The Deep Freeze

Part 7

Emily called the store to find out if Bob was there. Al had to explain what he did and why and she was in shock. Al didn't realize Bob didn't tell her and apologized. Al didn't mean for her to find out that way. He also told Emily that Bob was a good worker. He was just following procedure but Bob would be welcomed back when the dust cleared. Emily didn't care and she understood also. She was not one for letting someone get away with something. Their daughter, Kirah, can vouch for that. Emily asked Al if he had any idea where he may have gone. Al was at a loss. Emily asked if Al knew where she could find Michael. He told her he would call him for her and see if he was feeling better. He assured Emily that he would do what he could to find Bob.

Michael was resting his eyes just before Meg was expected to be at his place. The phone rang and it was Al. He explained the situation to Michael how Emily wanted to find him and how Bob was missing. Michael knew it was Xanthan. He asked Al where the old freezer originated from. Al seemed surprised that he would ask such a question at a time like this but told Michael it was brought over from another country on a ship. It was delivered from the harbor in West Virginia. He told Al he would call her right away and thanked him for the information. He dialed the number right away. Emily was relieved to hear Michael's voice. She had hoped he might know something. Michael couldn't tell her about Xanthan or what really happened that night so he wasn't much help to Emily but he did tell her he thought he might be headed for the coast.

Michael lost his train of thought. He forgot about Meg bringing dinner and was concentrating on how to get to the coast and what he was going to do when he got there. Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was Meg. He opened the door and saw the most beautiful girl in the world. She was dressed in a soft pink t-shirt that hugged her body. Her jeans were snug and showed her figure. She was wearing low riding jeans but covered her belly with her shirt. She had her hair down and curled. It flowed like a silk chocolate waterfall. Her eyes were sparkling deep blue. She had a sense of innocence that intimidated Michael and made him weak in the knees. He moved out of her way so she could enter but she too was mesmerized. Michael had on his best outfit for the occasion. He was also wearing a pair of jeans but his were loose fit Levi's. His shirt blue like her eyes and the hint of cologne was breathtaking. She finally realized they were both just standing there and came in with their dinner.

Meg brought over 2 plates from Pete's wings. She wasn't sure about the kind of wings he liked but she remembered what he ordered that day in the restaurant. It was a hot bowl of French Onion Soup, Cheese Sticks and an order of mild wings. She ordered a grilled chicken salad for herself and a batch of their popcorn to set the mood. Michael did not comment about the food. His face was blank. Meg asked him if everything was alright and he said: "Bob Morkle is missing".

One of the rumors going around was how Michael made up a story of how Bob came to the store to save him but left him out in the cold. Meg's look was that of surprise. She wanted to believe Michael, but this confirmed his side of the story and now she felt bad. Michael told her what happened with Bob and how he denied being there. After talking with his wife, Emily, he knew the truth was out. He pointed to the coat in the corner of the room and told Meg that was the coat Bob gave him to stay warm. She already knew at this point that he was telling the truth. She hung on every word he spoke and wanted to be a part of everything in his life. She was in love and she was going to do whatever she could to help Michael...no matter what.

Meg suggested to Michael that he had better eat something. Michael couldn't believe she said that. How could she think of food at a time like this? Meg told him he needed to eat because she was driving him to find Bob and they didn't know how far they would have to go or what they were going to run into once they got there. She knew whatever it was, couldn't be good so Michael needed his strength. Michael didn't want her to go. He cared for her and didn't want her to get hurt. She had no idea what she was getting into, yet he knew he couldn't drive himself just yet either. He knew it would be best to go along with someone. Still, he tried to convince her not to do it. He told her he would be fine on his own. She insisted and it was settled.