|
|
Sunset Beach Discussion Group
**** Maria makes her way up to Leo. “hey cutie, may have the pleasure to have this dance with you?” Maria asked, taking her hand out. Leo thought he was dreaming. He was starting to blush. She thinks I’m cute he thinks. His face lit up in surprise and animation. “sure,” he takes her hand as they head to the dance floor, while the others begin to watch.
“ah man, she’s made his day,” Jude states. “yeah,” while everyone look back and watch Maria and Leo begin to move into the slow rythem of music. “you didn’t tell her did you?” Jude asked Annie. “maybe,” Annie says with a cheeky smirk on her face. “Annie what happens to you when your around Maria huh. You became this honest saint.” “look you will never understand mine and Maria’s friendship. Except Ben, but that’s because like Maria said no one really understands me and my intentions,” Annie explains. “she’s something though, is it just me or are things always this intense between them two?” Jude asks her quietly. “you think this is bad, you’ve seen nothing Jude. Come on lets hit the dance floor,” she gets up and joins Leo and Maria…
“a very interesting evening Ben,” Gregory lets him know. “I forgotten how fund I was of your ex-wife,” he continues. “yeah,” Ben agrees, a frown on his forehead. “you okay?” Ben asked Meg who had become extremely quiet. “yeah why shouldn’t I be,” she responds. She didn’t know what to think everything Maria said to her it was spinning in her mind. It was getting too much. Do you want to share a dance before we leave?” Ben suggests. Meg eyed Ben for a few seconds. “I rather not I really just want to go home,” Meg answers. “okay,” Ben says….
“I just find you so incredible,” Leo tells Maria, while Maria only laughs. He was such a sweetheart. “I’m not perfect Leo.” “I know, but I’ve never come across anyone like you. You know everything you’ve been through and your just so amazing,” Leo says again. “you remind me of my brother Antonio when he was young,” Maria informs him. “the Father!” Leo was surprised. “when he was your age, actually younger then you, he had a crash on Annie.” “you kidding!” Leo couldn’t believe it. “just between you and me though. But what I’m saying is that its natural to have a crash on someone. But eventually these feelings will fade away.”
“Maria can I ask you something?” “sure.” “you know you and Ben, did you guys meet at sunset?” Leo asked really wondering. Maria moved her eyes onto Ben, who had his back to her. “why do you ask me such question?” she asked him in interest. “I don’t know. Its just the way you talk about him. With so much passion. It reminds me the way dad he talks about my grandparents,” Leo lets out. “well what do you think?” “I don’t know. Dad told me Ben his the next legend.” “do you know why your father said that about Ben?” Leo shakes his head. “its because he is. And if you are as smart as I think you are, you’ll figure it out. Or ask your father, there’s so much parallels between the legend and Ben,” Maria states. “and no I won’t tell you the truth, because there memories with Ben and I treasure them only with him…”
**** Michael sits by the fireplace when his wife come joins him cosily. “one hell of a night?” Michael says. “yeah. The comparison Maria did with coin and Ben… she knows him so well. Is it always this intense between them two?” Vanessa asked. “pretty much. And I don’t think her disorder’s helping her. She always saw in people.” “can’t imagine what she much what she’s going through and feeling. In some ways she’s so strong.” Michael drifted into his thoughts. “Michael,” she taped her husband on the shoulder. “sorry I was just thinking?” “about what?” Vanessa wanted to know.
“I think I know who told Maria about the perfect wife theory,” Michael tells his wife. She knew it was for this reason Casey left Sarah at the alter. “who?” “think about it Vanessa what Gregory said to mum,” Michael recalls. “he said its only another wise person in her life that will give her such advice that she will keep and treasure,” Michael retells her. “and Gregory referred this wise person as a he. And Maria that night at the stag do she referred to the person who told her about being a perfect wife, as a wise person,” Michael further elaborates. “and if this wise person is a he- then she must have been referring to Ben,” Vanessa interrupts. “wow! Ben’s the wise person. You wouldn’t think.” “and if Ben did tell Maria that theory, Meg so don’t fit into it…”
**** fiddling with his keys Ben opens the door of his beach house and walks into straight to lounge with Meg following him behind. “they found Carmen sitting on the long sofa and collecting her cards one by one and then putting them in her bag. “Carmen, hello,” Ben greets her. “Ben your back.” “how was Benji?” “ci he was good as always,” she tells him. “is he a sleep.” “yes.” “well thank you for looking after him,” Ben thanks her. “I was happy to, something the matter Meg. You look unease,” Carmen comments. She couldn’t help but watch Meg, the way she was looking around the house, like she has never been inside it.
“you look as though you don’t belong here.” “I’m fine, I’m just tired,” Meg replies. “how was dinner Ben?” Carmen questioned. “yeah it was good…” he pauses as he remembers AJ talk about what his parents felt at sunset:
“he took one look her and he knew loved her instantly. His feelings for her didn’t come close to anything or anyone he felt for before. He knew he loved her and he wanted to be with her forever,” AJ explains, while Maria felt a cold shiver go down her spine. Her eyes met Bens. “and as for my mother, although she was widow at the time, when her eyes met my father she told me that she was attracted to me. She found herself drawn to him and there was something about him that made him special to her. She just didn’t know what it was.”
He then remembers what Maria said:
“and when things don’t go according to plan. That don’t make you a failure. It only means you made a mistake and you should learn from that mistake. As human being we will make mistake and it through these mistakes we learn and we become stronger and wiser. But the most important part is have you learnt from those mistake and do you accept you were wrong. Because when someone does admit to their fault, it shows that your humble and your not arrogant and proud.”
“it was very interesting actually,” Ben finally mentions. “I see.” “would you like me to take you home Carmen, give you a lift?” Ben suggests. “no I have my car with me. And I rather wait,” she says and sits one of the sofa’s, while Ben and Meg eye her strangely. “wait for what Carmen?” Ben questioned.
“for my daughter,” she responds. “Carmen Maria’s gone home,” Meg informs her. “no, she will be coming here,” Carmen states, when then there was a ring on the door bell. “ah that will be my micha,” Carmen says. “I’ll get it,” Meg says and walks to the front door. Meg froze as her blue eyes widen in shock and mouth dropped open. It was Maria…
“oh my god!” she lets out, while Maria eyed Meg with frown. “are you okay Meg you look as white as a ghost,” she informs her. “Maria, come in,” she let her through, as Maria walks into the lounge. “Mama,” Maria calls her. “I knew it was you Maria.” Ben had a speechless expression on his face. “you card show you I was coming?” “the cards never lie micha, you should know by now,” Carmen states. She eyed Ben for a few seconds. “I know.” “how’s Benji, he wasn’t any trouble was he?” “no course not. How was dinner tonight?” Carmen asked her daughter. “yeah good,” she says as she watches Ben poring him self a glass of strong drink, keeping his back to her. It was getting too much for him.” “it was actually very interesting,” Maria adds. “really, Ben said the same thing.” “I guess great mind think alike. I’m going to check up on Benji and we go home together,” Maria suggests. “ci, I will be waiting for you when you come back…”
**** Maria came back down stairs, she could see her mother was not around. “where’s Mama,” Maria asked Ben. “she said she will be waiting for you in the car,” Ben lets her know. “right,” she eyed him who was couple of inches away from her and his back to the deck door, with a both his hand on his hips. She didn’t no know what to think. She could see his eyes were full of emotions. “Benji okay?” Ben asked her. “yeah. Sleeping like an angel. He reminds me of Antonio when he sleeps,” Maria tells Ben.
“yeah,” Ben agrees with Maria as a frown appeared on his forehead. Although he knew the real reason, Benji was really their son. “its amazing how one can resemble of another.” Ben nods his head. He wish he could tell her, he could see the sadness in her eyes when she talked about Benji. “any way I should really go. Oh wait before I do, there’s something I have for you,” Maria gets a square gift box out of her bag. “you by me gifts?” Ben says as a smirk appeared on his face, as Meg watched. “no, its something that belongs to you,” Maria mentions.
“what is it?” he asked and takes the box in his hand. “well you won’t know until you open it. So go on,” she encourages him. He eyes her for a second and then opens the box. “ah!” Ben says as a smile appears on his face. He gets his lucky tap-pence out of the box and holds it in his hand. “my lucky tap-pence,” Ben says, as Meg watched the other side of Ben appear. She didn’t even know he had one, as she comes a bit closer to them. “that’s right.” “I give this to Benji.”
“I know you did. I was going through some his things in my house to give here and I found it,” she says in a soft angelic voice. “I know you gave it to Benji but I think you need this more then he does,” Maria continues, as Ben slowly looks into Maria’s eyes. “I think it will help you to find what is it that your looking for.” Ben was beginning to feel lost in her. “just remember something. You are the coin, and the coin is only complete when both the sides are complete. Therefore you need to find something that will complete both the sides. Don’t think by completing one side you can neglect the other. Because you can’t. if you do all you will be doing is hurting yourself English,” Maria explains
“and when you do find what is that your looking for, let me know.” She gets startled hearing the sound of the car’s horn outside. “that’s mama, I have to go,” she says and walks out of the deck door leaving Ben holding his tap-pence in his hand….
