Chapter 8

- Mother! Mother!

- What are you doing here? Asked Sarah to his son who was running to them.

- I have really important news to tell you!

- Hurry up then, William can be here any time... said Aunt Elroy

- Uncle William…and Candy

- Yes, they both could be here any time said Eliza

- You won’t believe it… they are…

- They are what?

- They’re together!

- Together how? asked Sarah

- Together like they are in love!

- WHAT!!!!! Asked the three women, eyes wide open

- Yes, you heard me well, Uncle William loves Candy, he wants to marry her! I saw them kissing and walking hand in hand.

- Oh my God , were the last words of Aunt Elroy before she fainted.

In that minute, Candy and Albert got in to the house, when Albert saw Neal, he got furious and walked to him, asking what he was doing there. Neal was hiding behind his mother. Albert didn’t intend to let him get away but while approaching he saw Aunt Elroy lying on the floor, with Eliza at her side. He ran to her

- Is she alright?

- She just fainted, answered Sarah.

- Oh, I have to carry her to her room, said Albert while taking her in his arms, I wonder what you did to make her faint! Said Albert looking at Neal, skeptical

- Me?! Nothing, he said, still hiding behind his mother, you did this!

- I did what?

- Shut up Neal, said Sarah but he didn’t seem to want to listen.

- You kissed Candy!

Albert who was about to leave the room carrying Aunt Elroy, froze at his place, Neal knew the kiss?

- I saw you kissing her, you’re in love with her!

- It’s not your business Neal! Said Albert looking at him with his big blue eyes burning with anger.

- It is my business! I can not be with her but you can?! You annulled our engagement because you wanted her for yourself! But she was mine! I saw her first!

Neal was talking fearlessly as he was hiding behind her mother and Albert was still carrying Aunt Elroy in his arms.

- I think we should discuss about you and your relation with Candy, said Sarah with her cold and controlled voice.

- Discuss what???!!! Asked Albert, he couldn’t believe that he was having this conversation with Sarah and her spoiled children. And Aunt Elroy was getting heavier and heavier…

- I don’t know what are your intentions with her, I guess she should be fine for a love affair, if that’s what you want, she was fine maybe to marry Neal too... But we both know that she is not a good candidate to be the Andrew Family’s head’s wife, I think you would agree with me. And you announced that she was your daughter, it would be a scandal if you marry her now…

- Enough of that Sarah! I will marry who I want and it’s not your business! I’m taking Aunt Elroy to her room and calling the doctor. Candy… come with me, sweetheart…Candy?

Albert , who couldn’t see Candy behind him where she was when this scene started , was looking for her.

- She already left the house, said Eliza with her usual mean smile on her face.

Albert walked to Neal, who was fearing about what he would do. He gave Aunt Elroy to his arms.

- Carry her to her room and call the doctor, he said with a cold voice and left them there.

Once outside, he didn’t know where to look for Candy. “ She can not be too far” he said to himself and he saw her at the end of the yard ready to leave.

- Candy!!!

She stopped and waited for him, without turning around. He ran to her and held her arms, made her turn to him.

- Candy… he said with his soft voice, while touching her face, wet from the tears.

- Oh Albert, I’m sorry! She said and let her self fall in his arms, she was crying on his shoulder, Albert didn’t know what to say, he was too overwhelmed by his feelings in that moment.

“ My sweet Candy… you cried in my arms so many times, when Anthony died… when Terry chose his duty…I always wanted to comfort you, I thought that I would never hurt you, I thought I would be different, everything would be different… but now… but now I’m the one who caused you pain… I will never forgive myself for that.”

- Candy… please don’t cry… you… are much prettier …

- When I smile?… asked Candy, wiping her tears and smiling to him.

- Yes… murmured Albert and kissed her forehead gently. I’m sorry Candy, I’m so sorry that you witnessed that stupidity… I know that it’s all my fault, you were leaving for a conference with your doctor… I made you come here and live with the people who made you suffer all your life. I’m sorry Candy, that will never happen again.

- Please Albert, do not apologize. I’m fine… it’s just that, hearing Sarah talking like that made me a little sad, but I’m fine now.

Said Candy and gave Albert a big but fake smile, like the ones she always had when she was upset, to hide her sadness.

“Nothing can break my heart more than that smile now Candy… I hurt you…”

- I have to go now Albert, Sarah was right… I’m not good enough to be your wife.

- Candy please don’t say so… She doesn’t know anything, first thing tomorrow I’ll make them leave. You won’t see her again.

- It’s not that Albert, I think she has right to stay, she should stay… I’m the one who should leave. I don’t belong here.

- You belong where I am Candy, this house is yours too.

- I’m not even an Andrew anymore.

- You could be again, just say yes…

- No… It wouldn’t work. I’m not good enough to be your wife. You’re the head of the family Andrew! And I’m an orphan who doesn’t even know how to behave. Sarah was right.

- Please Candy, give me a chance…

- If I ever marry you, there would be a big scandal, as I said Sarah was right. Can you imagine what people would say?

- Do you think that I care?! Candy… I’m Albert, remember? The one who left everything to go to live in Africa!

- It’s not the same. You were a rich boy having your adventure and you knew that you would come to take your responsibilities when time would come. Now you’re taking care of all the family business, your reputation was never this important. You can not marry me Albert. It would be so wrong…

- Candy! I would leave everything behind! Just say yes and I will come to live with you wherever you want, in Pony Home, in your little apartment, in London, in Africa… just name the place.

- No…

- But you love me don’t you?

- I’m sorry Albert… I.. I don’t love you…

- You don’t?… “ She doesn’t?… she doesn’t love me….but she kissed me… didn’t she?”

- I don’t… I’m sorry I didn’t want to hurt you but I don’t love you Albert. Now please let me go.

Albert realized that he was holding her arm and released her. “ I can not stop her… she doesn’t love me…”

- Where will you go?

- To the hospital, my friends sure missed me!

“ Dr. Richards…yes I’m sure he did…”

- Now, I have to go Albert… Maybe someone could bring me my belongings later?

- Of course…

- Well… take care Albert! I’m.. I’m sorry if I hurt you.

“Hurt me?… no one ever hurt me that much Candy but I have no right to say anything… you don’t love me, what can I do? You… you were trying to be nice to me and I thought that you loved me back… you were just being nice… of course, you are always so selfless and so nice that you didn’t want to hurt me… that’s why you responded to my kiss, that’s why. You just didn’t want to break my heart. You didn’t want to hurt me… Oh Candy.. I’m so sorry! I can’t imagine how you felt, poor baby… now you’re free… I’m sorry... I don't want you to feel guilty...”

- No.. I’m not hurt at all Candy, I just wanted to marry you because I thought that you would want it too. You know… just to take care of you. You were not feeling good about being my adopted daughter, I thought that you would want to become my wife. That was the only way to give you a better life. That’s all! So don’t be sorry please…

“ He doesn’t love me? Oh…I.. I … I think I’m going to cry… Smile, smile Candy!”

- Oh, alright then! I’m glad that I didn’t accept your proposal.

- Take care of yourself Candy,

- You too Albert! And please come to see me anytime you can! I don’t want what happened to ruin our friendship…

“Friendship… I think I must content to that and keep the memory of our kiss in my heart…”

- Of course I’ll come to see you Candy!

- Bye Albert….

- Bye Candy…

“ I can’t believe that I almost marry her, I had to know that she didn’t love me the way I love her… and now I have to watch her leave… maybe she is going to her doctor! I almost got into their way! He can make her happy, I know that…She deserves to be happy, she deserves someone who can give her a life with all she needs; love, trust, shelter, family… everything that she needs… unlike me who could offer her only money! I have such a deep love for her but she doesn’t want it and she doesn’t want to live with me, she doesn’t like my life… I don’t even like my life, how can she?”

Albert went to the rosary and sat there, a tear was falling from his eye followed by another… and another… Albert cried in silence…

Candy was walking slowly, she was so tired as if she was carrying all her life on her shoulders like a burden.

“I thought that it was all behind…I wanted to try… I wanted to love and be loved without fearing to get hurt, I hoped to be safe for once, maybe to have a family, my own family for the first time. How could I be so silly?! He just wanted to take care of me, to help me, to be there for me… that’s all! I was fooling myself, thinking that he could be in love with me! William Albert Andrew in love with Candice White? I was just dreaming, I guess… It was such a sweet dream, even if it ended so fast. Don't dreams always do? ”

Chapter 9