SERENDIPITY

Chapter 3 "For Candy..."

The next day, Candy went to her friend Patricia's store; she was a little eccentric, and just the person to talk to her about the poster she had seen. They were having coffee together.

- It was only a poster, Candy...

- Yes, a poster with Terrence's favourite movie...

- So what?

- So, don't you think it's strange?

- No, people put poster on wall for advertising...

- Patty...

- You want to read another sign?

- The engagement ring was refusing to slide through my finger...

- It happens...

- And not the poster of "the hustler"...

- Candy... you're going to get married...and you're thinking about a man you've seen only for a few hours?

- Exactly, why am I thinking about him now, when everything seem so perfect in my life?

- What was is exactly that you did? Oh yeah, the 5$ note with his information... that note still hasn't come back between your hands?

- No...

- So you still go through with your wedding plans...

- You don't think that...?

- You tried with the elevators, he didn't chose the same floor as you...

- Maybe he was delayed by customers...

- Maybe...

- That's why I still put my information in the book "Romeo and Juliet"...

- Well, he hasn't called you yet... it's been years, Candy. If he calls you...

- All right. I really feel like an idiot who is going to throw everything out the window for a man I had seen for just a few hours, while I have a man ready to marry me...

- You still believe that signs influence our choices in life?

- Yes...

- Oh Candy...

oOoOoOoOoOo

The next day, Terrence went at Bloomingdale's to try to get Candy's information... he knew that employee had a contract they were not allowed to give out that kind of information, so it was maybe a mission impossible... but he was ready to do anything to find Candy... he went to the till to try to talk to the employee.

- Hello sir...

- Can I help you?

- I hope so... I'm looking for someone who bought a pair of gloves here, a few years ago...

- You know that we don't have the right to give out that kind of information...And I've been here for three years only...

- But you must have the information in your database...

- You are wasting my time, sir, said the employee coldly.

- I'm begging you, said Terrence against his will, but all you have to do is enter the receipt number to have her information.

- No! That's all? Said the employee.

- All right, said Terry, would 20$ do it?

He had taken his wallet out...

- If I were an health inspector, maybe...

- This is really important, said Terry trying again to go on the other side of the counter.

- Again? Said the employee, you have to stay on the other side of the counter. I don't want to have to tell you that again... stay on the other side.

- All right... I'm begging you, I would do anything to have her name...

- Anything? Well, said the employee hesitating, I didn't get much sales this monght... if you buy a few things...

- Really?

- I'm barely mentioning it...

- All right, said Terrence giving him the eye, I'll buy a tie...

He approached the counter.

- Ah ah ah, said the employee.

- I'm staying on this side, said Terrence choosing a purple tie and putting it on the counter

- Excellent choice, said the employee...

- Now, can I have the girl's name?

- I thought you were going to raise my sales, said the employee, this tie cost 95$ and your 700$ short...

- 700$?

- 700$

- That's extortion!

- It's a great selling tactic, sir. What would be nice with a purple tie?

Terrence gave him the eye... he went to try on a purple suit, completely ridiculous...

- I look like a clown! He said upset, now are you going to give me her name?

- It's done. The account is inactive, there's no information on it!

- What? Said Terry angry, give me that!

He was trying to get is bank card back. He grabbed the employee by the collard...

- You're crazy to take advantage of me like that! I'm going to beat you up...

- Don't come behind the counter, said the employee.

Terry was holding him by the collar, on the other side.

- Stop saying that, or I'm going to cut you into pieces! You better find another way to help me out!

- I have another suggestion..., said the employee.

- A suggestion?

- When our customer fill out an application for a store card, the copies of the file go to our storage office in Queens. All you need is her account number, which you already have, to find her form and yet you will need an employee to let you in...

Terry let go of him and looked at him. And the employee repeated

- You need an employee to let you in...

He turned around and took a box on the shelf and put it on the counter. He opened it and got a pair of shoes he showed Terrence.

- Crocodile skin? He asked.

Terry was so upset he hit the shoes making them fly on the other side of the room...

It's not that he didn't have the money to pay for all that, but that employee was taking advantage of him and it made him mad... What wouldn't he do for Candy?

oOoOoOoOoOo

Meanwhile, Candy was at her place and there were some left over money on the table from her groceries and there was a 5$ note... She turned it around to look and there was nothing written on it... she smiled.

She went to the living room where her fiancée was watching and editing a video clip with his manager...

- Can I talk to you ? She asked.

- I'm going to let you talk, said the manager getting out of the room

Candy was behind the couch on her knees.

- Are you ok?

- I lost my keys earlier.

- Did you find them?

- Yes, in the freezer...

- Oh...

- I think the wedding and the preparations, work, stress, it's too much for me.

- Honey, we're leaving for Toronto tomorrow morning...

- I know honey, I need a little "vacation"

- What do you mean by a little "vacation"?

- Only a weekend so that I could reload my batteries...

Her fiancée looked at her.

- It has nothing to do with last night. I need this, I need it for me.... But I'm not going to go without your approval.

He smiled.

- You can go.

- Thank you, she said kissing him on the forehead...

She stood up to go get ready for her trip.

- Wait, he said, where are you going to go?

Candy stopped and turned around.

- I don't know, maybe New York...

After she finished packing, she went to see her friend Patricia and showed her the plane ticket.

- Happy birthday!

- What? Said Patty, I can't believe you did that! You way too generous!

- Come on, I can give you a nice gift to my friend for her birthday can I not?

- With not specific reason?

- Well yes, said Candy, I'm getting married in a week and I wanted a last trip with my best friend...

- You're cute, said Patty, but you're not my kind at all...

Candy burst out laughing!

- Thank you!

- We're going to New York?! Said Patty laughing! Yes!

Candy was wondering if she wasn't doing a crazy thing, She was going to New York, the city where she had met Terrence... Why? A part of her wanted the confirmation that she was making the right decision by marrying another man...