Mommy Dearest
by Mallory Quinn
Chapter 15
"The family reunion"
Lynda got a call from her father late that night. He had just come back from a business trip and he had heard the rumours about Candy and the Wallace's party. She was expecting either a call or a visit from her parents.
- Lynda! What the hell is going on??? The Andrew girl is your child???
- Father, said Lynda, well hello to you too! I'm fine thank you and what about you?
- Don't change the subject! You had a baby out of wedlock??? You had a bastard child???
- Don't call her that!!!! That's your granddaughter!!! And she's now legitimate…
- How??? Asked her father yelling
- Well I'm married…
- So…?
- Steven is her father….
- COME AGAIN!!!!!???
- I'm sorry I hid that from you…
- You had an illegitimate child with Steven Lloyd and you're just telling us now???? Lynda, I thought I knew you, but … I don't know who you are!!!
- Father, why did you think I didn't mess up this marriage you arranged for me??? It was Steven, the father of my baby!!!!
- Oh my God! I thought you were complying too fast, but I thought it was because you were desperate to be married…
- I'm not that desperate!!
- Lynda…oh Lynda….
- She's a good girl, you said so yourself, she reminded you of me…you were generous to her cause…
- She's my granddaughter… and you abandoned her… you let those people treat her like dirt… she slept in the stables, with horses!!! Lynda!!!!
- Father please… I was a child and I was afraid of you…
- Oh my God! Why? Did I gave you the impression that I was going to eat you or something…?
- Or something…
- All right…we're not going to talk about this over the phone. Bring her to us, we want to meet her officially, tomorrow night for dinner. The Lloyds are going to be here as well…
- But father…
- Tomorrow night Lynda…good night!
He hung up the phone before she could respond. Steven was looking at her.
- Dinner tomorrow night with my parents to meet Candy officially? Guessed Steven
- Yes…
- Well, it's not going to be that bad… they have a new found granddaughter; they must be happy deep down inside somewhere…
- You think so? I don't want Candy to be alienated… we're working on our therapy. I don't need my parents to come and ruin that…
- It's going to be fine, you'll see…
- I'll tell Candy in the morning, we're going to see the therapist again… She was such a sweet little girl, so confused… What have I done???
- You're fixing it…come on to bed honey, he said
She went to bed in her husband's arms. He comforted her, as usual and he had his hand on her growing belly.
Somebody else had her hand on a growing belly, with a mean smile.
"Be patient little one, your daddy is going to be here with us soon" She said before closing her eyes and fall asleep
Susanna Marlowe was sound asleep, with an evil plan in her mind; separate the star crossed lovers once again…
Candy woke up and she got ready. She got a phone call from her mother.
- How are you? She asked
- I'm fine…my parents heard the rumour about the scene at the Wallace's party
- Oh…
- They want to meet you…if that's ok with you…Steven parent's are going to be there too… so we could do this just once…
Candy was taken by surprise. Her grandparents on both sides…
- All right, she said, we might as well get it over with, said Candy, can I bring Terry?
- Of course, honey…but you're going to hear some hints about him being my "boy toy"
- That's ok… I know nothing happened between the two of you…
- Just be ready for some weird exchange…
- I will. Thank you for calling. I'll see you in a little while…
- All right. See you later…
Candy hung up the phone. She finished getting ready and she went to Terry's room. He was getting ready too…
- Good morning sunshine, he said smiling
She approached him and kissed him on the lips
- I missed you, she said…
- Maybe we should get married fast so we could sleep in the same bed…
- Is that a proposal? Said Candy looking at him
- You know I want to marry you…
- No I don't , you haven't asked me… you've asked Susanna whom you pretend you don't love. But me, who's supposedly the love of your life… I still yet have to hear the proposal…
- Freckles… he said kissing her…all in due time
- The last time we thought we had all the time in the world…you know what happened…
- It won't happen again…
- I don't trust Susanna, ever since she lied to me in Chicago and called me a "fan"….
- Forget about all that, honey…think positive. You're making progress with your mother….
- And I'm meeting the Rothschilds and the Lloyds tonight…
- Tonight?
- Mom just called; they heard the rumour about the scene at the Wallace's…
- So they want to meet their new found granddaughter…
- Yes…you want to come with me?
- I'll do anything you want…I'll be there for you…
- Thank you… let's go eat breakfast and go to the doctor's…
They had breakfast and they went to the doctor's cabinet where they found Lynda waiting for them.
- Hi mom, said Candy hugging her
They stayed like that for a while, savouring the warmth… They went to the doctor's office smiling. The next session was going to be painful one… the house from hell… Lynda cried while she heard all the horrible things that had happened to her daughter.
- I tried not to cry, said Candy, I tried to be brave, but I was only a little girl… I promised Sister Maria that I was going to be brave, but sometimes, it was too much, I had to cry…
- Did you felt abandoned?
- I was alone…I didn't want to show my friends that I was crying all the time…the Reagans were all so mean… Eliza was told to lend me a dress for the party, so she gives me a dress she wore when she was younger, so it was obviously too small for me and then she said I was too fat to wear her dresses…I was practically alone in that house, the help couldn't do much against their masters…
She continued talking and crying. How she ran away, Albert saving her life. Anthony slapping her when she got him worried.
- How did you feel about that? Him slapping you
- He was worried about me…
- So he slapped you? You think that's normal…
- He didn't know where I was…
- Don't you think a hug would've been more appropriate?
- I was used to been yelled at, abandoned, ignored…Anthony slapping me… I thought, he was worried…it's all right
"Oh my God!" Said Lynda in her head
The Mexico ordeal also very intense…
- You went back to save the man who took you to Mexico?
- He was only doing what he was told…
Then it was the good life, the adoption by William Andrew, Anthony…
- He was my prince, said Candy, all I needed was him and everything was better… but it didn't last…
- What happened?
- He died on me…on the day they were celebrating my adoption…!
- That must've been painful…
- I saw him fall to his death, it was awful, said Candy crying, he abandoned me… he left me too, like the others; like my mommy, Tommy, Annie…
She talked about her grieving, then being sent to college and meeting Terry, on the boat.
- I couldn't stand him! Said Candy smiling talking about Terry
- Ok, that's enough for today. How are you feeling?
- It's good to talk about what happened with a professional…
- Candy, said Lynda, oh my God!
- It's ok, mom…, said Candy hugging her, we have to get past this…
- We will baby…
They left the medical cabinet. Lynda went back her house, she had a doctor's appointment, for her pregnancy.
Candy went to the shelter with Terry who was still pretending to look just like The King of Broadway, when anybody asked him if it was him. Candy was happy to spend the day with him.
Susanna wasn't happy Terry wasn't coming at the theatre. She went to see Robert at his office to ask him why.
- Mr. Hathaway, she said, why isn't Terry here?
- Susanna, he said, why do you want to know where Terrence is?
- Well I just want to make sure he's fine
- I thought the two of you have broken up…
- Yes, we are. But I still worry about him. I still care about him
- Terrence is fine, Susanna, don't worry about him. He's going to come back at the theatre when he's ready…Now if that's all, I would like you to go back to work…
- Of course, Mr. Hathaway, said Susanna…
She stood up and she felt dizzy. Robert walked to her to hold her.
- Are you ok, Susanna?
- I'm just a little light headed, she said, I'm fine
- You should go and eat something; I wouldn't want you to get sick on my watch…
- I will, said Susanna, thank you Mr. Hathaway
Susanna left the office and Robert looked at her leaving. She didn't look very well. He hoped that her health was still good. That accident on his set was taunting him, the insurance company had raised their premium, but they yet had to pay Susanna her compensation.
Susanna wasn't happy. Terry wasn't coming at the theatre. He was spending his days with Candy! When he was with her, he was avoiding her like she had the plague, and spending his time at work. Now he's neglecting his work to spend his time with Candy…
"Damn you Candy! She said in her head, I thought I could see him here, and you managed to keep him away from the theatre!"
It was lunch time and Susanna went to have lunch with her special friend at his apartment.
- Nicholas, she said smiling
- How's my favourite actress
- Hungry, she said smiling
- Lunch is ready for you, my darling…
Susanna smiled and she got in. She was going to eat lunch with Nicholas, and then some…!
In Chicago, Mrs. Brighton was on the phone with her daughter. She hung up the phone and went to the dinning room to have lunch with her husband.
- How's Annie?
- She's fine…
- Living at the Andrew mansion in New York?
- Yes… don't worry she's fine with her fiancée…
- I thought she was going to stay with Candy…
- That young girl leaving alone; it's not right…
- I don't know what you had against Candy, from the beginning…
- What do you mean?
- I wanted to adopt her…but you got there and picked Annie
- I thought we agreed on that one…
- I wanted Candy…
- And I wanted Annie…maybe we should've taken them both…
- We had the money, but how would you have explained two little orphans from a distant cousin instead of one??? He said
- What's got into you??? Why are you regretting not adopting Candy now, years later?
- In case you hadn't heard, it was recently discovered that she's the Rothschilds' grand daughter…The Reagans are out in the streets for treating Candy like crap…
- Oh… and if we had adopted her, we would've been rewarded by the Rothschilds…
- And the Lloyds, since her birth father is Steven Lloyd…That would've been very good for our business. We would've been set for life…
- Are we ok?
- We're struggling…
- So it's my fault then, for not going along with your choice and choosing Candy?
- Maybe she was too strong headed for you… you liked Annie's weakness to manipulate her better…Now we're struggling
- You can go to them as ask for a loan…
- Let's just hope they won't figure out that we actually made their daughter unhappy by separating her from her best friend, and you by forcing Annie to ignore her at the Reagan's…
- There are other banks…
- Not like the Rothschilds and the Lloyds'…William Andrew is the one they're going to be grateful to, and he doesn't need a dime of their money!!! Next time honey, would you just follow my lead???
Mrs. Brighton remained silent. She did choose Annie because she looked more vulnerable than Candy… Candy looked too independent…But now, giving their financial situation, maybe she should've picked, Candy who now turns out to be worth more than they could've ever imagined…
Candy was getting ready to go see her grandparents. Terry had gone back to his hotel room to change and he came back to pick her up. Candy had a beautiful pink dress on and she had her hair done, in lovely curls. She let it down.
- Terry, she said, thanks for coming with me…
- I would go with you to the end of the world he said smiling
- You want us to take the driver? I want to be in your arms in the car…
- Of course, he said smiling; let's go see your grandparents!
She was nervous, but with Terry there she felt better. He was her rock. They took the driver and they went to the Rothschild mansion which looked more like a hotel than a house.
- Ready Freckles? He asked
- Are you ready? They might attack you too…
- Don't you worry about me, Freckles, I can handle myself…
- I don't doubt it for a second…, let's go then!
They went to ring the door. A butler opened the door and they saw Candy's parents.
- Good evening mom and dad, said Candy smiling
- Good evening Candy, they said smiling
- Lynda, Steven, said Terry
- Terrence, they said
There was a minute of silence.
- Are you ready? Said Lynda
- I am…, said Candy
- Let's go then…
They walked to the big living room with the luxury furniture and decoration. The Rothschild and the Lloyds were there sitting down. They all stood up when both couples arrived. Lynda and Steven took Candy's hand each on one side. They walked to their parents.
- Mom, dad, said Lynda
- Mom, dad, said Steven
- I'm Candice White Andrew, your granddaughter…
The four seniors looked at them for a while. Finally, Lynda's mother approached Candy and hugged her hard.
- Oh my God! She said, you look so much like Lynda! Come here baby! I'm so happy to meet you!
And then Steven's mother hugged her too.
- A granddaughter…, she said, you are so pretty!!!!
The grandfathers were looking at the scene. They had been impressed by her charity work and by her opening a shelter for young women pregnant, abused and homeless. Lynda's father approached her.
- So you're my granddaughter….
- Yes, I am…
- Is it true you slept in the stables with horses?
- Yes…
- I'm here to tell you, that if your mother had said something, none of that would've happened…
- Father, said Lynda
- I wouldn't have ate you Lynda, he said, I'm sorry I gave you that impression…
- You've always said you didn't want any illegitimate children…, said Lynda
- Maybe, but it was already done, she was our flesh and blood… Lynda…we would've taken care of her…
- Come on honey, said Lynda's mother, let's not dwell on that. We've got a beautiful granddaughter, we should be happy…
- Yes, said Steven's father, had we known of the situation back then, we would've gotten you married sooner…
- This is all my fault, said Lynda, I was young and foolish and I did things my way…but I'm trying to fix it. I married the father of my baby and she became legitimate and I wanted her to be part of my family, because she's family and I missed her every single day I was away from her…
- What is your boy toy doing here, said Lynda's father, have you no shame? She's a married woman, he said to Terry
- The boy toy, is Candice's boyfriend…, said Terry
- You're sharing your boyfriend with your daughter? Said her father, what is this? Are you so happy to have found your mother you're willing to share her boyfriend with you???
- Father! That's enough! Said Lynda
- Actually grandfather, said Candy, Terrence is my boyfriend since school in England… he befriended my mother, when we were broken up because she reminded him of me…
- And you believe that?
- Yes, I do. I trust Terrence to always tell me the truth
- You are so naïve! He said, if you say so…young man, Terrence Grandchester, right? Any relation with the duke…?
- He's my father, sir, said Terry
- And you love my granddaughter?
- Yes, I do…
- Father, leave Candy alone…don't try to arrange any marriages for her, said Lynda, she already has a boy she loves….
- I'm not trying anything, since she's with the duke's son, I was thinking of…
- Father! Said Lynda
- You're thinking of a business deal with my father? Said Terry smiling, well he's going to be surprised to hear from you, that's for sure!
- How do you like your new family Candy? Asked Steven
- Well, I like them, said Candy, they're my grandparents… a few months ago, I had no blood relatives, now I have a mother, a father, a little brother or sister on the way, grandparents…and I have Terry, the man I love…
Terry approached her and took her hand and kissed it.
- Thank you all for accepting me without questions, maybe it's because I'm already rich with my adoption, you're not thinking I'm a gold digger…, continued Candy
They all laughed softly.
- But I can feel the warmth… behind all that rudeness, grandfather, you're actually a big marshmallow…you all love each other and I'm happy to be part of your family
- You were a surprise, said Lynda's father, Lynda has done it again! But we're happy that you're here…you're family… we were impressed by your work and now I glad to say that I'm proud of my granddaughter!
He finally hugged Candy, so did Steven's father.
- Dinner is served, said a maid
They all went to dinner and they talked about everything and nothing.
- Those Reagans are going to pay for treating you like dirt…
- I already took care of that, said Steven
- Good, said Steven's father
Candy was feeling weird, it strange to see all these people, her family defend her and punish the Reagan for treating so badly all those years ago… when she was crying, all alone, day after day.
- Thank for doing this, said Candy, for defending me
- They made you sleep in the stables, Candy, to talk only about that, said Steven, they were monsters!!!
- You can say that again! Said Candy laughing, I always thought that life wasn't fair, they never had to pay for what they did…
- This is a new day, Candy, said Lynda, everything is going to be fine, from now on. You've got a family and we're going to be here to protect you, comfort you and help anyway we can.
- Hear hear! Said Grandfather Rothschild
- To the newest member of our family!!! Said Steven raising his glass
Everybody raised their glass …. Dinner was great!
Lynda and Steven went back home happy.
- Well that went well, said Lynda
- Yes, said Steven
- But…
- You're thinking that if you had gone to them back then they would've reacted differently…
- I know they would have, they've actually softened up… I wasn't afraid of them for nothing; they were so strict and severe, and that made me abandon my baby…
- They got softer with age and the fact that Candy is actually already rich made them more comfortable to accept her…
- That's not going to stop them from giving her more billions…
- Well they've accepted her, and my parents too and she accepted them…
- It must be so new for her to have all these people ready to protect her, people who actually have a blood relation with her… her family!
They went to bed happy and satisfied about the whole evening. Lynda just wished her parents were that open when she was a teen… she would've kept her little Candy…
Terry went back with Candy to her apartment. They were in the living room
- Terry you're paying for that hotel for nothing, you never sleep there, said Candy
- Your guest room is very comfortable…
- You're sure you weren't hoping to sleep in my bed…?
- I won't do anything you're not ready for…
- You want to live here with me, Terry? In the guest room that is…
- You want me to move in?
- Well you already kind of have, unofficially…I like having you here.
Terry looked at her, he approached her and hugged her.
- There's no other place I would rather be, Freckles
He let go of her, and bend on one knee…
- I know we have problems to solve, but with our love, we can do anything. I want you to know that since the first time I saw you, I was thinking of this moment…
He took a small box out of his pocket.
- Candice White Andrew Rothschild Lloyd, will you marry me?
Candy was looking at him with tears in her eyes…
- Yes, Terry, I will marry you!!!
He put the ring on her finger, stood up and kissed her on the lips for a long time. Then they burst out laughing, when they stopped.
- I love you, said Terry
- I love you, said Candy
They were young, they were in love, they were happy and nothing was going to come and ruin their bliss this time…
But life was never that simple, right?