Back to the Dream Page
Chapter 3
After that horrible first concert for Candace, the others that followed it in the next two months are a breeze. The fans are a great deal nicer and calmer than the ones in Seattle and some are even extremely friendly to Candace when they see her walking around the city, even knowing she is Justin's girlfriend. She is thankful for that one blessing. Another reason why the tour is going so smoothly for her is that she and Justin started dating that same night of the incident and have been inseparable since. The only problem that she is dealing with is finding out the truth of why she and Cammy look so identical for not having the same parents. She could tell that Cammy found out something but she refused to tell her what it was. Hopefully, she would find out the night they went to Cammy's hometown, San Diego, the next day.
"Candace baby, what are you doing out here?" Justin asks, joining his girlfriend out on the balcony to the suite he is sharing with her, JC, Cammy, Beth, and Joey. As he wraps his arms around her, he can feel her lean back into him and loosen up. He begins nuzzling her bare neck until she starts speaking.
"I was just thinking about how lucky I am that I have you, that things have improved on tour, and about how I wish I knew the truth over my relation to Cammy."
Justin stops momentarily, having a guilty conscience over the fact that he knew that answer but promised the other guys he wouldn't tell her when they agreed it wasn't right for her not to be told by her own parents. "Don't worry sweetheart, you'll learn the truth soon, I promise."
"I hope you're right Justin."
"I know I am," he answers, turning her around and hugging her tight. Silently, he makes a wish that he is right and that she would take it well on the single bright star he sees in the night sky.
"Candace! Phone for you!" Beth yells, interrupting the moment.
Candace takes Justin's hand and walks into the main living room. "Thanks Beth. Who is it?"
"I think your parents."
"Great..." she mumbles before picking up the phone. "Hello?"
"Candace?" asks a voice.
"Hi Mom. What's up?"
"We just wanted to talk to you."
"Now that doesn't sound good. Hang on, I'm going to bring this into my room," Candace says, placing the phone back on the receiver after pushing hold. "I better talk to them in my room. I'll be back soon though Justin."
"All right sweetie," Justin replies, giving her a kiss before watching her go into her room and close the door.
Candace walks over to her bed and picks up the phone. "Hello?"
"We're here baby doll," her dad answers.
"Okay, both of you are on the line. What's wrong?"
"You asked us a question a few weeks ago, about if we knew how this girl, Cammy, could look so much like you. We never answered you."
"That's right. Do you have an answer now?"
"We've always had an answer. Baby, I wish we could do this in person, but we can't. You are not our daughter."
"WHAT?"
"Candace, what your father means is that you are not our biological daughter. He and I were never able to have children of our own so we adopted an adorable little girl. That little girl has grown up into a beautiful woman, you," her mother replies.
"That's not possible. You are the only parents I know!"
"We are the only ones you know but we were not the first to set our eyes on you. Your parents live somewhere in San Diego I believe, possibly the same parents of this friend of yours. Maybe you should ask them."
"How do you expect me to ask perfect strangers if I'm their daughter? I can't believe you two never told me this!"
"We didn't know how. Honey, that doesn't change anything."
"Yeah right!"
"Candace, your mother is right. We are still your parents. We are still the same people you have grown up with. Our love for you hasn't changed. You just have the knowledge of the truth of your origins. Maybe you can even find out who your biological parents are. No matter what though, your mother and I will always be here for you and love you unconditionally. Are you going to be okay?" her dad asks.
Candace could feel tears build up in her throat but chokes them down to say, "Yes, I am fine. I better go though Daddy. I love you both. Don't worry about me, I'll be perfectly fine."
"Okay dear. Take care of yourself now. We love you."
"I love you both too. Night," Candace says before hanging up the phone. 'How could I be adopted?' she wonders before losing control of her tears and letting them freely flow. Not caring anymore about anything, she collapses into the pile of pillows on her bed and cries her heart out.
About an hour later, Justin gets a little too worried over the fact that Candace hasn't come out. 'What could be keeping her?' He decides to check up on her and knocks on her door. Not hearing anything, he slowly opens the door and peeks in to see Candace curled up into a little ball. "Candace!" No movement. He quickly goes over to the bed and puts a hand on her shoulder, which is when he realizes that she is silently crying. After kicking off his shoes, he crawls onto her bed, where she is lying in the center of it, and pulls her to him. She instantly rolls over and buries her head into his neck, where he could feel cascades of tears falling from her eyes. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" he asks, stroking her hair. After nothing but silence, he adds, "It can't be that bad. Please, tell me what's wrong."
"I... Can't... Hard... Breath..."
"Okay, take a deep breath and try. I need to know what is wrong before I can help."
"No one... Can't help."
"Candace, I want to try. Please, you're worrying me here. You know I love you. Please, for me."
Candace nods her head and takes a deep breath in, trying to gain some composure. "I'm adopted."
Those two words tear Justin's heart so quickly that he feels he is losing breath. "They told you that you were adopted?"
"Yes. Cammy could be my sister. I have to ask her parents. Maybe that's what she hasn't been telling me."
Justin stays silent, knowing if he said anything it could become incriminating later. "It will all be okay. Nothing has changed though Candace. Your parents are still your parents. They are the ones that raised you into the wonderful woman I know today, who is in my arms right now. Please, don't think the world has ended because it really hasn't."
"I don't know about that."
"Trust me. Come on, you need to get some sleep," Justin says, starting to pull away so he could tuck her in.
"Okay. Thank you Justin," Candace whispers before receiving Justin's good night kiss.
"You're welcome. I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Justin exits her room and closes the door, only to be greeted with Cammy, the last person he cared to see at the moment.
"Justin, why is your shirt wet?" she asks.
He looks down in surprise and answers, "Candace's parents told her tonight she was adopted. Cammy, you have to tell her the truth now."
"I thought you said not to."
"That was before she found out. She needs to know the total truth now, otherwise she may remain like this for a while."
"Well, I was going to bring her with me to have dinner with my parents on the free day we have after you guys perform tomorrow night in San Diego. Is that satisfactory?"
"As long as she is told, it is. I better get some sleep. She'll need me tomorrow morning."
"I'm glad she has you Justin. Don't worry, I'll break it to her gently."
"You better Cammy. Good night," he says, going into his room and lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling for an hour before falling asleep.