A Providential Accident
Chapter 6
"The explosion"
There was a lot of action in Terrence Grandchester's room our young patient. But the visits weren't over yet. A man, a big man, arrived in the room of the young actor too.
- Hello Sir! Said Terry, looks like I'm very popular
- Hello, Robert Hathaway, I'm your boss…
- Hi boss, I'm sorry for not coming to work, but I don't think I'm in any shape to come to work, especially since I've lost my memory and to be an actor, it's kind of mandatory, isn't it?
- Don't worry about that Terrence, the insurance is going to take in charge your salary and all of your medical care… and as soon as you're back on your feet, you'll be able to come back on stage
- Don't worry Mr. Hathaway, I'm going to make sure he comes back very soon on stage, said Susanna
- I would advise you to go slowly Romeo, said Candy calmly, the wounds you got on your head have to completely heal and you have to avoid making your head work too much, said Candy
- I'm his fiancée, said Susanna
- And I'm his nurse, said Candy, I'm taking care of his health first…
- Well Terrence, I see that you're still very successful with the opposite sex…do you know how many actresses came to beg to have the role of Juliet because you were Romeo?
- Really? Said Candy, was Miss Marlowe one of them?
- I got the role of Juliet because of my talent! Said Susanna dryly
- She just threw a tantrum because she had her audition with another actor, said Hathaway, she wanted to do her audition with Terry…
- Because I studied the role with him, said Susanna
- Well looks like the actor you auditioned with is the one you were with on stage… all's well that ends well.
- But I don't give up on being with Terry on stage… as soon as he's back on his feet.
- It's not an emergency, said Candy, we're lucky the wounds on his head didn't affect his other organs, aside from the memory, which is mandatory in his profession, so, let's let him get better slowly to avoid permanent damage…
- How could his other organs could've been affected, since the spotlight fell on his head and not elsewhere? Aske Susanna
- Miss Marlowe, said Candy calmly, the head, is where the nervous system is, which is the engine of the human body, everything is affected by the nervous system… Terry lost his memory, it's his nervous system which is affected somewhere… he could've been paralyzed; it would've been because of the nervous system… That's why being in a coma the first days was benefic to him for the healing of his wounds…now, I'm going to make sure his recovery continues calmly, I don't want you to fill his head with roles to learn…
- But Terry is going to be bored, doing nothing, said Susanna
- I'm sure Terrence understands my worries, said Candy, don't you Terrence?
- But you'd want to come back on stage fast, don't you Terrence? Said Susanna
Terry was looking at the scene amused. He loved seeing Candy play the smart one in front of Susanna and his boss.
- Well, what's the doctor saying? Ask Terry, is Miss Freckles right?
Susanna looked at the door and she saw Doctor Bobby.
- Is going to be on her side of course, he's got a thing for her!
- I'm only doing my job, Miss Marlowe, and my feelings whether I have them for Miss Andrew or not, have nothing to do with it! Mr. Grandchester, Miss Andre is right, it's better if you get back on your feet first and get your memory back before going back to learning roles… So Miss Freckles is right.
- So, I'm going to follow your advice, said Terry, sorry Susanna, Mr. Hathaway… my nurse and my doctor have spoken…
- Far away from me the idea of forcing you to come back on stage before you're ready, Terrence, said Hathaway
- I wanted only for you to come back on stage because you love it so much Terry, that's all, said Susanna
Eleonor arrived and she found Hathaway in her son's room.
- Robert, tell me you came to see my son and you're worried about him
- But of course Eleonor, said Robert kissing her hand, I know he's not ready to come back on stage…
- But he's going to be ready for Thanksgiving, said doctor Bobby
- Really? Said Eleonor smiling
- Yes, said the doctor looking at Candy, I wanted to surprise you
- Oh thank you! Said Candy jumping to his neck all happy
- You're welcome; it's your good care that made sure he got on his feet faster. Your patient is lucky. You're an excellent nurse…
Terry was looking at the scene and he was jealous. Why did he wanted her to jump to his neck?
- Oh Terry, I wish you could've come to live at my place. Mom and I had made the best turkey for you…
- I make a very good stuffing Susanna, you'll tell me about it, said Eleonor
- We're invited?
- But of course! Said Eleonor, I have a lot to be thankful for to God this year! Candy, you're also invited with your friends and I have a room ready for you next to Terry's…
- What? Said Susanna, but…
- She's his personal nurse and I have to admit that Terry started to feel better after she arrived… I do what's better for my son, Susanna
- Of course, Miss Baker, said Susanna sulking
- Can I invite Doctor Bobby? Asked Candy
- Of course, said Eleonor smiling
- Thank you for the invitation Miss Andrew, said the doctor smiling, my family is going to organize a dinner too, but I could drop by and eat a piece of turkey at Miss Baker's
- Very Good! Said Candy smiling, now, let's give our patient the time to rest, everybody out!
- All right, said the others getting out of the room
Susanna stayed by Terry's side.
- I said everybody, Miss Marlowe, said Candy
- But…
- He has to rest, said Candy firmly
Susanna stood up sulking, she kissed Terry on the lips.
- I'll come back later, honey
- All right, said Terry smiling
He stayed alone with Candy.
- Miss Freckles, if you wanted to be alone with me, all you had to do is ask…
- You arrogant…
- No, you're the arrogant one! You invited the good doctor to my mother's Thanksgiving dinner…
- It's to thank him for taking such good care of you
- Jumping to his neck was also part of the thank you?
- Come on Terrence, said Candy surprised
- You did that to provoque me, didn't you? Said Terry grapping her arm, since she was close to his bed.
- But what are…?
She couldn't finish her sentence; Terry had put his lips on hers… Candy was surprised, she had dreamt of kissing Terry again, but she was taken by surprise! She kissed him back for a moment, it was better than the first time, a thousand times better. She put her arms around Terry's neck and she was twirling his hair with her fingers, they were so soft, she had the impression she was on a cloud…
- OH MY GOD! Yelled Susanna
- You little slut! Said Eliza, you thief! It's my Terrence!
Candy let go of Terry and she slapped him…
Terry who didn't have any memory since he woke up, started to remember a lot of things, his meeting with Candy, he saw himself saving him from Neil, he remembered the kiss… and the slap he got… he remembered slapping Candy too, so he restrained himself… What kind of men was he? Why did he slap a girl? He was probably very arrogant…
- You lout! Said Candy angry, I thought you were a gentleman!
Terry looked at her surprised, and then he understood she was making him relive their first kiss scene for his memory…
- Miss Freckles, you're so hard with me… I'm sure Miss Marlowe and the red head would've been glad!
- Well why don't you kiss them then! I thought you were a gentleman, but you're only a boar! A delinquent!
- Well if I'm going to be insulted like that, I'm never going to touch you again!
- Great! Said Candy getting out of the room in front of Susanna and Eliza stunned!
- I can't believe my eyes! Said Eliza, that girl is impossible! She's got Terrence in the palm of her hand and she dumps him!
- That's her way to make herself desirable! Said Susanna, she's smart! She's hiding her game very well!
- Incredible! Said Eliza coming in Terry's room
Terry on the other hand was in a horrible mood! He was yelling at everybody and sending people away.
- What are you doing here? I don't want to see you! You want me to spit on you again? Get out of here!
- But Terry, said Eliza confused
- You want to make me believe I'm your fiancée? Who do you take me for? I can't stand you! Get away from me!
- But Terry…
- You want me to spit on you again?
Eliza got out of the room with tears in her eyes… her Terrence, her dear Terrence had thrown her out like a hot potato! Susanna got into the room…
- Terry?
- Susanna? What do you want from me? Tell me tattle tales again?
- But Terry I love you…
- So, that allows you to tell me nonsense?
- How do you know it's nonsense?
- I didn't feel anything when you kissed me, if you were fiancée, I would've had at least a little flash of memory, same thing with the redhead…
- So with Candy
- Miss Freckles is in fact the only one I remember kissing… she's the only one who didn't tell me anything… You said you're my friend, my fiancée, but you're telling me tattle tales! Get out of here!
Susanna got out of the room in tears and confused. She met Eleonor at the door… She knew her son was in a bad mood… she was sure he was going to yell at her too…
- Well well well! If it isn't the mother of the year! You abandon your son to a step monster from hell! I come to see you because I miss you, and you send me away! Leave me alone! Where is candy! I want Candy! Get away from me! All of you!
Eleonor got out of the room in tears too. Candy had to come back to calm Terry down… another actress arrived in the room.
- Hi Terrence…
- Karen Kleis, said Terry with disdain, so you come back with your tail between your legs?
- Terrence…
- Life is tough Karen, you didn't get the role of Juliet, work harder, that way next time you might get the part! You behaved like the spoiled brat who didn't get what she wanted…
- I came to see you, because you've had an accident, if it were me, I would've pushed you out of the way, so the spotlight wouldn't have fallen on you…
- You the selfish one? Are you kidding me? Leave me alone! Thanks for nothing Karen!
- What a lout! Said Karen getting out of the room
Than it was the doctor's turn…
- The good doctor… you come and show off to me, because you're dating my girlfriend… isn't that unethical?
Doctor Bobby didn't say a word and continued taking care of his patient. He had to talk to Candy…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy didn't want to see Terry again. She was in the garden… Dr. Bobby came to sit beside her on the bench. It was cold outside, winter was coming and Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. It was starting to snow…
- Miss Andrew, are you all right?
- Yes…
- Your patient needs you…
- Well I don't want to see him!
- He's become insufferable, everybody is asking for you
- It's not my problem…
- In fact it is your problem… He's like that because of you…
- Candy…
It was Eleonor's voice.
- Candy please…
- He attacked you too? Said Candy, I'm sorry
She stood up…
- But he made me so angry…
- You have to think about his health first, said Dr. Bobby, and you know like me that the state of mind of patients are very important in their healing process…
- He's got his memory back, said Candy softly, after the kiss…
- That must've been some explosive kiss, to bring his memory back, said Eleonor
- … And put him in an insufferable mood! Said Dr. Bobby
Candy blushed, ashamed.
- I'm going to go see him, but I'm not promising you anything… if he makes me angry again, I'm going to dump him…
- Candy, I'm begging you, he yelled at everybody…
- Everybody? Asked Candy
- Susanna, Eliza, Karen Kleis, said Eleonor and me…
- Karen Kleis, said Candy surprised, I don't care about the others, but he shouldn't disrespect you, you're his mother… this is all my fault. Forgive me…
Candy closed her coat and tightens her wool scarf and walked towards the hospital, to Terry's room. She got in the hallway and she was hospital employees all complaining about the great Broadway star who was on his high horses… She walked to Terry's room and she found him sulking.
- If you keep that up, you're going to explode, said Candy coming in
- Miss Freckles… where were you?
- I was getting some fresh air, so I wouldn't explode…
- My kiss put you in that state?
- Rather your arrogance…and you, I heard you blew off everybody…
- Who told you that? The good doctor is cuckold and also a tattle-tale?
- Terry! Said Candy hitting him softly on his knees, I'm not dating ! He's my boss!
- One doesn't cancel the other out…
- If in your theatrical world you easily get that third rate actress, everybody is not that easy…
- I didn't suggest anything of the sort… you seem close to the doctor, that's all…
- Like you seem close to Miss Marlowe and Eliza…
- Are you jealous?
- I'm not the one who was yelling at everybody…
- You are my personal nurse, aren't you? You have to be at my entire disposition…
- It doesn't mean that you can kiss me as you please…
- All right, I apologise…
Candy looked at him, he was sincere.
- Next time, I'm going to make sure I have your permission first, before I kiss you.
- If there is a next time…
- There will be a next time, I promise you that…
- You'll have to convince me…
- Tell me what I have to do to convince you…
- Well… you're yelling at everybody…
- Don't tell me that you want me to apologise to all those people?
- Not all of them… well… You can apologise to the doctor and your mother… the bimbos, it depends on you…
- In other words, I have to apologise to the good doctor and my mother, but for the rest, you don't give a damn!
- The nurses and the orderlies too…
- All right… Miss Freckles, promise me you won't abandon me again… I'm lost without you…
- What? Your fiancées are not giving you any sense of security?
- You know damn well that if I have a fiancée, it's you…and you humility, I like it… I feel good when you're near me… don't leave me, please…
- All right, said Candy smiling, tomorrow, it's Thanksgiving
- I can't wait to be there… tell me about your previous Thanksgivings…
- When I was little at the Pony Home, they would give us a real live turkey which was doing "gobblegobblegobble"… All the children were happy to have a new friend… until one of the children said that we were going to kill it to eat it for Thanksgiving… so everybody started crying, nobody wanted to eat the turkey they had seen alive…
- But all the turkeys were alive at one point…
- That's what Sister Maria explained to us… that turkeys were made to eat, like chicken and meat… but I think we never had any more live turkeys at the Pony Home…
- It's a good thing nobody talked about eggs, which are really the babies of the poultry…
- When I was younger, I tied up duckling to their mother so that they wouldn't lose her; I didn't want them to be sad to have lost their mother like me…
- Oh, said Terry moved, that's so cute… I missed my mum too… when I was little… thanks to you, I was able to reconcile with mine … Thank you Miss Freckles…
They looked at each other… there was electricity in the air, like there was a magnet between them… she leaned towards him and he took her lips and this time he knew Candy wanted the kiss. They forgot everything around them, they were on a cloud floating during the whole time the kiss lasted, and they didn't want to stop…