Mommy Dearest
by Mallory Quinn
Chapter 4
"Bitterness as a cup of tea..."
Candy was taking care of Jade Wallace for a while. They had become good friends. Jade had had some major surgery and she needed a nurse to help her with her rehabilitation.
- Candy, said Jade, thank you for doing this with me…
- You don't have to thank me, I'm just doing my job, said Candy smiling
- I can feel you like doing this… you've always wanted to be a nurse?
- I didn't really know what I wanted to do until I stand in for the local nurse who was unavailable…Then I went to nursing school and I became a nurse…
- You never thought about getting married? With your charisma, you must have a lot of suitors…
- My charisma?
- Yes…you've got a good aura. Guys must be all over you…but you sound kind of bitter…
- I've had a few problems…but we're not here to talk about me, Jade…Let's finish your exercise and then you can ask me whatever you want…
- All right Candy, said Jade… I can tell you… I kissed a boy in school, and he touched me…
- Ok, said Candy, too much information!
They burst out laughing. They finished their exercises and they went for a walk in Central Park. There was a poster about Broadway and its King, in all his glory. Candy's heart skipped a beat. Terry, the King of Broadway… He was so handsome and talented.
- Look at that poster, said Jade, the King of Broadway! Isn't he gorgeous? He's engaged to his former colleague Susanna Marlowe, but they say he's publicly cheating on her with this rich older woman
Candy felt a sharp pain in her heart, when she heard Susanna's name and also when she heard the rumour about the older woman
- An older woman? Well, he is very attractive, said Candy trying to sound indifferent
- That older woman is so beautiful and filthy rich, she just got married…
- Oh….
- But it didn't stop them, they continue to see each other…
- Even though she's married now?
- The marriage was an arranged one, by her father… she doesn't love her husband, it's a business deal… so the King is keeping his Queen warm….
- Can we talk about something else? Said Candy very uncomfortable
- You don't like gossip…
- Not really…
"Terry, what's happened to you? Sleeping with an older woman? Said Candy in her head, how could you do that ???"
- All right Candy, said Jade smiling, I'll be careful next time…
Candy was thinking about what she had heard. Why was Terry hurting Susanna like that? Susanna…? She felt hurt, like Terry was cheating on her…it seemed ridiculous, but she couldn't help herself….It made her angry; she had one more thing to be angry about… but it was just a rumour. She shouldn't believe rumours…that thought made her feel better.
Lynda was feeling nauseous and she felt like eating sour things, like lemons… She was also expecting news from her private investigator. She was in her bedroom getting ready. Her husband had a business trip.
- Honey, he said, I'm sorry I have to leave you…
- Don't worry about it, sweetheart…
- I hope you feel better. You should see a doctor while I'm gone…
- I will, she said smiling. The private investigator is coming today
- Oh… I'm going to miss it… you want me to postpone my trip?
- No, go ahead, and get it over with. I don't think she's here yet, she might be on the other side of the country
- Are you sure? I can postpone
- No, don't. The business needs you….
- All right, baby. Let's go have breakfast before I leave
- All right
They went to the dining room and Lynda had a grapefruit. She didn't feel like drinking coffee, it was making her nauseous.
- Are you ok, honey? Asked Steven
- The coffee smell…is making me sick
- Oh… I'm sorry, you should see a doctor today
- I will, honey…
- I wish I could go with you…
- I understand…
- I promise to be back as soon as possible. I love you… I have to go
He stood up and she stood up and he kissed her for a long time.
- I'm going to miss you… and I'll call you tonight
- Bye honey, said Lynda, have a safe trip. I'm going to miss you
Steven left and Lynda went to the living room. She called Terrence.
- Lynda! Said Terrence
- Hi honey…
- How are you today?
- I feel sick…
- Are you ok?
- I'm fine, I have to go see the doctor
- Take care of yourself… where's your husband?
- He went on business trip…
- He left you alone, when you're sick?
- I told him to go… he needs to bring his family business back on its feet
- You want me to come with you to the doctor's?
- Terrence, you're very sweet. But I'll be fine…and my appointment is tomorrow morning
- All right
- I have to see the private investigator today
- Oh, news about your daughter?
- Yes…
- Tell me what he says, call me at the theatre
- All right, I will
- You want to do lunch instead?
- Why not? I'll pick you up at 1 pm..
- I'll see you later honey. Good luck…
- Thanks. Bye Terrence.
Terrence hung up the phone and he saw Susanna looking at him.
- You're doing lunch with her, you have dinner with her, when I wait for you here in vain?
- Well hello to you too, Susanna! Eaves dropping…not good! I have to go…
- She just got married Terry
- Her husband is on a business trip actually…
- Oh my God! You two disgust me!!!
Terrence wanted to laugh, but making Susanna think that he was going to have roll in the sack with Lynda, was irresistible!
- Don't wait up for me, said Terrence, I'll be back late…
- Terry…
- Susanna…would you stop it already? I stayed with you, I take care of you, I did everything your mother wanted me to do…but the one thing I can't do, is love you. My heart was already taken when we met, and it's still his…My heart is not here, you know where my heart is…
- You make love to your mistress…
- Oh you don't know? She kind of looks like Candy…so it makes things easier…
- Oh my God! Said Susanna, maybe I should go tell her to leave you alone…
- You would do no such thing! Said Terry, the day you dare to talk to Lynda about our relationship, is the day I'm going to leave you for good this time. Do you hear me??!!!
Susanna looked at him, she saw that he was dead serious.
- Yes, said Susanna sulking
Terry left the house to go to the theatre. He loved getting on Susanna's nerves.
Lynda was in the living room of her mansion with the private investigator she had hired to look for her daughter arrived.
- Did you find her? Asked Lynda
- Well I found her trail, but apparently she's been travelling a lot…
- Oh…where? Not Europe, I hope, with the war…
- No, she's here in America…her last working place where she reports too was a hospital in Chicago…
- Chicago?
- Yes…she's a nurse…
- Oh…a nurse.
- Yes, apparently she's on a road as a nurse… so if you make a special request to have a nurse, she might come here…
- Get her here under false pretences…not a good way to start a relationship…
- Or you can wait until she gets back to Chicago, which could take forever…
Lynda was thinking. Should she wait? No, she wanted to see her daughter as soon as possible.
- All right, you can send the special request for her, she told the private investigator
- All right. I'll get back to you in a few days.
- Thank you so much for all your help.
- You're welcome. I'll be back with the information in a few days. Goodbye, Mrs. Lloyd…
- Goodbye…
Lynda sat on her couch, thinking about her daughter. What does she look like? She was a nurse…she had a career…She couldn't wait to see her. When the time came, she went to get Terry at the theatre. They went to have lunch in a nice Asian restaurant.
- Asian? Said Terrence
- I'm craving that marinated meat and lemon chicken…
- Anything for you milady, said Terrence
Lynda smiled.
- How was your meeting with the private investigator? Asked Terry
- He's going to get back to me in a few day to tell me when I'm going to see her
- I'm so happy for you, said Terrence sincerely
- I'm so excited…but at the same time, I'm a little afraid of her reaction…
- Well from experience… I rejected my mother at first…
- Really?
- Yes, since my father took me away when I was little: I came here to America to see her, but she sent me back to my father, supposedly so I could inherit the title of the duke of Grandchester… like I cared about that…I only wanted her to hold me, and be with her…
- Then what happened?
- On my way back, I met the girl I fell in love with. She actually caught me crying thinking about my mother…
- How sweet…
- She never called me on it, no matter how awful I was behaving…she convinced me to give my mother another chance and I listened to her…
- She was a very good girlfriend…
- Yes, she was too good…
- Well I hope I have the same chance your mother had with my daughter… I have this weird feeling she needs me…
- She probably does…well you'll know it soon enough
- I can't wait…
They continued their lunch and there was a reporter taking pictures of them.
- When are they going to get tired? Said Lynda
- "Tired" is not in their vocabulary, said Terrence
- Well let's give them what they want…
Lynda hugged Terrence for a long time before she got in her car, and the reporter of course took pictures.
The next day, Susanna was upset when she saw the morning paper. Her mother was telling her to react. They were in the dining room.
- Go tell off this woman, he's your man…
- Mom, he said if I do that, he's going to leave me for good this time
- You don't believe that…
- Yes, I do. He was dead serious…
- Susanna, he's humiliating you…
- Mom, you insisted for him to be with me, when you knew he didn't love me
- But you love him…
- That's not enough, he loves another woman, mom…He doesn't care one bit about me… he's not even trying to denial the affair…In fact, he rubs it in my face…
- How dare he treat you like that? After everything you did for him?
- He had to pay a high price for my leg…being stuck with me for the rest of his life…that not quite what he had in mind…
- You're so beautiful, how could he not be attracted to you?
- Candy is not that pretty….
- Says you… she's good…
- Whose side are you on?
- Yours… but you have to say, to leave the man she loves to you…
- That only made her more appealing to Terry…
Terrence arrived.
- Good morning ladies, he said
- Did you see the paper? Asked Mrs. Marlowe
Terry took the paper and looked at it.
- That's a good picture of me…he said ironically
- That's all you have to say? Said Mrs. Marlowe
- What do you want me to say? Terry replied
- Reassure us…, Said Mrs. Marlowe
- It's in the paper, so it must be the truth… don't you think so? I was hugging her…, said Terry
- You're not even going to try to hide it? Asked Mrs. Marlowe outraged
- I haven't so far, why would I try now? To accommodate you? Sorry…not my intention
- You ungrateful fool! My daughter saved your life! How could you treat her like that???
- I'm taking care of her. I can't control the gossip or what the newspapers print…
- You could stop seeing that older married woman…
- She's actually younger than you, Mrs. Marlowe…., said Terry
- How dare you speak to me like that??!!! Said Mrs. Marlowe upset
- I'm sorry. You might have had a say in my future with the woman I love, but this is non-negotiable…
- Terrence, my mother is asking you to stop your affair…,said Susanna
- I'm not going to stop seeing Lynda, said Terry
- You love her that much? Said Mrs. Marlowe you don't care how much you hurt my daughter….
- You're daughter is going to be hurt for the rest of her life because she's with a man who doesn't love her…, said Terry
- She saved your life, said Mrs. Marlowe
- I didn't ask her to save my life, said Terry
- You would've rather had died? Said Susanna stunned
- If saving my life meant I couldn't live my dream…yes, you should've left me die, Susanna…
- How could you say that…? Said Susanna stunned
- I have to go to the theatre, said Terry
- You're not eating? Said Susanna
- You two just ruined my appetite. I'll grab something on my way to the theatre…, he said, or I'll go have breakfast with Lynda…
Terry left. The two ladies were flabbergasted.
- Oh my God, said Mrs. Marlowe, he's so cold…
- Well that's what you get when you use emotional blackmail to get what you want…
- I did if for you, for your happiness…
- Do I look happy, mom?
- You saved his life…
- Well you heard him, he wished I didn't… he's probably gone to see his mistress, like he said
- Isn't she married?
- Her husband is out of town…
- Oh… I'm surprised he even comes back at night…
- Oh mom, I don't know if I can take this for much longer…
Susanna was crying, her mother was trying to console her.
Candy was with Jade in Central Park taking their daily walk. The fresh air was good for Jade. They were looking at women with children.
- I just love children, said Jade, I can't wait to have some… what about you Candy?
- Well I think I'll have to find a husband first…
- That's not hard, I'm sure a lot of men would want to marry you…
- I don't think I'm ready to get married…, said Candy
No she wasn't. She wanted to marry Terry and only Terry…but he was now engaged to marry someone else…
- Every young girl wants to get married Candy…
- Then maybe I'm not normal, said Candy
- You got your heart broken, didn't you? Asked Jade
- Why would you say that?
- You sound kind of bitter…
Bitter…to have been abandoned as a baby…for ruining everything in her life… Candy wanted to reply when she heard a voice she wished she would never hear again…
- Candy? What the hell are you doing here in New York??
Candy turned around, she saw Susanna, with a nurse in her wheel chair. She got angry.
- Hi, Candy, said Candy, thanks for saving my life and giving me the man you love. Oh, anytime… it was a pleasure! What do you want from me now? My head on a platter???
- Boy what's got into you? Asked Susanna
- I have nothing to say to you Susanna, said Candy still bitter
- Did you come to be with Terry? He's he cheating on me with you?
Candy looked at Susanna. She had lost her leg, but it was so hard for her to feel any compassion for her at that moment. Jade was looking at the scene, speechless.
- Mona, said Susanna to her nurse, would you get me some ice cream please?
- Sure, Miss Marlowe, said the nurse
The nurse left her there with Candy and Jade.
- Candy I asked you a question? Said Susanna, are you the reason Terry is never home?
- Why would I want to be the other woman, when I was the woman? Who do you take me for? Said Candy bitter
- So he's really cheating on me with the older woman… said Susanna sadly…
Jade who had remained silent, decided to talk.
- Susanna Marlowe? Candy you know Susanna Marlowe and Terrence Grandchester? You never said anything when we gossip at home! I just see that you're not very comfortable, I just thought you didn't like gossip
- Jade, said Candy, you want to go home, we've got enough fresh air for the day, it's starting to get heavy here…
- All right, said Jade, Miss Marlowe, it was a pleasure to meet you, I'm Jade Wallace…bye…
Jade and Candy left to go back to the mansion, which was not too far from the park.
- Candy… you little sneak! Said Jade smiling
- I don't like talking about my personal life…, said Candy
- I'll say! You were Terrence Grandchester's girlfriend before the accident????!!! Oh my God!!!!!!!
- It's not a very pleasant subject…
- I can imagine… what happen?
- You know what happen
- I want to hear it from your mouth, please Candy…
- All right…
Candy told her how she met Terry, about St. Paul, Scotland, the trap, the reunion…
- Oh dear, said Jade, I'm so sorry
- Thanks…
- He's not happy with her since he's cheating with an older woman…
- I don't really want to talk about that…
- Sure, that's understandable…
Terry cheating on Susanna with an older woman… what happened to him? Well that was none of her concern, she left him in that theatre…so why should she care now what happens to him?
"Because you love him, silly! " She said in her head.
When they arrived at the mansion. There was a message for Candy.
- Candy, said Trudy, a telegram arrived for you…
- Thank you said, Candy taking it…Jade, are you ok?
- Yes, Candy don't worry about me…
- I'll be in my room said Candy
She went to her bedroom to breathe a little. Meeting Susanna had made her angry. Like she wasn't angry enough at the world! How dare Susanna talk like that to her???!!! She opened the telegram and it was a message from Professor Leonard, telling her to go see a lady in New York who also needed a nurse…
"Well my job here is almost over anyway, said Candy, I might as well start another one…but I wanted to leave New York all these rumours on Terry and meeting Susanna… I might meet Terry too…oh…but I'll go see the lady and see for how long she needs me…"
She went downstairs to have some tea. Jade was talking about her encounter with Susanna, but she didn't mention Candy's story… Her mother and her aunt were gossiping. Candy wasn't listening… she was thinking about Terry and she was asking herself for the millionth time, why the hell she left him to Susanna?????