Chapter 22

A gentle whining along with the gentle nuzzle of a wet nose woke Meg, closely followed by a knock on the door and Simon's cheery good morning started the day off. Shep left them immediately and Meg leant over and kissed John good morning, got a sleepy smile and slid out of bed. She had not found Simon's intervention during the night or now embarrassing, it felt right and as Jackie brought the things for breakfast through Meg went to her room to hunt for something to wear. Now that would be fun considering the mess it was in.

There was organised chaos as they altered routines to suit the new arrangements and over a chatty breakfast they went through what was going to happen during the day and decided what time the evening meal was likely to be as well as what it would be.

Meg left John with a kiss and went through Jackie's apartment to get to her car and then drove the short distance to work and settled in for the day. The morning went quickly as the new work was interesting and she chatted with the other office staff as they popped into the office to check the new girl out. She found she didn't need to go back further than her last place of work the delights of the city across the States was what they were interested in. At lunch she joined them in the park and then quickly explored that part of town before going back to the office, like the morning she found the time went quickly.

As soon as she parked her car outside Jackie's entrance Shep rounded her up and guided her to John who was sitting in what she silently named 'stick throwing place'. There they threw sticks and wore Shep out while Simon and Jackie finished cooking the evening meal for them all, over the meal the four swapped tales of the day. After the general chaos of clearing things away Simon and Jackie left them and Meg went to check her mail and John came up to the table and settled down to read.

Meg checked through mail and smiled and read it to him.

Hi Sis

Hope you are enjoyed Canada. I thought you were going to send pictures by pigeon post or other!

But no not a dickie bird. ... Nope ... not even hidden under machine.

SO was it that good or that bad.

Okay … Okay … Can not stay mad at you b e c a u s e

Drum roll we have done it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

F I R S T P L A C E

So I guess we WILL be seeing you next week PLEASE COME!!! even if it is just for the day. Photo shoot will be 10 am I want hug and kisses before that so will meet you at airport. (and yes I can still hug. … just about.)

Hey we beat the three witches … Oh sorry but I can't help thinking like that … after all Annie, Maria and Tess together. (and yes Jude and Annie are still together … perhaps he likes the challenge.)

Bluebell came third. Dad's bought one of their special displays for Mum and I'm thinking of having one in the shop window. You never know they might put a sign about us in their window.

Ben came round and congratulated us did suggest a photo call together but I politely pointed out part of the prize was advertisement for us alone. He gave a smile at that and left the subject alone. He was carrying Sam she is looking very wide-eyed and beautiful … I know this may sound daft but they really suit each other.

Warning of in a nice way there will be a gathering at The Deep everyone is invited so it's going to be a good way for you to say hi to all the gang. No doubt you will see some of them during the day and chat.

Everyone is fine and sends love and no I'm not nagging Casey too much. Dad is looking forward to seeing you but will stay in background if you want him too. So let me know. He has to be at the Shockwave in the morning so Mum can be at shoot. Sis you really need to speak to him, he has changed honest!!!

Love you.

Sara

Meg couldn't help smiling at her sister's words as she finished and heard a soft. "You have to say yes Meg."

She looked at John and smiled "I know." Knew she would, she really wanted to go.

"Just remember how much to put in."

"You check it for me." She asked softly.

John laughed. "Yes of course."

She thought for a moment then wrote.

Hi Sis.

Well congratulations …. you've done most of the work with Debbie, Emily and Mum of course so you should have all the praise and thanks.

Okay … I'll be down for the day and possibly a night leave early in the morning. I hope to have air lift with Robert so it will depend on him how long I stay. SO make sure my room is clear just in case either way I've decided to bring some more things back with me when I leave. (Making use of a private plane). Think … if I take back enough you'll have another spare room to use.

Canada did not work out as planned car broke down but everything is fine. Hence no cards and sorry did not tell you but we explored the area so did not have much time. Also job is different from what I thought it was going to be so I'm setting up partly on my own with bosses' approval. As I will be travelling (locally) a lot if the jobs come in as I hope I might find it hard to travel home or answer things immediately. So I think e-mail rather than phone will be best then no one is hanging on the line all the time or the answer machines answering each other.

Found some wonderful people and I am really I'm fine been out horse riding as well as the usual exploring so it's not going to be all work. Nor is it going to be wild parties so put your match making thoughts away!!!!

Glad you are all keeping well, see you next week. Do me a huge favour no crowds at the airport just you and Casey or just Casey … Robert or I will tell you time.

Meg.

Meg pushed to laptop over to John so he could check it then after the okay she sent it and got up with a sigh, "Thinking about packing I should unpack the stuff I've already got here."

John chuckled and said. "Sounds like a good idea, you'll have to keep your clothes in the spare room for now perhaps we can fit another wardrobe and a screen for you to change behind. Just go on through they know you're going to sort things out this evening. I'll be fine unless of course you want me to sit and order you around." He wheeled himself over to the sofa area.

Meg laughed as she followed him and answered. "No I expect Jackie will do that … I need to work through a couple of Paul's things so I might be a while will you be okay."

John smiled and laughed. "Yes everything to hand, Shep will find you if I need you just leave the door open as it saves his nose, Simon might come through later. … I can be left for a while on my own if I'm in here."

She smiled "Sorry I forgot. It takes some getting used to."

"I know … its okay." He said gently then added, "Go on the job needs doing."

She laughed and went through to the apartment Shep started to follow her through the doorway and John called him back and went back to his book.

oxoxo

Meg was in the middle of sorting things out when there was a gentle cough; she turned and saw Jackie standing in the doorway.

"Need help?" Jackie asked.

Meg looked at it and gave a gentle laugh. "Umm I've managed to sort most of it out and I think I've found the bed which is a good thing. The laptop and files for upstairs are over there"

Jackie smiled and pointing to a pile of bags and boxes asked. "Those empty."

"Yes I think they can go out."

"Right I can take those first." Then she looked hesitant which got Meg's attention so she knew she'd have to say what she was going too and said. "Um I know you want to be with John a lot … but there's a couple of films on in the cinema this week which look good I was wondering if we could go and see one of them … sort of girls night out."

"Sounds good but what about taking Simon."

Jackie smiled still unsure of herself, which Meg thought was unusual for her as she usually gave off an air of being on top of things. "Jack's on nights so Simon has to be around all week, Mandy would take my place if you see what I mean … I don't like going on my own, most of my friends have moved or got family commitments."

Meg smiled realising just how restricted things could be and said genuinely. "I would love it."

"Fine … shall I show you were your office will be madam!" Jackie said with a smile as she picked the bags and boxes up.

Meg nodded and picked the files and laptop up and followed her relieved to have a break from all her things. She could not understand how on earth she managed to have so much and there were still things back at Sunset… goodness knows where they would go.

Meg knew Jackie's hesitancy and request gave her the opening she wanted and said. "My friends at the house I use when I'm working with Paul are hoping for a ride in a couple of weeks time how about joining us. John mentioned you might like to … thought of going to the big waterfall. Mr Mick assumes I'm lodging with you and Simon so us going out seems a good idea … that's apart from the fact I like the idea of course."

Jackie smiled and gave a little chuckle as she spoke. "Yes definitely a good idea I've not been out there for ages, I'll have to clear it with the others of course. Could even have nights in you know boys in the other apartment and us girls in here, now things are improving for John."

They had made their way upstairs into the office and Jackie pointed over to the table in the corner. "We've a phone point over in the other corner which we can share, that cabinet to the left is free. Simon uses this one for the stable records as it's his project and I use it to keep up to date with treatments etc. There's a coffee jug and ring on top of the mini fridge if you want a drink, just boil water in it if you want tea it saves running up and down all the time. I need to update a few things if you want to set yourself up."

They worked well together sorting things out and then separately at their own jobs till Simon came up and told them it was time for bed.