CHAPTER 7

After a few days Candy is still very bruised and sore, but she can walk a little more each day with Jeremy's assistance. Jeremy has coaxed her into going outside to sit in the swing on the porch. With his arms around her, he very gently helps her descend the stairs slowly one step at a time.

"You're doing great, Candy. We're almost to the bottom," he says encouragingly. "Are you all right? Do you need to rest?"

"I'm all right. I just want to get down these stairs and then I'll rest a bit."

"Only three more to go," Jeremy tells her.

When she takes the last step and is safely on the floor, Jeremy kisses her cheek. "I'm so proud of you. I know that wasn't easy, but you did it."

Candy gasps. "I need to go back upstairs. Jeremy help me," she says trembling.

"Why? What's the matter?"

She whispers, "The. . .the parlor. Jeremy, I. . ."

Looking over at the parlor, Jeremy sees the doors are wide open giving them a view of the room. He understands that Candy would be hesitant on having to see where her attack happened.

"I'm sorry, Candy. I should have made sure the doors were closed. Here, you hold on to the handrails while I shut the doors." He helps her get her grip on the banister and then hurries over to shut the doors. Returning, he takes her hands and kisses her fingertips. "Better now?"

Nodding her head she whispers, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Come on, let's go outside." He holds on to her and they get almost to the front door when Candy stops.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"I can't go any farther. He. . .he. . ."

"What? What happened?"

"I tried to get away. I got to the door. . .he, he grabbed me and pressed me against the wall with. . .with his body." Tears are streaming down her face. "He was kissing me. His. . .his hands were touching me all over. Then. . .then. . .then he ripped the front of my dress from me." She buries her face in Jeremy's chest while his arms encircle her.

"Candy, I'm so sorry." He kisses the top of her head.

"I. . .I kicked him in the, uh, you know, down there, to get away."

"It's okay. Listen, here's what we're going to do. We're going to walk out that door together, all right?"

"I can't," she cries.

"Yes, you can. Candy, do you trust me?"

Nodding her head she answers, "With my life."

"Good. Now you close your eyes and keep them closed. Hold on to me. I'm going to lead you out the door and to the swing. All right?"

"Jeremy, I. . ."

"Candy, you can do this. It'll work. I promise." Talking ever so softly and slowly, Jeremy says, "Just close your eyes. Lean your head on me and take small steps. That's the way, see you're doing it. I'm so proud of you. We're going to have a nice visit outside. It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly with blue skies, no rain clouds in sight. We'll sit in the swing and just hold each other. We'll listen to the birds singing, feel the gentle breeze blowing, and smell the scent of pine trees in the air. I may even steal a kiss from you," he chuckles. "Now, you can open your eyes. That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asks as he stops in front of the swing.

Candy asks, "We're outside?"

"Yes, we're outside. Go on, open your eyes."

Candy slowly opens her eyes and squints them until she gets used to the sun. "I think I better sit down. My legs are pretty wobbly."

Jeremy helps her down in the swing, then sits next to her. He puts his arm around her shoulder. "Are you all right now?"

"Yes, thank you. Jeremy, I don't know what I'd do without you. You're so gentle and patient with me. I know, uh, maybe I shouldn't keep telling you things that I remember."

"Yes, you should tell me, Candy. You need to talk about it and get it out of your system. It's not good to keep all of this bottled up inside you."

"But, it can't be easy for you to hear what happened. I don't want to upset or hurt you."

"Don't you worry about me. I want to know everything that happened, but I want you to take your time and tell me when you're ready. I'm not going to rush you."

"But Jeremy. . ." she stops when Jeremy places his finger over her lips.

"Candy, I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise! What?"

He gives her that big beautiful smile she loves. "Well, I know how much you love picnics, so I talked to Biddie and she brought a picnic lunch over for the two of us. We're going to go down to the water and sit in our favorite spot to have our picnic."

"Oh Jeremy, I don't think I can walk that far. I'm pretty tired."

"Oh but Candy, my dear wife, you don't have to walk. I have the garden wagon all fixed up for you to ride in."

"The garden wagon? Jeremy, you thought of everything, didn't you?"

"Well, I tried. I'm sure there will be something that I forgot. I'm not perfect, you know."

Candy gives him a kiss on the lips. "I think you're as perfect as perfect gets."

"Thank you. You're pretty perfect yourself. Now," he says rising from the swing, "stand up."

He takes her hands and pulls her up. He sweeps her up in his arms, carries her down from the porch, and places her in the wagon that he has lined with a blanket and a pillow. "Comfy?"

Nodding her head she replies, "Yes, comfy."

Picking up the basket that Biddie left on the steps, he hands it to Candy to hold. He takes the handle of the wagon and says, "Well then, hold on. I'll try not to hit too many bumps." He walks towards the water pulling the wagon as the two of them laugh.

After Jeremy gets Candy back in their room, she is tired and wants to lay down to rest. Jeremy covers her with a thin blanket, then sits on the edge of the bed. Taking her hand in his, he asks, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Raising her other hand to his cheek she replies, "No, you've done so much already. I don't know if I'll ever be able to repay you for all you've done. Thank you."

"Repay me? Candy, I don't want you to repay me for anything. I do what I do because I'm your husband and I love you. I want you to feel safe and happy again. I'll do everything I can to help you."

"I know. I don't think I could get through all this if it weren't for you. Thank you for getting me out of the house. I can't believe you planned a picnic for us. It was almost like old times."

"Almost, but not there yet. It'll come, Candy. Just give it time."

"I know it will, but Jeremy, we won't have our baby. I wanted your baby so much," she says as her eyes fill with tears.

"I know you did, I did too. Hopefully someday, we will have a baby. We'll just take it one day at a time."

"Jeremy, do you really think we'll have a baby some day? I'd like to have a whole houseful of children. Your children."

"Well, that will certainly keep you busy," he chuckles. "And to answer your question, yes, I think we will have a baby when God thinks it's the right time for us to become parents. How could he not give us, you a baby when you have all this love inside your heart to give? Candy, you will be an excellent Mother."

"Thank you for saying that. I hope so."

"Now, you close your eyes and get some rest."

"What about you? What are you going to do?"

"Oh I have a couple of things that I need to take care of. Then I may lay down and rest, too."

"You're not going somewhere, are you? You're not going to leave me here alone?" she asks anxiously.

"No, I'll be here. I may have to go out to the barn to check on the horses, but I promise I won't take long. He gives her a quick kiss. "Close your eyes. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Jeremy gets up to leave when Candy asks, "Jeremy, will I ever be able to go into our parlor again? What if I can't?"

Sitting back down he says, "I hope so, Candy. I know you're probably getting tired of me saying the same thing over and over, but I think it'll just take time. Try not to rush it. We're not in any hurry."

"But what if I can't go in there again? Jeremy, I can't stay in this room forever. I mean, I have to start taking care of you, Molly, and Christopher soon. And taking care of this house, cooking, and cleaning. I. . ."

Jeremy interrupts her. "Whoa, slow down," he laughs. "You're getting ahead of yourself. Listen, I'm sure there will come a day when you can put all this behind you. I know you'll never forget it, but you'll be able to put it behind you enough that you'll be able to go in there. If not, then I'll build us another house. One with no bad memories."

"Jeremy James Bolt, you'll do no such thing. I love our house. It's our first home together and it'll be our last one too."

"All right, I was just stating that if you would rather have a different house, I'll build you one. I love our house, too."

She looks at him with tears in her eyes, "You really mean that, don't you? If I ask you to build me, us, another house, you'd do it. No questions asked. No protests. You'd just do it."

"Yes, I mean it. I told you Candy, I'll do whatever I can to make you happy," he says squeezing her hand.

"You are what makes me happy. I know I'm not showing it right now, but Jeremy you make me very happy." She gets a startled look on her face.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Candy, I know something's wrong. You remembered something, didn't you?"

Nodding her head she replies, "I-I told him that I love you and. . .and that you make me very happy. He slapped me. Told me I didn't love you and wanted me to stop saying that. He said I loved him." She takes Jeremy's hand, kisses it, and places it on her heart. "Jeremy, he was so, so wrong. I don't. . .I never. . .I've never had any feelings for him other than a friend because he saved your life. And after he did what he did to you and Joshua, I had no feelings for him at all."

"I know, Candy. You don't have to tell me all this."

"Oh yes I do, Jeremy. I want you to understand how much you mean to me, how much I love you. You are my world."

"I know you love me Candy. I never have any doubts about that. I hope you know I feel the same about you. You are my life." He takes her in his arms and their lips meet in a warm loving kiss.

"Now, you lay down and rest. I'll see you in a while." He kisses her cheek. She lays down and closes her eyes. When Jeremy gets to the door, he stops and turns around looking at the love of his life. He thinks, how am I going to protect you when you remember what happened to Rafe. I'll be here for you, Candy. Always.