The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 49 - The First Night of Chanukah

Dinner at Julie's on Saturday, the first night of Chanukah, was later than traditionally observed in deference to their guests' expected late arrival. As a result, when Greg and Susan arrived, Julie and Cindy flew into high gear in the kitchen to get things ready.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" Susan offered.

"No, thank you," Julie said firmly. "Cindy and I want to do this, so why don't you and Mom just make yourselves comfortable in the front room. Dad and Elliott can help."

Susan nodded uncertainly, looking towards the other woman, wondering what Greg had told her. Apparently Julie's intent was to give her and Ruth the opportunity to talk.

"Julie insisted I was not to interfere," Ruth told her, "and it does look like they've got things covered."

"It does," Susan agreed. "So maybe we should just stay out of the way? What do you say?"

"We could visit in the front room, like they suggested," Ruth remarked.

Susan nodded, taking her glass of water to the living room where she settled herself on one of two upholstered chairs flanking a corner table while Ruth took the other one. Susan watched as people came and went through adjoining dining room. Apparently, the same directive wasn't being given to the men to stay out of the way, as Greg, Elliott, and Alan came through from the kitchen in turn, carrying things to use in setting the table.

"I think they want us to talk," Ruth told Susan.

Susan nodded. "Apparently."

Susan's eyes followed her husband. Greg turned occasionally to check on her, but made no move to join them. Ruth watched Susan as she watched Greg, noting the way the two instinctively responded to one another.

"You know, I'm torn between envying what you have with Greg, and feeling sorry for you," Ruth commented as she watched her.

"Why?" Susan asked looking at her in surprise.

"The way you two move around one another ... smoothly, seamlessly, and yet always alert to each other ... like two suns in a mutual orbit. Greg and I never had that," Ruth explained.

Susan nodded. "Michael and I didn't either. I loved him, but things were different. It was like he was oblivious to me and what I needed most of the time, and I'm certain the reverse was also true."

"Some of that might just be personality. Greg's the attentive sort ... no matter who he's with. But even with that being said, it's still clear there is still something different about how he is towards you. You're part of him," Ruth observed.

Susan nodded distractedly, still watching her husband.

"It's too bad you had to wait so long to meet him," she said.

"Why do you say that?" Susan asked.

"You could be having his baby younger ... slept with him when he was younger, instead of the age he is now," she said pointedly.

Susan shrugged. "He's still younger than he was the last time."

"Really?" Ruth said in surprise. "Why? How old was he?"

"In his eighties ... he was eighty-two I think, when we married. I wasn't. I was ridiculously young when I married him ... far too young from my current way of thinking," Susan said.

"Why? How old were you?" Ruth asked in spite of herself.

"I was fifteen ... a child really, but I knew I would miss the opportunity to be with him in that life if I hadn't. He died two years later ... without ever knowing I'd become pregnant. So you see, this time is much better. But even when he was eighty-something, he was an attentive and caring lover," Susan said. "He still is ... he always has been."