CHAPTER 8: Plans
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"You must be hungry," said Suzanne, glancing at the clock. When Terry was here, one hour seemed like a second.
"Actually I am. We didn't eat much at lunch." He looked out of the window. "Whoa, the rain stopped. Want to eat outside?"
"Of course!" She wanted to do anything with Terry.
Fanny was called and she came to prepare Suzanne to go out.
"Thanks to our excellent nurse" said Terry, praising Fanny.
Fanny just nodded curtly and left.
"She's quiet but very efficient," whispered Suzanne.
"I can see that." Terry chuckled. "She's good for you."
She is but mostly because you come often. You make me very happy, Terry. That's the best medicine, thought Suzanne.
Since the road outside was wet from the rain and she just learned to use her prosthetic legs, Fanny suggested Suzanne use her wheelchair. Terry pushed her and they went to a nearby cafe.
"It's still bright. You want to go out and feed the birds?" asked Terry after they finished eating.
"I'd love that!" She felt as blooming as a school girl who was asked to go out with the boy she's secretly having a crush with. Terry was in a very good mood today, must be because his show was a success.
When the waitress came, Terry asked for bread crumb which they gladly gave. They all knew Terry. The actor was one of their most famous guests. Before leaving, Terry pulled bills out of his wallet to cover the tab and left a generous tip.
Terry pushed Suzanne's wheelchair again. Along the way, he bought some baked peanut from one of the food stall by the street.
"You must be tired. I can wheel myself. Fanny said it's good too so I can exercise," said Suzanna
"I'm not tired at all, but you may do so," returned Terry.
He stepped forward and walked next to her wheel chair.
"How did you know nurse Fanny?" asked Suzanne, wheeling her wheelchair eagerly like always when she's happy.
"A friend," replied Terry shortly. He didn't elaborate. His silence prompted Susanna to glance at his face and a woman instinct in her detected something.
"Peanuts?" Terry offered.
"Yeah..." Suzanne waited for more explanation from Terry but he didn't say anything other than superficial comments about the birds. They crossed through their park in silence.
"Karen said you've got a big offer from a city outside New York."
"Yeah." Terry shrugged. He took a bottle of soda and gulped it. "In addition to salary, I'll get royalty and if all goes well they will put me in Hollywood."
"That's a great opportunity," said Suzanne. She paused. "Where is it?"
"It's far from here." Terry adjusted her wheelchair so it stopped perfectly aligned next to their favorite bench. It's their favorite place to feed the birds. And today they even had a rainbow.
"You never answer my question."
"You mean whether I'll go or not?" asked Terry. He gathered their peanut shells and threw them in the trash.
"Not that. Who introduced you to Fanny?"
"That… is a long story." Terry picked up more peanuts and peeled them.
"Go on..."
"In her letter your mother asked me to get you a good nurse. That's not an easy task."
"I am sure it wasn't."
"I was afraid that I chose a wrong nurse." Terry paused for a moment. "So I asked my nurse friend for an advice. She's Candy..."
Suzanne squirmed at her seat hearing that name. She never thought of the possibility that the two were still in contact. Putting a calm face, she nodded impassively.
"Fanny is Candy's friend. She just came back from the war zone in France and looked for a job. According to Candy, Fanny wanted to gather experience outside the hospital and work with private individuals. She spoke very highly of Fanny, so I took her recommendation," Terry explained. He glanced at Suzanne and murmured, "I planned to tell you this after things settle down."
"But the war was over last year."
"Fanny was sick with influenza in France that's why she returned late."
"I see..." Suzanne felt a pang of guilt. She always tried to separate Candy from Terry but yet Candy still helped her. She felt so ashamed to herself. "Candy is so kind."
"She's happy you like Fanny," returned Terry generously.
Candy... Oh Candy. Suzanne felt like being shot by a thunderbolt, feeling even guiltier.
"And your job offer is in Chicago?" guessed Suzanne. She spread the bread crumb to the impatient birds.
"Yup."
It's not too late to make up my past wrongdoings, thought Suzanne. She would be very sad, but Terry and Candy deserved to be together. It's been long overdue.
"Well isn't that's a marvellous coincidence!" cried Suzanne, pretending rejoicing although her heart was breaking. "You can meet Candy!"
"I think now is not a good time to talk about this-"
"On the contrary, I think there is no better time to talk about it than now." She smiled, pretending happy.
Terry wanted to say something but Suzanne cut it. "That's our agreement when I accepted your offer to have nurse Fanny care for me. That I will not be on your way of pursuing your career and I won't hold back your future." She met his gaze.
"What about you?" he asked hesitantly.
"What about me? There is nurse Fanny," she answered matter-of-factly although her heart broke terribly. She had to employ all her acting ability she could muster to conceal it and to look naturally happy and for her voice not to waiver.
It has to be done! She would start life afresh and not in the way for Terry and Candy anymore. That would be the best thing she could do to return Candy's kindness.
"I'm not sure if...," said Terry, thoughtful .
Maintaining eye contact with him, Suzanne cut him. "You have to go," she said firmly. There, she had said all that had to be said.
"Now let's see what's in the news today." She pulled a newspaper from the pocket of her wheelchair and unfolded it.
They sat reading newspaper together as usual and talked about whatever in the news, then they waited to watch the sun set without saying a word. When it got dark, Terry got up and whirled her wheelchair home. Many times she had to fight tears from falling down. This would be the last outing she had with Terry.
Then, they passed one building and read a sign.
"INFLUENZA. Stay away. Quarantined!"
"My God!" exclaimed Suzanne, scared. She pointed to the sign. "The virus is coming here."
"Don't worry," said Terry confidently. "No one in our town will be infected by that damn virus."
When Terry left that night, she gave the brightest smile. As soon as the door closed, she cried. She'd be so lonely without Terry...
oOo
Time moved much faster than Suzanne wanted it. Today Terry would go to Chicago. In anguish, she was waiting for Terry to come to say good bye. Her heart turned very heavy when she heard someone knock at her door.
"Come in." Suzanne made sure to smile the brightest ever as the door opened... a smile that evaporated as soon as she saw who entered. It's Terry's servant. Her face was as white as paper.
Suzanne wheeled her wheelchair forward. "Mia? Where is Terry?"
"Ms. Marlow, oh thank God you're home. Mr. Grandchester... he is having a fever. I'm afraid it's that terrible flu."
The influenza! Suzanne fell on her wheelchair. "No! Quick, call Dr. Berry. Be fast!"
"Dr. Berry's assistant said he's in the hospital. Unfortunately, Mr. Grandchester apartment is quarantined starting today. We can't take him out. All doctors are inundated by patients. No one can come. Oh Ms. Marlow what to do?"
"Take me there then, at once."
"You don't want to be there, Ms. The flu is highly contagious. It's very very dangerous and could kill in an instant-"
"I know that!" cut Suzanne impatiently.
"There's an order from the health department that whoever enters the building after four today can't leave-"
"Then I won't leave. Nurse Fanny!" Suzanne yelled.
Fanny came in less than two seconds.
"You said you took care of patients with influenza in France?" asked Suzanne.
"Yes," replied Fanny.
"So you know how to cure it?"
"I won't say that. Why?"
"Terry is sick. We think it's the influenza."
"As if it hadn't got enough victims," sighed Fanny. "The French army was the best in dealing with this. I doubt the hospitals here know much better than them."
Suzanne held Fanny's hand. "Please make him well," she pleaded. "He must not die. He must not."
"I go and check him," said Fanny, turning to get ready.
"I go with you," said Suzanne.
"You can't. I got it once so I'm immune-"
"The place is under quarantine. Besides, you can't take care of him, alone, can't you?" said Suzanne calmly. I can't live without you, Terry. He's leaving to be with Candy, anyway. What's the use of living?
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To be continued...
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