School in America for Dawson and Roselyne was a way for them to escape the suffocating mansion with the presence of Winston, the dandy.
Candy who wanted to delay her reunion with her family in Chicago, the longest possible, went to see her daycare centre, she hadn't seen for several years. She had lots of plans to open more daycare centre in other areas along with her housing project for women and families in need. Winston was telling her that he could take care of all that for her, but she wanted to do it alone.
- Why don't you want me to do it?
- Because I'm capable of doing it myself
- But this world doesn't help women
- Maybe, but I know how to manage... and a lot of men are sensitive to a woman's presence, I'll be able to soften them...
- I know you're charming honey, but the business world is a shark world, I don't want them to eat you alive
- I'll be able to manage...
- I only want to help you...
- I know honey, but I'll be fine... You can take care of your family business... I'll take care of my business...
Winston looked at her. Her independence is one of the things that attracted him to her, a young widow, working, on top of all her charity work... She was also very very rich...
- All right my darling. But if you need help, don't hesitate to tell me...
- I have employee at my disposal, but thank you...
Candy kissed him on the cheek and left for the day. Winston was bored; his family business didn't need his help for the moment and he was in no mood to work. So he went out to chic restaurants and country clubs...
*
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Terrence Grandchester had a beautiful theatrical career. Over the years, he had become the King of Broadway. He had his own theatre on top of that he had created a school of dramatic art for young people with talent, who didn't know where to start... the Academy of Actual Art. He had people working for him, looking for new talents and prodigies. He didn't stop at theatre, he also looked for those with musical talent, whether it was singing, playing an instrument, composer, dancer... After a difficult start, because there already was another school of Art in New York, which was very strict in their admissions...Terry took advantage with those who had been rejected, despite their obvious talent...He was now part of the best schools of Art in America and offered scholarships to those who couldn't afford to pay for the courses. So he went regularly to local schools, to high school plays, by invitation to find new recru. He offered the same courses as other schools; he just had a specialty in art... There were schools classes who came to visit the theatre during field trip, for the Acting class... and sometimes he would come out to talk to them and most of the students were impressed by his presence and he was very nice and joked with them. He would then invite them to eat at his cafeteria on him... All the schools loved to visit the theatre...
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Roselyne loved her new school and especially the acting class. Her class was going to visit a theatre, with the students the class. In fact all, the students from the school who took Acting class, were going on the trip. The student who didn't take the class regretted not having a day out in Broadway. Dawson was talking to his sister.
- You must me ecstatic, he said
- I feel like I'm walking in the air! That's how happy I feel!
- I can feel it, he said smiling
- You don't regret not being able to come?
- No, it's fine with less students, the teachers are going to make us do fun stuff, so you won't miss anything...
- That's good, then... See you later then
- See you later, sis...
Roselyne was with a girl in her class name Lucie Bramwell. They had become friends and shared their passion for the theatre. Lucie was a brunette, opposed to Roselyne's blond hair. They would daydream together of being great actresses in the theatre... The trip to Broadway was made with a lot of fun. When they got to Broadway, the students were fascinated. There were so many theatre and posters everywhere, show what was played where at that moment...
- One day, my name will be on those posters, said Roselyne, "Nora Baker"!
- "Nora Baker"? Said Lucie
- Yes, that's my stage name
- Baker? Like Eleonor Baker?
- Yes, I love her, and they say I look like her
Lucie looked at her...
- As a matter of fact, you strangely look alike! I was wondering why your face seemed so familiar... You even have the mole at the same place as hers! It's fascinating!
- I know! And I love theatre! I'm going to become a big actress like her! You'll see! Said Roselyne smiling
- I can believe that, said Lucie laughing
The students walked towards the theatre. There was a guide waiting for them for the visit to start. Everything went fine; they visited the family loge, the actors' loge and finally the stage.
- Here is the famous scene... it's big to allow different sets for different storylines... we make sure that the lights are well fixed to avoid accidents...
- Yes, said one of the students, a few years ago, the Stratford troupe, where Mr. Grandchester worked at the beginning of his career, a light almost fell on him and a young actress, Susanna Marlowe saved his life, only to have the light fall on her and she lost her leg... She's his wife in real life today...
- She's his girlfriend, said Roselyne, he hasn't married her!
- Really?
- Yes, said the guide, as a matter of fact, Mr. Grandchester and Miss Marlowe are not married, but they've been living together for over 15 years...
- She saved his life, he could've made an honest woman out of her, continued the student named Evan
- "When you don't sleep in a house, you don't know where it leaks when it rains..." said Roselyne
- Another one of your adage, Roselyne?
- We don't know what happened, let's not judge him, said Roselyne
- You love that Grandchester! Said Evan with a little pick of jealousy
- He's my idol, and I'd like to see him on stage one day, said Roselyne with dreamy eyes, I wish I was the Juliette on stage with him...
She walked a little on the stage saying:
- "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet"
- Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Everybody turned around: Terrence Grandchester had just arrived on the scene... Roselyne was mesmerized with a big smile, so she continued, despite her emotion:
- Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee. Take all myself.
- I take thee at thy word: call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
- What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night. So stumblest on my counsel?
- By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, because it is an enemy to thee; Had I it written, I would tear the word.
- My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words. Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound: Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
- Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
Terrence Grandchester smiled and gave her his hand...
- Terrence Grandchester, Miss...?
- Euh... "Nora, Nora Baker" said Roselyne smiling
- Nora Baker? Said Terry raising his eyebrow, any relation with Eleonor Baker?
Roselyne smiled and she continued the comedy, the others were looking at them. There was some sort of invisible link between them, which made the scene even more magical to their eyes...
- Yes, she's... my grand-mother! Don't you see how much we look alike?
Terry looked at her, as a matter of fact, that girl looked like his mother like it wasn't possible! He smiled:
- Indeed, even the mole is at the same place... but since my mother only had one child, and that child is me... that makes you...
- You're daughter? Said Roselyne with a little voice
- Yes...
- Oh daddy! I knew you'd recognize me!
And she jumped into Terry's arms and he hugged her back. It was acting, but Roselyne really had the impression to be in her father's arms, she felt good like when she's in her mother's arms... Terry was hugging this young girl in his arms and he really felt connected to her, like it was her place, in his arms... like... like she was really his daughter! They hugged for a while and then they let go of each other with regrets...
- You came with you class on a field trip? Asked Terry
- Yes, said Roselyne smiling, it's absolutely fabulous! Especially the scene! I love it!
- And you feel just like home, said Terry smiling
- Oh yes! She said laughing
Terry turned to the others...
- Hello everybody! How are you today?
- Hello, very well, said everybody
- You brought me a wonderful surprise! My daughter! Said Terry smiling
The teachers had a yellow smile, looking at Roselyne, but Terrence Grandchester seemed to have adopted her on the spot... They had no other choice but to continue the comedy with them, after all they were in a theatre, weren't they?
- As a matter of fact, said Roselyne teacher, she's got a lot of talent like you saw earlier...
- I was wondering why she knew so much about your life, said Evan, she's your daughter!!!
"Nora Baker!" She does look like your mother!
"She looks too much like my mother... I should introduce them... one thing is certain, I'm going to take her under my wing and help her with her career... she's got so much talent and she's a natural too!" Said Terry to himself
Terry smiled and told them the story of his theatre and his passion for acting...
- And we're going to have auditions, and the winner will come to study in my school of art and eventually will start having small parts in the current plays so you can get used to it and if you manage to steal the scene... a critic might notice you and your career may start before you realize it...
There were some whispers of joy among the students with big grins.
- What about "Nora Baker" said another girl called Marcia with disdain, is she going to audition too?
Terry looked at her. That girl had straight red hair...
- If you're referring to "my daughter", said Terry, she was auditioning when I arrived, she sold herself and she really impressed me... she doesn't need to audition, since I know her talent already...she's very smart!
- You wanted the whole class to do like her? Asked Marcia
- Well you are an acting class, aren't you? You have to learn to take initiatives, be creative... Have you even learned a role? Otherwise, you can always read for the auditions, but it's going to be a double work for you... because you'd have to read and play at the same time...
So the students were auditioning, all very nervous, one after the other. Roselyne was spared and even if she had to audition, she knew her role by heart, it would've just made the first audition better... she looked at the audition smiling sitting with Terry and the teachers in the spectator's seats...
Then it was lunch time. Terry invited "Nora" at his table with the teachers and they talked about exclusively about Shakespeare and the theatre. Terry told him about his fascination with acting and Shakespeare and other authors, and French authors.
Then the visit was over. Roselyne was sad to leave Terry, if it were up to her, she would stay with him forever... Terry was also sad. This young girl was the daughter he never had...
- Goodbye, daddy, Roselyne said hugging him, see you next time
- Goodbye, my daughter, said Terry hugging her back, see you next time... We'll see each other soon , he whispered in her ear
Roselyne smiled, she was ecstatic! The others were teasing her about her crush on Terry, but she didn't care. Her crush was not as a lover, but as a father... she had fallen in love with Terry like you fall in love with a father...and Terry loved her like a daughter...
"But how is it possible? I just met her" said Terry to himself
Terry spent the rest of the day thinking about Roselyne.
