Candice was the apple of her father's eye until one day everything changed by one decision that was made in haste. She must confront her life on an uneven playing field that no one quite understands. Her father was her world until her world cru .mbl...
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Chapter Twelve
The next few years the time seems to slide by with a sense of great joy in there lives as Candice is growing as grandpa would have said, " like a weed." She is now approaching five years old with a quick wit just like her father which her grandma absolutely despises for some unknown reason that she never reveals. The once wonderful relationship Bart had with his in-laws had since tarnished like an old bucket that had laid in the rain for days on end. His purpose had run its course by being the one who had given them a grandchild. Rachel's mother in time would tolerate his existence but Candice and her daddy were like two peas in a pod and not even death could change what they had, it was forever. One thing her mother was able to do was pull Rachel away from the man she loved by interjecting herself into their daily lives. It didn't take any time at all to see Rachel back in the lap of luxury just like when she was in high school and living at home. The honest truth was the unbiblical cord with her mother had never been detached and no man would ever do that if her mother had any say in it. Candice and her daddy would only bond closer and closer in a significant way that not even death could separate them. This didn't mean that Bart hadn't given up on his marriage, but rather it had now become more difficult to maintain since he was now the third wheel. I suppose Bart had now become old hat in that he was just tolerated and he knew it. Candice loved her daddy and her daddy loved her and that was all that really mattered. One of the greatest joys they both had was going fishing or rather talking about going fishing. " so Candice how would you like to go Vishing today? Now let see we would need a vishing pole, a vishing boat, and hmm ... Some vishing vorms? " Candice says to her daddy no, no, no its pronounced fishing worms, daddy?" Bart says, " that was what I said vishing vorms?" Daddy, you're so funny but it is still fishing worms? " her daddy looks at her and says, you know I bet you are right so fishing worms it is, as they roll in the grass and act like two small children. Her mother then calls her in to the dinner table and her daddy says, "I hope we're not having fried vishing vorms? " " uck! No worms for me!" She runs into the house for dinner as Bart remains on the grass thinking how much he loved his precious little girl. On the following evening, everyone had gone to sleep but Bart sits in his office writing a letter after he had finished the letter he writes on the front of it the following words, " this letter is to be open only in the event of my death by Candice Renee Clark." He then places it in another envelope, sealed, and address to his Attorney Loyd G. Kerns. In the morning on his way to work, he drops it by the local post office in Beaumont. The days come and go like the seasons until one day he begins to notice that his little girl has started to blossom into quite a young lady. Her beautiful blue eyes just like her fathers and a quick wit to match. Her very best friend was Rita Sanders whom she had met in first grade. They were what they called " soul sisters" because, though they were not twins or even related but were alike in every way. They walked alike, talked alike, liked the same boys, like the same favorite foods, both had a crush on Elvis, in fact, everything about them was so similar that many people said it border lined on creepy. It didn't really matter to them as long as they were happy and they were extremely happy whenever they were together. It was early morning in 1971 and one of the most beautiful days on record in Beaumont, Texas. There was a slight breeze coming off the Gulf of Mexico in Baytown, Texas. The strong scent of the fisheries seems to linger in the air like an invisible fog. A car is heading up the main highway without much regard for anyone and their only focus was to sample a little Columbian Gold which they had just purchased in a little place called Van Horn, Texas just six miles from the Mexican border. They continued their trip north toward Dallas when they had just arrived at the city limits sign of Brenham, Texas and they were about as high as a kite on a windy summer day. One of the men in the van flipped his unfinished cigarette out the open window just as he fell asleep in the back seat. They continued on their way without any thought of their actions all they wanted was to do was party their way home. The cigarette rotates through the air head over heels as the air fueled the fire on the end. Is was after about five rotations it landed on the edge of a very dry field where some cattle were grazing on the dry grass. It sits there for about twenty minutes simmering in the grass that was until the wind carried it across the land like a fireball of tumbleweed. In the meantime back at Beaumont Candice and Rita were walking to school talking about all of the cute guys they had their eye on for the upcoming Labor Day Dance. Bart was on his way to the office in his red Cadillac when he spots the girls walking, so he pulls up beside them and says, " Jump in girls and I will give you a ride to school. They climb in and start giggling immediately as he says, " what is so funny?" The girls face turning a pink blush as they try not to laugh when Candice remarks, " Rita thinks your cute!" Rita hits Candice and says under her breath, " Candice you promised?" Rita's face becomes a deeper shade of red as they both start to giggle without any restraint. Her father looks at both of the girls and says, " Well, I think Rita like you are very beautiful girls." The girls couldn't contain themselves anymore as they begin to scream and rapidly stomp their feet against the floorboard. Bart just looks and smiles as he pulls up in front of the school. The girls get out of the car, but not before her father gives her a kiss and says, " Candice, I love you so very much and I hope you girls have a wonderful day. She says, " goodbye daddy I love you so very much and will see you tonight." He blows her a kiss as he drives he drives away and Rita can be heard screaming at a low roar, " I love you, Mr. Clark." As they run into the school giggling like the schoolgirls they were. Rita says, " do you think he heard me say I love you, Mr. Clark?" They continue to their first class with smiles as big as the state itself. Bart heads to the local diner for some breakfast with his wife before he heads off to work. They sit in the diner like the two schoolgirls he had just dropped off at the school. She gives him a warm kiss upon his lips as she says, "I love you so very much, do you know that?" He smiles and says, " I really do, but Rita is trying to move in on your man as we speak." They both start to laugh as the waitress comes up to take their breakfast order. She says, " OK lovebirds what will it be this morning? And by the way, I would love to have a caring man just like you have Rachel. " She smiles and says, "I think they broke the mold after he was created." In a few minutes they are, having a splendid breakfast and a nice cup of coffee as Rachel reminds him about the items he was to pick up at the drug store. She gives him a very passionate kiss as they part ways, him to work and her back home for the day.
