Terry Terry

Chapter 58 "The moment of truth"

Terry had finished his work day and he had a bad feeling. Something was happening. He had the sudden urge to see Candy. He called her on her cellphone and he got her voicemail. He left her a message. Then he called Candy's apartment to speak to Esther.

- Hi Terry!

- Hi my little doll! How are you?

- I'm fine... I had a hot dog for lunch...

- Yum... what did you do during the day?

The little girl told him about her day. He talked to her for a while and then he hung up. He called Candy's cellphone again and he got her voicemail, once again. He had a bad feeling...

"Come on my freckled princess, call me please!" He said to himself.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Candy was at the hospital with the rest of the troupe in the waiting room. Her cellphone was off. Marlowe's parents were there. The mother was crying her eyes out on her beautiful little boy. She looked at Candy with mean eyes. A lot of hours passed before a doctor came to give them some news. The Susann stood up to go speak to the doctor.

- Doctor? So?

- Are you his parents?

- Yes, said the mother

- We were able to save his life...

- Thank God! Said the mother

- But...

- What's going on?

- We had to do implants on him...

- What does that mean? Asked the mother

- It means we had to cut his leg...

- NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yelled the mother upset, no! How could you do that without asking our opinion?

- We had to save his life, ma'am

- You've mutilated him! She yelled

- Honey, calm down, said her husband

- My son has only one leg and you want me to be calm?!!!

- He saved the princess...

- The princess he talked about so much! She safe and sound and my baby lost his leg!

Candy was listening without hearing. All she had heard was that Marlowe was amputated because of her, because he had saved her life. She felt bad, she stood up to go to the washroom to throw up. She went back to the waiting room. The Susann went to see their son in the room, even if he wasn't conscious yet. Hathaway approached Candy.

- Candy, you go back home..., you can't do anything.

- But...

- He's still unconscious; he'll wake up tomorrow only... come back during visiting hours tomorrow.

- Are you sure? Said Candy, I'd like to see him before I leave...

Mr. and Mrs. Susann got out of the room. Mrs. Susann was in tears. She became hysterical, when she saw Candy.

- There's the famous princess!!! It's your fault! MY BABY LOST HIS LEG BECAUSE OF YOU!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU!!! YOU'VE HURT HIM ENOUGH AS IT IS!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!!!

Candy was upset. Hathaway held her against him and took her defense.

- Come on Mrs. Susann, it's not Candy's fault, she didn't asked to be saved!

- I'm sorry Mrs. Susann, really sorry, said Candy freeing herself from Hathaway, thank you Mr. Hathaway.

She put her sunglasses and a hat and she left the hospital incognito. She arrived at her place and Esther ran to hug her. Candy took her in her arms and she hugged her for a long time.

- Oh my baby..., I love you, said Candy

- I love you too, Mummy Candy.

- Have you eaten yet?

- Yes and nanny bathe me too...

- Let's go to your room and I'll read you a bedtime story, said Candy taking her shoes off walking to Esther's room.

The room was decorated with biblical images. She went to get her hairbrush and gave it to Candy who was sitting on the bed and she started brushing the little one's hair.

- Which story do you want today? Asked Candy

- The story of Queen Esther

- All right my pretty one... Once upon a time, a very long time ago in Persia...

She told the story of Esther in a easy language so that the little girl will understand. She was answering the questions patiently.

- Now you have to go to sleep...

- Mummy Candy, you think that God listens to our prayers?

- Yes, of course honey

- And he does everything we ask him?

- Yes, only sometimes you have to wait, and God never deceives...

- All right...

She said her prayer, she lay down on her bed and she closed her eyes. Candy kissed her on the forehead and she got out of the room. She went to the bathroom and prepared water for a bath and she took her cellphone. Terry had left her a ton of messages. She called him back.

- Finally!!! Where were you my darling?

- Oh Terry, she said with tears in her voice

- What's going on? Asked Terry alerted

- There was an accident at the theatre...

- What kind of accident?

- A spotlight fell on the stage...

- Oh my God! Was anybody hurt?

- Marlowe pushed me...the spotlight was going to fall on my

- God almighty! Are you all right?

- I'm fine..., but

- What?

- Marlowe couldn't avoid the spotlight...

- He was hurt?

- Especially on his right leg...

- Is it serious?

- They had to...do an amputation...

- NO! Said Terry thinking right away about the guilt Candy was feeling.

- He saved my life Terry... The premiere is ina few days, his understudy is going to replace him... I also feel like being replaced...

- Candy, you've worked hard, don't give up now...

- I don't know if I can continue being on stage...

- My love, calm down. Sleep on it. Things always look better in the morning. I'm going to come earlier...

- No, my love. Don't change your schedule for me... you come for the premiere...

- I want to be near you... I have a charity gala in Lakewood for the Pony Home...

- You can't miss that... everything is fine. I'll wait for you on the scheduled date, all right?

- I know you're feeling guilty, my darling... everything will be fine. Don't forget to pray.

- Thank you honey. I love you. Good night

- Good night. I love you.

Candy closed her phone, finish her bath and got out of the bathtub. For once she felt the need to pray God, because she felt lost. She could've asked Terry to come earlier, only, it was her problem... what about her mom? Her mom had helped her a lot already, she wasn't going to bother her anymore. What about her father? She could forget about the duke who could take advantage of the situation to bring in his conditions. She was going to get out of this situation on her own. She prayed God and she went to bed to try to sleep a little. The day has been a hard one.

The next day, she went to the theatre for the rehearsals. Marlowe's replacement was named Cary Kleis. It seemed he had thrown a fit when he didn't get the role of Romeo. He wanted not only the lead role, but also play with the princess of the troupe, he knew people were going to come and see the princess on stage playing Juliet and he was now glad he was going to be with her on stage to shine with her. That pretentious Marlowe, who was so proud to have the princess on stage and off stage. Even if everybody knew that the princess had a boyfriend in Chicago... Cary Kleis was making a beautiful smile to Candy who seemed a little depressed. The atmosphere at the theatre was a little sad at first, but in showbiz world, the show must go on... Mr. Hathaway said a few words:

- I wanted to let you know that an investigation was opened on the accident, we're going to find out exactly what happened and make sure something like that doesn't happen anymore. You can go back to rehearsing with no risks...

- No risks? Said an actor, Marlowe got mutilated!

- That an unfortunate incident, the insurance is going to take care of him and he will always have a job with this troupe for the rest of this days... Ok, the premiere is in a few days, so you get to work! Right now!

The actors started working and soon, the sad atmosphere was dissipated with the actor's enthusiasm...

After the rehearsal, in early evening, Candy finally went to the hospital. She went to the hospital shop and bought flowers and a music box. She went upstairs...