The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 17 - A House for the Party

The coming week was unbelievably busy as Greg and Susan prepared for their party. The location of their new house was in such an out of the way place, Susan sent maps to those who'd been invited showing them the way, including instructions on where to park that same afternoon on Saturday, after visiting the cottage for the first time.

On Sunday, they all visited the cottage. Susan went to take measurements in order to arrange for the decorations and to take another look at the kitchen in order to make plans for the catering. Even Jessie went when they visited on that day, and they went directly after church, arriving as they had before in the middle of the day, parking against the curb in front of the path to the cottage.

"Is that our new house?" Jessie asked as she spotted the portion of the house that extended up above the valley.

"It is, but we're not looking at it today," Greg reminded her. "The boys and I will show you everything next Friday, before the party, but for today Mama wants us to visit the place were the party will be. This way."

Once again, Greg led the way down the path, pausing when he came to the clearing. He stopped, waiting for the family to catch up. This time it was Jessie who paused in her tracks.

"Oh Mama!" she cried looking back at Susan. "It's our house!" she said excitedly.

"Do you recognize this place, Jessie?" Greg asked.

"Of course Papa, this is where we live," the little girl declared. "When I was little, before the baby came, before the fire."

Zackary stared at Jessie, then at Greg, then at the cottage, as though seeing it anew. His jaw dropped open then he turned to stare at Greg again.

"Is that why you built this? And how come you knew how it should look?" he guessed.

Greg arched his brow at the boy. Surely Zackary would have been too young during that first life to have remembered the house. Houses weren't all that important to newborns, or so he'd always thought.

"I had this structure built because I thought having it would be of use to our family. I am pleased that everyone feels such a connection to it and is pleased by the way it turned out," Greg told him.

"Do you like it, Mom?" Zackary questioned. "Or does it just make you sad?"

Susan's expression took on a hint of sadness at his expression and she put her hand on her youngest son's shoulder.

"Mostly it makes me happy, Zack. A place like this is associated mainly with happy memories for me," Susan told him. "It should be for you too."

Zackary considered his mother with a searching, trusting expression, one Greg had only seen him wear a time or two before, during those moments when that supernatural connection between Susan and her son seemed to come to light.

"Okay Mom," he said at last. "Should we go in?"

"Yes," Susan told him. "I need the measurements for the party."

The spell of recognition for the family seemed to be broken and they all went in.

Jessie explored the little house from top to bottom seeming fascinated by the likenesses and the differences from the place in her memory. They didn't stay all that long, but it was fun to visit here together.

c

Monday was nearly as busy as Sunday was. Besides working at her usual programming, Susan took time out to finalize the menu with the caterer and to contact a party company about an idea she had for directing people to the correct venue for the party. Meanwhile Greg spent most of the day at the cottage, waiting for the rented furnishings to arrive. The truck arrived about noon, with the back full of the many pieces he'd ordered. It took much of the afternoon to get it all unloaded and arranged about the cottage in an inviting way, ready for the party the following weekend.