Peculiar Relationship Epilogue

In Candy Candy Final Story (CCFS), we know that Candy was still very much in love with her husband in her mid-thirties. When he came home to her in the evening, she jumped from her chair, running into his outstretched arms. Even though Mizuki didn’t write anything about Candy being a mother, I strongly believe Candy loved children, so I decided to write a bit about this. Hope you like the epilogue. If you spot any typo or mistake, please kindly inform me. Thanks in advance!

-Ms Puddle

Epilogue (PG-13)

The nanny had just put the baby boy down for the night, placing him in a baby crib handmade by his father, so the mother could have some rest. The boy was registered as “William David Ardlay” at the christening service today, which had been an ovation. More than a hundred guests, including reporters and photographers, had attended the service in the chapel, curious to see the offspring of the golden couple.

On the day of their official engagement announcement, people could see the color-changing engagement ring, allegedly purchased in Brazil, on the bride-to-be’s ring finger. The extremely rare gemstone, alexandrite [1], adorned with two smaller diamonds on both sides, would change colors under different ambient lights. No wonder people claimed that alexandrite was one of the most-coveted gemstones in the world. Moreover, the natural beauty of the bride-to-be had effortlessly captivated the audience, and her millionaire fiancé, with his striking looks and charismatic personality, had also won many people’s hearts. Their love story had intrigued a renowned novelist, and with their permission, a semi-biographical fiction, “Recovering from amnesia”, had been released prior to their wedding. The heartwarming novel had soon become the talk of the town, comparing their peculiar relationship to the protagonist and her benefactor in a very popular epistolary novel, “Daddy-Long-Legs”, published in 1912 by Jean Webster.

Madam Elroy couldn’t have been more proud at the christening service today, showing off the new heir to the relatives and friends. She had rarely made her appearance in public ever since her nephew’s grand wedding, having passed most of her responsibilities to the young family matriarch. With the support from her husband, Mrs. Candice W. Ardlay was now widely known as a philanthropist, particularly for her generous gifts and services to various orphanages in Illinois and for her many contributions and involvements in the local hospitals in training medical students.

Archie and Annie, who had recently married, had accepted to be the godparents of David. They had assisted in the logistics of the christening service as well. Though they had been engaged for a long time, they hadn’t got married until after Archie had graduated. On their way to the chapel today, Annie had whispered to Candy that she was with child, but Archie had opted to wait for a couple of months before making the announcement.

Needless to say, it had been a long day for baby David, but the six-week-old baby had been surprisingly cooperative. During the family badge presentation, indicating that he would be the official heir to the Ardlay’s line, he had looked so adorable in Madam Elroy’s arms. When his father had unpinned the badge from his jacket so that he could pin it to the boy’s tiny kilt, the mother had had joyful tears brimming in her eyes, remembering her conversation concerning their baby about a day after his birth.

(flashback begins…)

“Candy, Aunt Elroy is strongly against the idea to name our baby Anthony. It reminds her of the accident, and she wasn’t able to sleep last night, worrying about-”

Candy interrupted Albert by putting a finger to his mouth, “I understand, Albert. Besides, she told me it’s confusing if the father and son have the same initials.”

“Good point,” he acknowledged, knowing that his aunt didn’t mean to foist her opinion upon them. Then his wife added, “Aunt Elroy has given us a list of names, and what do you think of the name, ‘David’? Your aunt likes it very much because two Scottish kings were called David, meaning ‘beloved’.” [2]

After carefully going through the name list, they selected ‘David’ mainly because of its meaning, not because some kings had used it before. Then, Candy retrieved her treasured badge from the family heirloom, the damascene jewelry box. “Also, please don’t make a new badge for our baby. I’d like to give him mine. It’s rightfully his, don’t you think?”

“Are you sure, Candy? It was my gift to you.”

She planted a soft kiss on his lips. “I know, Little Bert. But I have you already, and David is the first fruit of our love, so I’d want him to continue to pass the badge along to the next generation.”

(flashback ends)

After the service, Mrs. Watts couldn’t help admiring the baby, claiming, “Look! The boy is an exact replica of his handsome father!” In fact, not long after Candy had been confirmed pregnant with her first child, Mrs. Watts had highly recommended the nanny to her. Just as she had guaranteed, the nanny had been a great help so far, and Candy was truly thankful.

Patty had moved to Miami, Florida about a month after Easter last year [3], so she had sent a big present with a letter. When Darren had come to Candy and Albert’s wedding near the end of March a year ago, he had proposed to Patty before leaving Chicago, but she had turned him down with the reason that she hadn’t known him well enough. It hadn’t been easy for them to maintain a long distance relationship, so he had besought Patty to consider moving to Miami, for she had relatives there. It had taken Patty weeks before making up her mind to relocate and find a new teaching job, leaving the city where Stear had grown up. After going steady with Darren for another year, Darren had proposed to Patty again when taking her home after dining out. This time, she had happily and readily agreed to tie the knot with him. In her letter to congratulate Candy for being a new mother, Patty had related to Candy her good news. Even though the wedding date hadn’t been finalized, it was likely to be early next year, so Candy had promised Patty that she would surely bring her baby along to witness their happiness.

About the date of Candy and Albert’s wedding, something interesting was worth mentioning. When Annie had first noted the date specified on the wedding invitation, she had asked Candy in private, “Why does the date seem to ring a bell, my friend?” The bride-to-be could only say, “It was the day you left the Pony’s Home with your adoptive parents, Annie.” Annie didn’t know it was also the day Albert had run away from Lakewood, stumbling across a crybaby on a hill miles away and absentmindedly leaving his silver badge behind. This encounter had remained a well-kept secret between Candy and her Prince on the Hill. It wasn’t mentioned at all in their fiction. The readers thought the orphan girl had first met the most important man in her life by the waterfall.

Meanwhile, after leaving baby David in his bedroom with the nanny, rather than going to the master bedroom to rest, Candy felt like visiting her dear husband. Due to some urgent business issue, Albert had to take his leave with George right after the service today. Hence, he was supposedly in his study at the moment, working hard with his loyal assistant.

However, when nobody answered her knocking on the door to the study, she let herself in. To her dismay, not a soul was inside though the light was on. As always, her old diary, about her life back at St. Paul’s Academy in London, was kept in a conspicuous place. She could see it in one of the bookshelves with glass doors. Though she knew all along where her diary was stored, and the shelf was never locked, she hadn’t touched her diary since she had entrusted it to Albert after his marriage proposal to her on the hill. Upon her request, he had taken it back to Chicago that afternoon.

Candy then turned off the light and headed towards the master bedroom, only to find that it was also unoccupied. Feeling somewhat puzzled, she mused, what’s going on? Where’s Albert?

Suddenly, a pair of large hands covered her eyes. As a gasp escaped her lips, a familiar male voice whispered into her ear from behind, “I’ve got a surprise for you, Candy, but don’t open your eyes yet. Promise?”

While she laughed, nodding in agreement, the hands left her face. She kept her eyes shut, feeling satisfied and grateful. Her dear Prince on the Hill hadn’t changed much in this regard. He still enjoyed giving her surprises every now and then. During their two-week honeymoon, he had given her treats nearly every day, sometimes flowers and sometimes feeding her chocolates or chocolate-covered fruits in bed before or after making love to her. Every treat had been tagged with a note explaining why Little Bert couldn’t stop loving his darling wife.

All in all, Albert had been an amazing husband by consistently making Candy happy, treating her with utmost affection and devotion. He would always write her postcards and send her telegrams every few days during business trips. Talking about that, he was leaving for London in two days, and because of that, he wouldn’t return until July, about a fortnight after his birthday. Presently, she swallowed a sigh, her spirits dampened by the thought of being apart from her dear husband for this long. Then she heard his voice, “Now, you can open your eyes, sweetheart.”

Grinning, Albert held an emerald green, silk nightgown with shoulder straps in his hands. The waistless, loose-shaped design reminded Candy that she had grown much bigger after giving birth. Although her husband had consoled her at least a handful of times, reassuring that he loved her body regardless of its size, she still wished to slim down, hopefully not too far from her original size. At this moment, he noted her not so enthusiastic reaction, and he lowered the nightgown, asking in a concerned tone, “Candy, what’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

As she heaved a sigh, he took her hand and brought her to sit down by the edge of their king size four-poster bed. When he laid the new sleepwear on the bed, she began telling him that she still couldn’t forget her very first custom-made gown, the one with the exact same color she had worn for the grand opening of the luxurious resort in Miami. Thanks to Stacy the maid, the wine stains had completely disappeared, and Darren had helped to bring the restored gown back to them before their wedding, so Candy had thought of wearing it to accompany Albert to a social function. Regrettably, she had forgotten about it, and by the time she had happened to see it in the closet, she had been carrying a child inside her.

He intuited her feelings. Candy was going through a tough phase lately due to the mounting stress of motherly responsibilities and duties. The nightly feedings had particularly taken a toll on her, so she needed more rest than usual. Since Albert himself had been preoccupied with work or business functions, unable to come home for dinner every day, he often came back to find his wife already fast asleep. Owing to the complications near the end of her pregnancy, the bleeding after delivery and her constant exhaustion, they hadn’t been intimate for months now.

As a result, she might have been worried she was no longer sexually attractive to her husband. Oblivious to her, he had terribly missed her and her companionship, and that was why he had spent some time looking for a two-piece sleepwear set for her. Yet, this light-weight nightdress had caught his attention few days ago, so he had bought it and waited until tonight.

For the time being, he looked her in the eyes, wrapping his arms around her, and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Whenever possible, he would kiss her before bed, so she assumed he was going to bid her goodnight after this. When he broke away, she flashed him a faint smile, inwardly feeling bad for ruining the mood. He had bought her a present after all. As she was about to express her appreciation for his thoughtfulness, he leaned in again and pressed his lips on hers, giving her yet another tender kiss. Hence, she responded by circling her arms around his neck, but rather than kissing her, he caressed her lips with his, alternating between the top lip and the bottom one for several seconds. She liked his loving gesture, so she smiled against his lips, and yet he broke off unexpectedly, his fingertips stroking her ear, her hair, and her cheek along the jawline. By then, the blood had risen to her neck and face, and she looked very lovely to him, so he asked in a low voice, “Candy, are you tired?”

She shook her head, her smile widening. Despite the long eventful day, she wanted to spend more time with her husband, not feeling weary yet. Then he invited, “Want to dance with me?”

“You can’t be serious!” she remarked with a chuckle, still smiling nonetheless.

“Of course I’m serious,” he retorted, feigning to be offended, but within seconds his features broke into an alluring smile.

She saw through him and chuckled again, and yet he focused his amorous gaze on her, his finger pointing at the new nightgown. “Allow me to help you change, my love. I want you to wear nothing but this.”

She was flabbergasted, but only briefly. Her heart pounded at the fervor in his eyes, so she let him hoist her up to her feet. Unsure if he would find her current figure repulsive, she was enthused and anxious at the same time. When he stood behind her to slowly disrobe her, pausing occasionally to give her a massage on the shoulders, neck and arms, she urged herself to take it easy and let her instincts guide her. Before long, she felt a pleasurable electric current course through her veins, her pulse racing and her body quivering with yearning. It had been a long while since he had last wanted her.

When she let him continue unlacing her corset, she could hear his breathing getting more rapid and uneven. Finally, she had nothing but the very last layer on, and he loosened her knot bun such that her tresses fell in a wave, over her shoulders. For him, she had resisted the trend to bob her hair, fully aware how much he loved to thread his fingers through her turbulent blond curls. As he was doing exactly that, she whirled around to face him. He then scrutinized her, his blue eyes darkened with burning flames. She was flattered to be able to turn him on, and her hands, of their own volition, started to unbutton his shirt, impatiently sliding it over his shoulders but leaving his undershirt on, which could barely conceal his perfectly sculpted torso. He hadn’t yet changed, still dressed in a Highland kilt matching the one on baby David today, so when her fingers fumbled with the buckle of his belt, she heard his guttural voice, “Forget about the nightdress…” The moment his kilt fell, his groan of pleasure brought an echo from the depths of her soul, and when he snaked his arms around her next, their lips were instantly drawn together like two magnets. The more intense the kissing became, the more her body heated up, craving his touch. Likewise, his body ached with the fierce need to taste her skin, so he pulled her camisole over her head and let it drop to the pile on the floor, revealing her startlingly enticing bosom, which were much fuller now due to breastfeeding their firstborn.

As his eyes swept over her exposed body, she suddenly remembered her postpartum shape. Feeling self-conscious, her face was flushed pink, but he praised emphatically, “You’re still beautiful, Candy.”

Speechless and tremendously moved by his compliment, she got a lump in her throat. Swirling in those light blue pools were the flame of his desires for her, and her chest rose and fell in anticipation. Without delay, he scooped her up from under the arms and the crook of her knees, bringing her to bed with him as he had done countless times in the past, like she was never too heavy for him. They ended up dancing in bed, completely unclothed; having hungered for intimacy, their hands and lips were busy entertaining each other, leaving no space unexplored. He had missed being skin-to-skin with her and hearing her moans and groans, so he relished every part of her, including her shining eyes, her blond tresses, her juicy lips, her slender neck, her delicate collarbones, her opulent breasts and so on. Determined to gratify her, he lavished plenty of caresses and kisses upon her porcelain skin and feminine curves. She felt so loved and cherished, and she believed her husband beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was beautiful to him even now. When she let out an unadulterated scream some time later, he released inside her, and he was indescribably sated. Nothing could make him feel more heavenly than making love to his wife.

He collapsed on top of her afterwards with his full weight against her body, panting with ecstasy; they cuddled and kissed each other tenderly, basking in the afterglow. A while later, he lay on his back and flipped her over so that her face would be next to his heartbeat, her golden hair fanning over his bare chest. Then, while stroking her naked back, he related to her the London trip would be postponed because he and George would have to stay even longer than planned. When she grumbled against it, he brought her over him such that she lay on top of him, facing down. When she giggled, he craned his neck to capture her lips with his, but moments later she broke the kiss, asking, “How long are you going to stay?”

His hand rose to her neck, his thumb tracing her jaw. “At least three months.”

“Three months?” she echoed aloud, frowning in shock and pushing herself up, but he promptly drew her back down towards him and explained, “Hold it, my dear. I also plan to bring you and David along. We won’t depart until late November, and by then our baby boy should be strong enough to travel. The nanny can come with us, if that gives you peace of mind.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. Then he whispered, his thumb stroking her bottom lip now, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she replied with a sweet smile before leaning down to kiss him.

So in November, they embarked on a business venture. The four of them first stopped by the Pony’s Home. Miss Pony and Sister Lane hadn’t seen baby David since his christening in early June, and he had grown so big now, having resplendent blue eyes just like his father. Candy couldn’t wait to bring her baby to the wooden swing up on the hill. The nanny stood back to admire Master William’s handiwork and exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, Madam Candice! Did you faint?”

Because it was cold and windy up there, Albert bundled up baby David in thick clothes and a furry hat, settling him on his lap and holding him tight from behind. When the three were ready, the nanny pushed them from behind. At the sound of the baby’s laughter, everyone smiled, and Candy felt so blessed to have her own family at last. With her eyes closed, she snuggled her head against Albert’s shoulder, thinking, Prince on the Hill… His love for me has never wavered… with him, I can be myself. I don’t have to play the role that is expected of me. One day, I might even tell little David about how his father and I met each other… on this very spot.

The following day, at dawn’s first light, they took a carriage to go to the train station. They would join George and two other trustworthy partners at New York and cross the ocean, heading towards London. They explored the opportunities of expanding their business in Europe, and London would very likely be their base. Around Christmas, when Albert and Candy were enjoying their free time strolling David around, they came across a house with a neat garden near the Avon River. It was for sale, and they loved it so much that they bought it and hired a housekeeper. They would rent it out for now until they decided to move across the ocean in the future. Candy uttered with an air of determination, “Albert, wherever you go, I’ll follow you.”

Leaving London in the middle of February, the family of three arrived at Miami more than a week later to attend Patty’s wedding with Darren on the coming Sunday. Patty found it incredible that Candy hadn’t changed much in her shape, still svelte as ever. Patty was clueless that it had taken Candy all these months to trim down.

It was nice to see Stacy again. As per Candy’s recommendation to Patty, Stacy had found a permanent job by being Patty’s personal maid from now on. They wished Annie could be here, but Annie had just delivered a baby girl. Yet, she insisted Archie to go on her behalf. Archie had mixed feelings, remembering Stear, but he kept his mouth shut about that. Deep down he was genuinely happy for Patty to find a special someone in life.

On Sunday, Patty was a gorgeous-looking bride without her glasses, and she told Candy and Albert during the wedding reception, “Darren said I just need to put my hand around his elbow and never leave his side.” When Darren winked in response, Albert laughed, a hearty laugh, knowing how they had met each other in the university.

Neil and his parents, Raymond and Sarah Leagan, were among the guests too, but according to them, Eliza stayed home due to feeling unwell. As a matter of fact, she had cut all ties with the McPherson’s family ever since she had discovered Patty had moved to Miami. Candy realized that she was no longer affected by Eliza or Neil. Plenty of tears had been shed during those days, when Candy used to live under the same roof with them. Yet, all those tears had turned into glitteringly beautiful memories to her now. After all, their abuse had essentially led Candy to Albert the vagabond.

Neil could finally talk to Candy and Albert at ease; he introduced his girlfriend to them with pride. She was a very charming lady with short, straight red hair, dressed in the latest fashion. As they were chatting amiably with one another, Neil invited the couple to dine at the award-winning restaurant in their most luxurious resort. “If you like, I can arrange you both to stay for a night in the president suite, my treat, unlimited champagne included.” He was apparently in a great mood. His main reason was that he couldn’t make it to their wedding nearly two years ago. They could consider this as his belated wedding gift or anniversary gift to them.

Since that particular resort carried so much meaning to them both, Albert gleefully accepted Neil’s generous present, leaving David to the nanny for the night before going back to Chicago. Candy was glad that she had brought her exquisite gown in emerald green to London, the one Albert had it custom made by a fashion designer specifically for the grand opening party of this resort in Miami. Tonight, she donned herself in this very gown, and Albert was dressed up too. The couple had a wonderful time, enjoying their time together, dancing for almost an hour. After dinner, they went for a leisure walk in the vast courtyard, passing by the wishing fountain and taking a rest near the tropical garden. Neither of them could forget that unexpected embrace they had shared here, and since that loving hug, their relationship had changed for the better. It was only after their engagement had been officially announced that Candy could confess to Albert the secrets behind her outburst that night. If Albert hadn’t abruptly walked away from me then, and if I hadn’t listened to my heart fast enough then… Overwhelmed with emotions, she pushed the thoughts away; tears clouded her vision as she took in the sight of her affectionate husband, and she said a quick prayer, thanking God for bringing him to her.

Before long, they returned to the president suite and spent a romantic night, savoring champagne in the hot tub, followed by continuous love making. It was like their second honeymoon, when they couldn’t have enough of each other. Finally, in the small hours the next morning, they gave in to their exhaustion and lay in each other’s arms, their naked bodies coated with sweat. They felt fatigued but exhilarated from a night of obsessive passion.

Later in Chicago, when they hustled and bustled to organize little David’s first birthday party in April, Candy confirmed her suspicion. She was indeed pregnant with her second. While Madam Elroy could hardly contain her thrill, Candy secretly confided in Albert that although she loved and adored babies, she dreaded going through another pregnancy. Her first pregnancy experience hadn’t been smooth after all. Her husband understood her worries and thanked her wholeheartedly for carrying babies for him. He questioned, planting soft kisses on her lips and holding her tighter in his arms, “What can I do for you, Candy? You know I love you no matter what.”

“Can you promise me, for one year, not to go on any business trip longer than a week? I love waking up next to you in the mornings.”

He was immensely touched to hear her simple request. As she had told him time and time again, his mere presence was enough to give her a marvelous sense of security. Thus, he promised, “I will try my best, my sweet Candy.”

He had kept his promise to her, and when she gave birth to another beautiful child, they named her Priscilla Rosemary Ardlay. According to Aunt Elroy, the baby girl had breathtaking ocean blue eyes just like Priscilla, Albert’s late mother.

Cradling the baby girl in her arms, Candy practically had a smile glued on her face, her heart filled with joy and thanksgiving. When David climbed to their bed, Albert sat down beside Candy and said to her with a glint of moisture in his eyes, “I’m truly the happiest man on earth, Candy. I feel so complete with you and our two children. I don’t know what else I can do to express my love and gratitude to you, my dear wife.”

Gazing deep into her eyes, he sighed before affectionately pressing his lips to hers. “I really can’t stop loving you, Mrs. Candice White Ardlay. You hold me spellbound,” he mumbled against her lips. Without a word, she simply kissed him back, pouring her love from the bottom of her heart and soul to her devoted husband.

Because You Loved Me

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I’ll be forever thankful baby
You’re the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You’re the one who saw me through through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn’t speak
You were my eyes when I couldn’t see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach
You gave me faith ‘coz you believed
I’m everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I’m grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don’t know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn’t speak
You were my eyes when I couldn’t see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach
You gave me faith ‘coz you believed
I’m everything I am
Because you loved me

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You’ve been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn’t speak
You were my eyes when I couldn’t see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach
You gave me faith ‘coz you believed
I’m everything I am
Because you loved me [4]

THE END

Peculiar Relationship

Footnote:

[1] Alexandrite, named for Tsar Alexander II of Russia, is an exceedingly rare gemstone, found in 1830 in Russia’s Ural Mountains. It is a fascinating gemstone because it changes color depending on the nature of the ambient lighting. For example, some alexandrite gemstones are green in daylight but turn red when indoors under incandescent lights. Other alexandrite stones change from a beautiful teal to an alluring magenta. Hence, the alexandrite stones have remained the world’s most coveted stones, and they can also be found in Brazil, East Africa and Sri Lanka.

[2] Two Scottish kings were named David, David I, reigning 1124–53, and David II, 1329–71.

[3] Easter in 1920 was April 4.

[4] “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion, published in 1996.

Note: Thank you all for reading! My heartfelt appreciation goes to the following people for their valuable feedback and encouraging reviews to my previous chapter: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Reeka, Mariacristina Marchetti, Candy Bert, Paola Ruscio, Memchew, Antlay, Ruth, Vera García, Luna, Evelyn, Tiny12

I hope you have enjoyed my short story, and this epilogue is meant to give you glimpses of Candy’s life as a wife and a mother. For the entire story, I have tried my best to stay faithful to Candy Candy Final Story (CCFS), but of course, I did use my imagination here and there. ❤ ❤