Mommy Dearest
by Mallory Quinn
Chapter 3
"A new chance at happiness"
Candy was very happy to spend some time with Patty. They had a lot of fun together. Patty had a suitor interested in her, but she was making him squirm a little. She had changed; she had lost her baby fat and looked more mature and elegant. Stear was her first love, but he never kissed her so she could consider that a childhood crush or even puppy love. She had her whole life in front of her and she was going to live it to the fullest.
- Patty, what's got into you…?
- I can't spend the rest of my life crying over Stear, how old am I ?
- You're right, you're alive, you have to live…Stear would understand
- Even if he doesn't, he can't really object, can he?
- Patty…
- He left without saying anything, he didn't say goodbye! I'm angry at him for leaving me and dying on me! Let's not think about that.. he probably didn't love me the way I love him…he would've said goodbye…he never even tried to kiss me… I have some friends here, they get kissed all the time… what was wrong with the Cornwell brothers??? Archie wasn't kissing Annie either….Terry seemed to be the only normal guy in the bunch, he kissed you, he expressed his feelings for you…
- I slapped him…
- Well you've got your own issues… but didn't you want to kiss him again after that?
- Yes, more than ever, but when I got to New York, he was preoccupied with the Susanna matter…
- He probably didn't want you to get too close to him…because he knew he had to let you go…
- He could've said something…I'm angry at him too now…And I'm not proud of what I'm feeling…
- Candy, it's normal to get angry… you can't be always happy...something awful happened to you, you left the man you loved with all your heart to another woman you didn't know from Adam…
- I just can't stop the anger… and I don't know where it's coming from…
- Everything happens for a reason…when you find the source of your anger, it will hopefully go away…
- I hope so, Patty… I have to leave Florida. My mission here is over…
- I'm going to miss you
- Tell me what happens with your new suitor…
- I will…and if I fall for him, I'm going to go for it… so that if something happens, I won't live with regrets of missing kisses that should've happened…
Candy burst out laughing.
- Well Archie finally changed his attitude, he and Annie have been kissing a lot and even touching
- Good for her! Said Patty smiling, she should take advantage to the fullest
- She's beside herself with joy! I have to go, Patty
She hugged her friend and went back to her work
The little boy was doing a little better.
- Thank you for your help, said the mother, you're a very good nurse
- You're very welcome…and believe in miracle, when man can't do it, Jesus does it for you…Pray.
- Thank you Candy, I will…
She said her goodbyes, prayed with them and she left. Patty came to get her with her driver and her suitor.
- Candy this is Jacques, his mother is French, said Patty
- Pleased to meet you, Jacques, said Candy smiling
- Likewise, said Jacques kissing her hand
They went to the train station and they had some tea at a little restaurant before Candy's train arrived.
- Write me letters Candy, ok? Or call me, said Patty
- I will…,said Candy
- And I'll tell you if Jacques and I have plans together…
- We will, said Jacques smiling
- Good for you, said Candy, I have to go…
She hugged them both, and she got on board and the train left for another destination.
Lynda was at her mansion when she got the visit of her future husband. She was dreading to see him again; she still had feelings for him. They say you never forget your first love… now they had to get married for the merger of their banks… Steven arrived. He was more mature and so attractive. He smiled when he saw her.
- Lynda…he said, you're name suits you very well, you're still very beautiful
- And you still the same smooth talker you've always been, she said
He hugged her briefly. They sad down on the living room's couch.
- My future wife…, he said
- Why did you agree to this…?
- Our family business is in serious trouble…
- You're not capable of running a business?
- My brother was running it, not me…
- Right you were having fun with your girlfriends…
- I wasn't married, I was having fun…
- At least you remembered them, she mumbled to herself
- What was that?
- Nothing…
- All right, so my father went to your father for help…
- And he saw an opportunity to get me itched…
- Why aren't you married Lynda?
- I've never found the right guy…
- Oh…I heard you were engaged a few times
- It didn't work out…
- So you're ready to do this…it was your father's condition…nobody else wanted to help us… we would've had to declare bankruptcy…
- So I'm your salvation?
- Yes…
- Gee, I feel so special…it doesn't bother you?
- To marry a beautiful woman and save my family's business… why would that bother me?
- Because you didn't choose me, I was forced on you…
- I've always though you were beautiful, even when we were at school…
- Really?
- Yes… I never told you, I had a crush on you…
- You what???
- Yes, you were so fun to be with, I didn't have the courage to talk to you, romantically. Then it was like you gave me the cold shoulder all of a sudden…
"You had to get drunk and you don't even remember…that's why I was angry with you!" She said in her head
All right she had to come clean, that burden was too heavy for her to carry alone, Steven was there, he was going to carry it with her.
- But you did, she said
- What?
- You did tell me how you felt, sort of, you showed me…
Steven looked at her like she had just fallen from the sky.
- What on earth are you talking about??? Said Steven
- That summer in Paris, the last day, the party…
- I got drunk…then it's all blank, I don't remember a thing…
- I know…but I remember…
- You know what I did?
- Yes…
- What did I do?
- You slept with me…
- Come again…
- You had sex with me…
- You're making this up…
- Why would I make this up?
- To get back at me for ignoring you…
- After all these years?
- You probably has a crush on me too and you took advantage of the situation
- You think I took advantage of you while you were drunk??? How dare you!? I'm the one who was marked for life here!!!!
- You want me to believe that you lost your virginity to me and I don't remember it? Why didn't you say something the next day…?
- Because you acted like you didn't know me…
- I kind of had a hangover….
- When I realised you didn't remember, I was so upset I decide not to talk to you anymore…
- That's where the cold shoulder came from… Oh my God, I had no idea, you have to believe me Lynda…we share a night of passion and I don't even remember it…I'm so sorry…
- That's not all…
- There's more?
- Yes…
- What?
- I got pregnant….
- WHAT??????????
- You heard me…
- Pregnant with my baby??? Oh my God! Why didn't you come to me?
- Oh gee I don't know, maybe because you slept with me and forgot about it???? What was I suppose to say; "Steven, I know you don't remember it, but we slept together and I'm now pregnant"?
- You're right, I would've laughed at your face… what did you do with the baby?
- I left her on the doorstep of an orphanage
- "Her"? It was a girl…You abandoned her…
- I was kid myself, I didn't know what to do and I didn't want my parents to know
- I thought you gained a little weight at school that year…Oh my God, Lynda! Why are you coming clean now?
- Because we're getting married and I miss my daughter…
- What are you saying?
- I've hired a private investigator to look for her…
- Oh my God! You're full of surprises aren't you…he said upset, you barely gave me the time to digest what you just told me… I slept with you, I forgot about it, I conceived a child…
- If you don't believe me, I don't care. I'm going to find her
- What about your parents? The scandal…
- I'll cross that bridge when I get there… but I need my daughter…I have a feeling she needs me…
- What are you talking about?
- I don't know how to explain it…but I feel like she needs me…
- Lynda…oh my God! We have a child together!!!! Oh my God!!!!
He had spent all his life having fun, not thinking about the future, or marriage. Now all of a sudden, he's engaged to be married to a woman who tells him they have a child together!!! His head was spinning. He looked at her, she was so pretty.
- Lynda, you must've fell lost, dealing with a pregnancy alone, you were so young…Why didn't you come to me…? Maybe our parents would've married us then…
- And the merger would've happened sooner…and I would've been with my little girl…But you didn't remember being with me! Do you know how humiliating that was? I impressed you so much you forgot about me!!!!
- I'm sorry. There's nothing else I can say…
He approached her and he hugged her. She was now the mother of his child, he felt so good with her all of a sudden.
- Lynda, we're going to find her and we're going to be a family
- You really want to?
- I've always been the playboy of the family, so getting married to a girl I've had a crush on since like forever, who's had my baby on the top of that… I can't believe I slept with Lynda the Rothschild and I forgot it!
- Why don't you scream louder, I don't think they heard you in Europe!?
- I'm sorry, I'm still getting over the fact that I was your first…
- Don't let it go to your head…
- Lynda…
They looked at each other. He leaned and kissed her. She let him… They stopped.
- I don't want to be the next conquest on your list…she said
- You're going to be my wife…,
- You're going to give up the fun life?
- I have to take over the business…my playboy days are over…
- Oh…
- It's about time, don't you think so? You've got to give up your boy toy…
- Terrence?
- The King of Broadway…I've heard the rumours too
- I'm old enough to be his mother…
- Some women like them young
- Terrence is just a friend, I promise you…
- All right then…you wouldn't lie to me now…
- I kept something very big from you…
- You came clean….
- Forgive me…
- I forgive you and forgive me for not remembering being with you…
- That was the booze…but I forgive you…
- Let's make the best of this situation. Our parents want us to be married, we're going to show them that we're the best married couple there is…
- All right! Said Lynda laughing, they're going to stunned to see me so cooperative!
They kissed again, and again…
- You want to remind me what happened all those years ago? Asked Steven
- Sorry, honey, you're going to wait until the wedding night!!! This time you're going to make me an honest woman before I spread my legs for you…
- I love the way you talk…All right, it's very soon anyway, but you're killing me!!!!
They burst out laughing. They continued talking and catching up and getting closer. They were forced to be together…they were once clumsy teens who handled things badly…but now, they were mature and they were going to try to make the best of their situation.
The wedding preparations had started. Before she knew it, Lynda was married to Steven Lloyd and her father finally gave his family all the money they needed to get back into business and at the same time getting a big chunk of Lloyd's Bank. Her father was glad Lynda didn't cause any scandal this time around, in fact she looked happy.
Terrence was at the wedding and he kissed Lynda on the cheek. She reminded him so much of Candy…In a wedding dress. He couldn't help picturing Candy in his mind with a wedding dress.
- You look beautiful Lynda, he said
- Thank you Terrence…
- You look happy…
- I am… It's Steven, my first love… even if the circumstances in which we got together are kind of different, he's now my husband. I've been dreaming of this since I was 15!
- I'm glad you're happy…how is the research on your daughter?
- It's still going on… I can't wait to see her. I miss her so much!
- Did you tell your husband the truth?
- Yes, he wants to be a family with her… I just might be able to confront my family with his help…
Terrence danced with the bride and some people were whispering. Lynda didn't care.
- Did you come with your fiancée?
- No…
- Terrence…
- I'm sorry, my idea of having a good time is not in her company…
- She loves you…
- But I love someone else… I have to tolerate her at home, but the rest of the world is mine…
- Well, try to be nicer to her…
- I'm not promising you anything…
- If you're going to spend the rest of your life with her, you have to find a way of dealing with your problem…
- I can't, Lynda. She's beautiful, but I don't want to see her, I don't want to be with her, not even for one second. Before the accident, I never thought about her as a potential partner for life…I only had one woman in my mind…and it was not Susanna! She's got everything she needs financially but I can't give her what I don't have; love. I have love but it's not for her…
- Some men are able to close their eyes and just enjoy the company of a beautiful woman…
- Those men are not in love like I am…
- Boy, I wish Steven loved me like you love that girl…!
- From where I'm standing, he loves you, the way he's looking at me right now while I'm dancing with you…
- You think so…? I feel like a little girl…
- Excited about the wedding night? Unless you cheated…
- Terrence! Well I can tell you; it was tempting, but…
- You wanted to wait for your wedding night….
- I want to do things right this time… and when I find my baby girl…
- You're going to be a family. I'm so happy for you Lynda.
- My house is still open to you, Terrence. You can come and see me whenever you want…
- You're sure your hubby is not going to shoot me?
- If he shoots you, I'll shoot him…
- Thank you Lynda, said Terry laughing, I don't know what I would've done without your friendship…
Their dance was over. Steven arrived and took his wife, to the dance floor.
- You danced too close to your boy toy…, said Steven
- Stop calling him that…he's my friend
- Isn't he a little young?
- He's very mature for his age. He's going to continue being my friend… I thought we agreed on that…
- Yes…
- What's with the jealousy scene? This marriage is a business deal for you…
- I didn't like seeing you so close to him…
- You're jealous… why?
- You're my wife now…
She looked at him. When the party was over, everybody left and the newlyweds were in their bedroom. Lynda was so excited… Her husband came and they finally consummate their passion. It was great, it was magic and Lynda was very happy.
- I'm glad this business deal got me stuck with you, said Steven
- You're very romantic you know that?
- I love being with you…I love making love to you…and I love you
- What did you just say?
- I didn't know how to tell you…all the wedding preparations, spending time with you. The thought of you not being with me is unbearable and seeing you dancing with your…friend…I love you Lynda…
- I knew you were attracted to me, but…love?
- Yes… I'm the first one surprised. I'm going to be the best husband in the world and when we find our daughter, we're going to be a family…
- You're serious? This is not just for the money my father is giving your family?
- No…I'm glad things turn out the way they did...maybe it's just a business deal for you…but…
- Steven, the only reason I agreed to this marriage, it's because it was you…
- What?
- Yes, had it been any other guy, I would've mess everything up as usual; by agreeing to the deal and cook up something to ruin it…that's how I was engaged several times…but it was you. My first love, my first everything…even if you didn't remember it… I had a chance to be with the man I dreamt about when I was 15, the father of my baby…I love you Steven…
- Oh my God! Our parents have no idea we actually love each other for real…
- Say it again, I want to hear it again…
- I love you Lynda, I love you with all my heart
- I love you Steven, I've always loved you…
They kissed and they spent their first night as husband and wife having fun like when they were 15. Lynda told him what he did, step by step…
- I can't believe you remember everything…, said Steven
- Well you forgot, I had to remember for the both of us…
- I'm so sorry… I used to have flashes of the two of us, I thought it was my imagination…
- I should've been more angry at you… but it's useless. I abandon my baby and I hope she's not going to be too angry at me…at us…
- We'll get through it together. She's going to love you, you're adorable and if she takes after you, she's going to be the forgiving kind…
- From your mouth to God's ears…
Candy was continuing her on the road job. She was now in a native reserve. Se befriended the little girls and she was braiding their hair on her free time. She didn't stay long because some older people didn't believe in modern medicine. She got a telegram from Professor Leonard asking her to go to New York as soon as possible.
- New York? Well I guess I have to comply. It would be nice to be in a big city after all this…
She arrived in New York late at night and she went to the mansion where she was sent. A butler opened the door for her.
- Nurse Andrew, he said, please come in, we've been expecting you…
- Thank you, said Candy smiling
- I will take you to your room so you can freshen up before meeting the family…
- Thank you.
He took her to a very pretty room she freshened up and she went downstairs. She found the family talking after dinner.
- The King of Broadway, said a woman, he's just magnificent!
- Rumour as it, he's sleeping with an older woman
- Didn't she just got married? Said another woman
- I heard her father quickly arranged for her to be married with the son of his best friend, to stop the rumours….
- So she can have her boy toy on the side…
- Would you guys stop gossiping? Said a man, we have a guest… this is Nurse Andrew, she came to take care of Jade for a while… Come in, Nurse Andrew, I'm Barry Wallace, this is my wife, Gertrude, we call her Trudy and that's her sister Allyson…
- Pleased to meet you all, said Candy
- Pleased to meet you, said everybody…
Candy came into the living room.
- Would you care for some tea? Asked Trudy
- No, thank you, said Candy, I'm fine. I just came to say hello.
- That's nice of you, said Trudy
- If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go to bed. I will go see Jade in the morning. Good night, said Candy
- Good night, said everybody…
Candy went to her bedroom and she started to brush her hair. They were so thick and shinny. She had given up the pig tails for months now… she looked a little older with her hair in half a pony tail. She untied them to go to bed. She was very tired. New York, the last time she was in New York… those memories were much too painful. But she had to move on. Terry was Susanna…that hurt her so much to think about that. She was in Terry's town, and despite the fact that she was very angry with him, she wanted to see him more than anything in the world…