Ben was furious, Maria and her best friend Annie had been in the Java Web that morning, still drunk from last night’s party they had had at the house. Now and then Annie had always been able to convince Maria to throw a big party with people they knew and didn’t know. His mood was a bit miserable, he had liked talking to ‘Dorothy’ and now that would probably never happen again.
Meg connected her laptop but when she came into the chat room S.B wasn’t there. She hadn’t tried it before but there was a mail function. She started a mail “Hi, S.B it’s me, Dorothy from Kansas, or shall I say from the air! I left Tim and I’m now on the airplane to California. I might take you up on your offer. Best Regards, Dorothy from Kansas”
Back in the office Ben was still upset but Maria and Annie’s behavior, he’d swore to himself never to let a woman come close by again so when he saw the message from Dorothy he quickly replied “Stay away Dorothy, I’m sorry but it wasn’t a good idea after all. S.B” he sent it, closed the computer and went back to Surf Central to change for a run.
Meg had lost the internet connection just after she had sent the message and when she landed at LAX it was pretty late so she decided to try and find a hotel for the night and then try and find a way to get to Sunset Beach the next day. After she gotten a bite to eat she went back to her hotel and tried to connect her computer, but she had no luck. She took out her cell phone and called her parents to let them know where she was and that she was safe. When she talked to Sarah she told her the story about S.B and that she the next day were going to this town Sunset Beach to see what it had to offer her. Her idea to make this trip the adventure S.B had inspired her to made her decide not to explore L.A but take a bus to the town called Sunset Beach.
The bus stopped right at the beach and Meg hadn’t seen anything as spectacular ever. She took off her shoes and walked barefoot in the sand down to the water. She backed off when it hit her feet, it was a bit cold, but not as cold as she’d expected in early of October. It was close to lunchtime and just as she left the beach she stumbled upon “Elaine’s Waffle Shop”. She went inside and walked over to the bar where she looked at the menu “Hi and Welcome” a woman in her 50’s said “What can I get you?” Meg looked in the menu “Well it’s a waffle shop, so I think I’ll have the waffles” she said and the woman smiled “Oh no miss, don’t have the waffles if you want to live” a man her own age said “Michael” the woman said “You’re scaring my customers away” he bent forward and kissed her on the cheek “You know I eat everything you make Elaine, everything but your waffles… I’ll have the usual for me and Casey, we’re eating in the office” he then turned to the younger woman “I’m sorry I never introduced myself, I’m Michael Bourne. You’re new in town aren’t you?” Meg smiled “Yes I am, I’m Meg Cummings” she shook his hand “This is Elaine” Michael pointed “And what she doesn’t know about this town and it’s history isn’t worth knowing” “Oh Michael, you make me sound like a gossip-central” she smiled and took Meg’s hand “Welcome to Sunset Beach Meg” “Thank you, but what was it about the waffles” she asked “Apparently I can’t make waffles, from what I’ve heard it’s all over the town” Elaine laughed “But everything else is the best” Michael said and got a big brown paper bag to go. Meg finally decided on a grilled sandwich and a cup of coffee “Why don’t you go sit outside and I’ll bring it to you” Elaine suggested “That would be nice, I can’t believe how warm it is here” Meg said and took her bag and went outside. In the door she bumped into a man “Excuse me” he said with a deep English voice “I didn’t look where I was going” “No worries, I’m still standing” Meg joked and walked outside. “Hi Ben” Elaine said when she looked up “What brings you here?” it was a joke between them as Ben had his Java Web “Just a bottle of water, I was in a hurry when I left for my run” “Sure thing” she turned around and took a bottle out of the fridge “Everything ok otherwise?” she asked “Yeah” Ben shrugged his shoulders and sat down on a stool “It’s just I heard something about you staying at Surf Central” Elaine wasn’t looking for gossip, she wanted to know for herself “I don’t really want to talk about it, but it’s a small town and it’s true I’m staying there for a while” Elaine had just put Meg’s food on a tray and walked passed Ben. Softly she put a hand on his upper arm “I’m here if you want to talk” “Thanks Elaine” he stood up “Ok if I come in later and pay?” “Always” she smiled and walked outside to give Meg her food. As Ben walked away he passed Meg “Enjoy your lunch” he smiled at her “Thanks” Meg said and smiled back.
Ben walked back to Surf central where he showered and dressed for a meeting with Gregory at the media center. He packed his notes and laptop and left the house. On his drive over he thought about his living situation, he couldn’t stay at Surf Central it wasn’t his style to share with so many and besides Mark Wopler was living there too. Well he loved Mark like the little brother he never had but Mark was still his employee. Another reason was that he wanted Casey and Rae to have as much space as they wanted.
Meg enjoyed her lunch and then went inside to pay “Do you know a cheap hotel to stay at?” she asked Elaine “There’s the Seabreeze motel, just a block away that’s fairly cheap, the Grenadine’s is the big fancy hotel I think those are the best choices for you” “Well I got some money but I think the Seabreeze sounds best, I don’t know how long I’m staying” “Oh, how come?” Elaine asked curiously “Long story short, I left my cheating fiancé at the altar yesterday” Meg smiled, it felt good to have done it “And just decided to come here, do you know anybody in town?” Elaine asked “Not really, I’ve chatted with a guy for a short time and he said he was living here, but you never know” “Well if you decide to stay, let me know if you need help finding a job or other place to stay” “Thank you Elaine” Meg said and left to get a room at the motel. When she had unpacked and called home to let them know where she was and that she was feeling good. She also asked how things had been at home the last 24 hours and it had been fairly calm. Some of her relatives had been a bit disappointed but when Sarah had explained why and how when she got back at the farm everyone had understood. After hanging up Meg again picked her phone up and called “Sophie” was the short answer “Hi grandma, it’s Meg” she had a hard time to keep her tears away “Oh my Meggie, how are you love?” “I’m fine, I hope I didn’t disappoint you” the older woman smiled to herself “Never Meggie, just as long as you are ok wherever you are” “I’m in California, in a little town called Sunset Beach” she told about the beach and sea. “Grandma, there’s a thing I wanted to ask you” “Go ahead” Sophie said “The necklace, do you want me to send it back?” the woman shook her head “No Meggie, it’s yours and one day I believe you will get a good use for it, you now he’s out there” Meg was puzzled “Who’s out there?” “The man of your dreams, Tim was the safe choice but he’s not and never will be your soul mate” “How do you know things like this grandma?” with a laugh she got her answer “I just do, it’s things that comes with living a full life and you will know too” They chit chatted some more and then hung up.
After his meeting with Gregory Ben decided to go straight to the Deep, the evening was approaching and he knew he had to work the bar as Mark was doing the DJ act and they were down at least one waitress. He quickly stopped by Elaine’s to pay for his water “Elaine, you don’t happen to know anyone that’s good on waiting tables?” she shook her head “Sorry Ben I don’t” Ben shrugged his shoulders “Bummer, I lost two waitresses last week when they left for college in New York, but please let me know if you got anyone and don’t need them yourself” “I will” Elaine promised. She loved Ben, there had never been any hard feelings between them although they both competed about the same customers.
After a shower Meg finally got her computer connected to the internet and was sad when she read the message from S.B, but now she was in Sunset Beach already and she had decided to stay at least a week. She looked thru her clothes and took the most appropriate and went to look for the Deep. She had read on a poster that it was a night club that served ‘light food’ and well she had to eat. Even though it was fairly early in the evening the people had already started to gather. Meg looked around and quickly located the bar. She went over and sat down. The bartender was busy with another order but Meg was in no hurry. “A white wine” Meg said at the same time as Ben suggested it “How did you know?” Meg laughed “By time you learn” Ben said and looked at her “You’re the one I bumped into at lunch aren’t you?” Meg recognized his English accent “Yes I am” “Then let me treat you on this” he pushed the glass towards Meg “You don’t have to” Meg tried to protest “I want to, can’t have you going around thinking I’m a thug” Meg laughed “I doubt that, is there anyone in this town that is?” she looked around a bit and saw Michael with some friends “So far I’ve only met nice people” “You’re new it town aren’t you?” Ben asked “Yes, arrived just before lunch today” Meg said and was surprised how easy it was to talk to strangers, maybe it was because people in this town didn’t feel like strangers. “Welcome to Sunset Beach then, I’m Ben Evans” he extended his hand over the bar “Meg Cummings” she felt something taking his hand. “Hi boss, seems to be a good crowd tonight” Mark came to get a bottle of water “Sure does” Ben looked around “Still not found any replacers?” Ben shook his head “You’re sure you don’t know anyone in town” Ben asked Mark “Not that would be suitable for waiting tables here” Meg couldn’t help but overhearing their conversation “Are you looking for a waitress?” she asked “Yes” Ben said “Well I used to wait tables all thru college” Meg said “Were you any good?” he asked “The best” Meg said with a smile. Ben hesitated “Are you by chance looking for a job” “Oh sorry” Ben went on “Of course you’re not, you just arrived here and you’re probably on your vacation” Meg stood up “You know what Ben, that was my originally plan, but nothing’s keeping me back home so if you want me, I’m yours”
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All connections to Sunset Beach and real life characters are purely for your pleasure.
©tinadolphin@comhem.se 2012-
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