Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 35 - A Fun Evening

Susan returned home to discover the Abernathy's weekend guests were in the process of dressing for Greg's 60th birthday party. Stephen and his family were in their guest rooms, and initially nowhere to be found. So were Ruth, Reuben, and Mr. Simms. According to Greg, Alan and Cindy were in the cottage with Olivia, getting themselves and the baby ready. Meanwhile in the main part of the house, Matt, Zack and Jessie were all vying for the bathroom in the children's wing.

"Where is Melody?" Susan asked her husband when she found him in their bathroom, also getting ready.

"Playing in her room, until one of us is available to get her dressed," Greg said. He was freshly showered and shaved, and was currently buttoning the open collared shirt he planned to wear. Susan smiled as she studied his appearance in the mirror.

"I am so lucky," she told him.

"Why is that?" Greg asked.

"I have you." Susan wrapped her arms around her husband for a hug.

Greg smiled, readily returning it and kissing her in the process. "Do you need the bathroom?"

"I will, after you're finished. Come get me in Melody's room when you're ready," Susan said.

Susan had Melody dressed and her hair brushed by the time Greg came to find her. Susan went to check on Jessie before going to dress herself. Forty-five minutes after Susan returned home, their family was ready and one by one began to gather in the library.

"You look great, Mom," Matt said when he found them all looking ready to leave.

"So do you," Susan said. "Are you going to pick up Ashley?"

"Yup. We'll see you there," Matt said, and he left through the bookcase door.

"Susan, we should be going too," Greg told her.

"I'm ready, and yes we should. Does everyone know where to go?" Susan asked.

"We should check with them before leaving," Greg said, just about the time Reuben came up the stairs.

"I'm not sure I know where it is," Reuben told him.

"Does Ruth?" Susan wondered.

"She may. She's downstairs helping Bobby with his tie," Reuben said.

"I'll ask," Greg said and he headed down the stairs.

"Zack, can you check with Uncle Stephen, make sure he knows where to go? I'll ask Alan and meet you here," Susan said.

"Sure Mom," Zack said.

"What should I do, Mama?" Jessie asked.

"Watch Melody for me? We'll be right back," Susan promised.

"Okay," Jessie told her, suddenly feeling very grown up to have been asked.

Checking with the rest of the family didn't take all that long. They were slowly gathering in the living room by the time Greg and Susan were ready to leave.

"We'll see you there," Susan told them on their way out.

"We'll be there," they all assured her.

c

As Susan hoped, they were the first from their party to arrive at the restaurant. Greg parked their car in the parking lot before following his wife into Edwardo's. Susan smiled and waved to the hostess at the desk, then took them directly upstairs to the second floor of the old home.

"Don't you need to check in or something, Mom?" Zack asked.

"I did that earlier," Susan told him. "The hostess will let the rest of the staff know we are here."