The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 58 - Deliveries, Hebrew and an Onion

"Right this way."

Susan could hear her mother's voice coming from out in the hall as she hurried to rise to her feet from the little stool they kept in the bathroom, after putting on clean socks and shoes. Greg was right beside her, doing essentially the same thing, only changing his trousers as well. After their visit to the beach following Susan's appointment, both of them arrived home with sandy feet and needing to freshen up before proceeding with their day.

By the time they emerged, two strong men were maneuvering their new dining room table across the living room and down the half flight of stairs to the dining room. Susan looked around anxiously, but so far it was only the two delivery men who were there. She followed them curiously to the dining room, just as they were returning, on their way out to get the sideboard chest and the chairs.

"Is Anita here, Mom?" Susan asked.

"No. She called ten minutes ago. I told her they were here delivering the furniture and she said she'd wait to come. We should expect her around eleven," Mrs. Abernathy said.

Susan frowned. "That's going to cut it close for Jessie's assembly. I hope you told her that."

"I did, but she insisted she wouldn't have your undivided attention if there were men in your house bringing in furniture. She has a point, Susan," she said.

"I suppose," Susan agreed as the men came back, carrying two chairs each and arranging them around the table in the center of the room.

It didn't take them all that long to unload the truck, including the sofa, easy chair, and little table and chair set for Mrs. Abernathy's guest room. Susan signed for the furniture as Greg inspected everything.

"Does it look alright?" Susan asked her husband.

"It looks very nice," Greg said, just as Anita Applebaum made her appearance.

"Oh good, you are here!" she gushed. "Just the man I want to see, Mr. Abernathy. Could you help me bring in several lamps? We want to try them out in your living room so I can get them ordered for you this afternoon. With any luck, I can bring them out to you on Monday. When does your company arrive?"

"On Monday," Susan told her.

"Perhaps I can pick them up from the store?" Greg offered. "I'll be working at the studio on Monday."

"That sounds like a good plan," Mrs. Applebaum agreed and she put down the lamps in her hands before motioning for Greg to follow to go get some more.

"Is that the decorator I heard?" Mrs. Abernathy asked as she came back upstairs to join them."

"Yes. She and Greg have gone back out to her car for a few more lamps," Susan said.

It took several trips out to her car to bring in all the things their decorator brought to try, and even longer to decide which ones they liked. Conscious of the time, everyone gave their opinion and Susan made the decision. Anita Applebaum filled out the paperwork for their order while Greg and Mrs. Abernathy carried the sample lamps back out to the car.

"You know, there is one more thing this room needs," Greg remarked as Anita left and he and Mrs. Abernathy returned to the house.

"What's that?" Susan asked.

"A way to play music. I think it's finally time for something more sophisticated than Father Juong's radio," he told her.

Susan arched her brow with a smile. "You think so? Father Juong's radio has served us well up until now," she said in a teasing sort of tone.

"I'm not saying get rid of it," Greg hastened to add. "All I'm saying is a nicer sound system might better suit this room."

"I think you're right. Shall we go shop for one tomorrow after services?" Susan suggested.