CHAPTER 8

Candy awakens to find Jeremy laying next to her asleep. She smiles and touches his cheek. I love you, Jeremy Bolt. You are so handsome. What would I ever do without you, she thinks to herself and sighs. She very quietly gets up and goes to the washroom to freshen up. Coming back into the bedroom, she sees their wedding picture propped up on the mantle. She goes over to it and runs her hand over the picture while she gets lost in thoughts about their wedding day. They were so happy and in love.

Suddenly Jeremy appears behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kisses her neck. "I thought you might like to see our picture again. I know how much you love it."

"Thank you for moving it in here. Just look at us. Look at how happy we were."

"I know, Candy. We were happy and I believe we'll be that happy again someday soon."

"Do you really think so? I hope you're right."

"Yes, I do. Once you're better and our lives get back to normal, I know happiness will come." He kisses her cheek.

"Normal? Will we ever be normal again?" she says as she turns and faces Jeremy. "Jeremy, he told me he was the one that took our picture down and threw it on the floor breaking the glass. He said he wanted to destroy it, but that doing so would make it too obvious someone had been in our house."

"Well, I guess you were right when you asked if someone could have taken it down. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. If. . ."

"Now, you stop that. I won't have you feeling guilty about this." She puts her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek.

"Candy, do you want to keep the picture here or does it bring back bad memories of him. I can take it back to the parlor."

"There are no bad memories with our picture. I just wanted to tell you what really happened, how it came to be on the floor. I refuse to let him ruin our wedding picture for us."

"Good. I was hoping you'd want to keep it in here. At least for awhile." He takes her hand and leads her over to a chair next to a window. "Here sit down. There's something I need to talk to you about."

"It sounds serious. Jeremy, what's wrong?"

"Well Candy, while you were sleeping, Jason and Josh stopped by. They wanted to know how you were doing and. . ."

"And to see their little brother," she giggles.

Jeremy chuckles, "Yeah, you're right again."

"Jeremy, I know you miss spending time with them. It's all right that they were here."

"I know, but there was another reason they stopped by."

"What's the reason?"

"Uh well, do you remember we have a bidding trip coming up next week?"

"Jeremy, you're not going on that trip, are you?" she asks with much apprehension. "You. . .you can't leave me!"

Putting his hands on her shoulders he explains, "No Candy, relax. I'm not going to Olympia. Josh is going."

Candy calms down. "Thank goodness. I can't let you go. Not yet. I need you."

"I know you do." Jeremy takes her hand, kisses her fingertips, and sighs. "I'm not going on the trip Candy, but I do have to go back to work when Josh leaves. I. . ."

"No Jeremy! I-I-I 'm not ready to be alone yet! You can't leave me alone!" she says anxiously.

"Candy, I would give anything if I didn't have to go back to work and leave you. But the truth is we're short on men right now and with Josh leaving on the trip, that leaves us in a bind. I'm needed to fill in for Josh."

"But I need you, too!"

"I know you do. I can get Biddie to come stay with you while I'm gone."

"No Jeremy, I don't need Biddie! I need you!" she shouts as she gets up and goes into the washroom as fast as she is able to, slamming the door.

"Candy!" he calls after her. Jeremy slowly sits down in the chair and rests his head in his hands, rubbing his forehead as his eyes fill with tears. Candy, I'm sorry. What am I going to do? I can't be in two places at once. Dear Lord, please help me. Help Candy get through this ordeal. After a while he hears the washroom door open and hears soft footsteps coming across the room. He looks up at Candy and sees the tear streaks on her face.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy. I know I'm being selfish. I-I can't help it. I'm just not ready to be without you. Maybe I can go with you to the camp. I can stay in the tent while you work."

"Candy, you can't stay in the tent all day."

"Well, maybe I can help cook lunch for everyone. I'm a good cook. You said so yourself. Jeremy, please. I need to be close to you."

Jeremy gets up and wraps his arms around her. "Listen, we have a few more days before we have to decide on this. Let's both just think about it and we'll talk later. All right?"

"All right," she answers as she lays her head on his shoulder. "Jeremy, I need you. I'm so sorry for being like this."

"It's all right Candy, I understand. I need you, too." He lifts her chin up to where he can look into her eyes. "I love you. I promise I'll never let anyone hurt you again." Their lips meet in a warm tender kiss.

"I love you too, Jeremy," she whispers.

By the time Monday morning comes around, there have been many discussions and tears shed about Jeremy going back to work Molly and Christopher have moved back home and have already left for school. Jeremy and Candy are waiting for Biddie to show up to stay with Candy.

Candy is washing the breakfast dishes while Jeremy does the drying "Candy, I know you're not happy with our arrangement. I'm not either, but I'm trying to make the best of the situation. If I could stay here with you, I would. You do know that, don't you?"

"Yes, I know that," she answers in a subdued voice. "It's just that. . .oh, never mind."

"What? Candy, tell me. I want to know what's on your mind."

"Hello!" they hear Biddie call out as she enters the kitchen. "Sorry I'm late," she says as she gives Candy and Jeremy a quick hug. Eyeing them both, she realizes she has interrupted something. There seems to be some tension between them.

"Uh, hello Biddie. It's all right. Glad you could make it," Jeremy says.

"Yes, hello Biddie. I'm sorry you have to spend your day babysitting me," Candy replies.

"Well, it is what it is, isn't it?" she giggles. "We'll have so much fun. It'll be like old times." As she takes the dish cloth and dish towel from them she says, "Here let me finish this and you two go and say your goodbyes."

"Thanks Biddie," Jeremy says as he takes Candy's arm and ushers her out of the kitchen. Stopping in the hallway, he picks up his jacket and puts it on. "Listen Candy. I'm sorry. I don't want to leave with you being upset with me. Please try to understand."

Candy wipes a tear away with her hand. "I do understand. It's just that I'm going to miss you. I love Biddie like a sister, but Jeremy she's not you. I need you."

Jeremy wraps his arms around her and lets her cry on his shoulder. "I know, Candy. I need you too. I think we got spoiled being here together, just the two of us last week. How about if I come home for lunch and leave work an hour early this evening?"

Candy raises her head and asks, "You would do that? Won't Jason get mad?"

"I'll explain it to him. He knows how we feel about me leaving you right now. I'm sure he'll be all right with it."

"Jeremy, that will help. I just need to be with you as much as possible. I don't mean to be one of those clingy wives or to be unreasonable. I'm sorry I'm acting like this." She puts her head on his shoulder again and holds him close.

"It's all right, Candy. You have every right in the world to act the way you are. I'm so proud of you. You're trying and that's all I or anyone else can ask for." He kisses her forehead. "Now, you dry those tears and let me see a smile on that beautiful face. I need to see that you're all right before I go."

Candy takes a handkerchief from her pocket and dabs at her eyes. "I'm all right. You go on to work. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll be back." She gives him a feeble smile.

Jeremy smiles back. "That's my girl. I love you, Mrs. Bolt." He kisses her lips gently.

"I love you, too." Their lips meet for a long deep kiss. Then after a quick kiss, Jeremy goes outside and walks down the drive to the road.

Candy hurries outside and calls after him. "Jeremy! Don't forget to come home for lunch!"

Turning around and walking backwards he replies, "I won't forget. I promise! I love you!"

Candy waves at him and says, "I love you!"

Candy is sitting in the porch swing waiting for Jeremy to return home for lunch. When she sees him turn into the drive, she hurries to him and throws her arms around him while he takes her in his arms. "Oh Jeremy, I've missed you so much. I didn't think lunchtime would ever get here."

"I've missed you, too. How are you? Everything go okay?" He takes her hand intertwining their fingers as they walk to the house.

"Yes, everything is fine. Biddie is taking a nap. I think I wore her out," she laughs.

"Why, what did the two of you do?"

"What didn't we do is more like it. We worked mostly outside in the flowers and the garden. She wouldn't let me do too much. She did most of the work. That's why she's taking a nap."

"I'm glad she took good care of you. You know you're not suppose to do too much yet. Allyn would be upset with all three of us if she came by and saw you working away in the garden."

"I know. I promise to take it easy. Hope you're hungry."

"I'm starved. I forgot how hungry working at the camp makes me."

"Well, you go wash up and I'll get the food on the table. Then I'll wake Biddie."

"That's a deal."

When Candy goes to wake Biddie, she says she'd rather sleep than eat. She'll eat something later.

Jeremy and Candy suspect that Biddie just wants to give them some time alone. They enjoy their meal and then sit in the swing holding hands until Jeremy has to leave.