The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 54 - Getting Ready

Greg was ready for the day early the next morning, helping the children to get ready for school on time, and loading Susan's things into the car. They talked on the way to the airport, with Susan telling Greg about her parents' ideas and her own thoughts for finishing their final guest room.

"That sounds fine, Susan; very practical and infinitely more comfortable for all involved for those occasions when we have guests for extended periods of time," Greg agreed. "Do you need me to call the decorator for you while you're away?"

"No, I can call her from the airport while I'm waiting for my flight to board. I should have more than enough time," Susan assured him. "I just wanted to tell you about our idea before going forward with it."

By the time Susan finished explaining the details of her plan, they were at the airport and Greg was helping her to unload and kissing her goodbye.

"You be careful, Susan. Remember, don't lift anything you don't have to," Greg cautioned.

"I will," Susan promised and she kissed him again before hugging him goodbye.

Greg watched her go, thinking about how different it was in this life to be married to Susan than it had been to his two other wives. He didn't know if he'd ever get used to her working, with her own career and traveling because of it. But then again, if she hadn't had that sort of profession, she'd never have been on the plane that crashed and they never would have met. Greg sighed as he closed the trunk of their car, got back into the driver's seat and, at the airport security man's insistence, drove away.

c

Thirty-six hours later, they were playing the same scene out, only in reverse. Greg pulled up at the loading and unloading only curb at the Burbank airport in response to Susan's call and found her standing on the sidewalk waiting for him with her suitcase by her side. She was in his arms as soon as he got out of the car, kissing him like she'd been gone a week instead of less than two days. Greg opened the trunk, loaded her luggage and they were once again on their way home.

"How did it go?" they asked one another at nearly the same time.

"Good," Susan answered first. "I met with Janis and Carolyn today and laid my position out on the table. They understand why I can't travel for a while and agreed to let me work from home until I'm ready for maternity leave. They also understand that I plan to take a minimum of six months leave after the baby comes, possibly more."

"That's good news. What's the maximum amount of time your company would allow you to take?" Greg asked.

"A year. That's probably too long to be off though. I'll work half time for the first six months after I go back, so I'll probably start that between six months and a year," Susan explained. "We got all the paperwork done to allow for that, so I shouldn't have to go back in to sign anything."

"That is good news," Greg told her. "When do you think you'll start your leave?"

Susan arched her brow. "If this was a normal pregnancy, and nothing happens between now and then, not until the middle of February. But I'll be surprised if I make it that long," Susan told him.

"Why? Has something happened?" Greg asked.

"No, not yet. But you know what the doctor said at my last appointment," she cautioned.

"He said that we must be vigilant, cautious, and watchful for potential problems, particularly so as the baby increases in weight," Greg reiterated for her.

Susan nodded. "Yes, exactly. And I will be, because I know that's the only reason we've gotten this far. I also arranged to take vacation time over the holidays, while the kids are out of school. The company will be closed one of those weeks anyways, so it's not that many days of vacation time I'll need to take. That should help."