~Chapter eighteen~
Everyone
cheered as Jake finished the song “Thank you all, so great to be back and see
so many familiar faces. I hope you’ll have a nice evening and that you’ll get
off your chairs and dance a little” he said and started the next song. As it
was a slower song Meg reached for Ben’s hand “Come on, let’s dance” Meg
snuggled close to Ben. “I feel so safe in your arms” she whispered. Ben kissed
her on the top of her head “I love you Meg” When the new song changed tempo Ben
and Meg went back to the others around the table. “Oh no” Sarah said suddenly
and Meg who sat with her back towards the door turned around “Oh no” she
agreed. Ben had also turned around “Who’s that?” he asked “That’s Tim, my
cheating ex-fiancé” Meg said and turned back around. Tim slandered over to the
bar, he had already had a beer or two at home “I don’t want any trouble from
you Tim” Jarrod told him as he put the beer down in front of him. “What do you
mean?” Tim asked “You know exactly what I mean Tim, the slightest hint of
trouble and you’re out of here” Jarrod said again and went to serve someone in
the other end of the bar. Tim sat down on a stool and looked over at the table
where Meg and the others sat, this would be his and Meg’s first Christmas as
married if she hadn’t run off, so what that he had had a little fun with
Connie, there were no harm in that wasn’t it? He thought to himself. After
explaining to Jude about Tim the mood went back to party around the table and
as Jake took a pause he walked thru the bar, talking to people he knew before
he ended up behind Meg. He put his hands on her shoulders and lent forward “Hi
everyone” he said and looked around. As he didn’t know Ben or Jude he
introduced himself to them, still with a hand on Meg’s shoulder. Ben felt a pang
of jealousy thru his body, he had NEVER felt like this before and he didn’t
like it. “How are you all?” Jake asked and pulled up a chair and sat down
between Meg and her brother. Meg moved closer to Ben to make space which gave
him an excuse to put his arm around her. “So Meg” Jake looked at her “Heard you
moved out west, do you like it?” Meg smiled and leaned her head on Ben’s
shoulder “I love it, it was like coming home when I came to Sunset Beach, you
really should come out there” “I might do that” Jake said as Meg looked up at
Ben “Maybe we should arrange for Jake to play at the Deep” “That’s a great
idea” Ben reached for his wallet and handed Jake a business card “The club’s
about the same size as this place” Ben said “I’ve actually been thinking of
doing a small tour playing smaller places instead of big arenas” Jake said
“I’ll give you a call” he got up “I think I’ll have to play some more, maybe
I’ll see you all here again tomorrow” he still held eye contact with Meg. The
first song was a slow one and Ben and Meg got up to dance again. Jake just
played a few more songs and then people started to drop off and so did Meg and
the others too. “I’ll fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow” Meg said
in the car “It’s been a long day” “I know the feeling, I felt the same
yesterday” Sarah added “Do you know when grandma is coming?” Meg asked “I think
around noon tomorrow and she’s staying over” Sarah answered. Meg couldn’t wait
for her grandmother to meet Ben, especially now when it had went so well with
parents and she knew that her grandmother would love Ben. Suddenly Sarah hit
the break hard “What’s up?” Meg said and looked up just in front of the car was
Tim “Why did you stop?” Meg said tiredly and rolled down the window “Just go
away Tim, I don’t want anything to do with you” Tim walked around the car and
leant on the roof “But what if I want to talk to you then…” he said and Meg
shook her head “I told you that we’re done with each other. I’ve moved on and I
hope you will do the same” she took a deep breath “I know we probably will bump
into each other when I’m here, but I’ll do my best to avoid you” she started to
roll the window up and told Sarah to drive off.
Back at the
farm Meg made them all some coffee, she wanted to be alone with Ben for a bit
so she suggested they’d drink the coffee in her room. She sat down on her bed
and offered the only chair to Ben. Ben tilted his head a bit and searched for
Meg’s gaze “Anything wrong?” he asked softly. “Not really” she shook her head
“I just thought that we’d talk about what happened tonight” “You mean Tim?” Ben
said “I don’t think there’s anything to say” again she shook her head “Nope,
not Tim… Jake” she had felt Ben’s look as Jake had put his hands on her
shoulders “You know I truly love you and only you Ben. Jake’s just a very close
friend…” she didn’t know how to explain it to him. Ben put his cup down and
moved over to sit beside Meg. He held her close in his arms “I know what you
mean. From what Sarah said before I’m considering myself a very lucky man that
you were with Tim back then and that you’re a person that’s true to the one you
love, even though Tim wasn’t in the end, otherwise I would never have had the
privilege to get to know you” His kiss showed Meg all the love he had for her.
As they broke the kiss “There will be a woman that will be just as lucky as I
am one day when she finds Jake” Meg looked puzzled at him “That you two didn’t
‘get it on’ way back when” Ben smiled. With a smile Meg reached for Ben’s face
and pulled him close for a kiss “I’m the lucky one” After finishing his coffee
Ben left Meg’s room. He went into the room he shared with Jude, who already was
asleep, and took his laptop with him downstairs to check his mails. He knew
that Mark would have left a report for him by now. “Can’t you get to sleep
either?” startled Ben looked up and saw Hank “Not really, but I had to check a
few things. I hope you don’t mind Mr. Cummings” Ben said. Hank shook his head
“Not at all Ben, you feel like home I hope” he said “And… I hope you will call
me Hank” Ben laughed “I sure will Hank” he nodded towards the coffee machine
“There’s some fresh coffee if you like” Ben said as he had made a fresh pot
“Well I might as well” he said and sat down with a cup “So, what’s keeping you
up?” Ben asked “I’ve got a horse that was a bit unsettled when I did the late
feeding and I’ve got a hard time to relax when all’s not right” he explained “I
think I know what you mean, some nights when there’s been a roar or beginning
of a fight at the club I keep thinking that what if they come back and try to
break in or something” Ben said. Hank laughed “Maybe our businesses aren’t so
different after all” Hank said. Ben closed his laptop down “I guess not,
worries are always the same whatever you do I think” he took a sip of the
coffee. Hank finished his coffee and stood up “I think I shall go back outside
and check, do you want to come along?” he asked Ben and since Ben still hadn’t
seen the stables he joined them. They ended up staying with the sick horse all
night since Hank knew that the veterinarian wouldn’t come at this time anyway
“You learn by time when to call emergency calls, but I hate to leave Cassie
like this” Hank had said “Cassie is actually Meg’s favorite so I’d hate to see
anything happen to her” “I understand” Ben said. The men talked all night and
got to know each other, it wasn’t until Joan came in the crack of dawn that Ben
went back inside to get one or two hours of sleep.
Meg had a
restless night, she missed Ben’s arms around her and then the dreams were so
strange. She dreamt she was a fair maiden in the middle-ages and that the men
dueled for her, first it had been Tim and another guy she didn’t know and Tim had
won her, just to lose her to Jake who in his turn lost her to Ben. All of the
time Meg had been sitting on her favorite horse in a lady saddle watching the
duels. When she woke up she put her robe on and went to see if Ben was awake.
She opened the door quietly and saw that Jude was already up but Ben was still
fast asleep. It wasn’t like Ben to sleep after eight am. She tiptoed over and
sat down on the bed. Slowly she pulled a strain of hair back from his face, she
knew that Ben had been too busy to get to the hairdresser’s; usually he kept
his hair neat and tidy. She bent forward and placed a soft kiss on his cheek,
Ben stirred and slowly opened his eyes “Good morning beautiful” he said and
stretched out “Good morning” Meg kissed him “You look tired” she said “Yeah,
I’ve only slept like…” he reached for his watch “… two hours. Your father and
I” “What did dad do now?” Meg asked and rolled her eyes “Nothing Meg, don’t
worry. Let me finish though, we were in the stables all night with Cassie, she
was feeling poorly. I think the vet’s been here by now” he said and sat up and
pulled Meg into his arms as she looked worried “Shall we go down and see how
she’s doing?” Meg nodded “Let me just get dressed, I’m ready in five minutes”
she said and ran into her room where she threw on a pair of jeans and a blue
plaid shirt. Ben had gotten up and put on his jeans and t-shirt and a sweater
on top. When they came downstairs the rest were sitting at the table having
breakfast “Good morning everyone” Ben said and locked eyes with Hank “How’s
Cassie doing? I told Meg and we thought we’d pay her a visit” Hank nodded and
swallowed his food “She’s much better, the vet left about an hour ago” he
informed them “But I think some TLC from Meg won’t do her any harm” Hank smiled
at his daughter “No carrots though, it was something with her stomach Steve
said” “Ok daddy” she said and Ben and Meg dressed up in boots and jackets and
headed towards the stable “I can’t believe you and dad spent all night out
here, how did you get to know?” she asked and Ben told her how he had checked
up on business things and Hank had wandered into the kitchen. “I’m happy you
get along so well” Meg said. “I’m happy too, I have to admit I was more nervous
about meeting your father than your mother” Ben said and took Meg’s hand as they
walked the path to the stables.
As they
returned inside it was still some time before Joan would return from picking
her mother up so Meg said she had some last minute giftwrapping to do and went
to her room. Ben had his own agenda and went to look for Hank, he found him in
the little study her had behind the kitchen. He knocked on the door and looked
inside “Hi Hank, I hope I don’t disturb you?” Ben asked “Not at all Ben” he
said shaking his head “Maybe you could help me out with this computer thing,
I’m no good at it, Maggie always did it for me before she moved to Sunset
Beach” Hank said “I can try” Ben said and stood beside Hank when he told about
his problem, it was an easy thing to fix, Ben showed how he should tackle the
problem if it came back on “Or you’ll just call me… or Meg and we’ll be your
support over the phone” Hank nodded as Ben sat down on the edge of a chair
“That’s good to know” Hank said “So, what can I help you with” Ben who never
was unsure of anything suddenly felt nervous, he looked up “Hank, sir…” he
started and Hank looked at him, he had a hint of what would come and didn’t
know how much he’d let Ben suffer. Ben cleared his throat “I would like to… I’d
hope to get your blessing… in asking Meg to marry me” You could almost feel the
tension in the room. Hank couldn’t hold back “I was wondering if this was what
you wanted… and I actually wanted you to suffer waiting for my answer, but Ben,
I’ve not know you very long and Meg has just known you a little longer, but
from what I see in her face when she looks at you and the other way around and
the way we got to know each other last night I’m more than happy to give you my
blessing…” he paused shortly “I’m also very honored that you asked” Ben sighed
of relief “Thank you sir, Hank” he shook his hand and rested back in the chair.
Hank looked at Ben, just for a brief moment he saw something that he only could
describe as vulnerable. Ben got up of the chair “If you’ll excuse me I’ll go
make a phone call to see that all’s ok in Sunset Beach” Hank smiled “Not at
all, you go ahead”
___________________________________________________________________________
All connections to
Sunset Beach and real life characters are purely for your pleasure.
©tinadolphin@comhem.se
2012-
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