SERENDIPITY
Chapter 4
"The trip to New York"
Candy was on the plane with her friend Patty, going to New York. She was looking at the clouds and she was wondering if Terrence was thinking about her…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile, Terrence and his friend Charlie were with the employee looking in boxes for Candy's form… Candy was with the employee, while Terry was in another section of the room. Charlie was telling himself that he was nuts to follow Terry in this completely crazy adventure! They heard Terry scream. The ran to him to see if he had found Candy's form…
- Aaahh! Look! My eyes are not seeing anymore, he said, I want to be sure that I have the right account number…
Charlie took the paper to check, but before he was able to look, the employee had ripped the form from his hands.
- Hey! Said Charlie, give me that!
Terrence looked at them, exasperated. The employee checked the account number.
- It is the right number, said the employee, but too bad we can't read her last name…
Terry took the paper and looked, the last name wasn't readable!
- It's his fault, said the employee, he erased it with his thumb…
Charlie gave him the look.
- No, I'm joking, said the employee, I think it got erased in my hands… it's a carbon copy, it's probably why America doesn't use it anymore…
- Come on! Said terry what about the address, can we see her address?
- It was 7 years ago,said Charlie, she probably doesn't live there anymore…
- You can go to the renting office, they're going to look in the archives, they would be able to tell you who lived at that address 7 years ago… it's obvious! Said the employee.
- Thank you, said Terry looking at him.
- That employee is annoying,b but he's also useful…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy's plane was landing in New York. Candy and Patty got off, passed custom, too their suitcases and they got out. There were taxis parked in front of the airport. They both got in.
- Hello, said Candy smiling
- Hello ladies, said the taxi driver, where are we going?
- Yes, said Patty, where are we going?
Candy pretended to think by putting her hands on her forehead and she replied:
- Take us anywhere in New York…
- I beg your pardon? Said the driver.
- Anywhere, repeated Candy, where you want to go.
- That's not a destination, ma'am, said the driver.
Patty seemed surprised.
- What? You don't have any reservations? She asked Candy
- Euh, said Candy turning to her friend, Patty, please, don't be angry with me.
- Oh no, said Patty, not very happy, I can't believe it.
- I need an address, ma'am, said the driver a little louder
- I was going to tell you on the plane, said Candy
- You know what, Candy? That's really sneaky of you, said Patty getting out of the cab.
- I'm not a freaking psychic! Said the taxi driver.
- Patty, wait, said Candy getting out of the car too to follow her.
- What are you doing Candy? Candy, I don't understand you anymore!
Candy looked at her without saying a thing.
- Please, tell me something, anything that makes sense…
Candy looked at her and had a sigh.
- Let's go and sit, she said.
They walked and the y found some empty seats by the glass windows.
- Patty, I just spent the whole fligh thinking, not about my fiancé, but about this mysterious man that I met half a million hours ago! A man I don't even remember, aside from that vague image in my head. It was only a few seconds, a fraction of a second really… and it was like at that moment, the whole universe only existed to put us together. That's why I'm here! That's why I'm going to let destiny guide me where he wants. Because when all this will be over, at least I won't have to think about him anymore. Let's pray he got bald, he picks his nose with his fingers and wipe them under his car seat…, said Candy standing up to get out of the airport.
She got outside and got into another taxi.
- Hello, said told the driver.
- Hello, said the driver
- Wait a minute, she told him
She prayed her friend would follow her. She didn't have to wait for long, Patricia arrived and got inside the taxi. Candy smiled and hugged her.
- Thanks honey, she said
- You better buy me a very big birthday cake, that's all I have to say!
- Anything you want! said Candy
- Can I have a destination? Asked the driver.
- The Waldorf, I suppose, said Candy
- Finally, she got it! Said Patty
- Very well, said the driver
The taxi got them to the destination. They were able to find a room at the Waldorf-Astoria, without any reservations. After going to their room and refresh themselves, they got out to go for a walk in New York City. In front of the front doors…
- Where are we going? Asked Patty.
Candy said raising her arms:
- We're going that way, she said going on the right.
- And I'm following her, said Patty behind her.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry and Charlie were at the renter's office trying to convince a young intern to give them Candy's last name…
- Look in your data base and you could find it, said Terry
- I'm not sure if I can or not…
- Why? Asked Charlie.
- Because I'm only an intern and I don't know all the rules.
- Help me.
- What about the laws on confidentiality? Said the young man.
- I'm asking you to not take it into consideration, said Terry
- You won't have any problem, said Charlie and we're not looking of a millionaire, just a young woman…
The young man looked at them and he finally said:
- Seven years ago, you said?
- Yes, said Terry full of hope
The young man typed on his keyboard and showed them the screen.
- There, he said
Terry looked at the screen.
- William Albert Andrew? Said Terry surprised.
It was great!
- But we're looking for a person named Candy, said Terry
- Maybe it was her boyfriend, said the youngman
- Her boyfriend… yes, she had a boyfriend that evening…
- Shall we go? Said Charlie
- Can you search for William Albert Andrew?
- Are you kidding Terry? We don't have the time…
- Why?
- Earth to Terry… we have you bachelor party…
- We have a lot of time! Said Terry, let's good and look for him, please.
They were getting out of the building. Charlie had a sigh… they had stopped and a man passed with a big Dalmatian dog who jumped on Terry who pet him. The dog turned and circled Terry with his leash. Its master, a little bald man, helped free him.
- Terry, you're not reasonable, it's the day before your wedding…
- I have time…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy and Patty were in the streets of New York, walking. Patty saw a vendor with purses on the other side of the street where they were.
- Prada! Prada bags!
She crossed the street to go see. Candy followed her smiling calmly. Patty took wallet.
- It's 20$, said the vendor.
- 20$? Said Candy, that's a good price, but mine says "Prada" and yours says "Prado"
- But you're filthy rich! Said Patty, maybe I can buy a black marker to correct it, I'll take it!
She went to pay. Candy, walked towards a man who was wearing the mascot of the golf field, it was a big golf ball for the head. He was giving out flyers which talked about gold lessons for half price. Patricia arrived.
- Where do we go now? She asked
- I don't know, said Candy.
The giant golf ball talked to them and said:
- You want to play golf? It's half price today!
It wanted to give them some of the flyers it had in its hand. The little bald man with the Dalmatian dog arrived. The dog walked to Candy who smiled at it.
- Hello, you! Who are you?
The dog circled the golf ball wit his leash, making him fall with all his flyers.
- Oh my God! Said Candy smiling
- Help, said the golf ball.
She and Patty helped the golf ball to get back up and the dog owner freed the leash. The Dalmatian went toward Candy again and then to its master. Candy had picked up some of the flyers and started reading it. Golf… Terry wanted golf clubs for Christmas, it was a sign!
- I know where we're going, she said leaving
Patricia followed her. They arrived at the golf club. She looked at the players, one by one.
- I feel he's here, said Candy, I know it, I can feel it.
She looked and she thought she saw him for a moment. Her heart jumped in her chest, but when she got closer, she saw that it wasn't him. She went to sit on a wooden bench. Where Terry had sat and he had stuck a chewing gum he had in his mouth behind it. She put her hand there on the dried chewing gum…
- Eww! She said.
- You know who are the one who play golf? Asked Patty.
- No…
- All those who are not too fat to play tennis…
There were older men on the verge of playing golf.
- I'm in perfect shape said one of them, my son is getting married tomorrow!
The machine that was throwing balls sent one too close, which hit Patty on the head.
- Ouch! Said Patty.
And the player wanted to hit another ball, but he hit Patty while swinging… The latter fell dizzy for a moment, for a moment. Candy ran to see her friend and the two man were sorry…
- I apologise, said the man who had hit her. Would you like me to take you to a hospital?
- No, it's going to be fine, said Patty
- Are you sure? He said
- Are you ok Patty? Asked candy
- I'm fine…
- Are you sure?
- Yes…
- I'm going to give you my card, said the man looking in his pockets
- Thank you, said Candy
- Can we go now? Asked Patty, before I get myself killed?
- He's not here, said Candy sadly, let's go…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry and Charlie went to see William Albert Andrew at his luxurious apartment. They had to insist to meet him… he was on his way out. He was tall blond and handsome and very elegant.
- You have two minutes, he said.
- Thank you, said Terry, Terrence Grandchester, I'm looking for a young woman who lived here 7 years ago…
- Who?
- Her name is Candy
- What do you want from her? Asked William
- I just wanted to know where she is…
- Why?
- I know she was your girlfriend…
- In fact no, you don't know anything at all…
- Can I have her last name?
- No…
- Please…
- Grandchester? Aren't you getting married soon?
- Well…
- Sirs, I'm a very busy man… you're dismissed…
Terry felt powerless, incapable of defending himself in front of this man so imposing and possessive.
- Mr. Andrew, please…
- I can't help you. Candy doesn't live here anymore, she's getting married…
Terry was discouraged… He was also getting married. Candy and him left.
- Are you giving up buddy?
- No, we're going to see the pub she liked the "Serendipity"
- All right…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Candy and Patty were at the pub "Serendipidy", talking. The waiter brought them a little chocolate muffin with a candle saying:
- Happy birthday, said the waiter
- Thank you, said Patty
- It's offered by the house…
- Thank you, she repeated.
He took the bill and the money left on the table.
Candy looked at her sadly.
- I'm a horrible friend, am I?
- If you sing for me, you're going to be forgiven, said Patty
Candy smiled.
- Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday Patty, happy birthday!
Patty blew the candle and Candy clapped her hands with the other customers. Patty looked at her friend.
- You know Candy, it's a very nice thought you have. That everything is planned, everything is a wonderful plan so that we could meet our soul mate… If it's actually true, so what's the point of living? Make decisions? Why do we wake up in the morning?
- For the cake? Said Candy.
- No, not for the cake. So that we could make mistakes. Mistakes, like this trip… and if you're smart enough you'll learn from your mistakes. You think and you'll realise that life is not a big scene with instruction like for actors. Like is a mess, honey…it's chaos personified…
- I have to give up everything now, don't I? Said Candy
- Candy, you have a fiancé, who, despite his kind of weird oriental music which I hope is a just a phase…
Candy burst out laughing with Patricia. The waiter arrive with the rest of the money and their bill which he left on the table. Patty thanked him with a head sign.
- We hope, said Patricia smiling, that he loves you, very very much… You don't give up. You grow up…
Candy had sigh. Why did have trouble giving up on all that? She looked at her friend.
- Thanks for coming with me Patricia.
- You're welcome. Let's get out of here…
- All right, said Candy taking her purse and walking to the exit door.
Patty looked on the table and she left the 1$ bill and took the 5$ bill which was on top and put it in her purse. She followed Candy to the exit. They were lucky, a taxi was just in front of the pub and they took it…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry and Charlie went to the pub "Serendipity" at the moment when Candy and Patty were getting in the taxi. He looked at the pub and he saw that on top of it there was a bridal boutique. For Terry it was a sign… to continue searching for Candy to marry her, or marry Susanna in a few hours? He was told that Candy was getting married too… So he was frozen on the spot.
- Terry? Said Charlie, you're not getting in?
- No…
- What's going on?
- Look upstairs, it's a bridal boutique… "Bless the bride"
- Oh my God the irony
- It's over, I give up…
- What?
- How can I ignore that? "Bless the freaking bride"? It couldn't be more clearer that. I'm getting married, she's getting married… I'm not supposed to be doing what I'm doing… It's a sign that I have to stop…
- Terry… it's another clue…
- No, it's a sign…
- What's the difference?
- A clue is what detectives use to find suspects, the receipt, the storage archives, the greenhorn, are clues… That, he sais showing the boutique, is a sign. The fact that I never found the bok,is a sign. Candy never found the 5$ bill is a sign!
Charlie looked at him smiling to ask him.
- How could something that hasn't happened be a sign?
Terry pretended to think.
- Maybe the absence of the sign is a sign.
- That's clear all right, said Charlie ironically
- I don't know! Maybe there's nothing. If there's something, it doesn't work for me!
Charlie put his hand on his head.
- It can't just end like this, by the way… we have to pull the curtain and find the magician, get at the end of the road…
- We are at the end of the road! The wedding rehearsal is in a few minutes, my fiancée is waiting for me!
- Let me ask you a question. If Candy appeared in front of you now, what would she tell you?
- She would tell me to run, because all the sign are showing it, the white wedding dress…
- I'm going to tell you something. If you don't continue your search, you would never know who Candy is…
- Well, maybe I didn't have to know who Candy is… maybe all this was just a big maze made to lead me to my starting point…
He looked at the boutique and raised his arm.
- She's getting married…
And he walked away and Charlie followed him.