Building on Dreams

Chapter 21 - The Abernathy's for Christmas

“You’re here!” Susan’s mother cried coming out onto her front walk to greet them. “We were just beginning to wonder when you’d arrive. I know you planned to leave early and I thought you were coming straight down.”

“We had to drop Zackary off at the airport first,” Susan reminded her. “He’s spending Christmas with Michael.”

“Oh, of course,” the older woman remembered. “I’d forgotten about that. I’ll bet your father has too. Well come on in. Do you need help with your bags?”

“Do we need everything inside, Susan?” Greg asked.

“Not right away, I don’t think. Mom, do you think it’s okay to leave things in the back of the car?” she checked.

“Not overnight, but for now it should be all right,” Mrs. Abernathy told them as she took a few things from Susan’s hands while escorting them into the house. “Dick! Susan’s here!” she called as they came inside.

“Susie! How’s my favorite daughter?” Mr. Abernathy asked as he enveloped her in a hug.

“I’m your only daughter, Dad, and I’m fine,” Susan told him in a tone of mock annoyance and a teasing grin.

“Good. How are you, Greg?” Mr. Abernathy said shaking the other man’s hand. “Welcome to our house and to Christmas.”

“Thank you, Sir. I feel honored to be here,” Greg replied.

“Do you? An upright Jewish man like you feels honored to be asked to participate in Christmas?” Mr. Abernathy asked curiously.

“In truth I do, because it is important to Susan and her faith,” Greg told him sincerely.

“Well then, you are welcome. Anyone who feels that way about my daughter’s faith is welcome here,” Mr. Abernathy said.

“Have you eatten, Susan?” Mrs. Abernathy checked as they set their bags down in the entry hall and surveyed the enormous tree in the front room.

“Wow, Mom! You’ve really out done yourself this year!” Susan told her in a distracted manner.

“Do you like it, Susan?” she asked anxiously. “I remember when you were little, you always wanted the tallest tree in the lot. You wanted our star to be as close to heaven as it could get.”

Susan smiled as she remembered her ideas on the subject as a child.

“Well, this one will get it half way there!” Susan declared.

“If we can figure out how to put it all the way up there,” Mr. Abernathy told her. “I kept telling your mother, I’m not young like I used to be. I’m not getting on top of a great big tall ladder just to put up the Christmas star.”

“If you can’t, maybe one of us can,” Susan said. “Were you asking me something, Mom?” Susan asked turning back to her mother.

“I was asking if you’ve all eatten. We just had lunch, but we saved you some just in case,” she offered.

“We stopped at a fast food place about an hour ago,” Susan said. “I wasn’t sure what your meal plans were, but it always does seem like you have plenty of food when we’re here.”

“We will have,” Mrs. Abernathy said. “I was waiting to bake the cookies for when you and Jessie got here. I thought we’d do some this afternoon, then decorate the tree this evening. Lisa and Amber are coming tomorrow, ahead of the rest, so we can do some more of the cookies with them.”

“But they are all coming?” Susan asked, thinking about her brother’s family.

“They are, but the girls are out of school all week and they’ve been looking forward to spending the time with Jessie, so I’ve invited Lisa and Amber to come ahead of the rest. They are staying with us tomorrow night and Monday. They don’t live all that far away but they thought the girls would enjoy sharing a room while you’re here,” Mrs. Abernathy explained.