Starting over Chapter 26

Chapter twenty six

“If I ask nicely?” Ben suggested “I’ve never lived in an American small town” he pouted “Oh Ben” Meg sighed “We’ll go then” she said and parked the car outside the community hall. As they came inside Meg called “Hello” but no one answered “I’ll just go put these in the kitchen” she said and went towards some doors like so many times before. This building held so many memories and she honestly didn’t know if she’d be able to sit thru an evening of bingo. “Hello, may I help you” Ben turned around to the voice.

“You’re new in town” the man with the dog-collar said “I’m reverend John Anderson” he extended his hand “Ben Evans” Ben answered “So can I help you Mr. Evans”? John asked and Ben laughed “Sorry, I’m here with my fiancée, she’s in the kitchen” Ben pointed to a door in the wall “or there” he pointed the other way “We’re just dropping off some cakes for tomorrow” “I see” John said “You must be Meg’s fiancé, Joan said she’d try to get you to drop them off” Ben looked puzzled “To us she said she didn’t have time” the guys started to talk. Suddenly they heard a bump and a chair that fell over and Meg with is as she had been leaning against it. Both Ben and John ran towards her “Meg are you ok?” both asked “What happened?” John went on. Meg got up from the floor “Sorry I wasn’t expecting to see you there” she said to John. “Mom sent us over with some cakes for the bingo. Is your father here?” she asked as she still hadn’t seen the collar. John shook his head “No, he and mom are in the city, coming back tomorrow” Meg looked puzzled “Must be a short trip” “No, they left last week” John looked at Meg “Are you sure you’re ok?” “I’m fine, just mom said she met reverend Anderson this morning” Then John pointed to his neck “Yes she did” Blushing Meg started at him “You? When? Why? How?” the questions just flowed on “Why don’t we sit down” John suggested and Ben pulled a chair for Meg while John walked around to sit opposite. “You said that you couldn’t get away from home and church fast and far enough when you left for college” Meg unzipped her jacket “That was true, but then when I had been away from it a while I actually started to miss the lifestyle. I started to attend church again, re applied for other studies” he went on telling “Didn’t your mother tell you?” Meg shook her head “Was there something more that triggered your interest?” she asked and John had always been an honest person “Yes actually there was” he looked at her with sad eyes. Ben had been quiet the whole time, intrigued what was behind this story, obviously Meg and John knew each other well. “I came back that first autumn Meg” John said and Meg thought back, that was just when she and Tim ad started to date properly and like all teenagers had had a tough time keeping their hands of each other. “I’m so sorry” Meg said “I didn’t know you came back” John shrugged his shoulders “No big deal” “Must have been” Meg added “I never sae you then or anytime after either” “I then finished college, looked for jobs elsewhere, I didn’t want to come here and have to be the one marrying you and Tim, and it wasn’t until just before Christmas I came back home” John lent back in the chair “You see, dad wants to start thinking of retiring and he really wanted me to come back” Meg had almost forgotten that Ben was there “Sorry Ben, are we boring you?” Ben smiled at her “Not at all, I love hearing stories about your past” he took her hand and kissed it and then looked at John “So, have your family always held the church here in Ludlow” he asked “I mean since your father wanted you to take over” John rolled his eyes “Don’t ask him that question, you’ll get the full story but to my knowledge more or less for five generation including me that is” Meg put her hand on Ben’s arm “Shall we get going? I bet John’s got stuff do to” “I actually do, just a few more things” John admitted “I have a wedding this evening” “Maybe someone you know Meg?” Ben said intrigued. John had heard the stories about Tim and Connie “Well it’s Connie” he said “I don’t know if Meg told you about her?” Ben nodded “Too bad it would have been nice to see the church for a wedding” “Are you staying the whole weekend?” it was Thursday today “Yes” Ben answered “We’re not going back until Tuesday” “Then I hope to see you on Sunday and I can show you around after the service” Ben shook his hand they’d reached the door “That could be nice” Ben and Meg said bye to John and left, but before the door closed Ben turned around “John, what are you doing Saturday evening?” he thought about it “Nothing really” “Good, why don’t you come for dinner, bring your wife” “I’m not married” John said and that shocked Meg “Girlfriend?” Ben asked “Or a date if you like, and please bring your parents too, I’ve promised Joan to cook you see” Ben said and then looked at Meg “Is it ok with you, love?” “Sure” Meg said “Please come John mom and dad would love it” “Ok, I’ll com, is it ok that I tell for sure tomorrow, I don’t know what plans my parents have” “More than enough, it was really nice to meet you” Ben said and he and Meg got into the car.

The café was in the other end of town on their way back, otherwise it hadn’t had eny meaning to bring the car- Ludlow, Kansas wasn’t a very big place. Unless someone who knew Meg came up to talk to them Meg was pretty quiet and also in the car. Inside the house Ben helped her off the jacket before he took his own “Was I wrong to invite John. He seems like a nice person so I didn’t think you’d mind” “You’re right Ben, he is a nice person, I just felt sorry for him there a bit. I was sure he’d found someone to settle down with” Meg went into the kitchen. Her parents were out in the stables this time of day. She started to peel some potatoes and Ben walked over to stand behind her. Softly he stroke her arms up and down, but that was what made Meg burst into tears and run upstairs. Ben didn’t know what was wrong and before he could go after her Joan and Hank came inside. They started to ask about the afternoon and it was at least half an hour later when Ben entered the room. Meg was sitting in the middle of her bed hugging a pillow. Ben sat down facing her. He put a finger under the chin and lifted her head up. Meg’s tears hurt him to the bone.
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