Mommy Dearest
by Mallory Quinn
Chapter 20
"Together we're strong"
A few days later, Candy was at the shelter working. It was the end of the day. Patty was getting ready to leave.
- Thanks Patty, said Candy, have a good night
- Good night Candy, don't stay here for too long, said Patty
- I won't. I'm not feeling really good today.
- I'll see you tomorrow, said Patty
She crossed Flammy at the door.
- Bye Flammy, said Patty
- Bye Patricia, said Flammy
Flammy looked at Candy.
- Are you ok, Candy? She asked
- Yes, said Candy, is Michael here?
- Yes, said Flammy, you should talk to him…
- Why? Said Candy
- Because you look kind of pale…, said Flammy
Michael arrived in her office to talk about his schedule at the shelter, but he stopped when he saw Candy.
- Candy, said Michael, are you ok?
- Yes, Michael, I'm a nurse remember?
- Yes, I know, and nurses like doctors make the worst patients…
Patty came back to the office with something in her hands.
- Patty, said Flammy, what have you got there?
- It's for Candy, said Patty
- What is it, said Candy, a gift basket? You can give it to the boarders, said Candy, I can't eat anything
- It's not anything you can eat, but it's a gift, well sort of…
- Patricia, said Candy, what on earth are you talking about???
- Come and see, said Patty
Candy walked to Patty and she saw a baby in the basket.
- A baby? They must've thought we were an orphanage, said Candy
- Candy, said Patty, I don't think this was a mistake
- Why? Said Candy
- Because, there's a letter and it's addressed to you and Terry
- What? Said Candy
- Here it is, said Patty
Patty gave her the letter and Candy took it. She opened it and read it…She couldn't see the content, she felt dizzy and she fainted. She would've fallen on the floor, if Michael hadn't caught her…
- Candy! Said Flammy worried
Michael took her to the clinic and he had a look at her. She finally came to after a while.
- What happened? Said Candy
- You fainted, said Michael
- Oh…
- Did you eat anything at today?
- I wasn't very hungry...
- You should take better care or yourself Candy, you're eating for two…
Candy looked at him like he had three heads.
- What did you just said?
- You're pregnant, Mrs. Grandchester, congratulations!!!! Said Michael smiling
- Oh… but… oh my God!!!! Said Candy smiling, thank you Michael!
- I don't think I had anything to do with it… he joked, not that I know of…
- Michael! Said Candy smiling
- You know Candy, I've always thought that if you didn't love Terry, that you and I would've hooked up
Candy looked at him and she smiled.
- Maybe in another world, without Terry, said Candy
- I know how much you love him…, said Michael, and I'm ok with it… I just wanted to tell you that I had a crush on you ever since I helped you get down that tower with that stupid suitcase…
Candy smiled.
- Thank you again for helping me coming down that tower, said Candy
- You were quite the daredevil! Said Michael
They burst out laughing.
- I hope Terry knows how lucky he is to have you, said Michael
- Believe me Michael, he knows how lucky he is to have gotten me back!!!! Said Candy
- You're going to have a baby, you need to slow down a little Candy, the shelter is fine
- It's almost normal for a pregnant woman to faint…
- Candy…I know the Susanna matter has upset you. You need to be calm and get some rest. I don't want to see you here until you've calm down. Stay home and enjoy being pampered… because I'm sure Terry is going to be crazed with joy when he hears you're pregnant
- Yes, said Candy smiling
She thought about what happened before she fainted.
- Oh, the baby, the letter, where is it?
- Calm down, Candy or I'm going to have to sedate you…
- I'm pregnant Michael, said Candy, you can't drug me like that…
- Don't tempt me, he said smiling, wait here, I'm going to tell the others you're fine…
Michael got out of the room and called the other. Patty came in with the letter.
- Candy, did something in this letter made you faint? Said Patty
- No, Patty, I didn't even read that letter, said Candy
- Oh, said Patty, you're sure you want to read it?
- The letter came with a baby girl, didn't it…? Asked Candy
Patty gave Candy the letter. Candy read the letter and she couldn't believe their eyes.
- Oh my God! Said Candy, Oh my God!
- What? Said Patty
- Oh… I'll tell you later, for now I have to go home… with that baby! Said Candy
- Are you sure?
- Yes…
Candy went to get some baby clothes they had at the shelter for the needy and some diapers. She also took some bottles and some milk for the baby. The driver was waiting for her outside.
- Candy, said Michael I don't want to see you here until you calm down you hear me…?
- Michael, don't worry about it, you won't see me for a while, said Candy
The driver came and helped her. She got to the apartment and the staff was surprised to see her with a baby… she told the maid to take care of the baby. She called a department store which was about to close to send her a crib, a pram, some diapers, baby clothes etc…Anything for the Rothschild granddaughter… She wanted to call her mother, but she wanted to speak to Terry first. She was surprised to see him home early.
- Honey, she said, what are you doing here?
- I do live here, don't I ? Said Terry
- I mean so early, silly!
- Michael called me, he said you fainted…
- Oh…
- Freckles, what's wrong? Are you ok?
- Yes, Terry, I'm fine. It was nothing...
- What was it? People just don't faint for nothing...
- You're right…
- Why did you faint, did you see a doctor?
- Michael was at the shelter's clinic
- What did he said, are you sick ?
- No, I'm just a little pregnant...
- A little pregnant? Said Terry looking at her
- I'm going to have a baby Terry…
- Oh my God Freckles! He said hugging her hard! Oh my God! I'm so happy!!!
He kissed her on the lips for a long time. They were interrupted by a baby cry. Terry was startled.
- What was that? Said Terry
- A baby crying, said Candy
- That's what I thought… honey, I may not have gone to med school, but I'm pretty sure a baby takes nine months to be born and that your belly should've been bigger, before that happens…
- I knew I married a smart man, said Candy smiling
The maid arrived with the baby; she had bathed her and changed her diaper which was soaked, she was wearing a beautiful pink little dress. Candy took the baby.
- Honey? Said Terry looking at the scene, are you babysitting for someone? That's not your little brother, it's too small and it's a girl from the pink it's wearing…
Candy was smiling to the baby…
- There's a letter by the lamp over there honey, said Candy
Terry took the letter and read it, he couldn't believe his eyes.
Dear Candy and Terry,
I've been spinning out of control since the accident that cost me my leg. I've made all the wrong choices. And now as a result, I brought a poor innocent baby into this world. But I don't want to be a mother; I got pregnant for the wrong reasons... which now seem stupid and trivial.
I saved your life Terry, because I love you so much and I didn't want anything to happen to you. But you loved another woman… I should've accepted that… But what's done is done. I'm going away for good and I'm leaving you the baby, which was for me only a means to an end…I'm going to be honest, you might not be the father, but since you owe me, take care of her and we'll be even. I want her to have you and Candy as parents, even though I hate to admit it; she's a really good person.
Candy, I know I caused you pain and heartache, don't take it out on that innocent baby…I was thinking of giving her up for adoption, but I thought, since she was a means to an end, she might as well end this thing between us…
Don't worry, I won't come back to look for her later. I'm never going to go through that again! Motherhood is definitely not for me!!!!
May you both forgive me for everything…
Susanna
P.S. I haven't named her, since I didn't want to keep her anyway…
Terry was still astonished.
- Candy… he said
He looked at her; she was feeding the baby, looking at her with love.
- Candy…, he repeated
- Terry…isn't she adorable?
- Candy, you're ok with this? He asked worried
There was some noise. The delivery people with the baby stuff… Terry looked at her surprised
- Terry…she abandoned this little angel…if we take care of her; she said you're even…
- She could've called it even when you saved her…
- Yeah, no kidding…
- Candy, you're pregnant…
- And I now have another baby…if you're ok of course…
- She's Susanna's baby…I guess she's my responsibility since her mother saved my life… but if for any reason, this bothers you… we can make other arrangements…
- I have the opportunity to give a home to a poor abandoned baby girl, whose mommy dearest used as a means to an end…
- You're thinking about you don't you?
- I'm making you the promise that this little girl is never going to suffer the way I did. She's going to know that she can count on me…her mother to love her and comfort her, and I will never let anybody make her cry on purpose…
Candy was determined to keep Susanna's baby. She was going to be the mother she wanted to have when she was a little girl. That little girl is going to be love, cherished and taken care of by Candy and Terry. Candy felt she was going to wipe the wrong done to her by the Reagans…but she was going to love that baby with all her heart.
Terry looked at Candy and he knew she was going to best mother in the world to that little girl and to their own children. He went to sit next to her.
- Are you sure this doesn't bother you Freckles?
- I'm sure Terry, believe me…
He looked at the baby; she looked so pure and innocent.
- All this happened because I chose to leave you with her that time…, said Candy, they say when you save someone's life, you're responsible for it… I saved Susanna from jumping off the roof… so in a way I felt responsible for her and my answer was to give her the one thing that was going to give her hope; you, even though I died doing that…
- With her losing a leg saving me, I became responsible for her…
- Now she left us a little present, and she says we're even…
- It's a baby, Candy…
- I can see that Terry…Well, it's Susanna, the drama queen! Said Candy smiling
- You're incredible…
- I'm with you Terry, and with you I can live through anything. Together we're strong!
A great man once said: Winter never fails to turn into Spring
And though we're so different
you and I
when we're together
Even the cold of December
feels like the middle of May. .
You are the night I am the day
you are the star that shows the way.
You are the instrument I play
you're all the words I long to say.
You are the land I am the sea
you are in counterpoint to me
And we agree to disagree
no need to lie.
I only know when we're apart
I only live with half a heart.
I need your hand to play my card
together we're strong
we can't go wrong
And now we know just what to do
and how to get our meaning through.
We're only one when we are two
together we're strong.
Together we're strong
together we're strong
Together we're strong
together we're strong
we can't go wrong.
And every time your eyes meet mine
I feel the world fall into line.
I'm passing on that good luck sign
let's keep hanging on.
And now we know just what to do
and how we get our meaning through.
We're only one when we are two
together we're strong.
And I will always try to understand you
I'll be there if you should need me
Plan you in my life
there's so much we can share with each other.
But if we say goodbye it's not forever
I can't lose you now I've found you
I need you in my life
'cause now you're in my life.
And together we're strong
there are so many ways of looking at the world
Everyone has a different dream
yours may not be the same as mine
But when we're together
we can make them all come true.
You are the night I am the day
you are the star that shows the way. . . .
You are the night I am the day
you are the star that shows the way
You are the music to my song
together we're strong.
Together we're strong
together we're strong
together we're strong.
- We need to give her a name, said Candy, what do you think daddy?
- I think we can find a nice name for this little angel, said Terry
- I was thinking of Juliet, but since her mother didn't get to play Juliet, bad memories…
- You're right…Juliet is out…
- I was thinking of something… she brought us peace from Susanna, didn't she?
- Angel of peace?
- Why not?
- I was kidding…
- It's perfect!
- Sounds like a sentence…
- She brought peace, with the only thorn we had in our lives…
- Susanna… you think she's gone for good???
- There were other papers in the basket, she's rescinding her parental rights… and…
- And?
- She put you down as the father…, said Candy
- Oh…but she did say I might not be…
- Well as the official father of the baby, it's easy for us to keep her…, she's legally yours…
- You do know she did this to spite us, don't you?
- Maybe, but we're not going to let her get to us. We're going to love this baby and we're going to forget who her birth mother was…
- Candy, for the last time, are you sure about this?
- Yes, Terry... I'm sure…She got pregnant as a ploy to keep you, mostly because I was living in New York…
- You're not going to blame yourself…
- No, I'm not. She's responsible for her own actions… But I'm sure.
- All right. What about her mother?
- You're the legal father, she can't do anything and I think she's going to leave us alone…
He leaned and kissed her on the lips. He kissed the baby on the forehead.
- You're pregnant, don't overdo it
- Well I'm going to get the experience I need for our second baby…
- Our second, baby…
- From this moment on, let's forget about Susanna. This baby is ours…
Terry looked at her and he had a deep sigh.
- All right, said Terry. This little angel is ours…
And that's how it was. Candy and Terry got baby Angel of Peace baptised, Patty was her godmother, since she found the basket in front of the door. Susanna had disappeared; even her mother didn't know were she was. Nicholas Pratt had left town to start over clean in another town. He loved life more than women…
Candy took some time off to take care of the baby. Her own pregnancy was going fine. Terry was proud to have a wife like Candy and he was also relieved to see the Susanna drama finally come to an end. He hired a private investigator to look for Susanna. It turns out she wasn't in America anymore, she got an offer she couldn't refuse to act in a theatre in Hong Kong which was a British colony…The Rothschilds had properties in Hong Kong…. Terry smiled… Candy's family was taking care of her, she was very lucky. Candy wouldn't have to worry about Susanna coming to take her baby back.
Candy's friends were also extending their families. The three friends were pregnant at the same time. Candy's parents had another baby girl. They didn't mind having children who were going to be the same age as Candy's children… Terry's father invited Eleonor to England to try and rekindle their relationship. He had separated from his wife and he wanted to try again with Terry's mother.
The Reagans were struggling living the simple life… which could've been avoided if only they had just apologised to Candy… Albert was still the big traveller, coming home from time to time. As the head of the family, he needed to have a family and an heir… So he settled down to fulfill his duty…
Candy's relationship with her "mommy dearest" was at its best. They were very close and they called each other everyday. Her father was very close to her too and her grandparents, as crazy as they sounded, were crazy about their granddaughter and their great-grandchildren. Her life with Terry was everything she had ever dreamed of…She often thought about how she got everything she ever wanted; a mother, a father, brothers, sisters and the most important, a family with Terry the man she loved with all her heart. She went on a quest for herself and she found herself and her future. She had a different take on things which made her think about herself first…The little girl who was always happy, who forgave everybody got fed up at one point and a boiling rage just took over… just when all her dreams were about to come true, when her mother was looking for her to make amends. It took some therapy, patience, forgiveness and most of all love, to make things right. Love from the man she loved and love from her new found parents…To forgive is to love and to love is to forgive; it's a pleonasm. When you forgive, you love twice as much. Candy, when her anger was over, forgave her mother, her father, Terry, Susanna… Yes, she forgave Susanna for everything; she had to let go of her anger, which also included Susanna having Terry while she was alone and miserable. Susanna had prevented her from seeing Terry when he came to Chicago and they only caught a glimpse of each other. She hated leaving the man she loved to another woman just because she saved her life. She saved Susanna's life, why didn't Susanna told her they were even? Because Susanna was thinking of herself, unlike Candy… Anyway, that was all water under the bridge. Candy was married to Terry, about to have a baby, with a little present Susanna had left them. Why did she agree to keep Susanna's baby? Because, despite everything, Susanna still saved Terry's life on that stage…Whether she was madly in love with him or not, she did saved his life, and just for that, Candy will be eternally grateful to her. So taking Susanna's baby for Terry's life, despite everything, was a small price to pay, to be rid of Susanna for good. Yes, for good, because little Angel of Peace's mommy dearest was never going to come back. Whether Terry was or was not the daddy was not important, that innocent little baby had a mother in Candy who was not going to make her feel like she was alone in this world, she's going to be loved and cherished. Love and forgiveness are quite powerful…
Love, love changes everything: hands and faces, earth and sky.
Love, love changes everything: how you live and how you die.
Love can make the summer fly, or a night seem like a lifetime.
Yes, love, love changes everything, now I tremble at your name.
Nothing in the world will ever be the same.
Love, love changes everything: days are longer, words mean more.
Love, love changes everything: pain is deeper than before.
Love will turn your world around, and that world will last forever.
Yes, love, love changes everything, brings you glory, brings you shame.
Nothing in the world will ever be the same.
Off into the world we go, planning futures, shaping years.
Love bursts in and suddenly all our wisdom disappears.
Love makes fools of everyone: all the rules we make are broken.
Yes, love, love changes everything: live or perish, in its flame.
Love will never ever let you be the same.
Love will never ever let you be the same.
Candy and Terry learned that, maybe a little later, but they did learn that in this world, there's nothing better than love. Love is the key to everything.
Epilogue
Candy had a beautiful little baby girl to keep Angel company. Annie had a girl and Patty too!
Michael finally got over his crush on Candy, well sort of, he didn't really have the choice, since she was happily married to the man she loved and a mother, and he started to see Flammy with a new eye… Flammy who thought Michael was attractive since the war, was glad to finally have him come after her. The good doctor and the nurse were a perfect couple on every level. They got married and were starting a family too.
The Great Aunt was still in Lakewood, alone without her beloved niece Sarah, who had to work for a living. Neil started to hang out with the wrong crowd. A near death experience with another gang made him rethink his life. He went to see Candy to apologise for everything and as a result, Albert gave him a job in the mail room of the Chicago branch of his company. He was going to keep an eye on him. Eliza and her mother were still saying that they would rather die, then apologise to Candy!!!! Well, it was their loss… a moment of humility and poverty, they chose poverty…. Eliza became the mistress of several rich men, so she had a very bad reputation. Her brother begged her to apologise, but she refused, accusing him of being weak…She never got her dignity or her reputation back.
Albert was married and had a family of his own. He had met his wife who was a nurse and a missionary, they were a perfect match. They continued travelling an unlike the Cornwells, they took their children with them everywhere, until they were old enough for St. Paul College, they would then come and get them for the summer vacations. Albert had had a lonely childhood without his parents. He didn't want his children to feel alone or abandoned like he felt.
Susanna indeed, never came back to America. All that crazy life she had there seemed so far and away, for her. She lived in Asia and she was happy. The baby she abandoned was part of a life she wanted to forget, so she didn't think about her. She knew she was in good hands with Candy and Terry… even if she did that as a last attempt to create problems between Candy and Terry. But she knew that Candy, the little Mary Sunshine, was not going to fall in the trap…
Annie and Patty were living fine with their children growing up all together and being friends like they were along with Candy's friends and brothers and sisters…Candy's parents were living happy too. Having spent most of their lives having fun, they were happy to have settled down with a family. Their crazy dysfunctional families were still there…
Terry became the manager of his troupe, but he spent more time with his family. Something he didn't really have when he was little… he spent the most time possible with his children and some of them were interested in acting. But Terry, wanted them to finish school first. Since he was the manager of a troupe, he would be there to help when they still want to act…
Candy continued working at the shelter, and she had managed to open some more shelters, for young boys also. But she had a lot of people working for her so she would spend most of her time with her children and her husband. The Pony Home was also fine, with bottomless funds, to take care of little orphans.
There is only one life to live, you can let it go by and have regrets at the end of your life, or you can live it the way you wanted to and have wonderful memories in the end. Candy didn't let the second window of opportunity pass her by, she took it, fixed the problems and live the life she wanted with the man she wanted and the family she'd always wanted.
Love is everything it's cracked up to be…It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for.
THE END