The Lake House
Chapter 7
"That's how life goes on…"
Terry had just arrived at his place when the phone started ringing. He put the bags he had in his hands on the counter and he answered the phone.
- Hello?
- …
- Hi Henry…
- I'll be right there…
He rushed to the hospital and he went to the cardiology department to the reception,
- My name is Terrence Grandchester and I'm looking for my father, I don't know which room he's in… Richard Grandchester…
The nurse at the reception didn't have the time to reply, Flanny who was there, talked to him.
- You're Richard Grandchester's son? The architect?
- Oui.
- I'm Flanny Hamilton, I'm taking care of your father
- Is he all right? Asked Terry
- Your father had a heart attact…
- Oh my God! Is he all right?
- He's was a small heart attack. He stabl at the moment. But he will need an operation. He agreed and we have planed it for tomorrow. You can go see him, he in room 312.
- Thank you.
Terry went to the his father's room and he found him drawing plans…
- It's good to see that you're taking things slowly.
- Well, you didn't need to come. I'm fine.
- Very well, all right. You've had a heart attack dad.
- I felt bad, for God's sake, nothing more. I don't want you to make a drama about it…
- I came to tell you I was here if you need anything, said Terry walking to the door
- Coffee…
- What?
- You heard me…
- Coffee, said Terry.
oOoOo
"There is something I haven't told you, Candy. My father built the Lake House, I mean with his bare hands. It was a long time ago before he became famous. When he still had a family and he worshiped my mother. Her name was Eleonor and the house was a present for her. She was beautiful, smart and funny. She could've made a carreer in anything, but she chose to take care of my brother and me and help my father in his carreer. You see, the more he was successful, the more he was impossible to live with. In the end, she couldn't take it any more, so she left him. But in less than a year, she got sick and she was unhappy, she had never learned how not to love. He didn't go to her funeral, when I ask him why…"
oOoOo
" Come on Terry, what did he say?"
oOoOo
"He said: She was dead for him, at the moment she put her feet out of the house." Then he gave me one of those architect of the year grin."
Terry was in his father's room with a hot cup of coffee and he gave it to his father.
- I hope you appreciate that, I hace to hide from three nurses to get it in here.
- Oh, said his father opening the cup, it not decaf, right?
- It should've been, well
- Ah, said his father taking a sip, it's not bad at all! Thank you son.
- You're welcome
- Where's your brother?
- I told him to go, he wasn't feeling rood. You know how he is, he gets worried.
- Yes, I know. I'm afraid he takes after your mother, She used to worry too much.
- What are you looking at? Asked Terry, to change the subject
- Here take a look. It's a proposal for a museum…
- Who is it?
- It's new…
- I like the zebra crossing and the bright light… what are they going to use it?
- Granit, aluminium…
- The white panel are from Meier, but the colour inside makes it look better by the windows. It's not new, but it's clean, filtered. I like it.
He gave the mazine back to his father.
- When was the last time you were in Barcelone?
- Years ago with y ou, mum and Henry
- You remember visiting "La Casa dela Caritat?"
- The hospice for the poor ?
- Yes, you talked about Meier. His museum in Barcelone is in the same area as La Casa de la Caritat. It even uses the light. Meier made a series of windows to captrure that light and put it inside to illuminate the arit inside, but indirectly, and it's important because even the light makes the light look better, it could also degenerate it. But you already know that, son of…
He had a little laugh and he coughed.
- Now, this, where do you think it should be built?
- I have no idea…
- Oh, but you said you liked it…
- The conception…
- Come on Terrence… You know very well that the light in Barcelone are very different for the ights in Tokyo and the lights in Tokyo are different from the ones in Prague. A wonderful building which is destined to resist time and years, don't neglect your environment. A serious architect would consider that. He knows that if he wants a presence, he had to consult nature, he had to be captivated by the light. Always the light, always.
Terry stayed with his father while he wa sleeping. He even arranged his blankets.
oOoOo
Candy on her side went to see the archive files of Terry's father, Richard Grandchester. She saw that he wasn't going to make it… She got out of the archive room to go to the room were the doctors were. She talked to one of her colleagues.
- Nathalie? Can you take my place please, I have an emergency!
- All right Candy…
oOoOo
Terry was in his car going back home when his phone rang. He answered:
- Hello?
- Mister Grandchester?
- Yes?
- This is doctor Hamilton from the hospital of Chicago. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you…
"I'm so sorry Terry. I wish I could be there for you , in some way.I wish we could sit together and look at the light by the lake, in that house you father had built. I would be a shoulder for you, like you were for me and tell you that everything was going to be alright. If I can do something for you today, from here, something simple from the future, I hope this is the moment. It will not be published before at least two years, but I don't think that you should wait this long…"
Terry had the book on the work of his father in his hands.
"I hope it's going to help you to know how much you were loved"
Terry looked at the light by the lake. Candy was doing the same thing on her side…
Then he went inside the house to look at the book, the dedication. There was also a picture of the Lake house at the time when he was little with his father, they were looking at the house and Terry had his hand on the mailbox and the caption read: "Richard Grandchester with his son Terrence at their project of the Lake house".
Terry felt tears coming to h is eyes.
- Oh…
He was crying his father, sobbing. He thought about their last conversation he had with his father. How much he was passionate talking about architecture…
oOoOo
A while later, he was outside looking at he sun coming down the horizon… Terry wrote a note to Candy.
"I want to meet you, for real this time. You chose the place and I'll be there, I promise you. What would you say about tomorrow?"
oOoOo
"But Terry, it's not going to be tomorrow for you, you will have to wait two years"
oOoOo
"I know and I don't cre. I'll wait"
oOoOo
"Are you sure? I don't know…"
oOoOo
" All right, I see you in two years then"
oOoOo
"I'll see you tomorrow, then. Candy? Where would you like to go?"
oOoOo
"Il Mare"
oOoOo
Terry went to the restaurant "Il Mare" to make the reservation.
- When would you like to come and have diner here? Asked the receptionist.
- In two years, from tomorrow.
- In two years, from tomorrow?
- Yes.
- Two years?
- From tomorrow.
- All right.
oOoOo
Candy went to the restaurant the next day in the evening. It was the same restaurant Anthony wanted to take her at out of the blue the other night.
- Good evening, said Candy
- Good evening, said the receptionist, the name?
- White…
oOoOo
Terry was at the reception of the restaurant.
- May I have your name please?
- Grandchester…
oOoOo
Terry was sto;; at the reception of the restaurant.
- Grandchester.
- Mm-hm.
- Grandchester, said the receptionist smiling.
She looked like she knew about the reservation made two years ago. They took Candy to her table and she sat down.
- You waiter will be with you in a moment.
- Thank you, said Candy
She waited. She was wearing a red dress with the top in lace. It was long and her beautiful hair were falling on her she waited for Terry's arrival… She waited for a long time. The waiter came, gave her white wine, brought her little bread and butter. She looked at the other customer. She couldn't order for Terry. She looked at every new customer that came in. She had the few outside on the ice rink. The restaurant was getting empty little by little and the ice rink too. She dozed off for a moment. She went back home, disappointed. Terry had stood her up.
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