A few months later...

Neal successfully led his team to win the complex legal battle and acquired Tarbell Standard Oil company. The move brought Neal out of the shadow. He carved a name of his own and now known as an emerging young executive in the business world.

"Watch out your step, dad." Holding his father's arm, Neal supported him entering his office for the first time after the attempted murder.

"I'm fine Neal." Henri laughed. "I can walk by myself."

Neal carefully released his father. Henri walked slowly, looking around his office. "You and everyone did a wonderful job to keep this place stay put." He grinned.

Neal smiled. He showed his father the coveted Tarbell Standard Oil ownership placate with their new logo, and other things. When Neal finished talking, he noticed his father watching him. His eyes were bright, and there was a glimpse of pride in them.

"You exceeded my expectations, son. I'm glad I can be here to witness it."

Neal couldn't be more proud. Unlike nice words said by others, he knew his father's words were honest. They're also more precious because they came from his dad.

"Oh yey!" Neal said. "So glad my skill at whacking crap up delights you, dad."

"And I heard you played detective too." Henri chuckled.

Neal laughed.

A staff appeared at the door. "Mr. Leagan." He knocked quietly.

"Yes," said Neal and Henri at the same time leaving the staff dumbfounded. He was watching the father and son, not sure who he should talk to.

Neal looked at Henri apologetically. "Sorry."

Henri laughed. "Go ahead Neal, do what you must do." He made a gesture and the staff motioned to Neal to take care of some business. The staff left after getting what he needed.

"Well dad, now you're here I will move back to my own office and rank," said Neal.

Henri shook his head. "No rush. As the doctor instructed, I should take it easy."

Henri moved to his desk and touched it with his palm. "I used to choose to stay here than to go home... It won't happen again." He paused. "I will take your mom to travel."

His father seemed talking to himself than to him so Neal just nodded and remained quiet.

"I and your mother have an arranged marriage, you know?" asked Henri suddenly.

Neal nodded, again. His mother said that once, but she didn't elaborate.

"Our parents were good friends. First met her when I was seven before my family moved to America. We met again years later to be engaged. She wore fuchsia bustle - I will never forget her look. Such a lovely girl. I thought to myself how lucky I was. Awfully clever too, educated, liked reading geography,… Well you know her." Henri paused.

"But things were complicated…," Henri continued. "The Andrews were staggeringly wealthy. I thought she regretted that she was made to marry me and liked that damn aristocrat officer in the Royal Navy. I was intimidated and became too proud to approach her. The last few months while I was sick, she surprised me by never left me. She told me everything and I learned a great deal about her more than the last twenty six years."

Henri looked up to look at his son. He smiled and suddenly looked a lot less like a businessman in suit and tie. He just looked like a dad.

"Son, choose your girl wisely. Remember, communication. That's an important key towards happy relationship."

Neal thought of Candy and all miscommunication he had with her. Besides throwing hurtful words to one another, they barely spoke of nothing else. She was his first love and, until Alden, was the only one who ever occupied his heart.

He should re-approach her. This time, he would do things differently.

oOo

Alfred pulled up at the end of the driveway of the Pony's home.

"Here we are." Alfred got out and opened the trunk to get Candy's small luggage and a bag of snacks and sweets she brought for the children. "Have a pleasant stay, Ms. Candice."

"Thanks Alfred. Come back in a week," replied Candy.

Alfred tipped his hat. "Will do, Ms. Candice."

Candy looked around. There she was again. Even through the darkness everything was familiar. The same wooden house, the trees surrounding it, and the brick chimney. Candy hurriedly walked down the gravel path. She wanted to push the bell when a light appeared in the kitchen

"Candy is that you?" she heard Ms. Pony's voice.

"Yes, Ms. Pony. It's me," Candy replied. She heard the door being unlocked before being opened widely.

"Candy!" exclaimed Ms. Pony giving her a warm embrace.

Candy heard some footsteps and Sr Lanne soon appeared, too.

"Good Lord! It's Candy," Sr. Lanne cried out, hugging her too.

"Sorry, it's kind of late. Happy Clinic was busy today," said Candy.

"Are you tired, dear?" asked Ms. Pony.

"Not at all."

"Would you like something to eat or drink?" asked Sr. Lanne.

"I already had dinner with Judy and Natalie. I'm fine."

"Come in and sit down, Candy," said Ms. Pony. She lead the way to the kitchen, switching on the light. Sr. Lanne put a kettle on the stove and turned the fire on. Candy glanced around. Everything looked familiar. The curtain was still the same floral curtain Annie made for them. Children's handcrafts were displayed on the wall. Candy sat on her favorite chair.

"How are you?" asked Ms. Pony and Sr. Lane almost at the same time. Their faces were radiating with joy.

"Good, how's everything here?" asked Candy.

They both nodded. "We're all fine. The children had been waiting for you. They're disappointed that they had to go to bed before you come," answered Sr. Lanne.

"How's Albert?" asked Ms. Pony.

"He sent me a postcard last month. He sent his regards to you," Candy opened her handbag and pulled a postcard graced with a picture of various wildlife on one side and showed it to them.

"

Dear Candy,

Everything is fine. Regards to Ms. Pony and Sr. Lanne.

Warmly,

Albert.

"

Ms. Pony and Sr. Lanne read the brief note excitedly. Candy secretly felt Neo's six pages of letters inside her coat pocket that just arrived today.

"How long will you stay this time?" asked Ms. Pony, returning the postcard to Candy.

"A week."

"Longer than last time. That's good! Although I hope we don't take too much of your time from Dr. Martin."

"He understands, don't worry. Natalie and Judy will work an extra day to cover my work."

Sr. Lanne and Ms. Pony praised those girls. Candy saw Sr. Lanne yawned.

"Sorry," said Sr. Lanner. "I woke up early today to bring Thunder to Mr. Cartwright's ranch."

"What happens to her?" asked Candy, concerned. Thunder was an old horse, their only horse.

"Fine, it's just a regular check up and grooming. I'll pick her up tomorrow morning," explained Sr. Lanne. Thunder's well being, health check and other maintenance were all generously covered by Mr. Cartwright.

"Mr. Cartwright sent you his greetings. He said sorry he can't meet you this time because he has a horse fair to attend," said Sr. Lanne. "Jimmy doesn't go because his wife is heavily pregnant!"

"Bertha looks blooming, dear. The baby is due next month," added Ms. Pony, eagerly.

"Nice! I will visit them for sure," exclaimed Candy. "It's quite late now. You and Sr. Lanne should go to bed. We can do plenty of catch up tomorrow." Candy got up and turned off the stove. "I will just take the kettle to my room."

They all got up. Ms. Pony and Sr. Lanne took Candy to her room. When she looked back they were smiling at her.

"Good night, dear," said Ms. Pony.

"Welcome home, Candy," said Sr. Lanne.

"Sleep well!" said Candy. Her eyes watered. They were her mothers who she loved so much. She would always wish for their happiness and gave her life to them if necessary.

Closing the door, Candy looked around her room. Three years ago, she set aside some of her saving to renovate the second floor into a storage room and added this small guest room. This room was her true home.

Candy undressed. She then tried to sleep but couldn't. Today was her first day of holiday, she felt too excited. She got up and picked Neo's letter from her pocket and replied to him.

oOo

The sound of children talking woke Candy the next morning. She threw the windows open and breathed, letting those fresh scents of apples and flowers filled her lung. In the far distance was the hill where she met Albert for the first time, the Pony's hill.

Albert , take care. Write me soon!, she wished.

"Good morning, Candy!" Ms. Pony called underneath.

Candy stuck her head out and looked down. "Morning, Ms. Pony." She was carrying a tray full of fresh cut apple. Next to her was a girl and a boy each carrying a jug of milk.

"Where's Sr. Lanne?"Candy asked.

"She had left to pick up Thunder."

"I'll be right there!" said Candy, embarrassed for waking so late. She got too engrossed reading Neo's letters and wrote eight pages of reply to him that she didn't sleep until after midnight. Without much ado she dressed up and ran downstairs in no time.

The children roared rapturously when they saw Candy. They had a hearty breakfast followed by some morning studies. Then, Candy and Ms. Pony took the children to an outdoor trip where Candy divided the snacks and sweets she brought to them. They came back before lunch.

"Candy, someone is looking for you," notified Peter, one of the children who didn't go to picnic. He looked after the house since Sr. Lanne was not home today.

"Who?" asked Candy.

"Didn't ask," said Peter. He scratched his head that was not itchy and glanced guiltily at Candy. "A tall man, came with a car."

"Albert?" Candy said breathlessly. She stopped breathing for a moment. She could think of no one else who knew about Pony's home since Stear and Archie were in Argentina.

Albert oh Albert!

Now she knew why she hadn't received his letter for a month. He was on the road! He came home early to give a surprise visit! Albert was so romantic! Oh, there're so many things she's dying to tell him. What would he say if he heard aunt Elroy's poor joke that they were cousins? Candy almost chuckled openly.

"Nope. Not him," said Peter, shooting down Candy's daydream. "Never saw him coming before."

"Go find out, dear. We're done here," said Ms. Pony who overheard the conservation.

Candy made the children promise to be good then left with Peter. He took her to the side of the house and pointed to one of the apple trees. At the first glance of the brown hair she recognized who her guest was.

Grrr… Neal! Candy inhaled sharply. Not Albert, she thought, crestfallen.

…

-To be continued-

Thanks for reading

Mr. Cartwright (ranch owner) and Jimmy (the boy from Pony's home) are characters from Candy Candy MANGA written by Kyoko Mizuki, Yumiko Igarashi.

Bertha: Jimmy's wife (my own poor idea)

oOo

Thanks for writing me a note.

Sabrina: Thanks for the generous words as always. Yup, we don't want to lose Eliza. She's Neal's beloved sister after all :D

Elsa: Good that you see my point. Eliza wants Neal to be happy and just accept Candy. Thanks!

Guest : I'm glad you like the story. Next week Candy will meet Neal. Thanks for the support.

Kikita7R: Mason poisoned Herni. I wrote only one sentence about that. I'm afraid the readers get bored if I dwell too much on the details. Eliza accepts Candy because she wants Neal to be happy… :'( Thanks

Xochiquetzal: Candy SAVED Neal, too (like Dayna), MANGA book 8. It was dangerous and scarry, too. And at that time Neal was BAD to her. Anyway, if you haven't read it, look it up (free in some manga web site). It's the poignant moment which made Neal fall in love with Candy.