Sunday, February 12, 2012

Started with a chat 06

~Chapter six~


Sunday evening after closing up Ben asked Meg to come to the office “I need some personal information so I can pay you” Ben said and Meg sat down opposite him at the desk. “And of course I have to ask you if you want to continue working. I know you’re on your vacation, but I’m really in need of a waitress” “And I’ve really loved working here this week so if it was a question I’d really like to work next week too. I’ve got a flight home from LA on Saturday afternoon” Ben looked up from some papers “I will hate to see you go, but I’m very happy you’ll stay on this week” Meg got up to get ready to leave “Can I ask you a favor Meg?” “Sure, you name it” she said “Could you fill in for Mark at the Java Web on Tuesday?” she was surprised “Sure” “Good, someone told him to take a chance on an adventure so he’s asked for an audition with my aunt at the radio station” Meg blushed “I guess I owe you it then” she picked her purse up “Meg, there’s another thing I’d like to ask you” but just as usual he was cut off, this time by the phone “Can we talk tomorrow? I’m quite tired” Ben nodded and concentrated on the phone call. It was -someone who had lost something.

The week rushed by and before she knew it, it was Friday afternoon. Meg had been needed at the Java web again so Ben had given her the evening off since it was her last day in Sunset Beach. Ben had felt a connection between them and he was now pretty sure that she was Dorothy from Kansas. When he checked his mails that afternoon there was a new message from her “S.B I’m sorry we never got around to meet and now I have to go back home, but who knows maybe someday I’ll come back again” Ben felt a sadness and made a rush decision “Dorothy” he started the mail “I’d really like to meet you and show you the spectacular sunset from a bit above. Could you come to 1303 Ocean Drive just before sunset tonight? Don’t be scared that the house looks a bit run down but I’m about to start renovating it.” He sent it and hoped that Meg was getting it. His backup-plan was to ask her out for dinner to say thanks for helping out these weeks, if she said no he’d know she’d gotten the mail.

Even though Meg wasn’t going to work she was at the Deep already at 6 pm. She was restless and confused, was she going to meet S.B or not, and especially since he had told her about the house. Well the sun wasn’t about to set just yet so she had a bit of time to decide. She sat down at the bar and was surprised when she saw Ben there and not Roger “You’re working yourself tonight?” she asked “Well I’m starting up at least, Roger’s coming in later on” he put a glass of wine in front of her “Think this was what you had your first evening here” Meg smiled at him “It sure was, not had any since” she sipped it “So, have you made any dinner plans?” Ben asked “I thought otherwise if I maybe could take you out to say thank you for your hard work” that was when Meg decided “It would be nice, but I’m actually meeting someone that I’ve been trying to track down since I came here” Ben tried his best to look disappointed “Oh, that’s nice for you” inside he was happy, he really liked Meg and hated to see her go. Of course his divorce was far from final but with Meg going back he didn’t know when he could persuade her to come back. Meg finished her wine “I’ll come back later on to say bye to everyone” she told Ben and walked up the stairs.

Ben quickly gathered the picnic basket he had ordered and went to his new house. He wanted to be there before Meg came and he wanted to have set the picnic up on the upstairs balcony too. The house didn’t look much to the world, it was dusty and the wallpaper wasn’t much to show either but still he wanted Meg to see it before she left.

Meg walked down the beach side until she came to the house, it did look nice enough, but it was in need of renovating. She was a bit nervous and still not sure if she was going to go around the house and ring the doorbell. But she was curious so she soon stood in front of the door. She rang the bell and got the biggest surprise in her life when she saw who opened the door.

“You? Ben, what are you doing here?” Meg was confused “Please Meg, let me explain” he took her hand and lead her inside “First sorry for the mess, it’s true the house is mine and I am going to start renovating it” he closed the door behind her “It took me some time, but then I had my suspicions. Remember all those times I’ve tried to talk to you and we’ve been interrupted” Meg thought back to when Annie came into the Java Web and just the last Sunday “I wanted to ask you to be sure” Ben held onto her hands and looked her straight into her eyes “Meg, are you ‘Dorothy from Kansas’?” She was in shock and couldn’t answer but she nodded her head “I’m so happy you are, if you’ve not figured it, I’m the one that’s S.B” “But how?” Meg asked “Well it was the little things, you being from Kansas, the way you love strawberries and how you talked about the sunset. And of course your mails” “But why didn’t you…” Meg started “Oh, Maria of course, that’s why you didn’t want me to come” Ben shook his head “Not at all, I’m all done with her, well not all done we still need the divorce to be final, but she hurt me Meg, that’s why I didn’t want you to come, I couldn’t stand being hurt again” “But why now, you know I’m going home tomorrow” Meg was getting furious “What’s the use of us meeting like Dorothy and S.B when I’m leaving?” “Shh” Ben put a finger to her lips “We can talk later, but I want to show you something first” He took her hand and led her up the stairs, thru a corridor and a big room out onto the balcony. They stepped out just in time to see one of the most spectacular sunsets. It was first after that Meg noticed the big bowl with strawberries in the middle of the table “Do you know you’re incredible” Meg turned around and looked at him. Ben shrugged his shoulders “I guess this is just me being me” he pulled out a chair for her “Sorry that it’s all so simple, the deal just went thru Monday and I’ve not had so much time to fix things. And besides I wasn’t even sure you would show up” “Ben, it’s fantastic” Meg smiled at him “I mean the food looks delicious and the strawberries, well what can I say” she looked out over the ocean “And the view is breathtaking, it can’t be much better”

Ben and Meg spent most of the evening there on the balcony talking about everything, when it got a bit chilly Ben took Meg on a tour of the house “This” he said as they walked off the balcony “I’m planning on using as master bedroom” Meg smiled “With this view and the sunset just outside it can’t be better really, how many rooms is there in the house?” she asked “Well this and three more here upstairs” he took her out thru the corridor and showed her the other rooms “Then downstairs there’s the big living room and a smaller one that I thought I’d use as a home office and of course the kitchen” “Show me” Meg said and started to walk down the stairs “Now, this is a room that really needs a makeover” Ben said as he stopped outside the kitchen door “Come on Ben, let me see it” Meg pushed passed him “Don’t say I didn’t warn you” Ben was just a step behind and bumped into Meg as she had stopped the second she stepped into the kitchen, it was true it needed renovating “Ben, what a kitchen this is I can really see the potential” she turned around “Do you have any plans drawn up?” Meg was excited “Not really. I got some architect’s plans that the previous owner had made up, but I doubt I’ll stick to them” they walked back into the living room where he showed her the plans. Meg took out a pen from her purse and with Ben’s permission started to move things around “Sorry, I got a bit excited there” Meg said “It’s your house not mine” Ben stood beside her “But you know what, I agree on most of the things, you got a great eye for design Meg” Meg blushed “It’s true, have you studied design in college?” “I majored in Economics, but I took interior design one term” “It shows on these” Ben pointed to the plans.

Meg got a glance of Ben’s wrist watch “Is that the time?” she said “I need to go. It’s been lovely Ben. Not only tonight but working at the Deep and the Java web, it was just what I needed” “Meg, it doesn’t have to end here” Ben said “Yes Ben, remember I’m going back to Kansas tomorrow” Ben took her hand “Meg, I mean it” he looked her deep in the eyes and bent forward to kiss her “Ben, please don’t” Meg said, but the attraction was too big and she gave in for the kiss. As they walked back to the Deep they didn’t talk much, Ben reached for her hand, how could he let her go he had just started to get to know her but he knew this was the real thing, nothing at all like what he had had with Maria. Meg’s head was filled with questions; Ben’s kiss had been breathtaking, would she ever get over that. Her life was still back in Kansas although she had a lot of new friends in Sunset Beach who she hated to leave. She also let herself toy with the ideas of renovating the house with Ben and live there for the rest of their lives. Those three rooms upstairs would be great as guestrooms at first and when they had children they’d redecorate them. ‘Children, snap out of it Meg’ the thought to herself. The walk to the Deep wasn’t long enough to wonder further.

Everyone was there; Gabi, Paula, Michael and Vanessa, Casey and Rae and a few others Meg had gotten to know the short time she’d been in town “Meg, you have to come back soon” Gabi said “I totally agree” Vanessa filled in “Two weeks are too short” Meg hugged them both “I feel the same, but I need to face things at home and besides, I have to get back to work on Monday” “Wouldn’t have been much of a honey moon if you had gone thru with the wedding would it?” Gabi stated “Sure wouldn’t” Meg agreed “I’m happy I did find out before the wedding” she looked around for Ben she hadn’t had time to talk to him at all since they arrived back at the Deep. As the others got up to dance Meg went up to the office to see if Ben was there “Ben, are you here?” she called but got no answer so she walked inside. Just as she was about to turn around and leave again when Ben came out of the shower, stark naked about to wrap the towel around his hips “I’m… I’m so so sorry” Meg stuttered “I knocked and called but you didn’t answer. I will leave at once” she was on her way to the door “Meg” Ben said calmly and as she turned around he was about to put his watch on “You don’t have to leave” he wasn’t the slightest embarrassed. “I think I better” Meg had the hand on the door “Will you wait for me downstairs at least?” Ben asked and Meg nodded.

Meg was sitting at the bar as Ben came down stairs, he walked over and stood beside her “Would you like to dance?” she hesitated a bit “I told Mark to put on one of my favorite songs” it started to play and Meg noticed it was a slow song, you couldn’t make a fool of yourself dancing slowly. She put her hand in Ben’s “Yes, I’d love to dance with you”

What does it mean?
Feels like we've been here before
Feels like I've known you all of my life
It's all that it seems
Watching the waves kiss the shore
Seeing your smile light up the night

We'll find our dreams
Beyond the Sunset
All that love means
Beyond the Sunset
(beyond the, beyond the sun)

This is our time
You're all I'm thinking of
You are the one love time can't erase
Oh, girl
And when you are mine
I live each day for your love
And we'll live forever in this magic place
You and me, baby

We'll find our dreams
Beyond the Sunset
(beyond the, beyond the sun)
All that love means
Beyond the Sunset
(beyond the, beyond the sun)
Just you and me
Beyond the Sunset
(beyond the, beyond the sun)
A brave new world
Beyond the Sunset
(beyond the, beyond the sun)
Beyond the Sunset
(beyond the, beyond the sun)
All that love means
Beyond the Sunset
(beyond the, beyond the sun)

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All connections to Sunset Beach and real life characters are purely for your pleasure.
©tinadolphin@comhem.se 2012-

Started with a chat 05

~Chapter five~


Meg didn’t know what to do for the rest of the day, but as she didn’t know how long she’d stay she thought it was time to visit the beach. She realized she hadn’t packed a bathing suit so she had to go shopping. She found a little shop called Sunset Sisters where she went inside. There were a lot of souvenirs and other knick knacks but also a room filled with clothes. “Hi, can I help you?” a young woman her own age said “Yes, I’m actually looking for a bathing suit of some kind” Meg said. “We got a selection over here” she led Meg over to some shelves “Anything special you had in mind?” Meg shook her head “I don’t know, I thought I’d spend the afternoon at the beach and realized I hadn’t packed a bathing suit” “One or two piece?” the woman asked “Oh, I’ll go with a one piece” Meg laughed and was shown the selection “Do you have a fitting room?” she asked “Yes, over there, please call me if you need any help. My name is Gaby” the woman went over to the counter to help some tourists with their purchase. Meg tried on a couple of her choices and chose one. She brought them all over to the counter “I’d like this one please” she said to Gaby “A wise choice I believe” Gaby said “Are you here on holiday maybe?” she asked “Yes and no, I don’t know yet” Meg said as Gaby packed her suit in a bag “I have to see, but I’ve got two weeks off from my work in Kansas and I think I’ll stay that long” “Maybe we’ll run into each other again the, the town’s not that big” Gaby handed her the change and bag “Maybe, I’m helping out at this club ‘The Deep’ this week” Meg said “Then I’ll definitely see you, I’m planning on going there tonight” Meg held out her hand “I’m Meg” they shook hands.

Irritated Ben went back to Surf Central when Mark came just after lunch. As usual when he was feeling like this he dressed in his sweatpants and went for a run. Just as he rounded the corner to the road that would take him down to the beach he bumped into someone “I’m so sorry” Ben said and looked at the person “Carmen, are you ok?” he asked his mother-in-law “Yes I am” she said in broken English, she was originally from Mexico “How about you? I was disturbed by the cards this morning” she said “I’m ok” he didn’t know if Maria had told her mother yet “I know you relay a lot on the cards, but believe me I’m ok” Carmen took his hands “If the cards were right and they always are I’m so sorry Ben, I never believed this of my Maria” “Don’t worry about me Carmen, I can take care of myself. I better run along though” Ben said and left “Oh oh oh” Carmen shook her head “You don’t know what’s in the future for you Ben” she walked the few blocks home.

Meg came to the Deep around six in the evening, there were a few guests that were having dinner, but that was all. “Great, you’re here” Mark said “Ben told me to take a few shirts out for you to try on, they’re up in his office” Meg looked around “Ok if I do it at once?” she had dressed in a skirt and white blouse this evening, much better than her flower-patterned dress she had on the previous evening. “Sure thing” Mark said and Meg went up the stairs. Some of the guests wanted Mark’s attention so he didn’t notice Ben walking in and straight for his office until it was too late. “I’m so sorry” Ben said when he found a half dressed Meg who startled turned around “No worries” Meg pulled the shirt on. It wasn’t much Ben saw, but he liked what he did see. “Do you want me to go so you can try the others on?” Ben asked when he saw the other shirts “No, I’m done. I think I will leave you to it instead and get to work downstairs” she smiled and left the office. Ben sat down at his desk and went thru some paperwork. He had been seeing his lawyer to make a draft he could present to Maria for the divorce, he’d also look into buying a property further down the beach, the house there now was worn down, but he needed something to do and renovating it would be fun. In his mails he found a message from Dorothy. Ben wasn’t too sure about if he should set up a meeting or not, officially he was still married to Maria, he hoped the divorce would be quick. His lawyer had told him he was foolish when he had presented his idea. Maria was to get the house and a pretty fair sum of money, the only she had to do was to agree to the divorce at once. He sighed, a part of him still loved Maria, although she had betrayed him in the worst way he could imagine and from talking to Annie it had been going on for quite a while. In Annie’s defense she had stayed loyal to her best friend even though she and Ben too were close. She had been really sorry about not being able to tell him about it.

Downstairs the evening was getting busy. Michael had showed up again, this time he introduced Meg to Vanessa, his journalist girlfriend. Meg also got to meet Casey and Rae, Casey too was a lifeguard and Rae was a doctor. Gaby came together with her sister Paula. Meg was surprised at this many guests a Monday evening, she had to remind herself that she wasn’t in Kansas anymore. Just in a few days she had noticed that California had a totally different lifestyle, one she started to like already. “A penny for your thoughts” Ben said, Meg sighed “I just can’t win with you can I?” she thought back to the previous night when she had fallen asleep in the office totally exhausted from the weekend’s escapades. Ben had to laugh “I hope you were thinking happy thoughts” Meg smiled at him “Yes, I left all the bad back in Kansas” ‘Kansas again’ Ben thought “You mentioned Kansas before, from where in Kansas are you?” Ben asked “It’s just….” He didn’t get to say more because some customers needed service and Meg was off “I have to stop this” he said out loud to himself. “Stop what English?” he heard the familiar voice of his wife “Don’t you bother about that Maria, what are you doing here?” he asked “Enjoying myself, spending time with my husband who’s been distant the last few weeks” Maria tried to touch Ben but he pulled away “Maybe there’s a reason why I’ve been distant” he didn’t like it but the bitterness wouldn’t go away. Once before just a few weeks after they had started dating Maria had gone out with someone else behind his back, just for a week so he took her back but made the promise to him-self and Maria that if it ever happened again he wouldn’t be so nice. Maria went to sit at a table, if she needed to she’d wait until closing and then talk to Ben, she was missing him like crazy. Meg noticed the new customer and went over “Welcome, can I get you anything?” “The usual” Maria said looking challenging at the new girl “Sorry Miss, I’m new here so I don’t know what your usual is” “Oh right, you see my husband hasn’t talked much to me lately or I’d know he had gotten new staff” Meg looked surprised at her “Is Ben your husband?” “Of course he’s my husband” Maria flashed her rings in front of Meg and Meg felt a sting in her heart, she hadn’t seen Ben wearing a ring, well maybe he was the kind of man who didn’t like jewelry. “Here’s your wine Maria” Ben said and put down a glass “Meg, I think Todd needs some help with the glasses” Todd was the kitchen help “Ok” Meg said and turned again to Maria “Nice to meet you Mrs. Evans” Ben looked at Maria “If you’re staying here I hope you will be nice to all of the staff both old and new” Maria was known to be able to stir up trouble whenever she liked it.

A few hours and glasses later Maria got tired of waiting for Ben, he had ignored her most of the evening, not even when she had been dancing challenging with some guy he hadn’t bother. Usually this wasn’t her style, but she had seen Annie do it millions of times with the result that all the guys in the club were staring at her. Maria got up and went home. One by one people left the club, for most of them it was a working day tomorrow. Meg started to clear and clean the tables. As Ben passed her on his way to the office she stopped him “So, how much do you clean every night?” she asked “When I waited tables at college we did it all in the evening” “The cook cleans the kitchen and then I’ve got a cleaning service for restrooms and floors, but please put the chairs up” “Ok, I’m almost done then. Is there anything else you want me to do?” Ben shook his head and left. ‘Ok, then’ Meg thought ‘strange guy’. As Roger still was cleaning the bar when Meg had put the chairs up she handed him the apron and said good night and walked home. A few more days passed this way and Meg enjoyed her time in Sunset Beach. She walked around exploring the town, spent time at the beach and then worked at the Deep in the evenings. She hadn’t seen much of Ben since that evening when his wife had been in and the little she had met with him he had seemed grumpy. When she went for her breakfast at the Java Web Friday morning she was met by Mark “Good morning, what a great DJ-session you had yesterday” she said “Thanks” Mark smiled “You really love it don’t you?” Meg asked “Yeah, but I doubt I could make a living off it” Meg had always loved to solve problems “Have you ever tried out for a radio show?” Mark shook his head “Why not, I’ve been listening to the local radio station and they could need someone like you” she suggested. She noticed how he was hesitating “Someone told me just a few weeks ago to follow my heart and chose an adventure, why don’t you make this your adventure?” she told him. Mark laughed “Will you be quiet if I say I’d try?” Meg stood up and hugged him over the counter “Yes” Mark was called to the kitchen to get Meg’s breakfast it was a routine that she sat at the counter eating. “There’s only one problem” Mark said when he came back “Who will work here if I get a job elsewhere” Mark had always been very loyal to Ben all since Ben took him in when he came to Sunset Beach as a runaway. “What about me?” Meg shrugged her shoulders and dug into her fruit salad “Mmm, I don’t think I ever can have too many strawberries” Mark laughed at her enthusiasm “Have you forgotten you’re going back to Kansas in a week” he reminded her “Oh Mark, don’t remind me. To be honest, I don’t want to leave” Challenging Mark looked at Meg “What about an adventure?” and they both laughed, this was how Ben found them when he arrived at the Java Web “What’s so funny?” he asked “Adventures” Mark and Meg said at the same time “Adventures are good, I told some a few weeks back to try out an adventure” Ben said. Meg was still laughing and didn’t hear Ben very well. “Seems to be in the air then” Mark said and then told Ben about the morning. “And our most loyal morning guest is she enjoying her breakfast?” Ben asked Meg “Of course, I think the cook put extra strawberries in today” “You know with your charm you’ve wrapped all my staff around your little finger” Ben said “Me?” Meg looked at him “I’m just being myself”
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All connections to Sunset Beach and real life characters are purely for your pleasure.
©tinadolphin@comhem.se 2012-