Tomorrow in your life
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 10
"Painful memories"
The young woman was looking at the window in her bedroom. It was raining hard like it was raining in her heart. She had her eyes filled with tears; she was looking at the drops of water falling on the city.
"He would've been 16 today…" She said the heart thorn.
She had the heart in ashes every year at the same date. She was trying to imagine how he would've been. Maybe he would've looked like his father and will go to military school or maybe he would've become a reporter like his mother. Why was life so cruel to her? It was certainly to punish her to have lied about her age and to have and given herself to a man without being married, like her mother used to say every time she spent time with her daughter; she reminder her that she was the disgrace of the family. She regretted that her father died when she was little, if her father had been there…
- Are you ok, honey? Asked a man's voice, dragging her out of her thoughts
- Yes my love, she said sadly
- You're thinking about him?
- I can't help myself… he would've been 16 today
- I know baby, he said holding her against him
Her husband let her cry one day every year. The day of the birth and the death of their little boy.
He took her to bed. She laid down on her side and he laid down behind her holding her against him. Without a word, they started to think in unison about the past, about what had happened 17 years earlier…
It was in July in Washington D.C.
- Come on Melissa, it's going to be fun, said Katie
- But, what if my mother learns about it? Said Melissa brushing her long blond and curly hair
- You're going to tell your mother? Asked Cindy
- No, but it's a college party, we're only 15, said Melissa
Melissandre Grant was terrorised by her mother the senator Verna Grant, who wanted nothing to tarnish her impeccable reputation. And her daughter in a college party, drinking alcohol, was going to drive her crazy if she knew about it. Strangely enough it was that last thought that convinced Melissa to go to the party.
- Ok, let's go, but I'm going to tell my mother that I'm going to spend the night at your house, ok, Cindy?
- Ok. We have to dress up and put make up on, so we can look older
That's how they went to the college party, passing themselves of as 19 year olds.
The party was pretty noisy. Alcohol was pouring, the music was deafening, the smoke from the cigarettes made the air non breathable. The girls felt a little lost. They sat on chairs; there were people on the dance floor. The girls didn't stay alone for long they were invited to dance by college boys. They had a lot of fun. Melissa felt like going outside and breathe some fresh air because of all the cigarettes smokes. She went outside on the terrace. There were other people talking.
- The smoke is bothering you? Asked a voice next to her
Melissa turned around and saw a young and handsome man with blond hair and laughing eyes. She smiled.
- I don't smoke, she answered
- Me neither, he said smiling
- British? She Asked
- My accent…
- I think it's charming
- The American accent is not so bad
- You think I'm charming too?
- That goes without saying. Let me introduce myself, Philip Crane
- Melissandre Grant, pleased to meet you
- Pleased to meet you
They started to talk of this and that. They went back inside to dance a few slows. They spent the rest of the evening together. She told him she was 19 and that she went to the local college. She didn't think she would see him again after the party is over. Philip's father was a military officer at the British Embassy. He thought she was charming with her green eyes and when the party was over, he asked her for her phone number. She couldn't give it to him because of her mother.
- Give me yours, she said, I'm going to call you
- Ok, he said, writing a number on a piece of paper, call me
- I will, she said, good night!
On their way back in the cab, her friends asked her if she was going to call him.
- His father works at the Embassy, said Melissa
- He gave you his number, you're lucky! Said Katie
- Lucky girl! Said Cindy
- You guys are crazy! I'm not going to call him. He thinks I'm 19 and that I'm in college. It was fun for one evening, but it's stops there!
- Melissa, you have the phone number of an attractive son of diplomat and you don't give a damn? Said Katie
- He's older, said Melissa
- He's handsome, and his accent…. Said Cindy
- No, my mother is going to kill me said Melissa
- Don't tell you mother, silly! Said Katie
- Keep the number, add Cindy
- Ok, we'll see tomorrow, said Melissa
A week went by before Melissa decided finally to call Philip one morning.
- Melissandre he said, hi! I thought you forgot about me!
- No… I wanted to know how you were…
- I'm fine, now that I heard your voice, what about you?
- I'm fine thanks
- Can we see each other?
- Ok. What did you have in mind?
- We could go eat something and then go to the cinema…
- Cinema?
- The movie theatre… that's how we British call it…
- Oh… that's sounds like a good idea, we could meet downtown
She didn't want him to come and pick her up, she was afraid her mother would see him. She was doing a crazy thing, going out with an older boy… but she couldn't get him out of her head. That's why she waited a week, to see if she was going to forget about him. But her need to see him, just got stronger.
They met downtown, they went to eat and then they went to the movies. In early evening, she asked him to drop her at her friend Katie's house. In the car, he leaned to kiss her on the lips. She felt like she was suddenly thrown into incontrollable whirlwind. She was feeling, for the fist time, emotions she didn't suspect existed, on the top of her 15 years. She did everything to hide it from her mother, and she had succeeded. She was calling Philip when her mother wasn't there. He was asking himself why she couldn't receive any phone calls; she'd told him that her mother was very strict. So he didn't insist. In the beginning of august, he invited her at his house. His parents were gone to New York for the weekend. She talked to her friends before she went.
- Melissa, you're going to be alone with him… said Cindy
- It could be tempting said Katie
- No, girls, nothing is going to happen. I'm going to spend some good time with him, that's all. I will tell you everything when I come back, ok? If my mother knew… well, I think I'm in love with him…
- Oh. Melissa, you're so lucky said Katie
- Lucky? He's going to dump me as soon as he learns how old I am…
- You're not going to tell him…? Asked Cindy
- I'm going to tell him at the end of the summer… said Melissa. For now, I feel so good in his company…
- Take advantage of the time you have. There's only one first time love, and it's most beautiful one, most of the time. Said Katie
Melissa went at Philip's house. It was a villa with a pool. Philip had told her and she bought her bathing suit. They swam, listened to music, and watched movies. At one point, she went to Philip's room to change. He went upstairs to get something and they found themselves in the bedroom, in bathing suit… and what had to happen, happened!
A few weeks later, she was late in her cycle. She didn't want to tell her mother, it would be a disaster. But her mother found out when she saw her vomiting one morning. Melissa would have preferred to confront an army of lions, than her mother's wrath.
- Who is it? She yelled
- I'm not going to tell you, said Melissa, leave him alone!
- No way! He's going to pay for what he's done
- No, mom, leave him alone, please….
She knew her mother is going to make a mess. She was going to cause problem for Philip and his family. She didn't say anything, but her mom with her connections, finally learned the identity of the father of her baby. All hell broke loose! Philip and his parents had diplomatic immunity, but she still threatened to sue him for statutory rape.
- Statutory rape? Asked Philip, but…
- She's 15, said Verna….
- 15? I had no idea… she told me she was 19…said Philip
- Mrs. Grant, said Mr. Crane, I can assure you, we are going to take care of this problem
- "This problem" is your son. I want him out of the United States or I'm going to create a diplomatic incident. I'm a senator; I have a lot of influence…
- Mrs. Grant…started Mr. Crane
- You wouldn't want your son's indiscretions to cost you your career…
- Mrs. Grant, you don't need to threaten me. My son will leave the United States in the next plane for Great Britain
- I'm glade we understand each other.
Once Verna was gone, Philip was talking with his father.
- You go pack your bags…
- But father, I have to see her…
- Don't you think you've done enough!
- But I love her, I want to say goodbye…
- Senator Grant was not kidding around; she could cause us a lot of trouble… I don't want her to create a diplomatic incident…
- But…
- Philip, said his mother, I think it's better to do as your father says
- But mum…
- Please Philip, said his mother
Philip could only obey. He left the Unites States for Great Britain the same night, without seeing Melissa again.
Mrs. Grant didn't stop there; she used her influence and a lot of favours so that Philip's father, will leave the United States for another country; he was sent to Greece.
Melissa was sent to a small town near lake Michigan. She was staying with her mother's friends. She carried her pregnancy to term. She was happy to have a boy or a girl to love, Philip's baby. She missed him so much. With his baby, she would at least have a part of him with her, a souvenir. Her mother came just before the birth of her baby. When the labour pain started, her mother took her to a private clinic. During the delivery, Melissa fainted. When she woke up she felt her belly, it was empty. She asked where her baby was.
- Melissandre, said her mother, God punished you for lying and fornicating…
- Where's my baby? She asked with tears in her eyes
- God took him, he's dead…, said Verna
- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! MY BABYYYYYYY! I WANT MY BABY!
- Calm down, said her mother. Everything is going to be fine, this is a blessing in disguise… this baby would have ruined your life
- What did I have? She said sobbing
- A little boy said Verna
- I don't understand, everything was fine, I was feeling him kick, she sobbed, that's all I had left from Philip… No No No Why? Why? How could you call my baby's death a blessing in disguise? How could you be so cruel? You're a monster mom!
Verna slapped her daughter hard. This last one looked at her surprised, she didn't even felt the slap. She wanted her baby. They brought her a lifeless baby body and she held on to it like her life depended on it. She didn't want to let go of it. They had to force it off her hands; she was hysterical. They had so sedate her.
She went back to Washington with her mother. She became sad and murky. Her mother kept telling her, every chance she got, what a sinner she was for fornicating and how God had punished her by killing her baby. She didn't see her friends anymore. She changed school. Her mother sent her to boarding school. She finished her high school. She enrolled in the scholarship program for Europe. She asked her godfather to help her. He got her a scholarship for Oxford University. She left; she told her mother about it an hour before her plane left.
- How could you do this to me? You're leaving me?
- I'm going to study mom. I have to live; here your life is suffocating me. I can't take it anymore.
- You ungrateful little slut, after everything I've done for you…
- You're my mother; it's your moral and physical obligation… bye mom.
She left the United Stated without a look back. She didn't know if she was going to see her mother again. She never forgave her for calling her baby's death a "blessing in disguise". That woman was a monster! Once in Oxford, she looked for a job that she combined with her studies. She studied journalism and found work in a local London paper. She had the mundane page, so she was at every society gathering receptions, so she could write her articles.
On day at a reception at the Ministry of foreign affairs, she was talking to some diplomats. While she was resting and drinking a little, she heard someone talk.
- My God, Melissandre Grant!
No, it was not possible! A voice from the past! She turned around.
- Philip Crane, or should I say Lieutenant Crane, according to your costume.
- How long has it been? Asked Philip
- 10 years…
- You've became even more beautiful…
- You've got to be kidding me! You're flirting with me? I have to work….
She left him and she continued her interviews. She didn't have time to flirt, especially not with Philip Crane! Not after her disappeared without a following address. But that was counting without Philip's perseverance. He started to send her flowers everyday, for weeks. She didn't budge. He was then waiting for her after work, every night.
- Philip…don't you get that I don't want to see you?
- But I want to talk to you, I want to see you
- You see me…
- You still have your sense of humour
- Philip, I'm tired. I only want one thing, go home, eat and sleep
- I can come with you
- No…
- Melissandre, please
Melissandre looked at him. She was playing hard to get, but she really wanted to hug him and kiss him… but the past was still too present. Small steps, baby steps…
- Come and get me tomorrow at noon, if you're available
- I'll make myself available… he said with a smile
The next day, they were eating in a nice restaurant from downtown London.
- How are you? Asked Philip
- You know how I am…
- You've become a little… bitter
- Life does that to people sometimes…
They talked of all and nothing. Then she went back working. Despite her cynical talk and her sarcasm, Philip didn't discourage himself. He continued calling her and they often had diner together. A lot of months passed before she finally open up to Philip. Despite all the feelings she had for him, she didn't want to hurt him. But she started to realise that being with Philip, made her happy, even if she didn't want to admit it to herself. They spent a lot of time together, but they never talked about the past. He finally got her back after a lot of patience and a lot of effort…. They were in Melissa's bed.
- Honey, I missed you so much…he said
- Stop saying that, you disappeared…
- You don't know?
- I don't know what?
He told her what had happened with her mother and his parents. Melissa couldn't believe her ears. Her mother didn't say anything to Philip and his parents about the baby!
- She didn't tell you anything?
- About what? He asked
She told him her story in details, and she couldn't help shedding some tears. It was Philip's turn not to believe his ears.
- You had our baby?
- I lost our baby, he would have been 10 going on 11, she said crying… then I was in boarding school for the rest of my high school year. At every occasion my mother had, she repeated to me that I was a sinner and that God punished me by taking my baby! She called our baby's death " a blessing in disguise"! I will never forgive her for that! Never!
- I'm sorry, I didn't know. I would've taken my responsibilities, I would've taken care of you… you never gave me your phone number, I didn't know where to call you… and then my parents left America…
- Verna Grant, doesn't go halfway… I'm sorry I lied to you about my age. I wanted to tell you the truth… but I found myself pregnant and my mother found out… and all hell broke loose!
- It's over, we're adults now, both of us. I don't think I ever told you, but I love you, I loved you from the first time I saw you at that party, trying to get away from the smoke by breathing some fresh air…
- I love you Philip, I never stopped loving you, even when I thought you've abandoned me. My mother repeated to me for years that making love to you was the reason I lost my baby… So you can imagine how much that traumatised me…
- I don't want to lose you anymore. Melissandre Grant, will you marry me?
- Yes, Philip, I want to be your wife.
He gave her a diamond ring later. She has tears in her eyes. At last, a little happiness.
After that, they became inseparable! They got married a few months later and Melissandre followed her husband around the world, at Embassies, while continuing working for the paper abroad. She was able to continue her work everywhere she was with her husband. They had three children; a little girl who was 5, a little boy who was 4 and a little girl who was 1. She never returned to America to see her mother. She still couldn't forgive her for calling her baby's death "a blessing in disguise".
They both came back to reality. They stood up, took the blankets off the bed and laid down the bed. The children were asleep for a while and they fell asleep. Life was smiling at them, they found each other, years later and they had a family, good jobs that took them around the world. They were grateful to God.
In the bridal suite, Candy and Terry were getting ready to go to bed. Candy was in the bathroom taking her make up off. She was wearing a nightgown she'd found in one of the drawers in the room. She took her hair down, and started to brush it for a while.
Terry, who had also changed, was looking at her with love. He took a pillow from the bed and lay down on the couch. Candy lay down on the big bed. She was looking at Terry on the couch.
- Terry, there's lots of spaces on the bed
- You know what almost happen earlier…
- But the bed is big enough. You don't trust yourself?
- Not really, no…
- I trust you. You can come on the bed, it's very comfortable…
Terry looked at her for a while and finally took the pillow a and the blanket and joined her on the bed. Candy came closer and they spent the night curled up to each other, until morning. It was a little hard for Terry at first, but he finally fell asleep. He woke up early in the morning and he took a shower to calm his evident growing desire. To spend the night in Candy's arms, was for him a delight and a torture at the same time.
He came out of the bathroom and found Candy sitting on the bed.
- Good morning, she said smiling
- Good morning, Freckles
- What's today's program?
- We have to go back to school
- Not right away…
- No, in the evening. Unless you want to go earlier…
- What for? To be bored to death? No, let's take advantage of our free time to the fullest
That's what they did. They had fun in the suite eating and laughing. They went to the zoo and they met Albert who was working there. They spend a little time with him, not took much because he had to work. They went back to school in early evening.
Annie, Patty and Tanisha came to see her in the evening her room.
- You weren't bored here all alone? Asked Annie
- All alone? You're kidding right? What about Terry? Said Candy
- You said that he didn't know it was your birthday said Patty
- But he found out and he made me the biggest surprise ever!
She told her friends everything that happened in details; they were green with envy.
- My God said Tanisha, you really have the perfect boyfriend!
- He really loves you a lot, he treated you like a princess said Annie
- Wasn't it tempting to be in the bridal suite with him… asked Patty
- You have no idea! Said Candy thinking about the passionate kisses she shared with Terry
- Why didn't you just do it? Asked Tanisha, it would've been a nice "thank you" for him
- Because it was my birthday, not his! I just turned 16… I have my whole life to do it, the rest of my life in fact. Have you do it, Tanisha?
- No, but if I found a guy that loves me as much as Terry loves you, why not?
- Your boyfriend doesn't love you? Asked Patty
- There's "love" and there's "love" said Tanisha, we're playing, but Candy and Terry, that's the real McCoy…