Tomorrow in your life
Chapter 29
"The earthquake"
Terrence Grandchester had never felt so happy. His career was at its peek, he had won all sort of award, he'd seen Candy…She was the missing piece in his life. Ever since he'd seen her, he was on cloud nine and the sensations were delicious. A week after his return from New York, he joined Susanna in the living room one morning. She was avoiding him, because she could feel he wanted to end it.
- Susanna, we have to talk…
- Terry I'm tired, can it wait?
- No…
- You want to end it?
- Yes….
- I was expecting it…that's why I was avoiding you
- Really?
- Yes, ever since we came back from New York, you've been in a very good mood….
- Oh…and for you it means that I want to break up?
- The last time I've seen you so happy it was when you came back from Chicago…after seeing Candy
- You can't be thinking that this was arrangement was going well…
- But you had to marry me…
- I've never ask you to marry me, Susanna
- But…I love you, I had our baby; the fruit of our love….
- Susanna, stop it! You know under what circumstances she was conceived. But I love her so much, despite of everything…
Susanna felt desperate. No, she couldn't loose Terry! She needed him!
- My father is going to ruin your career if you leave me….
- I've accomplish everything I wanted. Do whatever you want, I don't care! But I'm taking Serena with me…
- What? No way! That's out of the question! She's my daughter!
- She's also mine. You barely spend time with her…I take her to work with me…
- She's not yours….
- What?
- You heard me. She's not your daughter…
Terry remained calm for a moment. All this was a lie? He loved Serena so much. If that was the truth, it meant that he wasted all that time away from Candy for nothing? The paternity test…
- The paternity test…said Terry
- I changed it, said Susanna, I knew you were going to have one, so I paid an employee of the lab, so he'd say that you were the father….
- That's not important said Terry hurt, if that's the case, then I want to get her away from you more than ever! You used her like a pawn! I'm going to make a deal with you; you leave me Serena and the press will never learn the truth on the way you trapped me…
- If I threatened to take her away from you, you'll tell everything to the press?
- I have nothing to lose. With my acting career I'm going to take over my father's business. And I'm very confident that your parents can't do anything to me…it's over, Susanna!
- But that's blackmail!
- Well I took a page from your book….
- This is all because of Candy! Admit it! You saw her in New York…that's why you came back in the morning!
- I'm going to tell the press in a week. That gives you the time to tell your parents…
- Terry, Terry wait, I love you! She said with tears in her eyes
Terry left the room and went to his room, feeling like a weight was taken off of him. He got Serena ready for daycare so she could play with other children. Then he will go to the studio to finish his movie. He will call Esther and Robert later that night.
Candy was doing her rounds at the hospital, when she heard the news on TV in the patients' room.
"The earthquake that rocked Los Angeles was of a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale. A lot of houses and buildings were destroyed. Roads were sliced in two and there are a lot of dead, wounded and missing…"
Candy felt like her whole world came crashing down! Terry! She had a bad feeling.
Help was on its way for Los Angeles, coming from all over the country for those in need in Los Angeles. Candy was selected among the doctors sent to go help the population. She was going to take advantage to make sure that Terry was all right. He had to be all right! They were so close to their goal. She called Albert to ask him a very big favour.
- Candy? Hi…
- Mr. Albert, I need your help
- Anything you need, Candy….you can count on me
- I need help to get to Los Angeles to save and to look for people
- Ok. I'm coming with you, I want to help too and I'll take care of everything
- Thanks, Mr. Albert
She called her parents.
- Candy, hi baby, how are you? Asked Melissa
- I'm going to Los Angeles…
- I was about to call you, your father and I are going too…
- Oh…great! We're going to make the trip together… what about the children?
- I have a babysitter that's going to take care of them for a few days…
- That's perfect; I'll see you later, mom…
Candy went to Los Angeles with the other volunteers, her parents and Albert. Flammy was among the volunteers and she saw Candy with a new eye.
"She's taking her parents with her to help those in need… she must not be so bad… maybe I misjudged her because she was rich and she had it easy, and I didn't "
They found the city transformed into a construction site. Since they didn't know if there were going to be another shake or aftershock, the hospital kept only the seriously wounded but they were still almost full. Some tents were outside to assist the lightly wounded. It was kind of a mess. The earthquake happened at 9: 11 am; the children were at school, the parents at work. They all went to school to look for their children. The husbands and wife were trying to join each other on the phone, without any success. Everybody wanted to be reassured on the health of their love ones.
Candy went with her team to help those in need. They found people trapped in elevators, between two floors, others under the ruins, lightly wounded or seriously wounded. They passed near an elementary school, they saw parents looking for their children, all panicked. Candy saw a little girl about 2 or 3 years old; she had brown hair and bleu eyes, she was adorable. She was crying and in the general panic, no one was paying attention to her. Candy approached her.
- Hi, why are you crying? Are you hurting some where?
- I want my daddy! She said screaming and crying at the same time, I want my daddy!
Candy was a little surprised. In general, children would cry for their mommy…but maybe it was a single father.
- Ooooh, it's going to be ok, said Candy, carrying her, I'm going to help you find your daddy. What's your name?
- Ena….
- Ok, Ena. Stop crying, come with me. My name is Candy
- Hi, Andy
The other members of the team made sure everybody was all right and that no one was stuck under the ruins. Candy took the little girl with her. There was a tent outside with all the children. Parents could go and see if their children were there. Candy left little Ena there in the children's tent. This last one didn't want to let go of Candy; she was traumatised after seeing everything move so violently and all the adult usually so calm, screaming of fear.
- No, don't leave Ena, Andy…
- Look Ena, you can play, there some toys and other children… I will come and see you later ok. Do this for me, ok?
- Kay' said the little one
Candy kissed her and hugged her, then she left to look for other people in need.
"Terry, she said in her head, tell me where you are. My God, please take me to him, I beg you."
She repeated that little prayer ever since she had arrived in Los Angeles.
After saving a lot of people, she was resting a little and went to see Ena. No one had come for her yet. She was practically alone. There was another shake and everybody started to scream again. Little Ena jumped into Candy's arms shaking with fear. Candy hugged her and reassured her. Everything started to fall around them. A few building crumbled a little more.
Candy had to go look for other people in danger, but she didn't want to leave Ena, afraid like she was. She took her with her. Albert who was going with her this time, told her it was dangerous to take a little girl.
- Mr. Albert, the whole city of Los Angeles is a danger zone. I rather have her with me.
- Ok. You're right. Let's go!
They left with the pick up truck and they found people in need of help. The pick up where Candy was had a flat tire. The other pick ups stopped to help them change their tire. Candy was walking around with Ena to stretch her legs a little. She still didn't have any news from Terry. She tried to call his apartment but it was out of service, like she expected and there was no answer on his cell phone. While she was walking, she saw a car stuck inside a sliced road. She went to see if anybody was there.
- Hello, hello, anybody there?
There was no answer, but she could see a form inside. She went to get help and Albert went there with some robes and another pickup to help pull the car out. They got the person out of the car.
Candy was waiting near the pick ups and the other doctors to help if necessary. Albert arrived first, with a grave expression.
- Mr. Albert? The person's dead?
- No, Candy but…
- What?
The other arrived with the wounded on a stretcher. He was unconscious. He had blood on his head. Candy's heart skipped a beat.
- Terry! Said Candy, thank you God!
- Daddy! Said Ena
The other doctors rushed to give him the first care. Candy was much too upset to do anything. Ena was still in her arms. Candy didn't hear her the first time.
- Andy, Andy, daddy daddy, she repeated showing Terry
- Daddy? Said Candy, Serena?
- Yes!
- Oh my God!
Terry and Susanna's daughter. She hugged her. Another woman would have been hostile after learning the news the she was taking care of the cause of her separation from Terry, but not Candy. Serena was an innocent little angel, who hadn't ask for anything to anybody, she was adorable. They got into the pick up to go back to the tents. Terry was still unconscious. Serena was lying on him.
- Daddy, stand up, wake up! She said
Terry was transferred to the hospital for an emergency surgery. He was bleeding internally. He was operated on to stop the bleeding; they repair his spleen fortunately, because in the beginning, the doctors feared that they might have to remove it completely. But it was not the case. But he had lost a lot of blood and during the operation, and after the earthquake; there was a shortage of blood.
- I can give blood said Candy, I'm a group O, the universal donor
- So is he, but we're going to try the auto-transfusion
That's what they did. Terry got a transfusion from his own blood. It was a little less convenient, but it was more safe in that case where a lot of mistakes could happen.
He was in room with other seriously wounded…Candy stayed next to him wit Serena. They left him to go get something to eat. The humanitarian help was party made of a lot of food donations. They ate quickly and went back to Terry's bedside and continued reading and telling stories to him. Serena fell asleep on the bed next to Terry. Candy started to talk to Terry in his ear.
- I feel better now that I know you're ok, Romeo. I'm going to go back to Chicago and wait for you. I love you Romeo, I love you so much. I've met Serena; she's adorable We spent a good time together. Annie is having a baby, she's so happy about it. Mr. Albert came with me. He came to help the needy…wake up fast, Romeo.
She continued talking to him for a while then she fell asleep on a chair next to the bed and she put her head on the pillow next to him. Melissa who was passing by, saw the portrait and she shook her head. Candy woke up with a neck pain. She saw her mother looking at her.
- Mom…
- Are you ok, sweetie? Said Melissa approaching her
- Yes, what about you?
- I have a lot of stories for my article…what about you?
- Terry was seriously hurt, he had surgery
- I know…
- And Serena, I found her at her school, nobody was taking care of her…then when we found Terry, she called him "daddy"
- Oh… and that doesn't bother you?
- No. she's a little angel, she's adorable
Melissa smiles, Candy was really a good woman…but where was Susanna?
- I'm proud of you, honey. You know where her mother is?
- I don't know, she might be stuck somewhere…
- The reflex of every parent is to look for its offspring…
- Mom, be nice to her on your article…
- Be nice to whom…?
They burst out laughing. Philip arrived to see how they were doing.
- Daddy, said Candy hugging him, the rescue operations…
- It's going on fine. I'm resting a little. How's your lover boy?
- Fine, he hasn't regain consciousness yet
- You have his daughter…
- I found her by chance…
- Isn't she too good? Said Melissa
- She's goodness incarnate… We're going to let you so we won't wake up the little one. See you later
- See you later, Melissa
- See you later said Candy
She stayed with Terry, and she fell asleep again. She heard noise in the room and she opened her eyes and she saw Eleonor Baker looking at them. She had a bandage on the forehead
- Miss Baker…said Candy
- Candy…how is he?
- He still unconscious…but the surgery was a success
- That's good. How's Serena?
- I fond her by chance crying in a school…until I found Terry, I didn't know she was his daughter…
- Where's Susanna? Said Eleonor…she should be here to take care of her daughter and Terry
- It doesn't bother me…
- Thank you Candy. Another one wouldn't have done, what you've done…I have to go help in the kitchen with the children. Take good care of my son and his daughter
- Ok, said Candy smiling
She woke up the next day with a neck ache. Terry was still asleep. Serena woke up and Candy cleaned her up and they went to eat. They met her parents, and Eleonor. They all ate under the tent, happy to have seen another day.
- Granny said Serena when she saw Eleonor
- Serena! How are you, sweetie?
- Fine! Andy nice….
- Yes, she's really nice said Eleonor
- Daddy sleeping…
- He's going to wake up, honey
Candy, Serena and Eleonor went to Terry's bedside. Melissa went to help with the abandoned of orphaned children or those whose parents were hurt. Philippe went on another rescue mission.
At Terry's bedside, he was still unconscious. A doctor and a nurse were examining him.
- Daddy still sleeping said Serena
- Yes, daddy is sleeping, said Cady, but we can continue talking to him so he would wake up, ok?
- 'kay…
She took some little books with children's stories and she started to read and doing the screams and the gesture of the characters. They were having a lot of fun and they were laughing talking to Terry like he could hear them and answer them. The portrait was a beautiful sight; Candy, Serena and Eleonor…
Susanna finally arrive and that was the portrait she saw; Candy, Serena her daughter, Terry asleep and Terry's mother. She felt a twinge in her heart. That's the portrait she will now see when Terry leaves her. Terry was asleep and no one knew they were broken up, not even his mother, so…
- I'm sorry, she said entering the room, Candy, can you give me my family back, you thief!
Candy and Eleonor turned around surprised.
- Susanna, where were you? Asked Eleonor
- Not in front of the little one, said Candy
- Mommy! Said Serena
- Are you ok sweetie? Asked Susanna
- Yes! Andy, granny…nice
Candy took Susanna out of the room. Eleonor stayed with Serena
- What the hell is wrong with you? Terry needs to rest and Serena doesn't need all this hostility…said Candy
- How dare you talk to me about my family! You thief! It's my family!
- I found your daughter crying alone near the daycare, in the general panic; everybody came to get their children, no one was looking after her. It's only when we found Terry, that she told me he was her father. I took care of her, don't thank me or anything! And if I were you, I would be careful who I call a thief; I've never drugged another woman's fiancé to sleep with him and get pregnant. Look in the mirror and you find the thief. I have other patients to see…
She was going to leave when she heart;
- Andy, are you coming? Asked a voice
It was Serena calling her to come back in the room. She went in the room and she crouched in front of Serena and told her;
- Honey, I have to go and take care of other sick people, you stay with daddy. Continue telling him stories and he's going to wake up, ok? You stay with mommy…
Candy kissed her and hugged her. Susanna was looking at the scene the heart broken. She never got close to her daughter. Her nanny knew her better than her. And Terry always took her everywhere without worrying about the inconvenient. Candy, in one day, had become closer to her daughter, than she ever was. She entered the room.
- Granny has to go to help other little children ok? Said Eleonor to Serena
- 'kay. Bye
- Bye, said Eleonor.
Candy got out of the room, and Eleonor dragged Susanna out of the room too.
- Where were you? Asked Eleonor again
- With my parents…
- They're lucky to have all your attention…you didn't even worry about your daughter?
- Terry was there….
- Terry is kind of in a pretty bad shape, don't you think so? You should thank Candy for taking care of Serena…another woman would've ignored her… There, we're leaving you to your little family. I have to go do some volunteer work.
- I didn't mean you, Eleonor, but Candy…said Susanna
- I repeat, you should thank Candy for taking care of Serena, her rival's daughter…see you later!
She left too. Susanna went back in the room.
- Mommy…called Serena
- Yes, said Susanna, carrying her for the first time ever since she arrived
- Daddy sleeping…
- Yes, daddy is sleeping Serena
Terry started to move, he moved his head, he was feeling his head heavy…very heavy. He tried to open his eyes, but he couldn't. He heard Candy's voice.
"Romeo, wake up…Romeo"
He opened his eyes with difficulty. The sedatives…
- Candy… he said softly
Susanna felt a twinge in her heart. He never forgot about her.
- Daddy! Said Serena
- Serena…, he said smiling
Susanna put her on the bed and she jumped to her father's neck.
- Easy, said Susanna, you're going to hurt daddy
- No, I'm fine said Terry; I heard Candy's voice…
- She's not here, said Susanna quickly
- Andy gone, daddy. She'll come back, said Serena
Susanna couldn't stop her daughter from talking…
- Oh…said Terry, she was here?
- Yes, said Serena, she found me; Andy nice
Terry looked at Susanna who looked down.
- Candy found Serena? Where were you Susanna?
- At my parents. I didn't know what to do…
- The reflex of any parent would be to go see how its child is doing…Susanna
- I'm not a good mother, I know…
Terry started to talk to Serena. Susanna felt left off. She used her pregnancy to trap Terry, but she never managed to get attached to her daughter. She loved her, but the nanny and Terry took care of her. She and her mother had never been close, her nannies took care of her, she barely saw her mother. She didn't even realise that she was doing the same thing to Serena. Now it was too late, she was going to leave with Terry, because she didn't want, in any case for the press to find out what she'd done to trap Terry…
Candy continued helping the needy and the homeless with Albert. She went to see Terry only when he was sleeping at night. During daytime, Susanna and Serena were there and she was avoiding confrontations.