Mommy Dearest
by Mallory Quinn
Chapter 12
"What goes around comes around"
Mr. Reagan came back home one evening in a very bad mood. His wife and children were wondering what was going on.
- Honey? Said hi wife, what's wrong?
- I'm having some trouble at the office…
- What kind of trouble?
- The Lloyd's Bank just bought our debt…
- The Lloyd's Bank? I thought they were going bankrupt!
- Well, there was a merger with Rothschild bank; their son married one of the Rothschild's daughter and now they're back in business…
- Why would they buy our debt?
- I have no idea… it must be personal…but I've never met any of them personally…I've seen them in meeting, but we weren't friends and it was the other brother, the one who ruin the family business…
- So are they pressuring you to pay up?
- Yes… they changed all the rules… I have to pay up earlier or we loose everything…
- What??? Can't you get some help? Talk to my brother…
- I've left several messages with Georges… Albert should get back at me in a few moments…he's partners with the Rothschilds…I hope he can help…
The phone rang and it was Albert. Mr. Reagan answered the phone.
- Albert! You got my message…, he said
- Yes, I did … what seems to be the problem?
- The Lloyd's Bank bought my debt…
- Lloyd's Bank?
"Oh my God, Candy's father is getting his revenge on the way you treated his daughter!" said Albert in his head
- Well what do you want me to do? Said Albert
- Can you help us? They are changing all the rules…
- You do know I don't really want to get involve in your business, said Albert …
- Albert please…you're still upset about the Candy matter?
- You took a poor girl from her orphanage where she was happy , to make her miserable… that same girl, I adopted, saved my life…no I guess we're never going to see eye to eye on this one… try meeting with Steven Lloyd and plead your cause…
Albert knew nothing was going to make Steven Lloyd change is mind.
- You can help us… You're partners with the Rothschild's Bank…
- Then you do know that the Lloyds and the Rothschilds are merged with the recent marriage of their children?
- You can try to talk to them…
- Yes, I can. But I won't get involve. That's your personal problem. Your business…
- You're holding a grudge because of Candy?
- Well that should teach you a lesson, not to treat people like dirt… you never know when you're going to need them…
- What is that supposed to mean?
- Go meet with Steven Lloyd, the Rothschilds do whatever it takes to save your business…
- You're not going to help
- Sorry… my hands are tied. He bought your debt; I can't do anything about that…good luck.
Albert hung up the phone. Mr. Reagan was devastated.
- He won't help us? Said his wife
- He pretends his hands are tied…
- He's got millions, he can buy the debt back… he just won't do it
- Because of Candy…
- That damn orphan girl!
- Well if we had treated her better, maybe Albert would be helping us right now…
- But honey…
- Now I have to go get on my hands and knees and beg the Lloyds for mercy…or we're bankrupt
- Damn that stable girl! Said Mrs. Reagan,
- I brought that poor girl here for Eliza and Neil…and all you did was encouraged them to be mean to her…You never thought that all the mean things you did to her would come and bite us in the back… You could've thought the children to be nicer…
- You're going to blame me? Where were you? On your stupid business trips! So much good it did, because now we're almost bankrupted! And you're going to blame me and the kids???
Mr. Reagan left the room and went to sleep in the guests' room. They were on the verge of bankruptcy and his wife still didn't get it.
Candy was at her shelter one morning when she got a visit from her father. She was finishing up taking care of a very young girl, who was pregnant and whose husband had just died, on a railroad accident. She was in tears.
- Dana, said Candy, it's going to be ok…We're going to help you. That's why we're here
- Thank you so much , Miss Andrew, said Dana crying
- Dr. Michael is going to take a look at you and make sure you're fine, then we're going to take you to your room. And you can go to the kitchen and cook whatever you want…just make sure you clean up afterwards.
- Sure, thank you again
Dana got out of the room and Flammy took her to Dr. Michael's office. Steven was finally allowed to see Candy in her office.
- Mr. Lloyd, said Candy, how are you this morning?
Steven wished she would call him "dad", but he would take what he could
- Candy, he said, I'm fine…how are you?
- I'm fine…
- You're very good at what you do…
- It's partly thanks to your donations, thank you, said Candy.
- You're welcome. I wanted to talk to you about something about your project…
- I'm listening, said Candy looking at him with love
She wanted to hug him so much. She could feel the connection between them…
- I've invested my personal money into real estate, while my brother was ruining the family business, and I was being a playboy…Those investments ended up being a building with apartments with 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms. I wanted to donate it to your cause, so you could put your people in need there…like some kind of low rent housing. You could ask them like only 10 of what they earn…it could be affordable housing for the homeless, until they're able to fly on their own…
- I don't know what to say, said Candy moved
- Say you'll accept it…
- Yes…I'll have my lawyers look into the paperwork, but yes, thank you very much!
- It was my pleasure.
- Thank you again. I know you're doing this because I'm your daughter…
- And because I'm proud of you…
- How's Lynda?
- Your mother is fine…
- You two must be excited about the new baby…
- We are… we want you to be part of that family… when you're ready to forgive us…no pressure.
- Thank you, said Candy
- I have to go. I've got a business appointment…a business man from Chicago in fact… Reagan…
Candy was startled.
- What? Did you say Reagan? Asked Candy
- Yes…you know them?
- Sort of… said Candy a little upset. Well good luck!
- Thank you.
Steven saw Candy's reaction to the name "Reagan". He was more determined than ever to make them pay, for making his daughter suffer. He left the shelter. He arrived to the meeting. Mr. Reagan was in advance.
- Mr. Lloyd, he said, it's good to meet you.
- Mr. Reagan, said Steven, come in please.
They got into the office.
- Please have a seat…
- Thank you…
- What can I do for you?
- I learned that you recently bought my debt…
- Indeed I did…
- I was hoping to convince you to, give me the same conditions as my previous arrangements…
- Oh, but it's my debt now, and I can do whatever I want to…
- I don't understand…why would you need my business? You don't need it
- You're business is struggling… I've got your debt and I can do with it as I please
- Is this personal?
- You can say that…
- I don't remember meeting you, or doing something bad to you… was this from school? Did I beat you at something? Because I don't get it…why the hostility…?
- You haven't done anything wrong in your life? Let me refresh your memory… years ago, you adopted a young girl from an orphanage…only to treat her like crap
- Candy? This is about Candy? I don't understand…what does Candy have to do with all this?
- Everything…I'm going to tell you a little story… When I was very young, I had a one night stand with Lynda de Rothschild, who is now my wife, she got pregnant, hid it from everybody and she left her baby at the doorstep of the Pony Home. That baby was Candice White, the little girl you adopted or hired or whatever you wanted to do with her, to treat her worse than an animal…
- But…
- Didn't your mother tell you to always be nice to people? You never know where your salvation is going to come from…You made my daughter cry, you turned her into the help, moved her room to the stables, accused her of stealing and shipped her to Mexico like a common parcel, where she was sold…years later, your wife had her black listed because she wouldn't agree to marry your coward of a son… you're going to have to pay for all that. Now you get out of my office!
- Is there anything I can do to make up for what we did to her? Please, I beg you…
- For the moment? Not! All you had to do back then, is treat her right… and your business would've been debt free instead of full of debt, because I would've paid off your debt as a thank you for taking care of her… I bet you're regretting your attitude right now…too little too late! Now get out of my office! I've got work to do.
Mr. Reagan had no other choice but to comply. Candy, it all came back to Candy and the awful way his family treated her…now they had to pay for it the hard way.
Terry was surprised by Susanna's attitude. She had changed at lot. He had taken her to see Hathaway who was glad to give Susanna a role. Susanna was so happy that she jumped to Terry's neck and kissed him on the lips. Terry felt weird, it felt familiar… but he had never kissed Susanna before, and she took advantage of the fact they were in front of Robert Hathaway.
- Thank you so much Mr. Hathaway, said Susanna, I never thought I would be back on stage one day! I thought my dreams were over when I lost my leg saving you, my love…
- Well I'm glad, that didn't stop you, said Mr. Hathaway
- Terry, you're going to help me with my lines…
- Of course I will, said Terry
- So can I expect you to be ready in a couple of weeks, Susanna? Said Mr. Hathaway
- I'll be ready, said Susanna smiling, I'm going to go home now, to start studying my role…bye Mr. Hathaway and thank you again
- Goodbye Susanna
- Bye honey, she said to Terry
Susanna left and Terry was alone with Hathaway in his office.
- Well well well, she's a happy camper!
- Yes, she is…
- When are you marrying her?
- We haven't set a date yet, said Terry
- Just tell me in advance, so I could clear my schedule
- All right, said Terry
He got out of the office. He's not going to marry Susanna. He wanted to marry Candy… and he was going to marry Candy. He went on with his work and the decided to go see Candy at her shelter.
- Freckles…he said, hello
- Terry, she said smiling
- Are you free for lunch?
- Yes… I need a break, she said smiling, it's actually good to see you!
- Gee, I feel so special
- What I meant was, you're right on cue, she said smiling
- The good doctor is not here today?
- Don't start, Terry. I'm in a good mood
- All right, Freckles…let's go
He took her to a little restaurant, not too far and they had lunch. Terry was actually courting her.
- What are you doing, Terry?
- Well, I'm courting you, Miss Andrew
- I can see that, why?
- Because I think you're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen…
- Oh my God, said Candy
- Our previous relationship started off rocky, this time, I want to make things right…
- You're engaged to another woman!
- Not for long… I'm taking care of that…
- But…
- Come on, Miss Andrew, let me talk…I want to start with a clean slate…
Candy looked at him. He was as stubborn as a mule. He was going to do as he pleased and she had to admit, getting courted by Terry was very nice.
- All right, go ahead, Master Grandchester, give me an earful! She said smiling
Terry smiled and he made a play for her. Candy was ecstatic. She never cared much for the male attention, but coming from Terry, it was like a wind of happiness…
"What are you doing Candy? You still have issues with him! But having a little fun is good…" She said to her head.
She had a lovely lunch with Terry and he took her back to the shelter afterwards.
- That was a lovely lunch Master Grandchester
- It was lovely only because of your presence…, said Terry smiling
Candy burst out laughing. Terry kissed her hand and she went back to work. Flammy was looking at her from the window. She smiled when she got there.
- Well, getting charmed by the King of Broadway? Said Flammy
- It was jus lunch, said Candy smiling, come let's go back to work
Mr. Reagan went back home devastated. His wife went to see him in his bedroom, since he went straight there without passing through the living room.
- My dear friend, what's the matter? Did you meet with Steven Lloyd?
- Yes…
- And? Will he give us the conditions as the previous bank?
- No!!!
- Why?
- Apparently, it's personal
- Personal?
- Yes…
- How? Did you have the same girlfriend in school or something?
- Boy, I wish!
- What was it, then?
- Candy…
- Candy?
- Yes…
- I don't understand. What does Candy have to do with our business?
- Everything!
- How? Did she tell Albert not to help us by seducing him again?
- What is it with you and that poor girl? You hated her from the second you saw her, so did the kids…
- You shouldn't have brought her to us…
- Maybe I shouldn't have, because she's now costing us everything…
- What do you mean?
- It turns out, Steven Lloyd, had a one night stand with his current wife: Lynda de Rothschild years ago…which resulted in Candy
- What??? Oh my God!
- Yes… now he found his daughter and he discovered how much we've made her suffer, so he decided to make us suffer too…
- Oh my God! I told you that girl was bad for us! Why did you have to bring her home??!!!
Mr. Reagan looked at his wife stunned.
- The fact that you were awful to her doesn't even bother you??? How much would it have cost you to simply be nice to her, be a mother to her???
- I didn't ask you for another daughter, I already had a daughter!
- Well, now we're bankrupt…
- This is all your fault! If you hadn't brought that little monkey into our home…
- Well the only way now we could be saved, is if we apologise to Candy and beg her to ask her father to let us be…
- What? Never! I'm not apologizing to that stable girl!
- That stable girl is now a Rothschild, do you know how much she's worth??? Swallow you pride Sarah, we have to do this… unless you want to end up on the streets…Tell the kids…
- NO! I won't do it!!!
Mr. Reagan had an exasperated sigh and he left the room. He had to think of a way to make Steven Lloyd change his mind. He was going to go see Candy…
Candy's friends came to New York to be near her. Jacques got the job he wanted in some big corporation Woolworth. Archie was working in the New York Branch of the Andrew Enterprises. Annie and Patty were helping Candy at the shelter. Archie was living in the family villa in New York. Jacques had an apartment on Park Avenue. Annie was living at the villa with Archie and Patty was with her boyfriend.
Terry was relieved to see Susanna back on stage. She was so happy to be "useful" again. Her mother was glad too.
- Baby, you were wonderful! She said
- Thank you mom, said Susanna smiling
- Terrence must be relieved…
- Because I'm acting again?
- Yes, remember losing your leg made him feel guilty for cutting your career short…
- Don't worry mom. I've got an ace in my sleeve…
- What are you up to???
- You don't need to know anything…
Terry came to the loge and congratulated her.
- You were fabulous, Susanna, said Terry smiling
- Thank you Terry, said Susanna
- Let's go home and celebrate, said Mrs. I had a special meal for tonight
They went home to celebrate. Dinner was great… But before she went to bed, Terry wanted to speak to her.
- Susanna… I'm very happy to see that you're back on stage…
- I very happy too, Terry….
- That's why what I'm going to tell you is going to hurt you, so I apologise in advance….I can't marry you, Susanna…
- What???
- I can't marry you. I'm in love with Candy…
- What else is new? You came back to me, when you left…
- It's because I saw her in that sordid theatre I was working in…I saw her crying, she was in pain seeing me so drunk and miserable… it gave me strength and I sobered up on the spot and came back to you
- Seeing Candy, sent you back to me? That should tell you something, you belong with me!
- I'm miserable, Susanna… I love Candy… and I'm going to convince her to take me back… I'm going to go spend the night in a hotel… I'll send for my stuff when I find a place to live
- Terry…, said Susanna crying, you chose tonight of all night, the night I was so happy to be back on stage, to dump me…
- I don't think it would've hurt you any less another time…, good bye Susanna
Terry had a packed bag and he left the house. Susanna went to her room.
"Everything is going as planned, she said. You'll come back to me, Terry… you'll see"
She went to bed with a smile. Terry thought she was crying…
"It's not over Terry, not by a long shot!" She said laughing