My Best Friend's Wife
Chapter 12
"The visit to Chicago"
Nine years of phantasm couldn't measure up with the reality of having that woman vibrating with passion in a passion equal to his. Terry felt like the lost traveller arriving home after years of wondering in the desert.
He traced the arc of her eyebrows, went on her lips, every trait of her face, tasting , amazed, memorizing every texture, every contour.
- You are so beautiful, he whispered in her neck, I can't find the words to tell you.
She smiled.
- Don't leave me, Terry…
This woman was taking him to the boarders of euphoria.
- Do I look like I want to go?
- I'm so happy. I didn't dare hoping you loved me too… It's when you took me to my doctor's appointment that I fell in love with you… When we met, I felt so good, for obvious reasons, I didn't want to think about what I might be feeling for you… That's the reason I insisted so much to clear the misunderstanding between us… I didn't want to lose you… I love you Terry.
- I love you Candy…
They kissed again.
- What are we going to do now? Asked Candy
- My head is spinning, but I want to live my life with you, Candy…
- You're going to help me raise your namesake?
- Yes and the honour Anthony and you made me with the name… I hope I'll live up to your expectations.
- I'm not even the least worried, said Candy, it's also the first time I'm a mother… we're going to learn together…
- What about Anthony's family?
- I'm going to go to Chicago to show them the baby… You want to come with me? We could tell them the news…
- What news?
- The news that we're going to be together, of course! That way, they're going to stop being worried about the baby and me!
Terry looked at her. How is Anthony's family going to react to the news? He loved Candy so much, and the baby too. A baby cry was heard.
- Your son is waking up…
- Oh non, said Candy, who was in Terry's arms.
- Oh yes. He must be feeling that his mummy needs a chaperon right at this moment, said Terry standing up.
He went to get his namesake in his crib.
- Hey champ! You want your mummy?
The little one seemed to be closing his eyes to go back to sleep.
- No? You want continue sleeping? You're worried about mummy? You don't have to worry… I'm going to take care good care of her and of you too… All right?
He continued talking to the baby while rocking him. Candy looked at him with love, very happy. He put the little one back in the crib and went back on the bed with Candy to take her in his arms again. The sensation he was feeling when he was hugging her… They continued enjoying each other…
Terry stayed for dinner with the family that evening. Candy was in seven heaven and her sister was happy for her. After dinner, the children went to bed and the parents were in the living room.
- Well, said Georgie, finally! I was wondering when you were going to decide to act…
- He was waiting for the leaves to fall, said Lowell laughing.
- The important thing, said Candy, is that we're together now!
- When are you going to Chicago?
- Tomorrow, said Candy and Terry is coming with me…
- You're going to Anthony's family with the new man in your life?
Candy looked at her brother in law.
- Yes, I want to show them that I won't be alone anymore and they won't have to worry about me anymore.
Georgie didn't say a thing. Candy didn't seem to realise the little tensions. She was so happy.
Terry wanted to spend the night with Candy in his arms, but he had to go back home… He took Candy in his arms to kiss her for a long time.
- What time do you want me to come tomorrow?
- Around 9 am? The place is at 11 am…
- I'll be there, he said smiling.
He kissed her again and he had to force himself to let go of that delicious embrace.
- I'll call you before I fall asleep honey, said Terry.
- I'll be waiting, said Candy with love.
The little tremolo in her voice , made him melt. Terry had to use all his self-control to leave with the impression he was leaving earth gravitation to go towards the stars.
He didn't remember how he got in his car and who he went to the jeweler downtown. He came back to earth only when the seller had an objection.
- A green diamond? I'm afraid you have no idea how much it cost… I can offer you beautiful emeralds that look like it and three times cheaper.
- The colour is not comparable.
- As a matter of fact, but the green diamond is very rare. I only have one in the safe, a pear-shaped.
- Can I see it?
- Of course, follow me.
The jeweler took him in a private room and he came back with a little velvet bag. He put the rock from the little bag on a little square velvet, then he took it with tweezers to show the shininess. The limpidity mirrored Candy's iris.
- How long will it take to mount it on a gold ring?
The jeweler called the workshop on the phone.
- You can have it on Thursday morning.
- Perfect.
- What are the ring dimensions?
- I don't know and I want her to be surprised.
- We have hand models. Can you choose just by looking?
None of the hand models equaled the beauty of Candy' s hand, Terry chose approximately. He paid with his credit card and went back home. He got there and his brother was waiting for him.
- You're not in bed yet? He asked him.
- I was waiting for you to come back…
- Have I ever told you how happy I am to have you as a brother?
- Now you're scaring me. Did you flirt with a bottle of Scotch, by any chance?
He had the sensation of Candy's body against him, it was way beyond the notion of flirt!
- Not with a bottle.
- Not two bottles?! Good grief, I should've come with you to stop you from drinking…
- Calm down bro! I have to call Candy before I go to bed…
Terry walked to the stairs to climb it singing. Rick was looking at him with a big smile. His brother was happy.
Terry got to his room and he got ready to go to bed and he called Candy, laying on his bed.
- I miss you , said Candy.
- I miss you too…
- I wish you were here…
- Me too… even if it would've been a torture…
Candy burst out laughing heartily.
- I understand…
- Good luck for your first night home…
- I told him to leave the cries at the hospital…
- You believe in those old wives tales?
- It cost me nothing to try…
- Give him a big kiss for me…
- All right.
- I'm kissing you on the lips.
- I'm kissing you too.
- I love you.
- I love you.
oOoOoOoOoOo
The next day, they were both on the plane on their way to Chicago with the baby. Candy was happy during the whole trip. Terry was a little worried deep down inside. When the cab stopped in front of the Andrew Manor, Terry couldn't help thinking about his friend…
The great aunt was waiting for them at the door. She was eager to see Anthony's son! Terry was holding the baby chair and the great aunt almost ripped him off his hands. She walked to the living room where William and the whose family was sitting. William stood up to congratulate Candy hugging her hard.
- Candy! He said, congratulations! What a beautiful baby!
- He's Anthony's spitting image! Said the great aunt amazed.
- He's so handsome, said Eliza smiling.
The great aunt looked at Candy and Terry. She felt something was going on.
- So Candy, now that the baby is here, you're going to come back to live here with us?
Candy looked at Terry who was sitting next to her and she took his hand. And she said:
- Before the birth, when I promised you to come with the baby, I didn't imagine that one day the sun was going to shine in my life again. But a miracle happened, Terry came into my life… we're going to be together.
She gave him a big smile. Terry held her hand to show his support.
- I know it's not going to be easy for you at first… but think about my happiness and the baby's. Anthony's son deserve a real home… Terry can make sure he gets the stability he needs.
The great aunt was petrified, shocked.
- You're going to be with Anthony's best friend? Said Eliza outraged, I knew you were having an affair with him! Since that first time when he came! I saw it in your eyes! And you gave the baby Terry's name! What an insult for Anthony! You're giving your lover's name to his son! You big fat slut!
- ELIZA! Yelled William, that's enough! Stop with your flight of mercy! Can you leave us alone pleas, he added to the rest of the family
When everybody was out, the great aunt asked:
- Is it true?
- I beg your pardon? Asked Candy.
- What Eliza said…
- You're not going to believe what she said?
- I just know that where there's smoke, there's fire…, said the great aunt, that's why you gave your lover's name to Anthony's son!
- It was what Anthony wanted, aunt Elroy!
- It's easy to blame the dead, said the great aunt
- I'm not blaming him. I'm telling the truth… William…, said Candy desperate.
Terry decided to talk.
- I can assure you that I wasn't Candy's lover when her husband was alive, my best friend. I never would've done that! It's a question of honour! I've met Candy only once when Anthony was alive…
- And now you're taking his wife, once he's dead?
- Listen, I know you've known Candy for longer than me and that your family has loved her for a long time. But I understand your reaction. I lost my mother a few days before Anthony's death and my father had just got married again. But think about Candy's happiness and the baby's… we love each other. We're going to try to be a family…
- If the baby didn't look like Anthony, said the great aunt, I would've sworn you were the father…
- I can assure you that Terrence will be…
- HIS NAME IS ANTHONY! Yelled the great-aunt.
The unexpected explosion startled her.
- And you dare call yourself Anthony's best friend?
The great aunt was in rage.
- Anthony loved you like a brother and you're taking advantage of his wife's weakness, who had just gave birth to their child! Candy is never going to love you like she loved Anthony, you hear me! Never! How could you have done that? You knew better than anybody the poser of the love they had shared during all those years. What did you expect you'd get from Candy after courting her for a month? It's normal that she's vulnerable to the first guy right now…But when her eyes will open, she's going to hate you! And if Anthony were there, he would've killed you!
- Aunt Elroy! That's enough! Finally said William.
- No William! If you had listened to me… this baby would've been in this house with Candy! You're supposed to take care of Candy too. It's our baby! Anthony's baby!
Candy stood up to go get her baby. She was suddenly afraid of the people's reaction in Anthony's family.
- Terry, can you take the baby's bag please? Let's go.
- Candy… ,said William sorry.
- I'm going to call you when you've calmed down and digest the news.
She was putting the baby in his carrier and she walked to the door, followed by Terry. Who didn't say anything else, discouraged… His sense of honour, he was making plans with his best friend's wife, did he have the right? He wasn't sure it was a good idea anymore…