* The moving In meeting *
"Please, Mr. Conrad. Try to understand... yes, I know I'm two months late but... yes, I know, Mr. Conrad but..." Meg said, walking around her small kitchen area as she talked to her landlord on the phone. It was paying day, which meant that she had to pay all the bills plus the rent. Things have been especially difficult for her since Rose went out of the hospital a few months ago, with bills getting higher and rent being raised quite frequently. And she hasn't even started to plan the wedding yet! "...I'm not saying I'm not going to pay, Mr. Conrad, but I... yes, I understand, but... Mr. Conrad, this is the third time you raised our rent in the last three months! I can't pay that much! I..." she exclaimed as John walked in holding take-away bags. She smiled at him, then sighed in frustration. "Yes, Mr. Conrad. I understand. I... I'll try to have your money before the end of the month... Ok... bye." she said, hanging up as John put the bags on the counter and kissed her cheek. She let out a groan which startled him.
"Everything ok?" he asked, taking food plates and packages out of the bags. She sighed and shook her head, resting her head on her arms on the counter. He reached out and rubbed her arm. She upped her head and looked at him. He looked back and smiled a bit. She sighed.
"Mr. Conrad raised my rent again." she said. He sighed. "Third time in the last three months. I just... I'm so behind with it and I can't even begin to pay last month's one! Bills got so high I could barely pay them last month and make sure we had enough to live." she explained.
"Why didn't you tell me, Meg?" he asked.
"Because it's not your duty to pay my bills, John." she said, then sighed. "I'll have to go back to Marmee's. There's no way Mr. Conrad will let us live here if I don't keep up with the rent." she said. John looked at her.
"Then... why don't you move in with me?" he suggested. She perked up and looked at him. "My apartment is big enough for the three of us. Rose will have her own room, you will have more money to invest on the wedding or other things, and it'll even give us the opportunity to start saving for a house of our own some day. Just... think about it, Meg!" he continued. Meg thought about it for a minute. Sure, her and John were going to live together at some point. That was obvious. It was just that... they haven't had that conversation yet. "We were going to do this eventually. I mean, we're engaged. It was bound to happen some day." he added.
"You... are you... You'll have to let me pay for some bills." she said, arms crossed across her chest. He smiled at her.
"Alright, we'll split them." he agreed. She smiled, leaned forward and kissed him. He continued with the kiss before being interrupted by Rose.
"John! You're back!" she exclaimed, running to him. Meg and John pulled away and he picked Rose up.
"Hey, princess! Remember a couple of months ago when you asked me if I could stay with you and mommy forever?" he asked her. Rose looked at him and nodded. "Well... would you like to move into my apartment instead? You will have a bigger room." he said. Rose thought about it.
"Can I choose the painting?" she asked
"Rose!" Meg exclaimed. John smiled.
"Yes, of course." he agreed.
"Will I have to change schools?" she asked.
"No, sweetheart. John's place is actually closer to your school than ours." Meg replied. Rose smiled.
"Ok." she said. John smiled and kissed her. "Can we eat now? I'm hungry." Rose said. John and Meg laughed. Meg set the table as John took the food and talked to Rose. Meg looked at them, smiling. Maybe the fact that Mr. Conrad had raised her rent once again wasn't that bad. After all, it gave her and John the opportunity to actually start a new chapter together.