got freckles…" She saw herself on a boat drinking champagne, going outside and meeting Terrence. He reminder her of someone, but whom? She finally remembered her first encounter with Terrence.
- Honey? Said Terrence
- The boat… the fog…
- …and me, he finished
- Oh… it's so funny… I remember the day we met; you had tears in your eyes and you tried to hide it by laughing at my freckles… You call "Freckles" ever since we met?
- Yes…
She stood up from her chair and went to sit on Terrence's lap.
- I though you were unbearable! Said Juliet
- And I fell in love with you from the moment I saw you…
- And I never stopped thinking about you, from that moment on…
He kissed her on the lips. They did the dishes and spent the rest of the evening making themselves feel good… the whole night in fact; they couldn't get tired of each other.
- I'm going to leave soon Terrence, and Candy will be back… I'm asking you to be patient, my love. She's stubborn, she might reject you… But I beg to give up…
- It's going to be hard. But Susanna…
- If you think you can go back to Susanna like nothing happened, that's your choice… But I think it's a shame that you live without the woman you love. This accident showed you what it was like to live with your heart's desire. Will you be able to live without it ; with a woman out of duty and obligation? This accident was providential, for Candy and you. You were thinking about leaving Susanna and turn to the bottle because you couldn't live without her. The decision you both made that night at the hospital, was the wrong one…because it made three people unhappy… Susanna was the first one surprised to see how easy you and Candy broke up… You love was stronger than that…
Juliet had tears coming down her cheeks. She knew that if Candy comes back, she won't have the same language. She was going to send him back to his duty… to Susanna.
- Juliet, my love, don't cry, please…
- Promise me that you'll make the right decision for the both of you. Be a little selfish! Charity begins at home! Don't forget I will probably will not be there, the first days when Candy comes back
- I promise you, for the both of us, for Candy…I will find a way to convince her … so we could stay together
- Thanks Terrence. I love you so much. This may be our last night together…I'm going to miss you
- I'm going to miss you too. I love you Juliet.
He wiped her tears and kissed her and they showed how much they loved each other… There was a time for everything and Juliet's time was almost over….