Chapter 21
Meg looked round hotel room, it was beautiful a day area with sofas and tables an added glow from the vase of golden roses on the table. Then the archway into the bedroom area giving it a feel of privacy, she smiled at the single red rose on the bedside table on her side of the bed. She carried on smiling as her gaze stopped at the sleeping figure on the bed, it had been a long drive down and in the end Ben had relented taken a pill and was now sleeping it off. She knew he would wake in time for tea, and feel cross with himself, he was getting better but it was just too long a journey on top of the move etc, they would be more relaxed after their break so the return journey should be fine.
She turned round and quietly walked through the doorway out onto the terrace and sat down taking in the wonderful view across the gardens and the townscape. Relaxing she let her mind wander back to last night and their party … all their friends enjoyed it and now her parents were overseeing Casey and Sara's move in. She gave a quiet giggle as she remembered Sara's last minute panic over it all and Ben's gentle reassurance he would not kick them out if the job was not finished by the time they returned. And then to Casey's surprise Ben explained he was paying for the work as a thank you, she was pleased how Casey accepted it with good grace.
Her mind drifted back further to their first visit here and the places they'd visited and would return to and the new ones they would find. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned slightly and looked up at him.
Ben looked at her his eyes still showing signs of sleep but his smile showed her he was fine as did his voice. "I rang for some tea. Guess John and Mary settled in while I was doing my sleeping beauty act. Who brought me in?"
Meg smiled as he sat on the chair beside her and said gently. "I was good and resisted doing the kissing bit to wake you up. They are out exploring I thought we would meet up for breakfast tomorrow and decide what we want to do. John carried you in, I must admit the manager was surprised at your entrance but I explained you've been ill and they've offered us the use of the spare car for the week, so I can drive you nuts!"
Ben laughed and there was a knock at the door Meg called out it was okay and the waitress brought in the drinks and put them on the table, Meg smiled and said "Thank you."
After the waitress left Ben handed Meg her cup of tea and asked. "You were miles away just now thinking about the last time?"
"Yes and the party last night. Thanks … It will be alright you know."
"If not I'll have to walk home or the first quarter and hop in or would it be the last quarter I should walk." Ben commented as he looked at the view then started to drink his tea.
Meg watched him without making it obvious or so she thought. That was till he stopped drinking and smiled as he put his cup down and looked at her saying gently. "I'm not going to flip I'm feeling better already and I'm not just saying it either. This place did us good last time." He settled back as he continued. "Do you remember the round café on the edge of town we were practically on our knees after going to all those shops? … Hey, we can explore that strange gift shop which was closed last time, perhaps find something for Sara."
Meg laughed and relaxed "Trust you to remember that place; you know it might give us some ideas for Sunset Sisters though."
"See I'm going to have to watch this new business woman of mine." He said seriously.
She looked at him and asked. "What do you think of her so far?"
He looked at her, his eyes were sparkling with fun, recognizing his expression she couldn't help returning the smile not realising it made her own eyes sparkle as he answered. "Umm I think I'll like getting to know her as I did the other one."
Meg pretended to be hurt replied with a huff. "I see two women in your life then."
He laughed and got up helping her up as they moved together to walk along the terrace, he put his arm around her and said softly. "It would be very difficult to part them don't you think."
She giggled "Yes a bit messy. It's a beautiful garden, time enough to walk before the evening meal."
Ben said softly, "I never argue with the boss you know that don't you." and kissed her before she could answer.
oxoxo
Jude came into the office. "Heard anything from Ben and Meg."
"Yes Meg rang Gabi they will be back tomorrow afternoon/evening things are working out well."
The phone rang and Ricardo listened for a while and swore as he put it down.
"Not good news then?" Jude asked sitting down.
"That was the DA Steel warning us we have to make space for extra officers."
"That's good." Then realised the possibility and added. "As in not working with us permanently you mean."
"Yes, they will be going to go through everything that has happened since Ben arrived in Sunset Beach and ask everyone questions about Tess, etc. They've got guilty pleas from all of them."
"Then why" Jude asked mystified then sighed adding. "What are they pleading?"
"Mitigating circumstances from the Doctor … at least the Seattle police are dealing with that their end. He is saying Derek and Jake threatened him and his family. Tess is saying Derek and Jake threatened herself and Benjy and adds infatuation on her part regarding Derek. She tried to implicate Maria that was squashed but Maria will be called to give an account of herself and there's going to be report for guardianship."
"Wow what about big boy."
"He is silent under treatment which could take sometime but I guess he will quote their parents accident as the trigger and blame Ben, possible threats from the others just for the hell of it. Apparently everything is going to Court nothing is being ruled out. Family history and what happened then the accused pleas are heard at the end."
"Hell that is going to take ages and the number of lawyers. Will Ben have to go through everything?"
"No quite a lot of it will be done via statements all ready taken, as far as Ben is concerned the Judge is trying to protect him. He's going to see if he can hear it in a different way and put a 14 day time limit on it apparently."
"Great at least Ben will have some time before it all hits the fan again."
"Yeah I can just hear it. Hi Ben had a good holiday by the way …"
"Come on Ricardo he knew it would come to some kind of Court hearing no doubt it's what Derek is waiting for."
"Quite true anyway how's Annie."
Jude a short laugh and said. "I just come from the cells out back."
"Oh no not again." Ricardo sighed.
"Oh yes only this time…………."
oxoxo
"Casey!"
"Sara it will be fine Ben said we can stay on till the work is finished which it will be by the end of next week, we could not have foreseen the kitchen would need to be renewed completely."
"Yes but Ben's paying for it."
"Hey its fine he told me we could re-roof the place if we wanted and he would not notice." Casey replied with a smile.
Sara giggled and looked around her. "It's lovely here, do you think they would smell a rat if we said it could not be finished for another month."
Casey laughed. "Definitely a very big one, just don't get ideas young lady, my pay will not run to this." They were sat in the garden, which joined the covered pool, on sunny days the doors could be opened making the whole area very luxurious, all it needed were the servants to wait on everyone... and they were lacking. As it was the doors were shut and the garden was beautifully laid out with grass area and flowerbeds.
Sara smiled and admitted. "You're safe I'll just need to come here for a boost, it's amazing how ordinary it looks from the front and yet it opens out into the beautiful house and garden. No wonder Meg fell in love with it, mind you it is a bit more than ordinary."
"Ben was never one to flaunt his fortune and he would not start now especially with Meg around."
"You mean golden gates etc, heaven for bid. I suppose we will have to come down to earth and get tea."
"Yes your ladyship the kitchen is thataway."
Sara got up with a giggle. "The chairs belong thataway your lordship."
oxoxo
Ben and Meg sat on the terrace on the table in front of them stood a small velvet box and four glasses, next to the table stood a champagne bottle in ice.
"Perhaps they've got frightened and run off."
Meg laughed. "And leave us to walk home no way! It's been a fantastic week thank you."
"You're fine with the idea then?"
"Umm yeah both of them."
"Meg, Ben sorry we're a bit late."
Ben looked round at the voice and smiled. "That's all right John, Mary have a seat. We were wondering if you were willing to put up with us in the future."
Meg said with a tease. "Now you've seen him at his best and worst."
"Hey I prefer worst and best?"
"Why that way round."
"I think I've improved over the week. Of course you will have to accept that she can be a bit bossy."
"Hey I'm not bossy!" Meg exclaimed.
Ben looked at her and said gently. "You sent me to bed during the day when I was fine I call that bossy!"
"You needed it …. anyway can we let them say something."
"As longs as it yes otherwise they are definitely walking home."
"How do we get home, Mr Knowall."
"You drive and I cower in the back or walk and see you next year. Anyway we need a truck with what you have bought."
"Not true the things are being sent ahead" She started heatedly dying out, "Okay … in a van not a truck." ending with a giggle at his expression of 'I told you so'.
John laughed and Mary smiled they had got used their banter during the week. John decided to answer for the both of them, "Yes we like the idea, and we can always change things around with reasonable notice of course."
"Three a clock in the morning be all right." Ben said with a straight face.
"Ben!" Meg exclaimed.
"Only kidding lets break out the champagne and celebrate." Ben said smiling his eyes sparkling with joy and reached not for the champagne but for the small velvet box and opened it and looked at Meg. "I've done the knees on the ground bit before and decided to do it the easy way this time."
John and Mary watched as Ben took out the diamond ring and took hold of Meg's hand and looked at her in the eyes, his voice was soft and gentle. "Meg you know I love you with all my heart so I would like you to wear this ring to warn off everyone else and save me the trouble."
Meg laughed as she let him slip the ring on her finger then exclaimed. "Ben you're impossible! But yes I love you with all my heart."
"Oh good I would hate to have to face that poor jeweller again."
Everyone laughed and Ben opened and poured the champagne and as they raised their glasses to drink he said. "To us and our future."