Meghan Ross: Con Artist in Training

Meet the New Boss (Part 1)

Edith had to hold a hand over her granddaughter's mouth as muffled giggles left the teen's lungs. While Meghan loved playing tricks on Mike, or anyone else for that matter, she especially loved the way their Grammy could scare her brother.

Their apartment light was off. The door cracked open to look like a break-in. Mike announced his confused presence, claiming to carry a big gun. But when the light came on, every file that was in his arms went flying into the air, cascading down his body, finally landing on the floor.

"Oh, my God!" he exclaimed, holding his heart with a shaking hand. He had turned away, his arm against the wall with his head resting on it. It was all he could do to keep from glaring at Meghan after she literally fell to the floor, laughing at his reaction. He knew this wasn't her plan. She'd done a lot of things in her short life but scaring him like that had yet to cross her mind until now. All bets were off after this.

"At least do it with a little authority," Edith replied, pretending to be scared herself. "Someone's going to think I raised a coward."

He turned back to them, saying, "You scared the crap out of me." Meghan stopped laughing when she realized their attention was now on her. "And she was in on this?"

"Well, today I had time to spend with the woman who raised me. Thought it'd be a good way to get your attention," Meghan answered, though the question was not directed toward her. "We do this kind of thing all the time with the nurses." That much he knew... but there was one thing he didn't understand.

How did Edith get there from the nursing home?

"She doesn't live in a prison, Dad. Grammy took their shuttle service whenever she wants if she's back in time for the meds."

"And they have a very muscular driver named Donald."

He reminded their grandmother that he was making a lot of money now and could have sent a car for her.

"Then, I wouldn't have gotten to see a very muscular driver named Donald."

Like any child, Meghan plugged her ears. It wasn't wrong for Edith to express her interest in other men now that her grandfather was long gone, but no kid wants to hear or see the people who raised them in that light.

"Why didn't you call? I could have been here." Edith and Meghan both looked behind them to the table, which was set up for what was normally their weekly dinner. "I have been working so hard, I forgot what day it is." He sighed as he took a seat on what was soon to be Meghan's bed. "That used to happen to Dad."

Meghan looked away, suddenly wishing she could be anywhere else in the world. Participating in conversations involving their parents was seventeen years out of her realm. So, she let Edith speak.

"That's what happens when you care about your job. And don't give a rat's ass about your sister and grandmother."

"Well, yeah, that is why I put you in the home and Meghan in a private school," Mike replied.

"Wait, what?!?!" Meghan shrieked. This was news to her. "You're putting me in private school?!?! What if I don't want to go? Were you even going to talk with me about this?"

"Get over it, Dear," Edith responded in her no-nonsense tone.

"Megs, you're attending to private school. No, I wasn't going to tell you until the new school year. And I don't want to hear another word about it... Get something on your plate and eat." There wasn't even a touch of guilt in his reply. Over the last five years, Mike had adopted his own no nonsense vibe with Meghan.

Brother and sister fought after Edith returned to the home. If there were bedroom doors to slam, Meghan would have been doing so. She accused Mike of not thinking things through.