Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 139 - The Support of Friends

Richard, Marion, Kevin and Shelly watched their friend Susan walk across the sand, away from their little grouping of chairs and umbrellas arranged on the beach behind Richard and Marion's Beach House. Each person present wore nothing but empathy and compassion in their expressions. It was clear Melody was really too heavy for Susan to carry, but since her dying daughter asked, nothing was going to persuade Susan not to carry her anyway. Greg and Forest followed after her. Greg had their beach things in his arms, hovering around Susan and Melody, offering them his support as Susan struggled to climb the stairs, up to the deck and the back entrance to Richard's house. Forest stayed as close behind them as he could.

"Poor Susan," Kevin remarked. "I don't know how she's going to get through this next month. It has got to be so difficult to watch your child fade away like that."

"I'm not sure she can even see it," Marion remarked. "Susan acts like Melody is just fine while she's awake. But it's not normal for a five-year-old to fall asleep like that."

"No, it's not," Shelly agreed. "Watching Melody is a bit like watching a puppy we once had. He would play really hard while he was awake then suddenly fall asleep, wherever he happened to be."

"Puppies do behave like that," Marion agreed, "but not little girls. At least mine never has."

"No, they don't," Shelly confirmed. "Kelly never did that either when she was little."

"Of course, your daughters are both healthy ... unlike Melody," Richard said.

"This has got to be so hard for them both. I don't know how Greg and Susan do it, handling it all as well as they are," Marion remarked.

"They are incredibly strong people," Richard told her.

"Yes, they are," Shelly agreed. "I learned that definitively the year I worked with them and you on the Tropical Dream movie."

"Susan was strong then because she had to be. She didn't have a choice," Richard told her. "What they are going through now is different, but it's no less difficult. They will get through it for the same reason ...they don't have a choice. But I don't envy them ... either of them."

"Weren't you the one to support them before?" Kevin asked.

"Yes, and I will do what I can for them this time ... even if it simply to listen or to be there in the event either Greg or Susan needs a friend," Richard said.

"I can do that," Shelly said.

"I can too," Kevin unexpectedly added.

Shelly looked at her husband in surprise. "I know how important it is, just from the part I played in the movie. If I learned anything from that, it's how important having a true friend is. I'd like to follow your example, Richard, and do that too."

"You don't have to be in a movie to know that people going through crisis need support," Kevin countered. "Greg and Susan have been nothing but good to us. Their kids are important to our kids. If for no other reason, I will do what I can."

Richard and Marion watched the other couple curiously, listening as they verbally spared with one another. Even though they both were in agreement in regards to the need to support their friends, they were arguing about it.

"You know I will," Marion told her husband.

"You support me," Richard said, wondering if the Goodmans would take the hint. They needed to support one another too. "Everybody needs a support system, Marion. Even you and me."

"I completely agree," Kevin said thoughtfully.

From Kevin's expression, Richard couldn't help wondering if his thoughts were elsewhere. He certainly didn't seem inclined to look to his wife for that type of support.