Chapter 36
A knock on the door and her mother coming in with a cup of tea and the news that the twins were coming told her it was early morning.
She drank her tea and dressed feeling excited for her sister and Casey. When she got downstairs Hank was on the phone making sure everything was covered at the Shock Wave and Sunset Sisters and her mother was cooking breakfast. After food they made their way to the hospital waiting room knowing that Casey would tell them the news but wanted to be close all the same or in case but would not admit that part
With nothing much to say the three of them slipped into comfortable family silence, broken by Hank getting up to silently pace and sit again, while Joan sat and browsed the posters on the wall. Meg found herself back in memories of her other visit to this hospital when she'd held vigil at Ben's bedside as he lay critically ill after his kidnapping in the warehouse so it was not surprising she jumped when a familiar voice called her name and greeted her parents.
As she turned to face him she came back to the present day and the reason she was here and got up and smiling greeted him happily. "Tyus. What a lovely surprise."
He smiled and gave her a quick hug. "I was passing through" at her looks he in insisted. "No, really … I'm on my way to Seattle and thought I would drop in and see how everyone is getting on. You are looking good." then added with a twinkle in his eyes and a quick glance at her parents. "Umm just like your sister did, should I carry on or is it a secret."
Meg chuckled and looked over at her parents who were quietly laughing and said. "They know, something about being farmers and me looking good." Tyus chuckled and nodded as she carried on. "I'm fine thanks and very happy, Sara's in there with twins anytime soon. I was going to ask Stacey for your home address so I can send you a card." As soon as the words popped out she regretted them, he would want her address and she could not give it, she was going to post everything via Robert or Mat.
Tyus nodded noting the fleeting look and decided to give her a way out. "That will be nice. I'll write it down and I understand from gossip you are reluctant to give out your address or details of this lucky man John. So I will not ask you for yours, just know I will be thinking of you and if you need advice you'll have the address."
She took the piece of paper from him smiling, he was so understanding and said. "Thank you. You all right?"
He looked briefly towards the clock on the wall and knew he had to move. "Yes everything is fine and so is my lady thank you. I'm going to give a speech on my research lots of other doctors and researchers just waiting to pick holes in it. Then a dinner then sleep while listening to other researchers and doctors, followed by a little walk round the city before flying back home."
Meg gave an understanding smile and he admitted. "Yeah I expect the walk round the city could be the most interesting part. If you see your old friends give them my regards. I had better move as I promised to check in on a couple of Doctors and one of them should be free now. I'll hear how Sara gets on through the grapevine but give her my love."
"Bye Tyus, I will." She decided she needed a drink told her parents and went to find the coffee machine down the passageway.
Part way down she stopped as a voice called her name.
She grinned knowing it was going to be like this all the time now and greeted the caller. "Hi Bette and before you start no comment, they have not arrived yet and I was just going to get some coffee."
Bette laughed adding brightly, "Good try Muffin but you don't get rid of me that quickly as you know!" then her smile reached her eyes as she looked Meg over. "Well that little rumour is right … you look great and happy so the baby is obviously not a mistake. I'm glad for you and the lucky man" she dropped into serious mode and asked looking past her hopefully. "Is he here to face Hank?" then added. "The coffee machine is this way and I'll help, some for Mum and Dad no doubt."
Meg could hardly stop laughing hearing the hope of a story in Bette's tone as she mentioned Hanks name. She knew Bette knew better than anyone how protective Hank had been towards her, as she had used her as a friend when she had no one else to turn to. She also knew the trip to the coffee machine would be Bette's way of trapping her into giving information. Yeah it was Bette at her best, bubbling with curiosity and sensing a story in the air. No she would not get away from her very easily this time, managing to contain her laughter and said with a hint of seriousness counting them of on her fingers as she did so, "Yes, yes, no he's not here or hiding at their house and thanks for your help but no story."
Bette gave an exaggerated sigh with her voice and a wave of her arms but it did not reach her eyes which sparkled with fun, that was one thing about Bette she was bubbly even in defeat. "Oh … come on Muffin … just a small bit for Moi!"
Meg smiled and shook her head letting her voice tell her friend there was no pushing her this time. "No Bette … John has nothing to do with Sunset Beach and that's the way I want it."
Bette nodded understanding her limits had been reached but gave one last question gathered from bits she had heard from friends and the fact he was not here. "But he is all right I heard he had been ill."
Meg was alarmed Bette was still pushing and she knew about his illness and Tyus had found out his name so what else had drifted out, she hid her fear in a tease by exclaiming. "You know! … this place has way too many ears. Yes he is recovering … Now! How are you and Annie?"
Bette knew a brush off and accepted it at least she knew mystery man was recovering and that was good. "I'm happy and Annie is going to get her fingers burnt, I saw her with another guy a few days ago told her to watch it and that Jude will not be a nice guy to cross. But, then again he should know her by now, enough people have warned him and she does know his past and job."
Meg shook her head remembering Annie of old never happy with what she had and said. "She never took any notice of Ben's warnings."
Bette nodded and said wisely. "Ah but Ben was too much of a gentleman to play dirty … Jude on the other hand will and get away with it. Talk of the devil."
"Oh! Look who's flown in from Kansas!" Annie bitched as she joined them.
"Hi Annie just got off your broomstick. … Must've been an all nighter from the bags under your eyes. " Meg replied sweetly.
Bette looked on with a smile as she helped sort out a tray and cups, it was nice to see Meg stand her ground with Annie and the claws stayed verbal.
Annie smiling looked at Meg letting her eyes travel to her stomach and said pointedly "Hear you got yourself into a little trouble!"
"No trouble at all and Sara's having twins doing fine thank you." Meg said with a smile and then turning it into a very innocent one and looked over at the posters on the wall advertising the clinics and said gently. "You being here implies you're the one with a little trouble or possibly problem. Especially as I know you've been playing away from home." and added in a sigh. "You know candid camera can be such a bitch."
Annie who was just going to make a snide remark looked shocked while Bette looked puzzled knowing Meg had only been home a short time.
Meg looked at them both then back to Annie and with a soft laugh which made her softly spoken words sharper explained. "Try the empty shop next to the clothes arcade, big posters showing everything. And Annie I do mean everything frame for frame so everyone knows what you've been doing, where and with whom. Opps!"
Horrified Annie spun round and sped back the way she came with Meg's gentle laugh following her.
Bette said quietly "Muffin is it true?"
Meg took the tray after the cups were filled and said. "Oh Yes in glorious colour …skin colour actually … surprising where they put cameras to stop crime these days. I don't know if it was Jude but I can't blame him if he did. … I had a funny feeling the park is a public place as well." Starting to walk back to the waiting room she added gently. "Bette it's her problem not yours … how is AJ I hear you are going on a trip in the New Year?"
Bette smiled at the mention of AJ and knew Meg was right Annie had stopped being her problem long ago and walked beside as she answered her. "You're very good at this aren't you young lady. … I'll have to watch my job if you ever came back to stay … Yes only a short trip over to Europe possibly the Mediterranean as AJ wants to look up some old friends" She gave a lovely wicked smile as she carried on. "I don't like a cold bed and I'd miss his company. … Well there's your Mum and Dad so I'll have a quick word with them if you take yours and give me the tray then I will leave you in peace." She at looked Meg with genuine friendship and added gently. "You take care of yourself and your mysterious partner … he's very good for you no matter what people say."
Meg nodded and watched her go regretting she could not tell her the truth she would have been so pleased and Ben missed her like he missed Casey.
She drank her coffee watching them talk, taking in the comings and goings of staff and people and gradually letting her mind drift to John and Paul, … wondering if they had driven the others or each other crazy. Sometimes they could be like children teasing and playful other times they would chatter putting the world to rights. Mind you, put Val and Jackie together and anything could happen in a fun sort of way. She tried to imagine the apartment with the extra door … they reckoned it would take most of the day so that should keep them quiet. Yeah in a noisy sort of way and if it snowed … umm she hoped not … it would trap him inside the apartment and he hated that.
A lot of bustle brought Meg back to the present, realising that Bette had left and half an hour had gone. And it was a beaming Casey who was the cause of the bustle as he announced Susan and Mark had arrived yelling their heads off, a good weight and health. Best of all Sara was fine wanting to see them and if they were good they could all go in together.
Of course they would be good…. after receiving their congratulations to Meg's surprise Casey left them saying he would be back in a moment but they were to go and find Sara … which they did.
When Meg entered her sister's room and saw her lying in bed leaning against the pillows with a huge grin on her face she could not resist the comment. "Guess you're pleased that lot is out then."
Joan and Hank gave a chuckle as they went over to the two little cots while Meg went up to Sara, she could see the tired lines in her face but her eyes were sparkling and her voice very happy as she answered Meg's comment with feeling. "Oh yes, sore but happy … no operation thank goodness. Yeah I know they will be twice the trouble now, but at least they will not be kicking me every five minutes, especially not in the kidneys. You okay with the names."
Meg chuckled and said gently. "You know I am. Susan was so close to you and as for Mark he was a good friend I'm glad they are both remembered. Where's Casey gone."
Meg glanced over at the twins as Sara answered. "He's gone to get Father Antonio. Don't get worried I wanted to have them named and blessed while you were here we will have the christening with Godparents in the Mission later on."
Meg looked back at her sister and was genuinely touched by the idea and said. "Thank you that's nice, they are so small and beautiful hey, blonde hair the pair of them!"
"Hey now don't you start, it can darken, you know Mum always said you had blonde hair to start off with. So what's been going on in the big world out there?"
They all laughed at that and Meg brought her up to date about Tyus and Annie, which made her laugh and wince.
After a while Casey came back with Father Antonio and they had the blessing and a quick chat then her parents left with Antonio. Meg stayed back watching as one of the twins woke up and Casey gently picked her up and handed her to her, Startled but pleased Meg took her gently … she found the feeling amazing… the baby seemed so small and fragile yet she could feel her strength knew she was not fragile and realised in eight months or so time she would be holding her own baby. She gave a gentle sigh and as she handed her over to Sara she said gently. "Everything will be fine Sara you know that don't you."
Sara laughed remembering her fears and looking down at her daughter, who seemed content just to be held, knew the only thing she wanted now was to get her family home … her main anxiety was gone. She looked at her sister with a deeper feeling and understanding and said gently. "Yes and thanks for listening, I know Mum and Dad would have fussed, you kept me steady." She looked back at her daughter and said. "Hope to be out sometime tomorrow or even earlier if I'm good and they are of course." Then she looked back at her sister and asked. "So what are your plans?"
"Mixture of buying presents, finding friends as well as finding something special for the four of you."
Sara gave her a wicked smile and added "That sounds good … Mum still all right about you and John?"
"Yes she's fine now I've reassured it's not a dying wish on his part."
Sara gasped and exclaimed. "Oh that was creepy." then added gently. "You know I have not seen you this happy for a long time, and I know it's not just because I'm okay … I'm glad he's good for you." then added having her sisterly insight. "Will we be able to see the baby or will that be difficult."
Meg knew she needed some truth and said. "When he or she is old enough to travel perhaps but, you know what life is like. Now any ideas on presents before you rest."
"Nope no idea, just find something different." She said with a tease and then added seriously. "Grab something you like from Sunset Sisters from me; someone will put it on my bill. We've got lots of new things in."
"Okay then … one elephant coming up." Which made Sara and Casey smile; Meg kissed them and gave the twins a last look before leaving. She already had Casey's Christmas present as John chose it, the rest would be a little harder and as for their family present … oh yeah inspiration in hidden corners and a lot of walking no doubt.