The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 51 - Exploring the Cave

The Abernathys were all up early on Sunday, the morning following the last night of Chanukah. Greg got up early to make breakfast for his family, while Susan and the children prepared for church. They went to the early service in hopes of returning before their guests stirred. Greg doubted they would be able to, but he appreciated the effort they were making by going early and did what he could to support them. He'd just cleared the dishes and was sitting at the kitchen table drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper, when he heard someone come in through the door on the ground floor on the south side of the house and footsteps on the stairs.

"Hello?" Greg called into the quiet of the house. "I'm in here."

"Good morning, Dad." It was Julie's voice that greeted him.

"Good morning. Would you like some coffee?" Greg offered.

"Please," Julie said as she joined him. "Are you the only one up?"

"No. Susan and the children have gone to church. They should be back in about an hour," Greg said.

Julie glanced at the clock in surprise. "Do they always go so early?"

"Not always, but they hoped to be back before everyone else was up," Greg shared as he poured the coffee for his daughter and brought it back to the table.

"And here I was wondering if we were going to make them late by sleeping so late," Julie mused.

"Not to worry," Greg assured her. "Is the rest of your family still asleep?"

"The boys are. Elliott is stirring, but he didn't want to get up just yet if we didn't have to. I was supposed to find out and come back. I suppose I should do that. Maybe he'll go back to sleep," Julie said as she gratefully sipped her coffee. "I'll be right back," she promised and slipped from the table down the stairs again.

Greg went back to reading his paper as he drank his coffee, wondering if Julie's would be cold before she could get back. He expected to hear sounds coming from the south again, but this time it was from the north. Alan came up the stairs looking for him.

"Good morning, Dad," Alan said.

"Good morning," Greg replied.

"Who else is up?" Alan asked noting the second cup of coffee sitting on the table.

"Julie. She just went back down to their rooms to tell her family they could sleep later if they wished. She should be back soon," Greg said.

"I am back, Dad," Julie said coming from the other direction.

"Where's Susan?" Alan asked as Greg got up to get his son a cup of the coffee.

"At church," Julie answered.

"I was wondering," Alan said. "I thought she might be. Did she go to the early service, just for us?"

"How do you know so much about it?" Julie asked as their father nodded his reply.

"From being around Cindy's family, I guess. Not all Christians are such a bad lot, Jules," Alan told her as he accepted the cup from his father and joined them.

"No, they are not," Greg agreed. "Many are simply faithful people, living according to the Lord's commandments for their lives to the best of their ability. Is Cindy still sleeping?"

"She was when I left. It's very peaceful here, I am surprised. I thought you might get the sound of traffic from the highway on the coast traveling up here," Alan said.

"You can hear it, if you listen for it, however most often it is dampened by the distance and the morning fog," Greg said. "Do you like your room?"

"Very much so. We couldn't be more comfortable if we'd stayed in a hotel. I'm impressed, I really am," Alan said.