THE BROKEN HEARTS

Chapter 2: "A New Start"

By Bridget25

"We're going to stay at Miss Pony's forever Annie. I don't want to get adopted; I don't want to be separated from you."

"Me neither Candy, I will do everything so we could always be together."

"Even if you dream of a mommy and a daddy?"

"I already have my parents here Candy. There's you, for my mommy the father tree, for my daddy"

"Here is a kiss from your father."

"Here is a kiss from your mother..."

"Let's race to the house..."

"Candy! Wait for me..."

The laughs from the past startled Annie who was dozing off on the train seat which was taking her far away from those place full of painful memories. Six months had just gone by so fast, six months during which, Annie had put order in her life and made a serious decision. Maybe she was influenced by Candy, but the idea wouldn't leave her mind. If her sister was still there, what would she say? She would probably encourage her to follow the way she had chosen for herself. After all, nothing was holding her here and a change of scenery would be welcome. During the last 6 months, the young brunette had seen people change around her. Albert was more absent than ever, the great aunt was letting herself get sucked by remorse for rejecting Candy, as for the Reagans, Neil was lost in the destructive world of drugs... He was using more and more; his parents were refusing to see that their son was falling into the darkness of the drug world. Eliza... well Eliza had disappeared all of a sudden and it wasn't that bad, because that girl was the only one who wasn't taking her adoptive cousin's death to heart.

Archibald... Just the thought of that name, made Annie's heart tight, her stomach move and gave her nausea. He had rejected her without mercy on the day of Candy's burial. He didn't wait a few days to add to her pain the suffering of a break-up. She did know that he didn't love her, but he could've at least had the decency to wait a little. He had told her so many mean things, almost blaming her for the death of her friend.

"If you hadn't interrupt my love declaration with your selfishness, she wouldn't have developed those ridiculous feelings for Grandchester, which brought her bad luck and lead her to her death"

He was blaming her for falling in love with him. How could a man say such a thing to someone who had given him so much, someone whom he didn't even realise existed?

Archie and his blames can go to hell; he didn't visit her once since their break up. Why would he have visited her? Candy is not there to make him act like a concerned fiancé, anymore...

The sweet and calm Annie had raised her hand on him and she realised with delectation that the gesture was, it made her feel very good. That Cornwell moron could stay married to Candy's ghost for all she cared; she washed her hands from the situation; it was over for good.

After a big sigh, she put her head on the glass window of the train and continued to reminisce. How did she find herself today on the train on her way to New York?

Well that idea came to her one day when she went to the cemetery to visit Candy's grave. She went there practically every day, in the beginning to cry and then to talk, even if the flood of tears continued to barge out of her blue eyes. That day, she was telling her about her mother's latest craziness while finishing a dress for Miss Pony. She had offered to make a new dress, a little more practical so she could run after the children.

- Miss Pony don't seem to be getting old at all, she still has the same vitality she had when we were children. Do you remember Candy when you tied the ducks together to their mother so they wouldn't lose her like us?

The silence from the cemetery was her only answer... The wind was blowing the leaves off the ground, making them dance around the dirt in alleys. The trees were about to go to sleep for the winter. They will come back to life next spring. Annie turned to Candy's stone and she burst into tears asking: why?

- Why aren't you a tree too? You could've come back every spring, nice and sweet Candy. I feel so lonely since you're no more; I'm going crazy here...

Her tears washed her grief for moment, and then she raised her head saying:

- You're right Candy; I shouldn't let myself go like that. You often reproached me my lack of courage, I have to raise my head and go my way the way I want it. I'm not a china doll, I've never been one. This disguise and the manners my mom put on me, I have to get rid of them and go back to being the girl from the prairie who used to run with you in the woods.

Then she dried her tears and looked at her work, she unfolded it completely and she asked:

- What do you think Candy? Miss Pony will be more at ease in this dress? It's an old dress, she asked me to retouch. I've added some mimosas and dandelions; I know how much she loves those flowers. And look on the sleeves and the collar; I put some ribbons mom was going to throw away. Can you believe it? They were still good to use... I'm happy with what I've done. Maybe I could make it my day job?

Annie burst out laughing, but she stopped very quickly... Hey! There's an idea! She could use her ability and her sense for sewing to make the most beautiful dresses in New York... That city was a city of fashion; she could have the chance to succeed in something. Her brain started to work very fast. She knew a woman in town, a rich woman who could handle the needle very well. She had offered, a lot of time to teach her, her passion. But since Annie never went to her place without her mother, she had always refused because she was afraid to tease her mother's anger. A lot of time, that woman offered to pay her for her work and she would keep it a secret from Mrs. Brighton. Annie had been more than tempted to accept that very nice proposition, but she always ended up refusing.

"Too bad, had said the woman, I'm sure you would've been a great seamstress. I know it by all the remarks you made on my work. You could make it your day job."

Mrs. Brighton had laugh at that last remark, she begged the woman not to put such crazy ideas in her daughter's head. A woman from the upper class does not work. Only those suffragettes have such revolutionary thoughts, at that rate, women will end up becoming lawyer and doctors. Like that Candy who went to nursing school, and who was a shame for the Andrew family. Let's leave the work to men and the house to women. The young woman had looked down, when she heard her mother. The woman looked at Annie and she understood that she was not made to look like a china doll.

Since that last visit, Annie was prohibited to go to that woman's house or to socialise with her. That woman would end up having a bad influence on her. What would happen to the Brighton's name if one of their women started working, where would we go? But finally the news of Candy's death had changed the world of this young woman. No more friends, no more fiancé, no more family, she didn't have anything left. Because Candy was the only thing she wanted around her. But she realised that destiny was very cruel. After going after Candy and vanquishing her, it was now going against her. By eliminating Candy, it had killed a part of Annie, which was finally feeling the pain her sister must've felt through her death; the loneliness to see herself abandoned by everyone you love.

Candy was gone, but Annie was going to show destiny that she won't let it have her so easily. She wanted to be worthy of her best friend, so she would be proud of her up there, so that when they meet again in paradise, Candy could tell her how happy she was to see her get up from everything, on her own.

She quickly put her stuff away in her bag, she said goodbye to Candy saying a few words to apologise and left the cemetery running out of there. She ran very fast and she went to see Mrs. Marietta Smith, the woman who was a seamtress. She had made a decision to accept her help and let her teach her what she knew, even if that meant to do it behind her mother's back.

When she arrived at Mrs. Smith's place, she found her in front of her sewing machine, working on a beautiful piece of green silk. She waved and smiled to her visitor. Annie was still breathless from her running and she said hello to her politely.

Sitting in the living room, the young woman was sipping a cup of hot tea, while Mrs. Smith was carefully looking at her work on Miss Pony's dress. She put the tissue on the table and she took off her glasses, shaped like half moons off. Annie was anxiously waiting the verdict, but she let Mrs Smith time to swallow a sip of verbena tea. Then, she looked at the young girl, whose eyes seemed to be asking "so"?

- That's very good work Annie. Bravo.

- Oh, thank you Mrs. Smith

- I knew you were a good seamstress. I felt it.

- I could feel it too, said Annie smiling

- What do you intend to do?

- Well, since the death of my friend Candy, I've looked at my life. My ex-fiancé was a moron who broke up with me on the day of Candy's funerals. I was deeply hurt, but I have to say that finally it may not be a bad thing. Because with that, he gave me back my freedom.

- What do you mean by that?

- My mother hated Candy because she worked. You know she bans in her house, all ideas of seeing a woman from the upper class using her hands, for something else than embroidery or to play harpsichord.

- As a matter of fact, your mother was more than mean to me when she knew I was making my own dresses

- I wanted to know...does your proposition to teach me still stand?

- Annie?

- What I mean is that I have the intention to leave Chicago. I want to go to New York, where I'm sure my collections would please those fashion hungry women. For that, I need your help, I need you to teach me what I don't already know

- But what about your mother?

- My mother doesn't run my life. She doesn't want to understand that between Archibald Cornwell and I, there will never be anything anymore. She still convinced that Candy's death made him talk and that he will come back to me. Honestly, even if she was telling the truth, I won't take that man back. And I don't want to wait for something, without giving anything back. I want to work with my own hands, I want earn the fruit of my work.

Mrs. Smith stood up from her armchair and she walked to the window. Annie was wondering if she had been convincing enough for Mrs. Smith to agree to help her. Putting her little finger in her mouth, she observed the gentle gestures of that woman. She had a deep sigh and she said:

- Come here every evening from 10 pm. I will teach you what I know

- Oh... Thank you Mrs. Smith, said Annie crying silently

Mrs. Smith turned around and she smiled nicely to her new young pupil. She also told her that she will pay her for every piece of work she was going to finish for her and if she really did a good job, she will have extra money.

All happy, Annie left the Smith's manor, almost dancing, without knowing that a pair of chestnut eyes were looking at her from afar wondering:

"Why is that cry baby so happy?"

Without thinking too much about it, especially, knowing that the orphans from the Pony Home were kind of weird, she went back to her favourite hobby; shopping. The redhead Eliza Reagan had other plans in mind. Knowing that Terrence Grandchester was free from Candy and from his handicapped fiancée, she had the intention to go to New York to try to get him for herself. Playing the understandable sister, she will probably be able to take advantage of his weakness and she will find herself becoming Mrs. Grandchester before the actor realise what hit him. She never forgot how he humiliated her in college, rejecting her and spitting on her when he was angry. It was her turn, she was preparing her little revenge, Eliza style, and she's going to trap him easily without having any obstacle.

Satisfied with the view of her future life as a couple with Terrence, she invited a few men to celebrate her future departure, all night long at her place.

Eliza was wallowed in luxury and loved the delicious sensations of the sexual act. How could she deprive herself? Also when she's going to be married to Terrence, she will make sure to make him the most divine partner this earth has ever known and in case it doesn't work, which is highly unlikely, she will improvise a lover or two.



It's been 4 months since Eliza was seeing Annie leaving the Smith's manor during the night, while she was leaving the manor of her latest sex partner. Curious to know what that little orphan was plotting, she followed her once from the beginning until the end of her stay at the Smiths. She saw her sitting on a chair working like a vulgar peasant girl. Annie was embroidering, sewing, cutting, needling...

A bad smile drew on the redhead's face.

"Mrs. Brighton is going to be glad to learn that her daughter was using her hands like a fleabag."

She left the street and went back home with the firm intention to tell everything to Mrs. Brighton the next day.



When Annie appeared in the living room, ready for a new day of work, she was started to see Eliza Reagan with a satisfied look and her mother, on a verge of a nervous break down.

The hostilities started, the brunette was barely able to say "hello". Mrs. Brighton yelled, all hell broke lose. She asked for explanations on the inadmissible behaviour of her daughter.

- I've heard you're taking sewing courses at that crazy Mrs. Smith's

- She's not crazy, mom, she's teaching me a job

- Jesus-Christ, a job? What for? I told you that a lady of your class doesn't have to work

- You're a shame for everybody Annie, said Eliza, you're soiling your name and by soiling your name, you're soiling the Reagan's and the Andrew's name too...

- Shut up! Said Annie, you're the one who came tell mom everything?

- Of course, I couldn't let you do it. And a young lady who walks around alone in the middle of the night it's stupid.

- What about you? What were you doing outside at such a time, my dear Eliza?

- I was visiting my friend Celimene who has been sick and confined to her bed for a week now

- You? You're into charity work now? Give me a break!

- That's enough! Interrupted Mrs. Brighton, Annie, I forbid you to see that woman again, I forbid you to think about working. That Candy made you soft in the head with her suffragette's ideas. If she had jumped off a bridge telling you it was beautiful sensation, you would've done it too

- Candy was free and she...

- And she was alone, said Mrs. Brighton, no fiancé, no strings, no stability. She was living a scandalous life and you see where that lead her? She's dead Annie, dead! And from now on, I forbid you to go to the cemetery!

- ENOUGH!!! Yelled Annie putting her hands on her ears. You're forbidding me this, forbidding me that, you want me to get married and be a decorative plant! Be pretty and shut up. I want more than that from life. You've separated me from my sister, you're continuing to separate me from the people I love, you're depriving me of my freedom and I'm going to end up being suffocating . I'm taking my life into my own hands, mom. I'M NOT A LIVING ROOM CHINA DOLL!!!

Annie left the room leaving Mrs. Brighton stunned and Eliza surprised. Since when does that little orphan without a cent, replied the way she did? She console Mrs. Brighton for a little while who cried over the craziness that took over her daughter, cursing Candy for her influence on her child. Eliza felt good in that house, because nobody hated Candy anymore, not even her mother. So hearing Mrs. Brighton being so crude with that stable girl, was like a soothing cream on her heart and gave her more courage to go after Terrence and seduce him. If she succeeds, Candy will probably turn over in her grave a dozen of times. With her theatrics, Eliza managed to calm that poor woman and then she left the house.

Mrs. Brighton went to her daughter's room, with the decision to lock her up if need be, but she hit a brick wall. Annie was packing her things one by one and putting them in a leather trunk without a look for her mother. The noble gestures of the young lady manipulating her clothes, clearly showed the delicate education she had received. Mrs. Brighton's anger was still there, so she approached her fast and took out everything she had put in the trunk and threw it on the floor. Annie took her mother's arm and pushed her on the bed, giving her the mean eye and she asked calmly:

- Stop it mom. I decided to leave. Nothing is holding me back here

- I'm your mother

- I know and I love you. But I want to go. I'm not made to be sequestered in this mansion. I need something else.

- I refuse to let you go. If you leave this mansion, I'm going to cut you off, do you hear me?

- Loud and clear, no need to yell. If you think that's going to keep me here, you're mistaking

- You don't know what to do with your ten fingers; you're going to end up a beggar on the streets. Of course when you fail and fall on your face, there is no way you're coming back here. Once you go out that door, it's going to be close for you for ever.

- You're an exemplary mother. How come woman like you, could pretend to love her daughter, and never encourages her

- I'm certainly not going to encourage you to work, when it goes against everything I taught you

- I will succeed mom, you'll see, I'll become a great seamstress

- Annie!

But the young woman closed her trunk and asked a worker to bring it downstairs in the hallway. She will go to the Pony Home until she finish her training with Mrs. Smith, then she will leave for New York.

Leaving her mother in what was her bedroom, Annie left the mansion without turning back, without any regrets, and she got in her father's luxurious car. Mr. Brighton was on a trip, he will learn what happened later, or by a letter.

The ride was made in silence, interrupted by tears... the young woman was sad to see her mother so not interested in the future of her own child. If she, Annie had a daughter one day who wanted to work, she would encourage her. But... Will she have the chance to meet a man she loves one day, who will make her a wife and a mother? Probably never, since in her heart it was Archibald who was supposed to have that role, and he will never fulfil it now.

She arrived at the Pony Home and the children greeted her and ran to her, circling her in a happy dance which brought a smile on her worn out face. Then she was greeted by her two mommies, she hugged them and started crying on their shoulder, she was so sad. Miss Pony consoled her as always, while Sister Maria using her usual severe tone to shake her daughter:

- Annie you have made a decision, I'm sure the Lord will guide you and help you, but you have to stop crying. Candy's death affected all of us, but life must go on. You're going to meet other people, you're going to live other things and you'll discover that life can sometimes be crueler than death itself.
- Sister Maria..., said Annie
- Sister Maria is right my child, continued Miss Pony, Candy lived for what she thought was right. She just left us too early. I'm sure that where she is, she's looking at you and holding her fist to shake you by the shoulders. You can't give up, you have to move forward

Annie wiped her blue eyes and she looked at her mommies who were smiling at her. She felt courage invading her. Yes, she was going to start a new life and soon she was going to show the world that you can be an upper class lady and also independent.



She met Mrs. Smith who promised to continue with her training at the Pony Home, for that, she left a few items for her to finish and every week, she will come to explain to her new points or correct the rare mistakes.

As a matter of fact, Annie was a very gifted student; Mrs. Smith practically never had to correct her which made working with her very pleasant.

Two months later, Mrs. Smith told her she taught her everything she needed to know:

- But... I don't feel like I can do anything on my own

- Come on, this last dress was completely ruined; I gave it to you so you can work on it and look at the wonderful thing you made out of this rag. I might even keep it for myself, said Mrs Smith laughing

Annie smiled and she finally realised that she had something in her hands to start a new life. She jumped to Mrs. Smith's neck thanking her a thousand times and crying of joy. Mrs. Smith promised her that when she will be settled in New York, she will visit her and she will be her biggest customer. In the mean time, she shouldn't lose courage, or lose focus of her goal, otherwise she will be lost and she might never be able to get back on track.

Miss Pony and Sister Maria organised a little party and Mrs. Smith was also there. She paid for the reception and gave money to the two women, who refused at first, but ended up accepting after she insisted.

Annie was happy, she was at the dawn of her own revolution and she was going to go through with it and prove to everybody what she was really worth.



On the eve of her departure, she went to the cemetery to make a last visit to Candy's grave, telling her about her progress and her ambitions. For once, she didn't cry of grief, but of joy.

- If you could see me now Candy... what would you say? I feel like a little girl in the middle of a candy store. Everything is so exciting. I'm leaving for New York in a few hours. I'm going to spend my last night at the Pony Home and then... when will I come back to see you??? I'm sorry my darling, but I have no idea. Know that I'm taking with me your most beautiful memory. Your smile, your words, your good mood and your joy of life. I love you Candy.

She kiss the cold grave farewell, she dried her eyes one last time. She smiled and she left slowly to join Tom who was waiting for her with his carriage at the cemetery entry. He took his little sister in his arms and consoled her for a long time. He had a girlfriend whom he loved with all his heart, but he was hesitating to marry her. Candy's premature death opened his eyes... Life was fragile, one day you have something, and tomorrow you might not have it anymore. So he made the decision to marry that young woman as soon as possible, so he won't regret anything.



That's how Annie found herself sitting on the train. It was taking her to her new life. Over there, she didn't know what was waiting for her, she didn't know what she was going to become or where she was going to live. She had nothing, aside from the little money she earned at Mrs. Smith's and she had saved up for this big moment.

The trip was long and the second class wagons were not very comfortable and she was starting to have a headache. The infernal noise of the machine was hitting her temples for hours. She couldn't wait for it to stop. For this trip, she had changed her little rich girl dress for one of her models more simple. It had no fantasy, no ribbons and no feathers. It had a little embroidering on the collar and the sleeves. It was light blue; she wasn't wearing a hat or gloves. She looked like a normal girl, who will live a normal life, the usual routine, the life of those without money. She had been raised as a rich girl, with a strict education and she new how to play the piano... What will that bring her to know how to play the piano? Certainly not the hope of having a name for herself on beautiful clothes, for New York's upper class.

After long hours, her train finally slowed down, and entering New York train station... the city smelled the power to succeed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of this beautiful day and got off the train. An image came to her mind, she imagined Candy, a few years earlier arriving at the train station for the premiere of Romeo and Juliet. She was full of hope too; she must've run into Terry's arms who had probably come to pick her up... and then what? What did they do? Did they kiss? In front of everybody in the middle of the platform?

Oh... Impossible, Candy was an outlaw, but not to the point of letting herself kissed in the middle of a crowd. Then... well, she could also imagine her taking the train back, one she shouldn't have taken, if only that Susanna Marlowe hadn't done everything to separate the tear up couple. They had both suffered so much. They had been living separated for so long because of the hazards of life, it was so easy for them not to see each other. Destiny made sure they get a chance to see each other; it was something else that was stopping them. So Candy had broken up with Terrence because of his scene partner. Annie who had only hated Eliza until then, started to hate the actress. If she hadn't separated Candy from Terry, she never would've gone to the war, she never would've risked her life and today she would've been safe and sound, married to the man of her dreams and real life. Was it not fair to blame others for your bad luck? No, it's called reality of facts and if Susanna hadn't act the way she did, Candy wouldn't have died at the front of honour. How was she right now? Did she have any remorse? Is she living happy in Terry's arms, now that Candy is no more? Life will take care of her punishment. Everybody gets what they deserve: the Lord always reward us.

Holding her suitcase, Annie left the train station walking slowly. She stopped and looked at the people and observed the crowd. Jesus! It had nothing to do with Chicago. Everything was bigger, more frivolous... There were working girls on the streets, beggars, jostling each other in front of the train station. Men, women, rich, poor, were walking around careless of the misery, others running after cabs. Some where jostling the young woman without taking the time to apologise, others were asking her if she wanted to spend a little good time. Terrorised by all that agitation, Annie started to run without looking where she was going. Panicky, she turned in streets, without worrying about getting lost. When her legs couldn't take it anymore, she stopped to catch her breath. She leaned on a tree, breathing fast, putting her hand on her heart. What a crazy city... Maybe she should've stayed home? No! She had to make it, and she was going to make it.

Raising her head to look around her, she was wondering where she was... She was still in town, but this area seemed snobbish and richer. She asked someone for the name of the street, he replied without stopping: "Broadway". Incredible! She was on Broadway, the stars' area... Everything was great; the streets were well taken cared of, people well dressed and the posters were all over the walls on the street. She quickly thought about Terry. He must be living somewhere around there. A big star like him only lived around there. Where would he go?
The weather changed and it started raining hard. Annie was caught in the rain, she ran to a bar, and before entering, she checked to see if it wasn't too expensive. She needed a room for the night. Unfortunately, everything was expensive in that area and sometimes the price of a room was the total of the money she had and that was not a lot. So she was walking for a while under the rain falling from the sky, getting her completely soaked also by the cars passing on puddles. Tired of walking around she decided to leave Broadway and she found less recommended areas. She was in luck; she found a room for rent for the night within her budget. She opened the door and she was greeted by an unpleasant smell of alcohol and tobacco. But courageously, she entered. Three quarters of the customers were shipmen, who had just got off their boats and searching for some female company before going off to see again for months. Annie's arrival was noticed, there was a silence for a moment. The heart beating, wet hair, soaking wet clothes sticking to her body, she ignored the looks and she walked to the bar. She was a little nervous, but she had confidence, she looked at the barman.

He smiled and he asked her:

- Hello my little lady. What can I do for you?

- I would like a room for the night please.

- Of course, I have what you want. There, it's on the second floor and ignore the noise and whatever you see while you're going there.

- What do you mean?

- Over here, it's a shipmen's bar, the rooms are often occupied for... well you can see what I mean...

- Oh... yes... Thank you for your kindness sir...

- You're welcome. You want something to drink?

- With no alcohol, is it possible?

- You're not from around here... One orange juice coming up!

Annie sat at the bar, happy to be away from the rain and proud to have managed on her own, for the first time in her life. She took the glass the man gave her and started drinking her orange juice. She force herself not to pay attention to the cleanliness of the premises and her glass, she put it down on the counter. She took a little book out of her purse in which she has written what she was suppose to do once in New York... she checked her list without paying attention to what was going on around her, at least until she heard a voice, she thought she had recognised, pulled her from her thoughts. She raised her head and she saw a fight starting, her eyes were on a man who seemed to have trouble standing up, but who was fighting with force. Her heart jumped, she would recognise that shape among millions. His long brown hair, under his hat and his deep voice. It was kind of incredible that it was him. What would he be doing there? A big blow on his face made him fall semi-unconscious. She jumped on the occasion to run to him and turned him around. Her eyes wide open, the heart filled of joy she simply whispered:

- Terry...