Trip To Seattle
Chapter 26
“Here we are” Ben said and helped Meg to get off the car. He led her inside Surf – Central. Casey was there, waiting for them.
“Oh Meg, thank God you’re OK” he went to give her a hug “I’m so sorry I left you alone. If I had known that he was…”
“Casey, it’s not your fault” she stopped him “No one could have known. No one could have predicted anything”
“I know, but I feel so terrible about that. I…”
“Casey, don’t… You couldn’t have done anything, all right? You couldn’t have”
“OK, OK” he sighed and gave her another hug “I’m so glad that you’re fine. Well, at least physically”
“Thanks” she answered and turned to Ben “I think I’m gonna use some rest right now. Thanks for driving me”
“Hey, you didn’t think that I was going to leave you just like that, now did you?” he looked at her with concern.
“Ben…”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you”
“But…” she tried to object.
“No buts. I’m going to stay with you as long as it takes”
“He is right, Meg” Casey interposed “You’ve been through a really hard time. You shouldn’t be alone right now… Besides, we both know that no one can make you feel the way he does, now don’t we?” Casey looked meaningfully at Meg and she smiled “I knew that” Casey added.
“Thanks, man” Ben turned to Casey.
“You’re welcome” Casey answered and smiled “Listen, I have to go back to the beach. We have a busy day”
“Sure” Ben replied “We will be fine”
“OK, then see you” Casey said and left. Ben looked into Meg’s eyes and smiled.
“I’m going to take a very good care of you”
“Are you?”
“Yes. I promised that to your parents”
“I know’
“So, first – what do you want for breakfast? It’s already afternoon and you haven’t eaten anything”
“I’m not hungry, Ben”
“Oh, yes you are. You just don’t know about it… So what are your special wishes?”
“I don’t have any”
“All right, then you will have to rely on me”
“Oh, I do, I do” she answered and went to her room. After a few minutes Ben joined her carrying a cup of hot coffee, orange juice, two rolls and marmalade.
“Here you go” he placed the tray on the bed next to Meg.
“Thank you” she looked lovingly at him and then at the tray. Soon the tray was completely empty. Ben looked at Meg and smiled.
“You said you weren’t hungry”
“That’s because I wasn’t… until you brought all those delicious things here… God, I don’t remember when was the last time I was so hungry”
“Do you want anything else to eat?”
“No, thanks. I’m not THAT hungry” she laughed.
“Look, why don’t you get some sleep. You must be tired”
“I am, but I’m not sleepy”
“Are you sure?” he asked with concern.
“I’m positive. I don’t feel like sleeping right now”
“Well then in that case – is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Yes”
“Name it”
“Can you please just hold me?” she looked at him imploringly. He immediately sat on the bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her to make her feel safe and loved.
“Hey, I’m here for you” he said “I always will be. You don’t have to be afraid of anything”
“The only thing I’m afraid of is loosing you again. I wouldn’t stand that” she cried.
“Sssshhh” he placed his finger on her lips “Don’t even think about it, do you hear me? I love you and I’m not ever going to leave you”
“I love you too” she answered and cuddled in his arms, letting him breathe her wonderful smell. She felt his warmth all around her body and she knew that they would make it and that everything would be fine.
Chapter 27
It was getting late. Meg was alone in her room. She looked at her picture with Ben. She was worried about him. He was supposed to tell Maria the truth about Benjy and Meg knew how hard this would be for him to deal with that.
“I love you, Ben” she said aloud looking at the picture “I hope you know that”
“I do” she suddenly heard his soft voice and saw him standing at the door.
“Ben… I though you were to tell Maria…”
“I already have”
“How did… How did she take it?” Meg knew that this would be a huge shock for Maria.
“She was pretty calm, but I know that she is breaking apart inside”
“And I know that YOU are breaking apart inside too”
“Meg…”
“Ben, I love you and I just can’t stand seeing you like this”
“Like what?”
“So hurt… in so much pain… Ben, ever since you came back from Seattle this morning, you’ve been doing absolutely everything to help me get through this… You’ve been really amazing… And I appreciate that… I really do, but you can’t deny your own feelings”
“Meg, I…”
“Don’t forget that I know you too well, Ben Evans. And I can tell when something is bothering you. And THIS is not just bothering you, it’s killing you, isn’t it?” she looked straight into his eyes and saw how much pain he was going through “Ben, you don’t have to hide anything from me… I’m here for you, just talk to me sweetie… please…” for a moment they were only looking into each other’s eyes and finally Ben started:
“This little boy was my son… I treated him as my son… And now suddenly he is Derek’s… And I’m supposed to deal with that… And that little boy is supposed to deal with that too…”
“I’m so sorry”
“I have learned to love that boy… I tried to be a good father…”
“You’ve been the most amazing father anyone could ever imagine”
“How am I supposed to tell him…” Ben stopped and looked at Meg, helpless.
“I know, sweetie, I know” she gave him a hug trying to comfort him “I just wish that there was something I could do to make you feel better”
“You already are doing this. Just by being here for me”
“I will always be there for you, don’t you know that?”
“I do” he smiled and added “You know what hurts me the most in all this? That I let Derek mess up with my life again and that I almost lost you…”
“But you didn’t…”
“You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. My life is worth nothing without you. I love you. And I love you now more than I ever have. And I will never stop loving you, no matter what”
“I love you too” she answered through tears “I always have and I always will” she said and kissed him more passionately than ever, remembering how wonderful it was every time she felt his lips on hers.
“I’ve missed that” he said stroking her hair.
“Me too” she answered and suddenly came back to reality “You should probably go and see how Maria is doing”
“I’m sure she is fine. Besides Carmen and Antonio are there for her”
“Ben, you need to…”
“The only thing I need to do is to stay here with you”
“But…”
“No buts. I’m staying here”
“You know, you really are annoying”
“Oh really?”
“Yes – really”
“Then you should start getting used to it, because I’m not going to change it”
“Don’t even dare” she smiled and put her pyjamas out of the wardrobe “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to get some sleep today”
“So am I” he winked his eye and left the room. Meg went to the bathroom to take a shower. When she was back, she saw Ben lying in her bed, dressed in one of Casey’s T – shirts.
“Ben, what are you doing in bed?”
“I’m waiting for the owner of the bed” he smiled.
“You are unbelievable, you know that?”
“So you keep telling me”
“Are we supposed to sleep together?” she looked at him a little scared.
“No, you can sleep on the coach downstairs if you want” he explained and started laughing “So, what do you choose?”
“I swear I’ll get you for that, Ben Evans” she said getting into the bed, straight into loving arms waiting for her.
“Oh, you can get me anytime you want” he answered and wrapped his arms around her.
“You know, I always knew that there was something missing in this bed” she said after a while.
“What?”
“You” she replied and gave him a gentle kiss.
“I love you, don’t ever forget that, OK?”
“I won’t” she answered and looked at him scared “Ben, promise me that you will be here when I wake up”
“I promise” he said and kissed her. Soon the two of them fell asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.
Chapter 28
It was the next ay morning. The sun was slowly reaching Meg’s room. She opened her eyes and looked around. There was no sign of Ben. Her eyes immediately filled with tears. She looked at her photo with Ben.
“Beautiful dream, huh?” she laughed trough tears and threw the picture onto the wall.
Ben entered the room just to see her sitting on the bed, crying.
“Meg, sweetie, what’s wrong?”
“Ben!!!” she screamed and ran to him wrapping her shaking arms around his neck.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing… it’s just that you promised to be here and when I woke up and you weren’t there… I got so scared”
“Hey, I’m sorry I worried you” he kissed her “I just went to the bathroom… I didn’t want to wake you up… I’m sorry”
“No, I’m sorry… God, I’m so stupid!”
“No, you’re not. And I’m sorry you were scared”
“You know, I’ll land in a mental hospital if I start to go crazy and cry every time you will be out of my sight”
“Well, then the only way to not let that happen is for me to never leave you… Don’t worry, I don’t mind that” he said and they heard the knock on the door.
“Room service” they heard Casey’s voice.
“We haven’t ordered anything” Ben laughed.
“That’s on the house” Casey laughed and entered the room carrying a tray “I made you some breakfast. I thought you could use one”
“We could” Meg smiled and Casey put the tray on the night table.
“Enjoy your meal” he said.
“We will” Ben replied and Casey left.
“God, I’m starving!” Meg screamed and started eating. She was close to eating absolutely everything “God, I’m sorry” she restrained after a while “Casey said the breakfast was for both of us, didn’t he?”
“Don’t worry” Ben smiled “Just eat as much as you need. I’ll be fine”
“No, Ben, you need to eat something. Please” she handed him a roll.
“Al right” Ben smiled and ate the roll with just two bites.
“Are you sure you don’t want more?” meg asked with concern.
“No, no, I’ll be OK”
“As you wish” she smiled and soon the tray was empty.
Ben lay back in the bed and let Meg rest peacefully on his chest. Suddenly they heard a knock on the door.
“Come in” Ben said not asking who it was.
“Hi, it’s me” they saw Tracy “Sorry to interrupt… the blonde one said it was OK if I check up on you…”
“You mean Casey?” Ben asked.
“Casey? Maybe… Anyway, I came here to say goodbye. I’m going back to Seattle this afternoon”
“You’re leaving so soon?” Ben sounded surprised.
“Yes. I have nothing left to do here in California”
“You can see the sights” Ben advised.
“Maybe some other time. Look, Ben, I wanted to thank you for everything. It was really nice meeting you”
“It was nice to meet you too” Ben smiled.
“And one more time I’m sorry about your brother”
“Don’t be. He killed your sister, you don’t have to be sorry for him”
“I don’t feel sorry for him, I feel sorry for you”
“Thanks, I’ll be fine”
“Well, I don’t doubt that” she looked meaningfully at Meg “You take care of him, would you?”
“With pleasure” Meg answered.
“Take care guys” Tracy said and headed towards the door.
“Give me a call when you’re in Seattle, OK?” Ben asked.
“I will, bye” Tracy replied and left the room.
“She seems to be nice” Meg said.
“She is”
“It’s really terrible what Derek did to her sister… I can’t even imagine what I would do if anything happened to Sara” Meg became sad.
“Don’t think about it, OK? We are all safe right now and Derek will never hurt us again”
“I know, I know” she sighed “Don’t forget that I am the one who neutralized him”
“Meg, don’t even go there… You did what you had to do and no one blames you for that”
“I blame myself… Ben, I killed your brother”
“Derek was not my brother. He had my blood but he was not my brother. Not after what he did to Maria and you” he said and started stroking her hair “I don’t want you to think about Derek right now, OK? Please, don’t do this to yourself”
“I’ll try, Ben, I’ll try” she answered and pillowed her head on his chest. He held her tight, letting her know that she was safe now.
Chapter 29
Meg looked at her photo with Ben and smiled.
“So, Ben” she thought “Looks like we made it, huh? Who would have thought?” she kissed the photo and heard the knock on the door.
“Sweetie, it’s me” she heard Joan’s voice.
“Come in, mom’ Meg said and hugged her mother.
“You just can’t stop thinking about him, now can you?” Joan looked at her meaningfully.
“I’m worried about him, mom. He and Maria are supposed to tell Benjy the truth… Actually, I think that they’ve already done that… How do you think Benjy is going to take it? He has been through so much and now this… How is this little boy supposed to handle all this?”
“If you’re so worried than why don’t you go over to Ben’s and see how he’s doing”
“I don’t know, mom… Maybe Ben needs his space right now… Maybe I shouldn’t interfere…”
“Honey, I’m sure Be will be more than happy to see you. He told you yesterday how much he loves you, didn’t he?”
“Yeah”
“Than why don’t you let him know that you love him too”
“You really think I should?”
“Yes. When you’re in pain, you need someone you love around”
“Thanks, mom” Meg wiped the tear from her eye and hugged her mother. She took her purse and stormed out of Surf – Central. She headed towards Ben’s house, still wondering if she was doing the right thing going there. And after a while she realized that she felt unrestrained need to see Ben and she couldn’t help it.
She slowly came closer to the glass door and went inside. Ben, Maria and Benjy were talking . Maria was the first one to notice Meg. She smiled.
“Hi, Meg”
“Hi, I came by to see how you are all doing. I was worried about you”
“We’re actually pretty fine” Maria answered.
“I know this must be hard to…”
“It is” Maria stopped her “But we’ll be fine”
“And how are you doing, Benjy?” Meg turned to him “I’m really sorry that you have to go through this”
“No, you’re not!!!” Benjy screamed “You wanted me gone!!! It’s your fault that daddy doesn’t want to be my daddy anymore!!!”
“Sweetie!!!” Maria tried to stop him but it didn’t help
“It’s your fault!!!” Benjy continued screaming “You made my daddy tell me to go away, that’s why he doesn’t want me anymore!!!”
“Benjy, sweetie, it’s not like that” Maria tried to calm Benjy down but he was still very angry.
“I hate you, Meg!!!” he kept screaming “I hate you for what you did to my daddy!!!”
“Benjy, Ban is not your daddy” Maria tried to explain.
“That’s because he prefers her to us, it’s all because of her!”
“Now, Benjy, that really is enough” Maria was a little bit angry at him.
“I think I should go” Meg cried “I should never have come here” she grabbed her purse and rushed out of Ben’s house. Ben ran after her.
“Meg, wait!!!” he shouted and grabbed her arm.
“No, Ben, let go of me!” she cried and looked at him “I’m sorry for coming by… I shouldn’t have…”
“Hey, he doesn’t know what he’s saying” Ben said and wrapped her arms around her “Don’t let him get to you like that”
“Ben, I came here because I was worried about him, and he tells me that it’s all my fault… How am I supposed to feel?”
“Benjy should never talked to you the way he did. I think I’ll have to have a long conversation with him”
“This won’t help, Ben!” Meg cried “This won’t change the way he feels. God, he’s going to hate me for the rest of his life!”
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t even think like that” Ben looked deep into his eyes and stroked her hair “Benjy is young, he doesn’t understand many things, he doesn’t understand that it was not my choice whether to be his father or not… Meg, sooner or later he will realize how wonderful you really are and he will love you just as much as I do” he smiled.
“Do you really believe that?”
“Of course I do. Meg, only the biggest moron in the world wouldn’t notice how amazing you are. You are the most beautiful, compassionate and the smartest woman I’ve never known. He will see that one day”
“But when? Ben, even if he is not your son, he is still your family, and I don’t want him to hate me. I wanna be his friend”
“I know and I love you for that” Ben smiled and gently kissed her lips “Actually I love you for many reasons” he added and started kissing her more passionately.
“I love you too” she answered “And thank you for being so supportive. I would never have made it without you. Thank you”
“Hey, you don’t have to thank me. I love you and I would do anything for you”
“I know, I would do anything for you too” she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“It’s good to see your smile again”
“It’s good to have someone you can smile to” she said and looked at him more seriously “Maybe you should go back home”
“Oh, I think that I still have some time left” he smiled and took her hand “Come on, I’ll take you for dinner”
“I’d love that” she replied and they started walking along the beach holding hands.
Chapter 30
“You look like you were a lot better today” Casey looked inquiringly at Meg.
“Well, that’s because I am” she smiled.
“Does Ben happen to have anything to do with your good mood?”
“Oh, he happens to have everything to do with my good mood”
“And what did he do this time?”
“Nothing, it’s just the way he is… so loving, so caring… God, Casey I can’t believe that after everything we’ve been through, we are still together”
“Well, love is very powerful, and you should know it”
“I do” she smiled and they heard the phone ringing “I’ll get that” Meg offered and went to answer “Surf – Central”
“Looks like I’m lucky” she heard Ben’s voice.
“Ben, hi, what’s up?”
“Nothing, I just missed you. I kept thinking about this wonderful dinner we had yesterday”
“It was pretty wonderful” she agreed and asked “How is Benjy?”
“He is actually pretty fine. I explained a few things to him”
“Ben, you shouldn’t…”
“Meg, he needs to know and understand”
“I know, I know, I’m just worried about him”
“I know you are, but he is going to be fine. Maria will make sure of that”
“You will too, right?”
“Oh, I will, but right now I have one more very important thing to take care of”
“Which is?”
“Meet me at my place in fifteen minutes to find out”
“Ben, what are you up to this time?” she smiled.
“Nothing… Just come to find out”
“All right, all right, I’ll be there”
“Be where?” Casey asked when Meg hung up.
“Ben wants me to meet him in fifteen minutes”
“Than don’t keep him waiting” Casey advised and Meg left Surf – Central. After a while she reached Ben’s house and went inside. Ben wasn’t there.
“Ben!” she called, but there was no answer. She called again, no sign of him. Suddenly she felt someone’s hands on her arms. She pulled away and turned around.
“God, Ben, you scared me!!!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to”
“So, what was that thing you needed to take care of?”
“Come on” he took her hand and led her to the car. There was a single white rose lying on the seat.
“Ben…” she looked at him surprised “What is that supposed to mean?”
“That’s an invitation”
“To the car?” she laughed.
“Exactly” he answered and opened the door. She picked up the rose and got in. He did the same and they set off.
“Ben, where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise”
“Ben, I don’t like it… please, just tell me where we’re going”
“We’ll see”
“What do you mean we’ll see? Ben, where are we going?”
“Somewhere where we can be alone and forget about everything – about Derek, about all problems… Somewhere where we can just think everything over without any interruptions”
“And where would that be?”
“I don’t know. For me it can be the other side of the world. I don’t care, as long as I’m with you”
“So, are you saying that we’re gonna be driving for as long as we wish and stop wherever we wish?” she looked at him with disbelief.
“That’s exactly what I am saying”
“But Ben, I don’t have any clothes or anything”
“Don’t worry… You’ve got me” he answered and took her hand. She smiled and kissed his hand. She looked at him lovingly. She really had him. And as long as she had him, she didn’t care where she was or what she was doing. As long as she was doing this with HIM. And he was right - she didn't have to worry about anything as long as she had HIM.
THE END
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