THE LOVEBIRDS
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 4
"New twists in New York"
Candy, Terry, Albert and Diana were getting out of the train station. Terry was holding Terry by the waist. He didn't want to let go of her.
"Oh my God, he said in head, I will never be able to let her go…I'm being pressured to take care of Susanna…but I love Candy so much, I don't want to give her up. Now after kissing her…holding her in my arms…"
Diana was looking at Terry and she knew he was probably thinking about the Susanna matter. They arrived at a car.
- Terry, you bought a car? Said Candy
- Yes, said Terry and it's a real car, not a toy like what your cousin Alistair plays with
- Well I think he's very talented to be able to built his own car, said Candy
- You're right, said Terry, he's pretty smart. How are the rest of your friends, the dandy, the shy girl, and the little chubby one…?
- You mean Archie, Annie and Patricia? You could call them by their names you know…
- Of course I can, Miss Freckles, said Terry
- You're hopeless, said Candy laughing!
Albert and Diana were also laughing. Terry drove Candy to their hotel, since they had two extras guests, to change the reservations. He dropped them off in front of the hotel.
- You guys go ahead, said Terry; I'm looking for a parking spot.
- All right said Candy, getting off with Albert, Diana?
- I'll stay in the car, it's better to have another set of eyes right?
Candy thought it was a little odd, but she agreed.
- All right, Albert and I will wait for you in the lobby.
- We'll be right there, said Terry
He left with Diana to look for a parking spot.
- Why do I get the feeling that you want to talk to me? He asked Diana
- Because, you're right, said Diana. I need to speak to you…
- You don't know me from Adam, said Terry
- Well I know what Candy told me about you…
- You're kind of nosy…
- I know… it's a fault of mine…
- What do you want from me?
- I know what's bothering you…
- Really? How would you know that? Said Terry a little annoyed
- Susanna Marlowe saved your life by pushing you away from a falling spotlight but it fell on her leg which had to be amputated and since she's madly in love with you, her mother is pressuring you to marry her and take care of her as compensation… how am I doing?
- Are you psychic or something? Asked Terry
- Or something….I also know you don't know how to tell Candy the news or you want to wait after the premiere…
- But…
- Listen to me…tell her the news now, don't wait!
- Why?
- Just trust me…
- Why should I trust you?
- I know you don't know me, and you have to reason to trust me…
- You got that right!
- But I'm a friend of Candy's, I want her to be happy with you…I know you're torn, just be honest with her talk to her. You love each other…It's ok to ask for help…
- Is that why you pushed us to have a better reunion?
- You have to say your initial reunion was so lame! You wanted to kiss her, and so did she…
- Who are you?
- I'm someone who wants you two to be together…
- What about Susanna?
- Don't worry about Susanna, that's why Albert and I are here…
- Uh?
- Listen to me, you concentrate on telling Candy your dilemma, I'll make sure Susanna is fine…
- Diana…
While they were talking, they had found a parking spot and Terry was doing parallel parking. They got out of the car.
- So Terry, you're going to trust me and be honest with Candy?
- Yes, you're right, I should tell her the truth now…or she might learn it elsewhere…
- Great, Albert and I can stay at the hotel while you take her to your apartment to talk to her
- You have a script I should follow too? Said Terry ironically
- Terry! This is important! Your future with Candy depends on what you do in the next 24 hours… so make the right decision!
- Ok, Miss Spitfire, said Terry, I hear you…
- Candy is right, you just love nick names don't you? Said Diana laughing out loud
Terry burst out laughing and they got into the hotel and they found Candy and Albert waiting for them. Candy ran to him and hugged him.
- Hey Freckles! I was gone only 5 minutes…
- I just have this weird feeling that something is going on…, said Candy, is everything ok, Terry?
Terry looked at Diana who had a look that said ; "You have to tell her".
- Candy, let's take care of your sleeping arrangements first, said Terry
- It's all taken care of said Candy, while you were parking the car…which took forever by the way, where did you go to park it? Chicago?
- Freckles, I didn't know you had that kind of sense of humour, said Terry with a mocking tone
- Let's go have a drink at the restaurant, said Diana
They all walked at the hotel restaurant and they had drinks and they were laughing.
- Terry, said Candy, can I come and see your apartment?
- Sure Freckles, I wanted to show you where I lived too…
- You guys go ahead, said Diana, Albert and I will be fine…
Albert was observing Diana from the moment they arrived in New York. She was up to something…
- All right, said Candy, let's go Terry
- Bye, and thank you for coming to see my play, said Terry
Candy left with Terry. Diana stayed with Albert who was staring at her…
- What? Said Diana
- What are you up to?
- I just want Candy to be happy…
- Your psychic thingy again?
- Euh yeah… well you and I have work to do
- We do?
- Yes, you're coming with me to see Susanna Marlowe
- Who?
- Susanna Marlowe the actress who was supposed to play Juliet tomorrow…
- Supposed to?
- There was an accident on the set, she saved Terry, but she got hurt and lost her leg…
- What? But Terry….
- Terry loves Candy, and they should be together…
- Diana, this is none of our business…
- You want Candy to be happy or not?
- I do but…
- Imagine if she breaks up with Terry how devastated she's going to be
- That's going to kill her; she loves him so much…
- Can you just trust me?
Albert looked at her. If it was for Candy's happiness…
- All right, let's go then
Candy and Terry arrived at his apartment.
- Here it is, said Terry
- Oh…it's clean…
- Yeah…
- Well a bachelor's apartment I was expecting it to be a little more messy
- Well my landlady cleans up every two days
- Ok. Albert is the one doing the cleaning in my apartment
- Candy! You should be ashamed of yourself!
- Well I work for a living I come back tired and he'd rather do it, to let me rest, because I do it too slowly…
- That's your defence?
- Yes, that's my defence, she said smiling, you've got a problem with that?
- No, he said hugging her, I just hope I become rich fast so you can have a maid when I marry you…
- When you marry me? Said Candy with dreamy eyes
Terry looked at her. He had found a note from Mrs. Marlowe under his door. He had to speak to Candy.
- Terry…, she said, your eyes are sad again, what's wrong?
- I …. I have something to tell you…
- What is it? She asked all worried, and she felt her stomach getting upset
- Something happened during rehearsal a few days ago…
He told her the whole story and about the note he just found under the door. Candy didn't know what to do. She just walked to him and hugged him hard. She was crying. She hated Susanna for sending her away that nigh, but she didn't deserve to lose her leg.
- Terry, said Candy, what do you want to do? You want me to go, so you can be with her?
- NO! NEVER! You can't leave me Candy, I need you…
- But…they want you to take care of Susanna…I can leave to make it easier for you
- Easier, without you? No! I can take care of her financially…
- But she loves you, having you as a husband would be a great comfort for her…
- But I don't love her… I love you. Did you think of what it would do to me to be with a woman I wasn't even looking at before? I never want to let you go again! I love you too much…
- Oh Terry, I love you too! Said Candy hugging him hard, but…
- Candy…I don't want you to go, stay with me…I have to go to the hospital later tonight… I'm sorry for burdening you with all this…
- Don't be sorry, said Candy, I'm here with you, that's all that counts… We're going to get through this together. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know I don't want to lose you…
- Me neither…
He took her lips again and kissed her for a very long time. They needed each other, he needed her most of all, he felt so lost ever since the Susanna matter had started, he needed someone on his side. And Candy will always be on his side. By hugging her and kissing her at the train station, he realised that he couldn't let her go…but he had a duty…Life was so complicated sometimes.
Meanwhile, nosy Diana was dragging Albert to the hospital. They bought flowers, books and magazine to give to her. They inquired about the room number. They arrived in front of the door the got in. Albert was in front, he stopped when he saw the poor and vulnerable young woman in front of him.
- Yes, said Susanna, what do you want? Who are you?
- We just came to bring you some flowers and some chocolate, said Diana and see how you feel
- Well I feel like crap! Said Susanna, leave me alone!
"She was very cheerful even when she was young…, said Diana in her head, come on Diana, she just lost her leg…have mercy"
- Well Miss Marlowe, said Albert, if it doesn't bother you, I would like to stay and talk with you for a little while…my name is Albert and this is Diana…
Susanna looked at Albert. He was very handsome and he was looking at her the way a man looks at a woman. For some strange reason, his presence made her feel better. She needed comfort, and Terry and her mom were not comforting her enough.
- All right, said Susanna, you can stay
Albert smiled and pulled a chair and sat by Susanna's bed.
- I know you're hurting now, said Albert
- Actually the morphine numbs the physical pain
- Emotionally, he said, I was in the hospital not too long ago…
- You were?
- Yes…
Albert started talking with Susanna; he was saying stuff he didn't know he knew, part of his memory had come back… Diana looked at the scene. She went for a walk and she came back and she found them laughing. Susanna hadn't felt that good for a while. Her mother arrived.
- Who are you? And what are you doing in my daughter's room?
- Mom, it's ok, he's a friend…, said Susanna
- A friend? I don't know him…
- Well mom, you don't know all my friends, he heard about my accident and he came to see me…
- All right then. I wonder where Terrence is…I should've been here
- Well, mama, I think Terrence is busy with his fiancée. She was supposed to come today…
- He's got a fiancée? Too bad for him he's going to have to marry you…
- Mom… I'm not sure I want a man out pity and obligation, said Susanna
- I thought you loved him, said her mother, he's going to marry you!
- He doesn't love me, mom. He told me so, he's in love with another girl
- Well he's going to have to break up with her to be with you!
Susanna was very uncomfortable talking about all that in front of Albert and Diana. But her mother was so protective of her, too protective.
- Mama, can you go get me some sodas at the corner store?
- Are you sure you can drink some?
- Well, I'm fine, and don't forget my friends…
- All right darling, said Mrs. Marlowe
Mrs. Marlowe left the room.
- I'm sorry about that, said Susanna
- Don't be, said Albert, she's upset, it's understandable
- I'm going to go in the hallway, said Diana
- All right…. I'll be right there, said Albert
- You're leaving? Said Susanna sorry
- Yes, we've been here long enough, said Albert, but I can come again tomorrow if you want me to…
- Yes, please do, said Susanna smiling
- I will then, said Albert with a smile, have a good night…
- Good night Albert she said smiling.
Albert left. He was on a cloud and he didn't know why. Diana looked at him with a smile. Albert looked at her.
- Somehow, I've got the feeling that you knew I was going to be attracted to her…,said Albert
- I don't know what you're talking about, Albert, let's go get something to eat
She left the hospital with Albert.
Candy and Terry were still at his apartment kissing hugging and comforting each other.
- I can't believe I slapped you the first time you kissed me, it was so good…
- You were young, you probably thought you were going to get pregnant or something
- Now I'm a nurse, said Candy I know where babies come from…
- Congratulations to the new nurse! Said Terry smiling
- Congratulations for getting the role of Romeo …
- Thank you, but I just wish that the cloud about the Susanna matter wasn't floating above us.
- Terry, look at me, what do you want?
- I want to be with you for the rest of my life…
- Me too. So let's not lose our focus; to be together. Unless you want to be with her…
- No…I don't!
- Why not? She's a beautiful girl…
- She's not you, Freckles… I fell in love with you since the moment I laid my eyes on you on that boat…
- Really? Is that why you made fun of my nose and my freckles…?
- That was because you caught me crying…I was thinking about my mother. She had just sent me away, when I needed her so much…she called me back, but I didn't want to look back, I was upset…
- Did you call her and ask her for her advice?
- No…
Candy thought about Patty's words, not to let anything come between her and Terry. Candy thought everything was fine for her…oh dear!
- Terry… Mrs. Marlowe is there for her daughter, you also have a mother, you need someone to speak up for you…it's ok to ask for help. That's a lot of pressure on you…
- You're right, he said. Maybe I should go see her before I go to the hospital.
- Yes, you should, said Candy
- You want to come to the hospital with me?
- No, Susanna is just going to be more upset.
- But I want you with me,
- All right, I'll wait for you in the waiting room
- Thank Candy; you give me strength you know? I'm so glad you came here!
He hugged her again. He was feeling less pressured. They went to see his mother.
- Oh my God, Terry, with Candy what a nice surprise! She said smiling
- Good evening mother, said Terry
- Good evening Miss Baker
- Please come in, she said hugging them, what brings you here at this time of the night?
- Mum, I had an accident at work…
They were sitting in the living room and Terry told her everything. Eleonor was stunned.
- How could she pressure you like that? Said Eleonor
- Her daughter is in love with me…, said Terry
- So, she thinks if her daughter gets the man she loves, it's a sort of consolation…or a clever way to get a man who wouldn't have looked at her in normal times… Unless there's something I don't know…
- No, mum, I swear. I've never encouraged her in any way. If anything I was distant, I even told her that I loved Candy. She lost it…
- Let's go to the hospital then, said Eleonor
- Thank you mum, said Terry
- Anything for you baby…., said Eleonor smiling
They all went to the hospital. Mrs. Marlowe was in the hallway.
- Where the hell were you? She asked Terry, you should've been here hours ago!
- Good evening, Mrs. Marlowe, said Terry coldly. Is Susanna asleep already?
- No, she's waiting for you…
- Thank you. Candy, mum wait for me here…
- How dare you bring another girl with you? Have you no shame? Said Mrs. Marlowe
- Mrs. Marlowe, I'm Eleonor Baker…
- I know who you are, you came to support your little protégé? He should take his responsibilities…
She didn't hear Terry call Eleonor "mum".
- I agree. He should pay for all the hospital bills; make sure your daughter is taken care of …
- My daughter loves him… he should commit to her…
- But he doesn't love her. You want your daughter to be in a loveless marriage? Doesn't she deserve better? Especially after everything that happened to her? He's in love with another girl…
Mrs. Marlowe looked at Candy. Her Susanna was so much more beautiful than that insignificant girl! Well Terry loved her, so she meant something…How could he not be attracted to her beautiful Susanna? What wrong with him?
Mean while in Susanna's room Terry was talking to her. Susanna looked at him. His eyes were so cold. She couldn't help comparing them to Albert's which were so bright and glad to be with her.
- Terry, she said, did she come? Is she here? Candy, the girl you love…
- Susanna….
- My mother is pressuring me into pressuring you…
- It's not what you want?
- You have to take care of me, I saved your life…
- I'm in love with another girl, Susanna… you can't want me knowing that… I will never love you…
- Terry ,you're so cruel you know that?
- I can take care of you, but I'm not going to marry you…
- My mother says, you have to… I saved your life, said Susanna coldly
- So you're willing to have me unhappy for the rest of my life as long as you're happy?
- I can live with that…
- Susanna, you're not thinking straight…
- Of course I'm not thinking straight! I lost my leg saving your life! And now you want to toss me like yesterday's laundry! How could you be so ungrateful?
- If you're getting this upset, I'm going to leave…
- No wait! Terry, don't go…I'm sorry, she said crying, my mother is forcing me to say these things! I don't want to be a burden for you… I don't want you to suffer from my selfishness…. I'm sorry Terry.
- Susanna, I'll come and see you tomorrow after the play.
- You're going to be with her tonight?
- Susanna, don't be like that…Have a good night.
Terry got out of the room. He went to the waiting room and he found Mrs. Marlowe arguing with his mother.
- Why are you meddling in this business, said Mrs. Marlowe, it doesn't concern you!
- Mum? Said Terry, is everything fine?
- "Mom"? Said Mrs. Marlowe surprised, you're Terrence's mother?
- Yes, said Eleonor, and you should be ashamed of yourself, pressuring my boy like that…
- He has to take his responsibilities…
- Oh that he will, but he doesn't need to tie himself to a girl he doesn't love for the rest of his life…, said Eleonor, it's not fair and you know it!
- But…
- I will be eternally grateful to your daughter for saving my son, but if she marries him, he's going to be unhappy
- You don't know that…
- Yes I do. My son sees only one woman…
- You went to get some back up, didn't you? Said Mrs. Marlowe to Terry
- You're here for your daughter, I have the right to be here for my son, said Eleonor, you leave him alone….I think I made myself clear. We'll take care of Susanna's bill and everything else she will need, for as long as she lives, but my son is not going to tie himself to a woman he doesn't love. We're very grateful for what she did, but you're not going to use this to trap my son into a loveless marriage. That's emotional blackmail. Let's go Terry, Candy…Good bye Mrs. Marlowe.
- Bye, said Candy and Terry…
Terry felt so good to see his mother taking his side and defending him, he had that burden on him all by himself, and he didn't know how to ask for help. Thanks to Candy and Diana everything was going to be fine…
In the car they were all silent until the got to Eleonor's house. Terry got off and walked his mother to the door. He hugged her.
- Thank you so much for defending me, said Terry
- You're very welcome baby. I just wished you had told me sooner… You've always been left to yourself to solve your own problems; but it's ok to ask for help Terry…
- I know it now…, said Terry, thank you so much mother.
- You're very welcome, I love you…
- I love you too…good night!
- Good night, said Eleonor, good night Candy
- Good night Miss Baker and thank you…
Terry drove Candy back to her hotel. He walked her to her door. He kissed her.
- I'm surprised you didn't bring me back to your apartment for some make out sessions…
- If I had brought you to my apartment, you wouldn't have spent the night in your hotel room, but in my bed…
- Oh…, said Candy blushing, that wouldn't have been such a bad thing…
- I didn't know this side of you Freckles…he said with a mocking tone
- We'll I'm here so we could know each other better and…
- So we could make a life together…, said Terry smiling
He kissed her again. He was so relieved.
- I'm going to go to bed now, said Candy, or I'm going to go home with you…
- Just a little more, said Terry
- All right, said Candy, it's late, Terry
- I won't see you tomorrow; the general rehearsal…I'll see you after the play…
- Oh…in that case, Romeo, let's just turn around and go back to your apartment…
- I thought you'd never ask!
They burst out laughing and they went back to Terry's apartment. Diana heard them and she smiled. Things have already changed a lot. She made Candy and Terry hug and kiss which triggered their desire for each other; hopefully they won't make the decision to separate this time around. Since Candy didn't come in, she hadn't told her about what happened with Mrs. Marlowe and Eleonor Baker.
Candy and Terry arrived at his apartment.
- I don't have my stuff, said Candy
- Well I can give you one my old shirts
- All right, she said laughing
Terry gave her an old shirt, which looked like a dress on Candy's little body.
- It's perfect, said Candy
- I love you in my shirt, he said smiling
He had also changed and put on something he could sleep in. They went in the kitchen to have something to eat. Candy made sandwiches and they drank some tea. Then they washed the dishes and they went to bed. Candy was a little nervous. She thought about what Patty did with Alistair…but she wasn't trying to keep Terry to leave, so she didn't need to be that drastic. Like he read her mind, he just undid the bed lye down and she went in his arms. They talked until they fell asleep. Candy was feeling great. She almost lost the man she loved; she almost gave in to Mrs. Marlowe's blackmail.
Albert on his bed, couldn't stop thinking about Susanna Marlowe, she was so beautiful and so pleasant to be with.
Diana was praying that all the interference she did changed history. Candy and Terry got closer, unlike what she was told happened initially. Terry was probably afraid of getting close to her, because he knew he had to break up with her, but now that they had gotten close and they know how good it feels to be together, they did everything – well, she hoped they did – to stay together. She couldn't wait for Candy to come back in the morning to tell her what happened. She was looking at the stuff in her purse and she found a news paper clipping. It was the articles on Candy and Terry's death, that she kept in her purse. She looked at it and she surprised to see that it was something else…
- What? She said out loud, I could've sworn that this was an article about their death!
But the title had changed, instead of saying;
"TERRENCE GRAHAM GRANDCHESTER, DIES OF A HEART ATTACK"
And
"CANDICE WHITE ANDREW, WIFE OF BILLIONNAIRE WILLIAM ALBERT ANDREW, DIES OF A HEART ATTACK"
It said on both of the articles:
"TERRENCE AND CANDICE GRANDCHESTER OPEN A NEW HOME FOR TEEN AGE MOTHERS"
There was a picture of Terrence and Candice with their family, there were children, grandchildren and Candy's cousins, where she saw Alistair looking older holding Patty. But Albert was no where in sight…
- Maybe he wasn't there that day, said Diana, or he was travelling….I can't believe it's working….Candy and Terry are saved… But Albert, I still have to push him to be with Susanna…tomorrow is the day she attempts suicide, and since Candy already knows about her injury, she won't go to the hospital in time to save her. Albert have to be with her tomorrow… Marty, Doc, I hope you'll forgive me for running away, but I couldn't let this opportunity pass, a chance to get my Candy back, and back with the man she loves…Thank you God for this wonderful opportunity to make things right!
Marty and Doc were lurking around 1914 and they thought it was fascinating to see how things they took for granted in 1985, didn't exist in 1914…like a simple plastic bag…
- Doc, said Marty, I'm going to collect as much data I can and I'm going to write a book on every year we've visited and compare it to the modern world
- That's good Marty said Doc, but we have to find Diana
- Diana saw an opportunity to change something to make the future better for her and the people she loves. Like I did
- Yours was an accident…
- But I did make a better future for my family…Diana just wants the same thing
- She probably already change a lot of thing, since she wasn't born yet and her parents aren't born I think…
- Well anyway, let's go to bed, I want go see those farmers tomorrow morning, said Marty
- Sometimes, I wish I hadn't invented this time machine!
- The time machine, the thing that's great is that even if we spend a year here, we can go back at the exact time we left and it won't make a difference to our families…Come Doc, let's get some sleep…