Surviving the Dreams

Chapter 26 - A Narrow Escape

The rest of Michael and Matt’s visit with Susan and Greg at the Moreno Island Resort passed quite pleasantly. Given their how uncomfortable their first morning together was, and the time went by much more quickly than either party would have believed. There were lots of long walks on the beach as everyone continued to talk. Matt got to know Greg and the two seemed to be getting along. Michael and Susan on the surface superficially managed to resolved things more or less for the time being, and Susan got to spend a lot more time with her family in general. Much sooner than any of them wished, it was time for Michael and Matt to get ready to go home. The four of them met for one last breakfast together on the Saturday morning the Coopers were scheduled to leave, the first weekend in September. Matt was going to start high school the very next week.

“Are you sure we have to leave so soon?” Matt urged his dad in anticipation of their flight that afternoon.

“I’m sure. We have a meeting at the embassy first thing Monday morning, and our flight home leaves from the Capital later that same afternoon. We’ve already extended our stay here by a full day. I don’t see how we can delay our journey to the Capital any longer,” Michael explained. “You still want to do our part to help your mom get home right?”

“Oh, okay. If it will help Mom,” Matt agreed. “It will, won’t it?” he asked Susan.

“Yes, most definitely,” Susan told him. “It is the single most important thing you can do for me.”

“Then I will,” Matt told her. “It’s just that I don’t want to leave. Not if you’re staying here.”

“Hopefully we won’t have to be here too much longer,” Greg told him. “Susan and I have our own appointment at the Embassy next week, only a week after yours. I am hoping then we can get clearance to leave while we are there.”

“Where will you go?” Michael asked. He was now only too clear on the problems they faced in getting Susan and Greg’s passports replaced which would enable them to ultimately get home.

“Most likely to Australia,” Greg explained.

“Oh yes. You need to complete your original journey,” Michael remembered. “Sue did tell me about that.”

“We’ll let you know where we are once we’re there,” Susan promised. “And you have my email. That will follow me anywhere.”

Michael frowned. “Can’t you just send them to my work instead of at home?”

“Why shouldn’t I send them to you at home?”

“I’m not sure I want Rachelle to know you’re alive … at least not yet. It will complicate things you know?” Michael told her.

“Dad … we have to tell her. You know Zackary knows too,” Matt pointed out.

“Zackary will just have to go along with it too,” Michael insisted.

“Dad, no,” Matt objected. “We have to tell, if only for Zackary. You promised!” Matt said.

“That was before I knew she actually is alive,” Michael said. “Now … it’s complicated, Matt. I don’t think it’s time yet for Rachelle to know.”

 “You mean you are seriously considering not telling your wife that Susan actually is alive?” Greg asked incredulously. “Isn’t that terribly misleading?”

“What would I say?” Michael asked. “Sue’s alive, but she’s been declared dead so I can’t divorce her, so I may or may not be married to you … but Susan might not ever make it home alive or to a place where the divorce could go through … in the meantime what do Rachelle and I do about our relationship? I mean we’ve worked hard at building our marriage, making it work, blending our two families together. I mean if it was clear cut and Sue and I could just file for the divorce and fix everything that would be one thing. Rachelle and I could just go to the courthouse to file the necessary paperwork and it would be a done deal, but this not knowing … not knowing what to do … if you never get home … Not that I want that to happen, but say I tell her everything and then that happens … then we are right back to where we were, but with a whole lot of interruption. This way, we avoid all that. It’s easier on her … and probably on me too.”