The Race of Love

    by Mallory Quinn

    Chapter 1
    “The Aftermath”

    What if ... Terry never learned that Candy was in Chicago!?

    Candy was devastated the next day. She saw him, he didn't see her. She wanted to take some days off to go and look for him, but he's on tour...

    “I can’t believe Terry came here and he didn’t see me! He must think I’m still in England or something! Maybe he forgot about me and he ignored me…No, what are you saying, he sacrificed himself for you! So you could stay in that sordid college! He kissed me that summer saying he had sincere feelings for me… He kissed me on the lips, with his tongue! It was wonderful! He went to see my Pony’s Hill, he talked to Charlie about me… no he hasn’t forgotten about me! He doesn’t know I’m here! I have to let him know… Maybe if I write him at the theatre… the Stratford Troupe in Broadway, there must me only one Stratford troupe… I can try…that way if he’s on tour, he’ll find the letter when he goes back…I’ll write the letter during my lunch break and mail it.”

    On that happy note, Candy went to her classes. She could barely concentrate; all she could think about was Terry! She got yelled at a few times for being distracted.

    - Miss Andrew! Would you please pay attention!?

    - Yes, sir, I’m sorry, said Candy blushing.

    During her lunch break, she wrote the letter to Terry.

    My Dear Terry,

    I know you’re going to be surprised to hear from me and see my address here in the United States, in Chicago… which was part of your current tour across America. I’m taking a chance here to write at the theatre I’m not even sure you’ll get the letter. I saw you on stage I was on the third balcony and you were magnificent. I couldn’t help thinking about Scotland when you told me about your passion for acting, watching you be the King of France was just a delight. I tried to see you backstage, but they wouldn’t let me… I was in the crowd trying to get your attention by calling your name but you didn’t hear me… I looked for your hotel I found it but your colleague Susanna Marlowe told me you were asleep and you didn’t want to be disturbed by a fan…

    I was devastated, you came to Chicago and you didn’t see me, you didn’t even know I was there… So I hope you get this letter and my address so you can reply to me. I’m looking forward to hear from you.

    With all my love,

    Candy (Miss Freckles, in case you don’t remember me!)

    She smiled at that last line. She put the letter in an envelope and she went to mail it.

    “I pray you get this letter Terry. Please God, let him get this letter.”

    Then, there was an emergency, a young man, they say a young actor fell of the train-- Terrence Grandchester!!!

    Candy’s heart skipped a beat! Terry fell off the train? What the hell happened? He couldn’t be drunk since the day was barely starting… what on earth happened? She was taking care of the patient whose face was covered with bandages.

    - Terry, is that really you? Did you jumped off the train? Why would you do that? It doesn’t make any sense! Terry, please answer me, if it’s really you…

    But the patient was not talking.

    - Then I guess it’s not you! If it were Terry he would’ve answered me, I’m sure of it! Who ever you are, you better identify yourself! Because you’re not my Terry! I’m going to tell the hospital you’re an impostor!

    Silence.

    - All right… I’m going to tell the director…, said Candy walking to the door.

    - No Candy! Wait! Don’t go! It’s me Charlie!

    The patient had finally spoken.

    - What? Said Candy coming back.

    - Charlie, don’t you remember me? We met when you just came from England.

    - Oh yes! I remember now! What on earth are you doing usurping Terry’s identity?

    - I was trying to get away from the police. Yes, my bad boy life caught up with me the police is looking for me. So I jumped off the train where Terry and his troupe were … I told the people who rescue me that my name was Terrence Grandchester… don’t say anything…

    - I won’t but they’re going to find out you’re not Terry sooner or later.

    - I just need a little time to get on my feet, I want to enrol in the army to redeem myself…

    - I won’t say anything… but.

    The door opened and Eliza came in to take care of “Terry” and she threw Candy out of the room…

    - Terry, I’ll take care of you, you’re going to be fine, said Eliza…

    Candy wanted to laugh but Eliza deserved to be lied to… Then the whole debacle with Eliza and Neil happened. Eliza found out it was not Terry and turn Charlie in to the police. Then she wanted Candy to pay for the hospital bill, then Neil wanted that money…

    “What am I going to do?" Thought Candy.

    **********

    Terry was still on tour when a reporter tracked him down to ask him what he thought about someone using his identity.

    - So Charlie Sanders is passing himself off as me? Said Terry.

    - Yes…

    - Tell me everything you know, said Terry.

    The reporter told him and Terry listened. When the reporter was gone, Terry wrote a check and sent it to the hospital to cover the fees of his friend’s stay…

    The hospital got the check and Candy was called to the office.

    - Miss Andrew you don’t need to worry about Mr. Sanders’ bill, there was a checks sent to cover it…

    - What? Who sent the check?

    - Ironically enough, the real Terrence Grandchester sent the check…

    - Terry?

    - Yes… here is the rest of the money, I thought you should have it.

    - Thank you, said Candy.

    She went out of the office to go see Charlie to tell him the good news, but the police had come to take him away because he was well enough. He went to a juvenile centre.

    Time passed and Candy had no news from Terry. She read in the papers that the troupe was back after a successful tour across America.

    At the theatre in New York, Susanna Marlowe was passing by when one of the workers called her.

    - Miss Marlowe…

    - Yes…

    - Have you seen Terrence?

    - Yes, he’s on the roof…

    - Can you give him this letter when he comes back down?

    - Of course, said Susanna.

    - Thank you…

    Susanna took the letter and she read who the letter was from…

    - Candice White Andrew? Who the hell is she? Oh that girl who came to the hotel with a broken heel to look for Terry. That damn fan! What does she want? I think Terry can do without one letter from a fan…

    Susanna kept the letter, hid it from Terry…

    **********

    Candy wasn’t getting any news from Terry, maybe he didn’t care, or maybe he never got the letter…

    “Yes, that must be it! He didn’t get my letter! It must’ve gotten lost in the mail! Now what? Write another letter? Maybe it wasn’t meant to be… No…I won’t accept that! I can go see him…”

    The idea seemed crazy to her, but…

    - I need to tell Terry I’m here… I love him… I need to see if he still cares about me like he said when he kissed me… I can’t stop thinking about him… How could he not have seen me or heard me?! I have to go and see him or I’m going to go nuts!!!! I’m going to ask for a few days off.

    Annie came to see her during lunch time…

    - Candy are you ok? You look worried.

    - Annie, I want to go look for Terry…

    - What?

    - Yes, I want to go to that theatre and look for him, show him I’m here…

    - But...

    - He doesn’t know I’m here; I have to tell him… I tried writing him a letter but he probably didn’t get it…This is so frustrating! He was there a few feet away, because of those damn fans, he was unable to see me or hear me!!!! Annie, I have to go see him! Can you help me with the train fare?

    - Of course honey, I’ll give you the money.

    - I’ll pay you back…

    - Don’t be ridiculous! Let me do this for you. You and Terry need to be together…

    - Maybe he forgot about me…

    - Impossible! You’re unforgettable Candy! Said Annie hugging her laughing.

    - Thank you Annie! Said Candy laughing.

    Candy made arrangements to get a few days off, so she could go to New York and look for Terry.

    **********

    Terry was unable to concentrate on anything. He was thinking about Candy and how he heard her voice in Chicago. Every time he would read news about the war, he would be very worried.

    - I can’t believe I thought I moved on when I first got here? Why did I leave her behind? With this war… she’s in danger… I pray she’s fine! But hearing her voice in the crowd, maybe it was a message, maybe she needs me! She must be in danger… of course she’s in danger! Europe is at war!!!! What about my career? My career is going to be non existent because I can’t concentrate! That voice is haunting me! I have to go back to England, go to the damn college and take her with me!

    That calmed him down. He went to ask Mr. Hathaway for time off.

    - I need a few weeks sir…

    - What for?

    - I have a family emergency, I have to go get my fiancée …

    - Your fiancée?

    - Yes, she stayed in England in school, with the war getting worse.

    - Doesn’t she have a family who could bring her back here?

    - No, she’s an orphan; she has no one but me…

    - Very well Terrence, I don’t like this, but you’re one of my best actors and I want to keep you happy. You have a few weeks, don’t forget, Romeo and Juliet is our next play and the auditions are in a few weeks…

    - Thank you very much sir. I will be there for the auditions.

    Terry left the office to go make arrangements for his trip back to England. He told one of his colleagues named Stan, that he was taking a little trip.

    - Where?

    - England.

    - That far?

    - Yes, I’m going to get my fiancée her name is Candy…

    - Oh… right! Good luck!

    - Thank you! So if anybody looks for me…

    - I’ll tell them you left for England…

    - Thanks.

    Terry left to get ready for his trip. The Mauritania was leaving in a couple of days and Terrence Grandchester was going to be on it!

    He came back to the theatre to get some of the things in his changing room, when he met Susanna.

    - Terry, what are you doing?

    - I’m taking some weeks off …

    - Why?

    - I’m going to England to get Candy, my fiancée, she goes to school there…

    Susanna remained silent.

    “England? But I saw Candy in Chicago, she wrote him a letter… She can’t be in England…Terry doesn’t know she’s here! He wants to cross the Atlantic to go get a girl who’s already here! Should I tell him? No, he is going to go after her! Let him go to England and maybe he would think she’s dead when he won’t see her in that school, then he’s going to come back to be with me for good!” Susanna thought.

    - Terry, there’s the war in England…

    - I’m aware of that, that’s why I’m going to get the woman I love…

    - Oh, she said sadly, you love her that much; you’re willing to risk your life for her?

    - Yes, I would do anything for her. I’m going to England I’m going to find her and marry her!

    Susanna was hurting to hear Terry talk like that! She was devastated. She wanted to tell him the truth about Candy, but when she heard him talk about the woman he loved with so much passion, she remained quiet.

    - I have to go Susanna, he said, I’ll see you in a few weeks…

    - Terry, said Susanna with tears in her eyes, good luck.

    She knew he was going to England for nothing, but she still let him go…She went to her changing room to cry. Terry was gone after another woman.

    Chapter 2