Terry: The Family Man
Chapter 4
Part 2. by Mallory Quinn
"Happily ever after..."
There's a time for love and a time for living.
You take a chance and face the wind.
An open road and a road that's hidden
A brand new life around the bend.
There were times when I lost a dream or two.
Found the trail, and at the end was you.
There's a path you take and a path untaken
The choice is up to you my friend.
Nights are long but you're on your way
To a brand new life,
Brand new life,
Brand new life around the bend
Candy was at the harbour with Kurin around her neck getting ready to go on board the Mauritania. She was going to take the Lady Georgie II to Australia from Southampton. She was thinking about her conversation with Terry earlier. She was sad, what did she expect? That he was going to take her in his arms, kiss her and asked her to marry him?
"How stupid could I be? He didn't come for me when he found himself freed by Susanna all theses years ago, why would he want me now? But I still thought that if we saw each other…"
She wiped a tear of sadness. She was leaving America and her past to start a brand new life in Australia with a new man. She didn't bring a lot of luggage. She was going to buy new stuff over there. Arthur was going to take care of her. He was so nice and so sweet and she loved him… But Terry… she was in love with Terry with all her heart and he was letting her walk out of his life… again!!! He didn't love her like she did… but he did seem like he wanted to say something… Oh she didn't have time for that, she wanted to get on board and for the boat to leave before she changes her mind and goes after Terry herself. Seeing him had more effect on her than she thought… she didn't want to go…
Terry was still racing with his car, avoiding accidents wondering what possessed him to leave Candy's room without convincing her to be with him.
"After everything I just saw, how could I let her go to another continent? How stupid are you Grandchester?!!!! Let's hope it's not too late"
Terry arrived at the harbour and he ran. There was a crown of passengers and their loved ones. He had trouble getting through…
- Excuse-me he kept repeating, can I got through? Thank you, excuse me…
But there was too many people.
"Where is everybody going on Christmas day? Doesn't anybody celebrate Christmas anymore? I need to get her before she boards the boat!!Oh bloody hell" Said Terry in his head
Candy was taking her time, letting other people go before her like she was waiting for something to happen.
"He doesn't want you! She said in her head… but this is for the rest of my life, I just want to make sure I'm making the right decision! I… can't go… I have to… no I don't…I"
She couldn't make up her mind… when she heard:
- Candy! Candy!
It was Terry's voice!
- Candy! Stop! Don't go!
Candy turned around like in a dream.
- Terry… she said with a soft voice
- Don't go, please…
- Why?
- Because I need you… I need you to be… with me!
- Oh Terry
- I had a dream last night, the most wonderful dream: we were married we had 3 children, a boy Terrence Junior, we called him TJ he's my spitting image, a girl named Eleonor after my mother, we call her Nelly, she's your spitting image, I called her my Little Lady Freckles. Then there's our baby, Shandy, whom you named after a little girl you met at a mine site, who couldn't pronounce your name...
Candy opened her mouth with stupor…What? How could Terry know that? He heard it in a dream???
- Terry, she said moved…
- Don't go, Candy, stay with me… I want to have that family with you… I want those children with you and only you, they're waiting for us to be reunite to be born… I choose us, this time around, please do the same… it's not too late, we can have it all, I want it all! I want you, Candy and only you…
- But all these years, said Candy, you didn't come looking for me…
- I was stupid, I was ashamed because I failed you, I was supposed to take care of Susanna but I couldn't even do that one simple thing…I couldn't face you, so I hid behind other woman, without even realising that I was trying to forget you without any success and I was actually forgetting about the women! I'm sorry it took me so long to react and that marvellous dream… I've never felt so good in my life; that dream was an eye opener… Candy… I love you… Please give us another chance…I beg you, we can make it and it's going to be wonderful, I promise you…
- Oh Terry…
Candy was submerge by so many emotions… That was the sign she was looking for, she was going to stay with Terry … She ran, made her way through the other passengers who were listening to them and they finally let Terry pass and they met half way and they stopped.
- I love you too Terry, she said with a little voice…
They fell in each other's arms, kissing passionately… the other passengers started clapping their hands cheering and laughing. Then they hugged for a long time smiling. Kurin woke up with a scream…
- Hey! What's that?
- Kurin, remember Terry?
The raccoon made a little scream and jumped on Terry's shoulder all happy.
- How are you buddy!? Said Terry smiling, playing dead on mummy's neck to fool the other passengers?
- He's got a cage, but I can't lock him up in that awful box…
- Of course not, poor baby, said Terry, let's get out of here. Where is your suit case?
- Over there, she said
Terry when to pick up the suitcase and he took his beloved and they left the harbour. He took her to his parents home. The butler opened the door and smiled when he saw Terry.
- Master Terrence, your parents are having tea in the big living room
- Thank you, Holmes, said Terry coming in with Candy and Kurin, Happy Christmas!
- Merry Christmas, Master Terrence…
- Aren't you supposed to go home?
- I am sir, I just wanted to make sure that His grace and Mrs. Grandchester were fine on their own, good day.
Terry took Candy by the hand, followed by Kurin to the living room. They entered the room.
- Happy Christmas! Mum, dad!
His parents turned around surprised…
- Terrence and Candy!! Said Eleonor happy
She went to hug them both… The duke did the same.
- I came to apologise for my attitude and my rudeness ever since you got back together. I should've been happy for you, but I guess I didn't want you to be happy when I was suffering so much… I apologise…
- That's ok baby, said Eleonor smiling, I knew you two were going to be back together!
- Really? Said the duke
- Well, I was hoping, with all my heart and my wish came true…
- Thank You Miss Baker... Mrs. Grandchester, said Candy smiling
- Who's your little friend? Said Eleonor
- That's Kurin, said Terry, don't worry, he lived in Candy's mansion in Chicago, he's very clean…
- Oh, of course, said Eleonor smiling, you two want to stay for lunch?
- No, said Terry, but we can come back for dinner and can Candy stay here until I make …
He stopped and looked at Candy and he bent on one knee…
- Candice White Andrew, will you marry me? He asked
Candy was moved to tears.
- Yes, yes, yes! I'll marry you!!!!!!!!!
He smiled stood up and kissed her on the lips!
- I love you, he said
- I love you, she said
They were so happy, made for each other.
- So, mum, dad, can Candy stay here until I make the arrangements to marry her as soon as possible?
- But of course, said Eleonor, I wouldn't have it any other way…
- Thank you Miss Baker, I mean Mrs. Grandchester…
- Thank you, mum, dad. Said Terry. Now would you excuse us…we have a lot of catching up to do...
- Of course, said his parents at the same time...
Terry left with Candy and he took her to his mansion… in one of his living room.
- So, said Candy curled up against him on the couch, tell me again our was our married life in that wonderful dream of yours… and the "Shandy" part… I can't believe you knew where that name came from…!
- You told me in my dream…
- Amazing, I wish I had had that dream too, married to you, that's just bliss for us right? Did you and I … in the dream?
- Well I didn't want to at first…
- Why?
- Because at first didn't quite know what was happening…
He told her the whole story, even the detail about Isabelle…Candy listened fascinated… she wanted those children too…with Terry the love of her life…
They went to dinner at his parents and Candy spent the night there. Terry moved to an apartment and wanted to look for another house with Candy, since that mansion was practically a brothel…
Candy sent a cable to Arthur to tell him she was no longer coming. She sent a message to her family to come to her wedding with Terry. They were all stunned by the telegram, but they were happy for her. They all made the trip to New York from Chicago for the wedding on New Year's Eve…The Great Aunt was also there.
Albert gave the green light, so Annie took care of everything, she hired a wedding planner and everything was ready on time for a New Year's Eve wedding. They got married at the duke and Eleonor's Mansion, a priest came and it happened in the big ballroom. Candy was stunning in her wedding dress. Terry was nervous, he couldn't wait until the wedding happened… Came the time for the vows, it was simple.
- Candy, after all this time had passed, but you never left my heart, it was with you all this time, and I'm so happy to have you back in my life for good this time around. I promise to cherish you all the days of our lives, until death us do part…
- Terry, I was unconsciously waiting for you all this time and I'm happy my wait was not in vain and that you're back in my life for good this time, and I make the solemn promise to love you and to cherish you, all the days of our lives, until death us do part…
They both had tears in their eyes, the others too!
There was a small reception after the wedding and everybody had fun. The newlywed danced together, without letting go of each other, you had to beg them to have one dance with them!
Eleonor had given Candy and Terry a suite in her mansion for their wedding night. It was in another wing and they had total privacy. Candy and Terry consummate their marriage and for Terry, the reality was a 100 times better than the dream… Candy was discovering something new and she didn't want to stop until she fell asleep…
The next morning, Candy was getting ready to go take a shower, when her box of treasure fell on the floor. Terry helped her pick up stuff, he saw a picture of Anthony…
"Tony! He thought"
Then he asked Candy.
- Freckles? Who is this?
- Oh Terry… that's Anthony, I'm so sorry…
- Anthony? He said
- Yes, please let me keep this, he's dead and that's the only picture I have of him…
Terry looked at her.
- Freckles, it's ok… I'm not jealous…
- You're not?
- I've grown up… and when I lost you, I regretted all the wasted time being jealous of someone who wasn't there… I'm sorry for everything, for shoving you on the ground at the May Festival…
- That's ok, honey, it was my fault… I love you…
- I love you too…
- I'm going to the shower, are you coming?
- In a minute…
- All right.
Terry's eyes were attracted by something. He approached the table where all their wedding presents were… it was the music box. He opened it, it was playing the same sweet music and there was a message engraved inside;
"Congratulations, you made the right decision this time around. Make her happy."
Terry smiled moved.
"I was jealous of you, because she loved you before me… but you love her too enough to send her back to me…Thank you Tony, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You saved my life and Candy's."
He went to the bathroom join Candy in the shower.
- Happy New Year Mrs. Grandchester
- Happy New Year, Mr. Grandchester
They kissed, they scrubbed each other's back, they kissed again… they kissed more than they washed themselves, so they spend a couple of hours under the shower…
Life is about choice we make on a daily basis. The choice we make now is what's going to affect us in the future. What we're living in the present is the consequences of what we did the day before. Candy and Terry were young and they made a choice… which made them very miserable. Then years later, they were still afraid to reconcile… they needed help from up above and they got it with Tony the angel who came down to make sure his beloved was happy with the man she loved… Love is selfless. Tony managed to show that part of love and Candy and Terry were now happily married… Little TJ was already on his way from their wedding night, and their life together was just starting and promising to be more wonderful than the dream they had both done when they were younger and the dream Terry had on Christmas Eve which was a real eye opener for him.
Miracles come in all shapes and sizes; you just need to recognise it.
THE END