The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 22 - Promises for a Friday

"No, I'm working this evening. Ashley and I spent all day at the museum," Matt told him.

"At the museum?" Greg double checked.

Matt nodded as he changed his shoes and finished getting ready.

"Yeah. They finally got all the pages unstuck from Max's letter," Matt told him.

"And?"

"And you know this guy Max?"

"Yes?"

"He was really religious. He was looking for a sign from God," Matt said.

"How do you know that?" Greg asked in surprise.

Matt withdrew a large manila envelope from a drawer and handed it to him. In it were the recovered pages from the letter, carefully preserved between velium sheets.

"Read them for yourself," Matt suggested. "There's a ton of stuff in there about that and some letters he had. Read it," Matt repeated.

"I shall," Greg promised.

"Was that the reason you wanted to see me?"

"No. I am glad to have the letter, but I have come to remind you of our visit to the new house tomorrow with your mother. We plan to go at lunchtime, after we return from our appointment. She wanted me to be sure to tell you so you could be ready," Greg explained.

"I will be," Matt promised and he turned his attention back to getting ready for his shift at McDonalds.

"Very good. I'll tell Zack and Jessie. Dinner should be ready soon."

"Okay. Sorry about missing our Hebrew lesson tonight," Matt appologized.

"I'm certain you mother will understand."

"I'll be right there ... and thanks."

"You're welcome," Greg said and he turned to tell the other children about their plans for Friday.

c

Friday morning of that week began early, as it often did when Susan had an appointment. Although they both got up earlier than usual, Susan was up earlier than Greg, packing them all lunch and making sure breakfast was ready by the time he came downstairs. They ate quickly and were soon on their way to Malibu for Susan's appointment.

Greg manuvered the Abernathy's car into the parking lot in front of Dr. Daniels' office. Susan's was the first appointment of the morning, so at the moment theirs was nearly the only car there. When they walked inside, they found the waiting room was empty aside from themselves. Susan checked in with the nurse and her name was called before either of them had a chance to sit down.

"Do I need to wait outside while you get undressed?" Greg asked when the nurse escorted them to an exam room.

"Are your pants particularly tight?" the nurse asked Susan as she surveyed her attire.

"Not overly so," Susan assured her.

"Then you probably won't need to undress for the doctor to examine you," she said. "I do see here that your chart is flagged for special monitoring during your first trimester, so the doctor may decide differently after he's seen you. But more than likely, unless you've experienced any particular problems, I doubt he'll do anything more than to measure your abdomen and listen to the baby's heart rate."