Coming home for Christmas

 Chapter 01

Nervous Meg Cumming looked at her watch. Any moment they would be arriving, the two partners from the Liberty Corporation.  The Sunset Inn, the little hotel with casino, where Meg was the manager since half a year now, belongs to the Liberty Corporation too. Meg still was thinking over the plans for the weekend again. It was the first weekend in December and this weekend the Sunset Inn was only reserved for the conducted employees of the Liberty Corporation and their families. And it was Meg’s job to plan it all, the big dinner tonight and also the casino night tomorrow.

Until today, Meg only knew one of the partners of the Liberty Corporation, Gregory Richards. He had hired Meg when she applied for the job as the hotel manager. With 25 years Meg was still young for such a job, but she could convince Gregory Richards with her concept.

“I still can’t understand, why I had to come with you”, Ben Evans mumbled, when he and Gregory entered the elevator, which should take them to the top floor of the Sunset Inn.

Gregory looked at his partner. “It was just time that you left Sunset Beach and this was a good reason.”

“The last two years I wasn’t with you when we had the gala weekend for our conducted employees.” Ben said “So why this year?”

“And that’s the point. You weren’t there for a long time. You are one of the partners of the Liberty Corporation and you are simply included.” Gregory stroked his own hair “Look Ben, I know that you went through a lot, but it’s now two and a half years ago, since Maria left you. It’s time for you, to start to live again.”

“I like my life like it is now.” Ben answered. Gregory hadn’t any idea what really happened two and a half years back. Of course, it was hard for Ben, when he was on a business trip in New York and got to known over the phone from his wife Maria, that she would leave him. Like in a bad dream, after this call, he left the hotel and walked thru the streets of New York for hours. Finally he entered a small, dark bar and ordered a double whisky. And there he had met her. They started to talk and soon Ben got to know, that she just went through something similar like Ben. They talked and talked and later they left the bar together. Ben later couldn’t remember what really happened, but somehow they ended up in his hotel room and suddenly she was in his arms. They spend a wonderful night together, but when Ben woke up the next morning, she was gone. And he hadn’t any chance to find her, since he only knew her first name.

“And that’s only work, not more.” Gregory looked worried at his friend. “Soon, you brake down if you carry on that way.”

“I don’t care”, Ben grumbled.

The elevator stopped and Gregory pushed Ben outside. “And now try to make a happy face and start to enjoy the weekend. Maybe you will like it.”

“I don’t think so.” Ben answered and followed Gregory down the corridor.

They arrived at the end of the corridor before a glass door. Gregory opened the door and they entered the reception of Meg Cummings office.

“Good morning Helena”, he greeted Meg’s secretary “Miss Cummings is expecting us.”

Helena looked up from her work and nodded “Good morning, Mister Richards, just go inside her office.”

“Thank you”, Gregory smiled and knocked at the door to Meg’s office.

The knock at the door interrupted Meg’s thoughts.

“Come on in”, she called and got up to greet her guests.

The door opened and Gregory entered the room.

Ben followed him. When he saw the women in the office, he stiffened. How was this possible? He got dizzy and closed his eyes for a moment, but when he opened them again, she still stood in front of him and looked at him as surprised like himself.

“Meg!” Ben finally quiet spoke.

“Ben”, Meg’s face turned pale.

Both didn’t notice Gregory’s satisfied expression. He hadn't been mistaken. “I think, you both have to talk a lot. Ben, I will be in my suit, if you need me.”

Ben just nodded, but didn’t notice, when Gregory left the room and closed the door behind him.

Chapter 02

Meg still looked stunned at Ben. Never had she expected to see Ben again. They just had spent one night in New York together and just the next day Meg has left New York to start over in Las Vegas. But this single night had changed her life forever, and now Ben was standing in front of her and that could change her life again.

Ben noticed that Meg turned more and more pale. “Meg, are you all right?”

Slowly Meg sat back down on her chair and nodded. “Yes, I guess it’s just the shock.”

Ben shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Yes, I guess that was really a shock for us both. I had never expected that I would meet you here in Las Vegas. In the hotel, that belongs to the Liberty Corporation.”

“Ben please believe me. If I had known, that you are Ben Evans, I never would have taken the job here”, Meg explained with a shaking voice.

“Why?” Ben wanted to know. “Why did you leave me in New York and didn’t leave a message for me, where I could find you?”

Meg looked down. “I… I was so ashamed. Never before had I done something like that.”

“Well, you then have regretted our night together?” Ben stepped forward to Meg. “Was it so Meg? And have you ever asked yourself, how I would feel about that?”

“I am sorry Ben, when I hurt you. I didn’t mean to do that”, Meg explained quiet.

Ben walked over to the window and looked outside. “Three days I walked thru New York and looked everywhere for you. I was in every damned hotel in New York and asked for you, but nobody could help me, since I only knew your first name.”

“You have really searched for me?”

Ben nodded and turned slowly around.

“Why?” Meg wanted to know.

“Because our night meant a lot to me and I wanted to spend more time with you”, Ben explained.

“Ben you have to believe, that night meant a lot to me too”, Meg said quietly. “But I was afraid, that I would get hurt again.”

Ben stepped toward Meg. “I never could hurt you Meg.”

Meg closed her eyes. “Ben, how have you imagined this, then? You just got to know on the phone from your wife, that she wanted to leave you and I have just surprised my fiancée in bed with my best friend. Both of us had got very hurt.”

“My marriage with Maria was over a long time before this night, but I didn’t want to understand that before”, Ben replied. “That you were gone after our night hurt me a lot more.”

“Ben that I couldn’t know”, Meg lowered her head, so that she didn’t need to look at Ben. “I left New York still the same day and came here to Las Vegas.”

“Had you planned to come here?” Ben wanted to know.

Meg shook her head. “No, I only knew that I couldn’t stay in New York. I just drove to the airport and took the first plane I could get and so I came to Las Vegas.”

“And then?”

“I looked for a job. The first few weeks I worked as a waitress and then I became the assistant of the manager from the ‘Aladdin’”, Meg started to tell “And then, when the Sunset Inn was built and they looked for a manager, I simply have applied for it.”

“And Gregory hired you then?”

“Yes”, Meg nodded.

The phone started to ring and Meg picked the receiver up. “Yes Helena?... Okay, just tell her, that I will be there in a minute.” Meg put down the receiver again.

“I certainly keep you from your business obligations”, Ben said.

Meg shook her head. “No, this was private, a kind of a lunch date.”

Ben felt a big disappointment, but could he really expect that Meg was still alone after all the time? “Well, I won’t keep you any longer anyway. I guess we will see us again.”

Meg watched after Ben, when he walked toward the door. “Ben wait!”

Ben turned around and looked at Meg. “What?”

Meg felt, that Ben was hurt. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, before she started to speak again. “I would like to invite you for lunch.”

“Do you really think, that’s a good idea?” Ben wanted to know.

Meg nodded. “Yes, because I would like, that you meet someone.”

Chapter 03

With contradictory feelings, Ben followed Meg. On the one hand, he wanted to spend time with Meg, but on the other hand, he was afraid to learn with whom Meg spent her time.

“Gregory was so nice and had established an apartment for me on this floor”, explained Meg, when she lead Ben down the corridor. “This makes my work much easier for me here in the hotel.”

“I guess so”, Ben nodded.

Meg stopped in front of a door. “Here we are.” She put her hand at the door knob and opened it. “I am back!”

Ben followed Meg into the apartment and for the second time today, he stiffened. A little girl, Ben guessed her age around two years, came running with quick steps.

“Mommy, mommy”, she was calling.

Meg knelt down and spread her arms. “Hello my little angel.”

Without hesitating, the little girl throws herself in Meg’s arms. With her daughter in her arms, Meg got up and turned around to Ben. The little girl had curled hair in the same colour as her mother. She also has gotten the nose and the little mouth from her mother, but something confused Ben. It was the eyes of the girl. It was like Ben would look into a mirror.

“May I introduce Rachel Joan Cummings to you?” Meg interrupted Ben’s thoughts.

Ben smiled at the little girl. “Hello Rachel.”

Shyly Rachel rested her head against her mothers shoulder.

“I am sorry, but at the moment, Rachel is a little bit shy against strangers”, Meg explained.

Ben couldn’t look away from the girl. “How old is she?”

“She is twenty one months”, Meg answered and held her breath.

Rachel turned her blue eyes towards Ben and smiled at him and suddenly Ben knew what had confused him. The eyes. Rachel looked at him with his eyes. “Oh my God, she is my daughter.”

Meg nodded “Yes Ben, she is your daughter.” She looked at Ben. “Please don’t think, I didn’t wanted to tell you this, but I only knew your first name and I didn’t know, how or where I could find you.”

“Meg”, Ben said quiet “I don’t blame you. I don’t think, that you would lead me into your apartment, if you didn’t want that I got to know it.”

“Thank you”, Meg smiled timid. “I guess Rachel is hungry. Would you like to have lunch with us?”

Ben nodded and followed Meg further into the apartment. They entered the kitchen were just a young woman set up the table.

“Hello Monica, we got a guest for lunch”, Meg greeted the woman.

“Good, then I will get another plate”, Monica nodded.

“Ben, this is Monica Hendson, Rachel’s nanny”, Meg introduced the young woman “And Monica, this is Ben Evans, Rachel’s father.”

“Nice to meet you Monica”, Ben smiled at the young woman.

“Thanks”, Monica smiled and placed another plate at the table. Then she turned around to Meg. “I have to run some errands and I will be back in around a hour.”

“That’s okay, Monica”, Meg nodded.

“See you later”, Monica waved and left the kitchen.

Meg placed Rachel into her highchair. “Today we will have macaroni with cheese, Rachel’s favourite meal.”

Ben couldn’t take away his eyes from his daughter and sat down. “Oh, that’s my favourite too.”

“Good” Meg went over to the oven and got the ovenproof dish out of it. “I try to have lunch with Rachel every day and of course, I spend a lot time together with her.”

Ben took Meg’s hand, after she has placed the dishes on the table. “Meg I would never doubt, that you are a great mother.”

“Thank you”, Meg smiled and tried not to show how nervous she was. She took Rachel’s plate and put some of the macaronis on it. “Be careful, it’s hot”, she told her daughter, when she took her fork.

Meg took also Ben’s plate and filled it. When Ben took his fork too, Rachel said “Hot!”

Ben’s heart jumped from joy. “Yes it’s hot, little angel.”

Quiet Ben and Meg started to eat.

“How was the pregnancy?” Ben wanted to know.

Meg smiled by the memories. “Till the morning sickness in the beginning, there were no problems.”

“And her birth? How was her birth?”

“Oh, your daughter was very quick”, Meg started to tell. “Two weeks before the calculated date, I was in a meeting in my office, when my water broke. An ambulance brought me into the hospital and around one hour later, I held Rachel in my arms.”

“I guess, that was a great moment.”

Meg nodded “It was the best moment in my life.”

Ben sighed “I wish, I would be there too.”

Meg looked down “And had liked to share this with you.”

“Did you know from the beginning, that she is my daughter?” Ben wanted to know.

Meg nodded “Yes, I hadn’t slept with Tim for a long time. You were the only man.”

Rachel has emptied her plate in the meantime and started to yawn.

Meg got up and cleaned the little face “Time for you nap.”

Ben followed Meg into the nursery. On the first view he could see, that the room was decorated with a lot love. As soon as Meg laid Rachel down into her bed, she was fallen a sleep. Quiet Meg and Ben left the room.

Ben turned around to Meg “May I come back?”

Meg nodded “Of course. I will tell Monica, that you will be welcome any time.”

“Thank you Meg.” Ben went over to the door. “See you later. I need some time alone now.”

Meg looked at Ben. “Yes and please remember, you are welcome here any time.”

Chapter 04

Gregory sat at his desk in his suit and looked thru some papers. His wife Olivia was on a shopping tour thru the boutiques of the hotel. He had just opened a new file, when there was a knock at the door. He sighed, put his pen down and got up to open the door. 

He wasn’t surprised to see Ben. “Hello, come on in.”

Ben followed the request and looked at Gregory “How long did you know it?”

Gregory went over to the bar and poured Whisky in two glasses “You mean that Miss Cumming is your Meg?”

Ben nodded “And that I have a daughter.”

Gregory handed Ben one of the glasses “In the beginning I didn’t know it. For her application she used her full name Megan Cummings. Half a year ago, by the opening of the hotel, I met her daughter Rachel for the first time. Her eyes looked very familiar to me and then, when I heard, that some people called Miss Cummings by Meg, I started to think. In her personal file I read then, that she came from New York to Las Vegas around the same time as you met your Meg in New York.”

Ben took a sip from the whisky “And why didn’t you tell it to me?”

“I didn't want to raise hopes in you unnecessarily”, Gregory explained. “And I couldn’t just ask Meg if she two and a half year ago had had a short affair in New York. I couldn’t take the risk that she ran away then.”

“I understand”, Ben nodded “And I understand now, why you wanted me to come with you to Las Vegas this time.”

“And do you regret now, that you came with me?” Gregory wanted to know.

“No”, Ben shook his head “not at all. But I need some time here, because I don’t want to loose Meg and Rachel again.”

“I thought so”, Gregory nodded “Just take as much time as you need.”

Ben put his glass down on the table “I guess, we will see us tonight for the dinner. Till then I still have a few things to do.”

Ben put his glass down on the table “I guess, we will meet tonight for the dinner. Till then I still have a few things to do.”

Gregory watched his friend, when he walked toward the door “I wish you all luck, Ben.”

“Thanks”, Ben nodded and left the room.

Meg had spent two more hours in her office and now she returned back to her apartment, because she need to prepare herself for the gala dinner of the Liberty Corporation this evening.

“I am back!” She called when she entered the apartment.

On her short, sturdy legs Rachel ran toward Meg and jumped into her arms. “Mommy!”

Meg hugged her little daughter “Yes, mommy is back.”

Monica came out from the kitchen “Oh Meg, so early today?”

Meg nodded “Yes, tonight is the big dinner and I still want to take a long, hot bath before.”

“I guess it was an exerting day?” Monica smiled.

“Rather a day with surprises”, Meg explained and got interrupted by a knock on the door. She turned around and opened the door. In front of her Ben stood with a big teddy bear in his arms.

“Hello Meg”, he smiled “I hope I don’t disturb you, but I wanted to bring a little gift for Rachel.”

Meg took a step aside, so that Ben could step inside.

“A little gift?” she laughed.

Ben smiled innocent. “Well, I was walking around a little bit and then he smiled at me thru the window of a shop and I couldn’t resist.”

Rachel stood next to Meg and looked with big eyes at the teddy bear.

“Teddy” she then said.

Ben knelt down and handed Rachel the teddy bear “Yes and he is yours.”

Rachel looked at Meg and when Meg nodded, she took the teddy bear and hugged him. 

“My teddy” she smiled.

Ben wanted to hug his daughter like she did with the teddy bear, but he didn’t want to scare her.

“She is amazing”, he said and looked at Meg “like her mother.”

Meg blushed “Thank you.”

Ben shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. “I better leave then again. I guess you need to get ready for the dinner.”

Meg nodded. “Yes, but if you like, you can visit Rachel tomorrow again.”

“That I will do.” Ben looked at Meg “May I pick you up for the dinner tonight?”

“But I need to be early downstairs”, Meg objected.

Ben smiled “Me too or did you forget, that I am one of the partners?”

Now Meg smiled too “That I really forgot. But I would like, if you pick me up.”

Ben looked at his watch “Good, I will pick you up in one and a half hour then.”

“Okay” Meg nodded.

Ben said bye to Rachel and then left the apartment again.

Chapter 05

Meg was ready in time and waited now a little bit nervous for Ben. She just checked one more time on Rachel, who was already deep asleep, when someone knocked at the door.

“I will get it, Monica”, Meg told the nanny “If something happen, you know where you will find me.”

“Okay”, Monica nodded “have fun.”

“Thank you”, Meg smiled and opened the door.

In front of the door was Ben. He wore a tuxedo and looked very gorgeous. In his hand he held a single white rose.

Ben looked at Meg with admiring eyes. She wore a long, blue dress, which was only a little bit darker than the colour of her eyes and it fitted perfectly around Meg’s slim body. She had put her hair up and only a few strands played around her neck.

“Wow”, Ben was stunned. “You are beautiful.” 

“Thanks”, Meg smiled a little bit embarrassed.

Ben held up the rose “This is for you.”

“Thanks”, Meg smelled at the rose “White roses are my favourite flowers. From where did you know that?”

“You told me that in New York”, Ben answered.

“You haven’t forgotten that?” Meg wondered.

Ben shook his head “Nothing from that time I have forgotten.” He held out his arm to Meg gallantly. “Shall we go?”

Meg nodded and closed the door behind them. “With pleasure.”

The next two hours they sat in the in the Christmassy adorned ballroom of the hotel at one of the festively set up tables and enjoyed the four course dinner. Although Meg was very nervous in the beginning, she relaxed more and more. For that wasn’t only the champagne which they drank to blame, but also the relaxed conversation at the table. Ben took care, that Meg amused herself now again and again he stroked her arm or squeezed her hand.

After the dinner, Gregory held a short speech, before the music started to play.

Ben took Meg’s hand and smiled at her “May I ask for this dance?”

Meg nodded “With pleasure.” 

They got up and Ben led Meg over to the dance floor. He pulled Meg into his arms and slowly they started to move with the rhythm of the music.

“You have prepared this party very good”, Ben said.

Meg smiled “Thank you, but I got a good team here, which helped me a lot.” 

“But the team’s only as good as the boss”, answered Ben. 

Silent they danced a while. Carefully Ben moved to the edge of the dance floor, next to the terrace door.

“Would you like to get a little bit fresh air?” Ben asked.

“A good idea”, Meg nodded. 

Ben put his arm around Meg’s waist and led her out to the terrace of the hotel.

Meg stood at the balustrade and took a deep breath. “It’s a beautiful night.”

Ben stepped close behind Meg “You are beautiful.”

A shiver ran over Meg’s back, when she noticed his breath at her neck. “Ben!” she whispered.

Ben put his arms around Meg and turned her around. He looked her deep into her eyes and slowly he lowered his mouth to hers.

In the first moment, Meg hesitated, when she felt his lips at hers, but then she gave in and returned the kiss.

When they finally broke the kiss, Ben stroked Meg’s cheek “This I wanted to do, since you suddenly stood in front of me this morning.”

Meg leant her head against Ben’s chest “Ben I don’t know, if this was right.”

“How did it feel for you?” Ben wanted to know “Right or wrong?”

Meg sighed quiet “It felt right, but how shall it go on with us?”

Ben put his hand under Meg’s chin and raised her head, so that he could look into her eyes. “Simply allow you your feelings. Everything else will work out then.”

Meg lowered her eyes “Ben I need to think of Rachel too.”

“Of course you must think of Rachel too, but remember, I am her father”, Ben said quiet.

“That I wouldn’t forget”, Meg answered.

“Good”, Ben closed Meg’s mouth with a tender kiss. 

Meg got lose from Ben’s arms. “It’s already late and it was a long day. I should leave now.”

Ben nodded “I will walk you to your apartment.”

“Thanks Ben”, Meg smiled “but it isn’t necessary.”

“However, I would like it”, Ben answered and put his hand on Meg’s arm. Then he led her back inside.

Five minutes later they stood in front of the door of Meg’s apartment.

“Thank you, it was a wonderful evening, Meg.”

Meg smiled “Yes it was.”

“May I see you and Rachel tomorrow again?”

Meg nodded “Sure. It’s Monica’s day off tomorrow. Why don’t you come already for breakfast and spend the day together with us?”

“I would like to do that.” Ben bent down and kissed Meg once more again “Good night.” 

Then he turned around and walked back to the elevator. Meg watched him, until he entered the elevator and then she unlocked the door to her apartment.

Chapter 06

Like he had promised, Ben came back for breakfast the next morning. The three had a long big breakfast and after that, they left the hotel. Near to the hotel was a park with a great playground. Rachel loved this playground and Meg spend a lot time with her there.

At this day, Ben took the opportunity to swing and slide with his daughter. Rachel had a lot fun and didn’t want to stop. Later Ben carried his tired daughter on his shoulders back to the hotel. There Meg prepared some hot dogs for lunch and after they had eaten, Ben and Meg put Rachel together down for her nap. Rachel was very fast a sleep.

“She is such a little angel”, Ben said and looked down at his sleeping daughter.

“Yes she is”, Meg nodded “and I am happy, that I got her.”

Ben took Meg’s hand “Thank you, that you share this with me.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Meg wanted to know “You are her father.”

Quiet, without to wake up Rachel, the both left the nursery and went back into the living room.

“Would you like something to drink?” Meg offered.

“A glass iced tea would be nice”, Ben nodded. 

“Yes”, Meg nodded and went into the kitchen.

A few minutes later she returned with two glasses iced tea. One she handed to Ben.

“Thank you”, Ben smiled.

Meg put down her glass on the table and went then over to the cupboard. “I have something for you.”

“For me?” Ben looked surprised at Meg.

Meg opened one of the cupboard doors and took a photo album out of it. With this she returned to Ben and handed it to him. “I always hoped, that Rachel one day would get to known her father.”

Ben opened the album. In the middle of the first page was a photo from a ultrasound. Under the photo Meg has written: 24^th week of pregnancy. One could quite clearly recognize the head, the arms, legs and the spinal column.

“I am still sorry, that I wasn’t there for you during the pregnancy”, Ben said when he looked at the photo from the ultrasound.

“And I wish, I could have reached you somehow”, Meg answered. 

Ben scrolled on in the album. On the next page he found photos from a new born Rachel. Meg had also added a foot print of the new born baby.

Gentle Ben stroked one of the photos “She was beautiful.”

Meg nodded “Yes she was.”

Ben slowly scrolled on. Picture followed after picture and under every photo Meg had written a lovely comment, like: Rachel in the age of one month; Our first excursion; My new dress; and My first tooth.

Ben looked up and smiled at Meg “You have given you much effort there.”

Meg struggled with her shoulders “I have enjoyed it.”

Ben scrolled on and discovered photos from Rachel’s first birthday. In front of her, at the table, stood a birthday cake and her little face was over and over dirtied with icing. Ben laughed, when he saw this.

“Rachel loves this icing and she always picks it up from the cake”, Meg explained.

“On the photo she looked like it”, Ben smiled. 

“Later we need to remember to take a few photos of you and Rachel together.”

“That’s a good idea”, Ben nodded and scrolled on. “May I choose a couple of the photos?” 

“Ben you can take the whole album. Like I said earlier, I always hoped, that Rachel would get to know her father one day”, Meg explained.

Touched Ben looked at Meg. “But then you haven’t any photos.”

“Sure I have”, Meg smiled “I have made two of the albums.”

“Thank you Meg. That’s a wonderful gift”, Ben smiled.

“It was the least I could do”, Meg explained.

Ben looked at Meg “What do you think about, if you and Rachel go out for dinner with me tonight?”

“And what is with the event of the Liberty Corporation? Today is the casino night planed”, Meg objected.

“Gregory will understand, if we don’t show up there”, Ben explained.

Meg still hesitated for a moment. “Can you image, how it will be to eat with an almost two years old child to eat in a restaurant?”

Ben shook his head “No, but for everything it will be a first time.”

Meg smiled “Don’t tell me afterwards, I hadn’t warned you.”

“Don’t worry, I am sure, I won’t regret the time with you both”, Ben answered.