Mommy Dearest
by Mallory Quinn
Chapter 5
"Reality... bites"
Lynda went to the doctor who had confirmed her suspicions. She was pregnant. She was so happy! Her first reflex was to call Terry, but she wanted her husband to know first. His business trip got extended…So the news will have to wait. She was so excited. She was having a baby, and she had just found her daughter.
A few days later, in the evening, the private investigator had come to give her some news about her daughter.
- She's coming tonight, he said, she thinks it's an interview for another job…, he told her
- Oh my God! Said Lynda holding her belly…tonight?
She felt all emotional, overwhelmed, all of a sudden. Her heart was racing.
- So you greet her like someone who needs a nurse…
- All right, said Lynda moved, thank you so much
- Good luck, said the private investigator
- Thank you again.
The private investigator left and Lynda called Terry at the theatre.
- Terrence, she's coming …
- When?
- Tonight…
- Oh…so soon?
- I know…
- How are you?
- What do you think? I'm on hot coals!
- I'll come back after the theatre if you want to…
- Yes, I hope to have dinner with her…I don't know what she likes…
- Lynda, it's going to be fine…do what you like, if she's your daughter, she's going to like it too…
- Steven is not here…
- He's not back yet?
- His trip got extended…
- Oh…
- You want to come and have dinner and meet her?
- Of course…I'll be there after the play
- Thank you Terrence, I will need your support.
- You can count on me…I'll be there.
- I'm going to let you work. Thanks honey…
- Anything for you honey, said Terry nicely
Terry hung up the phone and Lynda had her cook make her favourite meal and desserts. Hoping her daughter was going to like it.
Candy was with Jade in her bedroom. Jade was feeling better.
- Candy, are you sure you can't reconcile with Terrence?
- It's over…for good, said Candy
- He's cheating on his fiancée, he's not happy…
- What he does or doesn't do, is none of my concern…
- You still love him, you were forced to break up, the feelings are still there…
- That's not the point…
- Yes, it is… if you love him, you go and get him back…
- He has a duty, a mistress
- If you take him and if he still loves you, the mistress and Susanna are going to be history faster than you can say "I want you back"
- I didn't come here to get Terry back, I came here to work temporarily
- But life is full of surprises…maybe you were meant to stay in New York…
- No, I wasn't… the last time I came to New York, I got my heart broken
- That's because you left too fast like a coward…
Candy looked at Jade surprised.
- How could you say that? I was hurt…
- I don't disagree you were hurt, but why did you leave?
- To make things easier for Terry…
- Did he ask you to leave?
- No…but he didn't stop me…
- He didn't even try?
Candy remained silent. Terry did follow her and stopped her on the stairs, that painful separation, he was crying, he didn't want to let her go…
- He caught up with me on the hospital stairs, held me back, crying…but he didn't ask me to stay…
- He was probably torn and you deciding to leave, probably discouraged him too…
- Jade…
- Listen Candy. Nothing is more important than to be with the one you love and who loves you… Susanna might be in love with Terry, but he doesn't love her, he loves you…
- He's got his own life, a mistress…
- You can stop all that…
- What if I don't want to?
- Why wouldn't you want to be happy with the one you love?
"Because I always ruin everything…!" Said Candy in her head
- Jade, please, said Candy…
- Your work with me is almost done, I don't want you to go. I want you to stay here and fight for your happiness…
- You're very sweet Jade…well your wish might come true. I've got an interview with another potential patient…
- Oh…
- Yes I got a telegram from my hospital in Chicago. I'm going there tonight…
- Great! I hope you get hired! And you could stay in New York and we would see each other all the time!
Jade jumped to her neck. She had grown attached to Candy and she didn't want her to leave.
- Oh Jade, said Candy moved. That's really nice of you to say…
- I like you Candy…
- I like you too…
- Let's go have a tea downstairs, said Jade, then we could play cards…
- All right.
The day went by and Candy got ready for her interview. She got dressed and Jade did a nice up do on her beautiful thick hair.
- There, she said, you look a little more mature…
- Just a little?
- Well, you still look like a little girl, said Jade smiling
- All right, then, said Candy, I'll tell you how it went when I get back.
- Good luck Candy, said Jade, I'm crossing my fingers for you…
- Thanks…
- You can have the driver. He can wait for you…since it's dark outside
- But I can take a cab…
- Nonsense! Come on, let me do this for you…
- All right, thank you so much.
Candy hugged her and she left with the driver. She arrived at the address she gave the driver. She walked to the front door and rang the door bell. A butler came and opened the door. He looked a little surprised when he saw her.
- Can I help you? He asked
- My name is Candice White Andrew and I have an appointment with the lady of the house.
- Yes, she's waiting for you. Please come, and I will take you to her…
They walked to a big living room with white furniture.
Lynda was holding her breath, she was going to be in presence of her baby girl, she couldn't wait, to see her. When her daughter entered the room, Lynda felt all kind of feeling invading her… She was moved to tears. The blond hair, the freckles, the green eyes, just like her, just like she remembered her as a baby, before she gave her up…
Candy entered the room and she saw the woman who stood up to greet her, she felt kind of weird. What was it? Whatever it was, she was feeling a force in the room. The lady had freckles on her nose, just like her, and when she approached her, she saw she also had green eyes…
- Good evening, said Candy smiling, my name is Candice White Andrew, but they call me "Candy". I came for the nurse's job…
- Yes, good evening, said Lynda shaking her hand…
Lynda felt dizzy all of a sudden. Candy held on to her.
- Are you all right? She asked worried
- I'm fine, said Lynda
Candy took her pulse.
- Your pulse is racing, you should calm down. Have you eaten anything since this morning…
- Euh…yes…
- Are you feeling nauseous? Asked Candy
- A little…
- When was your last cycle…
The nurse in Candy was already working for Lynda. Lynda didn't reply.
- Oh, said Candy, you're pregnant…
- Well I wanted to tell my husband first, he's on a business trip, but you're very good…yes, I am pregnant…
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin that for you. I'm not family, so just think of me as a member of the medical staff...
"But you are family, said Lynda in her head, my little girl and I'm having your little brother or little sister…!
- Congratulations! Said Candy smiling, did you plan this pregnancy?
- Yes, I just got married…thank you
- Oh…double congratulations! Said Candy smiling
- Thank you, said Lynda smiling
Lynda looked at Candy, it took her everything not to take her in her arms and hug her hard.
- So you needed a nurse, to help you out during your pregnancy? Is it a high risk pregnancy? Asked Candy
- Well I had a baby before, it was years ago…
- Did it live?
- Yes…I'm sorry, I didn't even offer you some tea and cake…
- I love this cake, said Candy smiling and taking one…
- Really? Me too, said Lynda smiling
Candy was eating the cake, which was excellent. She took another one, then she took a napkin to wipe her mouth .
- I'm sorry, I really love this cake, it's my weakness…
- That's ok, said Lynda smiling, it's my weakness too…!
They burst out laughing. Candy felt good with Lynda.
- Let's go back to what we were talking about, you said you had another baby? Asked Candy
- Yes.., said Lynda
- Was it from a previous marriage? Asked Candy, since you just got married
Lynda took a deep breath. This is it…
- No, I was still in school…, she said
- Oh…
- Yes, on my last day of Summer vacation, I partied a little too much…
Candy thought about Terry kissing her on the forehead, while she wanted him to kiss her on the lips, that time…
- When I went back to school, I realised I was pregnant, continued Lynda
- What did you do? Did you ask your parents to help you?
- No, I hid it from them and from the boy who got me pregnant
- So you didn't see any doctor while you were pregnant?
- No, I was in school most of the time…when the time came to have my baby, I went to one of my family's residence and had the baby there …Despite the fact that I hadn't seen a doctor, she was in perfect health…it was a little girl…
- Oh…you've got a daughter then, said Candy smiling
Lynda took a deep breath, she had to continue. She wished Terry or her husband were there.
- I took her to the local orphanage, near Lakewood, the Pony Home and I left a note asking to take care of my little girl and her name was Candice…
Candy looked at her like she had just fallen from the sky. What the heck was going on? Lynda was looking at her intensely. Candy felt tears coming to her eyes. After all this time, after being so angry lately…but…
- What are you saying? Said Candy with tears in her eyes
- That I had a girl, I left her on the doorstep of an Orphanage, the Pony Home, my baby's name was Candice… there was another baby on the doorstep as well…That baby grew up to become a wonderful nurse and I'm looking at her….
- No…, said Candy you must me mistaking…
- I'm not… I did my research…
- So, this…job interview was just a ruse to lure me here and drop this bombshell on me??? Asked Candy
- Well, you were on the road, and the only way to reach you was through your work…
- So you lied? You don't need a nurse! You're my mother?
- Yes Candy baby…
- Don't call me that! Said Candy standing up and getting away from her, I'm not your baby! You abandoned me!!!
- I didn't have the choice…
- Oh…really? Tell me, were you poor, without any money to feed yourself and much less a baby?
- No…
- So you come from a rich family… and I was an "inconvenience"?
- I was 15…my family , the scandal…
- So, I was an inconvenience! A burden! You just dumped me on the doorstep of an orphanage and forgot I ever existed!
- No, it wasn't like that, it was very hard for me…
- Really… but not hard enough to abandon me…!
- I'm asking you to forgive me…
- Forgive you? For what? For dumping me like yesterday's garbage?
- I want to start over, please Candy
- Start over… you made the decision to abandon me! You have no right to ask me for anything!!!! I don't ever want to see you again…!
- Candy, please…said Lynda crying and wanting to walk to her and grab her…
- No! Leave me alone! Said Candy getting away from her and running out of there
She ran outside where the Wallace's drive was waiting for her, she was blinded by her tears. Lynda called out her name…
- Candy!!!! Wait!!!!!!!! Don't go, please!!!!
She tried to follow her, but she felt dizzy due to her condition. So she sad down and burst into tears. She cried for a long time. Terrence arrived and he found her still weeping.
- Lynda? He asked, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Where's your daughter?
He went to sit next to her and she just put her arms around his neck, and she continued crying.
- Oh Terrence, it was awful…
- What?
- My daughter, she came. I told her my story…
- And…
- She was angry…she rejected me and she blamed me for abandoning her…
- I'm so sorry…
- She's right, I did abandon her…
- You're trying to make amends…
- It might be too late…she hates me! My baby girl hates me!!!
- It's going to be ok, honey, said Terry consoling her and caressing her hair
- Oh Terrence, said Lynda hugging him hard, I don't know what I would've done without you! Thank you so much for being here. I love you!
- I love you too, Lynda, said Terrence
- OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! Said a voice from the living room door
Terrence and Lynda turned around and they saw a stunned Candy with tears coming down her eyes and her mouth open with stupor.
- CANDY!!!! Said Lynda and Terry at the same time
- I can't deal with this! Said Candy crying
Candy looked around, she saw her purse on a little table near the door, and she took it and left running out of there again. Terry and Lynda were still in shock, they couldn't react immediately…
- Oh my God! Said Terry, Candy! Wait! It's not what you think!!!!
He stood up to follow her, but she was already gone. He went back to the living room and he and Lynda looked at each other.
- You know Candy? She asked…
- That's the girl I was talking to you about…
- The girl you're in love with?
- Yes…
- Your Candy is my Candy?
- Yes…
- Oh my God!
- Small world, hein?
- You're telling me? What she must be thinking…, said Lynda holding her belly. This is a disaster!
- Did she tell you where she was living?
- We didn't get that far… She thought she was coming for a job interview…
- I can't believe that Candy is your daughter! My mother told me I befriended you because you looked like her…
- Really? Is that the truth?
- I befriended you because you were nice to me and we hit it off right away… you happen to look like the girl I loved, but believe me, that's not why I stayed your friend…I like being around you, I liked you mothering me…you're my friend Lynda and I love you.
- I love you too Terrence.
- I know Candy, she's goodness incarnate, so from what you told me, she was very angry…
- She has every right to be angry…
- Candy never stays angry for long… I know her…I'll talk to her for you
- You would do that?
- Of course Lynda, I would…you deserve to be with your daughter and Candy deserves to be with her mother…
Lynda hugged him again. She was crying. She had her daughter and she lost her again. She calmed down and she had dinner with Terrence.
- You sound happy Terrence, is my daughter putting you in that state? Asked Lynda
- I saw Candy, in the flesh… I usually only see her in visions…hallucinations… daydreaming…but she was here, she was real and she's your daughter!!!!!
- Oh my God, you saw her for a few seconds and she made you this happy???
- She's my soul mate, Lynda…I knew it from the second I laid my eyes on her…
- I heard you talk about her with passion, now I see the effect she has on you…
- She heard me tell you I loved you… she must be thinking we're really lovers like the rumour says…I have to found her and explain it to her…
- She thinks you're sleeping with her mother???? Oh my God! I'm so sorry Terrence.
- For what? It's a misunderstanding, Lynda, that's all. Don't worry were going to fix this…
- First we have to find out where she lives…I wish Steven were here with me too…
- When he's he coming back?
- In two days…
They had coffee in the living room and then Terry left. He was on hot coals. He had just seen Candy. She was in New York, in the same city and the best part, she was Lynda's daughter!!!!!
Candy was in her bedroom crying her eyes out. She had come back from Lynda's like an automaton, and she went straight to her bedroom without dinner. She went on her bed, crying… her mother… her mother was alive, well, married and very rich and she had abandoned her… when she had all the money in the world. She always thought that only poor people abandoned their children because they couldn't provide for them. Rich people had money and ways of keeping their dirty secrets hidden…they shouldn't be dumping children on the doorstep of an orphanage…!!!! That's what her mother did… she was 15 she party too much and she was careless which resulted in a mistake: her… she was a mistake no body wanted… Like that wasn't enough for a surprise, she found Terry, her Terry hugging her newly found mother and telling her he loved her, and her too!!! They loved each other!!! Was Terry her new husband? No, Susanna said he was always out, so he was still engaged to Susanna… the rumours…the rumours said that Terrence Grandchester was the lover of Lynda de Rothschild, who recently got married… Lynda Lloyd was, Lynda de Rothschild, one of the richest families in the word. She, Candice White Andrew, was a member of one of the most powerful families in the world! And she was tossed aside like yesterday's garbage!!!!
- I'm never going to forgive her!! Had she been poor, I would've…but no, she had the money to take care of me, to even hide me somewhere…but she dumped me on the door step of the Pony Home so other people could take care of me… when in fact I was rich and I didn't need it ! I was taking up space… when other poor children could've taken my place… I was treated like dirt at the Reagan's when I could've hired them to take care of me!!! All the humiliation, being told I wasn't good enough to be an Andrew…when all this time, I was a Rothschild!!!!!!!!!!! How could she do this to me!!!!!!!???? She's sleeping with the man I love, my Terry!!!! The tramp!!!! She loves a young man, young enough to be her son!!! Now she's married, pregnant and all of sudden she wants me??? Too little too late, mommy dearest! You blew it! Big time! I'm not, in a million years, going to ease your guilty conscience!!!
Candy was very bitter and very angry. All that anger from all those months ago, even all those years ago, when she took hit after hit, keeping a brave face… Her mother found her, and now she was angrier than ever! She should've come earlier to get her before she was adopted, before the realities of life bit her so hard… She was crying for her mother and for Terry, how could the two people who are supposedly important to her, do this to her??? Terry and her mother??? That was so painful for her to think about, so she was hurting, she was hurting so much…she had never felt that kind of pain before; Terry and her mother…Her heart was ripped into shreds…