My Best Friend's Wife
Chapter 11
"The confession"
Rick surprised everybody by coming to the hospital with the good they had cooked for the dinner and that Candy's family had missed. He had a big bouquet of flowers for the new mom and a big stuffed animal.
- Oh my God! Said Candy smiling
- Surprise! Said Rick smiling, since you missed the dinner, the dinner come to you!
- If Mohamed doesn't go to the mountain, the mountain goes to Mohamed, said Terry smiling.
- It would have been a pity for you to miss this good meal we cooked for you. Terry had put his whole heart into it...
- Shut up Rick and make a plate for the new mummy, said Terry smiling.
Candy was touched to hear that Terry worked hard to cook for them. The baby had decided to come and the dinner was postponed...
- Oh Thank you! Said Candy, hospital fook is horrible, everybody knows that! Thank you for spoiling me like that Rick...!
- The pleasure is all mine, my nice lady! Said Rick kissing her hand.
He gave her the big bouquet of flowers, it was multicolour roses that he had brought for her.
- They're beautiful! Said Candy smiling
He gaver her the stuffed animal which was a emperor pengouin for the anime movie "Happy Feet".
- Oh, Mumble! Said Candy smiling
- You know it? asked Rick.
- Yes, I went to see it with my nephews, I like it a lot! Thank you Rick.
Then he made a plate for Candy with the good food that they should've had... Terry also made himself a plate.
- it's very good, said Candy smiling.
- You should thank my new step mummy, said Terry smiling, it was very nice of her to cook...
- But Terry insisted at least a 100 times to put away some chicken with no salt for you...
- This chicken is very good, said Candy, even without salt.
- Step mummy has ingredients for the kitchen, she's a good cook! Said Rick.
Georgie and Lowell also made their plate and they ate the really good food with pleasure cracking jokes.
- She made you a Thermos bottle of tea, said Rick, you need it to make milk for the baby...
- She's right, said Candy, you should thank her for me, litte Terrence also says thank you, He's going to have a lot of milk to drink.
- They say that it's the best milk for the baby, said Rick
- As a matter of fact, said Candy smiling.
- How are you feeling?
- I'm exhausted...
- So I'm bothering you? Said Rick.
- Of course not! Stay as long a you like!
- Candy, you have to get some rest, we're going to finish our meal and leave...
And that's what they did. They ate in the general joy, telling stories. Georgie talked about her giving birth and everybody was having fun. When they were done, they stood up to leave, they put the dishes away.
- Have a good night sweeties, said Georgie kissing her on the cheek.
Candy was breastfeeding little Terrence-Anthony, she was looking at him with so much love. the sensation was incredible. Maternal love was overflowing in her heart and she felt sad that Anthony would never see his son... Georgie kissed her nephew on his baby blond hair.
- Good bye my little love, she said smiling.
Lowell kissed Candy and the baby too.
- Good bye, you two! Good night. Take advantage of your time in the hospital to get some rest.
- Good bye and thank you! Said Candy smiling.
They got out of the room. Rick approached them after taking the bag with the dirty dishes.
- Good bye mummy, good bye baby, sleep tight.
He got out of the room to leave Terry and Candy alone, he couldn't help taking a picture of the three of them.
- You did a good job, said Terry smiling, he's perfect.
- Thank you, said Candy smiling and thank you for everything Terry, thank you for being there...
- The pleasure was all mine, I assure you...
He leaned to kiss Candy on the cheek but the kissed her on the lips. Then he kissed the baby on his beautiful baby blond hair.
- Have a good night both of you.
- Good bye and thank you again.
- See you tomorrow.
He got out of the room and left. His brother had his own car. He got home a few minutes later. He found his brother waiting for him with a pack of Cuban cigars.
- Rick, he said
- Congratulations, daddy!
- Cuban cigars? I don't smoke and you know it!
- It's the tradition to celebrate an happy event, you have a son!
- Rick...
- You're going to take care of your best friend's son, aren't you?
- You really think I should? He's got a family...
- You want to leave the place to Anthony's young uncle?
- Why not? It's kind of their duty to take care of Anthony's widow and his baby, don't you think so?
- Yes... but the widow likes you !
- Can I go to bed now?
- You didn't tell me how it was.
- It was the most wonderful experience ever! To see a baby coming to the world... It's really the miracle of life! And it allowed Anthony to become a father and it's really too bad he wasn't able to see his son...
- She gave your name to his son...
- She says, that's what Anthony wanted...
- It doesn't bother you?
- That he admired me so much that the first thing he said when he learned that his wife was pregnant was: "If it's a by, we're going to call him Terrence?" I'm very flattered by the attention and the honor he gave me.
- You're going to take care of your namesake?
- Don't start, Rick...
- You have to face the truth Terry... You have to stop putting your hand in the sand...
- Put my head in the sand thinking no one can see me? That's ridiculous!
- But that's what you've been doing for years?
- What do you mean?
His brother looked at him.. He decided to go ahead...
- I now know why you wouldn't go see Anthony at his house...
- I went to see him after his wedding...
- Hum hum... what about after that?
- We didn't get the opportunity...
- We create our own opportunity, Terry...
- You mean I was avoiding going at Anthony's? I went to see him after his wedding to meet his wife...
- And you never went back to see them.
- We saw each other at camp...
- Something changed when you came back from your trip...
- Are you going to stop already?
- No! You have to face the situation... out with it bro!
Terry looked at his brother who knew him way too well, better than himself...he had a sigh...
- Anthony's family greeted you well right?
- There was even his cousin hitting on me...
-And you didn't take advantage of the situation, because your heart was interested in someone else...
- No she was insufferable and I don't do quickies, that's not my thing, you know that...
- Don't change the subject, how did you find Candy?
- As soon as my eyes met hers, I felt completely lost... She was the woman of my dreams, and she was married to my best friend... I couldn't go see Anthony anymore and see her.I avoided all the invitations so I wouldn't have to see his wife which I was lusting after and it was a sin.
- The tenth commandment... but your friend is dead now...
- It doesn't mean I'm going to dance on his grave...
- Nobody is going to think that... it also explains your reaction when you thought she was pregnant by another man...
- I was green with jealousy, said Terry ashamed...
- We could say you had the right to be jealous for your friend... you could hide behind that...
- I know the truth...
- A birth is a new beginning, for this child who is just born... Tell Candy you love her and live your lives together...
- I kissed her after she gave birth...
- And?
- It was more wonderful than in my dreams...
- Bro...
- There's Anthony's family...
- Well Candy doesn't belong to them... You're the one that Candy wants...
- Why don't we go to sleep...? I have to go pick up Candy tomorrow morning...
- Why don't you sleep on it... You can have an instant family with the woman of your dreams...
- She's my best friend's wife...
- I remember when you came back from your visit, you were in a bad mood... You came to celebrate my victory with me and my friends and you didn't order beer. You had drank so much, that it was the first time I saw you lose it, you the big bro, the hard nut. By the time I took you to your car holding you you were almost weeping...
- Shut up Rick...
- And drunken whinnings; il came out that you were feeling guilty of the worst felony a man could do against his friend...
Rick had a little laugh.
- I got scared at that point, and I insisted, I wanted to know. You finally admitted to me that you have fallen in love with Anthony's wife...
Terry rubbed his forehead. That evening had fallen into a forgotten hole wihout ever coming out of the mist.
- On the spot, I thought it was amusing, continued his brother. I thought you were not serious and that it will pass you... Only as the years went by, when our parents were proposing to invite Anthony and his wife home,you always found excuses... so a doubt stayed in my mind.
Terry wanted to stop him, but...
- During the incident with Candy, it wasn't the fact that she betrayed Anthony that got you angry when you saw she was pregnant. The truth is, that you felt betrayed after loving her in secret during all those years
- Rick...
- God knows you repressed all those feeling with a sentiment of noblility dear bro! And it seems today , that God decided to reward you by putting Candy on your way...
- Our meeting was a coincidence.
-There are not coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason. Destiny is smiling at you... Good night Terry.
oOoOoOoOoOo
The next day, the nursery nurse brought the baby after checking him up. Candy breastfed the baby, and despite the frustration of the beginning, the baby was sucking his mommy breast. She looked at him with love. She didn't think she could love her baby that much. Maternal love was absolutely wonderful. A little earlier, the nursery nurse had done a little speech to a group of new moms highlighting the fact that braeastfeeding was a moment when the link between a mother and child was stronger, the mother was completely devoted to her child, body and soul like it should. candy felt a little ashamed, because with her love for her son breastfeeding, Terry wasn't getting out of her mind for a second. What if all the attention he was giving her was on a duty towards his friend's widow? She still felt a distance between them. The kisses he had given her were chaste and brief and were mostly expressing a blessing.
Georgie arrived to help her get ready to get out of the hospital. She had brought the car seat mandatory in the cars for babies. She had brought clothes for Candy, who got dressed. Her sister did her hair and they were ready.
- Georgie, you think that Terry is going to come?
- I don't know...
- You think he's going to dare to be with me?
- He's got a sense of honor very strong your dear Terry...
- He kissed me yesterday, it was light and verygood too...
- Well good, he get to loosen up a little...
Footsteps were heard and Terry entered the room with a big bouquet of white roses.
- Hello mum, hello Georgie!
- Hello baby! Said Candy smiling
She understood he called her mum, because she had called her baby "Terrence". Goegie looked at them smiling. They were really on the same wave length! He came the flowers to Candy.
- Thank you very much!
He walked to the baby bed and he looked at his namesake.
- Hello champ! Sleep well. Did you have a good sleep?
- He didn't wake up during the night.
- He's keeping that for when he gets home, said Georgie.
- Stop making me scare Georgie, said Candy.
She leaned towards the baby and she told him.
- Terrence-Anthony, promise me you're going to leave your crying in the hospital? All right? Leave the crying in the hospital my nice little baby.
- Where did you learn that? Asked Georgie, does it really work?
- Well, you'll see. You could use it too when you have your baby...
- Ready ladies? Asked Terry
- Yes, said Candy
A nurse arrived with a wheelchair and Candy sat down. Terry took the bags. Georgie had the baby and Candy was on the wheelchair, being pushed out of the hospital holding her bouquet of flowers.
Terry went to get the car and Candy sat in the back with the baby. Georgie sat in the front. She had called Lowell to tell him she was coming back with Terry.
They arrived home and it was the general joy. Lowell and the children were glad to see their beautiful little cousin. The house was full of neighbours and friends who came to see Candy and the baby with a dish of food to share. She just sat in the living room and talked to everybody. The little cousin were looking at the baby.
- He looks like a doll, said Joey.
- He's cute, said his brother smiling
- He's so small, said Joey.
- You were that little too when you were born, said his father.
- Really? Wow!
The day went on well. When the neighbours started leaving, Candy wanted to go upstairs in her bedroom to change little Terry. Terry stood up to help her. He took the baby and Candy the bag of diapers, then they all went upstairs to the bedroom Candy was using. Candy showed him the way. He got into the room and Candy closed the room behind her. She put the diaper bag on the bed. Then she took the baby and she put him on his changing table. She changed the diaper. Then she pue the baby in its crib.
Terry was looking at her. She was so beautiful ever since she had given birth. should he talk to her? But he had to tell her the truth.
- How are you feeling? Not too tired...?
- I rested at the hospital last night... but I'm still tired.
- I wanted to talk to you, but if you're tired...
- I can listen, said Candy sitting on the bed.
He was standing infront of the door. Terry thought about the conversation he had with his brother so he went for it. Come what way!
- Candy... I would like to apologise once again for myhorrible attitude towards you.
- I told you that I was forgotten, didn't I?
- I wanted to explain my attitude.
- That's because your a faithful friend of Anthony's, I understand.
- No, you don't understand...
- Explain yourself, she said looking at him, her heart beatin gout loud
- When I came to see you after your wedding, all those years ago...I spent a very good time...
- It was the same for us. I've always regretted the fact that you never came back to visit us again.
- It wasn't by accident.
- What do you mean, it wasn't by accident?
- The fact that we never ever met again...
Candy looked at him curiously.
- In fact, I did everything not to meet you again
- But why? she asked with big surprised eyes.
- Because ever since our first meeting,I can't stop thinking about you...
- Oh, said Candy softly.
- I said to myself that it was better not to see you again so I wouldn't torture myself... I was breaking the 10th commandment... "Thou shall not covert your neighbour's wife...". So when I saw you again years later, it made my blood boil. I was green of jealousy...
- Oh my God...
- For me, not for Anthony... I wished you were with me! Not with another man like I thought you were...
- Terry...
- I've been fighting my attraction towards you for days now... It was easier when we were in defferent cities. My sense of honor was telling me to stay far away from you and my heart was telling me the opposite, because it was happy everytime I saw you...
- Terry...
- With all that, there's my senses of honour... did I have the right to be with my best friend's wife?
- So what's your verdict? Asked Candy the heart still beating loud.
- Well, I like our brief kisses... they were very good.
- And very chaste...
He approached her and he sat by her side.
- I'd like to start over,if you want to.
-Oh Terry! Said Candy
He leaned towards her and he took her lips softly at first and then more and more passionate. Candy kissed him back with the same passion. They kissed for a long time. When they finally stopped, they were breathless.
- I love you, he said with love
- I love you too, said Candy happy.
Terry took her lips again and kissed her for a long time savouring every second...