Terry: The Family Man
Chapter 2, by Mallory Quinn
"Candy's story"
The mansion was imposing and almost majestic. The servants were working it was the morning and a very beautiful young girl with long wavy blond hair she let down in her shoulders was getting ready to go out to see a doctor for her little friend, a white raccoon she had had since her childhood. He had been felling tired and he was eating properly or eating properly and Candy, his mistress was very worried about him. She went down at the breakfast table in the very large dinning room, with Kurin in her arms. She found Albert, Archie, Annie, and the Great Aunt at the table.
- Good morning everybody, she said
- Good morning, said everybody
Candy walked and sat down with Kurin in her arms.
- What's wrong with Kurin? Said Annie
- He's not feeling well, said Candy
- Oh, what's the matter? Said Annie to Kurin, touching his head
The raccoon licked Annie's hand, making a little cry.
- He's not feeling good, he probably ate a bad leaf or something, said Candy
- The poor thing! Said the Great aunt
Everybody looked at her stunned; the great aunt usually was always against Kurin staying in the mansion, but Albert always had animals outside. Kurin was raised to be in houses, but he spend most of his time outside on trees and would go to Candy's window to be with her…he would walk around the house and the great aunt would be furious but apparently, she got attached to the little animal who would sometimes sleeps on the great aunt's blanket.
- What? She said when everybody was looking at her, I got attached to the little thing!
- Aunt Elroy! You never cease to surprise me! Said Albert smiling
- I'm glad you like him , said Candy to the great aunt with a smile
- Candy I'm going to come with you, said Annie, Kurin is my baby too.
- Of course, Annie, you're his mommy too, said Candy smiling
- He's ours first baby, yours and mine, said Annie, I wanted to take him with me
- All right said Archie, take your…"baby" to the vet
- I'll drive you, said Albert
- What about the office? Said Candy
- I'm the boss, Candy I make my own schedule…
- All right, said Candy smiling
After breakfast, they all went to the vet for little Kurin. There were a lot of people with animals, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, all kind of animal. The doctor was very busy. When Candy's turn arrived, she had a sigh of relief. She got in with Annie and Albert. The vet was giving them his back.
- What seems to be the problem with your little friend? He asked
- I'm not sure, I think that maybe he ate a bad leaf, said Candy
- What is it? A dog, a cat
Candy was a little irritated. .
- Why don't you turn around and look, said Candy
- I'm washing my hands he said, you wouldn't want me to take a kook with dirty hands would you
- Of course not, but you could at least wait to see the animal before you start asking questions!
The vet turned around…
- We've got a feisty owner…
He stopped stunned.
- Candy?
- Arthur?
He instinctively walked to her and hugged her hard.
- Oh! Said Candy laughing
- Thank you so much again!
- For what?
- For allowing us to run, my sister and I…
- You were innocent…
- And I was able to prove it, thanks partly to you! I finished school and I'm working now as you can see he said without letting go of her
- Oh Arthur! I've often wondered about you! What had happened to you on the run!!! I'm so happy everything is fine with you…
Annie and Albert were looking at them Stunned! Arthur finally let go of Candy.
- Annie, Albert, this is Arthur Kelly, remember? From the mine…
- The fugitive? Said Annie stunned
- Yes, said Arthur smiling, I'm a free man now. I was able to prove my innocence! And Candy hid me with the minors and my sister and I were able to escape…
- Yes, said Annie, Eliza turned you in…hi!
- Hello, said Albert smiling, I see you're an animal lover like me
- Yes, said Arthur smiling.
- This is Albert, said Candy smiling
- Hello, said Arthur
- And Annie…
- Hi!
- And this is Kurin, who's feeling bad, said Candy taking Kurin from Annie's arms.
He was very gentle with him and he put him on the exam table. After examining him he turned to Candy and said.
- He was poisoned by some bad leaves, like you thought…I'm going to give him a shot that should make him better and I'll give you some pills for him too…
- Oh, Kurin, what happened? You're always so careful…
- Maybe someone give it to him deliberately, said Albert…
- Neil! Said Candy he keeps kicking him all the time that monster!
- He does have a few bruises…
- I'm going to ban him from the mansion at this rate
- Ban him for animal cruelty? The Great aunt…
- She likes Kurin now, said Annie
- Right! I forgot about that! Said Candy smiling
Arthur gave them some pills for Kurin.
- 3 times a days in a couple of days, he's going to be good as new…, he said
- Thank you so much Arthur, said Candy walking out of the office…
Arthur walked them to the door.
- Candy, I would like to catch up with you, he said
- I would like that too, she said and I would like to see your sister too
- She's working abroad, because of the all the scandal, aiding and abetting a fugitive
- You're her brother…
- Yes, but she leaves abroad with her husband and her children
- She got married? That's great
- So would you like to have dinner with me tonight?
- Well why not? I'm sure Kurin will be fine with Annie
Annie was smiling, Albert was not smiling.
- Perfect! Said Arthur smiling, I'll pick you up at 8…
He was very attractive with his red hair and Candy needed the attention of another man than one of her current family member… Terry… Everything seemed so far away.
- I'll be ready, said Candy, see you later!
- See you later, said Arthur smiling
When they got back home Albert was not very happy. He was in his study with Candy talking about different things.
- Why are you going out with this guy, you don't know him?!
- But I do…
- He was fugitive
- He was innocent…He's a friend Albert, I'm safe with him
- All right
- It's not a rebound thing…
- If you say so…
Candy was excited about her date…
- Candy, said Annie, what are you feeling
- I'm happy he's fine, I've been so worried about him over the years…
Arthur showed up he was handsome in his suit and Candy had a pretty blue dress…
- You look lovely, he said
- You're not to bad yourself
They when and had dinner… they hit it off again. They would do lunch together and sometimes during her free time, since she wasn't working at the hospital anymore, she would give him a hand at the vet clinic. Kurin was now fine and running around happy.
Candy got closer to Arthur, one night during dinner in a very nice restaurant…
- Candy you know all those years ago, I was interested in you, but since I was on the run…
- Oh, said Candy smiling
She remembered at that time she was trying to forget about Terry…
- I don't know if you have a man in your life, with everything that ha happened, I never assume anything!
- Well I'm going to be honest with you… I was in love with a young man, but we had to break up… I was devastated and I will never forget him…
- That hurts…
- But if you're willing, I can find some place in my heat for a new love…
Arthur smiled. He leaned and kissed her on the lips in hers… they kissed in public! It was good … They started going out. Albert was not happy but Candy seemed so happy and sincere
Months passed and Candy was moving on, she wanted a clean start… So she started cleaning her purse and she took Terry's stuff
- What am I supposed to do with all that? I'm going to send it back to him…But where does he live?
A few weeks later, she met Eleonor at a charity organiser…
- Candy! She said hugging her
- Miss Baker!
- How are you?
- Fine
- How's Terry?
- He's fine, living his life
- Oh… Can I have his address, I would like to put him on my Christmas list…
Eleanor was wondering why Candy wanted her son's address, but she was good for Terry. She gave her his address and phone number.
- Thank you , said Candy smiling
The duke arrived and Candy was surprised.
- Your Grace? Said Candy, good evening
- Yes, Miss Andrew…, said the duke
- You're back together? Asked Candy
- Yes, said Eleonor smiling
- That's wonderful! Terry must be so happy! Said Candy sincerly
Eleonor and the duke looked at each other. Arthur arrived…
- Honey? he said, you know Eleonor Baker?
- Yes, said Candy, I met her in Scotland years ago…
- Oh, said Arthur, pleased to meet you, I love you on stage!
- Thank you, said Eleonor smiling
- This is Arthur, said Candy, Arthur, this is the duke of Grandchester…
- Pleased to meet you…, said Arthur
- Likewise, said the duke
After the introductions, Eleonor was a little jealous. She wanted Terry to reconcile with Candy, but Candy was moving on and Terry… well Terry was… "living" his debauched life … they talked for a while then the duke left with Eleonor.
- I want her to be with Terry, she said to the duke
- Well our son his kind of in his own world lately…
- He's angry with me for forgiving you…
- He's angry at the world because he lost Candy…
- I gave her Terry's number
- Why?
- She asked for it…
- She's involved with someone else, Ellie…
- I know, but she still loves Terry, I'm sure of it. If Terry hears her voice, he's going to rethink his life…
- I hope you're right…
They arrived in their cosy house together and happy.
Months passed without Candy getting the courage to call Terry for his things. She couldn't decide whether to move on, or not… but if she doesn't then what? Go back to Terry? What a crazy idea!
"He's rich, now all by himself… but so am I by adoption… He didn't come to look for me… but neither did you! What's keeping us apart? "Said Candy in her head, why is this so difficult?
Arthur got a job to go work in Australia, since not a lot of people wanted to go to that lost country. He had to leave. He knew Candy wasn't ready for commitment so he told her that he's was going to wait for her…
- I know you're still unsure, if you don't come, I'll understand and move on…
- Thank you for doing this…
- You still love him?
- I never stopped… but I love you too… it's just that
- Don't worry, if you don't come I'll understand…but if you're sure I'll be waiting for you with open arms…
Arthur left and Candy took him to the harbour…They kissed for a long time. He left, she cried.
It was now the holiday season and Candy finally decided to move on… with Arthur. She was getting ready to leaver. Her whole family was sad.
- Candy, are you sure? Said Albert
- Yes, I want this…it's time…, she said
- Candy, said Archie sadly, Australia is so so far away…
- I'm going to miss you, said Annie
- I'm going to miss all of you, said Candy
Candy left to spend a few days in New York so she could call Terry and see him and give him his stuff back for closure… She called she got the maid or someone and she left a message for him….
She was taking Kurin with her, she had a small cage for him and a special authorization, but she hated keeping him there, so she would tell him to play dead and would wear him around her neck...