Once Upon A Time
Chapter 12
"The Holiday season"
The holiday season arrived and it found young Marcus, back in London… He was eager to go to their London mansion, because his mother was supposed to come for Christmas. He had his bags packed with his friend Leo.
- I can't wait to see my mother…
- I'm happy for you dude…
- I wished Terry could've come too…
- You're still thinking about setting them up?
- I'm sure they were going to be perfect together.
- It's probably what you have in mind; you're wishing it so strong, that you believe it's perfect… and what if they don't like each other?
- Don't say that! I'm sure they're going to be perfect together! If my mother and Terry get together, imagine that for a while, if they get married…
- You're going a little too far…
- I have to believe it, otherwise, it's worth nothing…
- All right, good luck buddy… call me.
- All right…
The two friends left school separately. A car had come to get Marcus to take him to the Andrew mansion. It was the day before Christmas Eve, and he was waiting for his mother to arrive. He took the car and put on a hat and sunglasses to go to the airport.
Candy's plane was a little late. She was eager to get to London. When the plane finally stopped, she stood up, very in a hurry to get out to see her son. She patiently followed the passenger off the plane. When she got to the door, she thanked the pilot and the crew members. The formalities took way too much time… she will end up getting out of the airport…
Marcus was looking at the passenger, but he wasn't seeing his mother. His phone hadn't ring, so, nothing was cancelled so far. Where was his mother? When he finally saw her, all tanned, her hair lighter, very beautiful, in her flowered dress. She was looking for him with her eyes. Finally, she saw him…he smiled.
- Baby! She yelled.
- Mum! He said.
And he ran towards her. She did the same thing and they fell into each other's arms. They remained like that for a long time.
- Oh my baby, said Candy, I've missed you so much!
- I've missed you too!
She let go of him.
- Why are you wearing sunglasses? To look cool?
- No mum…
- Candy? Said a voice behind them, you're not introducing me?
Marcus was startle and looked at the person who had just talked. It was a man, blond, tanned, who was smiling. He saw his mother turning to him smiling.
- Justin… let me introduce you to my son… Marcus. Baby, this is Justin… we…
- Are engaged, said Justin smiling.
- Engaged? Said Marcus horrified.
- Yes, we're going to be a family…
- In India? Said Marcus.
- No, baby. It's time for us to go back to America. It's time for me to introduce you to my family…
- Are you kidding?
- No, I'm not kidding! You have a grandmother and a great grandmother… and on my father's side, aside from your uncle William, I have nephews, who also have children…
- Oh, but school…
- Don't worry, not now… after this school year…Let's go home…
- All right…
They got out of the airport to head back home. The driver was waiting for them, not too far and he approached the car. In the car, Candy was sitting between her son and Justin. Marcus was sulking. It never occurred to him that his mother might have a boyfriend. She had no one for years, and now, just when he wants to introduce her to Terry, she comes back with that individual? He looked at them. Candy was in Justin's arms… a real nightmare for Marcus, who was already seeing his mentor with his mother in his arms! He was sulking…
When they arrived at the villa, he got into the house after getting out of the car without saying a word.
- What's got into him? Asked Justin.
- He's jealous, that's all. He's always been the man of the house… now I bring a man back with me…
- He couldn't be thinking that you were going to be alone for the rest of your life…
- You know, little boys are very protective of their moms…
- He's not a little boy, Candy, he's almost as tall as I am, for God's sake!
- He's actually taller than you, said Candy smiling, give him some time… all right?
- All right…
They got inside the house, and Candy went to see her son in his bedroom.
- Marcus? She said, knocking on his door.
- Yes…?
- Are you all right? She asked coming in
- How could you not tell me you have a man in your life?
- I wanted to surprise you…
- Surprise me? Oh that, I was surprised, believe you me!
- Marcus, I'm a woman and I'm still young… I need love and a man in my life…
- I don't disagree, but why him?
- Why not him? He's a missionary like me, he's compassionate, he understands me.
- He understands you? Mother Teresa and … a clergyman?
- Marcus!
- I thought we were going to spend the holidays together… I haven't seen you in months… and you bring back your lover in your luggage!
- Marcus! I'm still your mother! Watch your language!
- You barely spend any time with me! You spend all your time taking care of abandoned children but you abandon your own son!
- Oh my baby! Forgive me… I promise, after this school year, I'm going to take care of you exclusively.
- With your clergyman in the portrait?
- Stop calling him that! I'm going to spend the maximum time with you… you'll see, you'll get tired of seeing me.
- Never…, he said with a soft voice, I love you mum…
- I love you too, baby…
She hugged him.
- Get ready for diner… I'm going to go change, all right?
- All right…
- I have a lot of things to tell you…
"Me too… but now, I won't tell you about Terry… the movie is not showing anymore, which means you won't see any commercial… and Terry …"
He called his mentor.
- Terry?
- Marcus? Happy Christmas!
- Happy Christmas!
- My whole family came to Los Angeles for the holidays…
- Oh…
- What about you? Has your mother arrived?
- Yes….
- You must be ecstatic…
- If you say so…
- What does that mean?
- It means she brought back a guy in her luggage…
- A guy? Oh… she's got a… boyfriend?
- A lover! You can say it!
- Maybe it's temporary…
- You don't understand… my mother never showed me her boyfriends… And I'm pretty sure she never had one before…
- Then, it's about time… she has to live, doesn't she?
- No! I don't want her to get married!
- Come on Marcus…
- I don't want him as a father…
Terry felt a warmth invade him… Marcus didn't want another man in his life than… him, in fact!
- I want you! Confirmed the boy.
- Marcus…
- If only you could meet my mother…
- No, Marcus, you're are not playing matchmaker with me and your mother…
- Terry, I'm begging you…
- There is no way, I'm going out with your mother!
- You don't know her… you should meet her… don't say no.
- She's got a boyfriend…
- Don't hide behind that, I'm begging you! I'm asking you for a favour… don't say no before you meet her…
- Marcus…
- Please…
- All right, but I'm not promising you anything…
- Thank you Terry! Thank you so much!
- Too bad I'm not in England for the holidays…
- Too bad indeed… don't worry, next time, I'm going to make sure you guys meet…
- What if we don't like each other?
- I'm sure my mother would want to meet the man who helped me become an actor…
- You still haven't told her anything about the movie?
- She just came back from India and our movie is not showing anymore…
- Marcus…
- I told you that she doesn't care about showbiz and in India, it's Bollywood showing…
- Ok, do what you want and be nice to your mother's boyfriend…
- That's going to be hard…
- The young man I know is nice…
- I'm going to try… for you Terry… Happy Christmas.
- Happy Christmas Marcus…
He hung up and he went downstairs for dinner after changing his clothes. He found his mother in the living room with Justin. He went to sit next to his mother.
- It took you a while, said Candy.
- I was talking to a friend on the phone.
- Oh… Leo?
- Euh…yes.
- All right, dinner is served…let's go.
Dinner went on fine in a good atmosphere. Marcus talked about boarding school and his adventures with the nuns and with other children.
Marcus made the ultimate effort and the Christmas holidays went on very good. For Candy and Justin, Marcus was invading their privacy and he never let his mother alone with him. He didn't know if they were going to sleep in the same room, but he made sure he spent the night with his mother in her room to ruin any plans they had.
- Candy, your son is preventing us from being together.
- Don't be ridiculous, said Candy.
- I thought you were going to make me that Christmas present…
- What? My body for Christmas? I'm not ready… and Marcus…
- Your son is a teenager…
- I don't want to show him the bad example…
- Candy…
- Forgive-me Justin. After what happened to me with Marcus, I will only spread my legs to the man who is going to marry me.
- You're old fashioned Candy…
- Maybe I am, but that's what it is…
- I'm going to marry you fast then…
- There's no rush…
- Are you kidding?
- Justin, I'm not forcing you… you are free to do what you want…
- Candy…
- Good night Justin… Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas Candy…
Justin was frustrated. Candy didn't want to make love. He thought it was cute at first, but now, he thought it was ridiculous and her son who was adding to it by sticking to his mother like a baby… he was starting to understand how a beautiful woman like Candy was still single.
Marcus was ecstatic during the few days he spent with his mother. He had missed her so much. But everything must come to an end. After the New Year, Candy had to leave.
- You promise me you're going to make an effort with Justin?
- All right mum, I'm going to try…
- I want us to be a family…
- What if I meet the one I would want as a father…?
- What do you mean?
- What if I meet a man I like and I would like you to meet?
- Euh…
- Would you meet him if I ask you to?
- Well, I don't know…
- I promise you to make an effort with your clergyman, if you give a chance to my candidate…
- That seems fair, said Candy smiling, all right. But if it doesn't work, I'll marry Justin…
- We've got a deal! Said Marcus smiling.
Candy went back to India promising her son to come back as soon as possible…
Marcus had to find a plan to make sure his mother meet Terry as soon as possible. Now, it had to happen fast…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Around the end of January, the whole St. Paul Academy was in the television room to watch the Oscar nominations… It was 5:30 AM in Hollywood, and 1:30 PM in London… All the eyes were glued on the flat screen of the television:
" Here are the nominations for Best Actor in a supporting role: Philippe Royce, for "Deception", Jonathan Davis, for "Christopher", Victor Alexi for "Cruel intentions", Marcus Williams, for " The Trials for life" and Stavros Andreakis for "Pathmos, my love"…
There was a big cry of joy in the whole school! Marcus was nominated for an Oscar! The silence came back when they were about to announce the nomination for best actor…
"Here are the nominations for Best Actor: Leonard Firth for "Deception", Martin Reever for "Christopher", Todd Joseph for " Cruel intentions" Terrence Grandchester for "The Trials of life" and Robert Hathaway for "The Madness of King George"…"
They all yelled of joy! Marcus took his phone, he got out of the room to call Terry…
- TERRY!
- MARCUS!
- CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR SECOND OSCAR!
- CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR FIRST OSCAR!
- I would like to thank God…, started Marcus
They burst out laughing happy, both of them.
- In a month, said Terry, in one month you're going to go back home with your Oscar…
- And you too…
- I like your positive attitude…
- If we don't have it…
- Charity begins at home…
- I'll see you in one month… I'll come to Hollywood.
- All right… I can't wait…
- Me neither…
So Marcus had one month to make a plan for his mother and Terry to meet. But he would need some help. He had to ask his uncle William for help… His cell phone rang , it was his uncle William.
- Congratulations little one…
- Thank you Uncle William. In one month, I'll be in Hollywood.
- All right…
- I would need a favour from you…
- What?
- Can you make sure that mum comes to the Oscars?
- She still doesn't know that you've made a movie…
- To say that she doesn't read showbiz news would be an understatement
- All right…
- And…
- And?
- I would like her to meet Terry…
- Why?
- I would like to see if it could work out between them… She want us to be a family, I would like Terry to be part of that family…
William smiled! His nephew was very intuitive… He didn't know he was going to reunite his father and his mother… there were all going to be flabbergasted!
- All right Marcus… I'm going to help you…
- Thank you, Uncle William…
Once upon a time, an uncle and a nephew were discussing the best way to make sure Candy comes to the Oscars to meet Terry…