~*~ Forever waiting ~*~
The question came out suddenly. He hadn’t thought about it before he had asked it, it was a reflex. They had both been standing by Anthony’s grave and he had watched her trying to hide her tears as she lay down the red roses on top of his grave.
“Candy, would you have married him if he were alive today?” he asked. Candy looked up at him through tear brimmed eyes.
“Yes, Archie. I believe I would’ve.” She said. Despite the awkwardness she had stopped crying. Archie nodded his head and frowned. Then he picked up his roses and left them by the grave right next to Candy’s.
“I was surprised to find you here. Annie told me you were going to Europe.” He said as they walked away from the grave. Candy stayed quite for a minute but she nodded.
“I had a dream last night. I dreamt I was at his grave and as I put the roses down the ground split open and I fell in, into an empty grave. Then the lid closed on me and I was back in my bed.” She said instead. “I had to come here, I knew that I couldn’t go to Europe without visiting his grave first. You probably think it’s stupid…” she said. Archie shook his head and as they stopped by the car he leaned over and kissed her forehead.
“No Candy, it’s perfectly normal… do him a favor, Candy be happy. You’ve still got Albert don’t you?” he asked and Candy smiled.
“You too,” she said “ and keep Annie happy too, and your children. The wedding was beautiful, you’re going to live a very happy life from now on… you, Annie and Patty too. Don’t let her feel sorry for herself… I’ll visit you soon.” She said and hugged him before getting into her car. Archie nodded and as she drove off her took one look at the grave and the roses.
“Good-bye Anthony, we all miss you very much.” He whispered into the wind and got into his car and drove away on the path Candy didn’t take. The road back to Chicago.
Candy’s tears had dried up by the time they reached the harbor. The driver opened the door and took out her baggage. Albert was already waiting on the ship, Candy waved and got out of the car. The chauffeur helped her take out her luggage and take it on board. She kissed Albert on both cheeks and he hugged her for a moment then her asked her,
“You still want to go? Are you sure that it wouldn’t be better to stay in Chicago instead.” Candy nodded.
“I need to go… I don’t think I can live here any longer. Now that Annie and Archie are married and Patty is engaged I’m not really needed anymore.” She said softly. Albert shook his head and lifted her chin.
“I need you Candy.” He said. Candy smiled.
“Then come with me…” she answered. Albert looked at her and sighed.
“Isn’t there anyway I can get you to change your mind?” he asked as he let go of her and put his hand on the railing. The whistle blew.
“No.” said Candy biting her lip. Albert frowned and started to go back down the ramp.
“Good-bye Candy.” He said walking off. Candy stared at his back for a moment then turned to go to her room. He hadn’t said it. He hadn’t said what she had wanted him to say…
The ship’s ballroom was crowded. People from all over America were going to Europe now that World War one was over, everyone was happy and cheerful, Candy felt her spirits lighten as she mingled in. She had been asked to dance by many different people and was already so exhausted that she was sure she’d drop dead before the last glimpses of the sun vanished. It wasn’t long before she had to ask her partner to accompany her to the food table so that she could eat something before she fainted. Taking a bite into something that looked very oriental she took a good look around. The people were happy and smiling, dressed up and ready to put behind the past.
“Excuse me Candy, can we resume the dance?” asked her partner, whose name she did not know. Candy’s attention snapped back and she smiled at him.
“Sure.” She said and they strode back into the dance floor. The music that the band played next was different, fast moving and quick. Candy laughed as her partner swung her around and around, again and again. Through the spinning world Candy’s eyes managed to catch a slight glimpse of someone, someone who made her heart stop. The sounds of the world had died out and she just saw faces flash by, that one face flashed six times before it vanished into the crowd.
“Albert…” she whispered and stopped on cue with the song. People started clapping and as she did she separated from her partner and went in search of that face. He wasn’t in the ball-room anymore… she sighed and walked out of the room. The sun had set… she stared at the remaining purple streaks in the sky. The sea stretched on and on and touched the sky.
It reminded her of how as Albert had let her go so easily. Only three words would have kept her behind. The three words she hadn’t heard for so long… “Albert.” She whispered into the evening wind. Her heart stopped as somebody coughed behind her. She hadn’t realized somebody was watching her. She turned around to find nobody there.
“ I just wanted one thing.” She said out loud in a voice that could break anyone’s heart. “I wanted to be with you Albert… I wanted you to hold me tight and say those four words to keep me forever with you.” She cried turning back. “I don’t want to wait for you forever…”
“Little girl, why are you crying?” asked a voice from behind her. Candy turned around expecting to see Albert, but no… this was somebody different. Yet he looked like Albert.
“Albert?” she asked. The man shook his head.
“I’m sorry… I’m not,” he said. Candy wiped her eyes.
“Oh sorry, I thought… I mean, you looked like someone I know.” She said as she peered closely at the man. His eyes were the same shade as Albert’s and so was his hair, but he had a small scar across his left cheek.
“I got this scar when I was sixteen… I just merely dodged and axe.” He said rubbing his scar. Candy blushed at being caught staring.
“I-uh.” she smiled and shrugged. The man smiled back and said,
“You know little girl, you look prettier when you smile.” He said. Candy took a double take at that. Before she could answer though the wind blew her hat off onto the floor. Candy bent down and picked it up and stood up again. The man was gone.
‘Strange… just like my prince and Anthony…” she thought.
Nighttime on the ship was celebrated with fireworks on the deck. Candy did not attend it though. She sat in her cabin and went through the blueprint she’d found in the Attic of the Andrew mansion. The blueprint seemed to be one on Alistair’s ideas and she was still working out what it was for. There was a knock on her door and Candy got up to answer.
It was the guy from the deck.
“Miss. Candy Andrews?” he asked a bit surprised. Candy nodded and let him in. “I’m the first mate of the boat, I’m supposed to check up on you every night to make sure you’re okay.” He said. Candy smiled at him.
“Why thank you, that’s sweet…” she replied.
“Call me Antonio.” He said and left. Candy closed the door behind him and went back to the blueprint. Yet her mind was still wandering with Antonio. His eyes had seemed empty, as if they were without any identity and yet previously on the deck his eyes seemed full as if in a world he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Now I get it!” she said out loud as she focused her eyes on the blueprint. That genius had designed the blueprint as an illusion. If you unfocused your eyes and the invention become clear. Now, to figure out what the invention actually was…
… Albert…
Candy’s eyes traveled to her music box and opened it. She smiled as the tune filled her ears and her heart. Long ago she had learned that if she closed her eyes and listened carefully the tune would sing a song for her, Sweet Candy, Sweet Candy… la ta la ta ta ta ta. Hum Hum Hummmm I um… close your eyes, sweet Candy Sweet Candy… sometimes she imagined her Pony’s hill and herself leaning over a cradle and singing it to the baby inside. It wasn’t usual of her to think like that, yet the image of Albert and her happily sitting on Pony’s hill with the cradle shot through her mind every so often. Albert… where are you now and are you thinking of me?
Miles away, at the Andrews mansion.
Candy, I wish I had kissed you as we left. Why did I let you go so easily? I regret it so much… Candy, come back to me.
To be continued…
Author’s comments:
… What’s there to say… This was chapter one of “When death knocks on your door.”
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