Chapter 22: Deliberation
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At the thought of Alden, Neal stopped.
If he kissed Candy, it would be for love not just touching lips. And whatever that followed after that would be based on love not merely pleasure. Would it be fair for Alden?
Neal slowly straightened up and released Candy.
"It was a lovely dance, Candy." Neal stepped backward and bowed. "If you don't mind, I need to prepare my speech now."
Candy curtsied. "Good luck, Neal! I'll clap the loudest." She turned and walked towards the door.
What was I doing?, Neal thought as he watched her back. His conflicting heart raced. Alden was only a pen friend! He's entitled to kiss Candy for love!
"Candy, wait!" Neal yelled. He hoped she didn't notice his voice was almost breaking.
"What?" she turned around.
Her eyes were kind and green looking at him. Neal felt so unfaithful. How could he think of Alden when Candy was so ready to be kissed? Candy deserved his whole heart and complete loyalty. He must break up with Alden first before he's worthy of Candy.
"Nothing," said Neal. Guilt tormented his insides. I love you, Candy. Only you. "You will really come to see my presentation?"
"Of course." Candy smiled.
"Thanks! I appreciate it." She's so nice. But so is Alden. "Let me walk you inside."
"No need. The door to the podium is there," Candy pointed to the left. "The door for the audience is here." She pointed to the right.
"Ok, then."
"Well…Bye!" She smiled one more time before disappeared at the door.
NO!
oOo
Two days later, Neal was staring at Alden's letter that just arrived. His mind wandered to the night at the ball. It was a great night. He danced with Candy. Twice. One was from her own invitation. His speech was successful. Candy sat at the front. She stood up and clapped for him.
He should be happy…
But now he would lose Alden. It was Alden who pulled him up, listened to his complain, jubilant stories, and all his life problems. Alden brought him to Candy...
Oh stopped! Frustrated, Neal pushed his fingers through his hair. He was begging for friendship and now Candy turned friendly, he was being disloyal and thinking of another woman.
He must break up with Alden... after he read her letter!The Final letter! I love Candy. Only Candy. Neal vigorously tore open the envelope.
"
Dear Neo,
Hope you're doing fine and in a great health!
My sisters are still in town. Today they took me to a ball. I met "my enemy" there! But, somehow after what he had done on that day to my friends, I can't hate him anymore. So when he invited me to dance, I accepted. Guess what... he almost kissed me!
I was too infatuated with the mood in the ball, I guess. The music, his smoky eyes, the atmosphere... It's unexplainable. That feeling is new... It's confusing.
Luckily he stopped. If he hadn't, I would have let him kiss me. Imagine, how should I explain that to "my man" who'll be back in two weeks –
"
Those goose bumps came back again, stronger than ever. Neal's heart beat rapidly, vision blurring.
It's too similar. Could Alden be… Candy? Neal slumped in his chair, entertaining the possibility.
Alden's friends are... Jimmy and Bertha. Dance with the "enemy". The enemy is me. Alden's sisters would be Annie and Patty. That's how Candy called Archie. "Brother in law!" Neal muttered.
He picked up the dry flowers Alden enclosed in the letter. It smelt different from Candy's perfume today. But Alden often changed their aroma...
Finally... Alden's man who'd come back soon must be…
Neal picked up the phone and called his secretary. "Find out when Sir William Andrew will be back in town."
While waiting, Neal's hand was itchy to call Jack. But he had promised Alden not to investigate who she was. For the sake of loyalty, he would honor her request.
The phone rang back and Neal jumped. "Yes." His heart skipped a beat.
"Mr. Leagan, the Andrew office said Sir William will be back in two weeks," announced Neal's secretary.
Neal slowly put the phone down. Alden's man is... William! Albert, Neal thought jealously. All flitted, perfectly.
Neal paced around his desk. A conspiracy theorist would like the idea. It might be a coincidence but... there's only one way to find out.
Neal picked up Alden's letter and continued reading it. He then reached out to his fountain pen and worked out a reply. After dozens of revisions he finally got one he was somewhat satisfied with.
"
Dearest Alden,
My letter today will be the briefest but won't be the least significant. After you read this, things won't stay the same anymore between us.
I will start with what happened over eight months ago.My message in the bottle was beckoning at you and you responded. You told me how to attract that woman. I listened, although I admit without no doubt initially. Our journey progressed. Throughout, you opened my heart, made me see things from unthinkable perspectives.
Alden, you are amazing. You turned the woman who hated me passionately to be my friend. And although we never meet, I feel more connected to you than to anyone I know. You're the only person I can open up my heart to and the only one I allow to see what's inside it.
You're perfect, Alden. But still, I can't take letters to dinner. I can't dance with a letter. I can't row a boat to enjoy sun set with a letter. Recently I have been having this thought bubbling up inside me which I can't shake away. You won't like this but I must tell you. Alden, I want more from you than letters. I want to meet you…
Whew! It feels awesome to finally reveal this to you. I hope you are not mad at me. No, I won't satisfy if you offer to send me your photos instead. Photos breathe shallowness. It is you, the whole of you, that I cherish. Your stories, your thoughts, your dry flowers, your handwriting... How you look is never the determining parameter when I chose to write you.
Because, my dearest, my heart is not blind. You have the most beautiful soul and the kindest of hearts. I might not see you yet, but I have already known that you are one beautiful woman.
I wish, Alden, that you could dive into my mind… You'll see that my intention is genuine…honest... Yes, I broke my promise. But we shouldn't let rules bind us when there's a better alternative. Our friendship has reached the point where we should stop hiding. For the better of it, let it grow with our true identities openly revealed and without any more secrecy between us.
I tell you what I think of your today's letter when we meet in person.
Affectionately,
Neo
"
oOo
OoOOooOOoo
oOo
Candy, Natalie, and Judy were finishing off their work and chatted together in Happy Clinic.
Dr. Martin had expanded the old patient areas by connecting it with the storage room, turning it into a large working area. They now were seated in the same spacious office. All broken windows were replaced with large glass windows that could be opened. Flowing fresh air was abundant and the sunlight was plenty. Everyone just loved it.
"I and my husband will go to our hometown in Minnesota," said Natalie, taking off her white coat. "Can you believe I won't wear this white coat for a week?"
They laughed.
"I will take Ben to meet my parents," said Judy, glancing shyly at her two friends.
Natalie and Candy shrieked in excitement. They hugged their blushing friend.
"I'm glad you and Ben are getting a step closer," said Natalie.
"Your parents will love him!" added Candy.
Judy smiled and excitedly told them more of their plan.
"Eh Candy, are you still in touch with Terrence Grandchester? Terry?" Judy said finally. "He will come to town for a onetime special premier of "Romeo and Juliet". I and Ben will go watch. Want to come?"
"Terry invited me too, he -," replied Candy.
It's Judy's turn to shriek. "Can you get me his autograph?" cut Judy excitedly. "I can sell it!"
"Me too!" Natalie laughed. "He just won three Emmys, you know!"
Candy laughed. "I could. But, I probably can't meet Terry."
"Can't? Oh just skip your night shift for that one night!" Judy groaned.
"No... not about night shift. Neo wrote he wants to see me."
Judy gasped. Natalie gripped the arms of her chair. Both of them looked at Candy with wide opened eyes.
"You said you and Neo will never meet!" cried Judy.
"I'm still debating. But… but," Candy faltered. "Oh, I don't know. Of course, I opposed his idea but he kept persuading and Neo can be very persuasive."
"I always think both of you should meet. But… bless me, that's difficult. On one hand is a handsome actor and the other hand is… someone you never meet. His letters are just icing on the cake, we don't know how he looks. And what about Albert?" Judy enumerated.
"I don't care about Neo's face." Candy shook her head. "We are just friends. It won't change anything between me and Albert."
"Not if he's an ugly troll but what if he's more handsome than your prince," teased Natalie.
Everyone laughed.
"Last week you danced with Neal. This week, you got invitations from Terry and Neo. And there's Albert coming. Now I know why you want to stay single, Candy," added Judy with a smirk.
"It's a coincidence!" defended Candy quickly. "Terry is an old friend. Neo is a special friend. And that dance with Neal..." Her face felt burning hot remembering how it was at the end of the dance when he bent almost kissing her and she helplessly just stood there. She didn't tell them though, not even Patty and Annie. She only told Neo... "It was an accident."
Her two friends laughed seeing her red face.
"Can you just change the time so you can meet both Terry and Neo?" asked Natalie, back to be serious.
"I told Neo about Terry's visit but after that he became extra adamant about meeting me at the same time slot."
"Now that's weird. Who knows it's a set up!" said Judy who liked to read detective stories. "Neo is in Chicago. Perhaps he is your secret admirer? Do you know anyone who's jealous of Terry?"
Candy frowned, thinking.
"Which men won't be jealous if Terry wants to meet their girls," quipped Natalie.
Everyone laughed.
"You should take Albert's bodyguards, just in case," Judy suggested.
"Hm..." Candy was quiet for a moment, debating. "It would lack a personal touch. What if he's being genuine? It would hurt Neo's feeling...," she muttered, unsuspiciously. Then, she paused.
Whatever happened, she didn't want to hurt Neo's gentle soul!
"We had extensive discussions. I suggested some places to meet, Neo too. All are public places. He arranged the dinner in one that I am very familiar with. The waitresses can act as the bodyguards. Right?"
"We should stop over-think this," said Judy. "It's just a dinner."
"And it'll be done in a crowded area, in a restaurant you're familiar with," said Natalie soothingly. She patted Candy's shoulder showing support.
Candy stood up, her back to her friends, and walked to the windows. She closed the windows shut for the day, locked them, and pulled the curtain then turned around.
"Right. I'll do that, then!" said Candy determinedly. "I will go meet Neo!"
"Oh Candy, I'm so glad. You two have too much chemistry to stay hidden for too long," Natalie cheered.
"Yeah! I can't wait," Judy seconded.
-To be continued-
Thanks so much for reading.
oOo
Brother in law: Ch 21