Chapter 20: Ball
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It was a nice afternoon in Chicago when Candy arrived at the train station to see Stear, Archie, Pattie, Annie and their sons. Mr. And Mrs. Brighton were already there. Their faces beamed with happy smiles.
"We miss our daughter. Can't wait to see how tall our grandson is. And of course Archie…," said Mrs. Brighton.
Candy chatted with her for a while and also with other relatives from the Andrews large family who came, some mutual friends, and George.
"Master Stear, Ms. Patty, and their son will stay with Madam Elroy in Lakewood," George explained. "I come to pick them up."
After a while, Candy started to feel tired of making small chats. Worse yet the train still hadn't come. She stood aside to take a break, gazed through the blue sky hoping the perfect weather stayed so the children could play in the lake.
Lucky Annie and Patty! All married and have children, she thought. She would give up everything to have that life with Albert. Suddenly she felt so alone until she felt Neo's letter in her pocket that just arrived today. I'm not alone-
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Her muse was cut by a loud announcement from the speakers. "THE TRAIN WILL COME ONE HOUR LATE DUE TO HEAVY RAIN IN-"
Everyone groaned exasperatedly. Candy whispered some soft curse, too. She had a class in the evening. It would be tragic if she had to leave without seeing them.
"Oh wretched!" Candy heard someone mutter behind her then louder, "Hi Candy, is that you?"
Candy turned and met a blonde with blue eyes, for a moment she thought she's looking at Albert. It's Jeff, Archie's best friend from St. Paul.
"Good. Hi Jeff, you're here to meet Archie?" Candy extended her hand.
"Yup! Haven't seen him for years!" He smiled, shaking her hand.
"I didn't know that you're in town."
"Just moved here. I am running for Chicago City Clerk." Jeff grinned.
"You are going into politics!" Candy exclaimed. "Well, you were the head of boys student body in St Paul, right? I remember. Giving speech and all that. It suits you."
Jeff laughed. "And you?"
They chatted. He told her what he was up to and she told him hers. Fortunately Jeff spoke so well. Time sped up. All of a sudden she already heard the train loud whistle.
"They're here!" Candy's spirit soared. "Talk to you later, Jeff!"
Candy eagerly walked alongside the VIP compartment until the train came to a halt. She almost couldn't breathe when she finally saw her friends. It felt too nice to be true!
"Annie!" Mrs. Brighton jumped to her daughter and hugged her tight.
Mr. Brighton shook Archie's hands. George came forward to let Stear know he's there to pick them up. Candy struggled to patiently wait for her turn, politely letting the family elders have their turn first.
"Candy! Is Candy here?" she heard Annie scream.
"Annie!" Candy pushed among the crowds. "I'm here!" She rushed forward and the two friends pulled each other in a tight embrace. Annie was in tears. Candy was always the most important person to her.
Candy hugged Patty too equally tightly and Stear. Then Archie came, wrapping Candy in his arms. Aware of Annie's sharp gaze, Candy returned it by patting Archie's back lightly. She was relieved when he finally released her.
"Oh they grow up so quickly," said Candy looking at their sons. She motioned to carry them but they were frightened of her.
"Don't worry," said Patty generously. "I am sure by tomorrow they will not want to leave you!"
Candy laughed. "Oh Annie, look how nice you are." She gently patted Annie's swelling stomach.
"She is marvelous," said Mrs. Brighton holding her daughter's hand. "Annie, my Annie, let's go home dear. You must be hungry now that you are eating for two, tired too. It's such a long trip." She whisked her pregnant daughter with her.
Candy could tell that Mr. and Mrs. Brighton wanted to be with them. And she had to go to her class. Politely, she told them she would come to visit them again tomorrow.
While walking behind them, Candy heard someone tell George that they had more luggage than the cars could carry. Several box of suitcases didn't fit into the cars.
"Alfred can help. Use my car," offered Candy. "My school is nearby."
"But then how will you go to school?" asked Archie gently, looking deeply concerned.
"Er by bus-," replied Candy.
"I can give you a ride, Candy," said Jeff who walked next to Archie. "I'll show you the new city clerk building. You can see how your tax money at work."
"Uhm..." Candy hesitated.
"Don't worry, you don't need to vote for me." Jeff joked.
Candy laughed. That was too funny to be refused. "Okay!"
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The following day Candy came to visit her friends again in the Cornwell mansion. While Archie and Stear were taking care of their urgent family business, Candy, Patty, Annie and the boys spent the whole day in the lake. After lunch and the boys took a nap, Patty and Annie showed Candy photos they brought from Argentina telling her how their lives were there.
"This university is close to our home and is relatively new." Patty pointed to a photo with a new looking building in the background. "It's called Universidad Nacional de La Platae-"
"Oh I love your Spanish accent," cut Candy, clapping her hands.
They laughed as Candy quizzed Patty some words in Spanish which she answered all fluently.
Patty picked another photo. "And this is my office there. I teach English."
Candy showered her with praises until Patty blushed shyly adjusting her glasses.
Then it's Annie's turn. She showed many photos of the new baby room, clothing, and decorations she prepared for the incoming baby. Candy listened with a mix of joy and envy. She wanted that life so badly.
At her turn, Candy told Annie and Patty about the Pony's home, Jimmy, his baby and more. Gesturing at her school backpack with thick medical school books inside, Candy told them about her favorite class in the school of medicine.
"So we prepared the purified drug and injected it to that dying mouse. Guess what–" She stopped looking at her two friends who're watching her unblinked. "Sorry. Am I getting too detailed?"
"Go on. What happens to the mouse? Oh Candy, I think you're so highly intelligent," admired Patty.
Candy giggled, bashful.
"Impressive! But Candy, who are you dating?" asked Annie, straightforwardly. "Any hot brainy researcher in the school of medicine?"
"No. No one." Candy shrugged.
"What about Ben? In your letter you said you went to lunch a couple of times with him."
"He's dating Judy now," replied Candy.
Annie looked at Candy with pity.
"We have an important ball in the governor mansion, remember? One of the reasons why Stear and Archie came home for," asked Annie.
Candy nodded.
"It's a prestigious ball for influential businesses leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals," explained Patty.
Annie nodded. "Who will you take as a date?"
"No one," snapped Candy. "I just go with you girls."
Annie and Patty looked at one another.
After Candy left, Annie brought up the topic to her husband at dinner.
"Candy said she has no date for the ball," said Annie gloomily.
"Jeff then!" quipped Archie. "They seemed to enjoy themselves yesterday. He gave her a ride and took her to his office."
"I like Jeff too." Annie nodded. "But, any other candidates? The more the better. I'm so worried for her. She's alone in Chicago. We're not here, Albert is not here. No one is here."
They all stayed silent for a while.
"Neal is in Chicago," murmured Stear quietly.
Everyone turned to look at Stear.
"Dad said Neal has been calling the shot since uncle Leagan fell sick. He has been in contact with Neal regularly for family business -"
"So?" cut Archie.
Stear lifted his hand and continued. "I met Neal today to give him paperwork from dad. I think he looks decent. Candy could consider taking him as a date -"
"It's some cringe worthy idea you have there, Stear," Archie snorted, cutting in again.
"Does Neal have a date?" asked Patty meekly.
"Don't know. Men don't talk about these things." Stear grinned. "And we were at a very formal meeting."
Annie nodded thoughtfully several times. "Mom also said she has been seeing Neal in family business meetings. She likes him a lot."
"From how Candy talked, I don't think she hates Neal, right Annie? It seems they're friends!" said Patty enthusiastically. "Let's ask Neal to be her date in the ball!"
Annie nodded, got up to reach out the phone.
"No! Not that hoity-toity buffoon!" protested Archie loudly. Annie immediately returned to her seat. "If Candy wants him, she knows his number there's no need for us to push her! And... Neal! Bah! He's only good to torture a cat!"
Archie talked at length about how much misery Neal caused Candy since the first day they met. "Jeff is better. He'll be in the ball and he just broke up with his girlfriend. Perfect fit."
Silence fell again as everyone thought about Archie's arguments.
Stear inhaled slowly. "Let's have Candy decide who she wants to date. We have Jeff now. I and Archie can introduce her to more friends later."
oOo
A few days later, they went to the ball. To support Candy, her friends took her to walk on the red carpet together.
"MR. AND MRS. ALISTAIR CORNWELL, MR. AND MRS. ARCHIE CORNWELL, AND MS. CANDICE ANDREW!" the announcer announced through the loud speaker.
Candy and her friends entered the grand ballroom with tables and seats on the sides. Some guests were already inside. They were picking their table when someone called them.
"Hi Archie!" Jeff came. He greeted them by shaking hands and lifted Candy's hand to his lips. "We meet again. Ms. Andrew, you look lovely."
"Thank you. Likewise," answered Candy, cordially. Annie had made her work her look to the meticulous details. The dress, hair, makeup. Everything.
Jeff looked at five of them.
"Yeah. You all were inseparable in St. Paul," said Jeff.
"I wish they didn't have to go back to Argentina," replied Candy looking at her four friends. Those good old times in London. Time flew fast. "Have a seat."
"If you miss them, just ring me," said Jeff, taking a chair next to Candy.
"Oh, I'm relieved to hear that," said Annie. "Thanks Jeff."
"Not at all," said Jeff. "We have a governor candidate picnic in three weeks." He took a piece of paper from his pocket, scribbled a schedule and passed it to Candy. Annie secretly squeezed Candy's hand under the table."If she wants to, I can make sure our busy doctor get some outdoor break from her lab."
They were chatting until Jeff had to leave the table for something.
"JOSEPH WEINHARD!" The announcer loudly announced the newly coming guest over the speakers.
Stear leaned towards Archie. "Hey is that Joey?" They stared across the room looking at the ginger-haired young man who just entered.
Archie nodded. "Let's grab him."
One by one Archie and Stear introduced their single friends to Candy.
"Candy, what do you think?" asked Patty after a while. She and Annie pulled her for a private conversation. "They all are eligible bachelors, university graduates with promising future. Stear and Archie have done thorough screening."
"I know Jeff is nice," whispered Annie. "If you want, I can ask Archie to have him dance with you." She knew Candy had a penchant for blonde hair and blue eyes.
"I don't want to dance. I'd rather chat with both of you," protested Candy, patiently. She only wants to dance with her prince.
"We will dance later and I want you to dance, too. Please…" Annie kept pleading, persuading her. "Just once."
"Well, okay then. In that case… I'd like to dance with-"
"MR. NEAL LEAGAN!" The announcement from the speakers interrupted her words.
Candy, Annie, and Patty immediately turned their head to the red carpet. Neal, straight and cultured, walked on the red carpet.
"Whoa!" Patty whispered. "I must agree with Stear!" She nudged Candy's and Annie's arm at the same time. "Candy look for yourself. What do you think?"
To say Neal was well dressed was an understatement of how he looked tonight. For a minute Candy felt the world stopped and everything ceased to exist except the man who's walking on the red carpet.
Handsome! Perhaps because now we're friends?, she thought, confused.
Curiously Candy was observing Neal. He talked to some blondes wearing the tallest high-heeled shoes who looked more like supermodels rather than entrepreneurs or businesswomen! One, the most attractive one, lingered. She giggled holding his arm and he smiled back at her. They looked absorbed at one another.
The view made Candy's stomach felt like being punched. It struck her that she had wrongly assumed Neal was not involved in mutual romantic relationship with any women.
"Does he have a d-date?" Candy blurted in an goofy high-pitched squeak. Her face felt absurdly warm. She looked at her friends and was relieved that they didn't notice or if they did, they were not showing it.
Annie gently reached out and squeezed Candy's hand. "Wait."
Annie went to her husband who's talking with others and gently nudged his shoulder. "Darling, would you find out if Neal has a date?" she whispered.
-To be continued-
My dearest readers: Thank you so very much for being here and reading :") Thanks for the support and company.
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REMINDER:
Ben x Judy: chapter 13
Stear, Archie have one son so far (chapter 2). Annie is pregnant, chapter 13