A Candy Candy Miracle on 34th Street
Chapter 4
" The date"
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true oh
All I want for Christmas is you
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
Don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
Ohh, Baby ...
Candy was making dinner in the kitchen and Mr. Kringle was with Cia in the living room talking. There was ring at the door. Cia went to open the door and it was Terry.
- Good evening Terry! She said with a smile, please come in, would you want to have dinner with us?
- Thanks for the invitation, said Terry, yes I will…
- Great! Mom is in the kitchen
- Thanks he said
He saw Mr. Kringle
- Mr. Kringle is going to have dinner with us tonight, mommy is going to make her special tropical fruit dishes, Grampy Albert got her the fruits she needed…
- Mr. Kringle, said Terry, as in "Kris Kringle" as in "Santa Claus"
- Yes, said Mr. Kringle, hello again
- Hello Mr. Kringle, I'm Terrence Grandchester…
- Please to meet you too, he said with a smile
- What are you doing here?
- Aside from having dinner, I'm looking for a place to stay, so I won't have to do the long trip with the subway every morning and every night…
- Oh, said Terry, why don't you stay with me?
- With you?
- Yes, I live across the hall, so you're not far from the store and you can live with Candy in the morning and come back with her after work
- That's very generous of you… thank you, I accept.
- Great!
The phone rang and Candy answered…
- Yes, said Candy, one minute
Candy went to the living room to tell Mr. Kringle to take the phone. She was surprised to see Terry.
- Mr. Kringle,our floor manager wants to talk to you
- Oh , thank you he said picking up the phone in the living room, yes thank you but I already found a place right her with Mr. Grandchester…
Candy looked at Terry with big eyes.
- "With Mr. Grandchester"? She whispered
- Hey you know me, I have a soft spot for nice little old man
- What about Susanna…?
- Susanna is history, she left me
- What? Since when?
- Since Thanksgiving night…
- Why?
- She just had enough of my incapability to love her…
- Oh…
- I was unable to love her and believe me, I tried, but it didn't work…The heart is the only muscle we can't control apparently in the real sense and in the figurative sense…
- I'm sorry…
- Cia invited me for dinner…
- She did, of course she did! She's very fond of you…
- And I'm very fond of her…
Mr. Kringle hung up the phone and Candy went to the kitchen to finish the diner. Terry followed her to help…
- Candy, you don't know how happy I am to be able to see you again
- Terry, what we had is in the past, we can't go back
- I don't want to go back, I want to go forward…
- I don't have time for this, said Candy, please let's just finish dinner and put it on the table
Terry looked at her he didn't want to rush her of make her run…He was going to take things slowly.
- I can't wait to eat your cooking!
- I never got a chance to cook for you or even make you breakfast…
They looked at each other again, then Candy took a plate of food and she went to put it on the dining room table… Terry brought the rest and dinner was served. They had dinner in the joy and laughter.
- So Miss Andrew, you don't believe in me either
- No, I don't I'm the one who hired you remember?
- Yes, I remember…I'm going to it my mission to make you and your daughter believe in me…
- Deal, said Candy smiling
Terry was looking at her, she looked so lovely. Mr. Kringle was looking at him…Candy felt very good, with Terry there and with Mr. Kringle from the minute she met him she felt all warm and fuzzy inside. Terry and Mr. Kringle were about to leave.
- Good night Cia, said Kris
- Good night Mr. Kringle, good night Terry
- Good Cia, Candy
- Bye, said Candy smiling
The two men left the apartment. Candy was doing the dishes with Cia.
- You know what mom? Maybe Mr. Kringle is Santa Claus…
- Cia, please you're not going to believe that!
- I saw him talking an African language and sing to this little African girl who didn't know a word of English
- Really?
- Yes, he made the mother so happy that she hugged him…
- That doesn't mean anything…
- He knows a language nobody ever heard about…
- You can speak the local language of the island, I be you nobody had ever heard about it here…
- So it's possible he's been in Africa…?
- Yes…
- But he sang so well with that little girl, he's got to be the real Santa and his name…
- What about his name?
- Kris Kringle… that's Santa Claus' real name…why would he have Santa Claus' name if he's not Santa?
- Cia, it's time for you to go to bed. Mr. Kringle is not Santa Claus period. He's just a nice old man with whiskers…
- Ok mommy, but did you believe in Santa when you were little?
- I did, until I found out that it wasn't true, that life was full of heartaches…
- Can I believe in Santa mommy?
- I told you Santa is a myth, but I might be mistaking…here's what you're going to do; why don't you ask Mr. Kringle for something you would never ask me. If you get it, you can believe in him, ok?
- Ok, mommy. Good night, I love you mommy
- I love you too.
She said her prayers with her mommy and she went to bed. Candy was in her bedroom thinking about the events of the day. Terry… having Terry close by felt so good. He wasn't with Susanna anymore… but…she didn't come back to America to rekindle her relationship with Terry…she was going to go back to her island… but she couldn't stop thinking about Terry.
In Terry's apartment, Mr. Kringle was getting ready for bed. Terry had loan him some pyjamas until his stuff arrives from Bellevue.
- You like Miss Andrew, don't you?
- I've loved her all my life
- Have you told her?
- She just came back to town after years and up until yesterday, I was involve with another woman…
- So your Christmas present from me would be for you to be able to be with the woman you love
Terry looked at him and he smile.
- Yes, Santa, that would be my Christmas wish...
- I'll see what I can do…, said Mr. Kringle
- Thank you Santa, said Terry smiling
- Anytime...
They continued talking for a while.
- I have a question for you, said Terry, I've been dying to know something, does Santa Claus sleep with his beard in or out?
- Out, said Mr. Kringle, in makes me sweat
- Oh, that's good to know
But when he was in the dark, he was trying in and out for a little while…
Santa Claus and his goodwill idea became very popular. Other big department stores did the same thing to be on the same level as Macy's much to Neil disarray. He had his little investigation and he found out that the previous Santa who was fired by Candy, was rather bitter and drinking in a bar. Neil approached him and they had a long talk.
Terry was looking for a way to get closer to Candy . She was avoiding him. He called her at the store…
- Hello?
- Freckles?
- Terry…
- I'm going to go straight to the point. Would you go out with me tonight?
- Tonight? Don't you have to be at the theatre?
- No, or I wouldn't be asking you out…
- Terry, I'm very busy…Cia…
- If I found someone trustworthy to look after her, would that be alright?
- But…
- Come on Candy, I'll take care of Cia's babysitter…
- All right then, if you find someone trustworthy, I'll go out with you tonight
- Great! Said Terry happy, I'll pick you up at 7 pm
- See you later Terry.
- Bye Freckles
She hung up the phone. Going out with Terry. Why was she so afraid of getting close to him. She didn't want to get hurt again.
"Terry, I love you so much, I never stopped loving you…but…the last time I saw him…"
She didn't want to talk about that. She finished her work and she went home with Mr. Kringle. She found Terry home with Cia.
- Good evening mommy! Mr. Kringle
- Good evening baby, Terry…
- Hello Freckles, Kris…
- Hello Cia, Terry…
- What's going on? Asked Candy
- You're going on a date with Terry, said Terry
- Oh?
- And Mr. Kringle is babysitting me…
Candy looked at Terry.
- I told you I'll find the perfect babysitter! Said Terry
- You won, she said smiling…
- Don't take off your coat, said Cia, you go now!
- All right, said Candy, bye baby, bye Mr. Kringle
- Bye mommy, bye Terry
- Bye, said Terry
He went out with Candy. They had a nice dinner in a French restaurant where Terry was known.
- Good evening Pierre, said Terry
- Bonsoir, Monsieur Grandchester. Table for 2 tonight?
- Yes, said Terry smiling
- Très bien… follow me.
They followed them after taking their coats off and giving them to a server. They had the best table of the room with a nice view outside. Terry was smiling, but he was a little nervous.
- So Candy, tell me about that island you used to live on…
- It's in the Pacific, the sun always shines, the sea water is blue and life is beautiful…
- Cia told me you were married…
Candy looked down…
- Very briefly… after I had Cia he just took off. It didn't work out
- Why would a man abandon his wife and child?
- I have no idea, you're a man
- I would never do that…
- You're the dutiful man, duty, honour…
- Candy…
- And now she decides that it wasn't worth it? Why didn't she thought about that , that night at the hospital? I'm sorry I shouldn't have talked about that…
They brought them their dinner which was delicious and they started eating.
Meanwhile Mr. Kringle was putting Cia to bed. They were still talking about Christmas…
- There must be something you want for Christmas, come on you can tell me…
- Well…
- I promise, I won't tell
- Alright, said Cia getting out of bed to go get something in her drawer.
She got a box she opened it and she took out a piece of folded paper and she gave it to Mr. Kringle. He opened it and it was a picture of a house, with a nice garden with a slide a swing…
- That's what I want for Christmas; a house with a garden, a father and a baby brother or sister…
- Oh…
- If you're really Santa Claus, you can give me a house, a father and a little brother or sister…
- Well you know that I can't get you a baby for Christmas
- I know it takes 9 months for a baby to come, or less, or more, but that's rare
- But if you don't get everything you want for Christmas, it doesn't mean there is no Santa Claus…
- If Santa Claus can bring present to millions of children all over the world in one night, he can bring me a house, a father, and a baby brother or sister… if you do that, you're really Santa Claus, if you don't you're just a nice old man with whiskers like my mommy said…but don't worry I'm not hoping I'll get it…
- Can I keep this? He asked
- Yes, she said
- All right. I'll see what I can do. Now, you want me to tell you a fairy tale?
- I don't know any fairy tales, my mommy thinks they're silly…
- Let me tell you one anyway all right?
- All right…
Mr. Kringle told her the story of Cinderella and Cia loved it!
At the restaurant...Candy and Terry were still talking about the painful past.
Terry looked at her; she was still very hurt by those events, all those years ago…
- Candy, this is a new opportunity that's been given to us…we can start over with your daughter. I can adopt her, she would be mine too, she likes me and I like her…
- Terry… she said hurt
- We wasted… well, I wasted my time with my duty and obligation to a woman I didn't love…let's not waste more time…Let's be together…
- Terry… no… it's too late.
- Did you fall out of love with me?
- Terry, I…it's been so long, so many things happened… I'm just not feeling anything right now… I don't love you , she lied
Terry felt like they stuck a knife in his heart. That was brutal!
- Oh… all right then, I'm sorry if I bothered you… let's forget about it then...
The dinner atmosphere was ruined. They barely ate their meal. Terry was heartbroken, she didn't want him anymore? He couldn't believe he had been so wrong! He drove her quietly back to their building. He was in front walking fast and he opened the door of his apartment. She was walking slowly, sadly… he turned to her.
- I don't believe you! He finally said
- What?
- I don't believe that you don't love me anymore!
- Terry I…
- You were looking down, avoiding my eyes….look me in the eyes now and tell me you don't love me!
- Why do you have to make things so difficult? I told you I wasn't feeling anything anymore!!!
- You're lying! Look at me straight in the eyes and tell me you don't love me
- You want me to say it to your face? All right! I don't love you Terry, I never did!!! She said looking at him
- You're lying! He said
He was so upset he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. Candy was fighting to free herself and she finally gave in, that kiss was burning her whole body. She responded with the same passion and since Terry's apartment door was open, they got in, still kissing. All that refrain passion, the sexual tension since they had seen each other again. They couldn't resist even if they had tried! They ended up on the couch, the passion was too strong, so was their attraction to one another… They ended up making mad passionate love…a few times.
- You still don't love me? Said Terry
- Oh my God! Said Candy getting up to get dressed, what have I done?
- We just made love…several times
- I… that wasn't my intention! How could you trick me like that again?!
- Again?
- I told you I didn't want a relationship! You had to force my hand!
- I didn't force you…
- You kissed me! And you made my head spin and I wasn't thinking!
- I didn't know I had that kind of power on you
- Don't you ever touch me again! She said finishing dressing up.
She arranged her hair and she went to her apartment. Mr. Kringle was dozing off on the armchair in the living room. He woke up when he heard Candy coming in.
- Miss Andrew, how was your evening?
- Fine, said Candy, thank you for looking after Cia…
- You're very welcome! Good night Miss Andrew
- Good night, Mr. Kringle, see you tomorrow…
Mr. Kringle left and went to Terry's apartment which was still open. Terry had his pyjamas on.
- How was your evening? He asked Terry
- Not quite like I expected it to be, said Terry
Making love to Candy was not a total failure…
- She's very stubborn…she doesn't believe in me, and she transmitted that to her daughter too…
- I know… she used to be so happy… I want that Candy back
- And you're going to get her back, I promise you…
- Thanks Kris….
Kris went to bed and Terry too. One thing was puzzling him; what did Candy meant by; how could he trick her again????
"Did I miss something????" he asked himself
I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake
To hear those magic reindeer click
'Cuz I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do, baby
all I want for Christmas is you
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of childrens' laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me
The one I really need
Won't you please bring my baby to me quickly
I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just wanna see my baby
Standing right outside my door
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
All I want for Christmas is you, baby