Terry Terry

Chapter 52"On stage and in real life"

The first time Candice Grandchester got on stage in public, she had felt very so good and full of joy. She was feeling good on stage and she was so natural, she was born to be an actress. At the premiere in New York at Broadway, she didn't have any jitters like the other, she eager to go on stage. Her mother was with her in her dressing room.

- Honey, I don't think I've ever seen an actress this eager to go on stage... you're not even a little nervous?

- No, mum. Remember, I love being in public, after being married to a prince...

- That's true; you had time to practice your acting talent, by being married to your dear prince...

- You know what happened was a very big relief for me...

- Well, you weren't supposed to be the prince's wife forever...

- I should've married Terry...

- I know that, but your stubborn father doesn't know it!

- One day, I will tell him my way of thinking to Master the Almighty!

- He's got all the powers he wanted now, and thank God, he's leaving you alone now...

- It's a good think he didn't demand me to have a grand-child for him... All I had to do is "Shut up and be pretty!" Now the theatre practically brought me back to life...

- "Practically"?

- I miss Terry, mum.

- You still love him?

- More than ever... when I saw him again the day he came to drop off Esther was torture... I almost wanted to send everything to hell and go back to him... But I couldn't risk daddy attacking Andrew Entreprises...

- Especially since a little while after that there was a rumour that Whilemina Andre3w had lost her memory... and their stock went down...

- His grace would've jumped on those actions like a vulture... Thank God!

- But when are you going to go see Terry?

- With my work? We're going on tour, and we'll go to Chicago...

- I hope he's still free... he was with a girl the last time you saw him, remember? I'm surprised you want to go back to him without knowing what his relationship with that girl is... what was her name again? Fanny?

- Tammy... she's his sister from the orphanage...

- He told you about her?

- Yes, she's the one who heard them crying, him and Jones on the day they were abandoned...

- They have a special connection

- A brotherly connection.

- They seemed very close.

- I looked into his eyes, I'm sure he still loves me, mum!

- You know the African adage that says that you don't leave a goat nearby a bunch field of spinach?

- Mum please! He's my Terry, he loves my spinach! You more than anybody should know that!

- Candy, you have to get ready for any eventuality...

- No negative thoughts mum, I need good karma... I need for Terry to be free, mum...

- Maybe you should've told him to wait for you.

- You know why I couldn't do that... ok, I have to go on stage soon...

- Break a leg! Said Eleonor smiling, I'm going to my seat.

She hugged her daughter. Candy walked away and Eleonor went to find her seat among the spectators. She wasn't wearing a disguise and everybody was looking at her. Her daughter, Princess Candice, now an actress, was going to be on stage for the first time. She had indeed kept her title of "princess", but she wasn't her serene highness anymore. Everybody was curious to see her on stage, because they were supposing that since her mother was a great actress and that she a prince, that she had a treatment of favour...It was probably a publicity stunt. Despite the positive articles written on her, the critics were there to dissect her on stage. Eleonor knew it and she didn't want to tell Terry. Her daughter's enthousiasm was so strong, that she wasn't afraid of anything. It was better to leaver in that state of optimism, but she knew her daughter was natural on stage and that the critics were going to look for the nitpick to find something negative to say on her darling daughter.

The play started and the room went silent. When Candy entered the scene and started acting, she was just radiant. The actor playing the king of France, Marlowe Susann, was showing well all the love he felt for Cordelia, or was it for Candy? Eleonor knew the theatre world very well; she saw that Marlowe Susann was in love with her daughter, even very in love. But since Candy was in love with Terry, it wasn't important... Well, she hoped so. Because Candy was not going to return his feeling and she was hoping Marlowe Susann will take it well.

During the intermission, Eleonor went to see her daughter in her dressing room.

- So mum? How was I?

- You were wonderful and I'm not just saying that because you're my daughter!

- My acting classes were worth something!

- And my genes too...

- Said the Oscar winner! Said Candy laughing.

The rest of the play was a breeze for Candy and at the end, the applauds, brought her on a cloud. The reporters wanted to interview her, but she declined. She will not say anything until she reads the critics the next day. She was eager to get back home to be with Esther. But there was the reception and she went there with her mother. All the actors were happy and Marlowe Susann was sticking to her like glue. She thought he was overdoing it.

- He's worse than crazy glue!

- He's nice mum, said Candy.

- He's too nice, you mean...

- What's wrong mum?

- I find him a little bit too possessive with you...

- I know how to defend myself mum, don't worry

- Honey, you found yourself married to a prince against your will. I worry about you...

- Touchée...

After the reception, they went back home. Esther had waked up during the night to go to the bathroom. Candy went with her.

- You had too much to drink honey...

- I was thirsty...

- If you drink less you won't have to wake up during the night...

- I know... how was your play?

- Fine. Now, go back to sleep baby...

She hugged her and the little one fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Candy left the room and she tried to sleep, but she was too excited... she went to her mother's room.

- Are you ok, sweetie?

- No...I can't sleep...

- Come in, and let me brush your hair...

She went to sit on a stool, in front of the dresser. Eleonor approached her and started to brush her hair.

- How many brush strokes?

- 500...

- All right...

- Tell me how you met daddy...

- All right...

She started telling her how she met the duke of Grandchester, whom at the time was only the heir...

Candy ended up falling asleep on her mother's bed. Esther woke them the next morning with the paper...

- Wake up mama, wake up mummy Candy...

- Esther, said Candy who had the impression she had just fallen asleep, let Candy sleep a little more...

- It's almost noon! Wake up...

Eleonor woke and she went to the bathroom. Candy sat on the bed and took the paper to look at the critics... Eleonor got out of the bathroom and looked at her daughter...

- So?

- Read, she said, giving her the paper.

Then she got out of bed and went to the bathroom. Eleonor was reading the paper.

"We thought it was going to be just a spoiled brat; after all, she did a movie, they gave her the role of Grace Kelly, she wanted to be a princess, they gave her a prince in marriage with a castle, she wanted to act in a theatre, they offered her the role of Cordelia in King Lear. The Stratford troupe was known for recruiting the best and this time was no exception with the addition of Princess Candice to its troupe. She was believable, convincing on stage, her expressions, her body language, everything was perfect. The princess was not a poor little rich girl who wanted to act on stage on a whim, the princess is the new rising star of the showbiz world."

- Oh my God! Said Eleonor.

Candy came out of the bathroom, smiling...

- Congratulations!

She stood up to go hug her!

- Thank you mum. I wouldn't have made it without you...

- Now, you're going to go see Terry?

- We're going on a tour; I'll see him in Chicago...

- Candy...

- He's not going to eat anybody's spinach!

- All right. I didn't say anything. Are you going to take Esther with you?

- Of course, said Candy smiling.

- I'm coming with you? Said the concerned little one.

- Yes!

- And we're going to see Terry?

- Yes!

- Yayyyyy!!!! She screamed running to Candy who took her in her arms, laughing.

Ever since she stayed with Terry, Esther was asking to see him, on a regular basis. It was time to meet her demand...