Tomorrow in your life…
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 20
"An unbreakable bond"
Terry was still working as a server. He was also taking some night courses in business management. He wanted to be ready in case he had to go back to England work with his father.
One Friday evening, Robert Hathaway a famous Hollywood producer, wanted to make a movie on "King Lear". He had found all the actors but he was looking for a fresh face to play the king of France. With a little luck, the movie will be a success and would launch that young actor's career and he would make a lot of money.
- Marge he said to his assistant, find me a new face quickly, we'll need to accelerate the auditions
- Mr. Hathaway, there's a way to accelerate the auditions. If you want, you could do it in the comfort of you armchair, tonight at your place
- How?
- Well, there's some movies made by students, there's hundreds of them, but I've selected those who where nominated for best actors and those who won for best actor, and also those who were nominated for best picture and those who won best pictures, I also include those whose performances by the actors I found good
- You're the best, Marge said Hathaway
So he went home that evening with boxes of amateur movies by students and watched every single one of them during the whole weekend. He had a lot of fun, and was appreciating the talent of those young actors in the rough…until he saw "Scrooge" from St. Paul Academy in London and noticed the talent of the lead actor….
Terry was working in the restaurant on Saturday evening. He was in charge to take care of one particular table, Esther Henderson's, a popular agent in Hollywood. They hit it off right from the start. She thought he was likeable and his accent was charming. Terry always received that compliment, but in general, it didn't go any further.
- Terrence, said Esther, you've got a pretty face. Have you ever tried to become a model?
- No, I like acting better, he said
- Well I'm telling you that it could be your way in…
- Model? I suppose it's better than nothing…he said not too happy
- Don't jump of joy or anything! Let's take baby steps; the big steps will come later. Do you have any pictures of yourself?
- Yes. Thank you Mrs. Henderson. I'll bring you my pictures later
That's how, more than a year after his arrival in Hollywood, Terry finally got an agent.
Robert Hathaway called Marge in his office on Monday morning.
- Marge, I think I found our new talent…
- Yes, sir?
- The movie "Scrooge" from St. Paul Academy of London, the one who got the award for the best actor, Terrence Grandchester… Find him for me!
- Yes, Sir!
Marge didn't really know where to start. The movie was two years old in Great Britain… she called all the local agencies to see if they had a young actor named Terrence Grandchester. She hoped he was ambitious and he wanted to be an actor. She called all the agencies all day long, even the crappy ones, but no one had Terrence Grandchester. In the beginning of the evening, she called Esther Henderson, just as a formality, so she would have contacted every agency. She was waiting for a negative response.
- Esther? She said, hi, it's me, Marge
- Marge? Hi. What can I do for you? You want an actor, an actress, a model?
- An actor, but not any actor. I called almost all the agencies…
- It's good to know that I was on your list…said Esther ironically
- Esther, please. I'm calling you, am I not?
- Ok. Who is it?
- A British…
- I just added one on my list Saturday evening...
- I hope it's the one I'm looking for…
- Well you have one chance out of a million… shoot!
- Terrence Grandchester…
- I'll be damned!
- You have him…
- Oh yes I sure do!
- Don't tell me it's the one from Saturday evening…
- The one and only…
- You lucky she-devil! Mr. Hathaway wants him for the role or the King of France in his new picture "King Lear". Do you know how many would like to be in your place?
- All those who rejected him…?
- They're going to regret it…
Terry was thinking about Candy, he didn't know where she was or what she was doing. The Andrew where not listed in the phone book. He didn't want to call his sister before he got at least a small part. They would want to send him money…
"Juliet, I miss you so much. We've lost contact. But I know you're going to wait for me…"
His phone rang. He hoped it was not the restaurant calling him to work an extra shift. It was almost against his will that he answered.
- Hello? He said
- Terrence? Esther Henderson, your agent
- Oh, good evening! Don't tell me you've got me a gig already…
- Oh, but yes….
- Oh… as a model? He said uncertain
- What? They're very well paid…
- I don't doubt it
- No, it's not as a model. Are you sitting down?
- Yes…
- Robert Hathaway wants you for the role of the King of France for his new picture "King Lear"…
There was a silence. Terry couldn't breathe a word…
- Terrence? Are you there? Terrence?
- Yes…. I just can't believe that it's finally happening… how did he hear about me?
- You'll know tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I'll pick you up and we'll go together to his office…
Terry finally got his first role. Finally some light at the end of the tunnel. Robert Hathaway hired him for his first role. It wasn't the lead, but it was remarkable. The shooting started in January after the holidays. It was going to last six months.
Eleonor Baker was in her villa having breakfast. Her assistant came early to have breakfast with her and keep in touch with the entertainment news. Her name was Helen.
- So Helen, what's new in tinsel town? Asked Eleonor
- Miss Baker… there's something I heard, started Helen
- What?
- It concerns you…
- Really how?
- Well, Robert Hathaway is doing a new movie King Lear
- Yes, I heard about that…what about it?
- He was looking for a fresh face to play the King of France…
- And...? Said Eleonor who was loosing patience
- He found one…
- What's that got to do with me…?
- Everything…
- How?
- It's Mr. Terrence…
- What?
- Your son…
- My son is playing the King of France in Hathaway's picture? Are you sure?
- Yes, Miss Baker.
- That's wonderful! Oh my God, he made it without me! I'm so proud of him…! Helen you know the rule, not a word on our relation. Let him decide when he wants to tell the world that we're mother and son.
- Ok, Miss Baker. Mum's the word.
Eleonor was so happy that she was ready to forgive her son for not telling her he wanted to follow her footsteps. His father called her to yell at her, she didn't know what was going on… her son was in Hollywood and too proud to come to her for help, he wanted to make it on his own, and he succeeded! She could now sleep in peace; she didn't have to worry about her son out there alone living in poverty. He was going to be fine.
In Chicago, life was continuing. Candy was still called the "Ice Princess", by the guys in medical school. She didn't care as usual. She was waiting for her Romeo.
At the end the academic year, Candy decided to move and take an apartment. The dorm was much too noisy and too small. She talked about it with her friends during one of their dinners in the evening.
- I want to rent an apartment said Candy
- Are you sure, you can come and live at the villa said Archie
- No, thanks. I'd rather have my own place, where no one will be rude to me…
- You don't like the dorm? Said Patty
- Yes, but, sometimes there's too much noise and I want more space… I'm going to talk to Georges about it
She talked to Georges who talked about it to Uncle William; who wanted Candy to be safe. So he gave her one of the family apartment in town not too far from the university. The Great Aunt couldn't say much; the order came from William to give the family apartment to Candy. Since Candy was going to med school, she had to study a lot; she didn't really have the time to work.. Georges didn't want her to rent a small and cheap apartment when there was the family luxurious one available. The apartment was indeed very big and very luxurious for her. It had a very big living room and a small one on the other side of the apartment near the kitchen. It had six bedrooms, each with it's own bathroom. It had two kitchens and a little room for the maid. Her name was Paloma. Candy wished she could stay there with her friends, but she didn't want to be too distracted with her friends, they have too much fun together and she won't be able to study properly. Maybe later when she finishes her studies… For now, she had to concentrate on her studies. She had a car, a black Porsche, the present from the high school graduation. She thought about Terry.
"Romeo, what are you doing now? When will I see you again? I miss you so much!"
She prayed every night to see Terry again. The "Ice Princess" was waiting for her "Prince of Fire". Terry had told her to wait for him, so she was waiting, until she hears from him. She'll know what to expect then.
In the building, there was a family, the Newman. They had a daughter Tammy who was 15 and a son Jeremy who was Candy's age. Jeremy had a thing for Candy and soon realised why they called her "The Ice Princess". Tammy spent a lot of time with Candy. They often organized slumber parties on Friday nights with Annie, Patty, Tani and Tammy's friends. They would watch movies and talked about boys, of course. Then they will all sleep on the carpet in the living room in sleeping bags.
- "The Ice Princess", said one of Tammy's friend's named Olivia, is it true you're really cold as ice?
- With guys, she had a boyfriend… it's him on the picture there said Tammy showing them a picture of Candy and Terry on the plane, the day they met, his name is Terry
- Oh, said Olivia, he's gorgeous! How did you meet?
- It was New Year's Eve, I was on a plane…. Started Candy
Candy told them the story with Annie, Patty and Tani. Tammy and her friends were captivated by the stories of St. Paul Academy's boarding school. Then each of them told the story of how they met their boyfriends, well, those who had one. The elders gave the younger ones advices; not to neglect their studies, to have a career, guys will always be there.
In Bucharest, around the month of July, Melissa was watching television. The show she was watching was talking about bone marrow transplant. They were talking about compatibility, that it was extremely rare to find a perfect match on an unknown donor.
"But Candy was… thought Melissa"There was another show that was talking about blood matches, that some illnesses needed transfusion only from family member, and when the blood and the bone marrow was a perfect match, it was probably a long lost family member. Melissa had a flash, she remembered being on the bed at the clinic and her mother telling her she had had a boy. The flash stopped. Candy was a perfect match for Carissa. At that time, they were so happy to have found a donor, that they didn't pay attention to the details. It had been two and a half years, since all that happened, since Carissa received the bone marrow transplant from Candy. Melissa heard Candy's voice in her head;
"… I was resting at the Pony house where I was brought up, near lake Michigan…"
Lake Michigan… the house and the clinic where her mother sent her, when she was pregnant, were near lake Michigan.
"Oh my God! Could it be possible?" thought MelissaShe had felt a strong connection with Candy the second they met… Her head was spinning…Could her mother be so cruel? Telling her she had a stillborn son, when it was a healthy baby girl? Candy was adopted. She should have had suspicions, but since she thought she had a boy… She had to ask for Candy's birthday, it's funny they never talked about it. What time was it? 9 a.m. in Bucharest, 4pm in Chicago. She prayed Candy was outside the hospital, so her cell phone will be on. She dialled the number, it was ringing…
- Hello? Said Candy
- Candy…?
- Melissa? She said with a happy voice, how are you?
- I'm fine honey, what about you, how's med school?
- It's hard, but I like it. How are the kids?
- They're fine, everybody is fine. Candy it's silly, but I wanted to know your birthday to buy you a present… it's funny we never talked about it…
- Yes. But I'm always a little sad on my birthday because it reminds me the day I was abandoned…
- Oh… said Melissa moved
- I don't really know if it's my birthday, but it's the day I was found… it's May 7th…
Melissa felt like she was going to faint. She was speechless for a moment. Candy got worried.
- Melissa? Is everything all right? Are you still there?
- Yes, honey, I'm here. Thanks, I'm going to mark my calendar…
- Ok. Give Philippe and the kids a kiss for me. Thanks for calling
- Ok, she said with tears in her voice
- Are you sure everything is all right? Asked Candy when she heard her voice
- I'm fine Candy, I swear. Bye
- Bye
Melissa hung up the phone and burst into tears. Philippe came back a little later and found her still crying.
- Honey? He asked worried approaching her, is something wrong?
She saw her husband and jumped to his neck crying. Philippe didn't say anything and let her calm herself. When she finally stopped, they went in the bedroom to talk about what happened. The children were with the nanny.
- So you think you had a girl and you think that girl is Candy? Said Philippe when she finished talking
- Philippe, think about the immediate connection we had. You said it yourself the day she arrived, I was happy like the day I gave birth to Cassie
- When I first saw her, I thought I was seeing you at the age. I felt close to her from the second I saw her… the first night when you were brushing her hair and I came to take your picture, I thought in my head "mother and daughter"…for a fraction of a second…
- Really? You never told me…
- I didn't want to make you sad
- It's like we had a veil in front of our eyes… we were blinded. Candy looked like us, she looked like the kids…
- But we have to be sure. We're going to do our own little investigation. We're going to ask May Day hospital in London if they still have our samples to have a DNA test. If we have to, we'll go near lake Michigan to see that clinic.
- If this is all true, then my mother is worse than I imagined…
Philippe asked for a few days off to go with Melissa and the kids to London first, to ask for a DNA test, then near lake Michigan to see that little clinic. They left the children in Philippe's family in London.
In America they learned the clinic was bought and transferred to another hospital, but there was a fire and all the medical files were destroyed.
- This is too obvious, said Melissa, my mother wanted to cover her tracks… We have to go to Washington
- Are you sure? Asked Philippe
- Yes, we have to find out the truth
They flew to Washington D.C. to see Verna Grant. They went to the mansion without calling. The butler recognised her.
- Miss Melissandre? He said
- Yes, it's me. Is my mother there?
- Yes, but….
- Thank you. Come on honey, she said to Philippe entering without paying attention to what the butler had to say
Melissa hadn't come back to her mother's mansion since she left to go to Oxford. She found her mother with a few acquaintances.
- Good evening she said entering
- Melissandre, said he mother surprised, what a nice surprise!
- Mom, I came to ask you something…
- Can it wait? I have guests…said Verna
- No mom, it can't wait. This is my husband, you remember him? Philippe Crane?
- Good evening Mrs. Grant said Philippe
- Mr. Crane… said Verna, Melissa for God's sake…
- Mom, I wanted to ask you about the clinic near Lake Michigan…
- Ok, said Verna, let's go to the library
- I thought that would get your attention, said Melissa
Verna didn't want her guests to hear that subject of conversation. They went to the library, all three of them.
- I'll go straight to the point, said Melissa, Mom, where is my baby? What have you done to it?
- What are you saying? Your baby died… said Verna
- I want the truth, mom. What did I have, a boy or a girl?
- A stillborn boy, I told you…
- Enough! Tell me the truth for once in your life! You can't continue this cruel game! Please…
- I told you everything you needed to know
- You haven't changed a bit! You're still as cold as ice! I can't believe you're my mother!
- If you came here to call me names, you should've stayed home…
- It's no use! Let's go Philippe, we won't get any answers here
They left her mother's house. Melissa was in rage and she burst into tears once in the car, in her husband's arms. Why did they give her a mother so cruel?
- I knew we were wasting our time coming here said Melissa
- We had to try, honey. I had to restrain myself not to intervene…said Philippe
- Thanks honey. In your place, I would've exploded!
- Diplomacy has its advantages…
They laughed a little and left.
- The couple that took me in… Emmet and Polly Fisher… Polly was a nurse said Melissa
- If she was working for your mother, I don't think they will say anything said Philippe
- But we have to try. They can't be as cruel as my mother, that's impossible!
They went back near Lake Michigan to see the Fishers. Melissa remembered the address. They rang the door. The door opened and a woman in her sixties answered. She smiled.
- Polly?
- Yes…but… Melissandre?
- Yes…
- Oh my God! Come in she said hugging her
They got in the little house. It smelled good. Melissa remembered the nice smell of muffins she liked so much during her pregnancy.
- Polly, this is my husband, Philippe Crane
- Philippe? Asked Polly is he…?
- Yes, he's the baby's father said Melissa
- You got married? My God! Emmet, look who's here…
- Good grief, Melissandre! It's been almost 20 years! He said standing up to kiss her
- Yes, how are you Emmet?
- Fine, I'm getting old…
- Come on, you look kike a young man… this is my husband, Philippe Crane
- Philippe? He asked
- Yes, said Polly, it's the same
- Oh…
They looked at each other and seem very sad, all of a sudden.
- Polly, Emmet, I came to see you to ask you something
- Yes…
- What happened during my labour? And please, I want the truth
The couple looked at each other again.
- I just came from my mother, she didn't even budge… Please. I lived with you; we were like family during my pregnancy. In the name of the friendship we had… tell me the truth
- It's been almost 20 years, said Emmet, she has the right to know what happened.
- Ok, said Polly after a silence. Your mother contacted us to ask us to take you in during your pregnancy. I was in school with her, but we'd lost touch. She became a senator… well. When you were in labour, she asked the doctor to make you sleep to take your baby…
- It was alive? Asked Melissa with tears in her eyes
- Yes, she asked me to take it to the orphanage… I left it in front of the door of the Pony House. There was another baby there already. When you woke up, your mother told you that your baby was stillborn. She even arranged to bring you the body of another dead baby… I was so sad to see you suffer so much. I'm so sorry Melissandre
Melissa was crying, her husband was holding her in his arms.
- Thanks Polly. But one more thing… what did I have?
- I don't understand, what do you mean?
- Did I have a boy or a girl?
- Oh… what did your mother tell you?
- That it was a boy…said Melissa with a little voice
- Oh my God! Said Emmet, that woman is a monster!
- Emmet! Said Polly
- No! I'm sorry I went along with that horrible scheme, I'm sorry I didn't say anything to this poor child…
- You had a girl, Melissandre said Polly
Melissa burst into tears in Philippe's arms; she was crying all that lost time in ignorance. Her mother had told her that she had a boy…a boy! To cover her tracks…without a doubt…
- Thank you, said Philippe who had remained silent, thanks for everything.
- We're sorry, said Polly… Good luck Melissa
Melissa and Philippe were in their hotel room in Chicago, lying on the bed. Melissa couldn't stop crying. During all those years, she was crying a stillborn son, when she had a healthy little girl. There was knock on the door, Philippe went to open the door. It was a hotel employee with a fax for them. He tipped the employee who left.
- It's the result of the DNA test on Candy and us…said Philip
- So? Asked Melissa