Chapter 3

"Simon, you're sure you know where everything is?" Meg asked as she came out of the kitchen.

Simon sighed "Yes Meg, you've told me three times, … got it written down not to mention John can show me! Oh and I've been here before. Get your things and GO!" he smiled taking any possible sting out of his words.

Casey smiled and could not stop the very quiet chuckle as he watched from the doorway.

Meg smiled and took the hint and gave the main room one last sweeping look and had the sudden feeling she would not see it again.

Simon caught her change of expression and said gently. "Meg it will still be here when you come back to stay for good or a just a visit - I promise you."

She looked at him and laughed and said. "Thank you."

Casey gave her his own kind of hint and picked up her case and started down the corridor towards the exit to the car park.

Meg called out. "Okay! I'm coming Casey! I'm coming!" and picked up her bag and laptop and followed him. She knew if she looked back the safety and welcome the apartment radiated would give her that extra tug back. But also Simon's words had brought back that flicker of adventure she'd been feeling before the flash of reservations took over. She wanted to go and she was going it was just butterflies.

oxoxo

As they drove to the Airport she looked out the window saying a quiet goodbye, closing all her memories not to forget them just to put on one side for a while to make room for the new ones. She knew once she was on the plane and up in the air she would be fine, this fluttering would go and she would be able to think of the new places she was going to visit.

At the airport Casey quietly got Meg's things out the trunk of the car and they went over to the terminal entrance to join the many people bustling around, waiting for flights or arrivals with the call for passengers and flights over the speakers.

Seeing and hearing started the familiar rush of excitement through her body cancelling all her fears. Casey found a trolley and put her things on it and as she put her hand baggage on the top her hand rested on his and she said gently. "I'll be all right Casey thank you …go get back to Sara."

"You sure Meg" He was a bit concerned she had been so quiet on the journey and he'd seen the change in her expression from confidence to sadness then back to her quiet laugh and reply to Simon.

Feeling confident now she was here and the bustle around them she smiled and said truthfully. "Yes thank you, I know you've got things to do and we've really said our goodbyes already. "

He smiled knowing what she meant none of them liked public goodbyes and saw she was fine the attack of nerves was gone and he could report back to Sara she was really okay. "All right then. We've got your e-mail address and we will check ours every morning and about 8 in the evening our time. Of course we know where you are and have mobiles if we get desperate, don't worry I'll make sure Sara does not report everything to Hank.

Meg laughed at his tone on the word everything and kissed him on the cheek then added with true friendship. "Thanks for everything."

Hearing the tone he could not help but say, "Hey that sounds like the last goodbye which its not." He smiled at her chuckle and put his hand in his jacket pocket got out some papers and envelopes and handed them over to her explaining. "These bits and pieces Sara found at home in a box on the shelf by the post dump as we call it so they might be quite old." He added with a tease remembering Sara's words. "She thought you could go through them on the plane, you know chuck them out the window if you don't want them."

Meg took them putting them in her bag and laughed at the picture in her mind. "Oh Yes, aim them at a passing clouds I suppose." She gave a sisterly huff as she continued. "Trust Sara to think of something to keep me quiet, give her my love and thanks for everything!"

Casey gave her a hug then turned and walked away deliberately resisting the urge to turn and check she was all right. That really did sound like a last goodbye, he knew her plans were flexible and she needed to feel she could trust him. She could, so he would just keep walking believing she would be back that she hadn't quietly decided otherwise.

oxoxo

Now Casey was gone Meg looked around the entrance hall and bustling people and suddenly felt slightly lost. She took a deep breath and thought 'You wanted this young lady now you've got it. Go.'

She found the check-in counter she wanted and waited in the queue, glad she was alone it looked as though it was going to be a long wait and there was plenty of time.

Gradually she worked her way up to being second in the queue, when her attention was caught by an unfolding drama.

A man in uniform raced up to a group of people passing through the area to get to the private planes and took one of the ladies to one side. The group stopped giving them space as woman listened to the man shock and an exclamation came from her. "Sorry Sir!"

At that everything seemed to grow silent around them as a gentleman who had been in the front of the group came back to the woman and talked quietly to them. Although obviously upset the woman seemed to be arguing a point till the gentleman's words came across not shouted but clear and said with compassion. "You go, your mother needs you. I'll take the computer it's got all the information and perhaps I can hire an assistant when I get to the conference. Last resort I can ring you in a day's time."

The woman opened her mouth to argue again but the gentleman carried on gently making his point. "You come back to work when you are ready not before … certainly not before I get back from the conference!" He looked over at the uniformed man and carried on. "Adam you make sure everything is provided for Mandy and her mother and keep me updated, her case will be waiting for you." The uniformed man nodded and took the distraught woman gently by the shoulder to guide her away.

To the watchers it was obvious the boss had spoken and that was that in the nicest possible way.

The man behind Meg quietly muttered, "At least he did not sack her, but then his father was a good boss so I suppose it runs in the family. What fun having to go to a conference and working blind like that?"

"Excuse me miss?" came the soft but slightly sharp comment from the check-in counter.

Meg smiled realizing she was next and handed her ticket in, the phone at the desk rang and the assistant answered it, listened the commented. "No-one umm hurt … ….good how long … … oh all day and tomorrow. …Okay"

She put the phone down looking concerned before saying. "Sorry Miss Cummings." Then she stood up and raised her voice as she continued. "Everyone please listen." She got their attention and carried on. "The airport you are going to has been shut down till tomorrow at the earliest. A plane crashed landing with a few people injured not seriously though. But I'm afraid other vehicles were involved so it's made quite a mess of the runway." The assistant looked across at the group and smiled saying "Not your airport I'm afraid Sir."

"Pity! Now all I need is a quick study assistant for two weeks." The man said with a rueful grin.

Not feeling like going back home and having to explain endlessly why she'd not gone to everyone Meg thought quietly 'what the hell!' and spoke up. "I'm a PA and can do a quick study if you like." She grabbed her things to one side and the man immediately came towards her as she continued "I used to work for Liberty Corp. if you need a reference."

The man smiled "I'm Robert Simpson you are?"

"Meg Cummings"

Robert thought for a moment and decided things weren't quite so bad after all. "Miss Cummings I know your work reputation through AJ so if you wish you can ring him and get my reference." and added with a smile "I wouldn't like you to think I make a habit of picking up young ladies like this every day. I'm going to Bostonfor a two week conference if you're still interested. We can exchange details on the way."

Meg gulped at the distance she knew she wanted to get away but to the other side of the USA! Then again she'd made the jump from Kansa to Sunset Beach so why not.

She smiled and took up the offer of ringing AJ on a private phone in the VIP suite. She got straight through to him while Robert left her alone to find out about cancelling her ticket. She explained everything and getting the reassurances she needed asked that it be kept between the two of them only. She put the phone down thought for a while then rang Casey leaving a message on the answer phone explaining she would contact the hotel etc. and not to worry. Robert came back and as they walked out to their plane explained the plan for the flight and introduced her to everyone.

The plane was medium sized and spelt luxury but not over the top and efficiency. Meg's excitement grew as she went through the computer files and found out about the organization she was now working for. The pay nearly blew her mind away it would be twice as much as she made at Liberty Corp and accommodation was free. As she discussed things with Robert she came to like him and found out he was married had two children in their early twenties. His firm/organization was based in Seattle and had just opened a new office in Sunset Beach.

As the plane passed over the countryside and through time zones Meg chatted, laughed, ate and learnt only stopping to have her breath taken away by the view of the city and surrounding area as the plane came into land at their final destination.