The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 23 - Harmony and Soul Mates

            Greg smiled at Susan as they returned to their car, parked in the driveway of the beach house.

"What?" Susan demanded when she saw his expression.

"You. You are one of the few people I know who can humble Richard," Greg told her. "How did I get so lucky as to end up with you?"

"There was no luck involved and you know it. It was by the hand of the Almighty we met in the first place, all those centuries ago when we both happened to go to the well on the same day," Susan reminded him as they got in and Greg backed them out of their parking place.

"Yes. Thanks to God and a small herd of goats, I was fortunate enough to meet my soul mate very young. Many people don't, you know?" Greg mused.

"I know that. We certainly didn't this time," Susan reminded him.

"Yes but this is a repeat life, Susan. They often go like that. I was speaking of the first one," Greg reminded her.

"Yes, I recognized that with the reference to goats and the well, but what I want to know is why?" Susan asked.

"I was thinking of Matthew to be honest. Matthew and Ashley to be precise," Greg said.

Susan looked at her husband in surprise. "Do you think they're soul mates?"

"I am not certain, but the thought did occur to me at the party. I really would like more opportunities to observe the two together," Greg commented.

"Which will be hard to do with Matt flying back to Seattle tomorrow," Susan reminded him.

"Yes. That's what I was thinking. Susan, have you talked with Michael about Matthew's desire to stay?" Greg asked.

"I have. He's worried that Matt isn't thinking things through. That his reason has more to do with hormones than rational thinking," Susan shared. "He proposed that Matthew should stay with him in Seattle until Christmas at least. He can come for visits and to look at schools, but Michael wants to see if he actually takes advantage of the opportunity to do that during those visits or if he spends all his time with Ashley instead."

"Does he have specific times in mind for Matt to come?" Greg wondered.

"At the end of September like he did last year. He can come for Zack's birthday and visit some schools in our area. If that goes well, Michael suggested he may come with him in November, over Thanksgiving, in order to look at some in the San Diego area as well, or we could go with him to do that. We'd be in the area if we go to Mom's for Thanksgiving," Susan proposed.

"We definitely would be," Greg agreed. "Will Michael agree to let him come when we move?"

"I think he will, but I think he also knows we'll be too busy to visit schools then," Susan said.

"We may not be, if there is a school in the Los Angeles area he'd like to see, we could make it a point to visit while he's here," Greg said.

Susan nodded.

"What about Bay Area schools? Does Matthew have any interest in those?"

"He may. Michael is planning to talk to Matt about it after he gets home, but if he does, he suggested he might drive Matt down for Christmas this year instead of Thanksgiving and they can visit one or two on the way down in December. That way if it turns out Matt is serious, if he still thinks he wants to go to a California school, he can move over the Winter Break if he still wants to," Susan explained.