Chapter 4
Later that afternoon Meghan and Mark after settling in at the hotel in town head to Brad Roberts’ office. Meghan explained the difficulties of staying at the house and felt it best to leave.
Brad looked at her, “I really hate to see you leave. I had such hopes of having you move back here.”
“I’m afraid that would be up to Mark and where he plans on going.”
They both look at Mark. “At the moment I’m here to be with Megs and we will plan on the rest when this taken care of.”
Brad nodded, “well at least you’ll be with us for a while. I’ll get the documents done by the end the day and have them ready for you to sign the evening. Shall I meet you at your hotel room say about 6:30?”
Meghan looks at Mark then back to Brad, “six thirty would be fine in the hotels dining room.”
As they leave Brad Roberts’ office Meghan looks at Mark, “I was just wondering what our plans are?”
He places his arm around her shoulder and smiles, “well I thought about moving back near my folks and Anna’s kids. I haven’t seen them in a while. Then again, I thought maybe you’d like to settle here and have Edward live with us.” He noticed a smile come to Meghan’s face.
“Oh, that would be nice, I’d like him to come with us. He’s like family to me and...”
He put his finger to her lips, “I know and besides I happen to like him. You do realize that either way he is welcomed to stay with us.”
She turns and puts her arm around him, “do you know what I love about you Dr. Gentry?”
“No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“You always know what would make me happy.”
He pulled her closer to him and smiled, “well what kind of man would I be if I didn’t make the woman I love smile? It’s like written in stone.”
Meghan looked into his eyes, somehow she knew he meant what he said. “You know I don’t think it’s really written in stone, but I believe you have written in your heart.”
He leans down and gently kisses her as she returns it in a passionate kiss. Suddenly they relied they were on the sidewalk and had an audience who seemed to enjoy the young couple expressing their feelings. As Meghan looked at two older women who stood there smiling at her she smiled back. The taller one of the ladies shouted, “he’s a keeper deary and handsome too. If I was younger, I might take him from you.”
Mark smiled at the woman, “thank you ma’am for the compliment, if I was not taken by this beautiful lady I would gladly come to you.”
The woman blushed and started to walk on with her friend but turns and smiled just once as they made their way toward the local shop.
Meghan looked at Mark, “well seems I have some computation already. I can’t say I blame her you are a keeper as she said and oh you are so handsome.”
“You keep talking like that ma’am and I just may forget we’re here in public and…”
She grabs his hand and leads him to the car as she opens the door, she pushes him in the car and heads for the other side. She gets in and looks at him, “shall we go to a quiet place where we can be private?”
Mark starts the engine, “you read my mind Megs.”
Sometime later in their hotel suite Meghan and Mark were sitting on the bed eating pizza and planning their future.
“We don’t have to make a decision tonight Megs!”
“Well at least can we decide on a wedding date? I mean I’d like your parents and Anna’s kids and husband to be there.”
Mark look at her and smiles, “look at you getting ready to do all that here comes the bride thing.”
“It’s an important step in a girl’s life, one she waits her lifetime for, and sometimes never has a chance of having.”
He looks at her and realizes that she was talking about herself. She never thought she would marry until she met Mark again after all these years. A sadness comes over him how he wished he had known he would have moved he would move heaven and earth to find her. He takes her hand and holds it tenderly as he kisses it, “Megs I didn’t think you; I mean we both were wrong I just.”
Meghan looked at him,” It doesn’t mean we were wrong Mark. We found a way back to each other, which shows this was meant to be.”
He leans across the console and kisses her gently.” I’m going to have to thank Dr. Jacobson for telling me to come here.”
“I think I’d like to thank him also.” Mark slowly starts the car and backs up.
Brad Roberts is going over the documents that Meghan will sign this evening. He had to admit he would have liked her to stay on. Adam was right when he told him years ago that she was like her mother a breath of fresh air in the musty old house. With both them gone it was only Sarah and her mother to torment him in his old age. It was true if he were younger, he would have divorced Lucille years ago, but he had the business and waited for the boys to grow up to take over for him. But even the best laid plans go astray and with the years his health grew weak. The last five years of his life Adam hardly ever left his room. Lucille took the adjoining room and maintained the duties of wife and head of the house. He blamed her for Thomas’ death, both her and her daughter drove them away, and it was his wife who managed to send away the only tie he had left with his son. No, he was determined that Thomas’ only child would not be left penniless. There was no doubt he would never see her again but at least she knew he didn’t forget her.
Back at the family home Sarah sat at the head of the table and Katherine across from her. “Mother, what if she changes her mind?”
Sarah looks at her, “why would she do that, she’s made it clear she doesn’t want the house or the money.”
Katherine looks at her,” well it seems pretty clear, she’s still in town and Dr. Gentry is with her. Seems to me she has it all.”
“Well we all knew the doctor was not going to stay. He made that very clear when he came. He came here to care for your grandmother.”
Katherine looks down at her dish playing with the food. “It just doesn’t seem right that she gets everything!”
“Now Katherine you know very well Dr. Gentry was here a good year and in all that time he never even once shown any interest in you.”
“Well he would have if there was more time!”
Sarah just shook her head, “no I’m afraid his heart belonged to Meghan long before you even came into the picture.”
“You don’t know that, if she never came back maybe…"
“Suddenly Edward appeared, “Miss Sarah, Mr. Roberts is on the phone.”
“Thank you, Edward, tell him I will be there presently.”
He nods and leaves the room.
Sarah gets up and heads out of the room and heads to the phone in the study.
“Sarah, I have documents that I am having Meghan sign giving you the house. I am meeting here in an hour would it be alright for me to top by after that to have you sign them?”
“What about the trust fund Brad? I mean is she keeping the money?”
“Actually no, she’s donating it as she said to you.”
“But that’s not fair what will Katherine and I do for money?”
“Sarah, I’m sure John will help you. So shall it be alright if I show up in an hour?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“Sarah?”
“Yes, yes Brad I’ll expect you in an hour,” Before he could answer her, she had hung up the phone and was walking back to the dining room.
“Bad news mother?”
“No, Mr. Roberts has some papers he wants me to sign. He says he’ll be here in an hour.”
“Oh, then it is good news?”
Sarah looks at her daughter.” I hope so dear.”
Katherine smiles and continues to eat her dinner.
Brad had just parked his car and was making his way into the hotel lobby when he thought he’d call Meghan and tell her he was on his way up.
As he heard her pick up her phone, “Hello Meghan, this is Brad, I’m in the lobby is it alright for me to come up?”
“Why yes Brad, Mark and I have been waiting for your call. We’ll see you in a few mins. Room 312’’
“Fine I’m on my way up.” He hung up the phone and made his way to the elevator.
Meghan looks at Mark, “Brad’s on his way up.”
Mark who had been sitting on the nearby chair reading the paper walks over to Meghan.
“Megs, I think you should read this.” He hands her the newspaper the front page an article on her grandmother. Lucille Mitchem matriarch of the Mitchem family passed last week after a long illness. She passed in her home with her family at her side. The family plans to have a private service where she was laid to rest beside her husband Adam. The family’s business and estate were left to the three children.
She looks at Mark, “there is no mention of me or my father! Who wrote this? We’ll get to the bottom of this!”
Suddenly there’s a knock at the door and Mark lets Brad in.
He looks at Mark as he hears Meghan’s ranting, “did I come at a bad time?”
“She just saw the notice of her grandmother’s death.”
Brad looks at him with a questioning stare, “notice? I never placed any notice… Give me a moment.”
He quickly takes out his phone as Meghan continues to rant Mark walks over to her trying to calm her down. “Megs, can you lower it a bit Brad is trying to get to the bottom of this!”
Brad hangs up his phone and walks over them. “I’m so sorry Meghan, I called the editor of the paper and it seems the article was faxed in yesterday morning by a member of the family, they faxed the death certificate for proof of death.”
Meghan looks at him, “a family member?” Suddenly anger came back to Meghan,” and I bet I know who it was also.”
“Now Megs let’s not jump to any …”
“Not jump! Oh, I promise you I’ll do more than jump.”
She looks at Brad, “I want to change one of the articles. The house, I want it sold as soon as possible, for any price, even at a loss. “
“Meghan, you can’t mean that, please think it over. After you’ve calmed down a bit.”
“I don’t intend to calm down. She wanted a war well she’s got it!”
Brad looks at Mark then back to her, “I take it you are not interest in signing these papers.”
Meghan looks at him, “not in the least.”
Brad heads for the door. He really couldn’t blame her, after all she had planned to give her the house and then for her to place this article in the paper…It was totally uncalled for.
He looks at Mark who walks him to the door, “I’ll find out who did this Mark I promise you.”