Tomorrow in your life…
Chapter 24
"Say it isn't so…"
Life continued and time passed… The Cranes were sent to Chicago to the military base. Candy spent all her free time with her family and her friends.
Annie and Archie were engaged to be married, so were Patty and Stear. The two brothers wanted to get married on the same day; they always had the same ideas…Terry finally got his big break. He saw Candy at every occasion he had. One evening, Candy came back home with groceries.
- Mr. Albert? I need help… She said putting the groceries on the floor to turn on the light
- SURPRISE!
Candy was startled and she smiled. Terry wearing a tuxedo, was in the middle of the living room and there were candles lighten everywhere.
- Terry…good evening
- Good evening said Terry
Some servers appeared to help her with the grocery bags. Candy was looking at them surprised.
- Go in the bedroom, there's a surprise for you…
- Ok, she said smiling, I have to change anyway
She went to the bedroom to change and she found a dress on the bed. It was green and new. She put it on, and joined Terry in the dining room. The servers arrived with the diner and they started to eat. They were talking about all and nothing. For dessert, the servers brought them some covered plates.
- Terry, I can't eat anything else, said Candy
- Come on, Freckles, it's dessert… for me…
- Ok, she said smiling, just a little bit…
She took the cover out and she discovered a ring with an emerald… she opened her mouth; she was so surprised.
- Candice White Andrew, will you marry me?
Candy looked and saw Terry on one knee, he took the little box with the ring and was waiting for an answer.
- Terrence Graham Grandchester, she said with tears in her eyes, yes I will marry you…
He put the ring on her finger and they stood up and fell in each other's arms. He kissed her. Candy was happy, she was engaged to Terry she's going to be his wife officially, like she already was in her heart.
- I got the lead role in the new version of "Romeo and Juliet" my career is launched, Juliet…
- Congratulations, my love…
- I can now tell the world that I'm Eleonor Baker's son…do you want your mother to get the scoop?
- Romeo, you take the words right out of my mouth…Thank you very much
- You're very welcome, my love…I wish I could see the faces of all those tabloid reporters that thought that we were lovers… said Terry laughing
- Me too!
The press and the papers spent a lot of time on them. Candy told her friends before they heard it in the media. Annie and the others came to see them the next day, to have a drink in their honour and congratulate the new fiancés. Annie had ordered food from a caterer for the evening. Neil Reagan was there with his girl friend and Tanisha who came especially for the occasion with her boyfriend Jamal. Candy was happy to see her friend again.
- Tani! She said hugging her
- Candy, Terry! Congratulations! You've been patient! At your place I would've got married on the reunion day…I wouldn't take any chances…
- Everything will be fine, Tani, don't worry, said Candy
- To the fiancés! Said Annie rising her glass
They drank together and spent a nice evening. Albert was also there and he looked at the scene with sadness. Candy will never be his…
Melissa had the privilege to have the first television interview with the new rising star from the upcoming movie, "Romeo and Juliet". Eleonor Baker was also there. Everybody was watching the show because Eleonor Baker was going to tell the truth on her relationship with Terrence Grandchester who was now engaged to be married to Candice White Andrew, but was still hanging around with her.
- Terrence, said Melissa, everybody is speculating on your relationship with Miss Baker… that you're lovers…
Terrence Grandchester burst out laughing.
- That's ridiculous, he said still laughing, I'm engaged to be married to the woman of my dreams, Candy…
- Really? Can you then, tell us the truth on your special relationship? Asked Melissa
- Well, I'm going to let her talk, she will tell you exactly what it is…said Terrence
Eleonor Baker arrived and kissed Terrence on the cheek and sat next to him, taking his hand.
- Good evening Eleonor said Melissa
- Melissa…
- The world wants to know what the nature of your relationship is… Terrence is engaged to Candy, but doesn't seem to want to let go of you. People are saying that you're lovers and that you're helping him in his career.
- Let me tell you that Terrence doesn't need me at all for his career, his talent speaks for itself…said Eleonor, about being lovers, it's true we have a love relationship, but not in the sense people are thinking…
- How is it then…?
- Well I hope all the sleazy tabloid reporters are listening… Terrence Graham Grandchester …is my son!
- Your son? Wow!
- I had him very young as you can see and he was living with his father in England. He came to Hollywood without telling me and he made it on his own, without any help from me… he came to see me only when he got his first role…
The news spread like wildfire. Candy's friends called her on the phone.
- Candy, said Annie, you knew didn't you? That's why you didn't care about the rumours…
- I'm sorry Annie, I had to keep it a secret
- Since London, the autographed pictures…oh my God!
- I wanted to share my joy with you…
- Thanks Candy, it must have been hard not to be able to say anything…
- You have no idea! I wanted to shout to the world when I saw all those sleazy tabloids: SHE'S HIS MOTHER!
Susanna was very angry about Candy and Terry's engagement. She had to act fast if she wanted to have him before he gets married. She loved him so much, and it had become almost an obsession. She wanted to have Terry against all odds! She would sell her soul to the devil if she could. She put her plan to have Terry into motion…
Terry woke up with a terrible headache; he felt a weight on him.
- Candy?
But it was not Candy…
- Terry? You're awake, my love…
Terry couldn't believe his ears! No, it was not possible!
- SUSANNA! He screamed getting away from her like she had the plague, what are you doing here?
He was naked, he wanted to take the sheet on the bed, but it revealed Susanna's own nudity. He looked around he saw boxers on the floor that he put on quickly.
- I asked you a question…he yelled
- You don't remember?
- I don't remember what?
- Our night of passion….
- Our… no, impossible! I would've remember, you're lying!
- Terry, you were wonderful, honey…
- I don't know who was wonderful, but it wasn't me!
- Terry , you forgot, last night, we kissed…
Terry had a flash; he was kissing Susanna, but it certainly was an illusion! No! He would never cheat on Candy willingly! He remembered he was drinking with his colleague and he had a headache, he called Candy and went to lye down…then… he woke up naked next to Susanna!
- Susanna, I don't know what game you're playing, but I didn't make love to you…
- Terry, if you want to reject me go ahead, but don't pretend that last night didn't happen…
- Because it's not true! I love Candy, and I only want Candy. I never thought of you that way!
Susanna felt hurt inside. Terry was so cruel with his honesty…
- But Terry…
- Get out of here! I don't ever want to see you again! I have to go see Candy…
- You're not going to tell her what happened…
- We tell each other everything…
- Terry, think about it, she won't understand…
- Mind your own business, Susanna… you've done enough…
- But…
- I said, get out of here!
Susanna took her stuff, got dressed and left the apartment. Terry had some days off and was thinking of going to Chicago to see his beloved. He took a shower and got ready. He flew to Chicago and arrived at the end of the afternoon. He went to the apartment and found it empty. Albert was running errands. He turned on the TV, but wasn't watching it. My God, will Candy forgive him? He prayed she'd understand.
Candy arrived in early evening.
- Mr. Albert?
- Albert is not here…
- Terry! She said running to him
She hugged him and he held her longer than usual.
- I love you so much, he said
Candy felt that something was wrong.
- Terry? Is something wrong? She asked worried
- Yes, I had a little problem…
- With your agent?
- No, with Susanna…
- Susanna Marlowe?
- Yes…
- What happened?
He told her everything that had happened, well… what he remembered, in details. Candy was sitting next to him. She listened to every word that was piercing her heart. When he finished talking, there was a silence. Candy finally broke the silence.
- You don't remember anything? She asked with tears in her eyes…
- I remember having a headache, calling you and then I woke up naked next to her…
- ..also naked. Is she in love with you?
- She's always nice to me, taking care of me. She always defends me…
- Ok, honey. That's being in love with you! You didn't see anything?
- No…
- Oh Terry!
- I'm sorry… can you forgive me?
Candy remained silent for a while. It wasn't Terry's fault. He would never lie to her. Wasn't she saved by Terry the night of the Valentine dance? She still didn't remember what had happened to this day…why? Because she was drugged! Terry didn't remember anything either; it's possible he was also drugged! She prayed with all her heart she was right.
- Terry you said you started to have a headache after one glass of beer?
- Yes. Even to get drunk, I need more than one glass…
- Memory loses are often due to the drugs taken…
- I don't do drug…
- Yes, I know. But Terry, you remember back in St. Paul when you saved me from Ethan? I still don't remember, to this day, what happened…
- …because you were drugged! He said, you think Susanna drugged me?
- It's a possibility… I can take a sample of your blood and send it to the lab
- Ok…
- How are you feeling since you woke up?
- I don't feel like doing anything, I'm nauseous…but I thought it was the horror of the situation…Oh my God! That's how you felt, isn't it?
She went to get her medical bag, and some disposable syringes. She put a rubber band on his left arm and she took some blood.
- You're very gentle Juliet; I didn't feel a thing…
- That's a shame; I wished you felt some pain to punish you for your stupidity!
She called a courier who came to get the sample of Terry's blood and she ordered a tox-screen, a drug test. She called the hospital and asked the lab for a favour and they put a rush on it.
- Candy…said Terry softly
She looked at him. She loved him so much. If he did something with Susanna he didn't remember it. Like she wouldn't have remembered if Ethan had taken advantage of her that night. She walked to him and hugged him.
- You know I love you for better or worse…he said
- We're married in our hearts since St. Paul…
- Promise me nothing will separate us…
- Terry, we can't make promises we can't keep…that's counting without the outside world…
Albert arrived and they changed the conversation. They had diner talking about this and that. Albert felt the tension, but didn't make any comment. After diner, he went to his room and left the two lovebirds alone. The phone rang. It was the hospital lab.
- Hello, said Candy, Ernest?…Yes, you have the results? Can you fax them to me please? Here's the number…
Candy hung up the phone and went to the room to get the result of the blood test on her computer, she printed it out right away. She read the results and went to the living room and gave them to Terry. He took the fax and read it.
- Freckles, I don't understand all this medical mumble jumbo…
- You tested positive for Rohypnol…
- The date rape drug?
- Susanna raped you, said Candy with a nervous laugh
- Raped…
- If something happened…because now, her word is not gospel… you really didn't see that she had a thing for you?
- No…
- Blinded by your Freckles?
- Yes… it seems stupid, but that's the case… do you forgive me?
- There's nothing to forgive, Romeo… you were a little stupid, but it's because of me…
- Candy you know that I will never cheat on you willingly? In my heart, we're married. You're the only candy I see in the store, literally…pun intended…
- I know honey. But it hurt me to hear that you woke up next to a naked woman… you know that there will be consequences…she won't stop there…
- I know, she'll come with a pregnancy story…
- "Don't worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"
- Candy, she's an actress and her parents have a lot of influence in Hollywood, they can force me to…
Candy put her mouth on Terry's and started to kiss him. She didn't want to think about it now. She wanted to take advantage of his presence. Hollywood…Hollywood wanted to steal her happiness. Susanna Marlowe had a plan, that plan was to steal Terry away from her to have him all to herself….Her Terry, her husband in her heart. She remembered the night they exchange their vows in the empty church, alone without the priest…they were married in their hearts… then by a pure coincidence, because she had planned it long before that, they consummated their passion and had a magic night. She waited for him for three years, during their separation. She was nicknamed the "Ice Princess' by the guys…they had found each other again and he had asked her to marry him… they were engaged and now… she didn't want to think about it… Terry was trying to bring up the subject again.
- Freckles, we'll have to…
- Shuuut! My love… after, please… I need you Romeo…
- Ok, Juliet, we'll talk later…
He carried her in his arms and took her to the bedroom, kissing her. Albert was passing by and saw them and felt a twinge in his heart. He knew they were together, but to see them so passionate …hurt him.
Candy was in Terry's arms, her head on his chest. She was crying. She had realised the seriousness of the situation. If Terry really was with Susanna, even if he were drugged, there will be consequences. Susanna didn't go that far for nothing, she wanted Terry. For someone to go that far just to get Terry away from her was appalling! Terry felt she was crying. He took her near him and kissed her to reassure her.
- I love you Candy…
- Terry…
- We'll find a solution…
- We were suppose to get married, Susanna knew that…
- That's why she did everything to separate us. She was hoping I wouldn't say anything to you, so you would hear it somewhere else…
- She didn't expect you to be honest with me. If she comes with a baby story…
- She's an actress and her parents have influence in Hollywood, all they have to do is say the right words to the press
- But what about their daughter's career? And her reputation…
- We'll cross that bridge when we get there, said Terry
- So we continue with the wedding preparations?
- Of course, Candy, I want to officially marry you
The atmosphere of their optimism wanted to chase always the clouds of sadness that had just fell on their happiness, but it couldn't