*Please play the music while reading the story*
Two days ago…
Caren was in Kenneth Chandler’s office after she agreed to come to meet him when his secretary called her the next morning after her birthday party. Kenneth was the most reputed lawyer in California after making his name in public eye for representing celebrities in high profile divorce proceedings. He was also a very good friend of Caren Larson and had known her for many years since his school days. He had attempted to hope to be more than just a friend to Caren until Toby Damson came into her life. Knowing that Caren’s heart can never be the one for him to treasure, he channeled his attention to his work and he was good at what he did. Fighting for the rights of the wronged, aggrieved and innocent parties in civil suits and divorce proceedings.
Kenneth: Thanks for coming, Caren. How have you been all these years?
Caren: I am…. I am fine. Thank you, Kenneth.
(Caren looked rather gloomy as Kenneth’s office reminded her of the past when she walked into the same office with Toby ten years ago. Kenneth took out an envelope in his drawer and opened the envelope and slid out a piece of folded paper. It was Toby’s will and he read it to Caren indicating about the transfer of Toby’s half share of his mansion at Serville Park to her. After reading it for a while, he was interrupted by Caren abruptly.)
Caren: Why is he doing this to me? What about his wife or girlfriend or…their family? Are they objecting this?
(Kenneth stopped reading the letter and looked at Caren. He knew that Caren is desperately looking for an answer from him. Caren didn’t understand why. Why after all these years Toby is doing the things he should have done long time ago before the divorce? But why now?)
Kenneth: Toby didn’t have a wife or a girlfriend.
Caren: What?... But I remembered 10 years ago when I came in here with Toby signing our divorce papers, you told me that he has a girlfriend and will be getting married again after my divorce is finalized…. What are you saying now?
Kenneth: (sighed)..
Caren: What? What is going on here, Kenneth?
(Kenneth sighed harder and looked away. Couldn’t look at Caren anymore as he felt guilty all of a sudden.)
Caren: Tell me Kenneth? I know there is something here. Toby was your friend. Please tell me what all this is about and why now?
Kenneth: Caren.. As a lawyer I am bound by my privilege……
Caren: STOP TELLING ME THE LAWYER AND CLIENT PRIVILEGE THING. I WANT TO KNOW WHY!!!. KENNETH! TOBY IS DEAD….. (starting to sob)… the… the least you can do is…..is……….. tell me why…. And ….. why are all these….. happening in my…. life again…..(sobbed terribly and her tears were uncontrollable).
Kenneth: Caren… please calm down.. I am not suppose to tell you this because…. because….. Toby asked me not to….
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(In Kenneth’s mind, 10 years ago in his office when Toby came to see him alone…..
Kenneth: Why are you doing this, Toby?
Toby: I ..I……(sighed)…..Just do it for me, Kenneth.
Kenneth: mmmmm I know what you are doing? Butta do you think it’s a good idea?
Toby: I don’t care anymore. You should look at Caren’s face when she told me how I have suffocated her to the wall until she couldn’t breathe. I…. I… just don’t want her to suffer anymore… Kenneth…
Kenneth: Yeah! Butta…
Toby: Just DO IT OR I FIND ANOTHER LAWYER TO DO IT. OKAY?
Kenneth: Okay… Please calm down. What if she finds out one day? She will be even more painful than she is now, don’t you think?
Toby: That’s is why you MUST NOT TELL HER. Remember your lawyer and client privilege? Please Kenneth, you are my only friend whom I can trust. Please do this for me. No... Please do it for Caren. We both love her right?
Kenneth: ….(silent and thinking about what Toby wants him to do.)
Toby: RIGHT?.....
Kenneth: Okay.. Toby….okay…
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Caren: …What?....Toby asked you not to?... Not to tell me what, Kenneth?
Kenneth: Remember the girl I kept mentioning to you ten years ago….the girl who was Toby’s colleague and how they were supposed to get married after your divorce….and….
Caren: You mean Amy… right?
Kenneth: Yes…..(paused for a while.)
Caren: AND?
Kenneth: Are you sure you want to hear this Caren? Maybe it will be better to let it go?
Caren: AND? (with a louder tone.)
Kenneth: (sighed) ….Actually there wasn’t any person called Amy in Toby’s life. She was just a fiction or someone I have made up or what Toby wanted me to make up to tell you.
Caren: … wh….why?
Kenneth: Toby knew that at that time….. though you wanted divorce so much from him, he knew that you still loves him and you will carry the pain of losing him even after the divorce…. So he wanted you to forget him by hating him. He wants me to make it look as if he is a terrible person so that you can forget him easily and move on with your life. …Caren, I am so sorry… so sorry to tell you all these. (sighed)… Toby actually loves you very much even until today before he died. The day after you have executed the divorce paper and left, Toby signed the transfer forms and documents to transfer half of his share of the mansion to you and asked me to keep it and wait for his further instructions…. I didn’t know that he wants me to keep it till today for this…. I am very sorry, Caren. I am telling you this because as a friend, I hate to see you in tears and I felt so guilty as a friend not being able to tell you earlier …I am very sorry…and I am very sorry for Toby too…. I do wish it should have been better between both of you all these years.
(Caren sobbed terribly and started to cry after knowing what Toby did for her.)
Caren: ….How…..how did Toby die?
Kenneth: He drown while diving in Similan Island. Some tour guide in Thailand told me he was searching for something in the water for years…. Searching for ….ahh…coral or something….Oh yeah… I remembered… searching for a heart shaped coral rock…
Caren: ….wha….hea…(sobs)….heart shaped coral rock?
(After hearing what Kenneth has just said, Caren cried so loud and couldn’t control her tears any longer.)
Kenneth: Caren…what is it?.... What’s wrong?
Caren: hhhuhuhh….Heart shaped coral rock ….was….was his promise to me 13 years ago?.....hhuhhhh …..Oh God…huuuhuuuuh…why Toby…..why now? ..huhhuhhhhh……(cried terribly.)
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(In Caren’s mind, 13 years ago in her room while celebrating her first Valentine Day with Toby….
Caren: Ta da! Here’s my gift for you.
(Caren handed a gift to Toby while jumping with excitement.)
Caren: Go on! Open it.
(Toby opened the gift and saw a branded wallet with a lot of side pockets. The one where you can put all your credit cards and display them all at once in the wallet. The kind of wallet that Toby has been searching for a long time.)
Toby: Oh my God! Where do you get this? I have been searching for this for ages…
Caren: I know. That’s why I am getting this for you. Hey! Do you know that I have been searching at every counter in all the shopping malls in town for the last 3 days until I finally found it for you?
Toby: Oh…honey….You shouldn’t….have. I love you.
(Toby hugged Caren tightly and passionately. Feeling touched by the wonderful gift from Caren.)
Caren: I love you too. Now, where is my present?
Toby: …uuur…oh…uurrr…
(Looking rather pale and speechless as he realized that he has forgotten to get Caren a present for the Valentine Day celebration.)
Caren: You forgot or you didn’t…
Toby: I… I am sorry…..I
(Seeing Toby feeling guilty, Caren quickly hugged him.)
Caren: Shhh…..It’s okay. I don’t need any present from you as long you love me.
(Caren looked deeply into Toby eyes and smiled.)
Caren: Your present for me is to love me forever…(giggled)…. That will be my best present in any Valentine in my life……(giggled)….Okay?
Toby: (smiled)….Okay.
(Caren and Toby looked at each other eyes for a moment and then they kissed passionately. After a while, Toby broke the passionate moment and told Caren what was in his mind.)
Toby: Tell you what? I am going do something for you right now…What do you want?
Caren: Right now?
Toby: Yes right now? What do you want?
Caren: Mmmmmmm
(Caren looked at a table calendar on a side table next to her bed. It has a picture of Maya Beach in Thailand illuminating the colours of the calendar. Caren has been hoping to go and visit this beach for a long time after she has watched a movie called “The BEACH” acted by Leonardo DeCaprio. After the movie, the beach has gathered world wide publicity for its unique surrounding with beautiful white sand beaches secluded in Phi Phi Ley Island. Toby noticed Caren staring at the picture.)
Toby: I know what you want now?
Caren: What?
Toby: You want me to book for a holiday in Phi Phi Island?
Caren: Yeah but quite?(giggled)
Toby: Quite?... What do you mean?
Caren: I want you to book me a holiday trip to Maya Beach and then…. You must swim into the coral and get me a coral rock….mmmmmmm….that coral rock must not be any kind of coral rock you know…...
Toby: ahhhhh…..I see. So my dear princess, what kind of coral rock do you want me to get for you…huh?
Caren: Let see….(giggled)….okay….. I want you to get a coral rock for me as proof that you love me very very very very very much…. A coral rock that has a shape of a heart……hahahahahh (giggled).
Toby: A coral rock that has a shape of a heart..... mmmm. No problemo!!!
Caren: You liar…..(giggled)
Toby: No..no… I promise….I promise…..I will do it for you. I love you honey.
Caren: MMMMmmm….. we shall see?
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(After hearing Caren’s explanation about the heart shaped coral rock and seeing her crying so emotionally, Kenneth moved closer to her and gave her a hug. Feeling sorry for her and for Toby, it was a moment that he has tried to prevent all these years and also warned Toby about it 10 years ago but Toby wouldn’t listen to him. Now all he has to do is to help Toby achieve his wishes by executing his will for him and to hope for the best for Caren. While giving Caren a friendly hug, Kenneth suddenly remembers something.)
Kenneth: Oh! I almost forgot!
(Kenneth moved towards his file cabinet next to his study table and drew out a drawer. He took out a bunch of house keys and passed them to Caren.)
Kenneth: Here.....It’s the keys to the mansion. Toby wanted me to pass these to you when you come to see me about his will.
(Caren’s right hand slowly grab the keys from Kenneth while her left hand was still wiping her tears away.)
Kenneth: (sighed) Take care of the mansion, Caren. It has come a long way. Actually Caren, just something I thought you should know. Toby was a bankrupt before he died. His business was not doing so well. Many times I have asked him to sell off the mansion so that he can cover all his debts but he refused and insisted that his mansion should be kept safe and sound. I guess I finally understood why now. He was keeping the mansion for you.
(After awhile, Caren left Kenneth’s office without saying a word. Too distraught to speak and to take everything that happened at one glance. So sudden and so heavy for her to carry in her heart. The pain and suffering of knowing the truth was just too unbearable for her. The awful memories of the past with Toby have returned to her and haunt her again with new ones emerging in her mind all over again.)
