The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 36 - Moving Stuff ... Round 3

"Hello, Mrs. Cooper," Ashley said when Susan met Matt and his girlfriend in the foyer of the church the next morning after services.

"Hello Ashley," Susan replied in a friendly manner.

"She's Abernathy, remember? I told you. Mom got married again," Matt reminded his girlfriend.

"Yes, but didn't you say that's her maiden name?" Ashley said in confusion.

"It's complicated," Matt said with a shrug.

"Hello Ashley. I'm Susan ... or Mrs. Abernathy if you prefer," Susan clarified.

"Oh, okay," Ashley said, blushing in embarrassment. "Is it really okay if I come by your house to help Matt help you today?"

"It's perfectly okay," Susan agreed. "Are you going home first to change?"

"If Matt can take me. Dad said I need to find my own transportation today," she explained.

"Can I Mom?" Matt asked.

"Don't be long. You know we need the SUV to move anything," Susan cautioned.

"And you're not supposed to be lifting anything," Matt said firmly. "Ash, maybe you can just grab your clothes then change at Mom's house so I can help?"

"Oh, I don't know. I'll have to ask," Ashley told him. "Dad's gotten a bit funny about me seeing you since you moved away."

"Why?" Matt asked in surprise. "He seemed totally okay with it yesterday."

"Yes, but he and I were talking about you last night ... and well, now he's acting funny," Ashley tried to explain.

Susan listened to the exchange curiously, wondering what Ashley's father might be thinking.

"If she needs to go home to change, we can wait for her, Matt," Susan said. "We'll all need to change too."

"Okay. Where's Zack?"

"Talking with one of his friends," Susan said. "Jessie is with him, talking to Eddie, I think."

"It's really good he doesn't have to change schools when you move," Matt remarked. "I wish I didn't have to."

"You don't," Susan told him. "You can keep going to school in Seattle then move to California after you graduate."

"Except that Dad's been looking into the rules for out-of-state residents at California schools. He says I pretty much need to live here next year if I think I want to go to one," Matt explained.

Susan nodded, thinking this was something she and Michael probably needed to talk about.

"We'll see," Susan told him noting that Ashley looked ready to leave. "We'll see you at home, Matt."

"Okay. We'll be fast," Matt promised and he and Ashley hurried away.

Susan looked after them ... thinking about Greg's theory that Matt and Ashley might be soul mates ... before collecting Zackary and Jessie to return home.

"Come on," she called. "We have a lot to do today."

c

Susan was still changing her clothes at home when Matt and Ashley arrived at the farmhouse. Greg had lunch ready and waiting for them on the table, and was out in the garage packing the things that needed to be packed into boxes for the trip to the cottage.