The Lake House
Chapter 4
"Say it with a tree…"
Candy was having lunch with her mother in a little restaurant. She had brought Terry's letters to show them to her. Her mother took the letter and read them.
- So, what do you think? Asked Candy
- I think he seems like a good boy, said her mother.
- He seems like a good boy, repeated Candy
- He's got a nice handwriting…
- You didn't see the dates on the letters…?
- What? They 're from two years ago… I thought you said you just got them.
- That's what I'm trying to tell you mum. My pen pal lived two years ago…
- That's just a little detail, my darling…
- A little detail?
- Yes, a detail… Einstein used to say that time was there to stop everything to happen at the same time…
- Einstein? Said Candy
- Candy my darling, you're happy when you get one of those letters from your pen pal from the past, take advantage…There's a reason for everything…
- You're sure I'm not going to ruin the space time continuum?
- And cause the destruction of the universe? I seriously doubt it, my darling, and don't forget, it the most pessimistic hypothesis…
They burst out laughing. Candy like her mother who was cook and who could quote movie lines and songs with her.
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Terry, on his side went to see his father at his place.
- Terrence, he said, I'm sorry for the other day, it wasn't the right moment. I was in a rush…
- It's ok, dad, he said
He was looking at a record collection of his father's.
- You've got some nice pieces over here, said Terry
- Oh yeah, music is good, music helps, said his father with a little laugh, like Nietzsche said "Life doesn't make sense,…"
- "?...without music" completed Terry.
- I supposed that I've tol d you that already, said his father smiling, pour me a drink, I think that you can appreciate a good wine now.
- All right, said Terry.
- Forgive your dear dad his curiosity, but I would like to know, where were you for all these years? I thought the day you were going in search for adventure were over.
- I'm sorry, said Terry, what?
- What? Said his father, you can come closer if you want…
Terry had poured himself a glass of wine and he went to join his father in his office.
- What are you working on? Asked Terry
- Oh, on nothing. I remember the past. It'd s not a easy job, you know and It's not particularly innocent in my case. Your father is writing his autobiography.
- Are we in it? Asked Terry.
- What do you think? You want to be in it?
- What about you?
- Of course, you're all part of your father's life.
- Why are you talking in the third person?
- Well… I don't know, maybe because I'm writing about myself , I suppose. Why, you don't like it?
Terry gave him a long bag in which he put his plans, he was carrying on his shoulder…
- There this is for you…
- What is it? Something you're working on?
- No, they're… they're for you. It was a house I just bought on the lake.
- Really, I've heard about it. I was told that a real estate promoter greedy had grabbed it.
Terry didn't reply.
- Come on son, make your father happy. We can't joke a little? Where's you sense of humour? Come on! Tell me! Where were you? I really want to know.
- I was trying to forget about you… or forgive you.
His father stayed a little silent and then he asked:
- Did you succeed?
- No, said Terry
His father didn't say anything.
- Tell me if you need any help to remember, said Terry leaving.
- Oh yeah! I'll do it! Said his father.
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"Days are longs these days, I've worked 30 hours straight. Every time I stopped to catch my breath, I realise how much I let myself become lonely. Believe me, we could become a little desperate."
Candy was playing checkers with Huey… who would show her with his paw the pawns he wanted her to move.
- Very good Huey, she said smiling.
"I'm not complaining. I like my job. And our walk through Chicago has opened my eyes on it's beauty. But I miss the house on the lake… And it's trees. I miss those trees so much".
oOoOo
Terry has just received Candy's letter and he realised there were no trees around the house. She loved trees, he was going to plant the trees… He went to buy a dozen of trees to plant them around the lake house. He took the trees and he went on the site where the building Candy is going to live in in two years… He took a shovel and he made a hole to plant the tree in front of what will be the building in two years.
oOoOo
Candy was going back to her apartment and it was rainin and wind was blowing that evening. Candy had put her handbag on her head to protect herself from the rain. When she got to the building, she dropped her purse on the floor. She leaned to pick it up with the content…
oOoOo
Terry had finished planting the true and he took his shovel and he left.
oOoOo
Candy finished picking up her stuff and she realised the rain was getting her wet anymore, she looked up and she was surprised to see a tree with beautiful green leaves.
"Thank you for the tree, Terry. It's a good think I know you exist in the past, other wise I would thought I was seeing things! One minute, the rain it getting me wet, the next minute, the tree is covering me! Thank you for taking care of me ."
oOoOo
"You are very welcome. It was a pleasure, since you missed the trees so much…Don't worry, Candy. We're going to be together in due time. Even if we're far apart from each other, I will find a way to be near you and take care of you."
oOoOo
Candy went to see her mother to have diner with her.
- You should eat a little more honey, you're way too thin!
- Mum, when you met dad, you knew right away that he was the man of your life?
- Oh yes, he had beautiful blue eyes like the sky and I couldn't stop thinking about him…
- I can't stop thinking about my man of the past…
- Well, it must be a great love, since you've never have physically seen him…
- I'm in love of his letter…
- Tell me more, said her mother
- I was talking about the lake house so much I missed the trees, how much I wanted to see them. And the other night, It was pouring rain. I had my bag on my head and I dropped it with all its contents when I got in front of my building, I leaned to pick up my stuff and when I was done, a tree was at that exact place next to me…
- What?
- He probably planted it in front of my building at his time when it wasn't built yet…
- Because you told him you missed the trees of the lake house… he's full of attention you guy! He's taking care of you! I like him!
Candy smiled. Yes, Terry was taking care of her, even if he was two years in the past…
oOoOo
Terry was with his brother at the lake house.
- It seems small, said his brother, remember when he finished building it?
- Well, you were not born yet and I was eight, said Terry
They walked around and they went by the lake.
- Well, said his brother, it's Le Corbusier mixed with Frank Lloyd Wright.
- You know dad played card with both of them, said Terry who was taking a bottle of beer out of a basket, he had put on ice. Help me with this…
They went on the roof of the house and they looked at the lake. They had bottle of beers in the hand and they were drinking.
- I can't swim said Terry. There's no stairs taking to the lake house or a veranda or a bridge. You're like in a box here. A box of glass with a view on everything around you. But you can't touch it. There's no connection between you and what you're looking at.
- Euh, I don't know, there that big maple tree growing in the middle of the house…
- In isolation, said Terry
He had a remote control and he pressed the button and the roof opened and the leaves of the tree were visible.
- And the control, said Terry.
They started both laughing. And Terry continued.
- This house is for appearance, not the connexion. I mean, it's beautiful, even seductive, but it's incomplete. Everything is about him. Dad knew how to build a house not a home.
His brother was looking at him. He agreed with him.
- But you know, said Terry, I think he wanted us to do what he couldn't do. But to admit that… Would mean admitting he had failed somewhere, that he could've done better. And it tortures him.
But his father had built his house which had a mail box that went through time and which allowed him to write to Candy, the woman he loved…The woman he loved? Yes, he loved Candy… So his father hadn't totally failed…
- You remember coming here with mom? Asked his brother
Terry took a little while to answer.
- I remember when she tried to make her marriage work with us, with him, he finally said
- And Visonary Vanguard? Asked his brother.
- What about Visionary Vangard?
It was a big architect company from the government…
- Come on, you're not going to tell me you're happy building these boxes to sell them to tourists. Nobody is going to admire you for that
- Admire me for that?
- Yes, Visionary Vanguard! It was your idea!
- I can't, but I want to keep the name
- No, come on! It has to be you and me!
- Henry, I'm sorry. I can't… I…
- What?
- I have other project
- You've got a girlfriend?
- Nah…mmm…no
- What was that? Why did you hesitate?
"Because she's a girl from the future? Said Terry to himself.
- No, I didn't hesitate.
His brother was looking at him with a mocking smile.
- I don't have time for this! Said Terry smiling
- What does time has to do with this?
"Everything, if you want to know." Said Terry to himself.
- Oh, you're going to think I'm crazy…
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