Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 125 - Bee Leaf

Aside from the language lessons Melody seemed determined to give to Noah and LeeAnn each and every day, Passover that year started out unusually ordinary. The Seder was attended by the entire family, but no one aside from family, or those who would eventually be family came that year.

Jessie helped Susan and Julie make their Passover meals, including the Seder they held on Sunday night. The Goodmans came, just like they did two years before, and Matt and Ashley decided to join them too for the meal. Greg was frankly surprised. Ashley's curiosity about the Jewish religion seemed to have faded as of late. Maybe that was simply because it was no longer the novelty it once was. Or perhaps it was because after a year of marriage, the young couple was finding their feet as husband and wife. They were after all set to graduate in a few months' time, and after that he and Susan fully anticipated the Coopers would be moving away. Zack would be coming home for the summer, and again their lives would change. It happened every year, for as Greg looked back he knew for certain no two years were the same.

Monday morning Susan received an early call, before the others were up. She took it in the library, leaving Greg alone at the kitchen table drinking his coffee.

"Hello," her voice floated down to him from the library a half flight of stairs above the level of the kitchen. "Oh hello. Does Dr. Lin have a decision for us?"

At the mention of Dr. Lin, Greg got up. Taking his coffee with him, he joined Susan in the library. She was writing something down on the calendar at the little desk. He leaned over her shoulder to see what it said.

"Yes, that week would be better, actually," Susan told the person on the phone. She rubbed out her first entry and changed it to the following Tuesday, a week before the Memorial Day holiday. "The 20th of May ... do I have that right? We repeat the tests on the 13th, and we see Dr. Lin on the 15th, the Thursday before." Susan paused, listening to someone on the other end. "Yes, thank you for confirming. I'll call Dr. Bowers and get the medication adjusted right away. Thank you again." She listed a few more minutes then hung up the phone.

"Dr. Bowers?" Greg asked.

"For her asthma medication. Dr. Lin wants her to begin taking it regularly. She thinks that should counter act the effects of her cardiac medicine and keep her asthma under control between now and the date for the surgery," Susan explained. "She's already consulted with Dr. Bowers about it and they've agreed this is the best plan, as long as we don't have to continue that regimen for more than 30 days. Today is April 21st. so that should be about right."

Greg glanced at the date Susan marked for Melody's surgery on the calendar: May 20th.

"That's exactly 30 days from today," Greg said doubtfully. "What if something causes another delay?"

"It can't, Greg. We have to get this done. We have to keep Melody healthy and without further complications so she can," Susan said.

Greg wasn't convinced. He looked doubtfully at his wife and was about to say something more when the sound of soft footsteps coming towards them through the family room caused him to reconsider. He turned to find Melody coming towards them with bare feet, still in her nightgown, dragging her Raggedy Ann with her across the floor. She smiled when she saw him, drawing the soft doll up into her arms.

"Good morning, Melody," Greg said when she climbed the stairs. He scooped her up, drawing her into his arms.

"Morning Papa," Melody told him, kissing his cheek.

Susan looked at them both with such love in her eyes it nearly hurt to see it.

"Is Jessie going to school today, Mama?" Melody asked.