Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 104 - Unexpected Developments

The Sabbath dawned brilliant and clear on the fourth day of Chanukah. Susan rose at her usual early time in order to make breakfast for those going to services. The family ate; then the Gaffneys, Zimmermans, Rosenbergs, and the Obersteins all left. Greg, Melody and Jessie went with them, leaving Susan on her own. With Zack at school and Matt living with Ashley downstairs, once those attending Sabbath services at temple were gone, Susan was home alone.

Susan found she didn't mind as much as she thought she would when the house fell quiet around her. It allowed her to have a conversation with the Lord while she cleaned up the kitchen.

"There must be an opportunity here," Susan said to the air. "Show me what it is. I feel I need to defend Melody's role in Your plan to the Zimmermans. I know she is of you ... whether they can see it or not. Is it up to me to make them see it? Me and Greg? Or do you have something else in mind? Use me as you will, oh Lord. Show me how we can best use this weekend with the Zimmermans to serve you."

Susan's questions hung in the air, and at first it seemed no answer was forth coming. But she didn't worry. She knew the Lord would provide one when she needed it most.

And so, once the kitchen was clean, Susan used the time to begin wrapping Christmas presents, using a folding table she kept in the sunroom off their bedroom. The view out the window was spectacular on this particular day, and she hummed Christmas Carols to herself while she worked, songs of praise and promise and hope as she thought about the day ahead. She got a fair amount done, hiding the presents in her bedroom closet before the Jewish part of the family returned home.

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"Susan! Where are you?" Greg called for his wife after coming into the house through the bookcase door.

"I'm in here!" Susan called back.

"What are you doing?" Greg asked as he walked towards her voice, intent on finding her.

"Wrapping presents ... in the sunroom," Susan said.

"Wrapping presents? I thought all our gifts for this weekend were wrapped," Greg said, coming into the room to find Susan in the midst of putting the wrapping materials away.

"They are. I was wrapping Christmas presents," Susan explained.

"Are you celebrating Christmas this year?" Greg wondered.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Susan asked in surprise.

"I wasn't certain. Since your brother and his family won't be coming, and it is likely Matt and Ashley will want to celebrate on their own, I wasn't at all certain what you might decide to do. I've never seen you celebrate Christmas by yourself," Greg said.

"It doesn't matter that not everyone will be here. I am here, Zack will be here, and I know Matt will join us for at least part of the day. Also, there is Melody. I know she will celebrate with me. Besides, it doesn't take other people to make your heart ready for the coming of the Lord," Susan said emphatically.

"No, of course not," Greg said. "I'm sorry. I just wasn't thinking."

Susan nodded. She regarded her husband thoughtfully.

"What is happening to us, Greg?" she wondered. "Things never used to be like this."

Greg arched his brow with a questioning expression.

"Our doubts regarding Melody ... forgetting about one another's faith," Susan supplied.

"I have no doubts about Melody, Susan. And as for your faith ... I didn't forget ... exactly, but it is true I forgot to take into account your religion, as an expression of your personal faith," Greg said.