The awkward silence settles in the air for two seconds, which Peter breaks, suspecting nothing as well as Anna:
“Terrence, what’s going on? Where have you been? Why haven’t you answered calls since yesterday?”
“Erm…” Terrence pronounces hesitantly, glances aside, and scratches the back of his head. “Well… I was very busy… I just got some free time and… Came to the hospital…”
“Is that why you declined calls?”
“I couldn’t talk or send a message.”
“You know, you could warn us, so we didn’t wait for you.”
“Sorry, dude. I couldn’t.”
“Okay, forget it.”
Terrence comes to Peter with a slight smile to greet him, sharing a homie handshake, hugging him amicably, and clapping him on the back. Then the man moves his eyes to Anna, whom he smiles amicably at.
“Hey, Anna,” Terrence greets amicably. “I’m so happy that you’re fine.”
“Hey, Terrence,” Anna waves her hand shyly. “You got a little distracted.”
“I had the reason.”
Terrence hugs Anna amicably, shares an amicable kiss on the cheek with her, caresses her shoulder, and steps back from her.
“Yeah, where’s Raquelle?” Anna frowns slightly. “Didn’t she come with you?”
“Hey, yeah, buddy!” Peter meddles. “Where have you and Raquelle been?”
“Raquelle…” Terrence pronounces hesitantly, scratching the back of his head and massaging his neck. “She… She is now very busy and… She can’t come to the hospital at the nearest time.”
“Shootings again?” Anna asks.
“Erm… Yup, shootings… Shootings.” Terrence bites his lip and locks his fingers tightly. “So… Raquelle asked me to apologize to you. Especially you, Anna. She’s madly upset that she can’t visit you today.”
“Sorry…” Anna moves her sad eyes down. “But it’s okay.”
At this moment, Anna and Peter stop their eyes on Edward, who does not rush to greet Terrence, twirls nervously on the bed, and fingers over, making his friends have some suspicions.
“So, hasn’t she answered our calls since the morning because she is on the shooting?” Peter pretends that nothing happens, fixing the wristband on his hand.
“Yup, the early morning,” Terrence replies tensely. “Erm… Raquelle left when I was in bed…”
“But why didn’t she answer our calls yesterday?”
“Erm… She… Something happened to her phone… I dunno… Glitch… I guess…”
“Okay…” Anna shrugs. “When will she come?”
“Don’t worry, Anna, when Raquelle is free, she’ll come to you,” Terrence replies amicably, caressing Anna’s shoulder. “Anyway, she was madly worried and wanted to see you healthy.”
“Nice to hear it…” Anna smiles shyly. “And to know that I have such amazing friends.”
“We will never leave you and each other in trouble.”
“I know, buddy,” Anna smiles shyly.
While Terrence uses his acting skills to pretend that nothing happened, Edward is surprised by the metamorphoses that happened to his brother for a few hours.
“Wow, he reunited with his brain too quickly,” Edward frowns strongly. “Or did he remember the times of his acting career and play an act for his friends? While he’s thinking of killing or hitting someone!”
“Hey, Terrence, would you share the secret of your behavior?” Peter asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“My behavior?” Terrence rounds his eyes. “But… What’s wrong with it?”
“It seems like we did something bad, and you’re mad at us!”
“I’m mad?” Terrence smiles slightly. “No, no, Pete, why do you think so? I’m not mad at anyone! I just couldn’t talk. I… I had an important talk and couldn’t answer calls.”
“And why was it so important?” Anna wonders.
“Did you decide to renew your acting career?” Peter asks with a quiet chuckle. “Are you examining all the suggestions and meeting the representatives of the movie companies?”
“Well…” Terrence pronounces thoughtfully and bites his lip. “I’ve actually never said I ended my acting career. Yes, I don’t act now, but it doesn’t mean I can be called a former actor.”
“So, when will you make your fans happy with new roles? When will girls come to screens and start to moan sensually?”
“I don’t know yet… Although I am open to interesting suggestions, there’s nothing that could make me so interested that I couldn’t refuse.”
“You wanna play serious roles? Anna asks with a slight smile. Not just a handsome and little stupid and insolent guy, who would be very popular among girls?”
“You’re right…” Terrence nods. “I don’t wish to play this type of role anymore. Wanna play more serious people. Try to play a new role and show everything I can do.”
“Alas, everybody still sees you as the eighteen-year-old boy, who drove all girls crazy.”
“Right. I’ve already grown out of the role of Mason, even though I still think it’s a very successful one. But I wanna play more interesting and much harder characters. For example, an insidious, evil man…”
“But do you only get the roles similar to Mason's?” Peter specifies.
“Yup. Sadly.”
“It happens, you know,” Anna notices amicably. “People may remember actors for only one role, even if they’ve played lots of other good characters.”
“So, I played brilliantly, if people still remember that.”
“Or you undressed too much for the cameras,” Anna laughs shyly.
“Undoubtedly, my body is perfect, and I’m proudly ready to show it. But I wanna stop being a handsome, popular guy. So, I should play someone, who people will remember for a long time. But I have no chance to do it. And due to the lack of interesting roles, I had to suspend my acting career.”
“But will you act in a movie or a TV show?”
“Sure, with pleasure! Maybe, that’s not my greatest hobby, but I love acting. I like becoming someone else.”
“You’ll have cool roles soon, don’t worry!” Peter exclaims confidently. “Now we’re gonna work on music. In this case, your possibilities are impossible.”
“That’s right! Music is my everything!”
Peter, Anna, and Terrence smile shyly and silently look at each other or around for a few seconds. And then MacClife, Sr., glances at Edward, not being surprised that the guy looks a little tense and scared. But the man decides to pretend that nothing happened yesterday and pronounces with a slight smile:
“Hey, hi, Edward! I didn’t see you! You’re sitting here as quiet as a mouse – you aren’t heard or seen!”
Edward swallows up nervously, clears his throat, and sharply runs his hand over his hair, looking down and then moving his eyes on Terrence tensely for a second.
“Ah, yeah, hi, Terrence,” Edward greets hesitantly, massaging his neck, and moves his eyes aside.
“Did you start to dream again?” Terrence puts his hands on his hips.
“Sort of.”
The tense silence settles in the air for a few seconds, during which Edward moves his eyes to the window, and Terrence locks his fingers tightly. Seeing that the brothers do not rush to greet each other and just talk, Peter frowns slightly and looks questioningly at Anna, who just throws her hands up.
“Are you okay, guys?” Peter asks hesitantly.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Terrence lies with a slight smile.
“You greeted each other kind of weirdly…” Anna frowns slightly. “Kind of coldly… Hesitantly… With a scare…”
“No, Anna… No… It seemed to you.”
“Yes, guys, it seems to you,” Edward agrees without emotions, looking at his hands.
“Did you fight?” Peter guesses. “Is that why you don’t wanna talk?”
“It’s okay, buddy. I’m just thinking.”
“But why are you sitting here, being scared and nervous? You look like you’re gonna be killed!”
“It seemed to you, Peter, I ain’t scared,” Edward replies very hesitantly, fixing his hair, fingering over, or looking around the room with a heavy breath.
“You know, Edward, when you start to withdraw into yourself and think of something, something happened to you.”
“Dude, you know me.” Edward moves his eyes to Peter and smiles falsely. “I can easily fall into my thoughts and forget where I am and with whom. I like thinking.”
“You know, my sweetie, we have a feeling that you’re kind of afraid of something or someone,” Anna says thoughtfully.
“No, Anna, it’s not the truth. I’m afraid of nothing and nobody.”
“But why did you sharply become silent after Terrence went to the room?”
“No, I am not…”
“Edward…” Peter pronounces quietly. “What is going on?”
“Nothing is going on!” Edward exclaims excitedly. “It’s okay…”
Edward says nothing for two seconds, while his eyes are running from one side to another, and he rubs his hands nervously and breathes a little heavily. But then he clenches his hands into fists tightly and says hesitantly:
“Erm, I…” Edward exhales sharply and puts his hand on his forehead. “Oh! Excuse me, I need to leave! It’s… Too stuffy… I wanna drink something cold or wash my face.”
Nobody gets time to react to Edward getting up from the bed and literally runs out of the room. Anna and Peter frown slightly and look at each other, and Terrence watches his brother with sadness in his eyes.
“What happened to him?” Peter frowns slightly.
“He’s so weird,” Anna pronounces thoughtfully.
“I don’t know what about you, but I don't think it’s stuffy here.”
“Agree. I believe it was just a stupid excuse to leave.”
“Terrence, what’s going on?” Peter addresses Terrence. “Why are you, Edward, and Raquelle acting so weirdly?”
“I…” Terrence stutters and throws his hands up. “I dunno… I don’t know why Edward is acting like this.”
“Did you really fight?” Anna frowns slightly. “Your brother doesn’t definitely wanna talk to you!”
“Us? Fight?” Terrence smiles falsely. “No, no, we didn’t fight. Come on! It’s okay…”
“Yeah, but Edward felt discomfort when you came!”
“C’mon, guys, as if you don’t know that rutrag! He’s always a little weird!”
“When nothing happens, he doesn’t behave like this,” Peter notices.
“Well, I dunno…” Terrence exhales sharply. “Maybe, something happened between him and Natalia? And Edward is worried!”
“Edward and Natalia acted like lovebirds in front of us.”
“I don’t know then! He’s probably worried about something else! You know these sentimental and romantic folks!”
“Listen, MacClife, what’s actually happening to your family?” Anna wonders. “You, Raquelle, Edward… You’re all weird today!”
“We aren’t weird! Don’t dream up!”
“Listen, buddy, we know that you don’t have to tell us all the truth,” Peter replies confidently. “But at least don’t pretend that nothing is happening.”
“We aren’t pretending. It’s okay.”
“Terrence…”
“Erm…”
The eyes of the nervous Terrence run from one side to another, and he realizes he should solve the problem with Edward as soon as possible.
“Listen, I…” Terrence pronounces hesitantly. “I’m gonna leave you for two minutes. To solve something… Erm… I will be back soon, guys! Don’t be bored!”
Terrence leaves the room as fast as a bullet, closing the door and leaving the discouraged Peter and Anna, who look at each other surprisingly and shrug after the man leaves them.
“Oh, what a day!” Peter exhales sharply.
“Yeah…” Anna replies thoughtfully.
“I’m absolutely sure that something happened to the MacClifes. It has to do with Terrence, Raquelle, and Edward. They’re hiding something from us.”
“Do you think it’s the reason why Edward is so weird, Terrence is not himself, and Raquelle didn’t come here?”
“Who knows, Anna. But Terrence didn’t sound true when saying that Raquelle went on the shooting.”
“I thought Terrence kind of… Dreamed up some reasons.”
“And notice that Raquelle has been weird for a long time, Edward became like this after Terrence ended up in the hospital, and his brother changed yesterday or today.”
“What does the weird behavior of Terrence and Edward have to do with Raquelle?”
“I bet that it is the truth. But I can’t assume what connects the three.”
“Probably, something serious… Because Edward literally shakes in front of Terrence.”
“Well, knowing Terrence’s explosive character, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had fought with Edward and acted like a sick psycho.”
“Edward didn’t wanna talk to Terrence and didn’t even look at him. And his ‘hello’ was cold!”
“Damn, MacClife, Sr., did tons of bad things again,” Peter exhales sharply. “He scared his brother and fiancée. I wouldn’t be surprised if Raquelle got scared and hid something from him.”
“Oh, gosh…” Anna runs her hands over her face with a slow sigh. “What could happen? If we assume that Edward and Raquelle are really afraid of Terrence, what did he do?”
“It’s okay, friend, we’ll make them confess,” Peter promises confidently. “Who knows, maybe, Raquelle will wish to make everything clear much earlier than the MacClife brothers. Since those two are silent like a fish in water, there’s a chance that Cameron might confess everything.”
“You know, Peter…” Anna pronounces thoughtfully, putting her finger on her lips for a second. “I’ve remembered something…”
“Tell.”
“Somehow, I came to visit Terrence. Raquelle was with him in the room, and later Mr. Cameron and Alicia came. And… I managed to talk to them a little… So, they said Edward and Mr. and Mrs. MacClife definitely knew something about Raquelle.”
“Mr. and Mrs. MacClife? But what?”
“Cameron’s family doesn’t exclude that they know the secret that she has been hiding for a few months.”
“Do you wanna say Raquelle told them the truth?”
“Mr. Cameron and Alicia think so. And they noticed that Raquelle got nervous when they talked to her about her wish to educate her children.”
“And what did she say?” Peter frowns slightly.
“They haven’t talked about it. At first, they should get married and solve their problems.”
“As far as I know, Raquelle’s family has always hurried her up with giving birth to children. And Terrence’s parents often remind him of their wish to have grandchildren.”
“I know. A talk about children makes Raquelle tense.”
“And what does it mean?”
“I dunno. He may be sick of being under pressure. Or maybe, there’s a different reason.”
“But what? Terrence sleeps and sees himself holding his baby in his arms! If Raquelle, for example, is afraid to hint at her wish to have children, it’s stupid.”
“Anyway, I’m more than sure that Raquelle’s secret has to do with babies.”
“I think we should go further.”
“She doesn’t want children, but she is afraid to confess it?”
“Who knows…” Peter says nothing for two seconds and frowns slightly. “Listen, Anna… Excuse me for this immodest question, but… Do you know whether Raquelle has… Women’s issues? Maybe, there is something that doesn’t let her give birth to a child?”
“Women’s issues?” Anna shakes her head. “Listen, I don’t know…”
“Has Raquelle never said that?”
“Nope, never… Not every girl would get the pleasure of talking about problems getting pregnant.”
“Could Natalia know something?”
“I’m not sure, but we could try to ask her.”
“Okay…”
“Hey!” Anna frowns slightly and moves her eyes to Peter. “Why did you ask? Do you think Raquelle hides something that has to do with her health issues?”
“Well…” Peter thinks, stroking his chin. “If we assume that Raquelle really has health issues or can’t give birth… Your friend may be afraid to say it to Terrence, who’s dreaming of a child. I don’t exclude that he might leave her and find the one, who can give birth to a child.”
“Right… Raquelle knows his reaction might be unpredictable. It’s very easy to make Terrence wild. And the news about her possible infertility may get him mad. I mean, the fact that she hid it.”
“I’m wondering if she told him the truth,” Peter frowns slightly, stroking his chin.
“If she did, it might go badly for her.”
“So, Terrence fought with Edward and Raquelle.”
“If it’s so, Raquelle might be afraid to meet him.”
“Yeah, but if the case is about a child, what does Edward have to do with it?”
“Maybe, Terrence found out Raquelle’s secret, got furious, and took it out on Edward?”
“His brother kind of stood in his way at the wrong time?”
“Or MacClife, Sr., remembers what happened when he and Cameron almost broke up.”
“Take it out on Edward not to make the past mistakes? No, that’s stupid! Of course, Terrence could easily lose his temple, but I don’t think he’d take it out on his younger brother on purpose.”
“Yeah, but Edward’s behavior says that Terrence scared him so much.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Anna…” Peter runs his hands over his face, as he sighs tiredly. “Their behavior is a mystery.”
“You’re right.”
“I know we don’t have to do with it…” Peter replies thoughtfully, running his hand through his hair. “But I wonder what’s going on. I wanna help and support my friends.”
“Me too, Pete… Me too…”
Anna slowly moves her eyes to her hands, thinking about something not very nice and fun, judging her sad eyes, which could say much more than she says.
***
When Terrence leaves the room, he starts to look around, seeing nobody but two or three doctors, patients, and visitors that go somewhere. The man wonders where to find Edward, who could go anywhere. But he does not care about it and decides to check out the cafeteria, the place that people love much more. After walking down the hall slowly and sometimes glancing at those, who go by him, he decides to go downstairs and keep moving on much more confidently. At some moment, Terrence glances aside and sees Edward in the quietest and most unpopular places. The guy is leaning on the wall with his back with both arms crossed over his chest, and frowning strongly while thinking about something.
Struggling with a feeling of awkwardness and shame, MacClife, Sr., goes to his brother determinedly. Edward magically feels that someone is coming to him, throws a gloomy look aside, and sees Terrence coming to him. He moves his back off the wall, turns sharply to the side, and decides to go to a different place. But Terrence quickens a step and calls him after he almost catches him:
“Edward, wait!”
Edward stops with rolled eyes and turns on Terrence, still keeping his arms on his chest and having the coldness on his face.
“What’s wrong, Terrence?” Edward asks coldly with his head proudly raised.
“Erm…” Terrence stutters, throwing a tense glance aside. “I… I need to talk to you.”
“Is there something to talk about?”
“I want to apologize for what happened yesterday. And explain everything to you.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
Edward turns around and goes somewhere down the hall, but Terrence catches him quickly and stands in front of him.
“Listen, Edward, I know you’re mad at me,” Terrence says with regret in his eyes. “But I swear, I’m very sorry. I didn’t want it to happen like that.”
“I don’t need your excuses,” Edward throws in a low voice.
“I was out of my mind and couldn’t control myself.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right!” Edward blunts offensively. “You got wild! You forgot who you talked to, and who stood in front of you!”
“Yeah, I really got nuts… I shouldn’t have behaved so!”
“Yeah… Nuts…” Edward chuckles nervously. “You could’ve easily killed someone! And have no regret about it!”
“No, that’s not true! I would never…”
“We all know that you’re a super hotheaded man, Terrence. But what happened yesterday is too much! You broke into our parents’ home and openly started to be rude to them and me! You screamed like a sick, hysterical girl and threatened to kick us out! We were kind of dependent on you!”
“I know I wasn’t right.”
“You thought about it too late! You should’ve turned on your brains much earlier.”
“Please, don’t take everything I said yesterday too seriously.”
“You have nothing to regret! It was what you said!”
“I was out of my mind, get it. What I had to hear made me feel lots of emotions: I was broken, overwhelmed, mad, and shocked.”
“Ah, that’s how!” Edward sneers with contempt. “Is this everything you want to say to excuse yourself?”
“I’m telling the truth,” Terrence replies quietly. “I’m very sorry and want to apologize. I know I did a bad thing and shouldn’t have done it. But alas… I couldn’t hold myself down.”
“You better turn on your brains sometimes and learn to control your impulsive and wild character.”
“I get it, Edward. But please, understand me… Understand what I felt when I heard the truth. Which fewer people knew before.”
“I get it, too, but what you did yesterday is too much. Much, Terrence.”
“I didn’t wanna start a scandal for you, Mom and Dad.”
“But you did.”
“I needed to let aggression go out of me!”
“But not to take it out on your parents!”
“Listen, brother…”
“How did you dare to behave like that? You shouted at Mother and Father, blamed them for something, insulted them, humiliated them, and reproached them for their sins! Where’s the respect for your parents you’ve talked so much about? Do you understand what you brought us to? Father and Mother were coming to themselves for the rest of the day! Because of you, idiot!”
“I know…” Terrence pronounces with pity in his eyes.
“Do you think just because you were a star at the peak of fame, you have the right to treat people like you want?”
“Edward, please…”
“And me!” Edward stops. “Do you think I felt nice? You felt kind of sorry for our parents, but you treated me terribly! You forgot how you felt sorry for me, helped me, and defended me!”
“I know, brother… I’m really very sorry…”
“I’m not going to hide that many things you said hurt and even insulted me a lot. Yes, I know I’m not perfect and have made tons of mistakes, but I thought you had a different opinion about me.”
“I was too furious! And I didn’t understand what I did and said.”
“So, am I nothing without you?” Edward wonders coldly, frowning strongly and looking at Terrence with a cold, contemptuous look. “A worthless, cowardly puppy? That lives on your account!”
“No, I…”
“I guess you forgot I had never asked you anything. Even when I was a homeless beggar. Though, I could’ve used your status! You did suggest I work with George’s band and join ‘Against The System’! I did not ask you about it!”
“I would’ve been happy to help you if you’d come to me.”
“Yeah, you would’ve reminded me of that yesterday! I am a homeless guy, who still lives on someone’s account!”
“Listen, Edward…”
“And you say I would’ve killed you and become Uncle’s partner if Natalia hadn’t been next to me?”
“No, I… I don’t think so! And I never have!”
“I believe I’ve said thousands of times that I would’ve never done that, even for the most expensive thing in the world. The only person I could kill was me. I would’ve shot myself, but you didn’t let me do it!”
“Because I didn’t wanna lose you,” Terrence exclaims a little excitedly.
“Come on?” Edward sneers contemptuously. “Yesterday, you would’ve easily killed me if you’d had a pistol!”
“You’ve got a very bad opinion about me.”
“Would you have dared to kick your parents outta home? Kick out your mother, who raised you alone! Who you gave tons of problems. Who you always made nervous because of your hard character and love for fights for a reason and without!”
“No, I…”
“Who cares if you bought the house? Yes, it’s true! But the documents say the owner is Mother, not you. You don’t have to do with that house.”
“I would never do it to Mother and Father.”
“But you wanted to do it yesterday. You wanted, Terrence! We all could’ve ended up outside because of you!”
“I wasn’t myself, get it!”
“It’s okay we’ve got a place to go! We can live in my house! I wouldn’t let my parents live outside.”
“Think that my words are an excuse for my act, if you want. But I ask for forgiveness for it.”
“It really looks like an excuse.”
“Please, Edward, try to understand me. Everything you and our parents said yesterday was absolutely right. And I ain’t gonna deny anything.”
“Oh, yeah!” Edward sneers contemptuously.
“I don’t want you to turn your back on me because of my behavior,” Terrence replies with pity in his eyes.
“Sorry, Terrence, but you did your best to be hated.”
“No, don’t say that! Please!”
“Do you know what you brought all of us to? We are afraid of you! Raquelle is afraid, Mom and Dad are afraid, and I am afraid!”
“Edward…”
“And I swear if you’d kept screaming and waving your hands for some time, you would’ve surely gone to a mental hospital! I would’ve brought you there!”
“It won’t happen again! I promise, I…”
“Is that fine when parents are afraid of their child? When a girl is afraid of her man and shakes at the thought that she has to come back to where she lives with him? Afraid he may slap her in the face, strangle her, and kill her! Or maybe, it's okay that a younger brother doesn’t know when his older brother would love to deal with him? Having no regret about it!”
“No, Edward, don’t say it,” Terrence says with pity in her eyes, shaking his head. “Don’t make me a monster.”
“I’m telling the truth. Now your family is afraid of you, and tomorrow, your friends will do it. They will be afraid of you if I tell everybody about your yesterday's craziness.”
“I’m not a monster!”
“You’re a psycho, Terrence. Just a sick psycho. If you keep behaving like this, everyone will turn their backs on you soon.”
“Yes, I know I don’t have the best character. But I’m working on it.”
“Yeah, I see!”
“Listen, Edward…”
“Fuck… I dunno what to say!” Edward shakes his head, while Terrence being discouraged looks at him with widely open eyes. “I never thought I would be afraid of my own brother.”
“Are you afraid of me?” Terrence wonders truly and points at himself with both hands. “Me? It’s me, dude! Me! Your brother!”
“Not just me, but also Raquelle, Father, and Mother.”
“I’m not a monster! Not a monster!”
“Yesterday, you acted like a real monster. And now I’m standing with you, and I'm afraid! I don’t know what to expect from you.”
“Stop, bro, I’m gonna do nothing bad to you,” Terrence replies confidently and tries to touch Edward’s shoulder.
“No guarantees!” Edward steps back sharply.
“You know well how I treat you!”
“I do! I got it all yesterday!”
“I’ve never had such a bad opinion about you!”
“Stop, Terrence, I got it!”
“No, you got nothing!”
“I’m truly surprised that you haven’t been put in a mental hospital as a mentally unstable person. But you’ll ask for trouble if you start one more scandal.”
“I’m not sick! I’m absolutely healthy!”
“You know, sick people never confess that they’re sick.”
“Don’t say it like I always have hysterics.”
“You’re too unpredictable. Just like a hurricane: we don’t know where you’d go, what you’d do, say, etc. Nobody knows what you have on your mind.”
“I’d never do something terrible if I was quiet and thought soberly. What happened yesterday is my emotions. The emotions that I could not control.”
“Sorry! You could’ve avoided many problems you got!”
“I know, but I wanna fix everything now!”
“I don’t believe it, Terrence,” Edward shakes his head. “I don’t believe you’ve become so good, sweet, and meek so soon. Yesterday, you were ready to destroy anything in your way, but now you’ve come here and are trying to pretend to be innocent and good, as if nothing happened.”
“I’m not pretending!”
“You’re an actor! Very good, I’ve gotta confess. For you, it’s super easy to pity someone. And you use it, not doubting that everyone would believe you.”
“I wouldn’t have come here if I hadn’t calmed down. I didn’t want anyone to stand in my way. I don’t wanna fight with anyone. I want peace.”
“You came here just because Raquelle isn’t here.”
“I was coming here, not knowing whether she would come.”
“But if she’d come, you would have attacked the scared, poor girl. Could’ve slapped her in the face. Pull her hair out. Strangle.”
“That’s why I left home after talking to Raquelle yesterday.” Terrence exhales sharply, glancing aside. “I didn’t want to hurt her again.”
“But you did hurt her anyway. You hurt all of us.”
“I know,” Terrence replies with sadness in his eyes. “I know I hurt my close people too much.”
“Notice that a bigger part of your scandals happened because of your character. You always got your face beaten because you asked for that. Even Mother always says it. She still remembers how many problems you gave her. And you learn the fuck nothing.”
“But I’m trying to be better anyway.”
“No, you will never change. You were a psycho, and you will always be the one.”
“Edward…”
“This time, you’ve overcome yourself,” Edward replies coldly. “And you’re guilty of everything. Because you can’t hold yourself down. And you will hardly do it.”
“No, no, don’t say it! Please.”
“You know, I’m sick of this worthless talk. I don’t want to see and hear you.”
Edward turns around sharply and goes aside with a quick step, still keeping his arms crossed over his chest. But Terrence follows him shortly, being determined to get his brother’s forgiveness.
“Edward!” Terrence exclaims. “Edward, wait! Let’s talk! Please!”
“Leave me alone,” Edward throws coldly.
“Don’t be afraid of me! I’m not going to do anything bad to you.”
“You’re just afraid to become a bad man for people. Someone may spread false rumors about you. Publish an article that would hurt your dignity.”
“I’m not going to fight with you!”
“Everyone’s admiration is more important to you than anything else. You’d sell your soul for girls to finish it with just one look at you. You’re nervous that your star faded away a long time ago, and everyone forgot you.”
“I don’t mean it now!”
“Why did you the fuck want to start a band if you’re hurt by the fact that everyone doesn’t admire you? If you started a solo career, you wouldn’t have to be nervous because Perkins, Rose, and I got even more popular than you.”
“Fuck, why don’t you wanna hear me? Why are you the fuck acting like a girl and pretending to be nobody the hell knows who?”
“Because I do not believe you’ve come to yourself and understood what you did so soon!”
“But I came!”
“You’re pretending!”
“Do you refuse to give me a chance?”
“I don’t want to talk to you until you are really calm.”
“I am absolutely quiet!”
“Get out of here,” Edward demands coldly. “Don’t make me wild.”
“But, Edward…” Terrence shakes his head.
“I said everything, Terrence. Leave me alone if you don’t wanna regret it.”
Edward quickens a step to go far away from Terrence. MacClife, Sr., himself stands like a column for two seconds and watches his brother leave, being discouraged and upset but understanding that it would be very hard to whitewash himself after what happened yesterday. Nevertheless, he decides to try to apologize to MacClife, Sr., again but leave him alone if this attempt is bad again.
“Edward, listen to me!” Terrence exclaims, catching Edward quickly enough with a short, step. “Edward!”
“Get off, I said!” Edward throws coldly.
“Damn, listen the heck to me!”
Terrence takes Edward under his arm and turns him on himself, while the guy rolls his eyes up with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What do you want from me?” Edward explodes.
“To know you’re not mad and afraid of me.”
“Did you think I’d forget it? Did you think you could have hysterics and stay unpunished? Do you think you will get off everything thanks to fame? No, brother! I will not play along with you!”
“Damn, what does my fame have to do with it?”
“You made yourself think that everybody must bow to you! That everyone must love and respect you. Dance attendance upon you.” Edward smirks evilly. “It’s amazing that people know about your mental issues, but they don’t aim to ignore you. But if I tell our friends about what you did yesterday, they will even stop greeting you.”
“Do it if you want, I won’t deny it.”
“I will do. Early or late, the guys will know everything.”
“Do what you want. I just want you to forgive me.”
“Serious?” Edward throws his hands up with his widely open eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. “We don’t know what to expect from you! Talking to you is like riding on a rollercoaster! You rise high but then suddenly go down!”
“But I said I was sorry about it!”
“Someday you will ask for trouble, brother. Someday, you will lose everything. Your family, friends, career, and money.”
“But what can I do if I can’t always hold myself down?” Terrence throws his hands up. “If people love making me furious!”
“Ah, so, are others guilty of you? Are you kind of innocent and puffy?”
“I didn’t say it!”
“Sometimes I have a feeling that you like all of this. You like hits on the face, fights, shouts…”
“Try to understand me! What I felt when Raquelle told me her secret! What I felt when I realized that my fiancée lied to me and hid her pregnancy and her miscarriage.”
“I understand everything, but you should’ve supported her instead of screaming at her and behaving like you were gonna bring her to the hospital. So, she joined Anna.”
“I was ready to hear anything, even her wish to break up! But not the fact that she lost the child.”
“The one that your fiancée made with another man?”
“It would’ve been logical, knowing that she was silent!”
“Did you ask yourself why Raquelle was silent? Huh, Terrence? Didn’t you think? About her being terribly afraid of your reaction and a breakup with you! Raquelle knows that you’ve never been a calm angel. And Cameron was afraid for a reason! You scared her!”
“Imagine yourself instead of me. If your child died like this, you would react in the same way! You’d blame everyone! You’d attack everyone! You’d hate your beloved woman!”
“No, Terrence. I can hold myself down, unlike you.”
“Oh, yeah! You acted like a devil from hell when you believed that Natalia cheated on you with another man.”
“No man will tolerate someone cheating on him. But that case was a good lesson for me. Maybe, your conflict with Raquelle taught you nothing, but I understood many things after my problem with Natalia. Yes, I made a mistake. And I don’t deny it. But I learned the lesson I was given. And now I completely trust Natalia and know she loves me.”
“If I had understood nothing after the conflict, I wouldn’t have been with Cameron. I would’ve behaved the way Potter did, when he beat Anna with no regret.”
“Ha, what stopped you yesterday?” Edward smirks evilly. “Did you get a cold sweat when you imagined yourself seeing the articles about the arrest of Terrence MacClife, who is charged with violence or the murder of his fiancée? Did you shake at the thought that everyone would stop admiring you, forgetting you somehow made girls whoop and lick screens, on which your pretty face was shown?”
“I just didn’t want to make the situation worse. And I was happy that Raquelle didn’t run after me and make me nervous with tears. Otherwise, I would’ve done something to her.”
“Yeah, couldn’t you do it earlier? Were you obsessed with a wish to blame Raquelle for all her sins? I agree that she did a bad thing to you. And I told her that. But you had no right to do that to her!”
“I couldn’t stop…” Terrence replies with regret in his eyes. “Word by word, I was getting nuts more and more. And when I heard someone had known about the child, I actually went crazy.”
“Someday, Raquelle will be so scared that she’ll just take her stuff and leave. She’ll get sick of believing that you’ll change someday, over and over. Because the one, who was born as a psycho, will always remain a psycho.”
“No, I don’t want it,” Terrence shakes his head sharply. “No!”
“You should think before doing something.”
“Do you think it’s nice when you’re made a stranger? When they lie to you? When everybody knows everything, but you know the fuck nothing!”
“Nobody made Raquelle speak – she wanted it. She just got sick of keeping it inside.”
“It’s unfair that I find out something I should’ve known first at the last moment.”
“I hope you didn’t go to the home of Mr. Cameron and Alicia and start a scandal after you played on our nerves?” Edward frowns strongly.
“Nope…” Terrence moves his eyes to his hands. “When I left our parents’ house, I drove my car for some time, walked in my favorite place, and went home somewhere at eleven.”
“At least you got a brain this time. And Raquelle was afraid to come back home. She was sure you could start another scandal.”
“I wouldn’t have talked to her… And she wasn’t home when I came back.”
“Our parents and I would’ve been happy to let her spend a night with us, but she eventually decided to go home.”
“Stop, was Raquelle with you?” Terrence frowns slightly. “Did she come back home after twelve hours of visiting you?”
“Wow!” Edward sneers evilly. “You did notice that your fiancée wasn’t home at such a late time.”
“Of course, I did. I went home, but she wasn’t there.”
“I wouldn’t have been surprised if you’d dared to announce your breakup. But I’m much more surprised that you didn’t do it. Remembering you being furious, it would’ve been possible.”
“I don’t deny that I thought of it.”
“Wow… As it turned out, your brain works just a little even when you are furious.”
“Listen, Edward…”
“Do you want me to tell you about the consequences of your hysteria?” Edward glances at the doctor going by with a folder in his hands, looking at him and Terrence, and continuing to move on and examine the paper. “Our parents took sedatives during the whole evening and couldn’t get up from the bed for some time. Father got a low blood pressure, and Mother had a high one.”
“Really?”
“When Raquelle came to us, she looked terrible. The poor girl was tear-stained and scared! She was shaking from tension! I’m surprised that she reached us in such a terrible condition and rejected my offer to take her somewhere. We barely made Raquelle come to herself and were terribly nervous when she decided to go home.”
Terrence says nothing and just listens to what Edward says with widely open eyes.
“Are you happy?” Edward shakes his head. “Are you happy that she was silent and torturing herself all this time because of you?”
“I’m really very sorry,” Terrence replies with pity in his eyes. “I didn’t want it all.”
“We barely came to ourselves somehow. Though, we’re still shocked by what you did yesterday.”
“It will no longer happen again. I promise.”
“Alicia and Mr. Cameron were dumbfounded when they found it out. They went to our home after Mother’s call and also tried to calm Raquelle down.”
“So, they know what happened?” Terrence rounds his eyes, feeling that his heart misses a beat.
“Yes, brother, they do! And I’ll say more: yesterday, they wanted to visit you. But Father barely persuaded them to wait for you to calm down. He was worried that you’d start a scandal for them and make them do your best for that girl not to be with you.”
“They hate me?”
“Ha, did you think they’d caress your head? Mr. Cameron’s gonna be shocked when he knows you slapped Raquelle once. He’ll make his granddaughter break up with you!”
“I hope you didn’t tell him everything I did?”
“Raquelle told him everything. And you were lucky that she didn’t tell them the details, which our parents and I knew. Yes, Alicia probably guessed that you could’ve raised a hand on her, but she said nothing.”
“Oh, fuck…”
“You promised them to be a good man for that girl. But you disappointed her relatives and your family again. Even Mother, who’s been fighting with your psyches for a long time, still can’t get used to what you do.”
“I know…”
“We warned you…” Edward shakes his head. “Told you to hold yourself down. Why didn’t you listen to us?”
“The fact that you all pushed me to this talk was suspicious. But I didn’t pay attention to it at first.”
“We just wanted you to know everything as soon as possible. And we kept silent because Raquelle begged us to say nothing. And we thought you should’ve found it out from her, not third faces.”
“I get it…” Terrence looks around quickly and crosses his arms over his chest. “I think you did the right thing.”
“Finally, you’ve understood it!”
“I was just terribly hurt. But I’m glad Raquelle understood everything.”
“I know. But she didn’t deserve what you did to her.”
“You’re right. She did nothing bad to be punished so cruelly.”
“Then, why did you make her suffer much more?”
“I repeat, I couldn’t hold myself down!” Terrence exclaims. “I couldn’t stop! And her tears made me much more furious.”
“You’d be very lucky if she doesn’t wanna leave you. Besides, not every girl would accept the fact that you turn into a monster when having an attack of aggression.”
“No, no, I don’t want her to leave me!” Terrence shakes his head sharply. “I love her! With all my heart! I’m attracted to her! She means a lot to me!”
“If you keep scaring her like this, your story will end once and for all.”
“No, Edward, please, don’t say that!”
“I advise you to talk to her as soon as possible. And you better apologize to our parents for being rude.”
“I promise I shall surely talk to her, our parents and Raquelle,” Terrence promises confidently. “I’ll explain everything.”
“But it’s gonna be a hard mission for you.”
“They’re so mad?”
“Our parents are rather upset than mad. They understand your feelings and don’t forget about your exploding character. That’s why Father and Mother are mad less, even if it was unpleasant to them to hear everything you said.”
“At first, I’ll talk to Raquelle and then go to our parents. And I need to explain everything to Mr. Cameron and Alicia.”
“You did it, you solve it.”
“I will, I promise.”
Edward says nothing and just nods in approval, not changing the position of his arm and still looking gloomy and hurt enough.
“And you?” Terrence asks hesitantly. “You’re mad?”
“Me?” Edward pronounces surprisingly and scoffs ironically. “No, bro, come on! I am not mad! For pulling me by the hair, giving me slaps, showering much dirt on me, and hurting my wound!”
“Hey, I’ve explained everything and said I’m sorry!”
“It doesn’t mean you won’t get nuts again,” Edward replies without emotions.
“I will not get nuts, I promise! I swear I’ll do my best to try to control myself and my character.”
“You can work your tongue well! Show pity very well! And you speak beautifully! But you’ve got great problems with keeping your promises.”
“Oh, Edward stop sulking, after all!” Terrence exhales sharply. “We got on well before!”
“Yeah, forgot everything you said yesterday?”
“Please, forget everything you heard. That’s not the truth. I’ve never thought of you in that way.”
“Yeah… Never!”
“I wouldn’t have moved my finger if I didn’t care about you.”
“After yesterday’s talk, I understood everything.”
“Damn, brother, don’t pretend to be a hurt girl and pour!” Terrence chuckles kindly.
“You have fun?” Edward wonders. “You have the fucking fun? You did a bad thing, and you have fun?”
“No, no, that’s not what you thought of!”
“Alright, Terrence, there’s nothing to talk about.” Edward turns around. “The talk is over.”
“Hey, come on!” Terrence exclaims, standing in front of Edward, who glances aside with a quiet sigh. “Brother! Stop being mad!”
“If Father hadn’t held you down, you would’ve killed me. And I didn’t kill you for him or for Mother. I didn’t want them to see that. Though, your mean behavior and all your words got me really wild.”
“I swear, I didn’t wanna hurt you.”
“I was really mad. But meanwhile, I was ashamed that our parents saw us fight.”
“I’m also ashamed of attacking you with our parents’ pretense.”
“And I let you do that,” Edward confesses quietly. “I let you shower me with mud. Not to let you hurt Mother and Father. I was ready to take that hit.”
“It shouldn’t have happened…” Terrence moves his eyes aside. “After calming down a little and realizing everything, I felt terribly ashamed. I wanted to bury my head in the sand. Though, I knew time wouldn’t make the others forgive me.”
“Well…” Edward puts his hands on his hips. “Why didn’t you come to Raquelle? She must’ve been the first one to hear apologies from you!”
“I would’ve done it with pleasure, but she isn’t home.”
“No? And where’s she?”
“I don’t know,” Terrence shrugs. “None of the servants saw her this early morning.”
“Didn’t you hear her leaving the room?”
“Erm… Nope… I actually spent a night in a guest room.”
“Not with Raquelle?”
“No. I took something from our room when she wasn’t home and went to sleep in a different room. But I didn’t sleep all night.”
“As if she slept like a baby!”
“Hey, don’t you know where she could be?”
“Maybe, she visited her grandfather and aunt.”
“But why didn’t she come to the hospital? I thought Raquelle wanted to visit Anna!”
“Yesterday, Raquelle told me she wouldn’t come to the hospital because of you. She’s afraid to meet you.”
“Oh, shit!” Terrence sharply runs his hands over his face. “Okay… I’ll talk to them if Raquelle doesn’t come back home ‘till the end of the day.”
“I doubt that she’ll find the courage to come back where a monster is living. I wouldn’t be surprised if Raquelle took her stuff and got out, while nobody saw her. And then nobody would know where to find her!”
“No, it won’t happen!” Terrence exclaims with fear in widely open eyes. “I will not let her go!”
“Everything’s in your hands. I can’t help you.”
Terrence looks down for a second, moves his eyes to Edward, and smiles slightly.
“Anyway, I’m thankful to you for not leaving Raquelle and for being next to her,” Terrence says amicably. “Thanks for helping her when I was out of my mind.”
“I couldn’t leave her at such a hard moment,” Edward shrugs. “When she trusted me and begged me to support her. Raquelle is my close friend, and I love her as well as you love Natalia.”
“I know,” Terrence cracks a smile. “Raquelle did need our support and care. My heart squeezes when I think about how hard it was for her. When I think of her confessing the death of the child… When I saw her crying and shaking strongly. Looking like a little, unprotected baby.”
“That’s bad that you realized it too late. But on the other side… Better late than never.”
“People are right when they say that if something happens to us, it happens for a reason.”
“Start to use your brain before it’s too late, Terrence. Or you’re gonna have more serious problems. And you’ll lose everyone you love.”
Terrence says nothing and just nods, while Edward glances aside, not looking so mad and believing in his brother’s regret.
“Still mad at me?” Terrence asks with sadness in his eyes.
“I dunno,” Edward pronounces in a lower voice and crosses his arms over his chest. “You hurt me enough. You reminded me of what I wanna forget so badly.”
“Forgive me for attacking you and saying too many bad and painful things. I didn’t really want it to happen like this. I know you’re guilty of nothing and just supported Raquelle.”
Before saying something, Edward says nothing for two or three seconds and, frowning slightly, looks at Terrence with mistrust.
“Don’t you really think I’m nothing without you?” Edward specifies. “That I could do nothing without you?”
“I never thought so,” Terrence replies confidently.
“Don’t you think I shouldn’t have been born?”
“I don’t.”
“Don’t you regret deciding to invite me to the band?”
“Not at all.”
“Aren’t you regretting becoming Wainwright’s victim instead of me?”
“I shall never regret it,” Terrence shakes his head with a slight smile, takes Edward by the shoulders, and grips them slightly. “I’m sure that I did the right thing. What I was supposed to do.”
“Okay…” Edward says nothing for two seconds and glances aside. “Don’t be mad at me for deciding to hide Raquelle’s secret… And I’m sorry about being quite mean to you yesterday.”
“Don’t apologize, Edward, it’s okay,” Terrence replies amicably.
“Anyway, I was ready for your wild reaction. And… Despite feeling hurt, I… I’m not mad at you. Yes, I was disappointed, but… Nothing that would make me stop speaking to you.”
“We’re connected forever, little rutrag.”
“Go to hell, psycho.”
“So what?” Terrence shyly gives his hand to Edward. “Peace?”
“Okay, give me a paw!”
Edward shakes Terrence by the hand to make a reconciliation. They hold their hands tightly for two moments, hug each other amicably with shy chuckles, share a slap on the back or shoulder, and step away with a sense of great relief.
“I’m sorry about your child’s death,” Edward expresses sympathy. “The baby was guilty of nothing…”
“I was shocked when I heard that,” Terrence confesses quietly, running his hand over his face. “And I still can’t believe it… Now, I could hold that baby in my arms. But unfortunately… My child didn’t see the world.”
“Because of Uncle Michael and his fucking gang!”
“Yeah, he played on our nerves… But that’s good he got what he deserved.”
“I hope he won’t run away from jail, just like Wainwright did. Or we’re gonna be dead. Uncle won’t pity anyone.”
“If he runs away, he’ll come back where he belongs,” Terrence replies confidently.
“Let’s hope…”
Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which four doctors go by Terrence and Edward, driving an average-aged man on a gurney quickly, supporting his life, and saying something excitedly. The brothers watch them with sadness in their eyes and slowly start to go down the long hall of the hospital.
“Hey, we’ve gotta decide something,” Terrence says confidently. “Anna and Peter won’t get off us until we explain what happened.”
“As for Raquelle, I’ll be silent, even if everybody suspects that I know something about her,” Edward says. “So, she confesses everything to the men and the girls.”
“Yeah, I think Raquelle should tell everything by herself. I don’t also wanna talk about it.”
“Okay. But how do we excuse the behavior of you and me?”
“We’ll just say we argued!”
“They will believe?”
“Huh, of course, they will! We won’t lie technically.”
“But they’ll need a reason!”
“When two stubborn donkeys start to be stubborn, it always leads to trouble. To a conflict.”
“So, do you suggest saying we were just too stubborn and didn’t wanna give up on each other?”
“I can let you play a joke on me for my self-confidence.”
“Huh, I don’t need permission for that!” Edward chuckles kindly. “If I want, I can call you at three in the morning and say you’re a selfish narcissus.”
“I still wanna call you when you’re having sex with Natalia.”
“Bastard…”
“Close your mouth, kid.”
While the talk stops, Terrence glances aside, and Edward massages his neck.
“Okay, I think we should come back to the room,” Edward says thoughtfully. “Or someone wanna look for us.”
“Hey, where are Natalia and Helene? There weren’t in the room, and I haven’t seen them in the hospital.”
“Helene went to buy a drink, and Natalia received a call.”
“Got it.”
Edward and Terrence quicken a step and go to Anna’s room, going by a family couple and a little girl, who are sitting on chairs and feeling too nervous. When they come to the door they need and open it, they hear a quiet laugh of Peter and Anna, who are talking about something funny. But when Terrence and Edward enter the room, the blond falls into silence and glances at them along with the girl, who is smiling shyly.
“Hey, we can hear you laugh even behind the closed door,” Terrence chuckles kindly.
“Oh, we got busy with a talk,” Peter laughs shyly.
“What are you talking about?” Edward asks.
“Nothing, Pete and I remembered something,” Anna shrugs with a slight smile. “We feel nostalgia…”
“What do you have nostalgia for?” Terrence puts his hands on his hips.
“We just thought about the old times when we had fun and played the fool. The times I miss so badly.”
“Don’t worry, Anna, you’ll have more amazing moments,” Edward replies amicably with a slight smile. “We won’t let you be bored and sad.”
“That’s why I love you, guys,” Anna laughs quietly.
“We love you, too, friend,” Terrence smiles shyly.
Anna says nothing and just smiles much wider, while Peter looks suspiciously at Terrence and Edward, who, to his surprise, no longer feel embarrassed when together in the room.
“Listen, pretty boys, don’t you wanna explain something?” Peter crosses his arms over his chest.
“Erm, what do we have to explain?” Edward asks hesitantly.
“Your behavior. Very weird one.”
“Erm… What’s this weird?”
“Well, maybe, you want to tell us something…” Anna shrugs with an innocent smile.
“Me?” Edward comes to the sofa slowly and sits on it. “Tell?”
“You were shaking from your brother like fire for a reason,” Peter notices confidently. “You got out of here as fast as the wind.”
“Not truth! I wasn’t shaking from Terrence!”
“Do you think we’re blind and see nothing? When Terrence came here, you sharply became silent and got out of the room!”
“I wasn’t nervous because of that… I just…”
“It’s okay, Pete,” Terrence waves a hand with a slight smile. “Nobody was shaking. It seemed to you,”
“C’mon, guys, tell us what happened to you,” Anna replies confidently. “Why are you all so weird? You didn’t rush to greet and talk to each other first, but then you went to the room together as if nothing happened.”
“Nothing happened!” Terrence smiles innocently. “We just had a dispute that we have resolved.”
“Dispute?” Peter rounds his eyes. “You fought?”
“Yep, we did…” Edward pronounces thoughtfully, leans back, and turns his head around to warm up his neck. “So to say… Got each other nervous…”
“Really?” Anna wonders.
“Don’t think about it, guys. Terrence and I have just solved it.”
“But why did you argue if it’s not a secret?” Peter specifies.
“Nothing special,” Terrence lies confidently. “Stupid things. Edward and I fought because of stupid things. I mean, the kid was as stubborn as a donkey and didn’t wanna listen to me.”
“And it made me angry,” Edward plays an act more confidently. “I tried to explain that my opinion was right, but my brother thought everybody must’ve listened to him.”
“Right! I am a daddy! Everybody must listen to me! And some little rutrags like you went out of control!”
“You see!” Edward glances at Terrence, looks at Peter and Anna, and shrugs with a quiet grin. “You can’t solve anything with this donkey!”
“You are a donkey!” Terrence crosses his arms over his chest. “You always do what you want and don’t listen to those, who are smarter and wiser.”
“You still have milk on your lips and can’t teach me,” Edward smiles innocently.
“No, you haven’t grown up to teach me!”
“Stop showing off, peacock!”
“Don’t argue with me!”
“Stop, shut up! You got me exhausted!”
Terrence imitates the way Edward speaks, while Anna and Peter look at each other and shrug.
“Oh, okay, boneheads, if you have some brothers’ arguments, resolve them by yourself,” Peter waves a hand.
“But try not to fight,” Anna adds shyly. “You’re our too stubborn boys with hot blood.”
“Oh, yay, your friend made an excellent choice by picking up such a hot horse,” Edward says confidently with his head proudly raised.
“She likely picked up a ruffled birdie that fell from the nest,” Terrence chuckles kindly.
Although Peter and Anna understand that something is not right, they decide not to torture Edward and Terrence with questions, making the brothers exhale with relief.
“Hey, didn’t Natalia and Helene come back to you?” Terrence breaks the silence.
“No, they haven’t come back yet,” Anna shrugs.
“I think they’re gonna be back soon,” Peter replies thoughtfully. “The girls know we aren’t gonna leave.”
“Ah, yeah!” Terrence exclaims and glances aside for a second. “By the way, I also saw Daniel.”
“Perkins said he’d go to Cassidy’s doctor with her, but Edward and I only saw her when we wanted to buy something to eat.”
“He was talking to a doctor, but Cassidy wasn’t with him.”
“So, did he come to him later?”
“I dunno… Maybe.”
“Did he see you?” Edward asks.
“Nope, I was far from him, and he didn’t see me. I didn’t come to him when I saw him talking to the doctor. But I noticed that Daniel looked more broken and exhausted than before. The guy doesn’t care about himself and hasn’t had a good rest for a long time.”
“We know,” Peter nods with sadness in his eyes. “He really looks bad.”
“Daniel tries to act as if nothing happens,” Edward confesses. “He talks, laughs, and smiles. He laughed with Cassidy especially much.”
“But that’s all untrue?” Terrence concludes.
“Exactly! We’re doing our best not to let him feel sad, but that’s not enough. Even Cassidy can’t help.”
“She’s holding on well,” Peter notices. “She’s experienced so much, but she can still laugh and smile.”
“We’ll see what Cass will tell us about her brother,” Edward smiles slyly. “I’m sure we’re gonna have a lot of fun.”
“I can’t wait to hear it!”
“I hope Cass will stand for us if he hurts us,” Peter laughs shyly.
“That girl will probably tell me a couple of cool ways to mock my brother.”
“Yeah, I shall talk to her,” Terrence strokes his chin with a sly smile. “I will not miss a chance to mock him and you two. Especially, you, little rutrag.”
“Get your wings down, Terry! Cassidy won’t praise you to the sky. Because she’s got a crush on Pete.”
“We’ll see it! When she sees me in real life, she will dream of me every night.’
“If Rose didn’t date Helene, Cassidy would do her best to conquer him.”
“She’s got good taste,” Peter replies with his head proudly raised and runs his fingers through his blond hair. “That girl knows everything about gorgeous men. When girls see such a handsome guy, they’re ready to fall at my feet.”
“Ah, how happy I am every time a girl doesn’t get a crush on my bro!” Edward smiles widely. “It warms me up so nicely!”
“Yeah, it’s such a rare thing when our beloved Terry gets rejected.”
Edward and Peter laugh quietly, while Terrence, frowning strongly and crossing his arms over his chest, shakes his head.
“Oh, guys, you only think of laughing,” Anna laughs shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“We’re just trying to distract ourselves,” Peter throws his hands up.
“The girls and I are right when we say you act like children.”
“C’mon, friend!” Edward exclaims cheerfully, jumps up from the sofa, and sits on the bed in front of Anna. “Relax! Think about something good!”
“It’s just a temporary effect,” Anna sighs heavily, looking at her hands. “It won’t solve your problems.”
“I promise, sweetie, it will be over soon,” Terrence replies softly and sits on Cassidy's bed. “We’ll help you solve the situation you got into and come to yourself. And we’re gonna bring this case to an end. We want to punish Julian and his father.”
“I had no choice.” Anna glances at her hands. “I had to agree because of my parents. They insisted upon it and didn’t want to listen to me and make Daniel leave us alone. Vice versa, they literally kiss his hands and bow at him.”
“But did you want him to help you? Right?”
“Erm… Yeah… At the bottom of my heart, I… Wanted him to help you.”
“Yes, I know you’re angry at him, but that man is your chance to be under great protection. While you’re next to Daniel, Potter won’t dare to hurt you. Because Perkins is gonna get all the attention.”
“I know…” Anna pronounces quietly. “But just because he’s helping me doesn’t mean I’ll forgive him.”
“Nobody makes you do it. The important thing is not rejecting his help if you wanna end this story.”
“He can do what he wants, but count on no good word of mine.”
“Don’t say it so confidently,” Edward says softly. “Your friends said all the same, but you know how it was over.”
“Natalia and Raquelle had no reason to leave you and Terrence. You didn’t watch your beloved person cheat on you.”
“You know, sometimes people forgive cheaters,” Terrence notices. “Raquelle could’ve left me not only because I slapped her, but also because I cheated on her with Rachel. Even if I pretended, it was a betrayer.”
“I would be thrilled to kill the fat cow, who licked Perkins in the room!” Anna blunts, crossing her arms over her chest. “I swear if I saw her with my own eyes, she’d be dead. I didn’t see her face, but I’d recognize her thanks to her fat ass!”
“Jealousy controls you. Just jealousy.”
“Yes, I am jealous! And I am terribly mad at that bitch, who stole my boyfriend from me! Mad at that cheater, who kissed her!”
“I see you wanna get everything back so badly.”
“I won’t deny it,” Anna sighs quietly without emotions and glances aside. “I’m sick of lying. I keep loving Daniel and wanna be with him.”
“It’s not a secret for us,” Peter smiles slightly. “Even if you hide your feelings, we'll see you through.”
“You just know me too well.”
“And Daniel and you are suffering. Because you’re losing each other, even if your love is still alive.”
“I’m really suffering… Suffering because I can’t make myself give him a chance. I see he’s really depressed but can do nothing to me. I know I should thank him for what he’s doing. But instead, I wanna curse Perkins and wish him to lose everything and everyone.”
“You should talk to him face-to-face,” Terrence advises softly. “Without charges, scandals, and insults. You should quietly tell Daniel what poisons you.”
“He understands everything. I see no meaning in repeating.”
“We wanna help you, using our experience,” Edward replies with sadness in his eyes.
“Even if I give him a chance, I can hardly forget how he cheated on me.”
“My dear, if you really want, everything is possible. There are situations when you can just try. Will anyone not get worse from this, right?
“Looking at him, I will always remember that scene in the room.”
“Do you think Raquelle and I immediately forgot our conflict after the reconciliation?” Terrence wonders. “No, Anna, that’s not true. I reminded Raquelle of giving a damn about me after we started to live together and focusing on her work. And she always reminded me about how I slapped her and kissed Rachel. That’s why we fought many times. We just started to forget our past little by little and look into our future.”
“Since you talk about that case, it hasn’t been forgotten. And Raquelle hardly forgot it. Sometimes one person can give you a much stronger pain than all the people you have met in your life.”
“Yeah, but Raquelle and I haven’t talked about it for a long time. And nobody blames each other for what happened.”
“You two will always feel hurt.”
“Life is too short to spend it on offenses. You should value someone for what they do for you and others in the present, remembering that nobody’s perfect, and everyone gets wrong.”
“My pain is too strong to thank the betrayal for the help.”
“But so many good things happened between you and Daniel!” Peter notices. “Why don’t you think about it? His good features and what he’d been doing to you before he cheated? What that guy is doing now is for your salvation!”
“Just his name makes me remember how he cheated.” Anna crosses her arms over her chest.
“Don’t say you’re gonna hate all the people named Daniel,” Edward chuckles kindly.
“No… I didn’t say it.”
“Peter’s right, Anna,” Terrence notices confidently. “Don’t think of Daniel’s weaknesses, think of everything you love.”
“Exactly!” Edward agrees. “Dan is a very good man! Yes, maybe, he’s not perfect, but everyone has their demons!”
“I’d easily pay no attention to his shortcomings,” Anna replies quietly. “For example, I’d forgive him for his negligence and laziness… Perkins never cared about his stuff thrown in different corners. Or the fact that the kitchen was always dirty after him. It’s okay, I would’ve cleaned it.”
“I know many people, who don’t care about the order at home,” Terrence shrugs. “Who can’t and dislike cooking, cleaning, and washing. But it doesn’t make them worse.”
“The case is not only about it…” Anna falls into silence for a second and looks at the men. “Did you know he sometimes smoked and couldn’t wean himself away from it when we dated?”
“Yes, we know,” Peter nods confidently. “He confessed he could smoke a cigarette to get rid of stress. And now we understand why he started to sing out of tune often and suffer from a cough.”
“Didn’t you know it and notice him smoking?”
“We never saw him holding a cigarette. Perkins said he didn’t want us to know it. He was afraid we’d… Tell you.”
“But Blake saw Daniel smoking and told us about it,” Edward confesses. “None of us took his words seriously. But, as it turned out, Connor was right. Sometimes that boy can do something good.”
“I treat smoking very badly,” Anna replies quietly. “I hate the smell of smoke and think it’s very bad. That’s why I reacted wildly every time I felt Perkins smoked cigarettes.”
“You always knew it?” Terrence asks.
“Since I moved into his house. I often got him caught with a cigarette at the back of the house. At first, he tried to cover his tracks, even if the smell of cigarettes and the ache under my legs betrayed him. But later, Daniel stopped denying it and hiding it. He started to smoke openly, even if I told him to stop.”
“And weren’t you ready to accept it?” Peter wonders.
“Nope. I could not. But if I’d known Perkins would cheat on me, I would’ve forgiven him for that.”
“Dan said you fought a lot because of that,” Terrence recalls.
“That’s right,” Anna nods. “And somehow I gave him a choice: either he weans himself away from smoking or we break up. Then, Daniel got really scared. And he held on for some time. But later, he broke down and started to smoke much more cigarettes.”
“You shouldn't have given him this choice,” Edward replies a little hesitantly.
“I wasn’t ready to live with the one, who smoked. But I would’ve helped him if he’d wanted to stop doing that.”
“Sorry, Anna, but you wouldn’t have helped Dan by threatening him,” Peter says confidently. “Vice versa, you pushed him to smoke much more. It’s some kind of dependence.”
“I know… It became the end of everything.”
“Do you mean the day Daniel got hit by a car and fought with you because of cigarettes?”
“Yup… I caught him holding a cigarette on that day. He had held on after I gave him a choice for some time. Or I thought he did. I dunno. Anyway, I was mad. I wanted to leave him on that day.”
“Did he really throw a cigarette that wasn’t put out somewhere and almost burn his house down?” Terrence asks.
“Really. It was one more reason why I was angry. I was wild because of his irresponsibility. Perkins could’ve ended up outside with his underwear, but he acted as if nothing happened.”
“We understand the reason why you’re hurt. But Perkins also confesses he acted like an irresponsible idiot.”
“Now I understand I did the wrong thing. Leaving him because of smoking would’ve been stupid. I shouldn’t have started the hysteria. Yes, I just cared about his health. But… I shouldn't have done it.”
“Right,” Terrence nods. “When you ban a child from something, they will find a way to do this and think up any kind of lie to find out what’s hidden from them.”
“Oh, gosh…” Anna sighs quietly. “He would’ve better kept smoking secretly. We would’ve been together if I’d been much quieter.”
“The important thing is that you understand it,” Edward notices.
“I think…” Anna shakes her head with sadness in her wet eyes. “I think I’m the one to blame for what happened to Daniel and our relationship. If I hadn’t blamed him for not appreciating me and keeping his promises, that man wouldn’t have gotten hit by a car… And we wouldn’t have broken up.”
“Anna, friend…” Peter pronounces with sadness in his eyes.
“I messed up everything, guys,” Anna says in a shaking voice, understanding that her eyes get full of tears, which she barely tries to hold down. “It’s all because of me.”
“No, sweetie, don’t say that,” Terrence replies softly.
“Daniel has said many times that he’s guilty of what happened,” Peter replies. “He’s sure that he shouldn’t have left home and go somewhere.”
“I’m so ashamed… Ashamed of making him so mad.”
“I don’t wanna scare you. But who knows, maybe… We would’ve seen him for the last time if Helene, Sammy, and I hadn’t ended up far from the place where we found Daniel. What would’ve happened to him if everything had been different? What if Wainwright killed him? What if a car hit Perkins to death?”
“No…” Anna pronounces with a scare in widely open eyes, looking at Peter for a second or two, shakes her head, glances aside, and sighs heavily. “No… If he died, I’d never forgive myself for that.”
“We know,” Edward nods. “You were truly worried about him when we were at the hospital.”
“I couldn’t stay indifferent,” Anna confesses with sadness in her eyes. “All the offenses were forgotten. I only wanted Daniel to be okay. I was shaking at the thought that something terrible could happen to him, or doctors wouldn’t be able to save him.”
“He was madly lucky,” Peter replies quietly.
“You know… When you and Helene called me and told me what happened, my heart stopped for a moment. I was madly scared. I thought it was because of me. I couldn’t stop crying when waiting for a tax. I was crying on the way to the hospital. The driver gave me a whole pack of handkerchiefs that he had. I expected anything, even the worst. But… I wouldn’t have thought he had amnesia. I thought it was the end of the world… And I made much more sure about it when he recognized none of us.”
“I swear we were also deeply shocked,” Terrence says with sadness in his eyes. “And it was a catastrophe for the men and me. We knew the band’s work would be suspended due to his amnesia.”
“We almost lost him when the foreigner washed his brains so well that he fought with all of us and said he left the band,” Edward adds. “At some moment, Perkins stopped believing us. He acted like a real idiot and thought we lied to him until he got his memories back.”
“At least, you can renew your work now,” Anna shrugs. “You’re gonna release your album and should promote it.”
“We’re looking forward to singing and playing again,” Edward says with a slight smile. “But at first, we need to end the story of your offender and his father.”
“Why not now? Is Julian's situation a problem?”
“It’s not,” Peter replies. “Our manager hasn’t just answered our calls for a long time. We’ve tried to call him several times, but he doesn’t react.”
“Listen, guys, do you really wanna meddle in this case?” Anna asks hesitantly, folding her hands in front of herself. “None of you has to do with Julian and everything that’s happening between his family and mine.”
“We do, friend,” Terrence nods confidently, caressing Anna’s shoulder softly. “Helping our friend is our duty.”
“But I don’t want any of you to suffer because of him! It’s gonna be hurtful to watch the girls suffer if something happens to you. They’ll be disconsolate…”
“Don’t worry about us, Anna,” Edward replies confidently, sitting next to Anna and hugging her around the shoulders. “We can fight with that man and protect you and your parents.”
“Maybe, you don’t do that? Please, guys… No. And try to make my parents sure to drop the charges.”
“No, Anna! We won’t let you suffer because of that sick man. We won’t let Daniel deal with your offender alone. And your parents are determined!”
“We’ll do it for the friendship that unites us,” Peter adds with a slight smile. “For justice. For saving the innocent people.”
“I promise, we’ll do our best for you to finally live in peace,” Terrence adds softly, sitting on the bed in front of Anna and taking her hand. “We can do this. And we won’t miss this chance. Moreover, we have the amazing support of your parents, Mr. Johnson and Ryan.”
“Ryan?” Anna wonders. “You know him?”
“We met him at the hospital on the day you got beaten,” Peter confesses. “Your parents recognized him. They said he was the man, who was supposed to be your fiancé. And I personally liked him. Shy, decent… He was shocked when he found out what Julian did.”
“Yeah, Ryan is very good and has always treated me well,” Anna smiles slightly. “He’s sweet and sympathetic, but I’ve never paid attention to him as a boyfriend and always considered him just a friend or a brother. But I can confidently say Ryan is the opposite of Julian.”
“But I wouldn’t trust him completely,” Edward confesses a little hesitantly. “He’s a member of the Potters. Who knows who Ryan actually is.”
“No, Edward, come on! Ryan is an angel! Just a gem! He’s the one I’ve always felt comfortable with. The only member of the Potters, who I’m not afraid of.”
“I’m sorry about saying it, but it’s hard for me to trust that man. Though, I don’t refuse to give him a chance. Ryan agreed to do something.”
“Don’t worry, guys, you can count on Ryan. He’s never been by the side of Julian and his father.”
“I thought he was unhappy,” Terrence frowns slightly. “Likely, because of his relationship with his father and brother, who don’t treat him well.”
“He’s like a ballast to them. Though, I’m surprised that Mr. Potter hasn’t kicked Ryan out of home.”
“Has that Norman never loved Ryan?” Peter wonders.
“Never. Ryan was always strongly attracted to his mother. But sadly, Mrs. Potter died a few years ago. She was a very good woman. Who knew how to control Julian and his father. With her, they were sweet and obedient, but after her death, they got loose.”
“By the way, our talk made Ryan assume that the woman died for a reason,” Terrence confesses. And he promised to try to find out something and prove his father’s possible fault for her death.”
“He suspects his father?”
“At least he had a motive. Norman and Julian can’t stand women, who control them. But Genevieve, or what her name was, kept them under hard control.”
“I don’t think he could prove something,” Anna shakes her head. “But if he can, Julian and his father won’t let Ryan live a quiet life. And that guy can hardly stand for himself.”
“Who knows…” Peter pronounces thoughtfully. “But still, remember, still waters run deep. Maybe, Ryan is now quiet, silent, and serene, but he’s gonna show himself when he has to and will hardly need someone’s protection. He’ll hardly stay the same if he knows his father and brother had to do with his mother’s death.”
Anna says nothing and just shrugs, locking her fingers tightly.
“Hey, do you know he managed to talk to Daniel?” Edward asks.
“Really?” Anna rounds her eyes.
“Yup, on the day we met him and said goodbye to him. Daniel said Ryan came to him and sat on the table after we said goodbye.”
“I never thought they’d meet someday…”
“But they met,” Peter says confidently. “And they got on well.”
“The thing Daniel will never lose is his ability to find a common language with people. He’s always been able to talk to someone easily and know everything about them a few minutes later.”
“It’s true,” Terrence nods. “It’s very easy to talk to Daniel. Even being sassy, he’s kind enough and can listen and encourage.”
“I know…” Anna smiles slightly. “It was also easy for me to talk to him when we just met. He’s so simple and true. He is not a fake. He doesn’t aim to be too factitious… Too gentle… Daniel always remains himself. He doesn’t aim to be perfect and openly talks about his shortcomings.”
“I think after the story of Julian ends, your parents won’t wish to see anybody but Daniel next to you,” Edward assumes with a slight smile. “They understand they were deeply wrong when they were against your relationship with him.”
“I can’t ban them from talking to him. If Mom and Dad wish to keep speaking to him after this story ends, I won’t mind it. But my parents may not hope that I will forgive him.”
“Please, Anna, don’t be so confident,” Peter says softly. “Anything may be changed. We all wanna see you two happy. It’s hurtful for the men and me to see our friend so depressed. Daniel is on edge. What happened to him broke him down. He does his best not to bury his head in the sand and fix his mistakes somehow.”
“Our reconciliation is impossible. Because I can’t trust him again.”
“Listen, don’t you feel sorry for Daniel at all?” Edward asks with pity in his eyes. “Look what he’s bringing himself to! Although Dan doesn’t talk about his pain or show his emotions, we know what he has inside. It’s very hard for him now. If not for the responsibility for so many people, he’d prefer to run away. Disappear. Make everyone believe that he’s dead.”
“I know, Edward. But it won’t last forever. Early or late, both of us will come to ourselves.”
“That man loves you, Anna. He wanna be with you again. If he was indifferent to you, he didn’t move a finger for you. But he’s fretting and fuming just to make you feel good.”
“Even if he keeps silent, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care,” Terrence adds confidently. “Daniel is actually madly worried and trying so hard to make amends. And I think it deserves your attention and a positive reaction. You’d do a bad thing if you didn’t thank him. Yes, Perkins says he doesn’t need your thanks. But at heart, that guy wants you to appreciate it.”
Anna says nothing for two seconds and sighs heavily with sadness in her eyes, glancing aside.
“Actually, I do appreciate the fact that he came to help,” Anna confesses quietly. “I’m really glad he’s not acting like a coward. And the fact that Daniel honestly confesses his betrayal can’t make me stay indifferent. At least, I appreciate his honesty.”
“Being honest with you is important to him,” Peter replies confidently. “This is the best thing he can do. Yes, maybe, the truth is unpleasant, but you’d rather know everything and taste the bitter taste than eat something sweet forever. Daniel did the right thing by telling you everything and denying nothing. His courage admires me.”
“You’re right… If he’d started to deny everything, I wouldn’t have forgiven him.”
“Believe me, Anna, we don’t approve of what Daniel did, and he knows it,” Terrence replies confidently. “But we can excuse him. Because he didn’t know what he was doing and remembered nothing. That girl had him wrapped around her finger, made him believe what she wanted, and turned him against all of us.”
“But where did that bitch come from? How did she know about Perkins?”
“Nobody knows it, sweetie,” Peter says softly. “But I don’t exclude that it has to do with the band.”
“Do you wanna say she’s his fan?”
“Maybe. But we’ll find it out when she shows up and starts to chase Dan. He promised to put that girl in a mental hospital or do his best for her to be deported to Spain.”
“Didn’t you know that girl before?”
“No, Anna, we never met her,” Edward replies confidently. “I was the only one to see her in the hospital and recognize her when Perkins blamed us for the lie one day and showed the fake photo of Blanca and him.”
“You really fought with him?” Anna frowns.
“Really,” Terrence nods. “We could’ve ruined our friendship with him and were madly mad. But we understood everything would change if Daniel got his memories back.”
“It’s amazing that you forgave him so easily.”
“We just remembered we had a deal not with our friend but with a different man. The one Blanca made him. We had no choice but to just wait.”
“I see…”
“And let’s be honest: any of us could be instead of him,” Edward notices confidently, hugging Anna being next to him around the shoulders. “Anyone. Terrence, Peter, me… Natalia, Helene, Raquelle, or you… Nobody is saved from this.”
“I know…”
“Daniel is not guilty of having memory loss due to the head trauma. We should be happy that everything didn’t lead to much harder consequences. Perkins recovered quickly and feels good now.”
“You’re right…” Anna replies without emotions and sniffs quietly. “And it’s all my fault…”
“No, no, friend, don’t say so.”
“I would’ve rather suffered instead of Daniel and put myself in danger. Me!” Anna runs her hands over her face. “I should’ve been the one to suffer! Because everything’s messed up because of me.”
“Please, Anna, don’t blame yourself,” Terrence says softly and takes Anna’s hands. “You’re guilty of nothing.”
“I am, Terrence,” Anna pronounces in a shaking voice. “Everything is getting ruined because of me. Daniel suffered because of me, and you all have to take risks because of me.”
“Stop, darling…” Peter shakes his head.
“God, why did I actually start a scandal because of cigarettes and try to blackmail him?” Anna moans quietly. “Why? I wanted to make it better, but I ruined everything!”
“We get it, Anna,” Terrence pronounces quietly, sits next to Anna, hugs her around the shoulders, and presses to himself, while Edward sits in front of the girl next to Peter. “We know you did it for the good of our friend.”
“Yeah, but I behaved wrongly!” Anna makes a quiet sob. “Instead of helping, I just reproached him, threatened him, and blamed him for disrespecting me!”
“Calm down, darling, calm down…”
Terrence presses Anna closer to himself, holding her in his hug and trying to calm her down by caressing her head, while Edward and Peter watch the girl with sadness in their eyes and pain in their hearts, looking at each other at some moment.
“Excuse me, Anna, didn’t you understand you made it worse for him?” Edward asks hesitantly.
“I did,” Anna pronounces quietly. “But I couldn’t hold myself down when I felt the smell of smoke and saw roaches. And I was much madder that Perkins tried to smoke secretly from me.”
“Were you ready to sacrifice your relationship because of cigarettes?” Peter wonders with sadness in his eyes. “Your relationship with the one, who made you so happy! Daniel should’ve done nothing for you to smile and get blush. Just to be next to you.”
“And how funny you were!” Edward adds. “We had never seen you cry and upset before he lost his memory. As long as I’ve known you, you were always happy and sanguine. We could even be jealous of your optimism. But now everything has changed.”
“I know…” Anna pronounces without emotions. “I know I’m not what I was before.”
“Gosh, Anna, you’re a young, beautiful girl!” Peter exclaims. “Your whole life lies in front of you! But it seems like you’re disappointed in everything and gave a damn about you and your life!”
“It’s true… I don’t care about me.”
“Do you really like your own reflection in the mirror? Your tousled hair, your lifeless, red, and puffy from tears eyes, shapeless sweaters, turtlenecks of dark colors, shrunk bones…”
“I haven’t looked in the mirror for ages. And I try to do it as rarely as possible. Because I get scared by the ugly gal that I see.”
“Gosh, what are you talking about?” Edward wonders truly. “What kind of ugly! You’re our beauty!”
“Remember how you dressed up, made hairstyles, and did makeup,” Terrence adds with a slight smile. “You always said you didn’t doubt you and thought you were beautiful.”
“I did, Terrence,” Anna protests. “Now it’s otherwise.”
“And the way you helped your friends dress up! The girls say you’re brilliant at makeup. Your friends become eternal beauties after they let you work on their faces.”
“The girls are beautiful anyway,” Anna smiles slightly. “They don’t need makeup to slay everyone with their beauty.”
“You can make any homely girl beautiful. If you had to work, you could become a makeup artist. You know everything about cosmetics and the ways to show dignity and hide shortcomings. And I’d advise you to work on it.”
“C’mon, MacClife, don’t dream up!”
“Do you think I can lie? I don’t doubt that you’ll make your friends beauties on the day of the wedding of Edward and Natalia and Raquelle and me.”
“Ah, yeah, wedding…” Anna cracks a smile. “I forgot that my friends were about to get married…”
“They’re gonna need your help,” Peter smiles shyly. “The bride’s gonna be very nervous on that day.”
“And we know how well you can support your friends,” Edward adds confidently. “Natalia still remembers how you helped her in hard times and distracted her from bad thoughts. You were like a shoot of the sun that made her happy.”
“It’s not only a merit of mine,” Anna replies quietly. “As if Raquelle has done much less, or actually nothing.”
“I know. But don’t devalue your efforts. We all feel better when you’re near. You’re like a child, who can’t make people think of bad things. Who always makes you happy and smile. A positive, innocent creature that doesn’t know the taste of evil and hate yet.”
“Yeah… I’m a child… The child that feels unhappy and lonely.”
“No, Anna, you’re not alone.” Edward takes Anna’s hands. “You will never be alone.”
“We understand you,” Peter says confidently. “We see you’ve become a different girl because of Julian. Because he insulted and humiliated you for a long time. You just got so used to it that you started to believe it and treat yourself with no care. You believed that you were worthless and started to be afraid to say something and take a wrong step because you’re afraid to get a hit.”
“Yeah…” Anna exhales. “I’m afraid…”
“You aren’t what that stinker thinks you are. He’s sick. Sick man with mental issues. Potter was hurt by a girl, who made him hate all the girls. You’re not guilty of the fact that Julian can’t tolerate refusals, insults, humiliations, and everything that a girl could do. It’s his problem. His father wanted to make his son a bastard.”
“I could hardly become me someday.”
“You can do this,” Edward replies confidently. “If you accept our help. If you accept Daniel’s help. We’ll do our best for you to believe in you again.”
“Nobody will make you come back to Daniel if you don’t want it,” Terrence adds. “But remember, you’d feel much better with him.”
“We’ll surely be by your side, despite nothing. But there are things that only Daniel could do. He’s the only one, who's able to give you the love and care that you need.”
“Anyway, we’re begging you, think before you decide something. Think well. About everything your decision might lead to. Whether you could be happy if you met another man. Whether you compare Perkins with all the men you’d meet in your way. In this case, you won’t be as happy as before. You’ll just make yourself accept it. You’ll date one man, but think about Daniel.”
Anna is not going to protest against all the words Terrence, Edward, and Peter said. They are one hundred percent right! At some moment, she feels that her heart squeezes painfully, and it’s getting harder to hold her tears down. To be clear, it’s impossible. She is so sick of lying and pretending. The girl tries to hold on for a few seconds, but then she breaks down and starts to cry quietly, while Edward holds her hand, and Peter sits down next to her, embraces his friend, and caresses her head softly after he exchanges the places with Terrence.
“I’m in despair…” Anna pronounces in a shaking voice with despair. “Total… And I don’t know what to do!”
Anna closes her face with both hands and sobs again.
“You’re right about everything. Everything! It’s all the truth! I’m just sick of pretending that I don’t have to do with it. That I still love Daniel… And I suffer without him.”
“We don’t have to make efforts to understand what you want,” Peter explains softly. “And you’re no longer denying everything.”
“And yeah, I’m different now. Not the girl that you knew before.”
“Sadly, it’s the truth,” Terrence confirms.
“I’m gonna be honest…” Anna sighs heavily and looks at the men with sadness in her eyes. “I’m shocked by what happened to me. I think I’ve become a different person. It’s like, my body stayed the same, but my world has changed. I no longer feel myself.”
“Yes, sweetie, I know it’s very hard for you now,” Terrence says carefully, caressing Anna’s shoulder. “-”
“Very… I can’t remember who I really am.”
“You’re not alone, Anna. You have those, who love you and think you’re a very beautiful, smart, and talented girl.”
“I…” Anna makes a quiet sob and inclines her head slightly. “I never suffered from a lack of confidence and always loved myself for who I was. I didn’t wanna change anything. And when I started dating Daniel, my belief in my beauty got much stronger. I felt confident. The most beautiful, the happiest, the most beloved, and the most desired girl.”
“He’d help you become yourself if you asked him about it,” Peter says confidently.
“I was always a queen to him. Daniel always treated me literally better than my family. He carried me in his arms. And I loved the moments when that man called me a princess.”
“We know.”
“But now I feel worthless. An ugly gal, who can do nothing and lives for her parents.”
“No, Anna, don’t say it,” Terrence shakes his head. “You’re beautiful!”
“Seriously, guys…” Anna pronounces quietly, stopping to care about the tears rolling down her cheeks and starting to shake slightly from tension in every single muscle. “If not for my parents and friends, I would die quietly.”
“You’d hurt very many people if you did something to yourself.”
“I forgot what it’s like to be beautiful, confident, beloved and happy. Though, I wanna feel like this again. Not like an ugly gal with bruises on her body, stick-out bones, and puffy eyes, who doesn’t wanna live in this world.”
“Please, Anna, don’t say you don’t wanna live,” Peter begs with pity in his eyes.
“But that’s the truth, Peter… I can’t take this anymore… I can’t!” Anna closes her face with both hands, starting to cry much more bitterly. “God, for what? Why is it happening to me? Did I really deserve all of it? How could I let myself become a victim of the one, who considers me a pathetic doll? Just a lifeless doll, which he may tear and throw at any time!”
“You’re guilty of nothing, sweetie. Everything just happened at the wrong time.”
“It all seems like a terrible nightmare to me…” Anna sniffs quietly. “Every day, I wake up with the hope that I’m dreaming. But looking at myself in the mirror and seeing the worthless, ugly girl with a puffy face, I realize that what’s happening is real.”
“Everything ends early or late,” Terrence replies softly.
“I’m so sick that I stopped expecting something. I don’t care about anything.” I want to fight for nothing. I don’t want to! I’m sick!”
Anna starts to make quiet sobs full of despair, not trying to dry off the tears from her face. Peter, Edward, and Terrence understand how painfully their hearts squeeze when listening to the heartbreaking speech of the girl and seeing that she is shaking strongly. They watch her with sadness in their eyes for some time, thinking she has something else to say, and then Rose hugs the girl around the shoulders tighter and presses her to himself, while she nuzzles her nose in her friend’s shoulder.
“Anna, poor girl…” Edward shakes his head with pity in his eyes.
“Please, don’t blame yourself for what happened,” Terrence says softly. “And forget everything that sick man said. He is madly insecure. He is angry that he can’t compete with young, handsome, and successful men.”
“I can’t take this anymore!” Anna breaks into a cry, choking with tears. “I can’t! It’s insane!”
“You can, we believe in you,” Edward replies confidently.
“No… I can’t… I can’t! I’m worthless… I’m ugly!”
“Quiet, quiet, sweetie,” Peter says softly, hugging Anna tighter and caressing her head, while she is crying bitterly. “Don’t cry. We’re here. It’s okay.”
“I wanna die… I wish Julian had beaten me to death. Why did I stay alive? Why does someone want me to keep suffering?”
“No, friend, don’t say it. Don’t hurt us.”
“I feel bad, Peter… Very bad…” Anna makes a quiet sob again. “Someone considers me the reason for their happiness. But I can’t brave myself, even for those, who hold me in this world. I have no strength… I don’t live in my body. It’s like I live but am dead.”
Somehow, I felt the same. I thought I was dead inside. All the emotions and feelings were gone. I was empty inside. I didn’t know what I lived for, and what held me here. But as you see, I go through it with the help of my friends. Without them, I wouldn’t have found the strength to keep living. Yes, it was a long and hard way, but everything stayed in the past.”
“Now I can’t brace myself even for my friends.”
“Though…” Peter pronounces hesitantly. “I’m still fighting with me… Fighting with my demons. Yes, I’m okay now, but… Sometimes the past is chasing me, and… Pressing… Making me think of having no place in this world to me.”
“Really?” Anna rounds her eyes.
“Yup… And…” Peter nervously swallows up. “I’m still struggling with a wish to take a blade and cut my wrists. Sometimes I look at that and realize… It literally hypnotizes me. I can do nothing with that. But luckily, I stop in time.”
“Have you cut yourself since you left the hospital?”
“No, I haven’t done. But I’ve been close to that many times. Now it rarely happens, but it was very hard at first.”
“Wow… You never said that…”
“Anyway, I got through it. As I did, you can do this, too.”
“I really wanna find myself. I wanna live like I did before. Be happy, smile, have fun… I madly miss the life I lived before and wanna live quietly… Surrounded by those, who love me. Who wouldn’t insult me so that my self-rating gets super low.”
“We’ll never leave you,” Edward promises confidently and softly, taking Anna’s hands. “And we’ll never dare to hurt you. You can always count on us and our help. And we’ll prove it by protecting you from that sick stinker. We won’t let Potter touch you with a finger, and will do our best for him to pay for all your sufferings.”
“Maybe, you don’t meddle?” Anna asks hesitantly.
“No, Anna, don’t even try.”
“I’m so ashamed, guys…” Anna sobs quietly and wipes carefully tears off under her eyes. “Ashamed of involving you in this story you don’t have to with.”
“Asking someone for help and protection has never been a shame,” Terrence replies confidently. “You can pretend to be an independent person that does everything by themselves as much as you want. But there are situations when you have to forget it and come to someone just to say, ‘help me.’”
“I don’t want any of you to suffer. It’s gonna be unfair!”
“Nobody will suffer, I promise.”
“And Daniel? What if Julian does something to him?”
“He won’t do it. We won’t let Daniel deal with the Potters alone.”
“But I don’t want him to suffer because of me again!” Anna exclaims with despair and sniffs quietly. “If something happens to him, I won’t bear it! I’ll never forgive myself!”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about, friend,” Peter replies confidently. “Daniel can stand for him and others, and our support will be nice to him.”
“We won’t leave him and you,” Edward promises with a slight smile, caressing Anna’s hand.
“I dunno…” Anna shakes her head. “I know nothing… I don’t know!”
Anna closes her face with both hands, doubles over, and keeps crying bitterly and shaking. Edward caresses her back softly, while she puts her nose in the shoulder of Peter, who hugs her tightly and strokes her head.
“It’s okay, sweetie, we’re with you,” Edward says softly, quietly. “You’re not alone. You have the girls, the men, and me.”
“You can survive it,” Terrence adds confidently, moving some strands of Anna’s hair off her face. “We know it. We believe in you.”
“I can’t do this…” Anna shakes her head and sniffs quietly. “I can’t… I’m weak…”
“You are strong! A strong girl with a harsh character, who has always done what you wanted.”
“You’ve been showing your power since the birth,” Peter smiles slightly. “Your mother and father told us you were born premature. The doctors said you wouldn’t survive, but you surprised them. You wanted to live and fought for your life.”
“You’ve got an incredibly strong power inside you,” Terrence says confidently. “Trust it. Sometimes people can’t do what you can do. There are cases when the key to the solution is you.”
“Do you know what helps me hold on?” Anna asks, says nothing for two seconds, and sniffs quietly. “Love. It helps me understand I still have a meaning in life. The love for my parents, friends, Daniel…”
“And you wanna die!” Peter smiles slightly. “You have so many reasons to live! But you, silly girl, wanna make such a big mistake!”
“I want to fight. But I have no strength.”
“Love’s gonna help you, darling,” Edward says confidently. “Sometimes even the most expensive cures and the best doctors can’t heal you the way true love can. It can help you survive in the middle of the chaos when there is no hope for some kind of magic. And maybe, love will help you forgive Daniel someday and forget about his betrayal that he never wanted.”
“I wanna get him back so badly…” Anna confesses in a shaking voice with tears that roll over her cheeks. “No matter what, I still love your friend. Daniel is the best thing that has ever happened to me. With him, I was as happy as never before.”
“He’d say the same,” Peter smiles slightly.
“For that man, I was ready for anything…” Anna sighs heavily. “I mean, I’d do anything for him now… To feel his pretense… Feel like I’m behind the stone wall… I’m a lost child without him.”
“Try to focus on his dignity,” Terrence advises softly. “Think of all the good things that Daniel has ever done for you. Listen to your feelings and what your heart says to understand which signs your brain gives you.”
“Daniel has always spread warmth and love,” Anna confesses with a slight smile. “Yes, I don’t say or show it, but… I’m quiet when he’s next to me.”
“You see!” Edward smiles shyly. “You don’t know how much you need him. You don’t have to tell everyone about your love. Just trust Daniel. Take the first step to peace. If you two want it, you’ll get back peace, love, and trust in your relationship.”
“Now, I’m just letting him protect me and my parents from Julian.”
“And he’s very glad you accepted his help,” Peter says amicably with a slight smile. “You’re a good fellow.”
“I can do nothing more now.”
“Let’s not say you’ll never be back to him and forgive him. You better solve this problem later. And now we’ve gotta do the more important thing – to punish Julian and his father.”
“He can do anything he thinks is right.”
“And think about how to get well soon,” Terrence adds. “So, you’re released soon.”
“Oh…” Anna sighs quietly. “I don’t even know if I wanna go home… Honestly, I’m a little sick of the walls of my room. So, if they hold me here for a longer time, I’ll take it quietly. Even if I’ve never loved the hospital walls and the smell of drugs.”
“Trust me, all of us don’t like it,” Edward replies.
“I personally hate hospitals,” Terrence confesses with a slight smile. “The time I had to spend here was disgusting. I couldn’t wait to get out of this hospital prison.”
“Yeah…” Anna cracks a slight smile. “Maybe, I shall ask my parents to bring me some books if I stay here longer.”
“I think you’ll wanna go home soon,” Peter replies confidently, caressing Anna’s shoulder. “You know how sick I was of lying on the hospital bed all day for two weeks. I was even happy when I got up and warmed up the muscles of my legs.”
“Anyway, this place is not so bad. The food is fine, the doctors are caring… Besides, Cassidy is in my room. We amuse each other when neither of you is here.”
“Well, I’d bet about food…” Terrence says thoughtfully. “I got really delicious food only on the day when I was released.”
“Excuse me, bro, there is no delicious food that costs a lot in the hospital,” Edward smiles innocently. “Crabs, omars, lobsters… Risotto, foie gras, scallops, fondant… What do they cook at elite restaurants and give to rich people?”
“I’ve never tasted half of what you just called.”
“Oh, c’mon! You’re supposed to taste something more expensive than chicken, pizza, or spaghetti!”
“I wouldn't refuse a baked potato with some spicy sausage.”
“Hey, stop talking about food!” Peter exclaims and runs his hand over his stomach. “My stomach is growling because of you!”
“Honestly, mine too,” Anna laughs shyly. “But I wanna something from vegetables. For example, salad with chicken…”
“If you wanna eat, you’re getting well,” Edward adds with a slight smile.
“Hey, Terrence…” Anna pronounces thoughtfully. “When did you leave the hospital? I missed this moment!”
“I left on the day you were beaten,” Terrence explains. “Somewhere after lunch.
“Yeah… At first, you ended up in the hospital, and now I am here… After you got released…”
“The most important thing is that everybody is safe and sound. And we’ll solve all the problems.”
“I wish…” Anna sighs heavily, throwing a short look aside.
“Nothing lasts forever,” Edward notices. “As Raquelle’s aunt said.”
“Don’t worry, we will overcome it!” Peter assures with a slight smile. “We’ll think about the band, the wedding, and something else.”
“Honestly…” Anna smiles slightly and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Due to my problems with Julian, I never remembered that Natalia and Raquelle are gonna get married soon.”
“So, here’s the reminder,” Terrence replies amicably.
“You’ve got time to get a love of your new relatives,” Anna replies funnily.
“Huh, they love us anyway!”
“I just have always been charming,” Edward replies proudly with a slight smile. “Nobody has been able to resist such a gorgeous man like me.”
“Oh, yeah, resisting is impossible!” Terrence chuckles kindly, rolling his eyes. “Resisting a wish to kick your ass and rub your face in the pool.”
“If only you knew how much I want to slap you with a belt.”
“Hey, you’re gonna get a kick!”
“No, bro, Father will kick you if I complain to him about you.”
“Huh, scared!”
“If he also makes me an example for you and calls me decent, I’m gonna be whooping with happiness.”
“Yeah…” Terrence chuckles kindly. “If you’re decent, I’m not the sexiest man in the show business.”
“You were the one in the 00s! Now there are new sex symbols. And at the end of the decade, people are gonna choose the new sexiest and most attractive man of the 10s.”
“Do you naively believe you can outstand Terrence MacClife himself?”
“I’ve got everything for that,” Edward replies with his head proudly raised. “Young, handsome, freaking attractive, sexy, and full of charm… Any girl would sell her soul to be instead of Natalia!”
“I’m handsome and irresistible, but you’re just a sympathetic guy with a pretty face and a big head of hair.”
“I can’t remember someone saying these things about you. But people have lately talked a lot about me. I’ve become a sexual fantasy of all the girls in the world.”
“Natalia is the only one to admire you.”
“And Raquelle showed you who you really were. Girls whoop and faint in front of you rarer and rarer.”
“Oh-oh, the kid speaks too much!” Terrence claps Edward on the head. “Speaks!”
“Don’t be jealous, Terrence. When you’re eighty, you’ll be popular among old women. Wait for fifty years before you become a star again. I ain’t sure. I’m gonna be the sassiest old man in the world.”
Terrence says nothing and just curls his lip sarcastically, imitating Edward, while Peter and Anna look at each other.
“You know, guys…” Anna pronounces with a slight smile and wipes tears off her face. “I must confess… I got much better after talking to you.”
“We’re glad you’ve opened yourself to us and accepted our help,” Terrence replies with a slight smile, caressing Anna’s forearm softly.
“I just trust my friends. I swear, guys, I really wanted to open myself to you before, but I couldn’t find the courage… Because of Julian’s threats… And… A wish to deny that I’m not indifferent to Daniel.”
“We get it,” Peter pronounces softly.
“And yeah… Thank you so much for saving me from Julian.” Anna cracks a smile and caresses Peter, Edward, and Terrence on the shoulder. “I’m madly thankful to you.”
“We did what we should’ve done,” Edward replies amicably with a slight smile, putting his hand on Anna’s shoulder. “It would’ve been mean if we’d gone by.”
“I know… Thank you again… You saved me from death.”
“Thank Daniel, too,” Peter advises. “You were saved thanks to his efforts, too.”
“Anyway, as you can see, I’m here and still alive. Though, my body still hurts.”
“Your bruises will be gone soon,” Terrence promises amicably. “Luckily, you got off that easily. Though, we were afraid you could have fractures and head traumas.”
“Yeah…” Anna glances at her hands. “Maybe, Mom and Dad are right that it has to do with the fact that I survived when I was born earlier.”
“That’s why I’m sure you’ll get well soon,” Edward replies.
“I hope… At least I could see Sammy… I miss him and would like to see that doggy somehow.”
“Sadly, we can’t take Sammy to the hospital,” Terrence throws his hands up. “But when you’re released, Helene and Peter will be happy to bring that doggy to your home.”
“Thanks…” Anna thanks with a shy smile. “Thank you for everything, guys. You’re the best.”
Edward, Peter, and Terrence look at each other with a slight smile and suggest the girl hug them amicably, and she does not even think of rejecting it. The girl smiles much wider when they press her to themselves and caress her head, being able to breathe freely and feeling that she got much better after such a heavy burden fell off her shoulders.
***
Meanwhile, Natalia and Helene are going to come back to Anna’s room. The girls are slowly going down the hall of the hospital by the people, who are busy with something, talking about Raquelle, and trying to contact her again.
“No, she doesn’t answer,” Natalia says, examining something on her phone. “I can’t call her.”
“Raquelle doesn’t reply to messages on WhatsApp,” Helene replies, following Natalia with a smartphone in her hands. “And she doesn’t even read them.”
“Christ, what happened? And Terrence is weird…”
“I don’t know what to think, either,” Helene sighs heavily and puts her phone in the bag, going by the doctors talking about something along with Natalia. “Cameron and MacClife always warned us if they couldn’t come.”
“Yeah, the case is very weird…”
“Listen, Natalia…” Helene pronounces thoughtfully. “Do you remember the days when Terrence was in the hospital?”
“Yeah, I do,” Natalia shrugs hesitantly, puts her smartphone in her bag, and frowns slightly. “But why? Why are you asking?”
“Edward behaved weirdly at that time.”
“He was just worried about Terrence.”
“No, the case is not about it. It’s something different…”
“Do you think he knows something?”
“Haven’t you noticed him getting very quiet when we talk about Raquelle’s behavior? As if MacClife was afraid to say something…”
“Yeah, right. I noticed it, too.”
“His behavior still seems weird to me. I mean, his reaction to the mention of Raquelle’s secret.”
“But what do you think he may know?” Natalia throws her hands up. “Since that time!”
“I dunno, friend… I don’t…”
“Anyway, he told me nothing.”
“Hey, couldn’t he talk to Raquelle when we were looking for her after we found out what happened to Terrence? Edward left to find her, and we stayed to wait for him and Daniel.”
“I don’t know, Helene…” Natalia pronounces thoughtfully. “But he was with her when I came to them. Raquelle had a strong hysteria, and Edward tried to calm her down. But I can’t exclude that they really talked about something…”
“They definitely had a talk at that moment,” Helene says thoughtfully, hugging herself with both arms. “Yes, I also thought he was worried about Terrence. But Edward didn’t come back to normal even after we found out that his brother was fine.”
“But what did Raquelle tell Edward?”
“We can try to reduce the list of guesses and assume that it has to do with a child.”
“A child?”
“Yeah, Edward changed after a talk about Raquelle and Terrence’s children. Their future children.”
“Listen, indeed…” Natalia rounds her eyes. “I remember Alicia and Mr. Cameron starting to talk to us about Terrence and Raquelle’s future children. And Edward wasn’t a part of the talk.”
“Anna briefly mentioned it. When Raquelle’s relatives talked about the child, Cameron got very nervous.”
“Maybe, it really has to do with a child?”
“But what?” Helene throws her hands up. “Terrence will surely be happy if he becomes a father, and Raquelle loves babies. I don’t know what the matter is!”
“Maybe, we should start a talk about Raquelle and Terrence’s future children with Edward and watch his reaction? Let’s agree with Daniel and Peter?”
“Listen…” Helene thinks for two seconds and frowns slightly. “What if Raquelle has some health issues? What if she isn’t able to give birth to a baby?”
“Give birth?” Natalia rounds her eyes. “No, no, Helene, it’s excluded! Raquelle isn’t barren!”
“Well… Maybe, she isn’t barren but has a different problem?”
“No, she doesn’t have problems. At least, she’s always said it!”
“Of course, I can’t say anything, but Raquelle could lie.”
“When she said it, she was true.”
“I wouldn’t personally like to talk about these things.”
“Yeah, but if something happened, Raquelle would tell Terrence.”
“Well, I don’t know then… But Cameron may really have problems, but she is afraid to tell MacClife about it.”
“It sounds kind of true…” Natalia replies thoughtfully. “But even if it’s true, Raquelle should’ve told him about it when they dated. So, he’s ready to think of IVF or use the help of a surrogate mother.”
“And let’s be honest: no matter how wonderful Terrence is, his character is too hot-tempered.”
“Yeah, Terrence has this problem. Sometimes he may be intemperate. But I think he learned the lesson and learned to keep his emotions, at least toward her and his close people.”
“Yeah, right. And Raquelle may be afraid of his reaction.”
“At least, Terrence can recognize his mistakes and learn from them.”
“And I think he can understand Raquelle. Help her, support her…”
“Yeah, but I still don’t understand how it could have to do with Edward?”
“Raquelle could just share this secret with Edward and… For example, ask him not to tell Terrence about it.”
“And when will he confess it? When will Raquelle do it?”
“Hard to say, Helene…” Natalia sighs quietly. “But let’s not think about it too much. What if Terrence and Raquelle just fought because of stupid things and didn’t come here, ‘cause they didn’t wanna see each other.”
“I don’t know, Natalia. Anyway, we’ve gotta do something. For example, you can try to talk to Edward and make him confess everything.”
“Erm… I dunno…” Natalia tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m not sure that Edward will tell me everything.”
“Why? You’re his fiancée!”
“My intuition tells me if Edward knows something about Raquelle, he’s gonna be silent ‘till she confesses everything.”
“Oh, c’mon, Rochester!” Helene waves her hand. “MacClife, Jr., will surely tell you everything.”
“If Raquelle asked him to keep silent, he’ll keep his promise. MacClife doesn’t talk to the wind.”
“You just need to check his reaction to the talk about Terrence and Raquelle’s children, so we understand whether Edward is hiding something.”
“Erm…” Natalia shrugs. “Okay… I shall try… But there is a zero percent possibility.”
“Try at first and then say something!”
“We’ll see it!”
Helene and Natalia shyly smile at each other, quickening their race. The girls go by offices and people, who go down the wide hall, knocking quietly at the white tile with their heels. When they hide somewhere, a little exhausted cleaning woman appears and washes the floor with a mop and by far not the new rag. And at some moment, Natalia and Helene look on different sides, and the latter sees Daniel talking to the man in a robe and holding a piece of paper in his hands.
“Oh, look, Daniel’s there!” Helene exclaims.
“Where?” Natalia wonders and moves her eyes aside. “Ah, yeah, I see! Is that Cassidy’s doctor?”
“I believe that doctor worked on Daniel when he ended up here after getting hit by the car.”
“I didn’t memorize him well, to be honest.”
“But I did.”
Helene and Natalia spend some time watching Daniel talk about something to the doctor and sometimes look at the piece of paper in his hands. Although he looks exhausted and sad, and his eye is shaking from stress, the man tries to hold on and never complain about how bad he feels. Later, Perkins says something to the doctor with a gentle smile, shakes him by the hand, and, taking slow steps, starts to examine what he sees on the piece of paper when he stays alone. Natalia and Helene stand aside for two or three more seconds, look at each other, and come to Daniel a little hesitantly.
“You talked to Cassidy’s doctor?” Helene asks.
“Yup, about her release and trip to the clinic,” Daniel replies quietly and glances at the piece of paper in his hands. “There are some recommendations and a couple of cures here.”
“Did she go to the room?” Natalia asks.
“Yeah, the doctor talked to Cassidy and sent her to the room. He said she’s supposed to be released in two or three days.”
“Oh, great,” Helene smiles slightly.
“Her condition doesn’t cause anxiety, but it’s impossible to say she’s absolutely healthy.”
“Is she still weak after the exhaustion?”
“Yeah, but the doctor says she’s gonna get better slowly. A young age is gonna be good for her.”
“Is she gonna live with you after the release?” Natalia asks amicably.
“Of course, my sister has a right to that,” Daniel replies confidently. “So to say, I’m making the wish to Father and Mother come true and giving my sister a home.”
“Will Cassidy go to the clinic after she leaves the hospital?” Helene asks.
“No, Cass will stay at home for some time.”
“Won’t she start to take drugs again? What if she is withdrawn and looks for any way to sniff some shit and inject something into herself?”
“I’ll try to agree with the clinic soon. When they approve of everything, I will drive her three.”
“It’s gonna be a long and hard way for her,” Natalia notices with sadness in her eyes.
“I know, but I’m sure that Cassidy will get through it,” Daniel cracks a slight smile. “She’s a strong girl with a great power of will and sense of purpose. That girl is determined to heal.”
“But what’s gonna happen after she gets therapy?” Helene asks with sadness in her eyes.
“I dunno, Helene…” Daniel shrugs and shakes his head. “I will try to come up with something. It would be great to let her study somewhere. Due to the problems with our parents and drugs, Cassidy dropped out of school.”
“That’s right. An education is very important to a person.”
“Maybe, she’ll want to get some courses… I dunno… I don’t say she must go to work. I just want Cass to find something to do.”
“What did she love before?”
“Well… Guitar… Painting… Photographing… Cassidy had a photocamera, on which she often took photos when she was a kid.”
“Buy a professional one,” Natalia advises. “And a computer to retouch photos. She could find some courses. So, she works as a photographer.”
“I shall talk to her later and find out what she’d love to do. And I will think of a way to help her.”
“I hope that girl will do what she loves,” Natalia expresses hope.
“We believe she can do this,” Helene smiles slightly.
“Me too.”
Daniel says nothing and just smiles shyly at Helene and Natalia, while they answer him back.
“By the way, Daniel, we’re gonna be back to Anna’s room…” Natalia says, keeping her hand on the belt of her purse placed above her shoulder. “Will you go with us?”
“Erm…” Daniel stutters, folding the piece of paper several times and putting it in the pocket of his jeans. “No, girls… I’ll come to you later… I’ll walk here a little. Maybe, I’ll eat and drink something.”
“The problem is about Anna?” Natalia asks with sadness in her eyes.
“Yeah… I feel uncomfortable. Anna pretends that I’m not in the room and doesn’t even look at me. And her silence is even worse than any insults and slaps.”
“She isn’t as aggressive toward you as she was before. Some time ago, Anna couldn’t stand you, but now she quickly accepts the fact that you go to her room.”
“She tolerates me because of her father and mother and all of you. And Cassidy.”
“She just started to melt slowly.”
“I guess Anna will be terribly glad when I leave her alone once and forever.”
“No, Daniel, it’s not true,” Helene replies confidently with a slight smile. “Anna actually loves you.”
“Don’t calm me down, girls. I completely understand it and count on nothing.”
“But she told us about it.”
“She said?” Daniel gets a little excited, looking at Helene and Natalia with hope in widely open eyes.
“Aha,” Natalia nods with a mysterious smile. “Our friend is still smitten with you. Seymour even confessed that she wasn’t gonna reject your help. Vice versa, she wanted you to come to her to help.”
“She really said it?” Daniel asks hesitantly, feeling how his heart misses a beat.
“We wouldn’t lie, buddy,” Helene replies confidently. “We wouldn’t lie to calm you down.”
“The men and we don’t doubt that you’re on the right track,” Natalia adds.
“And she…” Daniel pronounces hesitantly and wallows up nervously. “Said something else to you?”
“She did,” Natalia nods with a shy smile. “She said she loves you and suffered that you weren’t together. The poor girl is tearing apart at the thought that she won’t be with you anymore. Because she can’t forget your affair with Blanca.”
“But she wants it so badly,” Helene adds with sadness in her eyes. “Of course, Anna denied it at first and pretended that she had forgotten you. But our friend eventually broke down and confessed what wasn’t a secret to us.”
“Do I have a chance to get her back?” Daniel asks with hope. “What do you think, girls?”
“Undoubtedly!” Natalia replies confidently. “Just be ready to protect her from Julian.”
“So, will my efforts be worth it?”
“Be sure, buddy, Anna won’t leave it unnoticed. She has already appreciated what you’ve done to save her. Seymour is grateful to you, but she didn’t say it openly.”
“You know…” Daniel throws a sad look aside, running his hand through his hair. “Somewhere at heart, I… I hope it will help me make amends to her somehow.”
“You can talk to Edward and Terrence and ask them to share their experience,” Natalia suggests amicably. “I’ve told Anna about my experience as a suffering girl, and those two will say what they felt as suffering men. And when Cameron shows up, she’ll also share her experience.”
“I know everything,” Daniel replies thoughtfully. “I’ve talked to them about it many times.”
“So, as such hard stories ended well, your story is gonna have a happy ending, too.”
“Their cases are the reason why I’m going to fight until the end. With a little hope that Anna won’t leave it unnoticed.” Daniel shrugs. “But if she does, it’s okay, I’m not doing this for thankfulness.”
“She will thank you, don’t worry!” Helene exclaims cheerfully. “Seymour will see everything you do and forget her offense slowly.”
“I’m not doing this for a wish to become a hero for her. That’s just my duty. What my coincidence tells me to do. I must do it to calm down.”
“By the way, Anna regrets leaving you when you suffered from amnesia,” Helene says with a mysterious smile. “But if she hadn’t left your home on the day when you kissed the foreigner before her eyes, she would’ve done it later.”
“I don’t judge her.”
“Are you mad at her for leaving you at such a hard time?”
“No, I’m not mad at her. Even if I needed that girl so badly. I messed up everything and don’t know how to solve everything.”
“You have a chance to make amends, Daniel,” Natalia replies with a slight smile. “Don’t reject it, no matter how much you wanna leave it all. Yes, people may say, ‘Oh, hero! He did a dirty trick at first, but now he decided to become a good guy!’ But you must not let those people break you. The quiet life of Anna and her parents is at stake.”
“Don’t worry, Natalia, I will not change my mind and will help Anna in any way,” Daniel promises confidently.
“She’ll surely notice it and find the courage to forget the offense and ask you to come back to her.” Natalia puts her hand on her hand. “Trust me, my sweetie… I say it as a person, who got over similar things.”
“This is how you can help her trust you again,” Helene adds confidently. “Anna is also obsessed with mistrust and the fear of experiencing a betrayal again.”
“But I’m not gonna betray her again!” Daniel rounds his eyes. “I love Anna and wanna get her back! I wanna give her anything she wants and deserves.”
“We know, Daniel, but you understand that it’s very hard to start to trust someone again after they hurt you,” Natalia replies quietly. “After reconciling, Terrence and Raquelle couldn’t immediately establish their relationship. And Edward and I had to put a lot of effort into forgetting everything. Though, we’ve never reproached each other for anything.”
“So, don’t think you’ll establish your relationship with Anna immediately if she’s back to you,” Helene adds. “Especially, after Julian’s mockeries, it’s much harder for her to trust someone. Anna’s gonna be afraid that someone might hit her, hurt her, insult her, and humiliate her. We’ll do our best to help her, but even in this case, she’d need time to come to herself, forget, and probably forgive the offense.”
“I know, Helene…” Daniel nods with sadness in his eyes. “But I’m ready to work on it and do my best for Anna to trust me if she decides to come back to me.”
“We don’t doubt it. Your friends believe you, and Anna’s parents love you. The Seymours literally insist that their daughter accepts your help and says no bad words about you.”
“I’m glad they have such a good opinion about me,” Daniel cracks a slight smile. “And it means I have no right to betray them. I shall keep my promise. I will save Anna and her parents and let that girl live her life. Maybe… Someday, she’ll find another man, who will make her much happier.”
“Huh, do you really think Seymour will look for another man?” Natalia wonders truly.
“She won’t suffer all her life because of me.” Daniel exhales sharply. “It’s gonna be hurtful to think about it, but I have no right to act like a jealous man and ban her from dating men.”
“Are you sure you can take this pain?”
“It will be gone soon. Taking care of my sister and working with the band will distract me. I’ve got plans for the future and won’t lie on a bed and split at the ceiling.”
“No, Perkins, don’t even think about another man,” Natalia replies confidently. “The heart of our sweet friend was given to you.”
“I know, but it will be forgotten soon.”
“Even if Anna meets another man, she’ll unconsciously look for you in that guy. The care you gave her. Who else can make her feel like a queen?”
“Anna is a young, beautiful, and caring girl. Many men would get a crush on her.”
“Our friend would hardly love someone as much as she loves you. She never felt so good with her previous boyfriends.”
“There’s always someone to be better. Even if you think there’s nobody better than you in the world.”
“Trust me, buddy, after the relationship with you, it’s gonna be hard for another man to please her. You became the first one, who wasn’t afraid to make her parents mad. And you showed Anna that if you wanted something, you’d have a chance to get out of the strong fire.”
“Ah, girls, let’s not guess…” Daniel sighs tiredly, rubbing his shaking eye. “The most important thing is that Potter and his father leave Anna and her parents alone forever.”
“The important thing is not to lose hope.”
“Anyway, no matter what Anna decides, I’ll accept it. I won’t beg, cry, scream, or pull my hair out. I’ll just take it as a life experience and keep moving on.”
“Remember that we’ll always support you and Anna anyway,” Natalia says softly, caressing Daniel’s shoulder. “And it will not impact our friendship.”
“And if you feel bad, you can always talk to us,” Helene adds amicably.
“I think you all know me too well,” Daniel flashes a smile. “You know… What’s inside me.”
“You’re so unhappy that it’s impossible not to see it,” Natalia confesses with sadness in her eyes. “Even Anna couldn’t stay indifferent.”
“Yeah, we saw Anna looking at you secretly when you were in the room,” Helene says with a slight smile. “She definitely wanna hug you. Comfort you like a little child.”
“Ah, I want to hug and kiss her to death…” Daniel sighs quietly. “You know how it’s hard to be in the same room with her and hold myself down!”
“Don’t you wanna press on her?” Natalia specifies.
“You see… After her slap, I started… Not exactly to be afraid… To be kind of… Shy… I promised I’d never dare to touch her. And… I doubt I can kiss her without shyness and fear again.”
“I think she slapped you to hide her real emotions. I’m sure that Anna wanted to fade away with that kiss. But her brain reminded her of the offense, and she eventually banned herself from succumbing to the temptation.”
“I felt so good at first…” Daniel cracks a slight smile. “I felt what I dreamed about so badly for the first time in a while. What I missed… But after that slap, the euphoria was immediately gone.”
“I get it,” Natalia chuckles quietly. “I think I’d also slap Edward if he kissed me during our confrontation.”
“But I’d repeat that kiss again with pleasure. I love kissing girls, but kisses with Anna were the best.”
“It’s okay. Daniel, you’re gonna have many chances to do it,” Helene replies confidently with a slight smile, caressing Daniel’s shoulder. “Anna confessed that she also loved kissing you. And actually, Seymour looked at you like she wanted to kiss you like never before.”
“Of course, I expect nothing, but it would be great,” Daniel smiles shyly.
“It’s not the end, buddy,” Natalia replies confidently. “Don’t give in.”
“You’re a strong guy and can do anything,” Helene adds amicably. “And the men, the girls, and I are ready to listen, support, and help you.”
“Thank you so much, sweet girls,” Daniel says with a shy smile. “I’m so happy I finally got friends, who wouldn’t use me for their benefit.”
“And feel free to talk about your emotions openly,” Natalia replies amicably. “We’ll tell nobody about it if you say that’s very important to you.”
“First, I don’t wanna be a whining guy. And second, I’ve gotta say nothing ‘cause you all know everything.”
“Anyway, remember your friends are worried about you and wish you all the best.”
“I have no right to break down. Don’t forget that I’m a man… Men must be strong.”
“Nobody’s gonna judge you if you break down one time,” Helene says amicably, holding her hand on the belt of her purse that is placed above her shoulder. “At least, the guys and me.”
“I’m not used to complaining, even if I feel terribly bad.”
“But keeping everything inside is also bad.”
“I don’t.”
“Anyway, you should fight for your dreams,” Natalia says confidently.
“Thank you so much,” Daniel thanks with a slight smile. “Natalia… Helene… Thanks for not stopping to encourage me… And for giving me hope. I got much better after your words.”
“Always welcome, buddy,” Helene replies with a slight smile.
“Glad we made your mood better,” Natalia adds shyly.
Daniel hugs Natalia and Helene amicably with a shy smile. The girls are happy that they see a little hint of gloss in his eyes. Though, they keep being worried that he cannot relax completely and is always in some kind of tension.
***
Time is getting closer to the evening. Raquelle is spending time with Rebecca and Jamie, who are supporting her after what she had to experience yesterday. They sometimes drink water from their glasses placed on the coffee table, sitting on the sofa in the living room, and being even afraid to imagine what is going to happen if they are not lucky, and they run into Terrence.
“He didn’t even try to talk to me…” Raquelle says in a shaking voice. “Terrence didn’t care that I came back home late and left today in the early morning. Besides, he spent a night in a guest room. I was alone last night.”
Raquelle runs her hands over her exhausted face and sighs heavily.
“Though, I didn’t almost sleep… Well, I fell asleep, slept for two hours, and then woke up again.”
“Honestly, we also slept badly…” Rebecca confesses thoughtfully, fixing her hair. “And Edward couldn’t fall asleep.”
“He was walking in the house for the whole night and went to his room in the morning,” Jamie adds. “I saw him when I was going to the restroom.”
“I feel so embarrassed for getting you involved in this story,” Raquelle says with sadness in her eyes. “I didn’t want Terrence to fight with his family.”
“Raquelle, honey, please, don’t blame yourself,” Rebecca replies softly, caressing Raquelle’s shoulder and fixing her hair. “You aren’t guilty of Terrence not being able to control his emotions.”
“I’m still shaking after what he did yesterday.” Raquelle runs her hands over her hair. “Terrence was ready to destroy the whole room… I thought he could kill me. And… I… I’m madly afraid to come to him… I’m horrified, you see… I’m worried… About me and my life…”
“We thought the same when he went to our home,” Jamie confesses with sadness in his eyes. “I seriously thought Terrence could kick Edward, his mother, and me out of the house in anger.”
“We all could’ve ended up outside. Your son could’ve kicked me out, too… At least, Edward has a house where he could let you in at least for a while. Although Natalia said his home was not very large, you could live there.”
“When Jamie and I got married, we lived in a much smaller apartment of Victor,” Rebecca says. “And we didn’t care about it, even if there were the two of us and then the three and the four of us.”
“We aren’t used to living in such a large house,” Jamie confesses. “There would be too much space for us if Edward left us.”
“We’ve had a talk about buying a small house. Who knows, maybe, someday we’ll decide to gift our house to Edward and Natalia. And move somewhere.”
“I think Edward and Natalia would appreciate this gift,” Raquelle smiles shyly. “There would be space for them and their future children. Moreover, Edward likes it so much.”
“Yeah, if only Terrence didn’t kick us out of home,” Rebecca sighs quietly. “With the thought that he has the right to it.”
“But thank God, Terrence hasn’t dared to do it,” Jamie adds.
“I’m afraid he’s going to kick me out of this house soon,” Raquelle assumes with sadness in her eyes and sighs heavily. “And I’d have to rent an apartment.”
“Your grandfather said he’d be ready to accept you at his home at any time,” Rebecca recalls confidently. “Or your aunt would take you to London.”
“She’ll hardly come back to London. Aunt is looking for an apartment here, and the information about all the documents.”
“Anyway, your family is ready to accept you.”
“If only Aunt and Grandpa didn’t want to talk to Terrence. I’m sure he’d feel no sorry for them. And Grandpa and Aunt would hardly let me be with him. Your son lost their trust once, but it’s not gonna work this time.”
“But he will have to talk to him anyway,” Jamie notices confidently. “And Terrence must explain his disgusting behavior to us.”
“Yeah, he said many bad things…” Rebecca nods. “Especially, to Edward. Terrence took it out on him.”
“It was madly hurtful for Rebecca and me to watch our children fight like that,” Jamie adds.
“But Edward was ready for Terrence’s reaction,” Raquelle replies quietly.
“Nevertheless, Edward is also upset after what happened yesterday.”
“And he did even start to be afraid of his brother,” Rebecca adds. “You see what our older son brought our younger son to!”
“As far as I know, Edward was gonna go to the hospital along with the guys…” Raquelle says thoughtfully.
“Yeah, but he said he wouldn’t say a word about Terrence.”
“I told him I wouldn’t go to the hospital ‘cause I didn’t want to run into your son.”
“He would hardly go to the hospital. And Anna was probably waiting for you.”
“I shall explain everything later to her and apologize for not coming today.”
“When are you gonna tell the others everything?” Jamie asks.
“Oh…” Raquelle sighs heavily and runs her hand over her face. “Honestly, I don’t know…”
“Are you afraid?”
“No, not exactly afraid… Just… I just had to give my everything to tell you, Edward, Terrence, Grandpa, and Aunt all the truth. And I don’t know when I’ll find the courage to talk about it again.”
“But you must understand that they’d know it early or late,” Jamie notices quietly, caressing Raquelle’s shoulder. “If you don’t say it, Terrence or Edward will say it by or against their wish.”
“I know… But now I’m not ready… Not ready…”
“We understand you, darling,” Rebecca says softly. “Edward will keep silent. Your grandfather and aunt will not also talk about it. And Jamie and I will not say it until you’re ready.”
“Yup, I know…” Raquelle sniffs quietly. “But even if someone finds it out from someone else, I won’t deny anything. My main goal was to tell Terrence everything, and I did it. But now I’m about to lose him once and forever…”
Raquelle sighs heavily with sadness in her eyes.
“But you and Edward may never establish your relationship with him.”
“No, Raquelle,” Jamie shakes his head. “I don’t think Terrence will go so far. Early or late, his brain will start working again.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we had to wait for a long time. Maybe, he’ll forgive you someday, realizing that you aren’t guilty, but he’ll hardly forgive me. I did a terrible thing to him.”
“Sweetie, don’t say so,” Rebecca says with sadness in her eyes, hugging Raquelle around the shoulders. “Terrence loves you too much to kick you out and break up.”
“He doesn’t care about it now. Though, I don’t want him to leave me. I can’t do without your son.”
“We completely understand you, darling,” Jamie says softly. “But you see, he needs time to accept it and forgive you. And his character makes everything harder.”
“Maybe, I should have left first without trying to excuse myself? What if I should’ve just told him about the miscarriage and left? I think… My hysteria made Terrence much angrier… He… Screamed and told me… To stop crying. But I couldn’t stop…”
“I don’t think it would’ve made the situation better ‘cause he had already been mad,” Rebecca shakes her head. “Still, you did the most important thing – you told your fiancé everything. Now you should only expect.”
“But how long do I have to wait? What if he comes back and asks me to take my stuff and leave? Or silently throw all my things outside and not let me enter the house?”
“Listen, maybe, you should really live apart for a while?” Jamie frowns slightly. “Calm down and accept the situation.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Mr. MacClife…” Raquelle sighs quietly, as she shrugs. “I understand it would be the best decision at the moment, but… I don’t want to leave. This house has become so close to me… Even if I lived here with a feeling that I was a guest at first.”
“But Jamie is right, Raquelle,” Rebecca agrees confidently. “Think about it. If you want, you can live at Edward’s house. Nobody would know you’d be there. Terrence and all your friends would assume you’d move to Mr. Cameron. But your grandfather and aunt and we would not betray you.”
“The guys do look at him suspiciously, believing he knows something about me. I don’t think that Edward could pretend that he knows nothing.”
“He may not hide that he knows about you,” Jamie throws his hands up.
“Honestly, I don’t like this idea. Moreover, Natalia knows where she’s going to live after the wedding… And she may suspect I’m there. Everybody might guess! The guys aren’t so stupid!”
“Don’t act like you’re trying to run away from justice. Otherwise, you’ll scare your close people.”
“I just don’t want to run into Terrence for some time. I don’t want our common friends and familiars to know where to find me. He may visit me and start a scandal.”
“Don’t make it harder, Raquelle,” Rebecca advises. “You could quietly move into the house of Jamie and me, your grandfather, or Edward. If Terrence wanted to see you and was enraged, we wouldn’t let him come to you.”
“Oh…” Raquelle sighs heavily and leans back in the sofa, putting a hand on her forehead. “Honestly, I actually thought of renting an apartment… In an unpopular one far from here.”
“Why would you pay a lot of money for an apartment, while you can live with any of us?” Jamie asks. “And running away from everybody is stupid. It’s like you’re running away from your problems with the hope that everything will get better.”
“No, Mr. MacClife, I’m not running away from my problems.”
“You can’t run away after every single scandal with your fiancé. A family life is not an endless party and pleasure. It’s work. Hard work.”
“I’m afraid of him now. And I wanna hide while he’s so mad. I’m ready to talk to him when he calms down. Terrence is a wonderful man, but sometimes he scares me to death. That’s why I sometimes doubt that I should get married to him.”
“Believe me, my girl, we’re also scared of what happened yesterday,” Rebecca says softly. “But we don’t think of running, hiding, breaking all contacts, and disappearing.”
“I know, Mrs. MacClife. I just…” Raquelle falls into silence and exhales sharply, pinching the tip of her nose and shaking her head. “Well, it doesn’t matter!”
“You better have some rest.” Rebecca fixes Raquelle’s hair with sadness in her eyes. “Did you look at yourself in the mirror? Look how exhausted and white, you are!”
“I forgot when I felt rested the last time. And I’m so sick of everything… Nothing makes me happy… Even my modeling career… I loved my job, but now I don’t feel what… I felt two years ago… When I worked hard for a few hours per day.”
“Maybe, it’s time to retire?”
“Sometimes I think about it… But I can’t… Don’t wanna stay home and do nothing! I shall go crazy because I am used to working.”
“But you don’t have to stay home! If you wanna work, start doing something different. Besides, why do you work so much? It would be okay if you lived a poor life and counted every single cent. But you are rich. You have money, tons of clothes, and all the possibilities for health, beauty, and fun…”
“I never wanted to be dependent on a man. I didn’t want him to provide for me. All these years, I worked not only for a wish to get out of poverty, provide for my grandfather, and prove to my offenders that I was worth something. But also for being able to do something in case I get kicked out.”
“Terrence used to act in movies, but later he realized that he didn’t like it and found himself in the music business. Why don’t you try something else? For example, publish your book! You do love the literature and read very much! Use it as a chance to earn money.”
“Yeah, but to write books, I need ideas and inspiration,” Raquelle replies thoughtfully, running her hand through her hair. “I have nothing from that.”
“Well, maybe, there is a story you’d like to make real,” Rebecca assumes. “If you try, you can write such a breathtaking and excellent story that people will read it with pleasure and worry about the characters’ lives.”
“I’ve gotten almost everything I dreamed of… I only need to get married and give birth to a child. I should carry on my family’s name, so someone lives after my death. Aunt Alicia still regrets not giving birth to a baby and wasting her time.”
“The most important thing is that you want a baby,” Jamie replies confidently. “Edward still suffers because Rebecca and I didn’t plan his birth and didn’t find him as long-awaited as Terrence. Yes, we surely love both of our children, but none of us can say we wanted to make a second child.”
“No, Mr. MacClife, I really want to have a child. After spending some time with Amanda, I finally realized it.” Raquelle sighs heavily. “Yes, I’m not obsessed with this wish. But if I get pregnant, I’ll be very happy and make my child a decent person.”
“You will have children, darling,” Jamie replies softly, hugging Raquelle around the shoulders and caressing her head. “And the problem with Terrence will be solved. Just give him time and don’t make him nervous.”
“Everybody makes mistakes, sweetie,” Rebecca notices. “You can’t be perfect at everything and for everyone.”
Raquelle sighs heavily and moves her eyes to her hands, and Rebecca hugs her, so that the girl nuzzles her nose against her shoulder with quiet sobs.
“It’s gonna get better, sweetheart,” Rebecca says quietly, caressing Raquelle’s head. “Terrence will really forgive you soon. He loves you with all your shortcomings.”
“You can’t fall out of love with someone for one day, Raquelle,” Jamie notices confidently. “And Terrence hardly has a goal to do it. If my son knows you wanna leave him, he will not let you go.”
“I swear if Terrence gave me a chance, I would become the best one in the world for him,” Raquelle says in a shaking voice. “I’d take care of him like nobody else. I need just one chance.”
“You’ll get it, I promise,” Rebecca says with a slight smile. “Just wait for a while.”
Raquelle moves her sad look down and sighs heavily, while Rebecca and Jamie look at each other and shake their heads, not knowing how to calm the poor girl down.
“Listen, darling, maybe, you should have a rest?” Jamie suggests. “Or better sleep a little.”
“Yeah, sweetie, lie down a little,” Rebecca suggests softly. “My heart is bleeding when I look at you.”
“I’m too worried to sleep,” Raquelle replies without emotions.
“Ah, Raquelle, Raquelle…” Jamie sighs tiredly. “You might torture yourself, so that everybody is seriously worried about you.”
“I know, but I can’t put myself in order. I have no strength…”
“Have some rest, sweetie,” Rebecca suggests quietly, taking Raquelle by the shoulders softly. “Sleep a little.”
Rebecca gets up slowly from the sofa and helps Raquelle stand up, while the girl does not resist and looks into the distance with dead eyes, embracing herself with both arms.
“Will you leave?” Raquelle asks hesitantly, throwing a short look at Rebecca and Jamie.
“We better leave before Terrence is back home,” Jamie replies thoughtfully, getting up from the sofa. “Moreover, Rebecca and I have some things to do.”
“You can come to us at any time,” Rebecca adds. “Jamie, Edward. And if you wish to live with us, we will give you this chance with pleasure.”
“Alright,” Raquelle shrugs. “I… I will get through it somehow. I don’t know how, but I will do my best.”
“Go, sweetie,” Jamie says softly. “Don’t walk us away. We will leave.”
“Alright…”
Raquelle, looking at Jamie and Rebecca with pity in her eyes, hugs them by one and shares an amicable kiss on the cheek with both of them.
“Thank you so much, Mr. MacClife, Mrs. MacClife,” Raquelle thanks with a slight smile. “Thanks for everything you’re doing for me.”
“You can always count on us,” Rebecca replies amicably.
“Thanks a lot.” Raquelle says nothing for two seconds, glances aside, and looks at Rebecca and Jamie again. “Have a safe way home.”
“Thanks,” Rebecca and Jamie thank.
Raquelle looks hesitantly at Jamie and Rebecca for two seconds, turns around slowly, comes to the stairs, and goes upstairs to the second floor, holding the railing.
“Oh, gosh, she’s so broken,” Rebecca gets horrified, putting her hand on her heart. “My heart hurts for the poor girl.”
“Yeah, Terrence terrified the poor girl,” Jamie replies thoughtfully. “She really wants to talk to him and get his forgiveness, but she's afraid.”
“I think they should really live apart for a week or two. They wouldn’t meet each other and calm down a little.”
“If the situation doesn’t get better, Raquelle will leave with her stuff. And even you and I might not know where to find her. And this time, Raquelle may not live with Mr. Cameron.”
“We need to watch her, Jamie. Very closely. And we should warn Edward, so he watches Raquelle better and doesn’t let her do stupid things.”
“And it would be great to talk to Mr. Cameron and Mrs. Middleton. They should also watch Raquelle and be next to her when they have a chance.”
“Poor girl… Poor girl…” Rebecca says nothing for two seconds and thinks of something, frowning slightly. “Do you think the fact that Raquelle doesn’t love her job is the reason for her current condition? Or does she need to change her profession?”
“I think the problem is her condition,” Jamie assumes, stroking his chin. “The girl just got too exhausted. Though, I don’t exclude that she could get sick of her work.”
“Raquelle worked very well, but I think it’s time to slow down.”
“You’re right. That girl has gotten everything. And she doesn’t know what to keep aiming for.”
“Anyway, if she didn’t get out of the hole, she’d need help. Moreover, Raquelle hasn’t come to herself after the miscarriage. These things are a great stress to any girl.”
“Oh, I can’t wait for Terrence to come to himself,” Jamie sighs tiredly. “He is the only one, who knows how to help her.”
“Did he lie when saying he realized much after the scandal with Raquelle?”
“Maybe, Terrence didn’t lie and really wanted to get better. But he will have to spend a lot of time learning to control his emotions.”
“Terrence didn’t use to think about being too aggressive. He never tried to change when I told him that aggression wouldn’t lead to anything good.”
“It’s okay, life will teach him everything,” Jamie replies confidently. “Terrence is not a little boy anymore. Let him pay for his actions. He’s smart and will understand what’s wrong.”
“You’re right. Life is the best teacher.”
Silence settles in the air for two seconds, during which Rebecca and Jamie smile shyly at each other.
“Oh, alright, sweetie…” Jamie pronounces thoughtfully and clears his throat. “Let’s go home… It will be dark soon…”
“Yes, let’s go,” Rebecca agrees. “I will cook dinner.”
Rebecca takes her small purse from the coffee table, while Jamie takes his mobile phone and keys from the car. Then they turn around and go to the door. But then it opens quietly, and Terrence enters the house. Not noticing his parents, the man closes the door, leaves the keys on the table near the entry, and goes to the living room. Then he moves his eyes to Rebecca and Jamie, who get tense enough and round their eyes, getting horrified at the thoughts about what is going to happen. And their older son gets a little white and starts to breathe a little heavily from excitement.
“Erm, hello…” Terrence pronounces in a shaking voice. “I didn’t know… You were here…”
“Hello?” Rebecca pronounces surprisingly. “That’s all?”
“Oh…” Terrence looks around, feeling terribly embarrassed and sometimes touching his face with his hand. “Well… I…”
“Is this everything you want to say to excuse yourself?” Jamie asks gloomily, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Erm, no…” Terrence pronounces hesitantly, shaking his head. “You… Did you come here to talk to me?”
“Well, if you’ve come to yourself, we are ready to listen to your excuses,” Rebecca replies coldly.
“I’m really ashamed of what happened yesterday. What I did yesterday… What I did at your home.”
“Alright,” Jamie pronounces in a lower voice. “Then, be pleased to explain why you the hell did it to us.”
“I will explain everything, I promise.”
“C’mon, then! We’re listening to you.”
“Erm… Let’s sit down.”
With these words, Terrence points at the sofa, comes to another, and sits down. Rebecca and Jamie look at each other and sit in front of the man a little hesitantly.
“I didn’t want all of that,” Terrence says with regret in his eyes. “And I’d like to apologize to you. I… I don’t know what got obsessed with me.”
“You behaved disgustingly, Terrence,” Rebecca replies coldly, confidently. “What happened yesterday is beyond all the limits.”
“What kind of insolence?” Jamie resents. “It’s fine you broke into our house with no invitation or warming! But how did you dare to be rude to your mother and me? And let your emotions out on your brother!”
“I know there are no excuses for my action…” Terrence replies guiltily. “I didn’t know what I did and said. I… I couldn’t control myself.”
“Do you know what you brought your father and me to?” Rebecca asks a little louder. “I had high blood pressure, and your father had a lower one! And what you did to Edward and Raquelle? One didn’t sleep all night and fell asleep just in the morning, and another cried for the whole evening and shook from horror and fear!”
“Yeah, I know…”
“And Mr. Cameron and Mrs. Middleton! Both of them got enraged when we told them about your behavior!”
“I didn’t want it to happen,” Terrence excuses himself with pity in his eyes. “I swear!”
“Raquelle’s grandfather and aunt were so angry that they wanted to go to your home and start a scandal,” Jamie replies coldly. “But I barely persuaded them not to make it worse.”
“Yeah, I know…”
“I hope you didn’t have the brains to go to their home and do what you did to all of us.”
“No, no, I wasn’t gonna visit them!”
“At least, you got brains for that,” Rebecca throws gloomily. “Or you would’ve brought Mr. Cameron to a heart attack!”
“I know…” Terrence inclines his head.
“And what about Raquelle!” Jamie exclaims. “We couldn’t calm down the poor girl, and she is still shaking and crying from fear of you.”
“I didn’t wanna hurt her.”
“You hurt her, Terrence! You made her afraid of you to death. That’s not fine when a girl is afraid of a man, tries to run away from his house, and wants to disappear to keep herself far from him!”
“What?” Terrence rounds his eyes. “Raquelle disappeared? She left home?”
“You will ask for trouble, guy!” Rebecca exclaims. “If you do something similar again, she will leave you, not waiting for your words about the breakup. Even a fear of losing you and her strong love will not stop her from wishing to save herself.”
“Where’s she? Where did Raquelle leave? Please, tell me!”
“Nowhere yet. And if you wonder where she spent a whole day, your fiancée was with us all day.”
“So, is she at your home? If she is, I’ll go there now!”
“Don’t go anywhere!” Jamie replies confidently. “She’s here, went to her room.”
“Please, don’t lie to me. I should know where Raquelle is. I wanna talk to her.”
“Even if Raquelle left, and we knew where, we wouldn’t tell you. Until you calmed down. Until she wanted to talk to you.”
“No! That’s unfair! She’s my fiancée!”
“The fiancée, whom you scared to death! You made her look much worse than before.”
“She was like this for a few months.”
“But by your yesterday’s behavior, you made her condition much worse.” Jamie shakes his head. “My gosh… It seems like my son became a tyrant… As if he likes hurting a girl and making her suffer.”
“No, that’s not the truth!”
“A woman must be happy next to her beloved man, but everything is otherwise with Raquelle! She is getting more exhausted and unhappier! Because of your character!”
“No, Father, please, don’t say it,” Terrence begs with pity in his eyes, shaking his head. “You and Mother know that I do my best for Raquelle to be happy with me.”
“But now we don’t see the happiness in the eyes of the poor girl,” Rebecca replies confidently. “With you, Raquelle is getting worse. She used to look much more alive and much funnier.”
“You blame me for crazy things! You say it like I’ve had Raquelle exhausted all the time we’ve been living together!”
“Sometimes it looks like this. Is this what you wanted? Didn’t that great scandal teach you nothing? All your words about realizing everything were an empty sound?”
“If I’d taught nothing, I would’ve definitely brought everything to our breakup.”
“Ah, sonny, sonny…” Rebecca sighs heavily. “Why are you like this? When was I wrong? What did I do wrong?”
“Please, Mom, don’t say it. You aren’t guilty. My character is my fault. I am the one to blame for not trying to fix it.”
“Don’t be mad at what I’m going to say, but Edward seems an innocent angel against you. Unlike you, he did realize all his mistakes and learned the lesson.”
“That’s true, Terrence,” Jamie confirms confidently. “Although Edward loves getting into trouble and can’t live quietly, he’s way smarter than you in this case. Your brother can work on him and his mistakes.”
“Gosh, Terrence… You’re a smart and wise guy! You must understand something when someone kicks you on the head or shakes their finger in front of you!”
“I know…” Terrence pronounces with sadness in his eyes. “But I promise I’ll be fighting with it. I’ll no longer behave the way I did yesterday.”
“You promised it after the scandal with Raquelle and after the story of your uncle, Michael. But you didn’t do what you promised. You made no conclusions. And you kept making the same mistakes. Now the same thing has happened again!”
“This time, it’s otherwise!”
“Excuse me, man, but nobody believes you,” Jamie replies confidently. “Neither your mother, your fiancée, your brother, nor Raquelle’s relatives… And your friends would hardly believe you’ll change.”
“I know I should’ve left somewhere shortly after Raquelle told me about her miscarriage.”
“I’m sorry that you realized it only when you scared everybody and fought with them,” Rebecca replies gloomily.
“I know…” Terrence shakes his head with sadness in his eyes and doubles over. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do if I don’t fix my mistakes.”
“Yeah, you’ve done a lot, my son,” Jamie replies thoughtfully. “You’ve done it…”
“I’m really very sorry for stopping to watch my mouth.”
“Trust me, Terrence, we don’t approve of Raquelle’s act. We completely understand your feelings and are truly sorry that your child wasn’t born. But if you weren’t so hotheaded, Raquelle would’ve said everything earlier.”
“I’m also not happy with my character. But you and Mother should understand me… I felt terribly hurt because Raquelle did it to me. She acted like I was a stranger to her, and the child wasn’t mine.”
“We understand everything. Terrence,” Rebecca replies with sadness in her eyes. “The pain of losing your baby is fine. But Raquelle expected your support, understanding, and comfort. And you gave her nothing from what she needed. As the mother of that child, she doesn’t feel better than you. Raquelle still can’t get through the pain. And even other children’s birth can’t make her forget that she experienced a miscarriage.”
“And I understand you well as a father,” Jamie adds confidently. “I’d also feel terribly hurt if one of my children died, or your mother experienced a miscarriage someday. But let’s not forget that you didn’t lose a chance to become a father. Because Raquelle is healthy and can give birth to a child. One, two, or three.”
“I don’t know what I would do if it was true,” Terrence replies, running his hands over his face and exhaling slowly. “Being the father of a child from my beloved woman is my dream.”
“You say it like you’d leave a girl if she wasn’t able to give birth to a child.”
“No, never! There are many ways to make a child, and nobody canceled therapy.”
“And if you control yourself and become more tolerant of your fiancée, someday she will give birth to your baby,” Rebecca says confidently.
“Raquelle doesn’t deserve all of that… And Edward, Alicia, Mr. Cameron, and you aren’t guilty at all. Now I understand you said nothing for the good things and think she did the right thing by deciding to tell me everything by herself.”
“Yes, maybe, we all did a bad thing to you,” Jamie notices. “But you should know these things from someone, with whom you’re having a business. Raquelle is your soon-to-be wife. You must solve your problems by yourself. It’s your life, not ours. We lived ours. Now it’s your time.”
“I know…” Terrence pronounces quietly, inclining his head. “It hurts that I wasn’t the first one to know it, but now saying something doesn’t make sense.”
“Please, Terrence, don’t be mad at Raquelle for trusting Edward, Mrs. Middleton, Mr. Cameron, your mother, and me at first,” Rebecca says with sadness in her eyes. “She is regretting involving us in this story. She wanted you to fight with the others much less.”
“Now I’m mad at nobody. Because I’m broken and upset. Because my child died.”
“You’ll need some time to accept this terrible piece of news. But there will always be those, who can help you and Raquelle get through it. You can’t forget it, but you can find the strength to keep living.”
“I’m glad,” Terrence cracks a smile. “Though, I wanna pull my hair out, scream in pain, and ask myself what’s my fault.”
“You and Raquelle are guilty of nothing,” Jamie shakes his head. “It just happened. Raquelle got pregnant at a hard time.”
“If I’d known about her pregnancy, I would’ve banned her from going on trials.”
“No, Terrence, if Raquelle hadn’t gone to the court, she would’ve been at home and worried about us anyway.”
“Anyway, I would’ve done my best to take care of her and the child.”
“I must confess that we’re a little surprised that you noticed nothing weird about her behavior,” Rebecca confesses.
“Right… Terrence shakes his head with sadness in his eyes. “But I remember that she was in her bed for some time. And sometimes she ate nothing and slept very much. I should’ve realized that something wasn’t right with her.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Terrence,” Jamie replies confidently. “You couldn’t guess something terrible would’ve happened.”
“I could’ve done it, Father! But I was too busy with that cursed trial and spent free days with the lads at the studio. Raquelle and I barely saw each other at that time.”
“And you made the same mistake you did before: got busy with yourself and forgot about each other.”
“If I had known Raquelle suffered from the miscarriage, I would’ve spent more time with her. She needed someone’s support so badly. Nobody assumed what was wrong. Everybody tried to help. But… She suffered much… Suffered alone. For so many months.”
“And she’s still suffering,” Jamie notices.
“I’ll surely give her my support,” Terrence replies confidently. “I’ll do my best for her to accept that tragedy.”
“But first, you need to get her forgiveness and persuade her to stop being afraid of you,” Rebecca says quietly. “Raquelle would hardly hug you if she saw you on the doorstep of the room.”
“It hurts me…” Terrence moves his sad eyes to his hands. “But on the contrary… It’s explained and fair.”
“If you talk to Raquelle quietly and openly, everything is gonna get better,” Jamie replies quietly. “And I hope you will not make many more mistakes.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
Rebecca and Jamie say nothing for two seconds, being not as gloomy as before and truly believing that Terrence really calmed down and is regretting what he did.
“Erm, Mom, Dad…” Terrence pronounces hesitantly, putting his head on his shoulders and looking at Rebecca and Jamie with sadness in his eyes. “Are you still mad at me?”
“Rather, upset,” Rebecca replies quietly. “And disappointed. To be honest, we never thought you’d be sassy toward your mother and father and attack your brother with fists before our eyes.”
“I’m really ashamed of what I did to you…”
“Yesterday, you showed absolute disrespect for me, your mother, and your brother,” Jamie replies. “Rebecca and I have never called ourselves perfect. But you have no right to behave like that toward us and reproach us for our mistakes. Older people can’t be judged, Terrence, remember that.”
“I know.”
“Let’s not forget your disgusting behavior toward your brother. We always tell you and Edward that you must respect and take care of each other. But you were ready to tear your younger brother apart. And you would’ve done it if your mother and I hadn’t been next to you.”
“I’m not surprised that the guy eventually got enraged,” Rebecca adds. “You made Edward so wild that he was ready to kill you but tried to hold on ‘till the end. However, all your insults were the last drop of patience.”
“I swear, I’ve never thought so badly about Edward,” Terrence confesses confidently. “I’ve never blamed him for the mistakes he’s made. And I remember I suggested he join the band and agreed on his collaboration with the music band.”
“You must talk to Edward immediately. You must apologize to your brother for what you did to him yesterday. He just tried to support Raquelle after she trusted her secret with him.”
“Yes, Terrence, apologize to your brother,” Jamie insists confidently. “Edward can’t calm down as well as Raquelle.”
“I know,” Terrence nods. “Edward and I met in the hospital. I explained everything to him, and he understood me. Not immediately, of course, but he did.”
“So, your mother and I are very glad,” Jamie nods in approval. “Now make peace with Raquelle.”
“And start to control yourself,” Rebecca adds quietly. “If you terrify the girl like that again, you’ll really stay alone. Either Raquelle will leave you or her relatives will ban her from being with you.”
“Sure,” Terrence nods and looks at Rebecca and Jamie with sadness in his eyes. “But first, I want to apologize to you and Father. Forgive me… I didn’t want to disappoint you and get you mad and upset… Please, let me know you aren’t mad at me.”
Jamie and Rebecca say nothing and look at each other.
“I’m very sorry that I’m not the perfect son that you’ve always dreamed about. Sorry for… Making you disappointed… Sorry for… Not being able to be a role model to Edward. At least in this case…”
“Maybe, not perfect,” Rebecca says with a slight smile, sits next to Terrence, hugs him around the shoulders, and caresses them softly. “But your father and I love you anyway and will always be by your side.”
“Really?” Terrence rounds his eyes.
“Edward and you give us tons of problems and sometimes do the bad things. But our love for you doesn’t get weaker.”
“Just like our love for our parents,” Terrence replies with a slight smile.
“Alright,” Jamie smiles slightly. “If you want reconciliation, we also apologize to you for being rude.”
“It’s okay,” Terrence replies amicably. “Anyway, thank you so much for understanding me. It’s really very important to me.”
“Oh, come here, my bully,” Rebecca says with a quiet laugh.
After stroking Terrence’s hair, Rebecca takes him in her arms for a few seconds. He accepts a hug with great pleasure and kisses his mother on the cheek at some moment, not hiding his wide smile. But when they step away, Jamie comes to his eldest son with an amicable smile and says:
“Let’s make peace, my walking trouble.”
Jamie shakes Terrence by the hand, and then they take each other in a hug and share a clap on the back or shoulder.
“Sorry…” Terrence pronounces. “I’m very sorry…”
“It’s okay,” Jamie replies.
Two seconds later, Jamie and Terrence step away. Silence settles in the air for two or three seconds, during which the three look at each other with a feeling of nice relief.
“Alright, my dear Raquelle,” Rebecca pronounces confidently. “Now it’s time to talk to Raquelle.”
“Talk to her right now,” Jamie advises.
“Don’t worry, I shall solve this problem now,” Terrence promises with a slight smile.
“Right now!” Rebecca exclaims. “Got it? Now! We will call you tomorrow and ask you how it went on.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Rebecca and Jamie nod confidently, being quite happy with this answer. Then the MacClife spouses take their stuff from the coffee table, and Terrence comes to the hall door with his parents, hugs his mother and father to say goodbye, says something to them, opens the door, and closes it after they leave. The man leans on it with his back, puts his hand on his forehead, exhales slowly with closed eyes, and just looks into the distance for two more seconds. But then Terrence exhales sharply, takes the keys from the table near the hall door, goes to the stairs slowly but confidently, goes upstairs to the second floor, and walks down the wide hall to his room. After coming to the closed door, MacClife, Sr., stops and hesitates for two seconds, trying to get ready for a hard talk. Then he opens the door quietly and looks into the room, expecting to see his fiancée crying in front of the mirror or standing on the balcony. But Terrence sees Raquelle lying on the bed. She fell asleep after crying for a long time, judging the wet paths on her cheeks and eyelashes. Curled up like an embryo and folded her hands in front of herself.
Terrence closes the door quietly and watches Raquelle for a few seconds, struggling with a wish to caress her cheek and cover her with a warm blanket. At some moment, he comes closer to her hesitantly, noticing that she looks too fragile and little due to the weight loss. Watching the exhausted girl, whose quiet breath and serene moans he can easily hear, with sadness in his eyes, Terrence feels that his heart is squeezing painfully. Since the mission of resisting his wish to caress his fiancée is impossible, the man comes closer to the bed, sits down carefully next to the sleeping girl, whose fingers barely move, and caresses her head tenderly, moving some strands of soft hair off her face, eyes, nose, and mouth. Then he carefully runs the back and the front of his hand over her cheek, not stopping to look at the sleeping beauty with tenderness.
“It will no longer happen,” Terrence whispers and carefully wipes the tears under Raquelle’s eyes. “No more tears because of me.”
Terrence caresses Raquelle’s cheek and head again, takes her relaxed hand that reaches him, grips it slightly in his hands, and caresses the back and front of it softly.
“I’m so sorry…” Terrence caresses Raquelle’s wrist, noticing how soft the skin on it is. “Forgive me for not being next to you at such a hard time.”
Terrence looks around the room and looks at the sleeping Raquelle. At some moment, the man tenderly kisses the back of the girl’s hand and its wrist, rubs his cheek against the palm of it, and nuzzles in it for two seconds, while she keeps sleeping deeply enough and breathing quietly. Also, he puts the hand of the sleeping girl on his chest and closes his eyes, feeling the nice warmth that warms him up in all senses. A little later, Terrence carefully puts Raquelle’s hand next to her and watches her for two seconds. Then he thinks for a moment, takes off the shoes that he wore for walking outside, puts it not far from himself, puts his legs on the bed, and leans on its back. The man moves closer to the girl, hugs her carefully, and presses her to himself, caressing his fiancée’s head and cheek and cutely kissing the top of her head at some moment.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoXArXGX25
He spends some time caressing her face or stroking his fiancée's hair, forgetting everything in the world when he sees his beloved girl. But at some moment, the man, caressing the girl’s cheek, he hears how she moans very quietly, with some kind of pain, winces slightly, shakes her head, and moves her body. Terrence steps back from her sharply and just watches her, doing and saying nothing. Raquelle needs a little time to get used to the light and open her eyes slightly. The girl rubs them and blinks a little to wake up and start to see everything better. She raises her body on her arms and looks around the room with a little confusing look. And when she moves her eyes to the man, she immediately shakes with a quiet gasp, gets up sharply, and pushes herself into the corner of the bed, starting to breathe much heavier and looking at MacClife, Sr., closely with horror in widely open eyes.
