Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 27 - At the Hospital

"Susan?" Greg was standing in the hall outside Cindy's hospital room when he opened his phone to take her call.

"Hello," Susan said from the other end. "Have you found us a place to stay yet?"

"No. We've been with Cindy, Alan and the baby," Greg said. "I haven't had the opportunity to make any more calls."

"Would you like to stay in Oakland?" Susan wondered.

Greg hesitated, thinking of the fact Susan would be working while they were in the Bay Area and her office was on the San Francisco Peninsula. Also, they had the children with them, who needed to be entertained. It would be too much of an imposition on the new parents to spend every day at their house, so maybe it would be better to be farther away.

"What do you have in mind?" Greg asked.

"I know a place near the office where I sometimes stay, just south of San Francisco. It's close to a BART station and they have suites. That way it's sort of half way in between Oakland and Bobby's retirement home in Menlo Park," Susan suggested.

"That's an idea," Greg said. "Do they have space?"

"I have their number on my speed dial. If you like the idea, I can give them a call to find out," Susan suggested.

"Will you go there first instead of coming to Oakland if they have a vacancy?" Greg wondered.

"I might. I also thought I might go by the retirement home and pick up Bobby first. I called him this morning to tell him about the baby and he'd like to visit," Susan said. "Unless there is some reason you think he shouldn't."

"I can think of no reason why he shouldn't. In fact, a visit from Bobby might be a good idea," Greg told her. "Ruth is having issues."

"Oh?"

"Cindy asked about you. I suspect she is interested in your nursing advice and recent breastfeeding experience; however Ruth took offence to her inquiry, suggesting Cindy was showing a preference for you for the paternal grand-mothering role," Greg said.

"Oh no," Susan said. Greg could hear her frown in her tone.

"We all tried to assure her that was not the case ... but you see how it is," Greg told her.

"I do. Ruth can be sensitive to these things, Greg. We know that is true. Maybe having Bobby there would help to ease her anxiety some," Susan said.

"That is what I was thinking," Greg said.

"Okay. I'll call him back and suggest he come with me today," Susan said.

"Thank you," Greg told her.

"What about the hotel?" Susan asked.

"Call them. If they have room for us, book a space. If not, perhaps we can find a similar place on this side of the bay," Greg suggested.

"I can ask them," Susan said.

"Let me know what you find out," Greg said.

"I will," Susan promised and she ended the call.

c

"Was that Susan?" Alan asked when Greg stepped back into the room.

"Yes," Greg said.

"Where is she?" Alan asked. "Out in front?"

"No, not yet ... you know, I forgot to ask where she actually is. Close, I think. She is trying to address the issue of a place to stay this coming week," Greg said.