Chapter 24: Muse 2
.
Dr. Martin planned a farewell dinner for Candy who's leaving for London. Today, Candy, Natalie, and Judy met in Happy Clinic for that. While waiting for Dr. Martin finishing up with his patients, they chatted.
"I got a job offer!" said Natalie. She picked a letter from her handbag and showed it to her friends.
"Let me see!" Judy and Candy attacked her friend's job offer letter together.
"Dr. Natalie! Sounds amazing. Congratulations," cried Judy.
"Awesome Natalie!" added Candy.
"And next year we will have Dr. Candice. My two friends are becoming doctors. I am so very proud." Judy put her arms around each of her friends' shoulders and hugged them tight.
"And you'll be Mrs. Dr. Willoughby!" said Candy to Judy.
"Isn't life wonderful!" said Judy, beaming, looking at her engagement ring with Ben.
Wonderful?, thought Candy. She thought it's dreadful.
"And Candy will have a happily ever after in London," said Natalie, all smiling.
Candy pretended she didn't hear Natalie.
"So Candy, you really are leaving Neo?" Judy asked.
Candy felt relieved that Dr. Martin's popped out his head so she didn't have to answer.
"Hello there! Are we all hungry yet?" Dr. Martin broke in with a big smile on his face.
The girls readily stood up. Together they left the building, chatting all the way. Dr. Martin locked the door and put the CLOSE sign at the door.
Candy glanced at the Happy Clinic which looked more decent than ever. She remembered the first time Neal came to the clinic which started all that. She sighed inwardly. Too bad Neal was mean. Faking cousins with Albert! How could he be that insensitive? But, Neal had his sweet side too. And his letters as Neo were incredible -
"We wish you all the success in London, Candy," said Dr. Martin.
Candy was suddenly aware that everyone was staring at her with a glass in their hand, giving her a toast. She had better pull herself together. To let Dr. Martin know about her love problem would be undesirable.
"Thank you!" Candy picked up her glass, clinking her glass to theirs. "This is a lovely restaurant, Dr. Martin. Beautiful setting," she gestured at the lake, starting a conversation.
They chatted and ate.
After dinner, Candy, Natalie, and Judy went back to Happy Clinic to pick up their stuffs.
"What will this clinic be after I'm gone," sighed Candy.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Dr. Martin is hiring a doctor to replace you," said Judy who always be so blunt. She stretched out comfortably in her new arm chair. "Happy Clinic is such a nice clinic now. He won't have difficulties to hire anyone."
Dr. Martin had transformed Happy Clinic both in appearance and quality of service. That's very good for its little patients. Candy remembered Neal again. She should thank him for making this possible. She almost cried thinking about Neal and Neo.
Natalie whose desk was next to Candy saw her face turned so red. She shook her head and glared sharply at Judy.
"My fault… Forgive me… I should learn to hold my tongue better," said Judy apologetically. "Of course you're the best, Candy. No one can replace you. Ever!"
"I-it's not you…... It's Neal...," said Candy. "He kissed me…"
"Oh! And then?" asked Natalie.
"Nothing," Candy shrugged. "He asked me to think about my decision to move to London… But there really is nothing to think about."
"Neal kissed you. He said he loves you and you like his letters. It must be difficult, Candy," said Natalie.
"Not really. We don't belong together," said Candy, avoiding her friends' eyes. "Forget it. I don't know why I m telling you this. I guess -"
Judy sneered. "You're just too arrogant to admit the fact that you like him and you want to hear us supporting you to make you feel better."
"What?" Candy straightening up.
"Oh come on Judy," Natalie said. "What happens to you tonight?"
"Being honest and be a good friend." Judy took a sip of her drink and set her cup down with a bang. "She's too embarrassed to admit that she likes Neal."
"No! I'm perfectly-" Candy swallowed hard. Judy was right.
"Stop it, Judy. Candy is a nice girl who's forward oriented," Natalie said, supporting Candy who looked beaten. "We were not in good terms with her in the past but Candy reached out to us and we become the best of friends. She just loves Albert."
Judy scoffed. "I'm sure she loves Albert as the best of pals or perhaps uncle or something. Romantically, I am not sure. She hasn't looked so bad since Neo stopped writing to her. Sorry Candy, I'm just trying to be honest."
"That's because I am sad that I'll be away from you and everyone here. London is far. It's nothing to do with Neal. Of course, I don't want him."
"'Of course'?"
"Yes. Of course, I don't want Neal."
Judy snorted and came to Candy's table. "Grow up Candy! You need to learn to forgive and to move on otherwise your anger will blur your ability to reason."
Judy put her hand on Candy's shoulder.
"Remember when I wanted to go back to my ex because it's easier than to find someone new? You convinced me to meet Ben, then. And dear, you're doing the same thing now. You want to move to London and leave Neal because it's easier than to face the fact that you love him!"
Natalie gasped.
Candy shook her head. "We just can't be together. Uhm…er… his sister doesn't like me."
"Oh brother, now you're shifting blames. I think you're trying too much to not take any responsibility for decisions you make."
Candy paused and stared at Judy for a moment before hitting her head with her palms. "I am in a complete mess –"
"Judy, let's not push Candy –"
"She's leaving. I may never see her anymore so I might as well say honestly what I think." Judy turned back to Candy. "Am I right? Admit it."
"No…," Candy muttered.
"Bull crap."
Natalie almost couldn't breathe watching her two friends.
"Perhaps a little…"
Neal… He was different from Albert and Terry. Neal made it clear that he wanted her, she could feel it in the kiss. And as Neo, whenever he described his love to his girl, it always made her envy of her. But she was her! Suddenly she realized everything. Above all, she understood her heart. She's in love with Neal and shouldn't run away from him. Judy was right.
Candy lifted her head and stared at her friends.
"I'll write Neal a letter and explain it to him."
"Good!" Natalie breathed a sigh of relief.
"Letter?" Judy shook her head. "Honey, meet him in person!"
Candy was quiet for a minute. She then got up and picked up her bag and keys. "Thanks girls!" She hugged her friends. "Would you mind if I run now? I should go before I change my mind."
"Go Girl," said Natalie, fighting back relieved tears.
"Run Candy! RUN!" said Judy.
"Wish me luck!"
Candy ran out and in seconds she was already in her car driving back to the Lakewood Mansion. Before meeting Neal, there's one thing she had to do first.
Around 8 PM Candy arrived at the mansion. She made a shortcut and went to Albert's office from the backyard. Through the window, she saw Albert inside. He saw her too and waved. It reminded her of that time six years ago before she left to Pony's home. Albert secretly followed her and revealed that he's her prince of the hill... She loved him. Always... But in a different way...
Straightening herself, Candy walked inside the mansion. She bit her lower lips, knocked, and pushed Albert's office door.
"Hi Candy, you're home!" greeted Albert.
She looked at the nice man briefly thinking somewhere there's one lucky girl who would be his bride. Whoever she might be, she wished them all happiness in the world. He deserved it.
Candy cleared her throat. "Albert..." She swallowed, collecting all her nerve. "I can't go with you."
"Oh no! Is it because I give you too little time to pack?" He looked concerned.
"No..." Candy hesitated. "Hm, did you ever read a story about someone found a message in a bottle?"
Candy told Albert about the message the a bottle she found in the beach and what followed after that.
"So I and Neo wrote heavily to each other especially when you were away. He comforted me so much when I was told that you're my cousin."
Candy browsed that part quickly to avoid explaining why she was unhappy when told that he was her cousin. Albert's feature didn't change. Either he pretended or he really didn't get it, Candy could not be sure. She's just grateful that he didn't ask her to elaborate.
"…And then, Neo asked me to meet him."
"Wow! And...?"
"I had intended to never meet Neo. But now I think about it, I guess I was kind of falling for him. We met. And Albert… Guess! Neo is Neal. Neal Leagan," replied Candy, blushing. "And... Yeah... I'm falling for him." Surprisingly it was easier to say this than she thought.
"Neal!" Albert looked at her. Some extended silence stretched out before he laughed out loud. "This is better than a fairy tale!"
Albert opened his arms to give Candy a hug. "Come here little girl, I'm very happy for you... For both of you, rather." At that moment she knew, taking romance aside, she could never love anyone as much as she loved Albert. He's always so nice and supportive.
"It's better for you too if I don't go," said Candy. "I'm so demanding. You don't have to cook and clean up for my mess anymore." She smiled.
Albert laughed. "You are never demanding. I love cooking for you. But I'm happy to hear about you and Neal."
He's her guardian angel but he's not Neal. There's a difference between love and deep friendship!
"Thanks Albert..."
Yes, she was happy! For the first time in years, she was truly happy. Life is wonderful.
"If you don't mind, I need to tell my staffs to cancel my moving," excused Candy. "I take you to the train station on Friday!"
"I know you will," said Albert.
Candy ran towards the door and almost got bumped to Aunt Elroy.
"Aunt!" Candy jumped to kiss her cheek and ran outside. She disappeared in a flash.
"What happened to Candice? She looked very happy."
Albert exhaled and said, "She found love."
"Oh?" Aunt Elroy looked sternly at Albert's eyes.
"No… not with me," said Albert gleefully. "It's with... Hm, she should tell you herself to make it more fun." He grinned.
Aunt Elroy released a relieved sigh.
"I don't give a hoot whom Candice falls to as long as it's not with you!" she said bluntly and looked at Albert scrutinizingly. "You are not having a broken heart, are you William?"
"Oh aunt-" said Albert.
"Candice is a great girl. Her personality is golden. She's pretty, likeable... but she's not for you, William. For once listen to this old woman."
Albert smiled. Holding the old lady's arm, he took her to her seat. He arranged a pillow for her and gently helped her sit.
"Remember Lord Wellington and Lady Jane's daughter, Veronica?" asked aunt Elroy.
Veronica and Albert were about to be engaged when he took that faithful train and had amnesia*. But then as an amnesic who lived with Candy, he witnessed how broken Candy was when Terry left her. He vowed to never have her shed a single tear for his sake. That would be the least he could do to return her kindness for taking care of him during his illness.
Aunt Elroy looked at Albert, waiting for him to blow up like he always did whenever she brought up topics about girls.
"Yeah, I remember Veronica," Albert replied calmly, far from being blowing up. Now Candy had found love, he's free to talk about it again. He's truly happy for her.
"Veronica is still available, William. She is that faithful to you," said aunt Elroy.
"She is…?"
"I keep telling her mother excuses. First you're missing, then you had amnesia, busy with the Andrews work, trying to catch up work as Sir William, and God knows what else. Don't you think you should at least visit Veronica next week when you are in London?"
"Well," said Albert after some more pause. "I guess I will listen to you, aunt. For once." Albert grinned.
The two shared a laugh.
"So aunt, how's your packing going?..."
The two amiably chatted, discussing their moving plans to London.
.
-To Be Continued-
*Albert has amnesia: scene from manga
Thanks for reading and support all these time :")