"I'm the child, you are the adults, you're supposed to be worried about my happiness, I am not supposed to be responsible for yours."
Images from the night before kept coming back into Megan's mind. The news of Todd possibly moving to California with Lacey has been occupying her mind for so long. What if she will lose Lacey again? What if the bond they had formed and is continually working on will eventually result to nothing. What if Lacey loves California more that she will eventually decide to move with Todd? The persistent ringing of Megan's phone brought her back from her reverie. She was expecting that it was gonna be Avery, seeing how the night ended so abruptly last night. Instead of seeing the FBI agent's cellphone number, she was surprised that it flashed her mother's name.
"Hi mom." The exasperation so evident in Megan's voice.
"Megan, I'm here in your house. Where are you? I've been waiting in the coffee shop for two hours and you didn't show up. I am hoping you did not ditch me because of a case..." Before Joan could continue, Megan cut her off.
"I'm at the airport mom."
"Airport? What are you doing there?"
Before Megan responded, she thought again of the night's conversation. How she managed to agree with the plan was beyond her.
"I'm with Todd and Lacey. We are flying to California."
"Ohh." Joan replied. For years, she was so used to Megan's erratic behaviour but this one, she didn't see coming. Was her daughter and ex-son in law getting back together?
"I thought you were seeing that guy Megan, Peter was it?" She finally managed to say.
Megan for a while did not understand what her mother was talking about? Peter? And then, like a bolt of lightning, she remembered. She took Peter to that country club gala and she recalled that her mother was not at all convinced that Peter was just her partner.
"Mom, Todd and I are not getting back together, and no, Peter and I are not dating." She finally answered. From the corner of her eye, she saw Todd and Lacey returning to their gate, coffee and muffins in hand.
"Oh." Joan said on the other line, not at all convinced. "Then why are you going to California with your ex-husband?"
"Because, Todd wants me and Lacey to see what life will be like if they move. It's his plan. Lacey agreed, thinking it would be good if I would be able to see it with her so that we can all make our decisions." She again replied, exhausted from thinking it over and over again. Todd thought that by bringing Megan along, she can see that he is not in anyway putting too much pressure on Lacey to make a decision.
"So you are going to make this decision together? Sounds like a couple to me." Joan baited.
"Look mom, I gotta go. I'll talk to you soon." Before her mother could reply, she turned her phone off just in time for Lacey and Todd to reach her.
"Here you go. I ordered your favourite tea." Todd said, handing her the warm cup.
"Mom, you ok?" Lacey said, switching her ipod off.
"Yeah, grandma was just looking for me." She replied, running her hand through Lacey's hair. "Thanks." She said, now turning her attention to her ex-husband. Todd has an amused look in his face.
"Your mom was looking for you? That does not sound good."
Megan just shrugged. Todd knew Megan long enough to know about her relationship with her mother. When they were still married, Megan would get all so tense when her mother would call.
"I'm gonna use the restroom." Lacey said, abruptly standing up. Before her mother could offer to go with her, Lacey walked away. She sensed that both her parents needed to talk.
"So." Todd began.
"Let's not talk about my mother." Megan said, taking a sip of her tea. The warm liquid slightly easing the tension she felt. "Where are we staying again?"
"We will be staying at the four seasons when we arrive at San Francisco, and then the day after, we will be heading to Berkeley. There is a little residential house near the campus, its in Claremont. The faculty head owns it and offered to loan it to us for the week." Todd finished, now completely turning to Megan who just nodded in agreement. "Look Megs, I know you weren't planning on spending the week in Berkeley, especially under these circumstances. But I really appreciate it."
Megan looked at Todd, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. A part of Megan felt that it was the right thing to do. Ever since she knew him, this was the dream. But life happens and this plan was shoved in the back seat. Maybe, by agreeing to this plan, Megan would ease the guilt she felt for Todd, for all the sacrifices he made.
Before she could reply, Lacey arrived.
"Come on you guys, did you not hear the announcement, our gate is already boarding." Her parents immediately stood up, gathering their individual belongings. Todd saw the excitement in his daughter's eyes. It's been too long since they actually went somewhere, and Todd for one was really eager to leave the city behind.
The plane was taxing the run way. Todd looked at Lacey who was in the window seat- looking over Philadelphia as they were airborne. Megan however, was not exactly thrilled. Todd knew she hated flying, hated the idea of not being in control. Without a moment's hesitation, Todd took hold of Megan's hands. He immediately took notice of her body tensing, but when she didn't pull away, Todd took it as a positive sign. Slowly, he felt her relaxing under his touch and for that he felt good. For a brief moment, Todd felt that they were a family.
The rest of the flight was uneventful. Arriving at San Francisco however was another thing. It was already half past midnight when they reached the hotel-their body still adjusting to the new time.
"I have two rooms reserved under Flemming." Todd said, approaching the front desk. Megan and Lacey were sitting in the sofa, too tired and groggy to stand up.
"Yes sir, one single and one double beds. Your room is ready sir, here are the keys." The receptionist handed Todd the key to his room and the one Lacey and Megan are sharing. He walked back to where Megan and Lacey were sitting, not noticing the man who was following him closely.
"She must be pretty exhausted." Todd said, handing Megan her room key.
"Yeah, long flight. I'm pretty tired myself." She replied, running her hands gently thru Lacey's sleeping form. "Sweetheart, time to wake up." She tried again. Before she could successfully do so, an unexpected voice was booming behind them.
"Todd, Todd Flemming?" Both Megan and Todd turned around, seeing who it was. For a moment, Todd tried to focus, but he could not remember who this man was.
"It's Arnold Johnson. You remember?" Todd tried to remember this man in front of him but he could not just remember who he was. Nonetheless, he shook the guys hands.
"Yes." Todd tried to sound so casual. "What are you doing here?"
The man laughed, clearly a bit intoxicated.
"What am I doing here? Hmm, lets see, I'll be interviewing you this Monday for the teaching spot at Berkeley." Said the guy, sarcasm in his voice. Suddenly, Todd remembered. Arnold Johnson was his classmate at Law School. A total prick as he remembered. And to his luck, this guy would be interviewing him this Monday. Trying to sound not so ignorant, Todd replied.
"Of course you will be in the panel. What I am trying to say is, what are you doing here at the hotel?"
"Oh, taking the missus out on a date." He finally said, turning around to introduce his wife. "This is Tina, my wife. Darling, this is Todd Flemming. He is a lawyer, might be teaching here soon." Tina smiled at Todd, extending her arm which Todd shook. Before he could say something, he heard Megan call him.
"Todd, I think you need to carry Lacey back to the room coz she is not waking up anytime soon." Megan said, tired and a bit bossy. Todd nodded, but turned to Arnold when he began talking.
"That must be your wife." Before he could correct him, Arnold and Tina were making way towards Megan and a sleeping Lacey. "Beautiful. You are one lucky guy Todd, she is a beauty. I'm glad you are not divorced since Bob is pretty particular with those. No divorced faculty has ever been admitted in the college."
Megan was about to correct him when Todd interjected.
"Yeah, none of that. This is Megan, Megan Hunt. Umm, Flemming, Megan Flemming." Todd again said, pulling Megan towards him. She was confused and a bit frustrated that she was speechless. She could not believe he was willing to go down this road.
"Megan Hunt? The Dr. Megan Hunt? I heard great things about you. Bob, said you saved his life? That operation you performed on him was a legend. Doctors here have been saying it was impossible to get that tumor but you did. Wow!" Arnold again looked at Megan, who was completely clueless.
"Umm, I think Todd and I need to go. We have to leave early tomorrow." She turned to Todd, bag in hand.
"Sorry, but its been a long day." Todd said, looking at Arnold and Tina before he picked up Lacey. He quickly strode towards where Megan was standing, waiting for the elevator to open up.
Once inside, Megan turned to the opposite side and muttered.
"You are unbelievable."