Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 85 - Rehearsal

Guests coming for Matt and Ashley's wedding started arriving at the Abernathys house early in the day on Friday, March 23rd, the day before the ceremony. Matt's father, Michael was the first to arrive. Even though he and his wife Rachelle weren't staying with the Abernathys, he was eager to talk to Susan about their part in the wedding, including the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. As the parents of the groom, he assumed there would be something they needed to do, but his memory was fuzzy on the details from those days of his and Susan's wedding, nearly twenty-seven years ago.

"We'll find out during the rehearsal, I'm sure," Susan told him over coffee mid-morning. "As for the dinner ... I let Matt pick the place. I made the reservations, and we pay for it. That's about it, I think. Barbara is much more involved as the bride's mother."

"Barbara is Ashley's mother?" Michael confirmed.

"Yes. Her father is dead, but her stepfather is standing in to walk her down the aisle," Susan said.

"How big is the wedding?" Michael asked.

"Big," Susan said, "and formal. Do you have your tux yet?"

"I ordered it from a shop near us in Seattle. They have a connection to a store down here. It's supposed to be ready for me by 1:00 this afternoon," Michael said. "I plan to pick it up before Rachelle and her kids get here, after I check into our hotel."

"I was wondering where they are."

"I drove down so we would have a car for the week. I'm supposed to help Zack shop for a car next week, and that's easier to do if we have transportation," Michael said.

"You are?" Susan said in surprise.

"He didn't tell you?" Michael realized.

"No. When did he ask you to do that?" Susan wondered.

"Last week, after he got his acceptance letter from the college he wants to go to. He has to have a car to go there, and he's been working after school for a couple of years to save his money. So, he asked if I'd be willing to help him pick one out while we're here. I said I would, but only if he took a day off work come with me and another day to go to Disneyland with me and Rachelle and her kids while we are here," Michael said.

"Twist his arm why don't you," Susan teased.

"I know how he thinks, Susie," Michael said.

"Yes. He's like you," Susan said.

Michael looked at her oddly. "I don't know Sue, when I look at Zack, I see a lot of you." Michael looked at her wistfully for a moment. "Do you remember? What it was like before we married?"

Susan nodded. "That was so long ago, Michael."

"Do you remember how our parents were at our wedding?" Michael asked.

"Not really. I only remember being happy," Susan said.

"We were ... in the beginning," Michael said. "It took us a while to realize things weren't going to be like they are in the movies."

"About six months if I remember right," Susan said.

"Yes. I hope things work out better for Matt and Ashley than they did for us," Michael said.

"Are things still good with Rachelle?" Susan wondered.

"They're wonderful ... better than our first six months ever were," Michael said.

"I know what you mean. It's like that for me with Greg too," Susan told him. "When does Rachelle's flight arrive?"

"About three. I have their luggage, which makes things easier for them. They plan to take Supershuttle from the airport to the hotel," Michael said.