THE BROKEN HEARTS

Chapter 16: "The reconciliation"

Mrs. Brighton was her place getting ready for a reception, on the day the article in the magazine came out, when her phone rang. She went to answer.

- Evelyne? Said one of her friends, you secretive little thing!

- Hello Joanne? What on earth are you talking about?

- I'm talking about your daughter!

- My daughter?

- Yes! She got engaged to that actor, the King of Broadway; Terrence Grandchester!

Evelyn Brighton had to sit down so she wouldn't fall flat on her back.

- WHAT???

- Oh you don't know? All the papers are talking about it! He went to buy her jewels at Tiffany & CO. Sapphire and diamond jewels! The article in the magazine is saying that he's the son of the duke of Grandchester, one of England's greatest families... You've found a perfect match for your daughter, you sly little fox! After Archibald Cornwell, a future duke is definitely a step higher!!!Annie is going to be the Duchess of Grandchester one day!!! You are so lucky Evelyne!!! And you wanted to keep all that to yourself? Fortunately your future son-in-law is a celebrity; otherwise, we wouldn't have known anything! When is the wedding?

- Joanne, you seem to know everything already. The papers didn't give you the wedding date? Said Mrs. Brighton ironically

- Evelyn? You're not happy for your daughter?

- Yes I am. But you took me by surprise, said Mrs. Brighton to shield her irritation, you didn't let me the time to tell you the news and you were announcing it to me! She's my daughter after all! I wanted to proudly tell you the news! You just took the words right out of my mouth!

- Oh I'm sorry dear! The news was such a good one! The son of a duke! The Grandchesters are one of the England's oldest families! He's a good catch! The best, after the princes!! The duke would probably want a big wedding! You're so lucky! They're very rich; you can offer your daughter everything!!!

- Joanne, ca I call you back?

- Of course Evelyn, I'll talk to you later!

Mrs. Brighton hung up the phone. She went back to her bedroom to talk to her husband.

- Adam, you'll never guess what I just heard!

- That Annie and Terry are engagement to be married?

- You knew?

- I read it in Patricia's magazine...

- And you didn't tell me anything...

- Well, I know you don't like Terry that much...

- He's the son of the duke of Grandchester Adam! That's one of England's greatest families! It's the best catch after the princes! Even now it's better than the princes, because our daughter loves him! They love each other!!! That's wonderful!

Adam Brighton looked at his wife shaking his head. One of her friend probably called her to congratulate her on Annie soon to be wedding with the son of the duke was glamourous... the phone rang again and he went to answer.

- Hello?

- Master Brighton? This is the duke of Grandchester...

- Good evening Your Grace. To what do I owe the honour of your phone call?

- My son is going to marry your daughter...

- Yes, I learnt the news in the papers...

- Well you don't live in the same city. I'm sure Terrence would've came in person to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage if that was the case.

- Of course, he a very well behaved boy.

- Yes, that's why I'm calling you. We want to come to Chicago to officially ask for your daughter's hand in marriage, with the new fiancés... we could discuss the wedding date also.

- All right. Sine my daughter is already living with your son...

- Yes, he gave her shelter temporarily a room in his manor; she had left it to live alone in a room in the shop she was renting to make her dresses. Orders are pouring in ever since Patricia put an add in her magazine... But ever since their engagement, Annie is living with Eleonor. So you have nothing to worry about for the future bride's reputation... My son is a gentleman with the woman is going to marry.

- I trust you. After all, he's your son...

- We plan to come over there next week...

- We're waiting for you impatiently.

- Good bye Master Brighton.

- You can call me Adam.

- And you can call me Richard...

The two fathers continued talking for a while then Mr. Brighton hung up. His wife was looking at him.

- You heard?

- Yes...

- Annie is living with Eleonor Baker ever since she got engaged to Terry... She had left his manor...

- Oh... at least she's not bringing us any shame anymore...

- That's funny, you had no problem when she lived at the Andrews'

- When she lived at the Andrews, she didn't have the crazy idea to do like Candy and work with her hands...

- You know that Terry is also working and he's encouraging her to continue...

- He's the son of a duke and he's degrading himself by being an actor!

- He's an excellent actor! The King of Broadway! He's the best actor of his generation!!!

- All right, he is a very good actor...

- We're going to have them with his parents, so you're going to behave yourself...

- Archibald Cornwell loves her, Adam!

- Well Annie loves Terry! Archibald treated her like dirt at Candy's funeral; you seem to have forgotten about that!

- It was the grief! Candy had turned his head...

- I keep wondering what you had against Candy! Even dead, you can help but blaming her for everything! She was just a little girl who needed parents, just like Annie. We should've taken them both...

- Candy was a strong head... Annie was softer...

- Well Annie showed us that she could also be a strong head... I have to admit that it was about time for her to act out! Even if it took the death of her best friend... I like talking about my daughter's rebellion too. You have to admit that our live was pretty boring with a daughter who would obey us all the time...

- I have to admit that telling people that my daughter is actually making dresses with her hands in New York, it's kind of fun...

Annie's parents continued talking about their daughter. They finished getting ready and they went to the reception. They were the subject of the conversation with the news of their daughter's engagement with Terrence Grandchester, the King of Broadway and the sumptuous jewels from Tiffany & Co that he had offered her.