Sweet Revenge
by Allyson
Book 1, Chapter 1 - 10
I started writing this around the time that we were hoping that Meg would come to her senses and move out of Surf Central. This is my version of what would have happened if she had moved home instead of staying at Surf Central.
It's a month later. Meg is living at home. She and Sara have grown close again. Meg and Ben are slowly working towards getting back together. Sara and Casey have decided to just be friends for now. Sara is starting to get close to finding out what Tim and Tess are up to.
***
CHAPTER 1
Meg and Sara are taking a late night walk on the beach.
"I am glad we have gotten close again. I missed the way it used to be," Sara said.
"I know, me too,” says Meg smiling. “Now what is it you wanted to tell me about Tim?"
Ben is sitting on the beach looking out at the ocean. He can't believe what he just found out.
"How can this be?" says Ben, putting his face in his hands.
Meanwhile Sara and Meg are getting ready to walk past Ben's house.
"I overheard this conversation between Tess and Tim. They mentioned three things that intrigued me. Ben, Maria, and one million dollars," said Sara.
"What does Maria and furthermore Ben have to do with one million dollars? It does not make sense. I wonder what Tim and Tess are up to," Meg says.
"You never know with Tim and Tess." Sara pauses for a moment and notices the moonlight shining down on a now familiar figure. "Am I seeing things or is that Ben sitting on the beach?"
Meg follows Sara's gaze and spots the figure sitting on the beach. She did not need a light to tell her who it was.
"It's definitely him and he seems upset," she replies.
"How can you tell that from here? We can barely see him," asked Sara.
Meg is silent for a moment, lost in thought.
"I...I just know. I can feel it. Let's go over and check on him," she says.
Ben is staring silently out at the ocean. Slowly he closes his eyes. "Please let this be a dream," he says to himself.
A warm, familiar hand touches his shoulder.
"Meg?" he whispers.
CHAPTER 2
"Yes, it's me and Sara is here too. Are you okay?" asked Meg.
"No, I'm not." Ben stands up and starts to walk past Meg.
"Sara, can you give us a minute?" asks Meg.
"Sure," Sara says. She walks a little ways in the other direction.
Meg turns back to see Ben staring out at the ocean, a single tear running down his face. Meg walks up and puts her hand on his. He turns and looks into her eyes. His eyes said it all.
"It's about Benjy isn't it?" she asks.
Ben says nothing at first and then slowly it comes out. "He's not mine."
Meg is speechless. Part of her is relieved, while the other part of her is aching for Ben. She can't stand to see him in so much pain. Slowly, she tries to come up with the right words.
"I…I don't understand. How can this be?" she said.
"Maria went to the doctor for a check-up. The doctor said…. (Ben swallows and takes a deep breath) Maria has never had a child."
CHAPTER 3
Maria comes out onto the deck. "This has been such an awful night," she says to herself, taking a deep breath. She scans the beach looking for Ben. Then she notices him in the distance talking with someone.
"Who would he be talking to this late at night?" she wonders out loud.
On the beach
"Ben, the paternity test said you were his father. I don't understand," Meg said.
"Twins have the same blood type and DNA," Ben says.
"You mean that little boy belongs to…..," she says with wide eyes.
"…Derek and Tess if you can believe it," says Ben finishing her sentence.
"I'm so sorry." She reaches up and gives him a big bear hug.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," he says looking into her eyes.
For a few brief seconds they get lost in each other's eyes, then they are interrupted by a voice.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but I would like to go to bed before the sun comes up," Sara says smiling.
"I'm sorry Sara. I didn't realize it was so late," said Meg.
"That's okay. You two were having such an intense conversation that I didn't want to interrupt. Then I saw you two stop talking, so I thought I would make sure everything was okay and ask if we could go home eventually," she says with a grin trying to lighten up the tense air.
"Everything's okay," Meg says seeing the troubled look on his face. "We just had some important things to talk about. I am ready to go home too," Meg says.
"I'll walk you home," Ben says.
"Ben, you don't have to," says Meg
"I want to. I could use the walk," says Ben.
CHAPTER 4
Early the next morning at the Cummings home
The sound of the phone ringing wakes Meg up from a deep sleep.
"Who would be calling this early in the morning?" she thought to herself as she reached for the phone.
"Hello," she says sleepily.
"Meg, this is Maria. I am worried about Ben. He never came home last night."
Meg turns around and looks at the figure sound asleep beside her on the sofa, deciding that after the conversation they had last night, it would be best for Ben to tell her where he was when he was ready.
"Maria, I am sure he is fine. He's a grown man and he can take care of himself," she says.
"I know, I am just worried about him. If you do hear from him, will you tell him to call me? I just want to know that he is okay," Maria says.
"Sure."
"Thank you Meg. Bye."
"Bye."
Meg hangs up the phone and looks at Ben who is still asleep. He's been through so much she thought as she stared at his peaceful, but somewhat troubled face. She was so glad that she had been able to be there for him last night.
"Sweetie, what are you already doing up?"
"Mom!" Meg says turning around. "I didn't hear you coming down the steps. You scared me."
"Sorry sweetie, I didn't mean to scare you. Did you sleep on the sofa?" she says, now noticing the disheveled look of Meg's clothes.
"I…well, we fell asleep on the sofa," she says.
"We?" Joan asks.
CHAPTER 5
"Ben stayed here last night."
Joan sees Ben asleep on the sofa covered in a blanket.
"Are you two….?" Joan asks.
"No, we aren't officially back together yet. Ben got some bad news yesterday and well, he fell asleep here last night," she says.
"Is everything okay with Benjy and Maria?" she asks worriedly.
"No, its not," Meg says. "It's a long story and I…. I am not so sure Ben wants it to be public yet."
"I understand," Joan says with motherly assurance.
"Ben doesn't want what to be public?" Hank says as he comes down the steps.
"Good morning dad," Meg says hesitantly, then looks at Joan for help.
Joan takes her cue.
"Hank, its none of our business. Why don't I fix you some breakfast? Do you want eggs or pancakes?" she says as she goes in the direction of the kitchen.
Hank, who knows not to question Joan, doesn't say a word and follows her to the kitchen.
Ben, who had been awake the whole time since the phone rang, but decided to fake being asleep, opens his eyes and sits up.
"Good morning sleepyhead," Meg says. "Did you sleep well?"
"As good as can be expected," he says. "Thanks for covering for me with Maria."
"You were awake?" she says.
"Yes, I just pretended I wasn't," Ben says with a sigh.
"I figured you would rather call her and let her know you were okay when you were ready," Meg says.
"You know me so well," he said and bent in to kiss her on the lips.
Meg was a little startled, but it felt so great to feel his kiss that she kissed him back. They were both unaware of the person standing on the steps.
"Well, good morning to you to."
"Sara, you have a knack for coming in at the strangest moments," Meg says with a smile.
"Hey, what are younger sisters for?" she says with a devious grin and heads to the kitchen.
CHAPTER 6
“That sister of yours is something,” says Ben laughing.
“Don’t I know it!” Meg laughs. “Try living with her.”
The laughter dies down and they get lost in each other’s eyes. Then Ben breaks the silence.
“I…uh, well, as much as I don’t want to, I guess I should go home. Maria and I need to talk.”
“You two do need to talk. You both have been through a lot,” Meg says.
Ben puts on his shoes and gets his keys. He starts to stand up, but Meg places her hand on his arm. He turns around to look at her.
“Ben,” she says choosing her words carefully, “I know this is very hard on you and I want you to know that I am here for you and that if you need to talk, you know where to find me.”
Ben smiles at her and leans in to kiss her.
“I love you,” he whispers and then he goes to the door.
“I love you too,” she whispers as he closes the door behind him.
CHAPTER 7
Meg is sitting at the counter in the Shockwave, happily caught up in her own thoughts as she stirs her coffee. Sara walks up and tries to get her attention.
“Earth to Meg, come in,” Sara says.
“Hmmm…oh sorry, were you saying something?” says Meg.
“No, not really, just curious as to why you were smiling into space,” Sara says with her “my enquiring mind wants to know” look.
“Well, if you must know little sister, I think Ben and I are getting back together,” Meg says with a smile that went from ear to ear.
“That’s great! I’m so happy for you!” exclaims Sara. She leans over the counter to give Meg a hug.
Joan is getting ready to come out of the storeroom when she spots her two smiling daughters.
“Hank, come here,” she says.
“Yes Joanie?” asks Hank as he comes to the door.
“Look at our two girls. It’s so good to see them smiling and happy. They have been through so much in the past few months,” she says with a sigh.
“It sure is,” Hanks says. “But speaking of going through a lot, why was Ben at our house this morning?”
“Oh, honey, please stop bringing that up. Meg is a grown woman and she has the right to have visitors over the house when she wants. We don’t have the right to question her about it,” Joan says
“I know, I guess I am just protective of my little girls,” Hank says.
“Sweetie, you have every right to be, but you can’t keep them under your wing for the rest of their lives,” Joan says.
“You’re right.” Hank says looking into the semi-busy restaurant. “We better finish what we are doing so we can help Sara. That busy lunch hour will come sooner than we think.”
Hank and Joan go back into the storeroom.
Sara and Meg are talking.
“I am so happy for you guys and I want you to be the first to know that Casey and I are on the mend and that things are going well for us,” Sara says.
“Wow, that’s great! We are both so lucky!” Meg says.
Both girls squeal in delight which produces a few amused stares from the customers. They both turn red with embarrassment and start laughing.
“Oops! I guess we better keep it down,” says Sara laughing. “Now onto what we talked about last night. Did you tell Ben?”
“What did we talk about?” asks Meg.
“You remember. Tess, Tim, and a million dollars,” says Sara.
“Oh yeah. I never had the chance to tell him.” Meg is thoughtful for a moment and all of the sudden Sara’s words hit her like a ton of bricks. “That’s it! Oh my gosh, I have got to find Ben.”
She jumps up from her chair and races for the door.
“Meg, wait!” Sara says as she writes a quick note to her parents and runs after Meg.
Joan comes out just in time to see Sara dashing for the door.
“I wonder where she is going in such a hurry,” Joan says to herself.
Then she sees the hastily written note on the counter.
It says:
Dear Mom and Dad,
Meg and I are running out for a bit. Be back soon.
Love,
Sara“I wonder where they went,” she says aloud.
“Where are Sara and Meg?” says Hank when he comes out of the storeroom.
CHAPTER 8
Ben has just gotten home.
“Maria? Are you here? We need to talk.”
“Ben, your home!” says Maria from the top of the steps.
“Yes, I am and we really need to talk,” he says.
“I know. I will be down in just a minute,” she says.
Ben goes and sits on the couch. He starts to think about how happy he was with Meg that morning and a smile starts to slowly creep on to his face.
“What are you so happy about?” Maria says with a smile on her face.
“Oh, uh, nothing,” he says clearing his throat and getting a serious look on his face. “We need to talk about Benjy and what we are going to tell him.”
“It is going to be so hard on that little boy,” she says.
“I know. That is why we need to find the best way to tell him,” says Ben.
“But, what about Tess and Derek? Shouldn’t we deal with them first?” she asks.
“I suppose we should. Did Tess ask where I was last night?” he asks.
“Yes, I told her you were working late, but I am not so sure she bought it,” says Maria.
“Why, what did she say?” Ben asks.
Meanwhile, Sara is trying to catch up with Meg who is in her car about to drive off.
“Meg, wait for me!” says Sara.
“Sara, hurry, get in!” Meg says. “I will tell you what I can before we get to Ben’s.”
CHAPTER 9
Meg and Sara have just pulled up to Ben’s house.
“So you think that the million dollars I overheard Tim and Tess talking about has something to do with Benjy and the fact that he is not Ben’s?” Sara says.
“Yeah, I really think it does. When you reminded me of the million dollars, I started to think about what Ben had told me about Benjy and I put two and two together, but I just can’t figure out how it all comes together,” Meg says.
“Meg, that’s simple. It has to be Maria. She has to be the link,” Sara says matter-of-factly.
Meg thinks about what Sara said and as much as she doesn’t want to believe that Maria would be a part of it, she decides Sara must be right.
“Ok, prepare to be shocked. I agree with you!” Meg says.
Sara responds with a huge grin from ear to ear.
Meanwhile, Ben and Maria are still talking and unbeknownst to them, Tess and Tim are listening in.
“So, what did Tess say when you told her I was working late?” Ben says.
“It wasn’t what she said, it was the way she acted. It was like she was nervous or something,” Maria says.
Ben grows silent as he thinks about Maria’s words and sits down on the couch. Then, the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it, Ben.” Maria says. “I wonder who that could be,” Maria says to herself as she walks to the door.
Maria opens the door and comes face to face with Meg and Sara.
“Is Ben here?” asks Meg.
Before Maria can answer, Ben appears at the door.
“Hey.” Ben says locking onto Meg’s eyes.
“Hey.” Meg says locking onto Ben’s eyes.
Maria roles her eyes.
Sara tries not to laugh at Maria's reaction. She hated to interrupt the two lovebirds and Maria's reaction, but she knew they would never get to the reason for coming to Ben's if she did not do something.
All of the sudden, Meg feels a sharp nudge in her back compliments of Sara.
Meg clears her throat.
“Oh, uh, Ben, I, I mean we, need to talk to you,” she says.
“Sure, come on in,” he says.
Sara and Meg walk in past an angry and nervous Maria. “Why do I suddenly feel uneasy about them being here?” she thinks to herself.
Meanwhile, Tess is on the deck having a panic attack.
“Oh my gosh, why are Sara and Meg here? What if they figured us out? What if…?”
Interrupting, Tim says, “Tess, don’t worry, they couldn’t have figured it out. Meg doesn’t even know what is going on. Calm down.”
“I can’t. If Meg finds out what is going on and Maria slips up, we are doomed,” she says.
CHAPTER 10
Maria closes the door and goes to the living room where Ben, Meg, and Sara are.
Meg sees Maria approaching. She leans in to Ben and with a low voice says, “We need to talk to you in private.”
Ben turns and sees that Maria is about to sit down.
“Maria, they wish to speak to me in private, do you uh mind?”
“No……not at all. I’ll…I’ll just take a walk,” Maria says and heads outside. “Why do I feel so uneasy,” she thinks to herself.
She walks across the deck and down the steps. All the sudden, someone grabs her from behind.
“Hey……!” she screams.
Meanwhile…
Meg and Sara explain their theory to Ben.
“I know you don’t want to believe that Maria has anything to do with this, but she has got to be the link.” Meg says.
“You’re right. I don’t.” Ben says.