A Providential Accident
Chapter 4
"A New Day…"
The play was over. Our friends got out of the theatre to go to the hospital to see Terry and Candy. Eliza went with them. Annie and Patricia were not happy; Eliza had always been mean to them… But you don't return evil for evil. They arrived at the hospital and they asked for Terry's room.
- It's room 321, said the nurse, he's got a private room, which means that you won't bother any other patient, but don't stay for too long.
- Thank you, said Alistair, let's go guys…
They went upstairs and Alistair knocked on the door.
- Come in! They heard.
The door opened and the gang got in. Candy turned around and she smiled.
- Oh my God! You're all here! She said laughing
- But of course we're here! We weren't going to leave you here alone! Said Alistair
- I'm so happy to see you all! Said Candy hugging them one by one…
Eliza ignored Candy and walked to the bed where Terry was lying down.
- Oh Terrence, she said, you have to wake up! Wake up please…
She turned to Candy and she said:
- I'm going to make arrangements to have another nurse, more competent, and I'll take everything in charge… money is no problem.
Candy looked at her unimpressed.
- Good evening Eliza, I'm fine thank you, what about you?
- I understand why Terry is unconscious, with a nurse incompetent like you… But I'm going to take care of that…
- Because you're thinking that Terrence doesn't have anybody to take care of him? Asked a voice.
Everybody turned around to look at Eleonor Baker. They hadn't seen her before.
- Eleonor Baker? Said Archie amazed, oh my God!
- Eleonor Baker? The actress? Said Eliza with disdain, what are you doing here? Is Terry your lover? Is that why you're here? You have to know that we're going to get married! So you're wasting your time…
- Another fiancée? S aid Eleonor ironically, looks like even unconscious, my son finds the way to get engaged to lots of girls!
- Wh…what? Said Eliza getting paler, you… you're his mother?
- Yes, I'm his mother, but I'm flattered to see that you consider me as a possible rival…Thank you for the offer, but my son's hospital care are already taken in charge by special request… from his father; the duke of Grandchester and Candy was hired per his special request.
- Oh, said Eliza confused, but…
- The the heck is going on in here, said Susanna's voice getting in the room, what's with all these people? Get out of this room immediately! Get out all of you!
Everybody turned around to look at the new comer. Susanna Marlowe had just arrived in her evening gown, very beautiful and very elegant.
- You've got nothing to do here! Aside from Terry's mother, the others get out all of you!
She saw Candy and her friends.
- You again? The humiliation you got earlier was not enough for you?
- If you thought I was going to give up after your pretend scandal, you don't know me at all! Said Candy
- I'm going to have you thrown out…
- No, I'm the one who is going to have you thrown out, because you're disturbing my patient…
- Patient? Said Susanna, how?
- I told you that you didn't know me at all; I'm a registered nurse and the duke of Grandchester hired me exclusively to take care of his son. So you see, Miss Marlowe, I came back with all the honors and I got in by the front door!
- I don't know what you dit, but you're not going to get away with this!
Candy ignored her and walked towards Terry's bed. Susanna stopped her on her way…
- Don't go near him! She said, he's my fiancé!
- Really? Said Candy ironically, the readhead over there is also pretending he's her fiancé…
Susanna looked at Eliza and she remembered her from Chicago, when they both ran after Terry who was going to look for Candy… They were both lying, and they both knew it. Just like that evening in Chicago, Candy was the one Terry was looking for, and Candy was at his bed side, night and day. Legally too… with all her power as a nurse. Damn that Candy White!
- Don't go near Terry! Said Susanna.
- Just watch me! Said Candy
They continued arguing. Candy's friends saw her defending herself like a mother lion pretecting her cubs. She wasn't going to let Susanna get her way… Eliza was a little unsettled by the revelations Candy made. She was hired by the duke of Grandchester, exclusively?
Doctor Bobby arrived…
- What the heck is going on in here? He asked.
- Oh doctor! Miss Marlowe here, wants me to leave Terry's side, since she thinks she has a right on him…, said Candy
- This little schemer is an impostor! She's a fan who wants to be near my Terry! Said Susanna
The doctor looked at Candy and he looked at Susanna.
- Miss Marlowe, Miss Andrew is a registered nurse, hired by the father of the patient
- She's incompetent! Said Susanna
- Really? Well, ever since she's started her woek with Mr. Grandchester, he's starting to looke better. He's not as pale as he was before… on the verge of dying
- But…
- I don't know what she had donne to him, but his vital signs look a lot better ever since she's by his side… so you're all going to get out of this room, aside from Miss Baker and Miss Andrew , the patient needs to rest. He needs to be in a calm environment, with all the noise you're making…he doesn't need that.
- I'm sorry Dr. Bobby, said Candy, I shouldn't have behaved that way
- You were only defending yourself, Candy. Don't apologise…, he sais smiling
Eleonor had looked at the scene amused : Eliza was mute all of a sudden. Susanna was trying to intimidate Candy, without any success and the handsome doctor came to defend Candy! Susanna was vanquished! Candy's friends were fascinated to see Candy defending herself to stay by Terry's side.
- Well that was very fun, said Alistair smiling, Candy, we're at the New York manor, we'll come back to see you tomorrow morning. Good bye…
- Good bye guys, said Candy smiling, thanks for coming. See you tomorrow.
- Miss Baker, said Alistair and Archie at the same time
- Good bye, said Annie and Patty
Candy's friends left. Susanna was dragging her feet, her eyes still on Terry, heartbroken…
- I'm begging you doctor, let me see him for a minute…
Doctor Bobby looked at Candy, who agreed with her head.
- All right, just for a minute…
"Candy is really too good" Said Eleonor to herself.
Susanna approached Terry and sat by his side:
- Terry, my love, wake up, I'm begging you, I need you… Playing Juliette without you as Romeo was not as good as I thought it would be, you would've been perfect, like during our rehearsals, you remember? You were born to play Romeo and I was bord to play your Juliet… You have to wake up and come play Romeo with me… All the actors who played Romeo and Juliet ended up getting married… It's going to be true for us too… you'll see Terry. I love you so much my love, come back to me please…
The doctor called Candy out of the room to speak to her.
- Your patient is doing a lot better. You want to have a cup of coffee with me?
Candy hesitated, she looked at Susanna.
- Don't worry, his mother is not going to let Miss Marlowe stay for too long…
- All right, said Candy following him, let's go…
They went together at the cafeteria and they were able to have a cup of coffee. Candy needed it so she wouldn't fall asleep at night and she could look after Terry.
- Thank you again for your help, Dr. Bobby.
- You're welcome! It was a pleasure. But...
- Yes?
- I have the impression that you care a lot about Mr. Grandchester… am I wrong?
- No, in fact, I've known him since we were in school…
- Oh you liked each other from the start?
- In fact, I thought he was insufferable…
- The best relationships started like that…
- You think? I couldn't stop thinking about him back then, that's true… I had the feeling something was wrong with him and I get here to find in the coma…
- Either you're very intuitive, or you've got an invisible link…
Candy smiled. He heart was beating hard, she loved Terry with all her heart and she was so afraid for him. To be near him all the time was making her feel good.
- I should get back to Terry's room…
- You can't stay away from him, can't you?
- Not when he's sick doctor… I live in Chicago, so yes, I can stay away from him, even if it break my heart…
Candy tried to make the doctor understand that her heart belonged to Terry. After what Eleonor had told her, she wanted to be clear and not send mixed signals…
- I think you're charming Candy, said the doctor, I'd like to work with you, if you stay in New York longer than expected…
- That's nice of you to say that… But thank you for your offer, I'll think about it…
Candy stood up to go back to Terry's room. Susanna was still there of course, talking to Eleonor.
- Miss Baker, I was the one who was there with Terry every day… I'm his fiancée… Candy wasn't here…
- Miss Marlowe, I've known Candy since Scotland. I went to see my son during the summer vacation and he was refusing to see me, until Candy convinced him to speak to me… Terry listens to Candy and my son is a strong head! You're not going to convince me. Candy is the one my son loves, Miss Marlowe, not you!
- Is everything all right? Asked Candy coming in
- Yes, said Eleonor, Miss Marlowe was just leaving…
- Have a good evening Miss Marlowe, said Candy going to sit by Terry's side.
She took his hand and she said:
- Hi my Romeo… yes, it's me, Miss Freckles! My name is Candy White Andrew by the way, if you're interested… I wish I had won that bet at the hippodrome, at least you would've spared me all those nicknames…But knowing you, you wouldn't have kept your bet… and I miss all those nicknames Terry… Wake up and call me Miss Tarzan…
Terry's face seem to become more serene than when Susanna was there before and the later got upset, and she left the room to go back to the reception given in honor of the premiere of the play. That damn Candy had won this fight, but the war wasn't over…
Eleonor looked at Candy talking to Terry. She could feel all the love she had for him. But she has felt the same thing from Susanna too…
- Why did you let Susanna see Terry? She didn't do it for you…
- You shouldn't return evil for evil, said Candy and Terry need all of our love… even Susanna's love… She loves him and hearing talking about the play and the theatre was also good for him, it's part of his world…
- Susanna could steal him away from you…
- I've got plans with Terry… I hope I'm going to be his wife… Susanna is part of his professional life… she the female figure with whom he gets along with at work, but I'm going to be his wife, if everything goes as planned…
- If I understand you well, she's in a way, his "work wife" at the theatre and you're going to be his wife at home… if everything goes well?
- I don't like the term you're using…
- If you start working her permenantly for exemple with Doctor Bobby… he's going to be your "work husband", continued Eleonor ironically.
- Oh, said Candy surprised
Candy professionally, got along better with Doctor Bobby, as a matter of fact…
- If I follow your theory, so yes… But I love Terry.
- I know that, you don't have to convince me, said Eleonro smiling.
She had had the same problem when she was younger and she worked with Robert Hathaway, his wife who had retired to be a mother, was very jealous. Yet, there was nothing between her and Robert , they just got along well at work… She was his "work wife" at the theatre…
oOoOoOoOoOo
The gang went back to the manor and Eliza was fuming ever since they had to drag her out of the hospital kicking and screaming.
- That conniving is not going to get away with this! Said Eliza
- Let it go, said Alistair, Terry has parents and Candy is the one they chose to take care of him… Your make believe engagements didn't fool anybody!
- Yes, said Archie, you should stand in line behind Susanna
- And you'll have to pass over Candy's dead body first, said Patricia
Everybody burst tout laughing and Eliza was sulking some more. Albert arrived.
- Is everything all right? You were able to see Candy and Terry?
- Yes, said Alistair, you could've given us the heads up…
- But I have to admit not seeing that snotty nosed kid on stage… I'm sorry about the accident, don't get me wrong, but…, started his brother
- Archie! You're horrible! Said Annie outraged
- Your "rival" is unable to defend himself, said Patty
- But he's going to be back on his feet soon with Candy as a nurse, said Albert, I know from experience… Archie, rejoicing of other's people badluck is very wrong
- I'm sorry, said Archie ashamed
But he had been happy not to see Terry on stage as Romeo.
- That damn Candy…, started Eliza.
- Eliza, if you want to live in peace, leave my daughter alone, said Albert
- But…, said the redhead sulking.
- It's a new day. Candy has a father who his finally going to take care of her. She didn't hesitate to risk her reputation to take me in and take care of me with her nurse salary, why she could've had all the comfort possible by simple going to see Mr. Georges who would've taken care of me immediately and of her too… Candy is goodness incarnate. Can you say the same Eliza?
Eliza was sulking and she went to her bedroom.
- She blowing up so much,said Patty laughing
- She's going to bust! Said Annie laughing too.
- You know what Uncle William, said Alistair, I'm happy you came out of your anonymity! You're right! This is a new day! And I love it!
Alistair went to hug him. A masculine presence to whom he could talk to and espescially who defended Candy! Archie and him never managed to defend Candy like they should've been… It was a new day and everything was going to be great for Candy, from now on.
- Alistair, said Albert, can I speak to you for a moment?
- Yes, of course, he said smiling
He wasn't thinking about going to war, he had to speak to someone who knew was that was…