My Best Friend's Wife
Chapter 15
"The Wedding"
Candy was with her fiancé talking a little on the side from her family.
– You really seemed relieved that we don't have to go abroad anymore...
– It's only because now that I have a baby, I would like to have my family near by, not on the other side of the ocean...
– You had trouble adapting to a new country?
– It's not easy to find yourself in a new country... I know that some wives couldn't take it and they would leave their husbands to go back to their families...
– Right, for someone not used to travelling and who have not only never left America, but their little town,... It could be hard to find yourself in another country with a new environment and another culture and a different language...
– So I decided to create a group with Anthony's encouragements...
– What king of group?
– Well with the other older wives and more mature, we decided to look after the newbies who felt lost by helping the adapt, follow language courses, show them where to shop and find entertainment center, so that they don't feel too lost, and it helped a lot, most of them didn't leave their husbands, but they stayed by their sides...
– You didn't have any trouble adapting at first?
– Well, we were in an ordered service... I knew what to expect. I thought it was cool, it was like I was the wife of a diplomat or a military attaché... there was a period of adaptation but having my husband home every night was enough for me...
– What about when he went away on mission?
– The thought that he was coming back would give me courage, until the last one when I talked to him...
She had tears in her eyes.
– I console myself by telling myself that he died happy, knowing he was finally going to be a father...
– I still can't believe that the first thing he said was was:...
– "If it's a boy, we're going to call him Terry" ? He really loved you a lot...
– And now, I'm going to take care of his son, said Terry sadly.
– He appreciated you so much, I'm sure he would've agreed if they had asked for his opinion...
– Would you want him to call me "daddy"?
– He's Terrence Junior, isn't he? Everybody will think it's normal, he will need a father and Anthony without knowing it, gave his blessing by wanting the baby to carry your name...
– You're seeing it like that?
– Yes... and I love you...
– I don't think he thought you'd fall in love with me...
– I remember how many time he invited you and how much he was disappointment when you couldn't make it... Now I know it's because of me. I feel a little guilty...your visits would've made him so happy...
– Don't feel guilty. I was the coward one who didn't dare to face you anymore... You were the woman of my dreams... it would've been too hard not to touch you...
– You know, before you arrived, I was talking to Anthony who was saying, when we were going to pick you up, he had described you as the talk dark and handsome on the pictures he would show me and that I was probably going to fall in love with you...
– And what did you say?
– I told him that I already had my tall blond and handsome guy and that it was enough...
Terry looked at her smiling.
– But when I saw you... Anthony's words kept coming back in my head and I was pushing them away... Eliza had noticed it...she made me a jealousy scene to tell me to stop flirting with you... saying that I has already stolen Anthony from her...
– Anthony? Wasn't he her cousin?
– Yes, she was in love with him...
– Oh and what did you say?
– That she took her desires for reality... Then I saw you dancing, she was stuck on you and I felt a twinge in my heart... When we said goodbye and you called me "Mrs. Freckles" I felt a special feeling in your voice and when you hugged me too...
– Ah...
– So... when all the invitations attempts from Anthony were not working, I was secretly relieved...
– We were on the same wavelength , said Terry softly.
– I was chasing you out of my head... until I saw you again at your father's wedding...
– And I behaved like a lout, I was jealous...
– And I unconsciously didn't want to let you go, you were Anthony's best friend, if he had offended you in some way, I wanted to make amends, but my heart wanted to be with you, your rejection upset me, I told myself that I probably had imagined what I thought was your desire for me, for reality...
– Thank God, everything is fine now...
– Like you said.
He kissed her passionately.
– When is the doctor going to give us the green light? He asked.
– The green light? She said without getting it.
She looked at him and she saw desire in his eyes.
– Oh, oh! Well it depends on my body... it could take a few weeks...
– Then let's choose a wedding date in a few weeks...
– All right, she said smiling, and it will give me time to get my waist back...
– I think you're perfect the way you are, said Terry smiling
– good, because it's going to take me some time to lose my pregnancy weight...
– I think you're even more beautiful since you've given birth...
– You know, that in some cultures, they say when a woman gives birth, she gets younger, said Terry.
– Is that why you look like a teenager?!
They burst out laughing heartidly and they kissed again.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile in Chicago... William was having a family meeting.
– Candy is getting married with Terrence Grandchester...
– My Terrence? Said Eliza, the thief! She's stealing them all from me!
William looked at Eliza.
– Your Terrence? Were you dating?
– Euh..., said Eliza.
– Come on Eliza, said her brother, you ran after him so much it wasn't even funny! He was indifferent!
– It's because of Candy! She loved him in hiding!
– Eliza, you have something to tell us? Have you seen them together? Asked William.
– She's a slut, said the great aunt.
– Aunt Elroy..., said William, don't start. Eliza? I want the truth...
– Well no, I haven't seen anything, aside from Candy's look...
– so, it's all in your head? You were jealous...
– She called her baby Terrence...
– Like her lover! Said the great aunt.
– That's what Anthony wanted.
– It's easy to accuse the dead who can't defend himself! My poor Anthony! Said the great aunt.
– Well, I believe what Candy said. I was visiting Anthony often during my trips to Europe and in the world and he always talked about this friend Terry with a lot of love and pride, he loved Terry a lot. And I think he'll be happy to learn that his wife and his son will now be with Terry.
– NO! Said the great aunt.
– Aunt Elroy, Candy invited us to her wedding. I'm waiting for the invitation in the mail. If you want to come with me and see Anthony's son, you can come. But you will have to behave well...the last time, you sent Candy to the hospital!
The great aunt didn't say anything. She was sulking.
– I'm talking to all of you, he said to the others, if you want to come to the wedding, you can but don't make any problems...
– If only had been close to her, started the great aunt Elroy.
– She was living with her sister and let me repeat that for the thousandth time, there is no way I'm going to marry my nephew's widow!
– Anthony's child would've been with us! Said the great aunt.
– Aunt Elroy, with Anthony's job, changing countries all the time... Candy and him practically never lived here with us...if Anthony were alive, he would've been living with us, which is normal, we're his family, but Candy has her own family, it's normal for her to want to be near her sister...
– And she found Terrence again, said Eliza and she took advantage to continue where they left off...
– Eliza, you're going to stop with the gossip ? Said William, what's done is done, she's going to marry Terrence and raise Anthony's son with him. That's final!
The chief has spoken!
oOoOoOoOoOo
William made the trip to New York to see Candy and the baby a few days later. He was of course, charged with presents for his great nephew. Candy was of course very happy to see him. And the baby had changed, he looked more like Anthony now, he was his spitting image. William looked at him smiling. Georgie was in the kitchen making lunch.
– You didn't need to bring all these presents, uncle William, said Candy
William felt like she was calling him like that to remind him his rank.
- I'm the baby's great uncle, Candy. I'm going to spoil him in his grandmother's place, may she rest in peace, she would've been so happy to have a grandson.
- How is the great aunt Elroy?
- Still grouchy and sulking…
- Why? Because I'm going to marry Terry?
- Among other things…
- what else?
- Well… she wanted me to take care of you and the baby…
- Even without Terry, I would've been able to care for the baby, financially, we were compensated… and Anthony also left me a trust fund…
She saw Albert's eyes.
- But she wasn't talking about finance, right? She asked
- She wanted me to replace Anthony in your life…
- He did look a lot like you, joked Candy, what did you tell her?
- That there was no way I was going to marry my nephew's widow…
- Oh…
- Not because I don't find you attractive, but because you were Anthony's wife… I thought I should let you live your life the way you wanted to…
- And I met Terry…
- Yes…
He had thought about the great-aunt proposal until he learned that Terry was lurking around, so he put an X on it…
- William, said Candy softly, if the circumstances were different, I would've been flattered by your attention…
She kissed him on the cheek.
- Thank you for telling me that. And I also came to give you Anthony's present…
- Anthony's present?
- Yes, ever since he was little, his was passionate about planes and even boats like his father. But he also had another passion, botany…
- Botany?
- Yes, he loved flowers a lot…
- I know, he spent a lot of time in the rose garden when he visited…
- He was working on a special rose for you…
- For me? She said surprised.
- Yes, he wanted to give it to you once the baby he was hoping for was born…
Candy felt tears coming to her eyes.
- I know better than anybody what he felt for not being able to make you a baby. He felt humiliated having to use in-vitro fertilization to reproduce.
- Thousands of people use that method…
- I know…and since he had learned how to reproduce roses, he told himself that he could make a special one for you…like he was going to make a baby in a lab, he was going to make a flower, a special flower, since he was going to have a special baby…
Baby Terry was asleep, so he went to put him in his basket which was in the living room. Then he walked to the door telling her:
- I will be right back, I have something to get in the car...
- All right.
William came back a few moments later with a pot of white roses which he gave Candy.
- Oh my God! Said Candy, they're so beautiful!
- He called them "Sweet Candy"
Candy was crying. William gave her a white envelope with green outline, like the roses "Sweet Candy". She opened it to read:
My adored Rose,
On this day, when you have just made me the most beautiful present in the world, by giving birth to our child, I wanted to offer you an exceptionnal gift. You're my love, my inspiration, my muse, my other half. All those hours I spent far away from you in the rose garden was for this precise moment. I'm glad to bee able to offer you on this special day.
I know that while I'm writing this you're not pregnant but I wanted to write those words because your love inspires me... and I can be optimistic and I might be thanking you in advance, but it doesnt cost to be optimistic, right?
I hope you love your present my love, my rose, my muse, my darling, my beloved. I will love you forever with our child with all my heart. Hugs and kisses.
Your Anthony.
Her eyes were wet with tears.
- But..., she started.
- Anthony always thought ahead... he knew with the job he had anything could happen. he wrote that in case something happened.
- Thank you so much William, she said wiping her tears, oh I miss him so much!
She jumped in his arms crying.
There was a ring at the door and Georgie opened. Candy heard a familiar voice.
- I came to see the mom of my cousin's baby!
- Archie?
- Candy! He said smiling. Hi Georgie, still so beautiful!
- Thank you, said Georgie smiling.
He walked towards the living room.
- What's with the tears concert? I thought you just had a baby!
Candy burst out laughing with her tears. She stood up to greet Archie in her arms.
- How are you, my pretty one?
- I'm fine... Archie.
- Then why are you crying? Uncle William, what did you do to her? He joked.
- I gave her Anthony's present...
-Oh the Sweet Candy roses? Wonderful aren't they? You were his muse, Candy.
- Anthony loved roses, like his mother, said William
- And since he planed in advance, he thought about the days he would retire from the airforce. He thought that once you'd manage to be pregnant, and have the baby..., said Archie, so he came to see me with an idea...
- Which one?
- He wanted our company to have its own cosmetic line with the rose perfume... and other flowers... "Sweet Candy" he wanted to have the complete range...
Anthony didn't want to be a pilot after the baby came? Is that why he had that last flight that was fatal to him? No, she shouldn't be thinking like that... He was thinking about the future...
- I would've given you the flowers when you came to Chicago with Terry and the baby if aunt Elroy hadn't lost it and shorten your visit.
- Yes, I heard what happened... my God my poor Candy and poor Terry.
But the "poor Terry" was said in a not really convincing way...
- Archie? Said Candy.
- What? The great aunt's idea wasn't that bad, she could've elected one of us to replace Anthony...
- Oh my God! Said Candy smiling.
- What ? If I had told Anthony that I liked you and if he had let go of you, I was going to run to pick up the pieces...
- Unfortunately, Anthony was crazy about Candy and had no intention of letting go of her, said William.
- Thank you Archie, said Candy who felt a little weird, Anthony, William, Archie...
Archie saw her face, like he had read her mind...
- Alistair and Daniel would've been ready to do it too.
- Oh my God!
- And you go and fall for Anthony's best friend.
- Eliza was insinuating that you were lovers long before that, said William.
- I've seen Terry only once when Anthony was alive, said Candy.
- I don't believe a word, Eliza said.
- You have to say with the baby's name, said Archie
- That's what he wanted, said Candy.
- I believe you, said William smiling.
- It's like his words were prophetic,said Archie, Terry is now going to be the baby's father, who is named after him...
"Yes, the talk dark and handsome guy... you 're going to fall in love with him" She heard in her head.
Prophetic words? That's what happened... She had fallen in love with the tall dark and handsome guy, once her heart allowed her to love again. She had only had Anthony and she had married him. If all of his cousins had a thing for her, she hadn't noticed a thing, she had only noticed the "Mrs. Freckles" Terry had said with love...
- Otherwise, said William, how atr the wedding preparations going?
- Everything is fine, I had to force Georgie to hire someone so she wouldn't get too tired with her pregnancy.
- Good, said William, she should take advantage to rest.
- What about you Archie, how's your love life?
- Ever since you betrayed us with Terry? He joked.
- Archie...
- I'll come with my new girlfriend at the wedding, you're going to see her... and I'll let you know about the coscmetic line.
- And the money from the roses will be put in a trust fund for little Terrence-Anthony, said William
- Thank you William, said Candy smiling.
She missed Anthony, Anthony's family had reassured her with the baby's future and her own. Everything was perfec for her financially. If she had stayed in Chicago, maybe things would've been different... but destiny wanted her to come to New York to live with her sister and meet the man she was going to fall madly in love with... her husband prophetic words... were still in her head...
Later in the evening, Terry came to see her. He found her with her family, Archie and William were still there. Joey went to open the door.
- Uncle Terry! Uncle Rick! He yells, come in,everybody in in the living room with Uncle William and uncle Archie who came from Chicago to see baby Terrence!
Terry loved the way Joey always broadcast everything of what was going on. His brother and him looked at each other. They walked towards the living room...
- Good evening everybody, said the two brothers at the same time.
- Terry! Rick! said Candy standing up to greet them.
She hugged Rick and kissed Terry lightly on the lips. William and Archie felt their chemistry.
- We have visitors, like Joey said, said Candy, William and Archie!
The two men stood up to say hello to the tow men.
- Terrence! Said William warmly.
- Good evening, this is my brother Rick!
- Yes, the race car champion! Pleased to meet you, said William.
- Yes, said Archie, please to meet a champion! Terrence...
- We came to see Candy and the baby, explained William, and to give her the gift Anthony had left for her...
- Really? Said Terrence.
- your friend thought about everything, said William smiling
- I know, said Terry, smiling.
The baby started crying in his basket. Candy took him to take him to her bedroom.
- Hello, my little love, she said taking him softly, let's go and change your diaper... You're coming with me Terry?
- All right, he said approaching her, hello champ! You're hungry?
They left together and went upstairs. When they got to the bedroom...
- Is everything all right?
- Yes, said Candy, Anthony's present...
She showed him the pot of flower with the white roses with green outline.
- How beautiful, he said softly.
She showed him the note, she didn't want to hid anything from him.
- It's touching, life is really not fair.
- I know...
- Are you all right?
- You mean if I feel guilty for loving you? No. You're my present and the words he said: that I was going to fall in love with you... I just feel like it was kind of a premonition, it might seem weird, but I take as an agreement from his part... I love you Terry. What about you?
- I know how much he loved you. I only hope I make you as happy as you were with him.
She was changing the baby on the changing table. When she was done she too the baby and Terry was next to her to take her in his arms with love and kiss her.
- I love you, Candy...
She went to sit on the bed to breastfeed the baby. And he sat by her side.
The evening went on fine... not too late. William and Archie talked buisiness with Terry and his brother and they promised to meet after the wedding to make a deal.
oOoOoOoOoOo
The day before the wedding, Rick took his brother out for a bachelor party with his friends.
Georgie had a bachelorette party with the girls the night before the wedding.
William had delivered the Sweet Candy roses for the wedding. With Candy's green diamond, the theme of the wedding was white and green like Candy's eyes. So the flowers were perfect. Anthony's gift, which he had done with so much love, was perfect.
Candy's dress had the guipure light green like the theme. Her back was bare and she had fine straps, showing her beautiful breast. Candy made sure she wore pads on her breast in case her milk spilt and mess up her dress. She had a nice up do under the veil.
- Now the tradition, said Georgie, something borrowed, this is my pearl bracelet that you loved so much, you can borrow it...
- Thank you, Georgie.
- Something new, said her mother, your father and I are giving you this gold watch...
- Something old, said Georgie, Terry's mum gave me this lace handkerchief that belonged to her grandmother...
- Thank you, said Candy moved.
- And something blue, said Georgie, like the theme is green, I put a little green on your blue garter.
- Thank you Georgie... how are you? Don't get too tired, said Candy.
- Don't worry about me sweetie, it's your day today!
Candy pulled her skirt and Georgie put on the garter.
- Everything is perfect now! Let's go!
Her father was ready to walk her to the altar. She couldn't help thinking bout her wedding to Anthony... life was so stranger... She thought she was going to be with him forever... and now she was marrying someone else with Anthony's best friend... She took off Anthony's ring and she put it in the jewelry box. She was moved when she did that.
"You loved him a lot honey, she told herself and I know what you were feeling. You said I was going to fall in love wit him... Thank you for the roses, they're wonderful, my love" She told herself.
Two little girls, friends of Joey and Axel were there too. One girl was throwing petals on her way with Joey and the other one was holding Candy's veil while Axel was holding a little pillow shaped like a heart with the wedding bands. They were waling under the music from the Canon from Pachelbel . Then the goom arrived with his military uniform, very handsome at his mother's arm who was radiant and very happy for her son. She didn't look like his mother at all. The wedding march from Wagner started and everybody stood up for the bride to arrive at her father's arm.
Anthony's family was there, even the great aunt came, a little against her will, but she was there... The other memberts had come to assist to the wedding and to see the baby. Candy's mother was carrying little Terrence. Rick was the best man and Georgie was the matron of honor with her little belly.
The ceremony started, it was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shinning.
Then came the time for the vows.
- Candice, you're the love of my life and you have made me the happiest man in the world. Happier than I could've ever imagined and I feel blessed that we're starting our lives together. I swear to love you and to love your son like mine, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for younger and older I swear to love you and to cherish you til' death us do part. I love you Candy, I love our son.
- Terrence, you came into my life when I felt lost. You are the sun of my life, you gave me hope, when I had no more. You showed me how to love again. Today I'm uniting myself to your with my son for the rest of our lives. Today, I take you as my husband for better or worse,in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I swear to love you and to cherish you, til death us to part. I love you Terrence and I love our son.
It was time for the rings... The pastor said:
- Terrence, repeat after me: with this ring,I thee wed in Jesus name.
- With this ring, Candy, I thee wed in Jesus name
He put the ring the was perfect with the green diamond engagement ring on her finger. She took Terry's ring and she said:
- With this ring, Terry, I thee wed, in Jesus name.
- By the power invested in me, I now declare you man, wife and a family. You can now kiss the bride.
Terry leaned and took his wife's pink lips in a passionate kiss... Candy put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Everybody clapped their hands and cheered for the newlyweds.