My Best Friend's Wife
Chapter 5
"The dinner"
On Thursday afternoon, Terry and Richard Junior went to a deluxe boutique for baby items in New York.
- What are you going to buy? Asked Rick.
- I don't know…
- Is it a boy or a girl?
- She wants to be surprised.
- All right, so we're going to chose neutral colours for the moment.
- Then we could chose the right colour… all right. But who made the decision that pink was for girls and blue was for boys?
- You're asking me too much, buddy. I have no idea!
- A little boy couldn't be just as cute in pin and a little cute in blue ?
- I suppose so…
- Ok, let's do like everybody…
He bought a lot of articles for newborn, onesies, sleep suits, covers, he even found a little blue bathrobe on which was embroidered on the right side "The Best daddy in the world".
- You think it's appropriated? Giving that his daddy is dead… unless you have another idea behind your head?
Terry looked at his brother, what was he talking about? Then he got it…
- Are you going to stop already? I think it's cute, that's all… Now I don't feel like buying it anymore.
- Come on, I'm joking! Where is you sense of humour?
Terry felt a little funny…
- You're sure she's not going to take it wrong?
- You can do it in your friend's name…
- No, I won't buy it.
He looked around and he saw another white and blue bathrobe on which was embroidered : "The Best Mommy in the world". His brother was looking at him…
- The other bathrobe was also very cute you know…
An employee was passing by…
- Yes, it just arrived from France. You should taka both of them and make the pair, one for mommy and one for daddy…
- Yes, Terry! Take both! I swear to you that she going to find it priceless…
Terry as still hesitating.
- What's going on buddy? I didn't know you were that sentimental…
- It's blue…
- Aren't you the one who just talked about the colours?
- Rick, you don't understand…
- Then explain it to me! I'm not psychic…
Terry looked at his brother…
- So? Said his brother impatient.
- Well… when Candy told me how she told Anthony about her pregnancy…
- The pregnancy you thought was the fruit of her adulterous affair, while it was a miracle?
Terry ignored his brother's remark and continue, like he had said nothing and he said:
- She said the first thing Anthony said was : "If it's a boy, we're going to call him Terry…"
- You're putting me on!
- No…
- You should feel honoured…
- I still don't understand why he thought about me… he had a family, didn't he?
- Apparently, you marked him more than his family… And…
- And…?
- Nothing, said Rick.
- Junior, said Terry with a menacing tone.
- Nothing…
- Out with it!
- Well, we could think that he gave you his blessing…
- How?
- By giving your name to his son, he will become Terry Junior…
- You're assuming that he knew he wouldn't be there to raise his child… but that wasn't the case!
- Well, that's what happened… his wife is alone with a little boy who will have your name…
- Maybe she's going to have a girl… but what am I saying? Shut up Rick! Let's go pay for our stuff…
Rick burst out laughing and he followed him to the till with the baby clothes in his arms. Once he got there…
- Are you sure we're not going to show up with doll clothes?
The cashier, smiled.
- I can assure you that it's the standard size for newborn. It's cozy, light, washable… This yellow cover is assorted to the dickeky, you could match. It's also washable and a nice wrap…
When she saw both bathrobes…
- That's really very cute. Your baby is going to be adorable!
- It's not…, started Terry, but he stopped.
What would be the point to explain and deep down inside, he loved imagining Anthony's child as his… He will do everything to be present when he will be able to. His brother gave him a look, kind of mocking. Terry didn't want to look at him. They were about to leave the store with their bags!
- Do you have gift wrap, please?
- Of course, we have little cards too, help yourself…
Terry looked at the cards and he stopped one that said: " For your high flight champion". He looked for a pen and in his inside pocket and he wrote between the first words, adding his personal touch that said: "For the the child of you high flight champion. May God keep the both of you. Terry."
The employee put a rattle and ribbon and attached it. She put the envelope he gave her under the rosette and put all the packages in a big bag in a luxurious iced paper. The two brothers got out of the shop.
- I'd like to buy a wine bottle for the dinner, said Rick
- We're going to be late…
- Don't worry, we're going to be there on time.
- I'm counting on your talent.
- You are so nervous! You look like a teen before his first date! How did you become a pilot?
- Why don't you concentrate on driving your car?
- Stop being worried. She forgave you.
- Yeah, she's very generous and courageous
- No kidding! She needed courage to face your anger.
Terry made a funny face.
- I was talking about the baby…
- Thousands of women have babies everyday.
- Not in that situation.
- She doesn't seem to be having problems, she was dancing the other night. It proves that she was having fun… before she met you, I mean.
- Well, she was on the dance floor to talk to me in fact…
- She made you that honor and you spit on her like rotten fish…
- What she had with Anthony was understandable…
- You're forgetting that Candy Brown has been a widow for almost a year now. I think she chose to continue to live…
- How can we do that when we love like crazy?
- I don't know and I hope I never find out. You could ask dad when he comes back from his honeymoon. Well, it's not quite the same thing, daddy is not having a baby…
- At least not when we left him…
- Lord Jesus.
They were riding to the store to buy a bottle of wine.
- What about Candy? Asked Terry, she's pregnant, she's not drinking alcohol…
- We could take some sparkling apple juice instead, it's alcohol free…
- Good idea! Said Terry and the boys?
- You talked to Candy , did she tell you what they like by any chance?
- One wants to be an airline fighter pilot and the other one, a race-car driver…
- Ah! Said Rick, that's easy then, let's go to Macy's…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy and her sister were getting ready to greet their guests… Candy had changed three times…
- Green makes your emerald eyes come out, said Georgie, but you're pregnant, you're beautiful with everything you're wearing…
- All right… I'll go to the kitchen to see the hors-d'oeuvres
- Joey, you take care of the ice at the bar, said his mother
- All right mum, said the little boy
They were now both in the kitchen.
- And Candy, your roasbeef, I can't wait to eat it. You never told me you knew how to cook so well…
- You learn a lot of thing when you're in a foreign country among women, so you won't get bored when our husbands are gone all day…
- If after the birth you come and stay close to us… well Lowell and I were thinking…
- That I would want to stay close by? After all the travelling… I would like that… even if Anthony's family would want me near them… but we'll cross that bridge when we get there…
She hugged her sister.
- Thank you for always been there for me, Georgie.
- You're welcome sweetie… I love you.
- I love you too.
Lowell arrived finding them hugging.
- Do you need a hand, cordon-bleu?
The two sisters let go of each other. Lowell approached them and kissed his wife on the lips. Candy, was fixing her make up and she would've kissed him on the cheek if Joey hadn't come screaming saying:
- There's a car that's coming! Can I go and open the door?
- No, they are your aunt Candy's guests and she's going to open the door, said Georgie.
Candy took his hand smiling.
- Let's go and greet them together.
But the overexcited child let go of her hand and ran to open the door, seeing two surprised men who hadn't rang the doorbell yet.
- I know who you are! He screamed looking at Terry.
The latter smiled. Terry was wearing a dark blue suit and Rick was behind him wearing a gray suit, forming a tandem of breathtaking seduction.
- You must be Joey, said Terry.
- Yes, and you're uncle Terry, uncle Anthony's best friend!
- Exactly. And this is my brother Rick.
- Good evening, uncle Terry, good evening uncle Rick! We've been waiting for you all day!
That innocent gossip shook Candy out of her torpor. Her cheeks were in fire, she realise she was just standing there hypnotized by the spectacle by blocking the entrance. When she stepped away to let them in, Rick gave the bottle to her nephew.
- This is for your mummy, he said.
- Thank you, but mummy can't drink, because she's going to have a baby too!
Children are always so cute with their innocence. Rick wasn't taken aback at all and he said:
- Then it's going to be for your daddy! I brought some sparkling apple juice for your aunt Candy, she could drink it with your mummy.
- Oh! Said Joey! Thank you! Ok, I'll be right back!
He took the bottles to go give it to his parents. With a smile which brought a wave of warmth coming from her body, Terry brought the hand he hand behind his back, revealing the bag from the Luxurious baby boutique.
- And this is for you, he said giving the bag to Candy.
- Oh… you shouldn't have… but I admit I'm pleased… come and sit down at you ease, while I look in the bag.
The two brothers followed her in the living room and waited until she sat down to sit on the couch facing her.
Candy took the packages out of the bag beautifully wrapped, she saw the one with the rattle tied with the ribbon. When she read the card, she eyes were filled with tears.
- How did you find a card that is so appropriate?
Her voice was shaking so were her hands while opening the box and taking the silk paper off.
- Oh it's beautiful! She said seeing what he had bought, one thing more beautiful than the other…
She was smiling but when she saw the bathrobes…
- I hope it doesn't bother you, what is written.
- It's perfect you mean! I like everything you brought me a lot and I am more than pleased.
- I'm happy.
Georgie's family joined them in the living room and they all stood up and Candy did the introductions. But at the moment Lowell shook Rick's hand he opened his eyes wide…
- Wait a minute… I didn't know… honey! He said calling Georgie who was looking at the baby presents. It's Rick Grant! You're Rick Grant, right?
Rick was smiling.
- Yes, it's me!
- Sorry honey, it's not telling me anything…
Candy didn't get it either.
- Mum! Said Axel, it the race car driver champion! He's won a lot of races, we always look at him on television with dad!
- We have a champion with us! You've done wonders at the Australian championship.
- Thank you, said Rick, I fought hard.
- Whoa! Said Axel smiling, this is too cool!
Rick gave them his present which was wrapped inside a Macy's store bag…
- For me? Said the little one. Thank you sir!
He opened it to find a race car which was the replica of Rick's and he had autographed the box! The little one started screaming of joy! Terry, gave Rick's present to Joey, who opened it and he got excited seeing the fighter plane.
- Thank you very much Uncle Terry!
- Thank you, Uncle Rick, said Axel, I'm calling Rick Grant "uncle"! This is too cool!
A new hero entered the scene, in the flesh.
- Why don't we go have dinner, said Georgie, maybe Rick could answer a few questions while we eat?
- Can I sit next to Terry, mum?
- I think were going to put you between Terry and Candy and Axel you'll be next to Rick.
Diner went on fine in a great atmosphere and the men of the house were in seventh heaven. After dinner, Candy and Georgie were putting the dishes in the dishwasher…
- Thank you, Georgie for the dinner.
- It was a team work among sisters!
They went back to the living room with the dessert, apple pie with a scoop of ice cream vanilla. When they were done, Georgie and Candy put the dishes in the kitchen and Terry helped them. Candy thought he was charming. He helped them put it the dishwasher. They went back to the living room to have tea… a few moment later, Terry stood up and his brother did the same.
- We're going to get going, said Terry
- All right, said Candy a little disappointed…
- You've had a busy day and you probably want to go to sleep, but you can't do it as long as we're here…
- Oh no, said Candy, don't go!
Terry looked at her smiling and Rick looked at his brother.
- Well, I meant with the kids, we didn't get the time to talk.
- I can come back tomorrow, said Terry.
- All right, said Candy, beside my appointment with my OBGYN at 11 o'clock, I won't go anywhere else.
- You're going to drive there? Asked Terry.
- Yes, Georgie is taking me, she doesn't work on Fridays.
- What if I replace her?
- I wouldn't want to impose… I can't…
- I refuse. I'm volunteering.
He seemed completely sincere.
- When we come back we could pick up some food at the Mexican place and that way you'll be able to rest.
Was there a more thoughtful man on earth?
- But don't you have your business?
- I'll take care of it before I come. How long does it take to getto your doctor's?
- 10 minutes.
- Then, I'll be here at 10:45 AM.
- I'll be ready…
They walked to the door. Terry turned to Lowell.
- Thank you again for not throwing me out of the bay window.
- Did I look so obvious?
- And legitimate.
- It's forgotten.
- Yes, totally, said Candy looking at him and thank you again for those wonderful presents. See you tomorrow.
- Dinner was excellent and the dessert too, said Terry.
- Thank you , said Candy smiling.
- Good bye, said Rick smiling.
- Thank you for coming…
After they finished saying goodbye to the children too who went to their bedrooms, Lowell walked the two brothers their car. Georgie and Candy were in the house.
- You're going to see him tomorrow?
- I can't wait…
- That's going beyond the courtesy visit.
- Maybe he wants to make up for his faux-pas…
- Or he want to be alone with you…
- No, I was the one who wanted to prolong the evening to have some more intimate conversation… I'm still wondering why he wasn't at the funeral. Otherwise it was a good evening, wasn't it?
- A good one. The boys and Lowell were in seventh heaven like you! And his brother, the champion!
- I don't remember if Anthony had told me he was a race car driver…
- You didn't pay attention, of course! Said her sister laughing.
- I'm so tired, why don't we go to bed?
The two sisters went to bed, not before passing by the boys' room… Lowell didn't take long to come back to his wife.
Candy couldn't stop thinking about Terry… She felt good in his presence.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry on his side, couldn't stop thinking about Candy… He felt good in her presence…
When they got in the house, in front of his brother, Terry immediately saw the red light flashing on the phone in the dark, showing there was a message. Maybe it was Candy who changed her mind and finally decided to go with her sister. Sadly, he went to press the button while Rick was turning the lights on to illuminate the room.
"Boys? It's dad. I can't get a hold of your cellphone numbers, I hope everything is fine on your side. We're coming back on Saturday afternoon, a day earlier than planned/ But don't bother coming to the airport, we'll take a taxo to come home. If you don't have any other project, we would like to have dinner with your. See you later my big boys! We're kissing you…"
- I don't recognize dad's voice, said Rick…. He seems…
- Like a satisfy man? He's happy…
- Is it bad to hope that he's made a mistake with Nelly?
- You're human, bro…
- I feel bad…
- What are you going to do tomorrow when I'll be with Candy?
- I'm going to see some old friends from rock-car.
- They're going to be happy to see you…
- Why don't we go change and go to bed?
The two brother went upstairs to change and go to sleep…
Terry couldn't stop thinking about Candy…She was occupying all of his thoughts… He couldn't wait until the next day…
- I hope you're not going to be to bored…
- At the appointment? I don't think so, said Terry
- It's a room full of pregnant women with their kids running around everywhere. Men hate that!
- I've had more frightening situations, said Terry with a little smile.
oOoOoOoOoOo
They arrived at the parking of the OBGYN office and Candy was happy she wasn't alone this time around… Terry helped her get out of the car and tooke her arm and they walked together to the medical office.
- Mrs. Brown! Said the nurse.
- Hello, said Candy smiling.
All the women were looking at Terry with admiring eyes. Candy felt proud to have a handsome specimen at her arm.