SERENDIPITY
Chapter 5
"Come what may…"
Candy and Patty went back to the Waldorf-Astoria. They were walking towards the elevators, when they met a group of people who were coming out… There was a woman and Patty recognized her:
- Susanna?
- Patricia! Oh my God!
The two women hugged laughing.
- Candy, can you believe I was Susanna's counsellor in college, isn't it funny?
- Yes, said Susanna laughing.
- Oh, I'm sorry. Let me introduce you to Candy, said Patricia showing her friend.
- Good evening, said Susanna smiling, pleased to meet you.
- Good evening, said Candy, pleased to meet you too.
- Oh my God! It's must have been like eight of nine years or something, said Patty
Susanna turned around towards her parents.
- Patty and were in college together.
- Really ? That's wonderful! Said the mother smiling.
- So, what are you doing here? Asked Patty.
- I'm getting married tomorrow, said Susanna smiling.
- Tomorrow? Said Patty.
- Yes!
- Ah! Congratulations! Wow! Wow!
- Congratulations, said Candy smiling.
- Thank you said Susanna's parents.
- In this hotel? Asked Patty.
- Yes at noon. We're going to the rehearsal dinner. Why don't you come with us? Come and see…
- Really?
Candy turned to her friend.
- You can go, you know…
- All right, said Patty.
- You can bring your…partner if you want, said Susanna
Patricia opened her mouth and looked at Candy and they both burst out laughing.
- Oh, said Candy.
- No, said Patty, she…
- No,said Candy, I have to go to our room to call my fiancé who is a man!
Susanna's parents started laughing.
- You must be very proud, said Mrs. Marlowe.
- Yes, Patty, see you later, said Candy getting in the elevator.
- Ok, bye my sweet lesbian love! I'm kidding! It's a joke among us, said Patty laughing
She followed Susanna and her parents. Susanna took her hand smiling.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile, Candy got to her floor and she saw a shade from afar near her door. Someone was lying on the floor.
- Tom? She said surprised
He moved and sat down, he looked tired.
- What are you doing here? How did you know where I was?
- Intuition, he replied.
- Really? Said Candy softly touched.
- No, said Tom, I looked at the list of hotels in New York, by reverse alphabetical order, starting by the end… which was easy. I missed you so much.
Candy approached him and sat on the carpet with next to him.
- I'm sorry, I don't blame you for running away. I was so concentrated on the album and the tour…
- No, said Candy feeling guilty, why don't we go inside the room?
oOoOoOoOoOo
The wedding rehearsal was happening. Terry was there, without being sure he wanted to be there. Susanna was smiling, so were her parents. Did he have the right to disappoint all those people? He forced a smile. He looked and he saw everybody was where they should be and he saw Patty sitting behind.
- Susanna?
- Yes?
- Who is that girl sitting over there?
- Oh, it's Patty, one of my old friend that I met by chance
Patty saw that Terry and Susanna were looking at her, she smiled and did a hand sign. Terry smiled with his lips and gave her a hand sign too.
The wedding planner then declared:
- It's over! Everything is fine. Be sure to be here tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock sharp for the pictures.
Everybody started leaving and Charlie approached Terry.
- Buddy, I'm sorry to rush you, but we have half a dozen of strippers waiting for us…
- You mean exotic dancers? Said Susanna.
- No, real strippers, insisted Charlie.
Terry's father approached them to say:
- Gentlemen, I'll see you at 9 pm, I promised Eleonor that I'll be home by 10 pm.
- Fantastic, said Charlie shaking his hand, that gives you an hour to go crazy.
Terry shook his hand saying:
- See you later, he said
- See you tomorrow Terry, said his mother kissing him on the cheek
- Shall we go, said Charlie to Terry
- Charlie, said Susanna, before you go and have fun, according the tradition, can I talk to Terry for a little while?
- All right, said Charlie, I'll be waiting in the car, buddy!
He kissed Susanna on the cheek.
- You're beautiful, future bride…
Patty has also approached them, smiling.
- Hi, she said.
- Hi, said Susanna I wanted to introduce you to Terrence
- Good evening, said Patty smiling, pleased to meet you…
And she shook Terry's hand who replied:
- Likewise.
- I'd like you to come tomorrow, said Susanna
- Oh…
- We would feel bad if you don't come, said Susanna
- Really? Said Patricia.
- Yes, said Terrence.
- That's very nice of you. Tomorrow at noon?
- Yes, said Susanna, and you can bring your friend too, if you want.
- Wow! Ok, said Patty, I'll come!
Then she shook Susanna's hand saying:
- Thank you very much, that's really nice of you.
And she turned to Terry to say:
- Thank you very much, I'm happy to have met you! Bye, see you tomorrow, she added smiling
She left the room leaving the future bride and groom alone. Terry noticed Susanna was sad.
- Honey? What's going on? Is something wrong?
- Yes, you…
- What do you mean by me? What did I do?
- Nothing! That's just it! It's just have the feeling that you're elsewhere since a few days ago…
- That's not true, tried Terry.
- Don't lie to me Terrence. I had dreamt my whole life for this day; I imagined the dress, the flowers even the music the orchestra was going to play… and… Everything is exactly like I want it to be, except for one thing; my fiancé has decided to go to an imaginary country!
- Listen, said Terrence, maybe since a few days, I've had my mind elsewhere, but that's normal. It's a guy thing… I got the jitters a little… it doesn't mean that I don't love you…
- Well, call me crazy if you want but I would like my fiancé not to have the jitters especially when he's about to marry me in a few hours!
There was a little silence.
- I'm sorry Susanna, said Terry, I'm very sorry.
- Whatever it is you're hanging on to, please, let it go…
Terry approached her and hugged her. He had given up everything for her…
- I'm begging you, sais Susanna insisting
He wanted to leave, but she stopped him and she took something on one of the chair next to her.
- Wait, wait…
She gave him a gift.
- What is it?
- What do you think? It's a tradition among the bride and groom.
Terry felt bad.
- I also bought you a gift and I forgot to bring it with me…
- I know, it's ok… opene it!
Terry obeyed, he opened the gift and he discovered the book… "Romeo and Juliette"! He couldn't believe his eyes!
- It's the first edition, said Susanna, I had noticed that every time we were in a second hand bookstore, you would always go through a copy… I went this week and there was only one copy…
Terry looked at the book, like in a dream, incapable of saying a word. He opened it… and he saw her name: Candy White and the phone number… 555-5510! He couldn't believe it! During all those years, he had looked for this book in vain and his fiancée found it and give it to him on the day before their wedding! A wedding present, if only she knew that her present was going to ruin her wedding. He wanted a sign, what was more obvious than the book that finally end up in his hands just before his wedding to another woman! He had to go look for Candy. He had given up on this whole story, but it looks like destiny didn't agree and was pushing him towards Candy, once again. It's really like destiny to show itself when he had given up and it was thanks to Susanna! He must've looked sad because Susanna asked him:
- What's wrong? You don't like the book?
- It's perfect, he replied, excellent choice, thank you honey.
And he kissed her on the mouth.
- Now, I have to go, Charlie must be impatient.
- Good bye honey, said Susanna.
Terry got out of the room and the hotel to join Charlie who was waiting for him in front of the hotel. He opened the car door and got in, Charlie was sitting in the back, they had a driver, like they were expecting to drink…
- Something wrong? You look like hell!
- Her name is Candy White…
- What? Asked Charlie surprised
Terry gave him the book still in its gift wrap.
- But how? Said Charlie looking inside the cover of the book at Candy's name and phone number.
- Susanna just gave it to me as a wedding present… it's a gift, said Terry taking his cellphone from his pocket to give it to him…
Charlie called one of his acquaintance at the directory inquiry department.
- Sally? I need an address for a Candy While, I don't have a phone number
Terry's head was spinning… was he finally going to see Candy again?
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile, Candy was having a ride in a horse carriage in town with Tom, her fiancé. He was on the phone with his manager. The noise that the horse shoes were doing was preventing him from hearing the conversation well.
- I can't hear a thing! Wait, he told his manager, can you stop for a little while please? He asked the coach driver.
The carriage stopped.
- Excuse-me honey, he told Candy, it's going to take two minutes…
He continued his conversation with his manager. Candy was thinking. She got off the carriage and started walking. She looked around and from afar, she saw the ice rink and people having fun, she walked to go sit on the bench, thinking about Terry. When Tom finished his phone call after a long while, he joined her, because he had followed her with his eyes while he was talking. He had a seat next to her and kissed her on the cheek.
- Excuse-me honey, for taking such a long time!
He looked at the sky and he said:
- The sky is full of stars tonight! You know they have names, the stars and the constellations? I don't know the name of the one that's in the sky right now.
Candy looked at the sky. She took off her jacket and she pulled up her right sleeve and she looked at the freckles on her arm.
- It's Cassiopeia. She said.
Tom looked at he surprised. He took her arm and looked at her forearm and looked at the stars in the sky.
- The stars in the sky, it's Cassiopeia…
He didn't say a thing. But for Candy, it was another sign reminding her of Terrence… another sign.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile, Terrence and Charlie were on the plane going to Chicago…
- Do you realise that if something happens and we can't come back to New York, I'm going to miss my wedding?
- You're a bastard, Terry!
Terry looked at him.
- Yes, you pretty bastard! You're my hero in shit… You're doing what you want to look for the one your heart loves, but you're going to break Susanna's heart…
- Are you all right Charlie?
- Sandra left me…
- What?
- Yes, we've been having problems for a long time…
- Why didn't you tell me anything?
- I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere of your wedding…
- What happened?
- We let it go… in fact it's dead, love is dead, we're dead!
- What was the cause do death.
- Not enough of this, he said showing the "Romeo and Juliet" book where Candy put her name and phone number, not enough of that, he said putting his hand on Terry's heart. You remember Epictetus citation? " If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."
- Yes…
- That's what you're doing…
- I'm working hard at it…
- You're shit Terry! He said out loud.
The other passengers were looking at them. Charlie stood up to take a little walk… The plane arrived in Chicago, not too long after that. They rented a car and they went to the address they had for Candy… the house was beautiful and seemed welcoming. Terry didn't dare going out…
- I'm going to go, said Charlie and I'll tell you if the light is green…
- All right…
Candy got out of the car and he approached the house… and he looked out the window. What he saw was a naked couple enjoying the pleasure of the flesh… and he turned around to look at Terry who was still in the car. The latter gave a thumb up for OK and pretended getting ready by fixing his hair to get out of the car. He finally opened the car door to follow his friend. Charlie panicked and walked towards him to stop him.
- Listen buddy, I think it's better if you call her first after all… it's better I think, She could wash up and get ready. It's more polite.
- I could've called and I took the plane to come and see her. I don't care what her house looks like! Let me through…
- She might not agree, I'm forbidding you from seeing her! I don't want you to be hurt.
- I won't be hurt…
But Terry wasn't listening, he fought Charlie who wanted to stop him from going through. He managed to get free and he walked towards the house and he stopped when he saw the scene by the window. Candy was kissing a man, shirtless… then he kissed her in the neck… She had her eyes closed and seemed to be enjoying it a lot. Then they changes positions and the lover , who was blond went on top of her and took off her undergarments, which he put on his head laughing out loud and he saw hands pulling him down…
Terry discouraged let himself fall on the ground crushed… Charlie did the same thing.
- Well, it wasn't that bad, said Terry
- Didn't she said that everything happened for a reason?
- Yes, she said that…
- Well, maybe we're both lying down here, because…
- Because of what?
- Because, you didn't want to be standing up elsewhere…
Terry didn't reply, He has to face the facts… He had to get married in a few hours and he was 1270km looking for a woman he couldn't get out of his head. Even Susanna had noticed that he heart wasn't in it anymore… He couldn't continued.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Meanwhile in New York, Candy was with Tom in the hotel room.
- Candy, you can tell me anything, what's going on?
- Tom, I haven't been honest with you and I'm sorry…
- But, you accepted my proposal…
- Yes, when I did, I thought that everything was fine,,, but when the ring wouldn't go through my finger… I'm sorry, for me it was a sign that I wasn't on the right path…
- Candy…
- And I have to admit that after that, my heart wasn't in it anymore,,, and this trip was to think about it…
- And your conclusion?
- I think you'd be better with a woman who really wants to live her life with you…
Tom looked at her sadly. He had noticed that something was off since the engagement and when he came to New York, she had greeted him with open arms. He was sad, but it was better to end it before they both find each other in an undesirable situation. The important thing was for Candy to be happy… and she wasn't with him.
- I love you Candy, he said.
- Oh Tom, I'm sorry…
- No, you're honest with me, thank you. I'm going to go see my manager and talk to him about the change in our plans.
He hugged her and then he tooks his stuff and left the room… Candy was sad, but it was better that way. She was going to go back to Chicago the next morning. Patty looked at her, when she came back in the room.
- Are you sure of what you're doing?
- I'm certain…
- He loves you…
- But Patricia, if I'm thinking about someone else, then I' m not thinking about Tom… he deserves better than me…
- You don't want to come to Susanna's wedding with me?
- No, I really don't feel like seeing a couple gettingmarried while I just broke up with my fiancé… I'm going to take the first flight for Chicago tomorrow morning…
oOoOoOoOoOo
The next morning, Candy was on the plane when she heard the captain's message;
"Ladies and gentleman, this is the captain. I'm sorry to have to tell you that we're going to be grounded longer because of the bad weather coming towards us. The airline controller has put us on hold. In the meantime, I asked the stewardess to start showing the movie."
Candy was talking on the phone with Patricia.
- The plane is still on the ground, there a problem with the weather…
- Well, tell yourself it's better that this problem found you on the ground, rather than in the sky, said Patty.
- You're getting married for the wedding?
- Yes, you know how much I love having fun…
A stewardess made her a sign to end the conversation.
- I have to hang up, Patty. Have fun!
- All right sweetie, have a safe trip!
Candy hung up the phone. The stewardess approached her with ear phones in her hands.
- Do you want some earphones, Miss?
- Yes…
- It's 3 $.
Candy looked in her purse and she got her wallet and…
- But? What is this? She said.
- Something wrong? Asked the stewardess.
- Yes, I think I confused my wallet with my friend's…yes… you see? It says "Prado"…
- Oh,said the stewardess, is there money inside?
- Oh, well why not! Said Candy opening the wallet to look inside.
She looked and se found money; a 5$ note.
- Yes, please…, she said giving her the 5$ note, facing the face side.
The stewardess, turned it around and she opened her little bag to get some change of 1$ notes to give it back to Candy who took the earphone and the change mechanically… and she looked at the 5$ she had given the stewardess who had turned it around, like in a dream, she saw the name Terrence Grandchester and his phone number 555 1780! The stewardess took the 5$ note with other change of 1$ and she wanted to give it back to another passenger. She had to react! She stood up and she took the 5$ bill back.
- Excuse-me, she said when stood up to take the money from the stewardess hands before she gave it to someone else.
- Excuxe-me Miss, said the stewardess, its this man's change…
- Terrence! Said Candy smiling.
- Miss…
- I'm sorry, said Candy refusing to give the money back, you know what? I'll give this back to you. I'm getting off the plance! Wooh!
She gave her back the earphones and took her stuff and got off the plane almost running. She got out of the airport and she called directory inquiry.
- Yes, Terrence Grandchester, he lives in New York…
She waited for a whike , then she wrote down the address and gave it to the taxi driver… She was smiling, she had the black cashmere glove… She arrived in front of the building, she paid and she got out of the taxi, She got in the luxury building, there were doormen in the lobby.
- Hello, she said smiling to the doorman.
- Hello, replied the doorman
- I'm looking for Terrence Grandchester
- Master Grandchester?
- Yes…
- Is he expecting you?
- No…
- I would've been surprised…you're probably late…
- Late for what? Asked Candy
- For his wedding… he's getting married at the Waldorf…
- At the Waldorf, said Candy softly, he's getting married?
- He might already be married…
- Thank you, said Candy getting out of the building quickly
She just came from the Waldorf… Terry was also there during all that time? That's where he was supposed to get married… she stopped a taxi to run to the Waldorf as fast as possible. But of course, the road couldn't be free, there was a traffic jam… Candy decided to get out a few metres before the Waldorf to run. She paid and she ran to the Waldorf, She saw a sign saying: The wedding of Susanna Marlowe and Terrence Grandchester. The crystal ballroom".
- Oh, she said, no, please God, no!
She ran to the reception to ask were the Crystal ballroom was . they showed it to her. She ran and she opened the door screaming:
- Stop it!
But the room was empty, aside from an employee putting the chairs away.
- Stop? He asked.
- Is it over? Asked Candy holding her black cashmere glove in her right hand.
- The wedding?
- Yes…
- Yes, as a matter of fact, it's really over.
Candy was discouraged, she had a sigh… she turned around to leave.
- But don't worry, you can get your present back…
- My present? What do you mean?
- You asked if it was over, The truth is, it never even started!
- What?
- Are a friend of the bride…?
But when the employee turned around, Candy was already gone…
- …or of the groom? He finished
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terry and Charlie were walking in the park.
- What's with the weather? Is it global warming? Said Charlie.
- Yes, what happened to winter? Said Terry.
- What are you talking about? Asked Charlie.
- What did you have to tell me? Asked Terry
- Well, I can tell you that you can do whatever you set your mind to, it's very popular, but not very appropriate in this situation…
- Hum hum
- There is also: "Don't worry, there are other fishes in the ocean…"
- No…
- Well we could go back to the classical sentences:"When the Lord closes a door, somehow, he opens a window…"
- Why not just tell me I made the right decision?
- I don't need to tell you… I wrote it!
Charlie gave him sheet folded in four.
- What's this?
- It's your orbituary…
- Great! Said Terry ironically
- I had a blank while writing my best man speech and this is what came out of it… thinking about my life with Sandra which I compared to death…
- You getting cynical, Charlie…
Charlie had stopped to buy a bouquet of flowers, while talking to Terry.
- You're going to see Sandra?
- Yes, I need a bouquet of flowers… You know, the greeks do write orbituaries. They just ask one question after the death of a man: did he have passion?
Then he had the bouquet of flowers, red roses and he asked Terry.
- What do I looke like?
- Like a pretty bastard, said Terry hugging him laughing
They part ways. Terry opened the paper to read what Charlie had written on him.
"Terrence Grandchester, my best friend and a brilliant business man, died last night from complications caused by the loss of his soul mate and his fiancée. He was 35 years old. Smooth talker and obsessed, Grandchester did look like an incorrigible romantic at all. But the last days of his life, revealed an unknown part of his psyches. That hidden part of a charactro quasi-analytical, showed up for an Agatha Christie moment, when he pursue his soul mate, a woman with who he spent a few precioius hours one evening. Unfortunately the very long search ended on Saturday night in a total fiasco. Yet, even in defeat, he courageous Grandchester secretly hung on to the faith that life wasn't only a series of accident and insignificant , no. But he would rather believe that a big tapestry of events culminating to a magnificent and wonderful plan. When he was asked the question on the loss of a dear friend, Dean Kansky, the Pulitzer price winner, author and executive producer of the New York Times, describe Terrence like a changed man the last days of his life. "Things were very clear for him" had noticed Kansky. In the end, Terrence concluded that if we all lived in harmony in the univers, we should all have a powerful faith that the ancient used to call "fatum", what we are now calling "destiny".
When Terrence finishes reading, he found himself near the ice rink, where he has spent time with Candy.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Patricia was surprise to see Candy back in New York. She was on her way back to Chicago.
- But, what are you doing here?
- I was on the plane, ready to go…
- I know that… I was waiting for you to call me from Chicago.
- I wanted to rent earphones to watch the movie. When took my wallet out, I realised it wasn't mine, but yours…
- Don't tell me you came back because I had your wallet, said Patricia.
- Of course not, but when I borrowed money in your wallet to pay for the rental of the earphones, there was a 5$ bill, that I had given the stewardess when she turned it around, I saw the number and Terrence's name in the back…
- What? Oh my God!
- I swear to you! She was going to give it back as change to another passenger, I practically ripped it from her fingers and got out of the plane! I had to find him. I went to the address and they told me he was getting married here at the Waldorf…
- He was getting married today? Said Patty, and you said his name was "Terrence"? Susanna's fiancé's name was "Terrence", I met him last night…
- Susanna? Your old acquaintance ?
- Yes… Terrence cancelled everything this morning, said Patty, it's because of you?
- I didn't see him…
- But he cancelled, that means he wasn't in love with Susanna like he should be…
- I broke up with Tom… there's a reason for everything, Patty…
- I suppose you're going to stay and look for him?
- Yes, I wont leave New York until I see him…
- Well, I have to go, my taxi must already be there…
They went downstairs together and Candy walked her to the taxi. She hugged her.
- Everything is going to be fine, Candy, I'm sure you're going to find him…
- I don't doubt it for a second, said Candy smiling. Have a safe trip!
- Thank you. Good luck. Bundle up, it's getting chilly.
Patty's taxi left. Since it was starting to get dark, Candy decided to go for a walk…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Terrence was at the ice rink. He had put his skates on, he skated a little and then he went to sit in the middle of the ice rink thinking about Candy… He ended up lying on the back. It started snowing, like that night. Those hours he has spent with her were so beautiful! Decidedly, everything reminded him of Candy… people, not a lot were skating aroung him carefully so they won't touch him. He was looking at the snow flakes fall. He like the dance of the flakes… at one point, he thought he saw a black glove fall on him. He was surprised, he heard a woman scream and she fell on him. It was Candy smiling.
- Is it still your favourite position? She asked.
- Still, he said smiling, good evening, my name is Terrence, Terry for friends.
- Pleased to meet you. My name is Candice, Candy for friends.
He took her head with his hands and approached it and their lips were united in a fierily and passionate kiss that would've make the snow melt, because it was so hot….