Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 86 - March 24th

It was nearing midnight before Susan was ready to call it a night. After visiting with their many guests who'd come for the wedding, when the grandfather clock in their living room struck mid-night, Susan finally excused herself to get ready for bed. Greg watched her leave, expecting she would spend time on their balcony to praying before turning in. He wasn't disappointed. That's where he found her when he too went to their bedroom to get ready for bed.

c

Susan stood near the railing on the balcony off the master bedroom of their Malibu Hills home, considering the view as she prayed. Often she faced the ocean when there was something important on her mind she wanted to bring to the Lord; but on this occasion, something prompted her to look towards the hills surrounding their house instead. When she did, her eyes swept across the empty area behind their home, down between the two guest wings that surrounded their swimming pool, up over the balcony on the other side of their U-shaped house, on their way to the hills beyond. But there was something about the balcony opposite where she stood that caused her to stop there. She studied it for a moment before she realized the space it wasn't as empty as it usually was. There was somebody there. Two figures stood quietly vaguely facing her on the balcony outside the children's bedrooms.

Susan watched them for a moment, trying to determine who it might be, eventually deciding it might be easiest to simply go look. She suspected it might be Matt and possibly Zack, but there were other possibilities for who it might be.

And so, Susan slipped back inside, crossed the darkened family room to the children's wing, down the hall past their bedrooms to the door at the end. She was about to open it when Joel, Matt's childhood friend stepped inside.

"Oh hello Mrs. Cooper ...er, ah I mean Mrs. Abernathy," Joel said politely.

"Hello Joel. Are your accommodations okay?" Susan asked the young man.

"Yes, of course. I never expected to have a house to myself though," Joel said.

Susan smiled. "Most of the family is staying in our guest rooms. I know the cottage is a bit far from the house, but I hoped that would be okay."

"Yes, certainly," Joel said. "Well goodnight, Mrs. Abernathy. I'll see you in the morning."

"Thank you for being here for Matt," Susan told him.

"Yeah, of course," Joel said. He looked at her blankly, as though the thought of doing anything else never occurred to him.

Susan watched him go before stepping through the still open door. She closed it softly behind her and found her first born son sitting on one of the swings of the children's swing set alone.

c

"Hello," Susan said softly.

"Hi Mom," Matt said.

"Am I disturbing you?" Susan asked as she approached.

"Not really," Matt told her.

Susan nodded, sitting down on the swing next to his. "Are you praying?" Susan asked curiously.

Matt looked at her with a startled expression. "No, I'm trying to think ... or trying not to ... I'm not sure which. I feel odd, like time is going much too fast, and won't go fast enough, all at the same time. I know that doesn't make sense, but I don't know how else to explain it."

"I do. And it makes perfect sense," Susan told him.

"It does?"

"Yes, it does."

"Why?"

"Tomorrow ... or rather later today is a turning point in your life."

"Today?" Matt said with a hint of surprise.