My Best Friend's Wife
Chapter 7
"The young widow"
Georgie came back and she found Candy crying…
- Candy! Your sobs can be heard from the entrance! What's going on?
She went to hug her sister.
- Where is Terry? I thought I was going to find him here with you.
- He… He's… gone…, she stuttered
Her sister panicked.
- Is everything all right with the baby?
- Yes, everything is fine, don't worry. I'm the one who is not well at all…
- Why didn't the doctor send you to the hospital?
- Because it's nothing physical…
Her sister gave her a handkerchief.
- Candy, what's going on? Is it Terry? What did he do to you again?
- No…, in fact he was perfect…
- So what then? Why are you crying?
- You're going to think I'm ridiculous…
- Let's hear it…
- Oh Georgie, I think I've fallen in love with Terry!
- Oh…
Candy looked at her sister, she knew that expression.
- What?
- Nothing, said her sister.
- Georgie!
- I didn't say anything…
- But you want to say something…
- Candy…
- Georgie, please! Out with it!
Her sister looked at her for a long time, should she tell her? She seemed so naïve and innocent…
- I'm waiting, said Candy with impatience.
- Well…., I don't know if I should tell you…
- Georgie!
- Well I remember when you told me about Anthony's best friend, there was that spark in your eyes…
- What spark?
- The spark you have now…
- Georgie, I loved Anthony.
- I know you loved him and you've never done anything disloyal, you absolutely wanted to fix this story…
- But…
- Candy, I know you. You might not have known it, but you've had a thing for Terry for a long time…
- I was jealous of Eliza… oh my God!
- You're free now… and you asked God for forgiveness…
- But… oh my God!
- Candy, calm down… one day at a time… everything is going to be fine…
- I hope he's not going to run away from me…
- Giving his reaction since you've seen each other again? I'd say you're on the same wavelength…
Candy looked at her sister strangely. No, Terry was behaving well with her because he felt guilty and he was doing it for Anthony…Not for him… he was jealous for Anthony… Right? She would rather believe that theory…
- Oh Georgie! How can I love another man while I'm having Anthony's baby? I feel so good with Terry…
- Life goes on, sweetie…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry, on his side was with his brother at the office…
- So daddy, how was the doctor's appointment?
- Stop calling me that! I was helping out Anthony's wife, that's all.
- Anthony's widow,right?
- Rick, stop it…
- You're doing the ostrich-like approach…
- Why don't we get back to work? Said Terry ignoring him…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile in Chicago… The great aunt Elroy was talking to William, Anthony's uncle…
- William! You're back now! You should go see Candy…
- Anthony's widow?
- Anthony's pregnant widow, insisted the great aunt Elroy
- She's not going to disappear with the child…
- She's already living in New York…
- She's staying with her sister, that's normal that she'd want to be with her family, isn't it?
- We're her family too!
- Aunt Elroy, don't look for trouble where there is none!
- You could've taken her in charge! She said with a accusatory tone.
- Take her in charge? Asked her nephew surprised.
- Yes! You could've replaced Anthony and take care of the baby!
William looked at her surprised…
- You mean, you wanted me to marry her?! She's a weeping widow! She's probably still thinking about her husband, my nephew! Do you realise what you're saying?
- Of course I'm realising it , said the great aunt, I think you could become the father of Anthony's baby…
- That sounds weird…
- William, she's a widow, that's true! But you know the fable from Lafontaine, don't you?
- I studied it in school, what's your point…?
Then he remembered what the fable was about and he said:
- You can't be serious!
- I'm very serious… Archie and Alistair are not available, Daniel, Candy hates him! You're the only one left…
- By elimination? That's very flattering for me!
- William! I don't want to lose Anthony's baby! What if Candy marries someone else?
- She's not going to keep the baby away from us , she will come to see us with it…
- What if she goes back to Australia or something… William! You have to save the baby.
- Aunt Elroy, there is no way, I'm marrying Anthony's wife!
- For the family! You can't do that?
- What if Candy wants to move on with her life?
- That's why I'm telling you to start seeing her… call her.
- To say what?
- I don't know, show your presence…
- Aunt Elroy, if she wants to move on with her life, I can't stop her…
- All right, but you can try to be one of her suitors, right?
- No.
- William, I'm begging you! We're going to lose that child!
- I'm sure Candy is not going to cut all ties with us. We're Antony's family after all…
- Call her…
- Why do I have to call her?
- Well during our last conversation…
- Didn't go so well… no kidding! You didn't tell her I have to date her, at least?
- Who do you take me for? A mad woman?
- You really want me to answer that? Said William ironically.
- William, please, you don't have to have news about Candy?
- Of course I do, but…
He had a sigh and he went to get the phone to call Candy after looking up her number on in the address book… it was ringing…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Georgie and Candy were still talking. Yes, life went on. Candy realised that ever since she had seen Terry again. She didn't want him to leave, she felt attracted… She would feel joy, like everything became exciting… Yes, life went on, and she had met another man and she was praying he would contact her again… but yes, the Lamaze class! He wanted to be her coach…
- He wants to come with me to my Lamaze class…
- He wants to take my place again? Does he know the engagement he's taking? He's going to have to be there for the birth with you.
Candy smiled. Nothing would give her more pleasure.
- I think he know that, but I can remind him…
- In any case, that thought is making you happy
- I'm going to see him again Georgie and my heart is dancing!
- You look happy…
- I'm not the merry widow…
- You're more like the young widow…
The ringing of the phone interrupted their conversation.
- I'm going to answer, said Candy.
She took the cordless phone in the kitchen.
- Hello? She said.
- Hello? Said a man's deep voice.
For a moment, Candy's heart jumped…
- Candy?
- Yes?
- It's William, Anthony's uncle.
She was disappointment but she didn't show it…
- Oh! Hello Uncle William...
- Don't jump of joy or anything!
- I'm sorry, I was expecting another phone call…
- Ah…
- Can I do something for you?
- I just wanted to have some news.
- I'm fine, that's nice of you.
- In fact aunt Elroy told me to call you.
- Ah…
- She said your last conversation…
- Everything is fine William, you're Anthony's family, I will never sever all ties with you…
- That's what I told her… how is the baby?
- The baby is fine…it will be here soon!
- Do you need anything?
- I'm fine at Georgie and Lowell's, uncle William.
- The doctor's appointment and all…?
- Everything is fine uncle William
- I'm going to stop by New York and I'm going to call you…
- All right, I'll wait for your phone call….
- Good bye Candy, said William, who was feeling that she wanted the conversation to end.
- Good bye Uncle William, said Candy smiling
William hung up. Aunt Elroy was looking at him.
- So?
- She's fine…
- And…?
- What do you mean "and"?
- I repeat "and"?
William had a sigh.
- I had the impression she was disappointment I wasn't someone else, like she was expecting someone else on the phone…
- She met someone else! We're too late!
- Aunt Elroy!
- You have to go stay with her until she gives birth!
- No way!
- You just told her you're going to stop by New York, right?
- Just to say hi , not to invade her private life.
- She's our wife!
- Anthony is dead, aunt Elroy and don't worry, she said she will never sever her ties with us…
- Oh William, you should've been on her like white on rice!
- Enough, aunt Elroy, said William leaving the room…
The great aunt was worried; what if Candy really had another man in her life? And that man mistreated Anthony's son? She started to worry a whole lot.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy had just hung up when Georgie came back in the kitchen.
- Who was it?
- Uncle William…
- Anthony's uncle William?
- Yes…
- He's tall blond and very handsome too…
- Just like Anthony… they looked a lot alike when they were children, I mean, you'd think they were twins on the pictures… William as a child is the carbon copy of Anthony as a child… well the reverse, since Anthony is the nephew born after him…
- What did he want?
- To have some news and reassure the great aunt , after her last phone call.
- Looks like they're afraid you're going to move on with your life…
- And I want to move on with Terry…Oh Georgie! I feel so guilty!
- Don't be. You're free and life goes on…
- I don't feel reassured… well, maybe nothing is going to happen with Terry…
- Candy, be positive. It's about your happiness…
- I'm going to think about it when the time comes… William says he's going to stop by New York.
- Another handsome specimen for the male kind is coming to see you! I can't wait to see that!
- Georgie!
- What? There's nothing wrong in admiring a handsome man…
The sisters burst out laughing.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry and his brother were back at their house, they were talking. Terry was telling his brother about the visit at the doctor's…
- The doctor said what?! Said his brother.
- Well she's a widow, so it doesn't apply to her…
- Huh huh… and what do you think about that?
- About what?
- About the doctor's suggestion?
- I can buy spicy food for Candy…
- And…?
- And what?
- Come on bro!
- You really have a twisted mind, you know that?
- I know! Come on! I'm waiting!
There was a little silence, Terry was a little ashamed and he finally admitted:
- I had an image in my mind of making love to Candy with her big belly!
His brother burst out with an honest laugh.
- What about her?
- What about her? I don't know, she doesn't confide in me…
- Terry…? Said his brother with a reproach tone
- All right, I looked at her and it looked like she was imagining the same thing!
- Ah!
- I can't do it, it's Anthony's territory…
- You don't want to water his baby? What if she asks you?
- She's not going to ask me! She's way too loyal to her husband…
- What if she does?
- Shut up Rick! By the way, I'm going to take her to her Lamaze class…
- This is getting better and better, said his brother with a mocking tone
- I want to be there for her in Anthony's place…
- But you don't want to water Anthony's garden…
- Junior! That's enough!
- All right. I'll shut up… but…
- Stuff it! I have to call Candy…
- Why?
- Because I felt like she wanted to cry when I left.
- Maybe you shouldn't have left her…
- I had to go to the office… I didn't want to leave her either.
- I could've manage on my own… call your pretty one to console her…
Terry left his brother, took his cell phone to call Candy…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy went upstairs to her bedroom when the phone rang. Georgie was making lunch for the children in the kitchen. They had come back from school a few minutes ago and Candy was resting in the bedroom.
- Candy! It's for you! Miss popularity!
Candy's heart jumped!
- Thanks Georgie!
She picked up the phone.
- Hello?
- Candy?
- Terry! She said with a soft voice.
- I wanted to know how you were…
- I'm quite fine, why?
- Correct me if I'm wrong, but I had the impression that you wanted me to leave earlier.
What? She wanted him to stay, on the contrary! How could he have thought the opposite?
- Really? Why? She asked curious
- Well… I felt like you were on the verge of crying…so I left you so you could relieve yourself…
He knew her so well in such a short time?
- Terry, she said softly
- I know the visit to the doctor's made you think about Anthony... I'm sorry if I'm not him…
- Oh no! You have nothing to do with it! Pregnant women have mood swings!
- Mood swings? That's all?
- Yes, I can assure you, Terry. You have done nothing wrong! In fact, I wanted you to stay longer with me …
- You should've asked me to stay then…
- Yes, I should've had…
- Promise me to always be honest with me Candy, ok? Ask me anything you want and I will do my best to satisfy you if it's possible…
"Even if I ask you to satisfy my libido? She asked herself in her head.
But she would never dare say that out loud. She didn't want to make him uneasy either.
- All right Terry, thank you Terry.
- Tomorrow night, it's the Lamaze class, I'll come and pick you up. At what time would you be ready?
- It starts at 7 pm, why not around 6? We could have a coffee on our way.
- It's a date, he said smiling. Good night Candy
- Good night Terry.
Terry hung up, he was ecstatic, like Candy was ecstatic after this conversation…
oOoOoOoOoOo
For those who don't know the Fable by Lafontaine…
The young widow
A husband's death brings always sighs;
The widow sobs, sheds tears-then dries.
Of Time the sadness borrows wings;
And Time returning pleasure brings.
Between the widow of a year
And of a day, the difference
Is so immense,
That very few who see her
Would think the laughing dame
And weeping one the same.
The one puts on repulsive action,
The other shows a strong attraction.
The one gives up to sighs, or true or false;
The same sad note is heard, whoever calls.
Her grief is inconsolable,
They say. Not so our fable,
Or, rather, not so says the truth.
To other worlds a husband went
And left his wife in prime of youth.
Above his dying couch she bent,
And cried, 'My love, O wait for me!
My soul would gladly go with thee!'
(But yet it did not go.)
The fair one's sire, a prudent man,
Check'd not the current of her woe.
At last he kindly thus began:-
'My child, your grief should have its bound.
What boots it him beneath the ground
That you should drown your charms?
Live for the living, not the dead.
I don't propose that you be led
At once to Hymen's arms;
But give me leave, in proper time,
To rearrange the broken chime
With one who is as good, at least,
In all respects, as the deceased.'
'Alas!' she sigh'd, 'the cloister vows
Befit me better than a spouse.'
The father left the matter there.
About one month thus mourn'd the fair;
Another month, her weeds arranged;
Each day some robe or lace she changed,
Till mourning dresses served to grace,
And took of ornament the place.
The frolic band of loves
Came flocking back like doves.
Jokes, laughter, and the dance,
The native growth of France,
Had finally their turn;
And thus, by night and morn,
She plunged, to tell the truth,
Deep in the fount of youth.
Her sire no longer fear'd
The dead so much endear'd;
But, as he never spoke,
Herself the silence broke:-
'Where is that youthful spouse,' said she,
'Whom, sir, you lately promised me?'