Sweet Revenge
by Allyson
Book 2, chapter 11 - 19
CHAPTER 11
An hour later…
Preparations have been made for the trip to San Francisco. Ben and Ricardo are about to leave when Meg appears in the kitchen. Her eyes are red and she is holding Abby’s favorite blanket.
“What…what’s going on?” Meg asks noticing the activity in the kitchen.
“Honey, why aren’t you resting?” Ben asks soothingly.
“I can’t rest right now. I want to know what is going on,” she says with wide eyes.
“Honey, lets go in the living room,” he says putting his arm around her and leading her out of the kitchen. He takes her over to the sofa and they both sit down.
“Ben, you’re scaring me,” Meg says with a trembling voice.
“Meg, Benjy called here…” he says.
Meg interrupts. “Benjy called? Where are they? Where is my baby?” she says excitedly.
“All we know is that they are in San Francisco. We are going to go there to work with the police officers there and get them back,” Ben says.
“We…I need to change my clothes,” Meg says and starts to get off of the sofa.
“No, hon, you are not going. Just Ricardo and I,” Ben says quietly.
“No Ben! You can’t leave me here. She is my baby too. Ben, please!” Meg wails.
“Meg, its too dangerous. I can’t have you both in danger, especially with the new edition,” he says referring to her stomach.
“Ben, please!” Meg says holding onto him.
“Honey, you need to stay here with your mom and dad. I promise that as soon as I have Abby safe in my arms, I will bring her home to you,” Ben says standing up.
“Ben, I don’t want you to leave me. I am so scared,” she says standing up and facing him, tears streaming down her face.
“I know you are scared. I am too, but honey, your safety comes first,” he says pulling her into his arms.
They both stand still for several moments, holding onto each other. Then, Ben has to go.
“Honey, I have to go now,” he says letting her go so he can cup her face with his hands. “I love you and I will bring Abby home to you. I promise.”
He kisses her softly on the lips and then leads her back into the kitchen. He takes her over to Hank who wraps her in a hug and then they both watch as Ben leaves with Ricardo. A few minutes later, Terri and her husband arrive.
A few hours later…
Meg and Sara are in Meg and Ben’s room. They talked for what seemed like forever until Sara fell asleep. Meg is still awake, blinking away the tears in her eyes.
All of the sudden, Meg’s cell phone rings. She fumbles around for it on her night table and then she finds it.
“Ben!”
“No, it is not Ben.”
“Who is this?”
“It’s Maria.”
“Maria? Why…? Meg pauses and then it hits her. “Where are they, you bitch? Where is my baby?”
“Meg, calm down. I’ll tell you.”
“You really expect me to calm down! Where are they?”
“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise me that you will come alone.”
“I’ll do anything Maria, just please tell me where they are!”
“We are on our way back to Sunset Beach right now.”
“Sunset Beach? But I thought you were in…?”
“San Francisco. I know. I took them away from Derek and I am bringing them back to you.”
“How did you get them away from him? He’s going to hunt you down and oh God, my baby and Benjy!”
“Meg, he’s dead.”
“Oh my god. Are you sure?”
“Yes, quite sure. That is why I am bringing them back. I will call you in the morning to let you know where they are so you can get them.”
The line goes dead.
“Maria really was with him, wasn’t she?” Sara says, now fully awake.
“She was,” Meg says.
“How did she ever get away from him?” Sara asks.
“She…I think she killed him,” Meg says.
“She killed him? Meg, correct me if I am wrong, but I can’t picture Maria having the boldness to kill someone,” Sara says.
“I…me either. But she has them and she is going to bring them back,” Meg says.
“Meg, I don’t like the sound of this. What if it is a trap?” Sara says.
“Sara…I can’t worry about that. I just…I have to get them back,” Meg says.
CHAPTER 12
The next morning…
Joan has just woken up. She gives a sleeping Hank a kiss on the cheek and then decides to go into Ben and Meg’s room to check on Meg and Sara before going downstairs to make a pot of coffee.
She opens the door slowly so she won’t wake them up and to her surprise, the room is empty.
“Maybe they are already downstairs,” she says out loud to herself.
She goes downstairs and finds Lilah in the kitchen starting breakfast.
“Good morning Lilah. Have you seen Meg and Sara this morning?” she asks.
“No Joan. I haven’t. I thought maybe they were still asleep,” she says stopping to look at Joan.
“Oh, I have a bad feeling about this,” Joan says.
“I do too. I would have thought she would be right by the phone this morning waiting to hear from Ben,” Lilah says.
“My thoughts exactly,” Joan says and then hesitates. “Maybe they went for a walk on the beach. There should be a note somewhere.”
Joan walks out of the kitchen with Lilah behind her. Joan walks over the table by the front door and Lilah stops at the end table where the phone is. She is about to tell Joan she doesn’t see anything when a little piece of something white catches her eye. She bends down to pick it up and it is a note from Meg and Sara.
“Joan,” she says, her eyes growing wide. “You need to look at this.”
Joan comes over to Lilah who hands her the note.
This is what it says.
Mom, Dad, and Lilah,
I know where Abby and Benjy are and we are going to get them. I will call when we have them. Please don’t worry. We will be fine.
Meg and Sara
“Oh no! I better go get Hank. Try to get in touch with Ben. Something is not right,” Joan says and she turns to go up the steps when Terri appears with Mark behind her.
“What is it? What’s going on?” she asks.
“Meg and Sara have taken off. They somehow know where the kids are and I am worried about their safety,” Joan says.
“How? You said the kids were in San Francisco,” Terri says.
“Yes, that is where Benjy called from yesterday, but apparently they came back and I am worried about my girls,” Joan says.
After hearing all of the talking while he was dressing, Hank comes out to where Terri and Mark are standing. At almost the same time, Casey comes in the front door carrying a bag.
“What’s going on?” Casey asks seeing everyone with worried looks.
“Meg and Sara are gone,” Joan says quietly.
“Gone?” Casey says with fear. “Where? What do you mean?”
“Lilah found this note. They know where the kids are and apparently took off to get them and I am very worried,” Joan says.
“We need to call the police,” Hank says heading down the steps with Terri and Mark.
“No, we shouldn’t,” Casey says as all eyes go to him. “I am worried that if we call the police and attention is drawn to the fact that Sara and Meg are gone, then Derek might get upset and he might…oh, I don’t want to think about it.”
“Casey, I agree,” Joan says. “Lilah is working on getting Ben now,” she says looking at Lilah and then she turns to Hank and Casey. “Do you all have your cell phones on?”
“Yes, I do,” Casey says.
“So do I,” Hank says.
“Good, we need those lines. The girls might try to call us on one of those lines,” Joan says.
“Okay, they are patching me through to him,” Lilah says handing the phone to Joan.
Joan waits a few moments and then she hears Ben’s voice.
“Hello, this is Ben Evans,” he says.
“Ben, its Joan. We have a problem,” she says.
“What is it? What’s going on?” he says with worry hearing the fear in her voice.
“Ben, its Meg and Sara. They are gone. They said they know where the kids are,” Joan says.
“I was afraid you were going to say that,” Ben says.
“Afraid? What do you mean?” Joan asks as all eyes turn to her.
“Joan, I will explain when I get there. Sit tight. Ricardo and I are on the way,” Ben says and then he hangs up.
“He’s on his way,” Joan says, her face getting pale.
“Joanie, what’s wrong?” Hank says putting his hand on her shoulder.
“Ben said he was afraid I would tell him Sara and Meg are gone. He said he would explain when he got here and then he hung up,” Joan says.
No one says a word as they all begin to wait.
CHAPTER 13
The other side of town…in front of a rundown warehouse…
“Meg, are you sure this where she told you to go?” Sara asks.
“Yes, this is the address she gave me. They have got to be here somewhere,” Meg says.
She and Sara enter the dark warehouse and start to look around, but before they can get far, they are grabbed from behind and knocked out.
At the Evans residence…
“Oh, I wish he would get here,” Joan says as she once again paces the room.
“He and Ricardo will be here soon,” Hank says as he goes over to comfort his wife.
“They better get here soon,” Casey says, his worry reflected in his eyes.
Meanwhile…
Meg opens her eyes slowly, groaning at the pain that shoots through her head as she struggles to sit. Then it all comes back to her.
“Sara!” she yells, shaking the form beside her. “Sara, you have to wake up!”
A few moments pass before Sara starts to stir.
“Oh, thank god,” Meg says. “Sara, can you talk to me?”
“Ugh!” Sara says with a groan as she opens her eyes. “I feel like I have been hit with a ton of bricks.”
She sits up and looks around the room they are in. “Where are we?”
“That’s a good question. All I remember is walking into the warehouse and then…I’m foggy after that,” Meg says.
“Me too,” Sara says, holding her hand to her head. “I really don’t like the look of this.”
“Me either Sara. And you were right, this was not a good idea,” Meg says, the fear rising in her voice.
At the Evans residence…
A car pulls up outside.
“He’s here!” Joan says almost running to the door.
She opens the door and sees Ben and Ricardo heading for the front door.
“Ben, thank god you are here! We haven’t heard from them. I’m really scared,” Joan says.
“My god, he got to them before I had a chance to…” Ben says, fading off as he comes into the house.
“Ben, what do you mean?” Hank asks.
“We…we found the place that they were staying in San Francisco very early this morning. They were already long gone. We looked all over the room to see if they left any clue of where they went and that is when I found it,” Ben says.
“Found what?” Casey asks, coming up behind Joan and Hank.
“Derek left a note, a note that he obviously wanted me to find. He said that it is not over and that it will not be over until he has destroyed my family…like I destroyed his,” Ben says.
“My God!” Joan says. “My girls!”
“I came straight to the station to let you all know what was going on and to warn Meg, but they already had you on the line when I got there and I knew it was too late,” Ben says.
“Ben, what do we need to do?” Casey asks.
Before Ben can answer, the phone rings. Everyone stops in their tracks as Ben runs and grabs the phone.
“Hello,” he says.
“Well, well, you got home fast.”
“Where is my wife you bastard?”
“Oh, she’s fine…for now.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, you see, my goal is to destroy your family and I intend on doing that, but I need an audience.”
“You sick, sick bastard. If you so much as touch them, I will kill you with my bare hands.”
“That is a bit hard. You see, I am touching one now and she is quite happy. Say hello Abby.”
Ben struggles to keep it together as he hears Abby happily cooing into the phone. So innocent and sweet he thinks to himself.
“So you see, this little one is quite happy. I may just raise her as my own.”
“Over my dead body! Where is my wife? I want to hear her voice.”
“I suppose I can arrange that. I’ll call you back.”
Then Derek hangs up.
“Damnit! Did you get the trace?” Ben asks Ricardo who had switched on the tracer when Ben picked up the phone.
“No, he hung up too quickly,” Ricardo says with frustration. “We got the trace on the San Francisco call so easily, but this one did not work.” He pauses for a moment as he inspects the tracer. “No wonder, its dead.”
“Oh God! How are we ever going to find out where they are?” Ben asks Ricardo.
“Ben, there are other ways to find out where they are. We are going to find them,” Ricardo says.
Then the phone rings again.
“Hello,” Ben says.
“Ben, I’m okay and Sara is to.”
“Meg, honey, where are you?”
Meg hesitates for a moment seeing the look in Derek’s eyes.
“I…I love you with all my heart and I always will.”
“I love you too honey.”
“Well, you see that she is alive and well. Happy now?”
“No, I won’t be happy until I have her and my baby back in my arms.”
“Well, then I guess you will never be happy.”
The phone goes dead.
“Hello! Hello!” Ben yells into the phone. “No! He is going to kill them!”
“No!” Joan shrieks and Hank pulls her into his arms.
“Ben, he is not going to do a damn thing. I intend on catching that psycho and throwing him into jail for all of eternity,” Ricardo says, his anger rising.
“Not if I get my hands on him first,” Ben growls. He starts to think of what Meg said to him and then it hits him. “I know where they are.”
“How?” Ricardo asks.
“It was what she said, what Meg said. The word love, it echoed when she said it. That only happened before when we were in the warehouse I had bought. They must be on the other side of town in the warehouses,” Ben says and then he and Ricardo take off for Ricardo’s car. Everyone else is right behind them.
CHAPTER 14
The Warehouse
"Alright Meg darling, it is time for you to go join your sister," Derek says as he leads Meg back to the room that Sara is in.
Meg is quiet for a moment and then she speaks.
"Derek, why are you doing this? Why can't you leave us alone?" she asks, blinking back tears.
"Well dear, my brother destroyed my family and I plan to destroy his. He never did deserve to have you or that precious baby and since I can't have you, he won't either," Derek says, a smirk on his face.
"Derek, please don't hurt my baby. Do what you want with me, but don't hurt Abby," Meg pleads with him.
"I'm afraid I have no choice," he says. "Now get in there."
He opens the door to the room and pushes Meg in. Sara tries her best to keep Derek from shutting and locking the door, but it is to no avail. Meg sits down on the floor, a look of shock on her face.
"He's going to kill us. He's really going to kill my baby and I," she says.
"Meg, listen to me," Sara says, sitting down next to her. "He is not going to kill anyone. Ben and Casey are going to find us. They have never failed us and never will."
"Sara, you don't know how bad I want to believe that. I'm just so scared," Meg says with tears in her eyes.
"I know, me too," Sara says as she hugs Meg and tries to comfort her.
Sara is still comforting Meg when she hears the door being opened. She immediately jumps to her feet and walks over to the door. Derek opens the door and carries in what appears to be a bundle of something.
"I brought someone to visit," he says with an evil grin on his face. He pulls back the blanket to reveal a sleeping Abby.
"Abby!" Meg yells and runs to her.
Derek hands Abby to her and then goes to leave the room. Before he can get out the door, Sara gets by him and takes off down the hallway. He closes the door behind him and then takes off after Sara.
"Oh no you don't," he says catching up to Sara. She fights him with everything she's got, but he was too strong and succeeds in dragging her back to the room.
He throws her in the room and then closes and locks the door behind him. Meg goes over to Sara holding a now awake Abby.
"Sara, my god, what did he do to you?" she says looking at her bruised and bleeding sister.
"I fought and I fought, but he was too strong," Sara says as her tears overcome her.
Meg rips off a piece of Abby's blanket and gently presses it against Sara's bleeding lip.
"Ow!" Sara says.
"I know it hurts Sara, but we have to stop the bleeding," Meg says.
Sara places her hand on the fabric to hold it there so that Meg can tend to Abby.
"Is she okay? Did he hurt her?" Sara asks.
"She's okay. Maria took good care of her," Meg says.
"Maria! You mean she is in on this?" Sara asks and then winces at the soreness in her lip.
"She was in the room when he told me to call Ben. Abby and Benjy were somewhere else," Meg says.
"That bitch! I have always known she was no good," Sara says, the anger rising in her voice.
"I know and I should have listened to you, but still, I never thought she would stoop to this level," Meg says and then all of the sudden she smells something funny. "Do you smell that?"
"Yeah, I do. It smells just like...oh my god...its smoke!" Sara shrieks.
CHAPTER 15
Ben, Ricardo, and Casey have just arrived over at the warehouses.
They decide to split up so they can find Meg's car. Before they can get far, Ben hears screaming and sees that the warehouse on the end is on fire.
"Ricardo! Casey! They are in there. We've got to hurry!" Ben says running towards the warehouse.
Casey and Ricardo, who calls 911, hear him and start running toward the warehouse.
Ben gets to the door and flings it open. He steps back and holds up his hands as the heat hits him. Then he runs inside. He can still hear them screaming.
"Keep yelling!" he yells as he realizes he is getting closer to their voices. Finally, he reaches the room that they are in. There are flames all around the door. He pulls off his jacket and starts to smother the flames. Casey and Ricardo come up right behind him and help him finish smothering the flames. As soon as the flames are out, Ben yells for them.
"Sara, Meg, get away from the door. I'm going to kick it in," he yells.
He waits a few moments and then kicks it in. The room is filled with smoke and once his vision clears, he finds Meg and Abby. He picks both of them up. Casey is right behind him and gets Sara. Abby starts to slip out of Ben's grip, so Ricardo gets her and the three of them run to the entrance to the building. Casey gets out first followed by Ricardo. Then there is a monstrous explosion.
"Meg!" Sara yells, with tears running down her face, as she tries to run back toward the building.
"Sara, no!" Casey says holding her back. "You can't go back in there."
"My sister is in there. We have to get her," Sara yells through her tears.
"I'm going back in there," Casey says.
"I'm going with you," Sara says grabbing onto his arm.
"No Sara! Stay here," Casey says. "Ricardo, keep her out here."
Casey runs back into the burning building as Ricardo and Sara watch.
"Ben!" he yells.
"Over here!" Ben yells back.
Casey find Ben and Meg stuck under part of the ceiling that had collapsed. He starts pulling pieces off of Ben and Meg and then finally succeeds in getting them loose. He then helps Ben carry Meg out.
They come out to find the paramedics tending to Sara and Abby while the firefighters fight the fire. A few minutes later, Sara, Abby, and Casey leave in one ambulance followed by Ben and Meg in another.
Later that night...
Ben is sitting beside Meg's hospital bed, holding a sleeping Abby and Meg's hand at the same time.
A few moments later, Meg opens her eyes.
"Ben," she whispers.
"I'm right here love. How are you feeling?" he asks and then leans forward to kiss her forehead.
"I'm okay," she says and then sees Abby in his arms. "Abby...she's okay?"
"She's fine and so is Sara," Ben says.
Meg breathes a sigh of relief and then all of the sudden places her hand on her stomach.
"The baby...is the baby okay?" Meg asks, suddenly fearful.
Ben looks down not sure of what to say and that is when Meg knows.
"No!" she wails trying to fight the tears.
Ben leans forward and puts his arm around her. "I'm so sorry baby, I'm so sorry," he says trying to fight back his own tears.
Meg clings to Ben and Abby and they stay in the embrace until all of the sudden Abby wakes up and starts to cry.
"Abby, mommy is right here," Meg says as she wipes the tears from the baby's eyes as well as her own.
Ben hands her to Meg and Meg cradles her, rocking her back to sleep. A few moments later, Meg to has fallen back to sleep. Ben looks down with love in his eyes as he watches his two sleeping beauties.
A few moments later, there is a small knock on the door and in comes Ricardo.
"Ben, we found Benjy," he says.
CHAPTER 16
"You found Benjy? Where is he?" Ben asks.
Ricardo notices that Meg and Abby are sleeping, so he asks Ben to come in the hall. Ben looks in on his wife and daughter once more and then closes the door and faces Ricardo.
Ricardo hesitates for a moment. "I'm not sure of how to tell you this, but there was an accident."
"An accident? What do you mean?" Ben asks.
"There was an accident not far from the warehouses. The police were called to it right after we had gotten everyone out of the warehouse. A man, a woman, and a child were involved. The man and woman were killed. The child was flown here and is in critical condition," Ricardo says as he stops to take a breath. "The man and woman were Derek and my sister Maria. I had to ID them myself. I know for sure this time that he is gone Ben, but Benjy is in critical condition and the doctors say that if he makes it through the next 24 hours, then he has a chance."
"My god! Where...where is Terri? Does she know what is going on?" Ben asks.
"Yes, she and Mark are with Benjy now. He just came out of surgery," Ricardo says.
Ben is silent for a moment. "How...how did the accident happen?" he asks.
"I'm not sure. I haven't been given the details yet," Ricardo says and then he hesitates a moment. "I just know my sister is not who I thought she was and now she is dead."
"Ricardo, she was not who any of us thought she was. I know you are hurting, but she chose her life for herself," Ben says sympathetically.
"I know she did. I just...I don't know. I still have to tell mama and Antonio," Ricardo says.
"I'm sorry. I know that will be difficult. Please let me know if there is anything I can do," Ben says.
"I will Ben. Thanks," Ricardo says.
"No problem Ricardo," Ben says.
They both shake hands and then Ricardo goes down the hallway and Ben goes back to Meg's room.
Meg, who hadn't really fallen asleep, is sitting up in bed and cradling a sleeping Abby.
"Ben, what did Ricardo tell you? Where is Benjy?" she asks, seeing the fear in his eyes.
"Benjy is here...in the hospital," Ben says.
"Oh, thank god!" Meg says smiling, but then the smile fades when she sees the look on Ben's face. "Ben, what's wrong? Did something happen to Benjy?"
"Meg...Benjy was in an accident," Ben says.
"An accident? What kind of accident?" Meg asks.
"A car accident. Maria and Derek were killed. Benjy is in critical condition," Ben says, struggling to keep it together.
"Oh, no! Terri, where's Terri?" Meg asks, tears in her eyes.
"Terri is with him as well as Mark. Ricardo said he just came out of surgery and that if he makes it through the next 24 hours, he has a chance," Ben says.
"Ben, oh god, why did all of this have to happen? Why couldn't Derek just leave us alone? Why?" Meg says, the tears flowing.
Ben comes over to the bed and grabs Meg and Abby into his arms and they stay that way for a while, holding each other and their baby girl.
CHAPTER 17
It's 4 months later. Ben and Meg have just celebrated Abby's first Christmas and are anticipating the New Year. Benjy, completely recovered, is spending New Year's with them along with his mom, Mark, and sister Dana. Meg and Ben have also invited their family and friends to join them in celebrating the New Year.
It is now 10 seconds until the New Year. Everyone counts down together.
"10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1...Happy New Year!" they all yell in unison.
A few minutes later, Meg asks everyone to quiet down.
"Ben, I have something to tell you. You are going to be a daddy again!" she says.
"WOOHOO!!!" Ben yells as he rushes up and sweeps Meg off her feet. Then he plants a kiss on her lips as everyone cheers them on.
As soon as the excitement dies down, Michael speaks up.
"Well, while we are making announcements, I have something to ask Vanessa," he says.
Michael gets down on his knee and takes Vanessa's hand in his.
"Miss Vanessa Hart, will you marry me?" he asks.
"Yes, I most certainly will!" Vanessa says with a huge smile, a tear in her eye.
Michael takes out the ring box and opens it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. He places it on Vanessa's finger and then stands up and embraces her.
Everyone cheers again and then Ricardo speaks up.
"Well, as long as we are celebrating one engagement, why not make it two?" he says.
He gets down on one knee in front of a shocked Gabi and takes her hand.
"Will you marry me Gabriella Martinez?" he asks.
"Yes!" Gabi says through her tears.
Ricardo brings out the box and takes out a beautiful diamond ring. He places it on Gabi's finger and then they hug.
Everyone cheers again and then they get quiet waiting for another announcement. All eyes are on Sara and Casey.
Casey clears his throat. "Well, we aren't expecting, at least I don't think..." he says looking at Sara.
"Casey Mitchum!" Sara says, giving him a playful punch in the side. Everyone starts to laugh.
"Okay, we are not expecting and we are already engaged. I guess the only thing left is to set a date," Casey says.
He smiles at a beaming Sara and then makes his announcement. "We are getting married on March 3 and I hope you all will attend."
Everyone cheers again and then congratulations go all around. It was a great way to begin the New Year.
CHAPTER 18
March 3 - The Wedding
The entire mission is full of people. The groomsmen, Michael and Ricardo, as
well as the best man, Ben, and of course the groom, Casey, are already at the
front of the mission ready to go.
The two bridesmaids, Vanessa and Gabi, dressed in royal blue dresses, have
just made their way down the aisle. It is now Meg's turn, who is also in
royal blue and now three months pregnant. She gives her sister one, last
smile and then makes her way down the aisle. As soon as she is in place, the
music announcing the arrival of the bride starts to play.
Everyone stands up and Hank and Sara walk down the aisle. Sara is wearing a
sleeveless white dress that goes flows to her ankles. Tiny white flowers
with little pearls as their center are embroidered in various patterns on her
dress as well as her veil. She carries a bouquet of white lilies and baby's
breath.
She and Hank make their way to the front and after giving her away, Hank
takes his seat with Joan and Abby. Then, the ceremony begins.
It was a beautiful ceremony and there was not a dry eye in the place when
Antonio pronounced them man and wife and allowed the groom to kiss his wife.
Then, hand in hand, with radiant smiles, the newlyweds walk down the aisle to
the beginning of the rest of their life together.CHAPTER 19
The middle of August
Meg is due any day now and after being on bed rest for the past few weeks,
she is ready to bring a new life into the world. She had just closed her
eyes to catch a little nap when someone knocks at her door.
"Meg, its your sister! Can I come in?" Sara asks from the other side of the
closed door.
"Sure! I'm not trying to sleep or anything," Meg says, a grin on her face.
"Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted your nap, but I have some good news," Sara says.
"What is it? Don't keep me waiting!" Meg says, excitement in her eyes.
Sara hesitates a moment, a smile spreading across her face.
"Well?" Meg says impatiently.
"How do you like the sound of aunt Meg?" Sara asks.
"Aunt Meg?" Meg says and then it hits her. "Sara!" she shrieks.
"Congratulations!"
Meg leans forward and hugs Sara. Then, it hits her.
"Wow!" Meg says, holding onto her stomach.
"Meg? What is it?" Sara asks, alarmed.
"I think it's time," Meg says.
"Are you sure?" Sara asks, wide eyed.
"Yeah, I have done this before you know," Meg says with a grin.
Sara helps her out of the bed, grabs the pre-packed suitcase, and helps Meg
downstairs.
Lilah sees them coming down the stairs and rushes to Meg.
"Is it time?" she asks.
"Yes, please…" Meg stops as another contraction hits her. "…call Ben. Tell
him to hurry."
Sara leads Meg to the door as Lilah calls Ben.
"Hello. Ben Evans speaking," Ben says.
"Ben, this is Lilah. It's time. Sara is taking Meg to the hospital. Meg
said to hurry. I've got Abby," Lilah says all in one breath.
"Thanks Lilah! I'm on the way," Ben says.
And thus, a new life was on its way.
CHAPTER 20
Ben has just arrived at the hospital. He gets to Meg's room as fast as he
can. Just as he gets to her door, Sara comes out.
"Oh good, you are here," Sara says. "She's doing fine and it shouldn't be
long now."
"That's great Sara and thank you for staying with Meg," Ben says.
"Oh, your welcome. That is what sisters are for," Sara says with a smile.
"Listen, I am going to find mom, dad, and Casey and we'll be back."
"Alright. I'll see you later," Ben says as he puts his hand on the doorknob,
but then he stops. "Sara?"
"Yes?" Sara says turning around.
"Please check on Abby and tell Lilah we will keep her posted," he says.
"Sure! Bye!" she says and continues down the hall.
Ben turns the doorknob and walks in the room.
"I got here as quickly as I could," Ben says as he comes over to the side of
the bed and holds her hand. "How are you honey?"
"I'm okay. The contractions are only a few minutes apart now," she says.
"And everything is going smoothly," Tyus says walking in the door.
"That's great Tyus," Ben says.
"Yes it is," Tyus says and then he turns to Meg. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine and very ready to have this baby," Meg says with a smile.
"Great! Well, it should not be too long now. I will have the nurse come in
and check on you in a few minutes," Tyus says and then he leaves the room.
As soon as Tyus leaves the room, Meg turns to Ben.
"Honey, we need to think of a name for this little one," Meg says.
"I know hon," he says with a frown. "We can't seem to agree on anything."
"That's for sure…whoa!" Meg says grabbing onto her stomach.
"Meg, breathe," he says, helping her through the contraction. In a matter of
moments, it passes on.
"All right honey, relax," he says as she lays her head back on the pillow.
"I'm so glad you got here," Meg says, placing her hand on his cheek.
"I'm glad I got here too," he says smiling at her.
Two hours later
"Okay Meg, its time to push," Tyus says.
"Okay," Meg says and with Ben holding her hand, she does her first big push.
"Good…okay relax," Tyus says. "The baby is starting to crown. I need you to
give me another good push."
Ben and a nurse help Meg to a sitting position. Then on the count of three,
she pushes again.
"You are almost there," Tyus says. "One more big push and the baby will be
out."
"Breathe honey, breathe," Ben says as he helps Meg get ready for the next big
push.
"Okay, are you ready?" Tyus asks.
"Yes," Meg says and then she sums up all of her energy and pushes.
A few moments later, their new baby is born, but their happiness quickly
turns to fear.
"Why isn't the baby crying?" Meg says, her fear rising.
Tyus doesn't answer as he rushes the baby over to a table. He and the nurse
work on the baby for a few moments as Ben and Meg watch in silence.
Finally, they all hear the best sound ever. With tears of joy, Meg hugs Ben
as she hears the baby cry for the first time. Then Tyus brings the baby over.
"I'm sorry for that scare. The baby was choking when she came out, but we
suctioned all of the fluids out and she is fine now," he says and then he
places the baby in Meg's arms.
"You said she? You mean we have a baby girl?" Meg says with fresh tears in
her eyes.
"Yes, you have another baby girl," Tyus says with a smile and then he leaves
them to spend time with their new baby girl.
"She's beautiful," Ben says as he touches the tiny little hand with his
finger.
"She sure is," Meg says smiling down at the little infant in her arms.
"You know, she looks just like…" Ben says and then he trails off.
"Like who?" Meg says looking up at him.
Ben hesitates a moment before answering her. "My sister."
"Your sister?" Meg says, a confused look on her face.
"I…uh…we, Derek and I, had a younger sister. Her name was Emma Katherine.
She was so beautiful and so full of life," Ben says.
"I…I had no idea. What happened to her? If you don't mind me asking," she
says placing her hand over his.
"She died of Leukemia when she was 7 years old. Derek and I were ten," Ben
says, pausing for a moment, and then he continues. "That's when Derek
turned, when he started to become violent. He and Katie, as we called her,
were so close and he just couldn't take it."
"Oh Ben," Meg says squeezing his hand as tears fill her eyes.
"Its okay honey," he says using his finger to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"It happened a long time ago and I'm okay. It took a while for me to accept,
but I finally realized she was in heaven and that she was no longer
suffering."
"Yeah, she is in a better place," Meg says placing her hand on his cheek.
Then she looks down at the sleeping infant in her arms. "Would you like to
name her after your sister?"
Ben looks down at the infant and takes her little hand in his. "Yes, I
would," he says. "What do you think of the name Emma Katherine little one?"
As if in response, the baby lets out a little yawn.
"I think she likes it," Meg says with a smile. Then she gives Ben a kiss and
they both smile at little Emma.
A few minutes later, Joan, Hank, Sara, Casey, Lilah, and Abby all arrive to
see the newest addition to the family and thus begins a new chapter in the
lives of Ben and Meg and their family.