THE BROKEN HEARTS

Chapter 18: "A few family visits"

The next day, Terry came to pick up Annie to go to the Pony Home. They wanted to annonce the news to her first two mommies.

- You're going to the Pony Home all alone? Asked Mrs. Brighton.

- Yes, mom, we're big enough...

- But you need a chaperon...

- We're not in the 17th century anymore mom. Don't worry.

- But your reputation...

- I lived in New York with Terry mom, because you threw me out...

- I know, but here in Chicago...

- Mrs. Brighton, said Terry, I can assure you that your daughter is still pure.

Mrs. Brighton became bright as red. Mr. Brighton burst out laughing.

- Have a nice trip, kids, said Mr. Brighton.

- Bye...

Once on the train, Annie said:

- I missed my mom, but having her on my back all the time...

- I understand you, said Terry smiling.

- I feel weird... But I like having her on my back, but at the same time... well it's mom, I shouldn't be surprised.

- It's the same thing with my father, said Terry. Our relationship has always been tense. I came to America a few years ago, to find my mother, because I didn't have any love with my father... but my mother sent me away back to my father... she hugged me for a few seconds only to tell me that no one should know that I was her son if I wanted to inherite my father's title... I left without looking back, despite the fact that she called me back... On the boat back to England, I met Candy... She caught me while I was crying, so she turned around to leave, because she didn't want to bother me. I called her back to ask what she wanted. She told me that she wanted to speak to me because I looked so sad and to defend myself, I made fun of her saying she was seeing things and her face was full of freckles... she looked at me stunned, because she knew I was crying a moment before and I was playing the tough guy. She told me that she collected freckles and that her friends had told her that it suited her well... and I made fun of her nose... and I can still hear her angry voice saying: " And what's wrong with my nose?!"

They laughed together to that nice memory.

- And I left when the man who was with her, arrived and she refused to say goodbye to me... I saw her again at school and I was always teasing her, making her lose her cool...But she never ever through in my face that she had seen me cry...

- That's our Candy. I remember when she had to go to New York for the premiere of "Romeo and Juliet" – thanks for inviting us, by the way, I thought we had become friend after that summer in Scotland, that year...we wanted to go to see your triumph in Broadway too...

- I'm sorry, but I wanted to be alone with Candy.

- I understand that, but if we had been there, we could've advised you to say together and find a solution to your problem... oh well! I was saying, she had to go to the premiere, we met Eliza with her brother and her mother, who was bragging about how she was going to New York to your premiere and she made fun of Candy whom she thought was not going... Candy didn't say a thing. When Eliza left, we asked her why she didn't tell Eliza she was also going to New York. She said that if she had told her that, Eliza wouldn't have the pleasure of insulting her anymore!!!

- Incredible! Said Terry

He took Annie in his arms and they continued their trip, talking about Candy and their childhood and their piano lessons... they realized they had a lot in common.

Once at the train station, they took a carriage to the Pony home. When they arrived the children came to greet them. They were screaming of joy when they saw Terry and Annie. They ran to the Pony Home to call Miss Ponyand Sister Maria to tell them they had visitors. Both ladies came out and they were surprised to see Terry with Annie. This last one ran to jump inot Miss Pony and Sister Maria's arms. Terry shooke their hand warmly.

- Annie! Terry! What a nice surprise! Said Miss Pony.

- Come in, come and sit inside! Said Sister Maria.

The young couple followed the two women inside. They sat down around the dining room table.

- What brings you by? Asked Miss Pony smiling.

Annie looked at Terry, who took her hand to encourage her.

- Well, Miss Pony, Sister Maria, I came to announce to you that Terry and I are getting married...

- Oh, said Miss Pony, congratulations!

- I wish you all the happiness of the world.

- Thank you , said Annie hugging them.

- Thank you , said Terry smiling.

- So, how did you two get close? Asked Miss Pony.

- Well, after I left her, I went to New York to look for work, but I only found a job in a salor's bar where I found Terry... he invited me to live with him...

- You live together? Asked Sister Maria outraged.

- I was his tenant, said Annie.

- Yes, she's Candy's sister, said Terry, I couldn't not help her... but our relationship was... platonic

- Yes, we declared our love to each other, after I left Terry's house...

- I missed her like crazy, said Terry smiling, so I asked her to marry me.

- And I said yes, said Annie smiling.

- Congratulations! Said Sister Maria.

- And I wanted to invite you to the wedding on June 14th in New York and ask you if some of the kids could be in the wedding party, for the flowers and to hold my veil...

- But of course! Said Miss Pony! They're going to be very happy! Thanks for the invitation!

Terry smiled.

- I wanted my first family to be there at my wedding, said Annie.

The young couple spent the day at the Pony Home. Annie chose the little girls and the little boys for the flowers, the veil and the rings. She took their measurements of all the children to make the clothes.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Terry and Annie went back to Chicago in the evening. Terry took her back to her parents and he went back to the hotel.

Annie spent an agitated night. She woke up in the morning and she got ready, then she got out of the house. She went to buy white roses and she went to the cemetary on Candy's tomb. She put the flowers on the tomb with tears in her eyes.

- Good morning sweetie. How are you? I got you some "Sweet Candy". I know they're you favourite flowers. I don't come to see you as ofter, because I live in New York now. I think you know that already, but Terry and I have become very close and he asked me to marry him and I said yes. Oh Candy! He's so wonderful! He's so nice and full of attention and I love him so much! Yes, I love him with all my heart! What about Archie? You're going to tell me... well I think that what I felt for him died the day we buried you, when he blamed me for your death... And I love Terry now, I love him with all my heart and I see what you saw in him...

Annie heard footsteps. She turned around.

- Good morning Annie, said Terry's voice.

- Good morning Terry, said Annie.

He had a bouquet of red roses, which he put on Candy's tomb. Annie stood up to leave him.

- Where are you going?

- I'm leaving you alone, she said, goodbye Candy. Here's Terry... I love you sweetie.

Annie walked away leaving Terry alone on his beloved's tomb.

- Hello Freckles... How are you doing? Down here, life goes on and I think you know that Annie and I are going to get married. What about Susanna? You're going to tell me...Well, I did what I should've done a long time ago...I broke up with her, but I'm at her entire disposal, if she ever need anything... your death showed me that you shouldn't waste your time doing what you don't want... I love Annie and she makes me happy and I didn't steal her from the dandy, he dumped her the day of your burial, the moron... that's what I wanted to tell you Freckles. I brought you some red roses... I know you like the white ones, but sorry, I didn't feel like giving you flowers created by my rival... he's probably with you over there... Goodbye Freckles.

There was a light breeze which brought him peace. He stood up and walked to the exit, where Annie was waiting for him. He took her in his arms.

- Are you ok? She asked.

- Yes, what about you?

- I'm fine.

- I love you.

- I love you.

They went back to the Brighton's together. They arrived and they found Annie's parents having breakfast.

- Where were you? Asked Mrs. Brighton.

- At the cemetery, on Candy's tomb.

- Oh... did you go together? Asked Mr. Brighton.

- No, we met there, said Annie.

- By chance, said Terry.

- Oh, you had the same idea. You're on the same page, said Mr. Brighton smiling.

Terry and Annie looked at each other, smiling. Yes, they were on the same page, they went to see Candy's tomb to tell her the news of their upcoming wedding.

They went back to New York the next day with Terry's parents. The wedding preparations had started. Mrs. Brighton went with Annie to New York to stay at Eleonor, to help and to participate, but she was really driving Annie crazy!
On top of them, Annie was working on the opening of her boutique, which allowed her to breathe a little far from her mother for a moment.

All those changes in Annie's professional life seemed almost unbelievable to her. She was in love with Terry, she was going to marry him and also opened a boutique she always dreamed about. She had made a decision. She was going to call her boutique "At Candy and Annie's", in honor of her deceased dearest sister... She had made two different kind of clothes; everyday clothes for the Candy line and evening clothes for the Annie line.

Her career was fine, her love life was perfect, everything was going fine with Annie Brighton.