Chapter
01
Meg
Cummings was still as stiffened. Here she stood on the cemetery now, where
almost her whole family was just buried. She still couldn't believe, what have
happened five days ago.
Five days before:
Meg have spent a funny afternoon at the circus together with her eight years old nephew Andrew and her six years old niece Samantha. She enjoyed the time with the two children. Her brother Tobbias was there with his wife Melissa and the children on a visit for a couple of days. Tomorrow, at the 4th July, they would have a great barbecue on the farm of her parents. "The clowns were the best, weren't they aunt Meg?" she heard Andy asking. "Yes, they were very funny. What did you like most Sam?" Meg looked into the rear-view mirror at the two children. "The horses, aunt Meg, I love the horses." Sam's eyes shined up "Dad has promised me a pony for my next birthday." "You and your boring horses." Andy rolled his eyes. "You are stupid, horses are wonderful animals." "You are right Sam, I also like horses very much. Which animals do you like at most, Andy?" "All kinds of reptiles," he told proudly "they are so mysteriously and not so boring like horses." "Horses aren't boring. Reptiles are disgusting." "They are not!" Andy poked his tongue at his sister "You girls are so stupid." "Sam, Andy, please stop the fighting. We had a great afternoon, hadn't we?" "Yes, aunt Meg," they said in unison. "Wow, what is that? Aunt Meg, it looks as if it burns behind there." Andy pointed at a thick column of smoke in front of them. "Oh my God, you are right and what it looks, it's on our farm." Meg drove faster and soon they reached the driveway to the farm. The car of the Sheriff blocks them the way. Meg stopped the car and got out." Sheriff Clayton, what have happened? Please, let me through, I must go to the farm." Meg ran toward to the Sheriff. Sheriff Clayton stopped Meg. "Meg, you can't go there yet." Meg felt, that something terrible must have happened. "Sheriff Clayton, I must through there, my parents and my brother with his wife are still there anyway." The Sheriff put his arm around Meg and shook the head "Meg, I'm afraid. I can't let you through." Tears streamed down at Meg's face. "Please Sheriff, what happened? My family is still there." The Sheriff didn't know how he should tell it to Meg. "Meg, there is nothing what you can do. There was a gas explosion on the farm. I’m sorry." "No, this can't be. Please, tell me that this isn't true. It can't be!" The Sheriff embraced Meg. "Meg, there is really nothing, what we can do." "No! Mom! Dad!" Meg yelled and then she broke down.
Sara
Cummings put her hand on the shoulder from her sister "Come on Meg, it's
over. Let’s go." Meg looked at her sister "You are right, however, I
still can't believe it." "Me neither, but it's true. Come on Meg, let
us go." "Yes, come on Sam and Andy, we want to go." She took the
children at their hands and the four slowly left the cemetery. In front of the
cemetery Alice Simson waited with the car for the Cummings. Sara, Meg and the
children got in. For now they stayed at the Simsons place. As soon as
"Meg
wake up!" Sheriff Clayton tried to wake up Meg again. Slowly she opened the
eyes. "What happened? Where are the children?" Sadly the Sheriff
smiled at Meg. "The children are with Alice Simson. How are you?" Meg
sat up and looked around. Suddenly she remembered, what the Sheriff has tried to
tell her before. "Sheriff Clayton, where are my parents and my brother and
his wife?" "I'm sorry Meg," he took Meg's hand "but when we
arrived, we couldn't do anything." Meg sobbed "What happened?"
"It looks like there has been a gas explosion in the kitchen. When the fire
brigade arrived, they couldn't do much" The Sheriff paused and took Meg
into his arms. He knew her since she was a little girl and it was hard to him,
to tell her what have happened. "We have found four bodies in the kitchen.
I'm sorry Meg." Meg sobbed "The children, I must go to the children.
Somebody must tell it to them."
"Meg
have you heard, what I have said?" Sara's voice came through to Meg. "Excuse
me Sara, what did you say?" Sara hugged her sister "Meg, I'm sorry,
that I must go back to
Chapter
02
Meg
had just said goodbye to her sister at the
It
was a mild night and Meg just came back from a date with Tim, her high school
sweetheart. She sat down on the bench in front of the house to think a little
about, what Tim has said to her today. She didn't know how long she had been sitting
there, when her mother came out of the house. "Is everything all right,
honey?" Joan Cummings always felt, when something was bothering Meg.
Meg sighed. "Actually everything should be ok, but somehow it
doesn’t feel so." Joan sat down next to her daughter "Do you like to
talk about it? Did you have a fight with Tim?" Meg looked at her mother.
From where did she always know, what bothered Meg. "Actually we didn't
have a fight directly." Meg sighed "Tim has asked me today, if I want
to marry him." Joan knew her daughter to well and something was wrong here
"And? What do you want to do?" "Mom, if I only would knew
this. Tim said, that he doesn't want to wait longer and if I don't want
marry him, then he'll look for somebody else." Joan put her hand on her
daughter's shoulder. "Meg you should only marry, if you are really sure
about this. Do you love Tim?" “Yes, but more like a brother and not like
the man, I want to spend the rest of my life." Meg sighed. "Mom, do
you believe in the big love?" Joan smiled. "Of course and I'm
happy, that I have found my big love in your father." Meg smiled. She
loved her parents and wanted, that she once would have such as good a
marriage as her parents. "Do you think that I will ever meet my big
love?" Joan hugged her daughter. "Of course, I believe, that you will
meet the man, who is meant for you. And if you feel it isn't Tim, then you
shouldn't marry him. Meg, you are still young, have you ever thought about to
leave
Meg
stopped the car in front of the building where Richard Bauer had his office. She
was still sitting there for a moment and took a deep breath. After a few minutes
she got out and entered the building. She was welcomed by Richard's secretary.
"Hi Meg, how are you? I’m sorry about what happened with your parents. I
still can’t believe it." "Thanks Susan, I'm fine under the
circumstances. Is Richard in his office? I have an appointment with him."
Susan nodded and got up. "Wait, I let him know that you are here." She
went over to the door behind her, knocked briefly and opened it. "Mr.
Bauer, Meg Cummings is here." Susan turned around to Meg. "You can
go in." She stepped aside and Meg entered the office. A stately,
gray-haired man got up from his desk and approached Meg. He hugged her briefly
"Hi Meg, nice to see you. How are you?" Meg smiled at Richard Bauer.
She always has liked him. "Thanks, I'm fine." "Would you like a
cup of coffee?" Meg nodded. "Susan would you please get us two cups of
coffee?" "Of course, Mr. Bauer." Susan left the office and closed
the door behind herself. "Come on Meg, let us sit down." Richard moved
a chair for Meg and she sat down. Richard sat down behind his desk again. Before
he could say anything, Susan brought the coffee and then left the office
just as fast and quiet as she has entered it. "If I have understood you
right, you would like to have the custody for Samantha and Andrew?" Meg
nodded. "Yes, that’s right. Sara and I are the only family which they
still have. Do you think, that I have a chance?" "Well," Richard
leant back in his chair "however, it won't be easy, since you aren't
married, but I think, we'll make it. I have asked around a little bit and it
doesn't look bad for you at all. Tomorrow I have an appointment at the
guardianship court and after that I know more." Meg sighed relieved "Thank
you Richard, this means a lot for me." Richard smiled at her "I know
that and because of that I'll do everything in my power to help
you with it. Good for you is, that everybody knows you here in
At
the next day, around noon, Richard Bauer called and informed Meg, that she got
the custody for the children. Relieved about this, she went outside to the
children. "Sam, Andy, a friend from me just called and has informed me,
that we can stay together." "Oh aunt Meg, I'm so glad about this, I
wouldn't like to lose you too." Sam hugged Meg. "Sam, I wouldn't like
to lose you either and I promise you, that we three will stay together."
"What will we then do now, aunt Meg? Will we stay here with the
Simsons?" Andy has hugged Meg now too. Meg smiled, this little guy was so
brave, but she could see how he fought back his tears. Meg shook her head.
"To be honest, I would like to leave
Chapter
03
Almost
three weeks ago, Meg and the children have left
They
simply drove ahead, crossed a part of
The
man still looked after Meg a moment and then he turned around to Mark. "I
hope everything is all right here." Yes boss, everything is all right here.
However, do you look as if you have had a hard morning, Ben." Ben sighed
"Well, you can say that. I wish I would finally find a reliable secretary
for my office in the Liberty Corporation again." Mark was surprised "I
thought you have adjusted a new one only three days ago?" Ben poured
himself a coffee "I had, however, I fired her this morning. I need a
secretary, who can work independently and who knows how to use a computer."
Mark smiled "Maybe I know someone for you." “Really?” Ben was
surprised. "Yes, shall I call her, if she is interested in the job?"
Ben took a gulp of his coffee. "That would be good, maybe she can come over
into my office in the Liberty Corporation already this afternoon for an
interview. I'll be there the whole afternoon. Unfortunately, I have to go right
now. I only needed some papers from my office here." Ben went back to
behind to his office and returned with a file in his hand few moments later.
Before he left the Java Web, he turned around to Mark once again "And
what's the name of the woman? I must at least know whom I shall expect."
“Her name is Meg Cummings.” “Thanks Mark, see you later.” Ben left the
Java Web and Mark went over to the telephone and dialled Meg's cell phone number.
Excited Meg entered the building of the Liberty Corporation. She still couldn’t believe, that Mark had called her so fast, because of a job. She had left the two children with Mark in the Java Web and made herself on the way to the Liberty Corporation. She looked around and then she walked over to the desk of the porter “Hello, my name is Meg Cummings and I am here for an interview with Mr. Evans." The portier looked at a list in front of himself and then he smiled at Meg. "Mr. Evans expects you. Just take the left elevator and drive up o the 18th floor. Then you come directly into the anteroom from Mr. Evans. Since, there isn’t anybody there at the moment, you go through it into Mr. Evans office.” “Thanks” Meg smiled back and went at once over to the elevators. She entered the left and pushed on the button for the 18th floor. A short time later the elevator stopped on the 18th floor and the elevator door opened. Meg took deep breath and then she left the elevator. Like the portiere had told her, nobody was in the anteroom but there was a door, which was open, in the opposite side. Determinedly Meg went towards the door and looked into the office. First she couldn’t discover anybody, but then she noticed somebody behind the computer and this man quietly cursed in front of himself.
“Damned thing, why doesn’t this program work how I want it?" Ben tried once more to start the program, just without the same luck as before. He was so recessed, that he didn’t noticed at first, that somebody had entered his office. "Excuse me please, I’m looking for Mr. Evans.” he heard suddenly somebody saying. He showed up behind his computer and looked into the face of the young woman from the Java Web. Meg also immediately recognized Ben and blushed “Oh, please excuse me.” She turned around and wanted to leave the office immediately again, when she was stopped by Ben. "Please, wait" Ben came around his desk" You must be Miss Cummings. I am Ben Evans.” Ben shook hands with Meg. "Yes, I am Miss Cummings" Meg smiled shyly "I would like to apologize for the occurrence from earlier again.” “Oh, don’t worry about this, nothing happened.” Ben moved a chair for Meg "Please take a seat. Well, I guess you are here, because of the job as my assistant?” “Yes, but I thought it would rather be a job as a secretary." Meg sat down and Ben returned behind his desk. "It would be more than secretary, it would be more an assistant, my right hand so to speak. Do you have any experiences in this area?" Meg opened her purse and got the testimonial, which Richard Bauer have given to her, out. "The last 5 years, I have worked in a law firm in Ludlow-Kansas ." She handed the testimonial to Ben. He put it on his desk unseemly. "May I ask why you have left your last job?" “This has personal reasons, I needed a change." Meg lowered her eyes and Ben felt, that he shouldn’t ask more at the moment. He leant back “Well, what for me would be very important is the questions, if you can handle the computers? As you just could see, computers aren’t my best friends." Meg smiled "Actually I work very good with the computers. May I ask, what the problem is with your computer?” she pointed at Ben’s computer. “Well, I have tried desperately to open a program already for half an hour, unfortunately without success.” “May I look at it?" Ben nodded and Meg got up and walked around the desk “Which program is it?" Ben showed it to Meg. She pressed three buttons and the program opened. "Wow, you have this to go fast. I think, you are exactly the assistant I have looked for." “Thanks" Meg sat down again "but I still must know the working times, since I have the two children." Ben considered a moment "Well, I think we can be a little bit flexible there. How would it be with a working time of 9:00 to 15:00 clock?" “This sounds good, because the children will be in school exactly in this time." “Good” Ben bent forward “It is Friday today, how would it be, if you will start at Monday then?” “Good, then I have still the weekend to look for a place to stay.” “Where do you live now then?” “Since we we arrived here today, we stay at the Seebreez hotel for the moment, but that isn’t a place to stay with two children for longer. We need a home." Meg sighed. Ben thought over for a moment and then he wrote a phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to Meg. “Just call my broker, Mrs Sneider. Maybe she can help you. If you need any references, just call me." Ben also handed Meg his own card. Meg accepted both. “Thank you Mr Evans. And I will be here in time on Monday." “I don't doubt that at all." Ben smiled “Then we will fix your contract on Monday. And now enjoy your weekend and good luck for the search for a new home.” Meg got up and shook hands with Ben "Again thank you very much, Mr. Evans. See you at Monday then.” She turned around and left the office.
After
Meg had gone, Ben sat down at his desk, took the telephone receiver into his
hand and dialled the number of his broker “Hi Caroline, Ben Evans is speaking.
Is the little beach house next to mine still for sale?" Ben
waited for the answer “Good, could you please draft a contract, I’ll buy
it.” He listened what the broker said and laughed “Yes, I am serious,
Caroline. And there is still something else. A young woman, a Miss Cummings,
will get in touch with you. Please offer her the house to rent. However, for a
low rent, maybe for 150 dollars per week.” He listened again what his
conversation partner had to say "I am serious with that, Caroline and
please offer it only Miss Cummings, do you understand? I’ll drop by later and
sign the contract then.” he wanted to hang up the reciever, when something
still occurred to him “And Caroline? Please, don’t tell Miss Cummings, that
I am the owner of the house. Thanks, bye.” He hung up the receiver.
Chapter
05
In
a good mood Meg entered the Java Web, to pick up Andy and Sam. The two children
sat at one of the computers and were deep into a game. Meg went over to Mark and
greeted him "Hi Mark, I hope the two have behaved themselves.” Mark
laughed and shook his head “Don’t worry, they were like two little angels.
And how was your interview? Did you get the job?” Meg smiled "On Monday I
will start with the new job.” “Great, congratulation.” Mark was happy for
Meg. "Mr. Evans is a very nice man, he even has recommended me a
broker and now, we will go for a search for a new home for us three.” Meg said.
She went over to the children “Andy, Sam, come on, we will look at a couple of
houses and apartments.” "Are there at the beach?” wanted Andy to know.
"I don't know but we will learn it soon. We’ll go into the office of the
broker and she will us show everything.” answered Meg. “Cool" Andy said
and the children jumped to their feet. “Thank you again, for watching the
children.” Meg said to Mark once again. “No problem, it was fun.” Mark
answered.
Meg
and the children left the Java Web and they got into the car. Meg has called the
broker before and she has described where Meg would find the office. Meg drove
off and after a 10 minutes journey she stopped the car in front of the office of
the broker. They got out and entered the building. Meg approached the woman
behind the desk “Hello, I am Meg Cummings. I have called a while ago.” The
woman smiled at Meg “Hi, I am Caroline Sneider and I hope we’ll find
something for you.” "A house at the beach would be cool.” said Andy.
"Well, young man, we also have to offer a couple of houses at the beach."
nodded Caroline. “But I am sure, they are very expensive." objected Meg.
Caroline shook her head “Not unconditional. I have got in a new object
just today.
All together they left the office and got into Caroline’s car. "The house
really lies very favourably. Directly at the beach and to the next school it
isn't far either.” She explained. “Aunt Meg, we must take the house
absolutely." Andy said enthusiastically. "Well, let us look at the
house first.” tried Meg to stop her nephew. A
few minutes later, Caroline stopped the car in the