CHAPTER 19: Conclusion

Taking a few bricks of gold, Neal went to Florida to prepare legal disputes to prove his family's innocence and saved the family's business. He worked hard day and night employing his end wits to overcome all obstacles. One day, as he left the courthouse a woman call him. "Neal!"

Neal stopped cold, hoping it's not a law enforcement official asking for more information. Eight hours of court grilling was more than enough. He's so longing to end all these and have a peaceful dinner with Candy instead.

Sighing, he turned around. It's not a law enforcement officer, it's worse.

"Daisy," Neal growled.

"Yes it's me." Daisy advanced forward. "I came to Florida for you. You didn't return my phone calls."

Neal didn't respond.

"I wish to speak to you."

Neal exhaled impatiently and looked away. "Speak," he said.

"Why like that?" asked Daisy. There's so much anger in his voice, he sounded like a different person. "Do you hate me that much?"

Neal stood still and said nothing.

"If I told you what I did to Candy is wrong would you take me back?" asked Daisy.

Neal didn't reply.

"I admit I was rude to her but that's because I was jealous. I love you. I truly do. Forgive me, Neal. Say you do. You'll forget everything and we move forward. You and I," said Daisy gently.

Neal gave a disdain grin but still said nothing.

"I can save your parents and sister. I can do so much for you. Oh say something. Answer me!" she pleaded, looking desperate.

Neal groaned impatiently. He saw these so many times and got really tired of her looking-pity game.

"You have a lot of guts to come here. It must be distressing," mocked Neal.

"Oh," she exclaimed. "Do you have to be that distance?"

"Just never come to see me again. Never look for me ever again and I will try to remember fond things about you and regard you as my affectionate sister."

"Sister? We had good times together too didn't we?"

"Alas, yes." Neal continued his pace without looking at her.

"Stop there!" Daisy yelled, aggravated. "I can help you success. You can't do it by yourself! You know nothing about business. I can make your company big and beat the Andrews. You don't like the evil Sir William, we will crush him together. I can solve all your problem. That stable girl can't do that-"

Neal's blood boil at the stable girl insult.

"Can you? Won't you be too busy with North Eastern?" cut Neal coldly.

Her face turned scared and pale. "W-what ? What did you say? How do you –"

Neal huffed. He lifted up his hand and showed the piece of paper there. "Recognize this?" he grinned bitterly.

That's the false letter she asked to be put in Neal's father suitcase. Recognizing the object, Daisy fell onto the stair trailer and had to lean on it since her legs were too weak to support herself.

"You know, don't you?" Neal growled mercilessly. "You're wrong if you think I'm a fool. I will do something splendid! And You know what? I changed my mind. I don't hate Sir William anymore."

"You hate me this much just because of Candy?"

Neal threw his face.

"Don't think bad of me. Oh, I beg you," pleased Daisy. "It was so hard to get your attention. I was desperate. Oh, you're so unapproachable. I want you to need me, to love me."

"You want me to care about you? How can I after all you did to mom, dad, and Eliza? You know how much I care about them!"

"I was wrong. I admit. I'll withdraw the case if you promise to forget Candy! Take your time. I will wait until you're ready."

"Were you to wait a thousand years. Ten thousand years. Or ten billion years, I will still love her. Forever."

"She means that much to you?"

"More than I can ever explain." Neal took his steps. "We should never meet again."

"You stubborn stupid man," screamed Daisy. She pointed her finger so close to his face that he had to stop walking. "I will crush you! You can never win against me."

"Excuse me?" Neal pushed her finger away. "You're very wrong to undermine my intelligence!"

"You need me! You're a criminal. You need me to clean your family's name You need me! You will have to see me again-"

"Yes, I will," Neal hissed. "I'll see you again. In court!"

And Neal walked away, never turned around again, ignoring her yells and curses. His mind wandered to Candy again, the source of his strength. He missed her dearly but had to refrain to contact her for security purposes. Did she think about him at all?

He pushed his hat down and walked to his office with determined pace. He'd better work fast before Candy forgot him.

oOo

Months later...

"Ribs are ready!" yelled Albert, hands holding spatulas, standing next to a barbecue grill. He and his wife, Ira, were having a barbecue for close friends in the Lakewood mansion garden.

"Great, Albert! Coming!" yelled Candy.

She got up to take some barbecue slabs but Terry held her.

"I get it for you. Wait here." Terry got up.

"Come on Archie let's help Albert," said Stear. He dragged his brother who's readily sliding to Terry's empty seat to sit next to Candy.

As soon as the men left Candy exhaled in relieved and turned to Patty.

"So which flower bouquet you'll choose? I still think the purple one suits you better. Right, Annie?"

"No, the wild flowers. It's more suitable with her veil," whispered Annie adamantly.

Candy groaned.

Patty chuckled. "You two can't decide either!"

The three girls started talking about their most favorite subject, her wedding with Stear. They were so excited that they didn't notice Terry, Stear, and Archie come back.

"Ssssh..." Candy nudged Patty a bit too hard, she almost fell from her seat.

Terry lifted one of his eyebrow. "Easy Tarzan. There's enough seat here for everyone."

"What have three of you been talking?" asked Archie looking at the three girls beaming faces.

"Well..." Annie grimaced funnily not sure how to answer her husband. Pat had demanded total secrecy, so she could surprise her future husband on the big day.

Candy whose heart was blooming felt a laugh bubble up in her throat.

"What's so secret, Tarz?" asked Terry.

"Nothing. Just flowers," said Candy greatly trying to suppress a laughter.

Patty made faces to reminding them not to spill any information. Seeing her Candy could not hold herself anymore and burst into laughter. It's great to be with these close friends. Everyone was back, the epidemic had gone, it couldn't get better than this. Oh, she would never want to leave them...

Until her eyes collided with a familiar face standing under the rose arch. She stopped laughing abruptly. Wrong, it could get better than this.

"Neal!" cried Candy. She flew to leave everyone.

Neal had been watching her wondering how she would receive him now that she's surrounded with her friends. But with that cry, if he had any doubt, all was erased at the next second.

She started running toward him ignoring Terry, paying no attention to Archie who was trying to stop her, or Albert who called her.

Hardly noticing the shock expression in Neal's brown eyes, she fell into his arms. She even forgot that Ms. Pony was there and she should behave cooler in front of her. All she cared about was she was in his arms that holding her tight.

"You're back," Candy said, holding Neal tight.

"Yes," whispered Neal. Never in a million years he expected Candy would give him such a warm welcome.

Everyone clapped and rushed forward.

"Welcome back Neal" Stear crushed Neal in a military hug.

"I heard you win the case!" said the all-knowing William. He clapped Neal's back warmly.

Archie also came forward. He stared looking at him before he smiled and gave his hand for a handshake, so did Terry. Annie introduced their baby, too.

"Stear delayed our wedding for one more month just in case you showed up," said Patty. He looked at his fiance, blushing. "It's worth it. You came!"

"Congratulations," Neal said with a grin to the happy couple.

Bebe ran to hug Neal. Neal held and carried her.

Ms. Pony who had been waiting for her turn also jumped ahead. "I'm Pony. Good to meet you, Neal. Candy told me many things about you."

"Did she?" Neal turned and saw Candy's face flushed red.

"How's you family?" Ira asked. Everyone suddenly fell silence, looking inquisitely at the tall-tan-young man.

"Fine. They're here... I just walked to fast just now," Neal mumbled. He was too impatient to see Candy and rushed charged ahead of them. "There they are."

Neal turned. Everyone followed. Sarah, her husband, and Eliza were there, standing at the garden entrance.

Albert hurriedly came to welcome them. His wife kissed Sarah and Eliza on both cheeks. Ira then took Sarah's hand taking her to a seat and made sure everyone was well seated. One by one everyone came to shake their hands, welcoming them. Neal was happy to see their readiness to welcome the three people very close to him.

They chatted, dined and had a good fun. Stear played the accordion, Archie the bagpipe, Terry recited a poem then they did some folk dancing.

After dinner, Neal quietly pulled Candy's elbow and made a sign for her to walk with him. They left everyone and he led her to the lake shore. They were sitting side by side, facing the water, looking at the sunset.

"It's beautiful," said Candy. Her hair looked ever golden in the sun set.

"Yes." Neal sighed.

She stared at him curiously. "You sighed because the sun disappeared? Yeah, it's kind of sad, I know."

"No. To me, the sun always rises at your presence."

Candy blushed. He's more charming by the day.

"Terry moves to Chicago he said?" His eyes searching hers.

Candy nodded. "For a week to terminate his contract. He'll go to California since the weather suits Suzanne, his fiance, better."

Neal sighed again. Candy searched his eyes with his wide green eyes but his expression didn't give away anything.

"You sighed because Terry is engaged?" asked Candy.

She expected him to laugh. He liked to make cold mock at times but not this time. He wasn't laughing.

"No." He studied her face, his eyes were still brown but they looked like belonged to a grown up man not a spoiled boy. "I have something to tell you. But before I say it, I want you to trust me and let me finish. Stay calm and cool."

"Ok..." Candy nodded.

"We've been having great times. We go picnic, climb trees, go to Bebe's sport meting. It's so different than years ago. I enjoy it a lot. Don't you?"

"Yes," Candy confessed. She recalled how they were in the past.

"Isn't it great that we can chat, laugh, go out together."

"Yes, yes. Absolutely," said Candy. "So, what did you want to say?"

Neal got up and pulled her along with him. He turned her around to face him and held both her hands in his. "Candy, I'm in love with you," he said carefully.

She didn't look surprise nor did she try to pull her hands away.

Neal frowned. "It's not a joke. I have always loved you. I just haven't said it because I am not sure how you'd take it. But it's real. I mean it. I'm in love with you."

"I know," she said softly with a little smile.

That was too easy. Neal almost snorted expecting she's joking.

"I also have something to say, a confession rather," said Candy timidly. "That day in the hospital, I was sitting up in the tree when you talked to Daisy. I didn't know it was you. I thought it was nice, what the man said to the woman. I envied her... And when I was about to leave I found that the man was you and you were talking about me."

His face looked shocked before it gradually waned. "You believe what you heard, don't you?" His palms anxiously squeezing her hands. "I have tried to tell you numerous times that I love you."

She nodded. "I didn't believe you because... I thought... Well you know how we were." She paused. "I hope you're not mad that I eavesdropped you two. But to be honest, I'm glad I did. It clarified many things." A blush spread across her cheeks. "I like to do things with you too… You're different now."

He ran his fingers on her face with eyes deep with emotion. "My fault... it was my fault. I was not nice to you. I am glad that you were there listening to us."

And then he kissed her, a rough, most passionate kiss she had ever had that lingered in her lips even after they parted. "I love you. I love you. I waited so long to say this freely to you."

"Then say it again." she buried her face in his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "I like to hear it."

He smiled and stared into her eyes.

"Come," he said softly. "I have something to show you at home."

-To be continued-

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