Tomorrow in your life
Chapter 12
Romanian vacations, part 1:
"Visit and pleasure"
The next morning, the children awakened Candy.
- Good morning little ones, she said smiling
- Good morning!
They climbed on the bed, Candy helped little Cassie to climb, she was very pretty with her freckles, like her. She talked with the children happily and was laughing. Little Carissa was teaching her how to count in Romanian. Candy went with her to their bedroom, and gave them a bath, one at the time and dressed them. The maid came to get them to feed them. Candy went to take a shower and got dressed. She went to the dining room and found the whole family at the table having breakfast.
- Good morning, every body! She said
- Good morning ,said everybody
- Thanks for getting the kids ready, said Melissa
- Oh no, the pleasure was all mine, they're adorable…
- Did you spend a good night? Asked Philippe
- Yes, thank you
Candy's cell phone started to ring. The maid was serving her tea, eggs and toasts.
- Excuse-me she said to the others, hello? Terry hi, sweetie! I had a good night, thanks. What about you? They didn't bother you too much?… I'll see you in a bit… Ciao!
- Terry? Where does he live? Asked Melissa
- At the Italian Ambassador's residence
- Ornella and Francesca… is he handsome, your guy?
- Very…
- They are going to try to have him
- I trust Terry
- That's good
- I have to go, said Philippe, see you tonight he said kissing his wife and his kids on the forehead, he also kissed Candy on the forehead.
They finished breakfast and Melissa took Candy to the American cultural centre, where they were suppose to meet with the others. There were other students already, so was Terry. Melissa got out of the car with Candy. Terry walked towards them. he gave Candy a quick hug.
- Melissa, let me introduce you to Terrence Grandchester… Terry this is Melissa
- You're the son of the Duke Richard Granchester?
- Yes, said Terry surprised
- I'm a reporter, the society page, it's my field and I was in London
- Oh… said Terry
- Candy, I'll come and get you around 5 pm… have a nice day
- Thanks, bye Melissa
- Bye, Candy
She went back to her car and left. Candy was watching her go.
- Isn't she great? She asked Terry
- Yes. She looks like you… maybe that's why you feel so good with her
- She looks like me?
- The same hair,… the freckles… the eyes…
- Really? I don't see it…
- You must be blind, Freckles, this woman could be your mother!
Candy wanted to answer, but her friends arrived at that moment.
- Hello, said Annie smiling
- Good morning, said Patty
- Hello! Said Tanisha
- Hello girls, said Candy smiling, where are the boys?
- Over there, talking to girls
- What's today's program again? Asked Tanisha
- We're going to Snagov to visit the city, that's where Dracula's grave is… explained Patty
- It's not in Transylvania? Asked Annie
- Apparently not, said Candy, we have to go, they're calling us, let's go get on the bus…
They all went to get on the bus. Terry and Candy went to sit at the back of the bus. Her friends were sitting on the seats right in front of them. Eliza, Lizzie and her group, were sitting at the front. The visit went on without an itch. Dracula's grave. Dracula in Romanian meant "the devil". The legend says he turned to black magic and was making his enemies disappear.
- You think that Bram Stoker came here to make his research to write his book? Asked Candy
- I don't know said Terry, but he made a mistake on the region; we're not in Transylvania… but maybe he was just buried here…
The people of the village were looking at them smiling, tourists; it was good to see other people beside the village people. They went to eat in a Romanian restaurant, altogether. The guide was a Romanian lady, named Lydia Grigore. She was translating and advised them to try "Cascaval pane", a Romanian specialty made with a local cheese. It was served with fries. That's what they ordered for everybody. And every body liked it. They spent the rest of the after noon visiting local orthodox churches.
- What's the difference between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church? Asked Patty to Lydia
- Orthodox priest can get married… started Lydia
- That's enough to convert me! Said Neil
Every body started laughing. They finished their visit and continued asking questions to Lydia. Then came the time to go back to Bucharest. They went back like they came, by bus. Candy was in Terry's arms.
- I'm going to miss you again, Romeo
- Our evenings are more of less free, aren't they? I can come and see you or you can come and see me
- What's the name of the girl that's hitting on you?
- Francesca…
- Francesca, is not going to send me away?
- If she does that, I will never talk to her again… you know your family's address?
- No, but I can ask Melissa and I'll call you
- Ok.
They fell asleep holding each other until they got to the American cultural centre. The host parents came to pick them up, they were already waiting for a while. Candy saw her family from afar. Terry saw the driver of the Italian Embassy with Francesca.
- That's her?
- Yes…
- She's beautiful…
- Really, I didn't notice
- Terry stop, I trust you.
- Thanks Juliet. See you later…
- See you later Romeo, she said smiling, ciao!
Candy went back with her family. But they had to put their plans to see each other on hold, because the Italian Ambassador had other plans. They had to go to the Italian church. The priest only came once in a while, so when he was there, there was a mass every night. Candy went with her family to the British cultural centre to see a movie with other members of the diplomatic corp. It really was a way to meet and socialise and talk. Candy met other children of diplomats, there were some from African countries, South America, Asia… it was really cultivating for her to compare countries and cultures. At one point, she was standing next to Melissa and Philippe.
- Melissandre, said the American Ambassadress, you didn't tell me that you had a teen-age daughter… she looks so much like you; she's your spitting image!
- No, said the Ambassadress of Great Britain, it's her boarder…
- Really? But I thought that… I'm sorry Melissa, I'm confused…
- Don't apologise, it's ok said Melissa
Philippe understood that his wife was thinking about the son they had lost. He would've been Candy's age. Melissa felt sad. Candy felt in her place, like the American Ambassadress' remark was right on cue. Philippe and Melissa had the same impression, but they all didn't say anything.
- You know Melissa, said Candy, Terry also said that we looked alike… he said that you could be my mother…
- Really? Well I'll take that as a compliment, she replied smiling
- Me too, said Candy laughing
They started to talk about other stuff. They watched the movie; it was an old classic "Casablanca".
In her bed, Melissa was thinking about the evening.
- You're thinking about him? Asked Philippe
- If I had had a girl, I would've sworn that Candy was my daughter…
- But you had a boy, and he died. You saw the body…
- I know, she said with tears in her eyes
She held him hard in her arms. Everything would've been so simple if Candy was her daughter. She had an immediate connection with her, but her baby died.
Candy was in her bedroom, on the phone.
- Annie? So how are you with Warren?
- Fine. He's absolutely charming. How long do I have to wait for him kiss me?
- I don't know. It depends on you if you feel ready…
- Ok. We'll see
- You're not thinking about Archie anymore?
- Yes, a little, but he doesn't even see me!
- I'm sorry Annie
- Thanks. But like you said, there are other fish in the ocean… I can have a little summer fling. Can I?
- Euh… I don't really know how to answer that…
- Ok. I have to go, see you tomorrow
- Tomorrow it's Saturday. We have the weekends free.. The families will probably take us to the diplomatic club
- I'll come with Warren, said Annie all excited
- Bye Annie, be careful!
Candy went and took a shower, then she got ready to go to bed. Her cell phone rang.
- Terry!
- Are you ok, Juliet? Not too disappointed?
- No. Tomorrow, we're free, aren't we?
- Francesca is taking me to the diplomatic club
- Francesca?
- I can come and get you, if your family is not going…
- Francesca?
- Sorry baby, the only boy here is 11 years old…
- You can become his friend…
- Don't you trust me?
- Yes, but that doesn't mean I want to see you with her all the time…
- I'll come in the morning after breakfast to spend time with you
- So you'll see the kids, how adorable they are!
- Ok. I'll call you in the morning for the address
- Good night Romeo, see you tomorrow
She wanted to go to bed, but she felt like seeing Melissa. She felt the sadness ever since they took her for her mother…. Why? She didn't like to see people sad. Melissa felt like seeing Candy too. She went and knocked on the door.
- Come in Melissa, said Candy, is everything ok?
- Yes, why?
- You didn't seem to like it when they took you for my mother…
- No. That's not it… I wish I was your mother; you're so happy and so full of life…
- Oh… thank you. This subject is making you sad. Let's talk about something else. What do you think about Terry?
- He's really very handsome
- Can he come and see me tomorrow morning? I will need the address here…
- No problem, I will give it to you in the morning. Did you and Terry…
- You want to know if we're going to use your house to satisfy our sexual appetite? Don't worry about that… I as pure as the day I was born.
Melissa smiled; she was relived, without knowing why. They talked for a while and then Melissa went back to her room. She felt better after talking to Candy. Philippe was happy to have Candy, but he was asking himself how Melissa is going to take Candy's departure. He didn't want her to get too attached to her. But he knew it was already too late. Melissa got attached to Candy for the moment she saw her and him too for that matter. The separation is going to be painful. But for now, they are going to take advantage of her presence.
The next day, a little after breakfast, Terry arrived with Francesca. Candy was a little disappointed that he was with his "guard dog", like she nicknamed her in her head. While Francesca was talking to Melissa, Candy went to take something in her bedroom; Terry was in the living room with Philippe.
- So, said Philippe, what are your intentions towards Candy, Terry?
- Euh… for now or for the future?
- For the future. I wouldn't want you to hurt her…
Terry felt like Candy's father was interrogating him, on their first date.
- Well, I will marry her one day… at least I hope… if she still wants me
- She's crazy about you… all you have to do is look into her eyes, when she talks about you
- I love her too…
- I sure hope so! Otherwise, you'll answer to me… if you're only playing her…!
Terry looked at him surprised and realised that Philippe was joking. He smiled too. Candy arrived with the children. Terry understood why Candy felt so good in that family. She was in her element, with children that adored her and that strangely looked like her. Melissa arrived with Francesca.
- Philippe, you're not bothering Terry are you? Asked Melissa
- No, Melissa, I'm fine said Terry, Miss Freckles, let's go outside…
- Ok, let's go little ones
They left the living room to go to the garden. Melissa and Philippe were watching them go. Francesca followed them.
- Miss Freckles? Said Philippe, that can also apply to you too, Mrs. Freckles
Melissa just laughed and went near her husband to kiss him.
Candy, Terry and the children were playing in the backyard. Francesca was sitting on a chair, and was looking at them.
"Terry and Candy… they're together she said to herself, he loves her a lot. I'm wasting my time. It's better to be his friend"
She stood up and went and joined them, to play with the kids.
Annie was at the Parkers talking with their daughters, Libby and Carrie.
- Do you have a boyfriend? Asked Libby to Annie
- No, I like this boy, but he doesn't even look at me
- Oh. For me it's the same thing. Il like this boy that goes to the French school, but he doesn't know
- Did you try to tell him?
- No. But there's also the language barrier. I don't really speak French to say the least…
- Your brother has a girlfriend? Asked Annie
- No, not at the moment. He was with that idiot Michelle Vignal, the daughter of the French Ambassador, but it's over
- What happened? Asked Annie
- He caught her with Britt Macdonald, the son of the American Ambassador. He's really cute, but he's a jerk…said Carrie
- Oh… you're having fun here, aren't you? Said Annie
- You haven't heard anything yet! Said Libby
Libby continued telling Annie about the love life of the children of the diplomatic corp.
Tanisha was leaving at the Macdonald's, the American Ambassador. Their son, Britt had long blond hair and blue eyes, he was very handsome and he knew it, so he flirted with all the girls, he was charming and smooth talker, and most to the girls couldn't resist him. But Tanisha had other things in mind. Her boyfriend couldn't make the trip with them. She said to herself that she was going to resist, the advances of this Casanova, but it was hard, really hard.
- Tanisha, said Britt, you want to come to the diplomatic club with me? I think that most of the families will be there
- Ok, said Tanisha with smile
She felt all funny after that. She was asking herself how long is she going to resist him.
Neil was in a host family of a Canadian diplomat. They had a daughter named Tracy that was very happy to have a boy in her house. She didn't loose any time, she was on him like a second skin… and Neil was glad and fully took advantage of the situation.
Stear and Archie were in the family of a Congolese diplomat who had young boys and young girls. The father was an Ambassador and they all had been in different countries, among them the USA, so they all spoke English. They were really well greeted and they were very comfortable. They were a little afraid of the food, but they had a special menu. Stear wanted to taste the African meal and thought it was really good.
Lizzie was in the family of the Colombian Ambassador. They had a daughter named Lisa, that tried to be as good as possible with the boarder, who was not likeable to her at all.
Eliza was in the Bangladesh Ambassador's family. They had a daughter named Seema. She was very likeable but she couldn't stand Eliza. Being the daughter of a diplomat, she was very polite and very diplomatic with her. Growing up in diplomacy maybe had its advantages.
Ethan was in a German family, the Bangert; they had two children, Christine and Andreas. Christine was very shy with boy. She was 16, and she'd never gone out with a boy. Ethan made a pleasure of charming her and make her taste the delights that a lot of teens already knew about.
The purpose of these vacations, was to educate the students, make them visit another country, an ex iron-curtain country, and to show them how the foreign community was leaving in a country where English was not the official language. But our youngsters had only one thing in mind with their raging hormones from their puberty desires… Have fun like crazy!
Everybody found themselves at the diplomatic club with the members of their host family. Every body was having fun. Candy was with Annie, Patty and Tanisha. They were talking and comparing their host families. Terry was also with his friends, among them John the Vietnamese who was leaving at the Brazilian Embassy.
At the diplomatic club there was a big swimming pool and a small one for kids, a few tennis courts, a football field, ping pong tables, a room with arcades games, an audio-video room, a pool room, a mini-golf field, a diplomatic shop in American dollars, a ballroom for parties of special events, and finally a restaurant with a terrace. The club dated from the communist era, when foreigners weren't "allowed" to talk to the local population. The club was were all the foreigners met. The youngsters liked to go to the club to have fun of course, but also for their dates. For those who had very strict parents like the young Africans or Asians or even Latino Americans, the club was the perfect place to meet their loved ones under their parents nose! Most of the time, the parents left them there and came back to get them in the evening.
Candy was the little Cranes. They went to change into their bathing suit to swim in the little pool. Annie and Patty were also in their bathing suit.
- Candy said Annie, those kids look like you!
- That's because we're all blonds…
- Well they could be your little brother and sisters said Patty
- That's how I see them, as my brother and sisters
Candy had fun with the kids and then she took them to the restaurant to eat. That's where Terry found her.
- Hi Miss Freckles… said Terry
- Which ones? Asked Carissa, I have freckles too…
- Yes, said Terry, you'll be the little Miss Freckles…
- And Mommy?
- Mommy will be Mrs. Freckles
They all couldn't help laughing. Britt Macdonald was sitting a few tables from them, with his friends and was looking at Candy. She had a boyfriend, which gave him more courage to try and seduce her. The fact that he did it a lot of times, gave him this arrogance that he could have whom ever he wanted, whenever he wanted. So he put Candy next on his hit list of conquests.
Candy and Terry haven't found each other alone ever since they have arrived in Romania. They wanted to be alone, but at the club, with all those people… there were hiding places of course, but… Terry finished his meal and had to join his friends for a football game.
- "Football" said Candy, you mean "soccer"…
- It's "football" said Terry, you Americans are crazy to call your sport "football" when it's kind of a version of rugby… especially since you barely hit it with the foot…we call it "American football"
- Well I don't know why they call it "football"… all I know it's that it's "football" and yours is "soccer"…
- Ok, Freckles, see you later, said Terry with a smile…
- Ciao, said Candy laughing
Terry knew that Candy was teasing him with "ciao" because of Francesca. He just smiled.
Candy went to join the Cranes with the little ones. She met Tanisha on the way, who had just finished talking to her boyfriend on her cell phone.
- Hi Tani, how's…
- Fine…
- And in your host family?
- Britt Macdonald's family
- That's the big blond guy I saw at the restaurant? He was looking at me in a weird way…
- He was probably planning on how to seduce you…
- He has time to waste…
- But Candy, I don't know what's happening to me. I know that he's playing, but I can't help being tempted…
- Tanisha…
- I know. I have a boyfriend, but he's not here with me…
- Tanisha, get a hold of yourself. Listen, if you want a 5 minutes fling with Britt, I can't stop you. But think of the consequences, would you be able to live with that…?
- I don't know… But thanks Candy; you're always so truthful with me and with every body… I'm going to see the football game, are you coming?
- I'm going to leave the little ones with their parents, and I'm coming
- Ok. See you later…
She went to leave the kids with their parents and went to the football field. They had two teams, the visitors and the youngsters from Bucharest. They had a lot of fun. Britt was resting; he approached Candy with a smile.
- Hi… he said
- Hi…she said
- You like the game?
- I like looking at my boyfriend, said Candy who can see him coming…
- Oh, I'm not interested in your boyfriend…
- I am. Excuse-me… she said going away from there
She went to sit next to Annie. Eliza and Lizzie saw what had happened and they decided to hatch a plan to take advantage of the situation. Candy was talking with Annie about Britt.
- He was hitting on you? Asked Annie
- What do you think?
- He's not possible. It's like he only wants the ones with boyfriends…
- Maybe that's what fires his perk, said Candy laughing, anyway, he's wasting his time. I only see Terry. What about your charmer?
- He's on the field there, you see him?
- In red? Yes… he's very cute… Archie is on the field too
- Where? Said Annie like she wasn't seeing him
Candy smiled. Annie was still a little hurt by Archie's rejection. When everybody went back home, Terry went to the Cranes before going back to his host family. Ornella, Francesca's sister was with him, she didn't let him space to breathe. Melissa saw what was happening and called Ornella on the side to talk about some stuff. Candy thanked Melissa in her heart, and went to her bedroom with Terry.
- Melissa is nice to have distracted Ornella, said Terry
- She knew that I needed to be with you…, she said coming near him taking his lips.
They needed to find themselves alone for a while, Melissa had helped them… Philippe took Melissa aside to talk to her
- Are you sure she's all right alone in her room with him?
- You're cute Philippe, it's like you're worried about your daughter… she told me that they were not intimate. So all she's doing, is kissing the boy she loves… they didn't get any occasion to be alone ever since they got here… it's nice of you to be worried about her. Do you remember with us?
- Is that suppose to reassure me? Said Philippe not very convinced