Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 51 - Plans for the Holidays

"Do we have plans for the holidays this year?" Susan asked.

It was after supper on the Saturday evening following Thanksgiving. The Abernathys and their guests were talking while everyone relaxed in the living room. Matt was back for the night, visiting with all the Abernathy's houseguests who were staying for the weekend.

"Chanukah starts the day after Christmas this year," Greg said.

"That's convenient," Alan remarked.

"It is?" Matt asked.

"Well sure. You all can celebrate Christmas here this year, without having to work around us ... then come up to Oakland to for Chanukah afterwards," Alan said.

"Or, they could come to my house," Julie told her brother.

"You don't have room for all of them, Julie," Alan said.

"You don't either," Julie pointed out. "And we haven't celebrated more than a night or two of Chanukah at my place in a long time."

"We could also do Chanukah here," Greg offered. "We do have the room."

"Thank you, but no, Gregory," Ruth said.

"No?" Greg replied, considering his ex-wife curiously.

"No. I'd like to spend Chanukah at home this year. It would be nice to attend services at our own temple and allow Olivia to celebrate her first Chanukah at home," Ruth told him.

"Aaron is coming home for the holidays, Mom," Julie reminded her. "I'd like him to be able to spend some of that time at home too."

"Maybe we could do both?" Susan suggested. "Spend Christmas here, then go to Julie's for the first few nights of Chanukah, then go to Oakland?"

"The last night of Chanukah is January 2nd, the day after our anniversary, Susan," Greg told her. "Would you like to celebrate away from home this year?"

"That doesn't sound very romantic," Alan said. "Spending your anniversary with all of us, while living out of a hotel, unless you do something special about it."

"I agree with Alan," Mr. Simms said unexpectedly. "Ruth, what about our plan to spend a week at the library in Sacramento early in January? Weren't you going to spend some of your time off from your job towards the end of the holidays with me?"

"We can still do that, Bobby, if you're up to it," Ruth assured him. "But given how you are doing now, you may not be."

"I'll call my doctor in the morning, if I'm still feeling poorly. He can adjust my medicine again if he needs to. The holidays are more than a month away. I'm sure I'll feel better by then," Mr. Simms said. "But as I was saying, the last day of Chanukah is a Monday. If we plan to be in Sacramento all week, we should plan to go then," Mr. Simms insisted.

Greg arched a brow. "Instead of spending the last night with the family?"

"Heart problems or no, I'm running out of time, Greg," Mr. Simms said seriously.

"All the more reason not to put aside your faith," Greg insisted.

"I'm not. I'm acting on faith ... acting on what I hear when I listen. I am trusting the Lord to reveal to me what I need to know ... what we need to know, during the time I have left," Mr. Simms said.

"That's all well and good," Alan said. "But you are insisting on taking Mom with you. Mom, wouldn't you rather spend the time with us in Oakland than in Sacramento with Bobby? The weather never is good there that time of year."