A Candy Candy Miracle on 34th Street
Chapter 7
"We believe…"
In the morning, Archie went to see the judged.
- Your Honour, I need one more day please…. Said Archie
- Your Honour, the defence had enough time to gather evidence, if he's not ready, that's his problem
- I was given the request yesterday in the afternoon, I need at least 24 more hours to be able to find my proofs… Come on what's 24 more hours?
- Tomorrow it's Christmas Eve Your honour
- And if tomorrow I can't prove anything, I'm afraid there isn't going to be any Christmas, since you're going to lock up Santa Claus!
- This is ridiculous! Said the prosecutor!
- You have until tomorrow 1 pm! Ready or not the trial is going to continue! Said the judge
- Thank you Your Honour, said Archie leaving
Archie went back to his office to try and find some loop hole or anything to set Mr. Kringle free.
Albert came back and he went straight to the office. He was in a rage. He found Neil who had gathered the board member so the could find a way to clear the store of any connection with Mr. Kringle.
- What's going on in here? He said coming in
- Mr. Andrew! Said all the board member standing up
- Neil! What's the meaning of all this
- The Santa Claus Candy hired is insane! Said Neil
- Insane? Why?
- He says he's the real Santa Claus!!!!
- So? Said Albert
- What do you mean "so", we can't be associated with that nonsense!
- But we already are… he launched the goodwill campaign…!
- But…
- If we let him down now, what kind of example are we going to set? We were putting the spirit of Christmas before anything else and now we dump our Santa Claus??? Said Albert loudly
- Mr. Andrew is right, said one of the associates, we just showed some goodwill by putting Christmas before the profit and now we dump our Santa Claus? It doesn't make sense! We need to support him!
- Yes, said another one, I'm going to talk to the press…
- We are supporting Santa Claus! Said Albert
- You guys are all nuts! Said Neil
- Neil, you go around and call yourself "Neil Andrew" but you're not my son…
- I'm a member of the family!
- And nobody disputes that… what if someone came and start asking if you really are an Andrew… what would you do? How would you feel?
- I…
- That's what you're doing to Mr. Kringle, questioning his identity… I think you have been naughty enough… your services will no longer be needed …
- But Albert…
- You can go home and don't come back… you're going to get some coal in your stocking for getting Santa Claus arrested for no reason!
- I wasn't the one…
- I have spies everywhere; you're behind all this mess, just because you wanted to make Candy look bad! When are you going to grow up and leave Candy alone? You wanted to marry her she refused… get over it!
- She refused to marry you too, if I remember correctly…
- And I've moved on! Now you get out of my office and my building!
Neil left with his tail between his legs. He was angry and he went back home and his sister was making fun of him.
- Operation Santa seems to be a big bust!
- He's not free yet and Archie is never going to be able to prove the he's the real Santa!
- Well with everything that's happening lately, said Eliza, I'm not so sure! Candy is back with a little brat …
- So?
- I thought we had seen the last of her… yet she's back and Albert still loves her…he forgave her. She finds a nice little old man, who says he's Santa Claus and you make him look bad, but every body comes to his defense…when it concerns Candy, just forget about it! You're never going to win with Candy!
- Unless… he said between his teeth
- Unless what? Whatever you want to do, don't! Neil, let it go!!!! It's Christmas!
Neil didn't listen and he went out to drink in bars. The Santa he paid to get Mr. Kringle arrested was there, not happy at all. Neil didn't give him the money he promised. He was very unhappy. Neil who was angry for getting fired had no intention of paying them. But this time he dealt with the wrong people. He was stabbed in broad daylight in an alley…he would've bled to death if some children hadn't found him and called for help. He was brought to the hospital in critical condition.
Albert got the news but despite his anger, Neil was a family member, so he hired guards so they can keep an eye on him. Then he went to see Candy at her office. She ran to him and hug him!
- I'm so glad you're back!
- Hey little one!
- I heard what you did, you fired Neil?
- Yes, and he just got stabbed be some thugs…
- Oh…
- He's going to make it, he's in the hospital
- I'm sorry…
- He wanted to destroy you…
- Well the bible does say to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…
- And you will amass hot coals on their heads… finished Albert, you're just great you know that?
- You're the great one, after what I did to you…
- Well you're heart wasn't ready to commit to me… and I don't think it ever will…
- I was unsure at that time and I came here to New York to see Terry for some… closure, I found him in a bar near the theatre, drinking and smoking …So I went to him, he was half drunk and he thought I was an hallucination… so he was nice to me, he didn't want to leave me, and I played along… I couldn't leave him again… like that time in Rockstown…not this time…So I went with him to his house, Susanna was not there… I took him to his room and I took his clothes off to put him to bed… The thing was though he was wasted, he seemed to be lucid when he talked to me… and he kissed me… I was surprised, stunned, but it was Terry…my body couldn't resist, he was not going to remember anyway… so I let myself go…. When I woke up in the morning I was so ashamed of myself. I took advantage of Terry while he was drunk, I couldn't see myself facing you… So I decided to leave for places unknown… I'm sorry I disappeared on you, you deserved better…
Albert approached her and hugged her…
- Don't worry about it, I knew the risks, I lived with you and I knew how much you loved Terry, you couldn't stop talking about him… I was just hoping that since he wasn't available anymore, that you and I could have a chance… I just wanted to make you happy, Candy. But your heart was still with Terry… I'm ok with it now… I've moved on…
- Thank you so much Albert
- So Cia is his daughter?
- Yes… that's another reason why I left; I was careless, so I know my cycle and there was a good chance I was going to get pregnant after that…I…
- You don't need to explain… I love you no matter what, never ever doubt that…
- Oh Albert! She said hugging him hard with tears in her eyes, thank you so much, I love you!
- I love you too, Candy. You're going to come and spend Christmas with us?
- When the trial is over tomorrow, because Archie asked for some more time to find his evidence, I'll have to talk to Terry…
- How are you two?
- We're close and getting closer…
- He has no idea what happened?
- He was wasted and
She told him what Susanna did.
- Oh my God! He could've died!
- I can't believe I left him with her not once but twice!!!! She was a lunatic! I should've followed my heart and stay with her and take care of Susanna with him! We didn't need to sacrifice ourselves…! What a waste of time!
- You have Cia… so it's not all bad….
- No I have to tell Terry that a night that happen and that he doesn't remember produced a child… that's going to be fun!
- He's going to be glad, he loves Cia, doesn't he?
- Yes and she loves him…
- It's Christmas time, the time to be jolly that news is going to be the best Christmas present for them…
- I hope so, I don't want to lose Terry again…
- You won't I promise you, he's never going to abandon you or his daughter..
- I hope you're right… Thank you for Mr. Kringle…
- I have to go on the radio and make a declaration in the name of the store…actually they're coming her to my office…
- What kind?
- We need a good aura for the trial, just listen to the radio…
- All right, she said, see you later then….
- Bye, little one…
Albert left her office. Candy was wondering what he was going to say. She didn't need to wait for long. The radio was on and everybody could listen to it…
"We interrupt our regular program to bring you a message from Albert Andrew, the owner of the Macy's chain store, which had been in the news lately due to the trial against their Santa Claus, who called himself Kris Kringle. Here he is…"
Then Albert's voice was heard.
"Hello everybody, I'm William Albert Andrew the new owner of the Macy's chain stores. I'm here with Mr. Macy the previous owner and we have a message to tell you. Recently our wonderful Santa Claus was arrested and incarcerated at Bellevue for insanity, because he says he's the real Santa Claus… what's wrong with that? You're going to ask me. I have no idea, but I'm glad I had the real Santa working for me… He was the nicest and most gently old man I've ever met in my life… he knew every single thing about all the toys in the world and their prices! I believe he's Santa Claus…so if you believe or are afraid or not sure, just say it! Faith can carry mountain, we need all to dig in our Christmas spirit, so, let's save our Mr. Kringle and Christmas and let's believe in Santa Claus! Let's all say "We believe!""
The message was broadcast in every single radio station in New York and in America, to support of Mr. Kringle and people all over were saying; " I believe"
Candy heard the message in her office and she had tears in her eyes. She believed in Santa Claus like she told her daughter the day before and wrote it to Mr. Kringle, but she was overwhelmed by some sort of joy and she started crying… all theses years she was away…she had closed herself to the world, she was only loving to her daughter… then Albert came and brought her back to America and she saw Terry, and… she still loved him, she met Mr. Kringle before that and he brought out feelings in her she had buried… Terry, Susanna, being with Terry… that message from Albert… everything just made her cry in her office, she cried for a long time and then, she was all smiles… The staff noticed the difference in her, she was more cheerful, not that she wasn't nice before, but something happened between the morning and after the "We believe" message on the radio…
When she got home that night, even her daughter noticed the difference.
- Mom, what's got into you?
- I'm happy…
- I can see that… since you're in such a good mood, can I invite Terry for dinner tonight?
- He's not at the theatre?
- No, he had an earlier representation, he's home…
- All right then, you go and invite him then
- Thank you mommy!
Cia went next door and knocked on Terry's door. He opened…
- Cia! He said, hi!
- Hi! I came to invite you for dinner…
- Oh, that's really nice of you I was making a salad…
- Bring it over then! We're having steaks with pepper…
- Yummy, said Terry, let me take the salad
He went inside and came back with a bowl of salad. Candy was making the meat and the potatoes. She had a cocktails fruit salad for dessert.
- Good evening Terry, she said with a smile…
Terry looked at her, something was different…the old Candy was back!
- Hi Freckles…
- My name is Candice White Andrew! How many times to have to tell you that? Romeo!
- Romeo?
- If you're going to call me by a nickname, I'm going to use a nickname with you too! So I chose your first big role, "Romeo"
- All right I like it, especially since you were Juliet when we were in school at the May Festival…
- The May Festival, said Candy, that seems so long ago…
- I remember it like it was yesterday, said Terry with a sweet voice
Cia was looking at them and listening to them… She was the happiest little girl in the world… Candy and Terry continued reminiscing about the past in college and Cia was laughing out loud at their stories. She was sure that her mommy and Terry were going to get married, a part of the present she asked Mr. Kringle was going to become true…
"Now if I get my house, with Terry and mommy, we're going to have a baby soon, maybe in 9 months…" she said in her head smiling
The I believe campaign was a success, for the few hours the message was broadcast, some factory made t-shirt and all sort of gadgets with the words "I believe…" on it… That's how fast a society of profit worked….