Terry: The Family Man
Chapter 3
Part 2, by Mallory Quinn
"...of what could've been"
Terry went outside and he saw Archie on his way to their home.
- Archie? He said
- Terry, let's go, we're going to be late…
- Oh…
- You asked me to come with you to the school for the rehearsals…
- Right! Said Terry… euh, thanks for coming buddy
- Anytime, said Archie smiling
Terry let Archie drive, since he had no clue what-so-ever where was the school he worked at… They arrived to school and Terry felt lost… but since it was a play on Shakespeare he felt right at home directing the play. Like he had done it his whole life.
He saw Isabelle again with her flirtatious ways. He was smiling at her…
- Did I miss something? Said Terry looking at her
- You miss looking at me long enough…
- Long enough for what?
- To be interested, of course… I'm into to you…your wife never has to know
- Oh… said Terry a little shocked
But he was tempted to do it…for a second! He was living a dream with Candy… but …
He went to talk to Archie about it…
- She wants a fling?
- Yes…
- You're not thinking about doing it, are you?
- Well…
- You've got the girl we were all dreaming of being with! And you're thinking of cheating on her??? If it were the old times, I would've punched you right there!
- Calm down ok…I'm not going to do it
- But you were tempted…
- I'm only human and I'm trying to get used to a situation was thrown in inadvertently…without my consent!
- What on earth are you talking about???
- Nothing…. You still got the hots for my wife I see
- It's never been a secret…
- No kidding…
- Don't cheat on her, or I'll kill you myself!
- Easy dandy! Down boy! Said Terry smiling, I will never cheat on Candy… you can take that to the bank!
- That's more like it! Said Archie smiling
They worked together and Archie couldn't help giving a hand on the costume side, showing his hidden talent… Terry made fun of him but he was very grateful for his help. When they were done, Terry found himself surprised to be eager to get back home to Candy…
"This is not real! It's just a dream, as usual! Every time I dreamt about her, I woke up with a different woman in my arms and it's painful…now she's here, there's no other woman I can think about… all these women in my arms… my head was thinking about her… I thought I forgot about her. Who am I kidding, these women, all of them, I was in denial, trying to forget about her…it was useless because I forgot about these women instead of forgetting about Candy!! I can't stop thinking about Candy!!!! I was in big denial!!!!!!!!!! Should I let myself get involve with her in this dream? I can't believe I'm having this conversation with myself about what to do in a dream!!!! A dream is supposed to be happy, where you can fulfill your wishes… I have a family with Candy, that's always been my dream ever since I saw her for the first time… and I'm debating what to do in a dream!!!!!!!! Come on Terry! But it's Candy, even in a dream I don't want to hurt her, I don't want to take advantage of her! But it's only a dream!!! She won't remember! She doesn't even know what's happening!!!!!! You've got your dream and you're still hesitating? Stop thinking Terry, just live your dream!"
He was saying that in his head while on his way back home. He didn't hear a word of what Archie was telling him.
- Thanks Archie, said Terry getting out of the car when they arrived to his house, I'll call you later
- All right, said Archie, bye Terry
Terry walked to his house, he opened the door and he walked to his house. He opened the door, took his coat off and he walked to the kitchen.
- Candy? He said coming into the kitchen
- Yes honey, she said
She was cleaning the kitchen.
- How was your day? She asked
- Fine, he said thinking about Isabelle and her proposition, where are the children?
- It's my day of volunteering at the hospital, they're at the daycare, I'll pick them up later…
They were alone…They looked at each other…Terry wanted her but what came out of his mouth was…
- Do we still have some of last night's chocolate cake? He said
Candy was expecting something else… was a little disappointed. She went to the fridge, took the piece of cake and said:
- You mean this piece of chocolate cake?
- Yes…
- You won't have it! I want it!
She put her fingers in the cake took a piece of cake and put it in her mouth.
- Hey I wanted that! Said Terry smiling
- You want some? You come and get it! She said
He approached her and she put some cake and cream on his lips, he licked it with his tongue.
- You want to play? He said taking some cake with his fingers too and putting it on her lips
She screamed laughing they played with the cake for a while running around and he caught her by the stairs. He was on top of her. He leaned and they kissed… passionately. Terry thought he was going mad. He had never felt like that before, kissing Candy, he had kissed her once and he had never felt the sensations he felt for her, for anybody else and he had his share of kisses with women. Candy was passionate, they started caressing each other…
- Oh baby, he said, you're are do hot, I want to f you now…!
That had a cold shower effect on Candy.
- What? She said pushing him away, what kind of language is that? Who do you take me for? A prostitute?
- Candy, no, that's not what I meant I was just…
- Just what? What's happening to you Terry? Why are you acting like this?!
- Candy, we were about to…
- Yes, but you killed my mood with your cheap language and you made me feel like a cheap slut! I'm going to go change and go pick up the kids at daycare! In the mean time, wash your mouth with soap!
Candy went upstairs. Terry cursed himself! He had been a bachelor for such a long time, bad habits die hard. His women would've been turned on by that language… but not his freckles… she was indeed one of a kind, nothing to do with his cheap conquests! He smiled. He was married to the perfect woman for him… and he was starting to enjoy this dream more and more each day.
When Candy came back with the children, Terry helped her with them. He even managed to change Shandy's diaper and I it was number 2! Candy was looking at him smiling; he was so cute and a little clumsy. She had already forgiven him for treating her like a …common slut.
- I forgive you, she said whispering in his ear softly
He turned around and she kissed his lips, while he still had Shandy in his arms. Then she took the baby.
- Come here you, she said, daddy got you all clean? Yes, yes, he did!
Shandy was laughing out loud with her mother and her father. Then Candy was breastfeeding her and Terry was looking at them smiling.
- "Shandy", said Terry that's a very cute name, sounds like Candy or Sandy
- I told you where it came from
- Tell me again, said Terry, I love hearing that story
- It was after our break up; I accepted a job on a mobile hospital by a mine. There was a cook, Margot, who cooked for the miners and she had a little girl who couldn't pronounce my name so she called me "Shandy"… I thought it was so cute
- It is, said Terry smiling, I love looking at you breastfeed our baby… it looks so natural and so beautiful…
- Terry, said Candy looking at him, I love you…
He was afraid to say it back…
"It's only a dream, you moron! Say it back!" He said to himself
- I love you too, Candy…he said.
They didn't make love that night, but they slept in each other's arms cuddling.
A few days later, he was at school and he had a visitor;
- Robert Hathaway, said Terry, to what do I owe the honour?
- Terrence, said Hathaway, how have you been?
- I'm just fine, Mr. Hathaway, living my life of white picket fence with my wife and children
- Terrence, you're the best actor I've had so far… I need you to come back
- Mr. Hathaway…
- Susanna is back on stage, you two were great together, I need my two stars to boost back my theatre…
- Susanna? I'm not sure I want to be on stage with her
- Come on, she's happily married too now, forget about the past drama, I need you Terrence… to go on tour
- I have a wife and children and I'm not sure I want to leave them for now…
- It's only going to be for a few month, you can come back to your family later
- I don't want to be away from my children, said Terry
Terry was surprised by his own reaction. The second thing he loved most in his life aside from his family was the theatre…
- Think about it, Terry and you can even come to the theatre and take a look, see how you feel. I don't need an answer now, you're going to be very well paid…
- Money is not the issued, Mr. Hathaway…but I can came to theatre one of these days and think about it…
- Very well, that's all I wanted to hear, said Hathaway, thank you for your time Terrence
Robert Hathaway left. And Terry was thinking. Go back on stage and…on tour. He didn't want to leave this newly found family he didn't know a few days ago…
"Freckles, I just got you back, I don't want to lose you…" he thought in his head
He went back home to his family feeling good. He had the theatre in the real world, in this dream; he wanted to take advantage of his family…
After dinner, after they put the children to bed. TJ was talking to his father.
- Dad, it's good to have you back!
- It's good to be back buddy, said Terry smiling
- So you're going to play soccer with me again
- I sure will champ!
- Thanks, dad, said TJ smiling and hugging him
- You're very welcome champ! Said Terry
He went to Nelly's room.
- Good night daddy…
- Good night mummy…
Nelly burst out laughing.
- I am your mummy, because I have your mummy's name, she said with the British accent…
Nelly had the habit or automatically took the British accent when she talked to her father.
- That's right! My Little Lady Freckles…
Terry blew as raspberry on her belly and Nelly was laughing out loud. He had fun with her told her a story and them he went to the living room with Candy.
- Are they all sleeping? She asked
- Yes, they are…
- You were great with them…, she said, you're getting back to normal…
- I wasn't normal?
- Not since Christmas morning… you've been… weird…
- Oh…, said Terry who didn't know what to say…
- But you're back now, that's all that mattered…
- I'm sorry about the sweater… I love it, it was made by you… and I love it…
- You hurt me, Terry…
- I'm sorry about that, about the way I've been acting… Hathaway came to see me…
- Hathaway?
- The manager of my old troupe
- Oh… is that why you're acting out? You miss acting? You scared the kids for a while…you want to act again
- I don't want to leave you and the kids to go on tour…
- Terry, acting is your dream. I can't ask you to give it up for me or the children. I want you to be here for the children, since you and I didn't get a normal childhood, I wanted to give my kids a normal one with two parents…but I also want you to live your dream and be happy
Terry looked at her, she was so understanding.
- So it wouldn't bother you if I go on tour for months?
- Of course it will, I'm going to miss you, but… if it's what you want and what's making you happy…
- Candy, I have everything to be happy her with you and the children…
- But Terry…
- I love teaching at school, he said, I can direct the kids play… I have my own theatre, I can buy my own theatre too… if I want to go back on stage, I can do it… but for now, I want my wife and children and there's not other place I would rather be…
Candy looked at him intensely.
- Are you sure, honey? I don't want you to be frustrated one way or another…
They cuddled in the living room, then they went to bed to sleep…
It was the anniversary of their marriage, December 31st, which was also the anniversary of their first meeting. When Terry went to look for Candy, he spoke to Albert, but he also talked to Candy and they made up… They got married on December 31st…
Terry took Candy to a very nice restaurant in town. She was wearing a beautiful pink dress and he had a black suit with a white shirt and a tie.
- Terry, this is so nice, she said
- Nothing is too good for my wife on our anniversary, he said smiling
- Oh Terry! Who would've thought that the boy I thought was so obnoxious was going to end up being the love of my life?
- I knew from the moment I met you, that I wanted you for a wife…you caught me crying and you never mentioned it to me no matter how bad we were fighting… I love you even more for that…
Candy smiled. They had a wonderful dinner, talking about the past and Candy told him about the past and the present he didn't know about. Terry was in seventh heaven, talking to Candy who was his wife, his wife! They loved each other so much.
They went back home, went up to their bedroom and they were kissing passionately… this time nothing was going to stop them… they made mad passionate love all night long. Terry thought he was going to go nuts, he had never felt like that with any other woman. The pleasure he felt when he made love to Candy, was unlike anything he had ever felt or imagined…They were one, they completed each other, their love was written in the stars…They were happy.
Terry woke up with Candy in his arms. He didn't want to let her go… the children, the dog and the raccoon, came in, in the morning TJ was carrying Shandy…
- Mommy, Daddy! Wake up! Shandy needs a change
The parents who had barely slept the night before, because they were making love, could barely open their eyes…
- Guys, said Terry, mummy and daddy are still sleepy…
- Can we sleep with you then? Asked TJ
- Yes, said Terry without opening his eyes…
The scene would've been perfect for an artist, the whole family asleep on the big bed, including the pets…
Terry was loving his life…He was happy, he was laughing and he didn't anything else. He went to buy milk and at the store he saw…
- Tony! He said stunned, don't tell me it's time to go back!
- It is, he said, I don't make up the rules, you saw the glimpse of what could've been…
- No, I don't want to go back…
- You have too…
- But… can't you just leave me here?
- You need to go back and make the changes necessary to your life…
- I don't want to go! Said Terry angry, you can't do this to me!
- Sorry, said Tony
The other customers at the story were looking at them surprised…
- You can't make me go back, please, can't I stay?
- Rules are rules…
- No!
Terry went back home very upset and he spent every single minute he had left with his family. Even with the pets. He played soccer with TJ and told stories to Nelly and changed Shandy all day long. Every chance he got, he took Candy to his bedroom to make out with her… He made love to Candy that night, then he was just looking at her sleep, trying not to fall asleep, since he knew it was over and that he was going to wake up alone in his freezing mansion!
- You're not sleeping honey? Said Candy
- No, don't worry about me, just sleep…
- All right, I love you…
- I love you, he said smiling and kissing her on the lips…
Terry looked at her sleeping until he didn't even realised he had fallen asleep into a very deep and resting slumber…
I had a dream last night
What a lovely dream it was
I dreamed we all were alright
Happy and in love
With children, the fruits of our love
What a lovely dream it was
I had a dream last night
That I had your love for keeps
What a lovely dream it was
That nothing was more important
What a lovely dream it was
I don't want to wake up
In a world where you're not mine
In a world of pain and sorrow
Without the magic of your love
I don't want to live without you
Please let me live this dream
Forever and ever
Until the end of times
I had a dream you were mine
I had a dream where your love
Was pure bliss and
The essence of my life
What a lovely dream it was
Yes, it was just a dream
It was just an illusion…