Chapter 23: Muse
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At 7 PM sharp Candy arrived at Colleton Golf Club. She knew the place so well since the Andrews often had family gatherings there. Like always, Parker, the host, came to greet her.
"Welcome Ms. Andrew," said the old man. "You look positively splendid tonight."
"Thanks, Parker." She felt safe to meet a familiar face. Just in case she needed a body guard like what Judy said!
"With whom do you have an appointment tonight, Ms. Andrew?"
Candy stopped. She realized she didn't know Neo's last name. "Neo."
She was grateful that Parker found that name in his guest book. "This way, Ms. Andrew."
With heart thumping nervously Candy followed Parker. He took her passing the common dining rooms to the private dining areas which Candy knew from Annie were quite costly. Candy felt her wallet. She would insist to split the dinner cost later with Neo.
Parker stopped in the super VIP room.
"Your guest will be here very soon, Ms. Andrew. If you need anything, James is at the door."
"Thanks."
Parker and James bowed. Then, Parker left.
Candy stepped inside and sat down. On the table, three candles glowed cozily next to two glasses of champagne. Neo was as romantic as she thought he was from the letter. While waiting, Candy started to feel nervous and question her decision to have a blind date with a pen pal. She glanced often at the door to make sure James was there... just in case.
"Hello Candy." She heard a manly voice breaking her muse.
Candy turned around and froze at the sight of the gorgeous familiar face in dark suit and slick-back dark hair.
"What a surprise. Hi Neal!" He must have a date tonight, Candy thought feeling a bit jealous. "I guess one of us is in incorrect room." She giggled.
"We should just have dinner together then," said Neal, smiling.
Candy laughed. "We should! Next time, though. I'm waiting for someone now... Can't cancel it. It's quiet special."
"Special?" he asked gently. A warm sensation spread through her stomach. "How special?"
"It's... quiet special. I'll check with James about the correct room arrangements."
"Special... I'm flattered. And you also chose to meet me over that actor." Neal took his hand from behind his back, presenting a bouquet of dozens white roses surrounded by wild flowers towards her. "This is for you... Alden."
"Alde-" Shocked washed over Candy. She stared at Neal with her mouth opened wondering how he knew that name.
"You're going to catch a fly," Neal murmured softly, looking at her mouth.
Candy snapped her mouth close. Understood. Neal was none other than Neo! Her shock immediately turned to fury.
"Message in a bottle! Anonymous letter!" Candy grabbed the bouquet and hurled it to his face. "How dare you to deceive me!"
"Watch out the thorns!" He caught her wrist. "I didn't deceive you. It was anonymous!"
"How did you know Alden is me?"
"This…" Neal calmly tapped his finger to his head. "Brain... My brain cleverly registered those curious coincidences and made the phenomenal deduction. William who's in a business trip, your friend who had an early labour, your perfume that had the same smell as the dry flowers. And your story about you dancing with… ehem… an enemy." He grinned.
Neal carefully released her wrist and pulled a chair out for her.
"I can tell you more about my amazing thinking process while we dine and start our first date. You know the person I wrote the message in the bottle to is you, don't you?"
Neal smiled broadly as if he just revealed the best news of her life.
Candy cringed. She couldn't believe that she had been sharing her most inner secrets with Neal! Her stomach lurched. She never felt so embarrassed.
"I don't trust you!" she muttered. "You must have all these planned out."
"To have a bottle thrown in a beach in Scotland to arrive in Port Jefferson, New York, when you're on vacation?" Neal raised an eyebrow. "How?"
Candy didn't know what to believe anymore. She stood there with a mixed of disbelief and embarrassment. It couldn't get worse than this.
"Oh, please." She felt she's losing her mind. "I know you are very calculating and manipulative. You are capable of doing just about anything evil."
"Thank you for the compliment. But no, there's no trick involved in our anonymous relationship," Neal said cheerfully. "Except…"
Neal paused. "Except there's one teensy-bit problem I must spill out. I want to be entirely truthful with you so we can move on and start our relationship with a clean slate."
Candy shivered. Of course it could get worse. She's dealing with Neal! Things were never simple and open book with him.
"William is not your cousin. I paid a detective to tell lies to aunt Elroy-" Neal said matter-of-factly, calmly looking straight into her eyes, the classic annoying egocentric Neal who didn't feel guilty at all for his low dirty tricks!
Candy was livid now. The anger brought her mind back into focus. Before he finished his words, her hand had flown onto his face.
"I knew you would over-exaggerate it," said Neal catching her hand. "At that time you were unapproachable. I had to find a way to make you stop fawning over Wil-"
"The world is not your oyster!" Candy exploded. She wanted to curse, but couldn't find a word that was horrible enough to fittingly depict him. "I don't want to talk or to write to you anymore!"
Candy jerked her hand and burst out of the room. Raged and furious. But what she hated the most was the disappointments she felt in some corner of her heart. These past few months, she had grown to trust Neal and like Neo. Now she lost them both.
"Let me explain." Neal caught up with her and pulled her elbow.
"Don't!" she hissed. "Just... don't!"
Candy tried to shake him off but she couldn't. In exasperation, she span to slap his face but he docked, her hand landed on the tray that James carried. He came to serve their dinner. All glasses and plates in his tray fell to the floor in a loud clang.
Diners gasped in horror. Some got up to look at their direction. James apologized repeatedly. Parker rushed forward to check what happened. Neal released Candy to mutter some excuses and told Parker to put the expenses in his bill. Ignoring them all, Candy strode forward, across the room towards the exit.
"Candy, wait!" She heard Neal call her again.
Candy fastened her steps and jumped into her car. "Alfred, drive," said Candy stonily. "Ignore that running guy. Run him over, if you need to."
oOo
A week later...
Alfred just took Candy home from work. "Have a good evening, Ms. Candice." He nudged his cap.
"Bye Alfred."
Good? For what, Candy thought as she picked up her today's letters from the doormat and walked into her apartment. She scanned the letters. They looked thin and lonely since Neo stopped writing. She found one piece of telegram. From Albert!
"Hi Candy, I'll be home on Thursday. See you, Albert."
Candy sighed. Short of course. Albert was never a letter writer. Her mind meandered to Neo and his pages and pages of letters. Her fault. If she hadn't agreed to meet him, they would have written to each other still.
Was it better to know the truth? Perhaps not, she thought. She'd rather not know the truth if this was the cost she had to pay…
The following day, Candy went to pick up Albert in the train station. She easily spotted his towering figure that stood out among the crowd.
"Albert!" Candy called out, waving at him.
Albert turned and smiled when he saw her. Candy ran into his arms.
"Hi little girl." Albert enveloped her in a tight bear hugs.
Candy felt so safe and protected. Albert never bullied her, he was always nice and gentle unlike… Neal. The thought of that name reminded her again of the pain she's experiencing. It hit her and she cried.
"Hey." Albert gently pushed her. "What us up with the tears?"
"Nothing." Candy wiped her tears. "I-it's just too good to see you again."
"I'm glad to see you again too," said Albert. His voice was so soothing and kind.
He bent. Would he kiss her? She used to want it. But strangely it made her think of her dance with Neal where he almost kissed her. It didn't feel right. Candy almost struggled to push Albert when in relieved she found he just pressed his lips on her temple.
"Let's go home," said Albert.
On the ride home, a few time Candy glanced at Albert trying to find an opportunity to explain why she kissed him the night before he left. But he behaved as though that kiss never existed so she behaved accordingly, too. He told her about various things he did on his trip. In return she told him about things he missed in Chicago without mentioning a word about Neal or Neo.
"You want to see Jimmy's baby?" asked Candy, excitedly.
"I'd love to but perhaps I can't. I need to leave much sooner than planned. We're moving our headquarter to London, Candy. I have to be there." Albert told her the details.
"Cool, Albert!" praised Candy, impressed.
Albert chuckled.
"Can I move with you to London? I can transfer my grades and classes. I've asked." She hated to be alone and had made up her mind.
"Of course! That's fabulous!" said Albert, smiling kindly.
They went on talking about their moving plan. For the first time in a week Candy felt excited again.
"So Candy, are you hungry?" Albert stopped abruptly when they passed the farmers market they often went to. He signaled the driver to stop. "Let's have a spectacular dinner!"
"You will cook?" asked Candy. "Boy, you just came back. Aren't you tired?"
"I'm so tired of eating chef food!" Albert laughed. "You want spaghetti with meatballs? Barbecue? Seafood paella? Chicken fajitas?"
Candy laughed, excited.
They got off the car discussing what food to make. They went from one booth to the next as Albert expertly picked spices and ingredients. Candy watched him, just like in the good old days.
They were pushing their way into the produce section when Candy heard some music and saw a crowd. While Albert was examining stalks of celery, Candy watched them. They were dancing, laughing, and cheering looking very happy. She remembered when she danced with Neal and felt sick inside.
...
A few days later...
Candy was emptying her closet, sorting out stuffs to take to London when she stumbled on an old photo of herself with Ms. Pony and Sr. Lanne. She picked it up, felt torn. She would miss them. It would be a while before she could see them again... and Jimmy, Bertha... She almost cried.
One servant entered. "Today's mails, Ms. Candice." She gave a stack of envelopes to Candy and exited.
Candy glanced through the envelopes. They looked thin, cold, and distant. She thought of Neo's thick warm letters which she had missed more than ever. That gave the final straw and she just cried and cried...
A knock sounded at the door stopping her tears. It was Alfred, she thought, coming to pick her up to work.
Candy wiped her damped tears. She opened the door and found herself face to face with the man who had been occupying her heart and soul day and night. It's not Alfred.
"Hello," said Neal. His voice was soft, his gaze searched her face and watery red eyes with a gentle concern. "You don't look too well. Are you sick?"
"No, it was the dust," said Candy, lying. She patted her hands, pretending removing some dust. Folding her arms, she looked at him. "What do you want to do here?"
"Are you still mad at me? I don't come for a few days to let you cool down."
Candy remembered she told Neo that when giving him advice on how to approach his girl, which was none other than herself. It's so bizarre.
"Everything is terrific. I have been happy and things are fantastic. Life can't be better," Candy snapped.
"Really?" Neal pressed his lips, looking frustrated. "Has he kissed you then?" he bit out.
"Go away," Candy growled angrily.
Neal laughed, low and hoarse. "You should know by now that there's no use of asking me to leave."
Candy moved to slam the door close but Neal held it.
"We need to talk. Tell me what's in your mind."
"You." Candy purged on, emotion rushed through her like a broken dam. "It feels great that we're done with our meaningless correspondence. I'm glad it's over. Oh and great news! On Friday, I will go to England with Albert. I am so looking forward to leave this place. And you? What's in your mind?"
"You. It's been difficult for me. I miss you and Alden's letters so much," said Neal quietly.
Candy's heart crumbled at his words…
"Can I come in? I need to explain something."
"I need to go out. Talk here. 10 seconds. You have explained everything in your letters anyway." Candy scoffed although doubts started to creep in.
"Not everything. There are things that can't be explained in writing."
The way he said it glued her to the floor. She saw him coming closer, feel him nudge her chin up and softly kiss her...
In the past she would push him and hit him, but now she didn't. She had wanted this when they danced that day at the ball. His kiss felt so right. It's like finally finding the piece of jigsaw puzzle that she had been searching all her life. This was too confusing.
"Have you ever considered that I might truly want you? You know how I feel about you, Candy, I wrote about it in my letters. But just in case you don't, I'll say it loud and clear, I want you. Don't go with him, stay here with me."
He looked at her very seriously. "Think it over. Figure out if we could have a shot and if our anonymous friendship could be something more that it's worth your effort to pursue. I'll come back on Thursday evening. Give me your answer."
"What for? You never listen."
Neal shook his head. He didn't joke or grin or do any of those teasing moves but just stared into her with unreadable expression. "Not this time."
"Fine." Candy walked away without looking back. Staying a second longer, she would hold him tight and never let him go. She was hoping he'd pull her elbow - his trademark - or stole another quick kiss. But he didn't do those and kept his hands to himself.
-To Be Continued-
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SUMMARY: Albert is not Candy's cousin. Neal paid a detective to tell lies to aunt Elroy
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Thanks so much for reading. We'll be done soon.