THE LOVEBIRDS
By Mallory Quinn
Epilogue
"Back in time"
Candy was getting ready for the reception. She had her hair in a bun, it was still blond but with turning to silver. She put on a nice blue dress and her husband was helping her with the zipper in the back.
- Thank you honey, said Candy smiling
- You're welcome darling, said Terry
- Let me help you with your tie…
- All right…, he said smiling
She was fixing his tie smiling, and he was smiling. They thanked God everyday for their bliss.
- I can't believe it's been forty years, said Candy, forty years together…
- I think about our meeting like it was yesterday. We were so young…, said Terry
- But you knew what you wanted; me!
- Yes, from the second I saw you, even before you opened your mouth…
- I could've been a selfish bitch…
- With that face full of freckles? Never! You looked like an angel…
- Oh Terry… I never get tired of hearing you complimenting me…
- We've been through so much together, through the years…
I can't remember when you weren't there
When I didn't care for anyone but you
I swear we've been through everything there is
Can't imagine anything we've missed
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do
Through the year, you've never let me down
You turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... Through the years
I've never been afraid, I've loved the life we've made
And I'm so glad I've stayed, right here with you
Through the years
I can't remember what I used to do
Who I trusted whom, I listened to before
I swear you've taught me everything I know
Can't imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more
Through the years, through all the good and bad
I knew how much we had, I've always been so glad
To be with you ... Through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years
Through the years, when everything went wrong
Together we were strong, I know that I belonged
Right here with you ... Through the years
I never had a doubt, we'd always work things out
I've learned what love's about, by loving you
Through the years
Through the years, you've never let me down
You've turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... Through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years!
Candy and Terry were hugging and kissing. Thinking about their life. They gotten married that Christmas after Terry's big premiere of "Romeo and Juliet"…
- You married me fast…
- Yes, my mother held you prisoner…I was barely able to touch you… I had to marry you fast to have you…
- Those make out sessions weren't enough for you? And what are you saying? That your mother forced you to marry me so you could touch me all day?
- Well, yeah! He said laughing, I wished I had married you back in St. Paul…so you see, I wanted to marry you back then, from the second I saw you I said to myself : "I'm going to marry this girl…"
- Hun hun… so you looked at me and thought that, then you open your mouth and said…
- Who are you? What do you want from me?
- Euh…I came up here on the deck to get some air and I wanted to talk to you because you seem so sad…
- Me? I look Sad? Where did you see that, Miss? I look sad? And I burst out laughing
- And I said in to myself in my head; "But I'm sure I saw him cry…maybe I made a mistake…no I didn't make a mistake; he was crying…"
- You're having visions and you've got the face full of freckles!
- Now that wasn't your best pick up line! Said Candy laughing
- But I did, caught your attention…
- Because you were crying… no matter how tough you acted, the first image of you I had was a very sensitive one…you looked so vulnerable, and yes… I think I fell for you at that moment too, even if I didn't realize it until much later…
- I love you Mrs. Freckles, Mrs. Tarzan, Mrs. Grandchester…
- I love you, Master Grandchester, she said with the British accent
They kissed for a while, like they didn't want to let go of each other.
- Honey, said Candy between kisses, we're all dressed up, we have to go downstairs…
- Says who? We could undress ourselves and get dress again…
- Terry!
- All right, but I'm not going to leave you alone tonight
- I don't think you're strong enough to keep up with me…
- You wanna bet?
They burst out laughing and they went downstairs to see their friends and family and their guests. They were at the Chicago mansion for the reception. But they lived in New York and spent most of their summers in Scotland.
The mansion was like Diana remembered. But Susanna was the mistress of the house, and Albert was always near his beloved. After their meeting and their falling for each other, Albert had recovered his memory and found out he was one of the richest man in America. Mrs. Marlowe was glad about the turn of events, now Albert was going to take care of her daughter; she didn't need Terry anymore, financially or otherwise. Susanna and Albert were grandparents to some teens. Candy was there too, with her grandchildren, so were Annie and Patty with their spouses, Archie and Stear, their children and grandchildren. She saw Eleonor Baker in an armchair, she was old but still very elegant. She didn't see Terry right away. He came with another younger man and they walked to Candy. Terry hugged his wife, slightly and kissed on the forehead. The younger man looked exactly like Terry and some younger kids, Diana's age arrived. One of the boys saw her and he smiled at her.
- Diana! He said, you're finally here…
- Which Diana? Asked Terry
- The little one, said the young boy…
Candy turned around and smiled to her.
- Little Diana, said Candy I'm glad you finally got here!
- Yes, Candy! Said Diana hugging her hard, it's so good to see you!
She was overwhelmed to see Candy with Terry, their children, their grandchildren…A reality so different from the one she first knew.
- Diana, said Candy, what's got into you? You look like you haven't seen me in months!
"You have no idea, Candy! Oh, it's so good to see you!" Said Diana in her head
- I'm just so happy I know you and that you're taking care of me
- Oh, honey, said Candy hugging her back, I love you…
- I love you too Candy, said Diana with tears in her eyes, thanks for taking me under your wing and adopting me
The young boy was looking at them.
- Grandma, it's almost time for the big speech..., said the young boy named Rick
- Thank you honey, said Candy.
- You're ready honey? Said Terry
- Yes, said Candy
Candy went in the middle of the room, Terry was beside her.
- I would like to thank you all for coming to this little party. We're opening another Pony Home. You all know that I was abandoned as a baby and I grew up in the Pony Home until Albert had the good heart of adopting me…He sent me to school in England, gave me a chance, but I was stubborn and I went to nursing school, with the help of Miss Pony, God bless her soul and Sister Maria, may they both rest in peace. A lot of children are abandoned daily, and I would like them to have the opportunity to go to school if they don't get the chance to be adopted, to be able to study and make a life for themselves. My beloved husband here, offers to pay for any studies for those who deserve it with their good grades and who are motivated… The new Pony Home branch is going to have another name: the "Diana Angel House".
Diana was speechless. Terry stepped in to continue.
- Why "Diana Angel"? Said Terry, you all know that we have a daughter named Diana, and so do Patty and Stear, Albert and Susanna…that's because a long time ago, we met this charming young girl named Diana Jones who helped us realize what was important in life; love above all things. Whatever the situation: you have to choose love over everything…We never saw her again. Candy used to say that she was angel on a mission, her work was done, so she went on helping other people in need… I think she's right. Diana came and she was able to read all of us like a book and she helped us make very difficult decision, or simple decisions which happen to be the right ones… so Diana Jones, wherever you are, God bless you. This shelter is for you!
Everybody clapped their hands. Diana was crying of joy! The three Diana's were very moved. They all had kept their word, and called their daughters "Diana". Diana was surprised that Albert and Susanna did the same thing…Candy saw Diana crying, for a split second she reminded her of the angel, but it was probably because they were talking about the Diana they met 40 years ago. She approached her and hugged her.
- Well you're another Diana who brought us a lot of joy, said Candy
- Oh Candy, I don't know what to say…Thank you!
- Diana…
Candy looked at her intensely…. It couldn't be! But … Oh, she didn't want to think about that, she just wanted to party and be with her friends and family.
- You're very welcome Diana Angel, said Candy, thank you again for everything!
Diana was stunned. But she didn't say anything. The party continued and everybody had fun. The rich gave lots of fat cheques for the new "Diana Angel Home".
A little while later, Diana became a nurse, she married Candy's grandson Rick and they were very happy. She made Candy a great grandmother, with a baby girl named Felicia. Diana had another hobby. She didn't want what she lived with Marty and Doc to be forgotten forever, so she wrote a book about it and she changed the names of course. The book was called "The Lovebirds"… Everybody felt connected to that book somehow. There were some details which hit close to home, especially for Candy and Terry.
- This book is…weird, said Candy to Terry in their bedroom…it seems familiar
- You're telling me…, the young actor sacrificing his love to be with a girl he doesn't love…
- That's almost what happened to us…, said Candy
- And they meet years later after having simultaneous heart attacks and they die in each other's arm, welded together…
- That's even better than "Romeo and Juliet"…
- Well, if it had happened to us, that would've been the best way to die, holding you in my arms forever and ever and never let you go again.
- And buried together, holding each other….like the lovebirds who can't live without each other. When one dies, the other one dies too…
They both felt weird saying that, it sounded so eerie and like déjà vu. The hugged each other like they wanted to make sure they were both there and alive. They had a wonderful life together with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and helping the children in need. They never took a second for granted and they thanked God every single day for their happiness.
They say everybody has a guardian angel; it's the little voice of reason in your head or the invisible force that pushes you away when a car is aiming at you, or when you're in danger. The Bible preaches hospitality and it also tells us, by doing that, you might welcome angels on a mission and be blessed for the rest of your life. Candy had opened her home to Albert her good friend who had saved her life once and to Diana whom she had just met not knowing she was greeting her salvation and future happiness…
Diana saw a miracle and a window of opportunity with Marty and Doc and all she could think about was make things right for Candy and Terry, she could've gone back in time to save herself from being abandoned, but she chose to help those she loved already…Love is when you think about others before you think of yourself and you're going to be rewarded… seeing Candy and Terry young again so in love with each other, was all the reward she needed. She came back to a future where Stear was alive, Susanna and Albert happily married, Candy and Terry more in love than ever and three namesakes! Life was good life was perfect because everything was as it should be. The Lovebirds were never separated.
THE END