CHAPTER 5

Candy's Mother Elizabeth, sits and watches her oldest child. She notices how unhappy Candy seems to be. She hardly ever smiles and her appearance bothers her Mother. She has never seen Candy look so, what's the word she's looking for, dowdy. Candy has always been a beautiful girl and has taken pride in how she looks. She didn't look this drab when she first got here a month or so ago. It looks like she has lost weight, too. And where's her spunk? She's not spirited, not cheerful anymore. No, her daughter is not the same. She's miserable and it's all because of Jeremy Bolt. She's convinced of it.

Candy carries a tray into the parlor. "Mother, I fixed us some tea and cookies. Would you like to have it here in the parlor or go outside on the porch?"

"Oh, in here is fine," Elizabeth replies.

Candy pours a cup of tea and hands it to her Mother. She offers her a cookie, but she declines. Sitting down, Candy sighs.

"Tired, dear?"

Candy gives a poor excuse for a smile and answers, "No, not really. There's not too much to do. You would think with two small children in the house, there would be lots to keep me busy."

After a moment of silence, Elizabeth says, "Candace, there's something I would like to talk to you about."

"All right, what is it?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you've heard anything from that young man of yours. Jeremy?"

"No, not a thing, but I wasn't expecting to. Jeremy is not my young man any more. I told him to find someone else," Candy says as her eyes fill with tears.

"Why would you do that? Don't you still love him?"

"Of course, I do. I'll always love Jeremy."

"Then why end it with him? Do you not think he still loves you?"

"I'm sure he still loves me. It's just that we can't be together anymore."

"Why not? He can always come here. "

"No, I told him not to. Mother, Jeremy would come here in a heartbeat if I asked him to. But he would never be happy here. It's too confined. He needs room to roam around, he needs his trees, he needs his mountain. I would never take him away from the home he loves. Oh, he would pretend to like it here, but no, it would never be home to him. It's better this way."

"You could always go back to Seattle."

"I can't do that. My place is here with you, Molly and Christopher. I shouldn't ever have left New Bedford in the first place. What was I thinking?"

"I'll tell you what you were thinking. You were thinking that maybe, just for once, you could put your wants and needs first. You could find happiness. You could find a nice young man to settle down with and have babies. And you did find him. If you would have stayed here, there was no way you would ever have found that happiness. Go to him, Candace. You're not happy here."

"Yes, I am. I can't leave with you being sick."

Elizabeth sighs heavily. "There's something I need to tell you, Candace. I haven't been completely honest with you."

Candy gives a little laugh. "You not be honest? Oh Mother, you're the most honest person I know, well next to Jeremy that is."

"No, Candace. I am being honest now. I've kept something from you because I didn't want you to leave. Now, I know that I should have told you the truth as soon as I found out. I'm sorry."

"What truth?" Candy asks.

"Well, you remember that last doctor's appointment I had with Edward, about two weeks ago?"

"Yes, I remember. What about it? He told you you were doing okay, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did, but he also told me something else that I kept from you. He told me there had been a mix up with patient charts. My blood results and some other woman's blood results were somehow switched. I don't have cancer after all. That poor woman is the one with cancer. I hope you can forgive a foolish old woman for deceiving you," Elizabeth cries.

"Mother, are you saying, you're not sick? That you're not going to die?" Candy asks excitedly.

"Yes, that's what I'm saying. I made Edward promise not to tell you or anyone else. I was going to tell you later. I just wanted to spend some time with my daughter. I've missed you so much."

Candy hugs her Mother. "I missed you, too. I love you, Mother."

"So, you're not upset with me for lying to you?" Elizabeth asks as she wipes her eyes.

"No, I'm not upset. I'm so happy that you're all right," Candy says as she wipes her eyes too.

"But Candace, I've ruined things between you and Jeremy. I'm sorry. I didn't know that you broke it off with him. You have to go back and fix things between the two of you."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that. I hurt him. He'll never forgive me. Besides he's probably moved on with someone else by now. No, I'll stay here with my family and let Jeremy find happiness with someone. . .n-new." Candy breaks down and cries on her Mother's shoulder.

Elizabeth knows she has to do something to help her daughter be happy again. She decides she's going into town the next day to do just that.

The next morning, Elizabeth tells Candy that she's going to walk Molly and Christopher to school. Afterwards, she wants to spend some time alone at the park. Candy protests, but Elizabeth gets her way.

After she sees the children to school, she goes to the telegraph office and sends a wire . . .

To Jason Bolt Seattle Washington Territory

How is Jeremy Has he found a new girl Do not tell Jeremy but Candace misses him and Seattle very much Candace is miserable

Elizabeth Pruitt

Then she goes to the park and waits for an answer. Finally, a young man delivers Jason's reply.

To Elizabeth Pruitt New Bedford Massachusetts

Jeremy is miserable too Talks eats sleeps less Stutters and drinks more

He is struggling No girls

Jason Bolt

When Elizabeth gets back home, she shows the telegram to Candy. "Mother, how could you do that? Please stay out of this," Candy says sternly.

"Candace, you are going to listen to me and do what I tell you. I want you to go upstairs and pack your bags. You are going to go back home to Seattle and. . ."

"Seattle is not my home. This is my home now," Candy protests.

"Candace Ann Pruitt, do I need to take you across my knee and give you a good spanking? You know I will."

Candy shakes her head as she says, "No, you don't need to do that. But Mother, I can't go back there. Jeremy. . ."

"needs you. Jeremy needs you, Candace. He's struggling. Go to him."

"But what about you? I can't leave you, Molly and Christopher."

"And why not? I told you I'm fine. I can take care of myself and the children. And Grandpa should be home soon. I don't know what's keeping him. Just being a Pruitt, I guess," she laughs.

"Mother, I. . ."

"Now Candace, I don't want to hear another word. I want you to do as I said and go pack. I want you out of here tomorrow morning."

"But. . ."

"Go!" Elizabeth hugs her daughter and watches Candy run up the stairs. When Candy is out of sight Elizabeth whispers, "Forgive me Candace, for lying to you. But I need to know that you're happy with your young man before I die."