One Wild Night



Alone in her bedroom after Jamal left to Aaron in the living room, Candace dressed up in some of the new outfits her and Jade had bought the other day.

A frown etched her brow as she worried about Andy. She had dreamt about Andy. In her dream Andy was being forced to marry Cassidy against her will and she had been weeping profusely.

Was that what was going on with Andy? Was that why Cassidy abducted her? To marry her? It did not make sense.

She wished there was a way she could reach out to her and find out for certain if she was fine.

"Where is Jamal?" Candace asked as she walked into the living room after she was dressed.

"He is in my bedroom practicing his spellings," Aaron said as he looked up from the television to Candace and then grinned.

"You look good," he said, and Candace smiled.

"Thanks. I should check on him before I leave," Candace said, wanting to leave but Aaron stopped her.

"I see you are still avoiding me," Aaron observed.

"Avoiding you? Why will I do that?" Candace asked innocently even though they both knew she had been doing her best to not be alone with him since Matt's visit.

"Since Jamal is not here to save you right now, why don't we talk?" Aaron offered, and Candace raised a brow, pretending not to know what he was saying.

"About what?"

"About the handsome visitor who visited yesterday," Aaron said, and she rolled her eyes.

"Matt? What about him?" She asked innocently.

"Nothing. He seems like a decent guy," Aaron said simply.

"So, you said yesterday. Why are you repeating yourself?" Candace asked, and Aaron grinned.

"He cares about you. He's really into you. And judging by your attitude yesterday, I think you are into him too," Aaron said, and she raised a brow.

"What attitude?"

"Do you really want me to spell it out? All I want to know is why you don't want to give him a chance," Aaron asked, and Candace glanced at her wristwatch before sitting down.

The time was past ten. Jade had asked her to come over to the house before noon, and to dress in her corporate clothes because they were going for a meeting together. She planned to meet up with Matt after her business with Jade.

Thinking about Matt, he had sent her a text early that morning, reminding her of their meeting, and a short while later had sent her an address.

Candace sighed as she looked at Aaron, reminding herself that he was her father and wasn't just trying to be nosy. He was just being her father and looking out for her, the way Desmond had done for Jade.

She remembered the conversation she had overheard between Desmond and Jade some time ago outside Jade's bedroom.

Even though she still wasn't used to all of this yet, she shrugged, "I need to figure out my life and put certain things in order. A relationship isn't priority for now," Candace said honestly, and Aaron smiled.

"So, it's not because you don't like him then? You just need time?" Aaron asked, and Candace nodded.

"Yeah. I need to sort out my life. A lot has happened in a short time and I still feel overwhelmed by it all."

"I think that's a valid reason," Aaron said, surprising Candace who had expected him to argue that she could do both simultaneously.

"So you support my decision?" She asked suspiciously, and Aaron smiled.

"I don't see why not? You are an adult. You raised Jamal all by yourself. I trust you to know what is good for you and what you need at this time of your life. I only wanted to be certain you were not denying your feelings for him," Aaron said, and Candace sighed.

"Was I that obvious?" Candace asked, and Aaron chuckled.

"You never even looked at his face the whole time. And don't get me started on your appearance when you walked in. Your eyes were sparkling and your lips looked red and swollen. Your hair looked liked someone's fingers had ran through them…"

"Alright. That's enough," Candace cut in feeling embarrassed and Aaron chuckled.

"Well, I hope you can explain that to him and you both are able to work something out. It would be a shame to waste all that passion," Aaron said as Candace rose.

"I need to leave now. I will check in on Jamal quickly," Candace said as she walked away, leaving Aaron who was still grinning.

A short while later, Candace was seated in one of Harry's cars. Harry had insisted that she not take a cab anymore and use one of his cars instead since she knew how to drive.

It all felt different. She felt like a different person seated behind the wheels of such an expensive car and dressed in such expensive and fashionable corporate clothes.

She smiled at her reflection in the mirror surprised by how happy she looked. She wondered what Andy would think if she were to see her this way.

Once she arrived at Tom's house, she headed for the Den where she could hear the voice of the elders to say hello to them.

Evelyn was the first to see her, "Hello, Candace! I was just telling Janet that I miss Jamal. Did you bring him along with you?" Evelyn asked hopefully.

"No, I didn't. Aaron insisted he was doing well and wanted the nurse to leave. So, Jamal is keeping him company," Candace said apologetically.

"How are you doing? You look exceptionally beautiful today," Janet said with a pleasant smile.

"You look really smashing in that outfit," Andrew said, and Desmond nodded in agreement.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Desmond said and Candace flashed them all a smile.

"Thank you. I'm here to see Jade. I stopped by to say hello to you before going upstairs," Candace said, and even though Janet looked like she still had something to say, she nodded.

"Why don't I walk you upstairs? It's been a long while since I walked beside a beautiful young lady," Desmond said as he rose earning him a playful glare from Evelyn, while Candace took the arm he offered.

"I've been meaning to have a moment with you for some time now," Desmond said as they approached the stairs.

Although he had forgotten about his desire to speak with her until himself and Evelyn were speaking with Jade last night and her name come up in their discussion.

"Really? What for?" Candace asked, genuinely surprised.

"Nothing much. I just like to catch up with all my girls from time to time," Desmond said, and Candace turned to him with an amused smile.

"I'm one of your girls?" She asked, and Desmond scowled as he stopped walking.

"You don't think you are?" He asked, and she laughed softly.

"I don't know. I'm only hearing it for the first time. Who are the others?" Candace asked curiously.

"Jade, Lucy, and Sonia," he said easily and Candace grinned, despite herself. She didn't know why she felt amused and relaxed chatting with him.

He was like another version of Aaron. She thought without the trauma Aaron had experienced, he would have been just like Desmond.

"I see," Candace murmured.

"So now that you know, how about you tell me how you have been?" Desmond asked, and Candace shrugged.

"I'm fine, as you can see," Candace said, and Desmond smiled.

"And how are you enjoying your family? Do you feel at home? Or do you feel like an outsider watching from the inside?" Desmond asked, and Candace's brows pulled together.

"I do feel at home," she said, wondering why he was asking her such a question.

"That's good," Desmond said with a nod and they resumed walking once again.

Even though he wanted her to open up to him, he knew it was too soon. She was nothing like Sonia and Lucy. Sonia and Lucy were his boys girlfriends so talking to them had been much like talking to Jade.

Someone like Candace would find it odd that he was interested in talking with her. He could only engage her little at a time, and not push. He first needed to be friends with her and make her comfortable with the idea of chatting with him.

"Hey, Candace!" Sonia who just walked out of her bedroom, greeted cheerfully when she sighted them.

"I guess this is where we part ways," Desmond said with a cheerful smile as he let go of Candace's arm.

"Have fun, ladies," Desmond said as he stopped to kiss Sonia's cheeks before going into his bedroom, while Candace watched him with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.

"Are you very close to him?" Candace asked Sonia in a quiet voice.

"Desmond? I would say he is close to everyone. Why?" Sonia asked, and Candace shrugged.

"I don't know. He was asking me funny questions and said something about you and Lucy being his girls," Candace said, and Sonia laughed softly.

"He was probably just trying to find out if you needed to talk. If you ever need someone to talk to, you should talk to him. He's a great listener," Sonia said before taking a second look at Candace.

"I see. I will keep that in mind," Candace said as she eyed Sonia who was busy assessing her.

"What?" Candace asked, feeling uncomfortable by Sonia's silence.

"Wow! You look gorgeous," Sonia said, and Candace relaxed.

"Thanks. You all don't hold back your compliments, do you?" She asked with a small smile, and Sonia shook her head.

"Never," Sonia said and then tapped her forefinger on her lips.

"Is there a way I can convince you to tell me about your movement with Matt yesterday?" Sonia asked, and Candace shook her head.

"Nope. Not your business. I'm late for my appointment," Candace said, and without waiting to hear Sonia's protest, she hurried down the hallway to Jade's bedroom.

"That's not fair! My baby wants to know," Sonia called back making Candace giggle.

"I've been pregnant too, remember? I doubt your baby has a nose yet for nosiness. Your baby doesn't care about my personal business," Candace called back as she stopped in front of Jade's door.

Jade opened the door before Candace could knock, "I thought I heard your voice," Jade said as she returned to her bed, while Candace eyed her disheveled appearance.

"Why are you not ready yet? I thought you said we were going somewhere?" Candace asked as she sat on the padded stool by the dressing table.

"I've been busy. And we still have some time. I don't suppose Harry mentioned that I was attacked yesterday?" Jade asked, and Candace stiffened.

"Who attacked you? Is it the cartel?" She asked, her eyes wide with alarm as she rose.

"No. God, no. Not them. It was Rebekah Miller. She sent someone after me," Jade explained and rushed to give Candace the details.

"That's crazy," Candace with a frown.

"Yeah. So I've been busy all morning thinking of every possible way to fuck her up. We are having lunch with her daughter. Harry insisted I take you along with me," Jade said, and Candace raised a brow.

"I guess it's better to lose the girlfriend and annoying twin than to lose just the girlfriend?" She asked, and Jade looked at her for a moment before laughing out loud.

"Heaven knows I don't understand your sense of humor. I'm going to pop into the shower and get ready. You can read up all I jotted down. That should give you some idea about what we might be discussing during lunch," Jade said before taking off her pajamas and walking into the bathroom.

By the time Jade was done getting ready, it was almost 1 p.m. and Candace had finished reading through the notes on the journal.

"You're not going to tell her about their different paternities, are you?" Candace asked with a frown as she eyed the journal.

"If I have to…."

"I don't think you should do that. It's not your place to tell her the man she grew up loving as her father wasn't really her father," Candace said, not wanting to imagine how devastated Lisa would be to find out he wasn't her biological father.

As far as Candace was concerned, it didn't matter whether or not he was their biological father. It was obvious he had loved them all in spite of knowing they weren't his children. Biology didn't matter. Sara had taught her that much.

"If you were in her shoes wouldn't you want to know?" Jade asked, and Candace shook her head.

"As far as he loved me and treated me right, I wouldn't want to ever know. The knowledge would hurt me and I would always feel sorry," Candace said, and Jade sighed.

"Alright. I won't mention that. Let's go," Jade said as she headed for the door and Candace followed her.

"I will be driving behind you," Candace informed her, and Jade turned to look at her with a grin.

"I see you are driving now. I will join you in your car then. No need to take separate cars…"

"How will you get back? I have an appointment with a friend…"

"You don't have to worry about that. I will take a cab," Jade assured her.

As they descended the stairs, the front door opened and Tom walked in with Lucy.

"Tommy!" Jade called excitedly as she went to embrace him, "You look tired," she said with a concerned frown.

"I am tired," Tom said as he glanced at Candace who was smiling at something Lucy was saying.

"He asked if you were breaking up with Tom," Candace said, and Lucy giggled.

"Who asked that?" Tom asked with a frown.

"Who else but Jamal? I'm going on a date with him this weekend," Lucy explained, and Tom shook his head.

"Well, tell him to get ready to go out with me after his date with Lucy. Seeing how gorgeous you both look, I guess you're going out?" Tom asked, and they both nodded.

"We have a lunch date with Anita's sister. Lisa Steel," Jade said, and Tom raised a brow.

"Did she call for the meeting or you did?"

"She did. She wants to discuss something about her father's death. By the way I found out the sisters don't share the same paternity," Jade said, and Tom exchanged a look with Lucy.

"Are the sisters aware?" Lucy asked, and Jade shook her head.

"I don't think they are aware. Candace is of the opinion I don't tell Lisa about it," Jade said, and Lucy nodded in agreement.

"It's not your place to tell them that," Lucy said, and Candace smiled at her.

"How did you find out about their paternity?" Tom asked and Jade shook her head as she glanced at her wristwatch.

"You're not traveling anytime soon, are you? Why don't I tell you all about it when I get back? I don't want to be late," Jade said, and Tom nodded as he watched Jade and Candace head for the door.

Lucy sighed, "I guess this is why you shouldn't throw stones when you live in a glass house. Rebekah's secrets would have remained a secret if she didn't interfere with us."

"Or maybe not. We have nothing to do with all that is going on with them right now. We haven't even done anything yet. I guess it's just time for Karma to catch up with her," Tom countered.