CHAPTER 19
"But why not?" persisted Candy.
"Yes, why not" echoed Patty's grandmother waving her arms in mock despair. "The house is lovely and you will all be surrounded by many friends. Your parents surely won't mind, dear."
Patty looked sceptical, a part of her eager to say yes, another part still uncertain.
"OK, OK..." she conceded in the end. "So what you are saying is that we can have the service in the Ardlay chapel with close family only and then a larger party in the mansion to invite extended family and friends..."
"Well, yes, if this is what Tom and you would prefer, it's fine by us. As a matter of fact, we would be honoured and delighted if you let us help you organise this, Patty, so please, do say yes!" Candy looked at her friend pleadingly.
"Oh Candy... I just don't want to be burdening you and Albert... especially with him travelling so often... and now in your condition" she pointed at Candy's growing belly. "Are you sure you can spare the time to be involved in this... I don't know... I really don't know..."
Patty's ever energetic grandmother interrupted again.
"What does Tom say about it, is he OK to have the wedding at the Ardlay Mansion?"
Patty smiled sweetly "ah, Tom... he wouldn't mind even if we got married in a pigsty... no, he is fine whatever I decide to do, he has given me full authority on this subject, bless him!"
Candy was quick to grasp the opportunity to turn her friend's mind "well, there's nothing to stop us then! Come now Patty, do say we can have the wedding at our place!"
"And I will help out too! " offered her grandmother again. "It shouldn't be too much work for the three of us" she winked at them and pretended to pull her sleeves up as if ready to get to work.
Patty took her glasses off to wipe her tearful eyes "thank you both for the help... I am so overwhelmed by everything..."
"And we are here to support you my sweet, no reason to worry about a thing" added her grandmother wrapping her arm tenderly around Patty's shoulders.
"Come on then my dears" she continued in her booming voice, "raise your glasses! I prepared this exquisite – if I may say so – elderflower cordial, especially for our meeting today and what a better occasion than this... to Patty, Tom and the fantastic wedding they will have at the Ardlay Mansion!"
The girls grinned from ear to ear following this dramatic statement, but obeyed the order at once, enjoying the liquid sweetness of their drink, rich in flavours of lime and mint.
***
The horses' hooves clapped on the cobbled streets, dragging the carriage downtown Chicago. It was a mellow evening, a hint of Spring in the air. It had rained a little earlier on and the city smelled cleaner than usual, the scent of earth and recently cut grass lingering in their coach even after they had passed the wrought iron gates of the park. Candy had peeked outside the window but it was too dark to see any flowers, yet she had a strong awareness of the new season and its colourful, sweet-smelling glory finally arriving.
Perhaps it was a symptom of her pregnancy, all this paying attention to detail and sensing things she might have otherwise taken for granted or ignored. She smiled to herself and patted her protruding belly gently. She had struggled a bit to decide what to wear, for she felt that all clothes clung unbearably onto her emphasising her voluptuous curves... in the end she had settled for a long dark turquoise dress with cap sleeves and an open back and bow, tiny diamonds following the outline of her soft cleavage, matching her earrings and diamond tear-drop necklace; that very one Albert had given her all those months ago at Pony's.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, the rhythmic sound continued. Candy thought her heartbeat was synchronised with the horses' trotting... they would arrive to the theatre shortly and there was a muted trace of apprehension in her heart... taking deep breaths didn't seem to be much help. Why was she feeling like this... she knew it wasn't because of any "leftover" feelings for Terry, God forbid, that was done and dusted ages ago... maybe it was the fact they hadn't seen each other for so long. So what, said that voice in her head, at the end of the day you don't have to go and say hello to him...
She turned to Albert, a bit embarrassed to be only partially paying attention to the information about the play he was reading out to her.
"So that was the summary for Act I, hmm... In Act II... let's see" his bright blue eyes scanned down the page "...blah blah blah... OK, here we go:"
"Within the castle, Claudius and Gertrude welcome Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet's friends from Wittenberg. Increasingly concerned about Hamlet's erratic behaviour and his apparent inability to recover from his father's death, the king and queen have summoned his friends to Elsinore in the hope that they might be able to cheer Hamlet out of his melancholy, or at least discover the cause of it. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to investigate, and the queen orders attendants to take them to her "too much changed" son..."
Albert looked up at her with a smile, raising his eyebrows in an effort to convey the "too much changed son" part with appropriate theatrical aplomb. It was then that he noticed she seemed distracted... he put his book down. He reached over and took her hands in his.
"Candy, sweetheart, am I boring you? Do you want me to stop?"
"Why... oh no Albert, why dear, it is good to know what to expect at the play, please continue" she reassured him.
But Albert wasn't convinced. He had a feeling that Candy wasn't entirely truthful. He had suspected that the impending meeting with Terry could be a bit upsetting to her. They had already discussed this in detail but Candy kept insisting that it wasn't going to be a problem. And yet...
"We can always cancel it and go home, you know" he offered gently.
She looked at him with eyes pervaded by warmth and gratitude for the suggestion, then took a deep, arduous breath.
"I am not sure what I want... or no, at least I know what I don't want" she hesitated.
"Ah-huh..." Albert continued to rub her hands slowly with his big, tender fingers.
Candy sighed.
"I don't want to feel worried about this... about this meeting. I am happy to see an old friend and I am ashamed I feel so agitated about it..."
Albert raised his hand and caressed her cheek.
"You look beautiful, do you know that?" he moved next to her and leaned over to kiss her. Candy was grateful for the chance to hide in his arms. His strength, his calmness, his wisdom... she needed all of that. Now and forever, her knight in shining armour, her husband, the father of the new little person growing by the day inside her.
"You know what?" he asked her stroking her hair gently as she hid her face in his chest. "I am a bit afraid too..."
Candy looked up at him confused. "You? Afraid? But why, I don't understand."
Albert continued "well... yes... I am glad I will see my old good friend... but it's been a while, and things have changed... we have changed... and I worry it may all seem out of place now... do we really have anything to talk about anymore? Is he bitter about the past... about you... and now us... has he become like these arrogant young theatre stars who hardly speak to you... I don't believe it of course, but who knows..." he said diffidently.
Then his expression changed, became one of concern "and what about you, I worry about you too, I hate to see you upset or uncomfortable and I will blame myself if tonight proves a disaster... and yet... "
Candy continued for him, for they understood each other so well "and yet we know it's like coming full circle, closing the door to a painful past to hopefully open a new one to a happier future... we owe it to ourselves to congratulate Terry on picking up the pieces and getting on with his life... a life that hasn't always treated him so kindly... and look how much he has achieved, so young, so talented, so hard-working..." said Candy with pride.
"We are all the product of our interactions with other people, Candy. Terry has found great success in his profession because of his natural acting gift and tremendous commitment but also because of the love and encouragement you gave him."
He paused then continued with a smile "and I hope also because of the advice and support I gave him once in a while too; at least when he was sober enough to listen to me!"
He spent a few seconds reminiscing and chuckling to himself ; it was clear to Candy as she stared at him that he was transported back to other times... "what a troublesome bunch we were, eh!" he said, thinking of numerous instances when he and Terry had got into fights with strangers.
Candy savoured her husband's familiar scent and the warmth of his embrace as she lay against his strong frame. She too was thinking of their wild youth, their days at school, the laughs they had, the hopes, the dreams, their struggles against so many odds.
She realised they were going to be at the theatre within a few minutes. She reached up and kissed the hollow of Albert's neck and wrapped her arms around him.
"William Albert Ardlay... I love you. I want you to know that. For taking care of me, for supporting me, for helping me clear my confused thoughts. Thank you. I know that no matter how things develop tonight, we'll be fine" she touched her belly again "we'll all be fine."
***
"Blimey, it's hot in here!" said Annie using her theatre programme as a fan to direct air towards her flushed face once they had all been seated. "I hope they turn the heating down at some point or else this won't be Ham-let but the audience an om(e)-lette!" she went on.
Patty and Candy giggled at her joke, though they too felt a bit warm within the auditorium. The place was absolutely packed, you couldn't drop a needle. Candy looked around her. She recognised many people in the multitude of faces around her; mostly folk she had met through Albert's business connections. People waved friendly at her and she waved back smiling. Then, to her surprise, she spotted Elisa, Neal and their mother; she turned to Archie.
"I thought they had moved to Tulsa!"
Archie looked to where she was indicating (discreetly) and raised his eyebrows.
"So did I! Though I can't expect them to stay away from Chicago permanently, unfortunately... well, my dear I do not plan to talk to them or acknowledge their existence otherwise, unless I literally bump into them, and I would suggest you do the same" he said with a cunning smile on his face.
Candy reciprocated the smiling gesture. My lovely Archie, she thought... what a gallant, kind and faithful friend you've been over the years! Unbeknown to her friends, Candy had overheard a part of their conversation in the foyer as she had arrived to the theatre with Albert...
"Annie sweetheart, I still think this was a bad idea... what if she reacts badly... and now with the pregnancy to think of..." he had said very concerned.
Annie though rejected the suggestion "Archie, I am sure she considered the invitation carefully before accepting... her relationship with Terry was a very long time ago... perhaps it's time to walk with the ghosts again and break free..."
"What do you think Patty?" Archie persisted.
Patty, also looking a bit worried, opened her mouth to say what she thought only to swiftly change her expression into one of both relief and exuberance "Oh there you are! Candy! Albert! We thought you were going to be late!" she rushed to hug her friend.
Albert smiled " hehe, no worries, there is plenty of time still, sorry, we got talking to some of my colleagues here at the entrance but I think we can go in now?"
Archie gave Candy her arm "and may I take in this enchanting lady myself? Pregnancy suits you so well my dear friend, you are absolutely glowing!"
Candy knew instantly this was her friend's way to show he really cared and worried, but the way he said it, so chivalrously, made her burst out laughing "Archie, Archie, my eternal charmer, yes, I'd be honoured to go in with you, shall we?"
Albert took Annie's and Patty's arms "which leaves me to look after not one but two delightful beauties, ahh, how can a man be so lucky!"
The two girls grinned and followed Albert's lead.
***
She looked at the stage greedily, with a sense of forlorn anticipation. She managed to concentrate on the play though her heart continued its frantic beating. She felt Albert's hand cover hers on the armrest and was immediately grateful. He knew. He knew how she was feeling and in his own way he was telling her you're not alone. And then...
KING CLAUDIUS
Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine,
And thy best graces spend it at thy will!
But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son,--
She held her breath as Terry walked forward on the stage and spoke in a loud, clear voice.
HAMLET
A little more than kin, and less than kind.
KING CLAUDIUS
How is it that the clouds still hang on you?
HAMLET
Not so, my lord; I am too much i' the sun.
She watched him mesmerised as the play progressed. Was that really Terry? He seemed surprisingly unchanged, the same slender figure, the dark expressive eyes, no, perhaps a bit older, more mature, more... serious somehow. She wondered... below the layers of make-up and costume, was there the Terry she remembered? The Terry she had loved... once...
HAMLET
O, that this too too solid flesh would melt
Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature
Possess it merely. That it should come to this!
But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:
So excellent a king; that was, to this,
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on: and yet, within a month--
Let me not think on't--Frailty, thy name is woman!--
A little month, or ere those shoes were old
With which she follow'd my poor father's body,
Like Niobe, all tears:--why she, even she--
O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,
Would have mourn'd longer--married with my uncle,
My father's brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules: within a month:
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
She married. O, most wicked speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not nor it cannot come to good:
But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.
The audience was watching in amazed silence. Terry's performance was truly extraordinary. Candy looked at her old friend and without her realising, an aching smile of pride formed on her face to match the tears that were slowly travelling the length of her cheeks. She squeezed Albert's hand. He was still there, never wavering, never leaving her for a second. He too was watching intensely. Candy peeked quickly at him and knew immediately that he was also very impressed with what Terry had achieved. It was Albert after all who had secretly arranged the meeting at Rockstown. In some ways, he was responsible for helping the troubled young actor find his way again and rise to become a shining star...
"A Mr and Mrs Ardlay are here to meet you Mr Grantchester" announced Terry's personal assistant once he was back in his changing room after the end of the play.
He turned to face him astounded "who?" he managed to whisper.
The assistant returned outside "he will see you at once, this way please."
***