Tomorrow in your life…
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 21
"A wonderful surprise"
Candy had just arrived to her apartment on a Friday night. She was a little tired. The phone rang. It was Annie.
- Candy! I was waiting for your return with impatience!
- What's going on Annie?
- I have good news for you…
- Really? What news?
- Guess who I saw on TV?
- Euh… the Queen of England?
- Very funny Candy… come on…!
- I don't know Annie, I give up… said Candy who was tired…
- Your lover boy!
- My lover boy?
- Your Romeo…
- Terry?
- You're finally getting it… yes Terrence Grandchester, he just finish shooting a movie by Robert Hathaway... "King Lear"
- He made it! He became an actor! Oh Thank God!
- And that's not all…
- There's more?
- Yes. The premiere of the King Lear here in Chicago is in a week or so… you'll finally be able to see Terry!
- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! She screamed
- Candy you're killing my ears! Said Annie laughing
- Sorry Annie. I can't believe it! I miss him so much! Thank you Annie, thank you very much for the info…
- You're very welcome. Have a good evening, sweetie
- Good night, Annie
- Good night
Candy changed her clothes on a cloud. She put on a light blue training. Terry, she was going to see Terry in one week! She put some music on and started to dance, she was thinking about Terry. He'd made it! He'd become an actor, he was on TV!
" Terry I love you so much! She said"The doorbell rang. She didn't hear it the first time because of the music. The doorbell rang again. This time she heard. She turned the music down and went to open the door. She was surprised to see, Melissa and Philippe in front of her. She jumped to their neck, one at the time, she was so happy.
- Philippe, Melissa! What a nice surprise! Where are the children?
- They're at my parents said Philippe
- Oh…It's nice of you to come and see me. Have a seat, please, said Candy
- Thank you, said Melissa looking at her with love
They sat in the living room on the white leather couch. Melissa was looking at the apartment. Candy had pictures of everybody; her cousins, her friends, there was also a picture with them, the Cranes.
- You're happy camper said Melissa
- Oh… I just learned some news that made me very happy…
- Which news? Asked Philippe
- Terry made it! He became an actor! He's coming to Chicago for the premiere of his movie, King Lear
- Oh… said Melissa, that's very good news! I would like to interview him
- I think I can arrange that, once I see him… it's been almost 3 years… oh I missed him so much!
- You have nobody else? Asked Philippe
- I only want Terry Philippe. At school and at the university, they nicknamed me "The Ice Princess"
- "The Ice Princess" repeated Melissa, that reminds me of something…
She thought about those years after she lost her baby and she was dark and murky for years.
- You were called the "Ice Princess" too? Asked Candy
- Yes… said Melissa, so I know I you feel
- You want something to drink? Asked Candy
- No, thanks I'm fine, said Melissa, Philippe?
- I'm fine, thanks, said Philippe
- I'm going to start. Candy we came to talk to you, said Melissa
- About what? You seem serious said Candy
- We are, said Melissa. I want to tell you my story, our story. We're both going to tell you our story
- Ok, said Candy
They told their story in details until they met Candy. Candy was crying listening to their story.
- When you came to spend the summer at our house, said Melissa, it's like you were the missing piece of our lives… there was that "Je ne sais quoi" in you that made us so happy.
- It was the same for me said Candy
- When you were a match for Carissa, said Philippe, we said to ourselves, may be that's why you came into our live…
- But we didn't know that the universe had a bigger plan in motion
Candy didn't understand what they were saying. What was going on?
- Philippe, Melissa, I'm not following you…
- We're getting there, honey, said Philippe
- Ok, said Candy
Melissa told her about the show she saw on TV that was talking about compatibility in the family, and the bone marrow transplant, and also that other show that was saying the same thing.
- You're in med school Candy, you know what I'm talking about
- Yes, she said uncertain
Melissa then told her how she started to ask herself questions, because Candy was the perfect match.
- Is that why you asked me for my date of birth? Asked Candy
- Yes, said Melissa
- So…? Asked Candy almost afraid of the answer
- It's the same day I had my baby…
Candy held her breath.
- Maybe it's a coincidence, she said softly
- Yes. So we went to see my mother and she didn't tell me anything, as expected. Then we went to see the couple that took me in during my pregnancy… they confirmed my suspicions…. I had a healthy baby girl…
Candy had all those emotions submerging her; she put her hand on her heart. She didn't dare imagined the rest, she was waiting.
- Before we came here, we went to May Day Hospital, where the Carissa's bone marrow transplant took place, to ask them to run a DNA test on the three of us…and here are the results said Philippe
He gave her a sheet of paper, the fax he'd received earlier. Candy took the sheet and read it. She remained speechless and tears started to come down her cheeks. She looked at them.
- You're…you're my parents… she said with tears in her voice, Oh my God!
She jumped in their arms crying, and laughing at the same time. She thought that Terry's new had made her day, but this was the apotheosis! Her parents! Melissa and Philippe were her parents! She was curled up between the both of them.
- I'm wondering why I didn't think about it sooner, said Melissa
- You thought you had a boy said Candy, it's not your fault. Terry always called you two my parents…
- He's very intuitive… That's why you were a perfect match for Carissa said Melissa
- I have 2 bothers and 2 sisters…said Candy
- I would've kept you, if I had known you were alive…
- And I would've take my responsibilities, if I'd known your mother was pregnant, said Philippe
- My mother is a monster, said Melissa, I'm sorry Candy
- Yes, said Philippe, forgive us for everything that's happened
- Oh, but you don't need to apologise. From the moment we met, you'd behave like parents with me. Your subconscious was working without you knowing it…
- That's true said Melissa, it's like unconsciously we knew we were your parents The day you arrived, Philippe said that the last time he's seen me so happy was when I had Cassie…I had my first born daughter, whom I thought was a boy that was dead… I understand now…
- It was the voice of the blood said Philippe
- Oh, I've never been so happy! I find out Terry made it, and now… I found my parents! Thank you God! Mom, dad!
Philippe called his parents, even though it was 2 am with the time change, to tell then the good news. They wanted to come to Chicago the next day to meet Candy.
- Mom, Dad said Candy, you're not going anywhere… you're staying here with me
- What about our hotel room? Said Melissa
- Dad can go take your stuff
- Ok, said Philippe, I'm going to go get our luggage. Stay with your mother, I'm sure the you have a lot to say to each other…
- Ok, Dad! Oh I like saying that! She laughed
Melissa was holding her daughter by the shoulders. She still couldn't believe what had just happened.
- Mom…
- Yes, honey…
- I'm so happy… my biggest wish was to have a family
- I thought it was to be with Terry…
- Yes, said Candy, I wanted to have a family with him, where our children would have parents that love each other, what he and I never had when we were little
- But I thought he had a family in London, the duke
- Yes, his father and his step mother…you're a reporter, so I'm going to ask you, not to reveal what I'm about to tell you, at least for the time being
- What, honey?
- Terry is Eleonor Baker's son
- What? Oh my God! But why did it took him so long to make it in Hollywood?
- Because he wanted to make it without his mother's help… once he gets a lead role…
- He will reveal his secret
- You can have the scoop if you want…
- You'll do that for me?
- Of course…
- Thank you. I wanted to ask you… Terry and you, haven't seen each other for a long time, so when you'll see each other…
- You want to know where we are? I love him with all my heart, mom…
- Oh…
- And there only Terry, if God is willing, there's only going to be Terry
- Let's go to the kitchen to cook something said Melissa
- Ok…
While they were making dinner, they continued talking. Melissa told her about her pregnancy, how she moved, what she craved. How she was calling her, Philippe or Philippa. She told her stories and talked to her about her father.
- I was so eager for you to be born, I wanted to have something just for me, that no could've had ripped from my arms. Not even my mother… but I underestimated my mother
- Annie and I always imagined different scenarios, which led to our abandonment; maybe our mothers, had no choice, maybe they were lied to… I'm happy that you didn't abandon me and that I'm not the product of a one night stand, or a rape …
- You're the fruit, the first fruit our love, Philippe's and I
- Thank you, it's good to know. You found each other again…
- Oh, I made him suffer before taking him back. My mother kept telling all day long, that I was a sinner and my baby died to punish me for having sexual relations without being married
- My God. No wonder you became the "Ice Princess"
- Candy I'm so happy I found you. You're the miracle I never thought I had.
Philippe came back with the luggage and they had dinner together. Candy gave them her room which was the biggest with a king bed
- But where are you going to sleep? Asked Melissa
- There are other rooms
- But this one is yours, we can have another one
- No way!
- Ok, said Philippe, she's as stubborn as you Melissa
- What? And you're not stubborn?
They burst out laughing. They got ready to go to bed. They couldn't sleep. Candy spent the night on the bed with her parents until morning. She told them about her childhood, the Pony house, the Reagans, Anthony. The following day, the children arrived from England with Philippe's parents who came to see their newfound granddaughter. Candy took a few days off, actually she switched with another girl, and she will work the following week. She didn't get tired of being with her family, she already loved them… her friends and her cousins spent the evenings with her.
She was tucking Carissa in, in one of the bedrooms.
- Candy, said Carissa, I'm happy to be your sister…
- Me too, honey, and I wanted to thank you
- For what? Asked Carissa
- For making my biggest wish come true…
- You mean…?
- My biggest wish was to find my real parents…thank you Carissa
- You're very welcome said Carissa smiling. Thank God, he made it possible
- I did, said Candy hugging her little sister
Ever since Terry was on TV, Candy was taping all his appearances. Terry he was still so handsome and his British accent… it was ridiculous, she already loved him, but it was like she was falling in love with him all over again….
Annie spent a lot of time with her. She'd never seen her sister so happy.
- Candy, said Annie, you're very lucky, that's why you loved them so much, the voice of the blood, I so happy for you!
- Thanks Annie
Melissa and Philippe and the rest of the family went back to Europe. Philippe said he was going to ask for a transfer to the United States to be near his daughter.
In Los Angeles, Terry had a new apartment, big and luxurious, a new car. He had to disguise himself to avoid the press. He decided it was time to go see his mother. He went to see her one evening, to avoid the press. He went to her villa. A maid opened the door.
- Yes?
- I came to see Miss Baker… said Terry
- Do you have an appointment? Asked the main
- It's okay, Pilar, said Eleonor's voice, you can let Mr. Grandchester in…
The maid let him in and he ran into his mother's arms. They hugged for a long time.
- I missed you so much said Terry
- I missed you too… Oh Terry I'm so proud of you! You did it yourself!
- Yes, mum…I struggled in the beginning, but it was worth it…
They went and sit in one of the living rooms to talk.
- When are you going to reveal our relationship?
- When I get my first lead role…
- Ok, but you know they're going to speculate, when they see us together…
- A May-December romance? Said Terry. Let them think, they will only feel ridiculous when the truth comes out…
- Ok, Honey…You can't imagine how happy I am that you followed my footsteps…
- Well you gave me the genes, after all said Terry smiling...
- Right! Your father must be pleased. Even without me raising you, you wanted to become an actor. Can you stay a few days?
- Of course, mum. I can't wait to see those sleazy tabloids speculate on our relationship…
He spent a few days with his mother and the tabloids of course started to speculate on their relationship. Eleonor Baker looked way too young to be taken for Terry's mother….
Candy read about the speculations on Terry's relationship with his mother and she had a good laugh.
- May-December romance? She said out loud, she's his mother!
Candy burst out laughing. But her friends who didn't know the truth were speculating too.
- Candy, said Archie one time they were having lunch one after noon, have you seen the papers?
- That's nonsense! said Candy
- Eleonor Baker? Didn't you meet her in London? Said Patty
- Yes said Candy, she's really nice
- Looks like she's got Terry, said Archie
- Come on Archie, they met in London, said Candy, it's normal that they talk if they met again in Hollywood…
- You're not worried? Said Patty
- No, Patty, not the least in the world! And I trust Terry said Candy
- Ok, said Annie, if you say so…