Sorry Part 4

The next day

Michael pulled up in front of Pryor Electric. After a few minutes, he got out of the car and slowly made his way up the sidewalk. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the door open and stepped inside. There was a man and woman standing by one of the stoves talking. He looked up, seeing Michael.

"I'll be right with you sir."

"All right."

Michael started to walk around the store, not really looking at anything. The door opened again about 5 minutes later and he heard Jack's voice.

"I'm back Henry."

Michael turned at the sound of his voice. He watched Jack walk over to the stoves where the other people were standing. They talked for a couple minutes, then the man started towards the back of the store. Michael knew this was his only opportunity, so he spoke up.

"Mr. Pryor."

Jack turned at the sound of the person calling him. His eyes narrowed when he saw Michael.

"Mr. Pryor can we speak in private sir?"

"We have nothing more to say. I would appreciate it if you left my store."

"All I am asking for is that you hear me out." Michael said, "Give me 5 minutes of you time and then I promise I will leave."

Jack looked at him, not speaking. Finally he said

"All right. Follow me."

Jack led him towards the back of the store. He opened the door that led into an office. Walking around the desk, he sat down. Michael waited a moment, then walked over to a chair across from Jack and sat down.

"I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for what happened to Meg. I should never have let her go outside alone that night. I should have insisted that she wait or I should have driven her home."

"Mr. Brooks, my wife and I will always be grateful for what you did for Meg." Jack said, "Will there be anything else?"

"Mr. Pryor I think we need to talk about what happened after dinner."

"What happened between you and Meg last night should not have happened."

"I understand how upset you are but I need to explain."

"There is no need for any explanation. Meg is 15 years old. She's young and impressionable. She doesn't realize what she is doing sometimes. I do what I have to do to make sure that she doesn't get hurt."

"I don't know if you will believe me or not but hurting Meg is the last thing I would do. I really care about your daughter. She's not like anyone I have ever met before. I was so scared that night. The thought of someone hurting her made me sick. Now I think I've taken up enough of your time."

Michael stood up and started to walk towards the door. He was about to open the door when Jack said

"Mr. Brooks."

Michael turned around, not saying anything.

"Come back here please."

Michael slowly walked back towards the desk. Pulling out the chair, he sat down again.

"Yes Mr. Pryor."

"Please call me Jack."

"Only is you will call me Michael."

"All right. So Michael, what exactly do you want?"

"I would like your permission to ask Meg out on a date." He said

"I would like to tell you yes but this is something I would need to discuss with my wife first."

"I understand."

Slowly Michael pushed his chair back and stood up. Jack also stood, holding out his hand. They shook his hand and Michael turned away. He started to walk towards the door when Jack stopped him.

"Why don't you join us for dinner tonight." He said, "Come over around 6."

Michael turned around, looking at him.

"I will have my answer for you then."

"Thank you Jack."

Jack nodded and Michael walked out of the office.

Later that evening

Helen was going over some notes for her class while dinner was heating in the over when the back door opened. Looking up, she saw Jack walk in the doorway. The echo of sad music could be heard coming from the upstairs.

"She still hasn't come down."

"She's still pretty upset."

"Well I think I know something that might make her feel better."

"What's that?"

Jack walked over to the table and pulled out the chair next to his wife.

"Michael Brooks came by the store today."

"What for?"

"We had a chat about what happened last night." He said, "And he asked my permission to take Meg on a date."

"What did you say?"

"I told him I would need to speak with you." Jack said, "So what do you think."

"I think he's a nice young man. He was there for her when she needed him. He seems to care about her."

"So you think we should let her go out with him."

"I do."

"All right." He said, "I told Michael I would let him know tonight when he came for dinner."

A few minutes later Patty came into the kitchen.

"Dad Meg won't let me in our room." She said, "She's had the door locked and she's been playing music all day."

"Patty go upstairs and tell your sister to come down here now." Jack said

"But she won't open the door."

"Now Patty." He said, "Tell her I said I want her down here in 5 minutes or I am coming up there."

Patty walked out of the room and headed upstairs. Jack waited until Patty was upstairs before turning to his wife.

"How do you want to do this."

Helen thought for a minute.

"Let me handle it."

A few minutes later they heard Meg coming down the stairs.

"And don't you touch any of my records!"

Meg walked into the kitchen. Leaning against the doorway, she said

"What did I do now?"

"Meg I need you to set the table."

"But its JJ's turn."

"JJ isn't here."

"Then why couldn't Patty do it." Meg said, "She was just down here."

"Well she isn't now and I am asking you to do it."

Meg walked over to the cabinet and got the plates down. Then she opened the drawer and picked up the silverware. Stomping her feet, she headed for the dining room. They listened as she began to set the table. Looking at the clock, Helen whispered

"When is he coming?"

"I told him to be here by 6."

"He has 10 minutes."

The timer on the oven went off. Helen walked over, opening the door. Grabbing a oven mit, she pulled the pan of chicken and vegetables out of the stove just at Meg walked back in.

"Is there anything else because I would like to go back to my room."

"Meg its dinner time and this family eats together at dinner time."

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.

"Would you get that please Meg." Helen said

Meg turned and stomped down the hall, muttering. Opening the door, she stepped back in surprise.

"Michael." She whispered, "What…what are you…doing here."

"Meg who's at the door." Jack called

"No one dad." She said, then turned to Michael whispering, "You have to go now."

She heard footsteps in the hallway.

"Please Michael."

"What is he doing here."

Meg turned, seeing her parents standing a few feet from them.

"Dad…I…he…Its not."

Jack looked down at his daughter, not saying a word. Slowly he walked over to where Michael was standing. Not saying a word, he simply nodded his head. Michael looked at Meg.

"Meg can I speak with you outside."

Meg looked at her parents, waiting for an objection but neither of them spoke. Meg waited for another moment before saying

"All right."

Michael turned and walked out the door with Meg following behind. They stepped onto the porch. Michael saw a bench in the corner of the porch. Taking Meg by the hand, he led her towards the bench. The sat down and he immediately turned towards her.

"Meg I had everything that I wanted to say planned out." He said, "But now I don't know where to begin. Last night when we…when we kissed…"

Meg could feel the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. She knew that he was trying to tell her that what had happened was a mistake but he was trying to be nice about it. Taking a deep breath, she knew she had to say something before she broke down completely. It was then that she realized that Michael was staring at her.

"Meg…did you hear what I said

Meg nodded, hoping to hold back her tears long enough to speak.

"So…"

"I think you are right. It was a mistake and it shouldn't have happened."

Meg stood up and started to walk towards the door. Tears started to stream down her face. A hand closed around her arm, stopping her. Michael turned her around so that she was looking at him. He wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Meg, I didn't say that it was a mistake."

"You…you didn't…"

"No." he whispered, "What I said was when we kissed, something happened. I realized how important you are to me."

"I…I am."

"Yes Meg…you are." He said, "And I hope that you will say yes when I ask you to have dinner with me tonight."

"Tonight…But I'm not…I'm a mess…my clothes and my hair."

Michael silenced her by placing a finger against her lips.

"Meg you have never looked more amazing to me than you do right now." He said, "So will you go with me?"

"What about my parents. My dad won't let me go."

"He already has."

"Then my answer is yes." She said, "Just let me get my coat."

She turned to walk in the house when he caught her arm again. Turning her around, he said

"There's just one more thing I have to do."

"What?"

He leaned forward, brushing his lips across her. It wasn't a kiss like the one from the night before. It was something more. It was a kiss full of promise and hope. It was a kiss full of something that was yet to be discovered.

Well that's about it. I think I am finally finished. I hope everyone enjoyed my little story.