Building on Dreams

Chapter 34 - An Idea

"Susan?" Greg called home as soon as he got into his car.

"Hi. I was beginning to wonder what happened to you," Susan told him.

"My meeting with Brian ran late ... obviously. Your comments generated a good deal of discussion," Greg shared.

"Is it going to cause a lot of rework do you think?" Susan wondered.

"That is what we are trying to decide. I have another meeting at noon on Monday. I just wanted to let you know I'll have the car for most of the day."

Susan sighed.

"Did you need the car?" Greg asked. "I did call you earlier to check."

"I know you did, and no, I don't on Monday. But I needed it today, Greg. I thought you were going to be home in time for us to pick Jessie up from daycare, remember?"

"I do. I'm sorry Susan. What did you do?"

"I called Marion and let her know you were running late and asked her to help me. She did. She said she didn't mind since Richard is still away, but I don't want to make a habit of doing that," Susan cautioned.

"No, of course not," Greg agreed. "I'll try to be more conscious of what is going on, I promise. It's just that I got so caught up with these meetings with Brian I didn't think of it."

"Apology accepted," Susan told him.

"Thank you."

"What time will you be home?" she asked.

"In about thirty minutes I think. Traffic is light, and I'm already on the Pacific Coast Highway, about ten minutes south of Malibu," Greg told her.

"I'll see you then," Susan said.

"I look forward to it," Greg assured her and he hung up to concentrate on his driving.

c

That night after he got home, Greg intended to spend time trying to pay more attention to his family. But it was already late, the kids were both in bed asleep, he'd missed their Hebrew lesson, although his cards were neatly stacked on the kitchen table were they often practiced, and Susan was already in her night clothes and ready for bed.

"Susan, I apologize again for the later hour," Greg told her. "I wish I could promise it won't happen again, but I'm afraid it will now and then."

"I understand, Greg. I'm not angry at you," Susan assured him as they got into bed. "I'm just beginning to wonder if we should reconsider getting a second car. I know what you said about our finances," she hastened to assure him. "But I've been doing some calculations too. If we rent a car like we discussed for those days when we need two, which is about five days of every month, or roughly one week out of every four, that will come to roughly two hundred fifty dollars every month between now and then. That's just about the same as a car payment would be, if we get something economical," Susan said.

It was Greg's turn to sigh. "Do you want something economical?" he asked her.

"Why? What kind of car do you want?"

"I was thinking of some kind of small convertible or sports car," Greg said.

Susan smiled considered what he was saying. "You want something stylish," she concluded.

"Yes. Is that so wrong?" he asked.

"No, of course not. We're not just trying to get by any more," Susan acknowledged. "We're doing what we can to get pieces of our lives back. I know a nice car is important to you, but how about something like a Mustang convertible?" she suggested. "Those aren't all that expensive, it would still seat us all, and they have a certain amount of style to them."