The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 52 - The Advent Wreath

Susan hurried back up the hill to the house, eager to be there before her parents arrived. After first checking the state of the living room, she went to work straight away in the kitchen, making preparations for their Sunday supper. She was just finishing the task of preparing and seasoning the chicken she intended to roast, placing it on the roasting rack when Greg accompanied by his grandchildren, Zack, Jessie and Reuben arrived at the back of the house.

"Here, let me help you with that," Greg said, hurrying forward to hold the heavy roasting pan in position while Susan arranged the bird and its accompanying vegetables around it in the pan.

"Thank you," Susan said as she covered the dish, took it from her husband and slid it into the refrigerator.

"Are they here yet?" Greg asked, anxiously looking around.

"Not yet," Susan said. "Where's everybody else?"

"Gone to pack," Greg told her. "Reuben and I offered to keep the kids out of the way while they do."

Susan nodded as she heard the sounds of youthful footsteps headed in the direction of Zackary and Jessie's rooms.

"I don't think that will be a problem," she remarked.

"It doesn't sound like it," Greg agreed. "Is your wreath ready?" he checked.

"It's in the library," Susan reminded him. "That's fine. Keeping the advent is an internal thing Greg, not hidden exactly ..."

"But private," Greg finished for her. "I remember you doing this last year, Susan."

Susan nodded. "I wanted to in Australia, but evergreen branches were harder to come by in Sydney."

"Does the wreath have to be made out of evergreens?" Greg asked curiously.

"No, I don't suppose it has to be, but to me it's more meaningful if it is ... life in the dead of winter, hope in the midst of hopelessness, all of that," Susan said.

Greg nodded. "Is that what Christmas means to you?" he asked.

Susan started to speak, reciting the Christian rhetoric one always heard in regards to the Christmas season.

"I'm not asking about the church or even about Christian beliefs. I was simply wondering what it means to you. You did say it is a personal, mostly internal thing," Greg said quietly.

Susan smiled a quiet smile and started to answer when she heard footsteps and the sound of luggage being brought up the stairs coming from down below. Putting her apron aside, she gave a slight shrug and a nod towards her husband then headed towards the head of the stairs.

"Julie, do you need help?" Susan asked.

"You're not supposed to lift anything," Julie said firmly.

"I won't, but I am perfectly capable of calling any one of the three teenaged or nearly teenaged boys we have in the house to come help," Susan said.

"Or, I can," Greg offered appearing at Susan's side. "Where would you like these, Julie?" Greg asked as she handed him a case up the short flight of stairs.

"By the front door, please. We don't need to leave just yet, but I want to be ready when we do need to," Julie said as Elliott handed her another bag at the bottom of the stairs which she in turn handed to Greg, who handed it to Reuben who'd also come to help.

"Aaron, Zack, Jake!" Susan called as she went up the half flight of stairs. "Time to come help with the suitcases!"

"Okay," Aaron agreed.