Usually when Susan visited the Bay Area for work, the most remarkable thing to happen during the day took place in the office, during meetings with colleagues or her various study teams. On this particular occasion however, she suspected the most significant things were happening outside of work.

. . .

Rosemary got up when Susan did on Tuesday morning, intending to visit with Mr. Simms as early as she could.

"He sounds so knowledgeable about the teachings of Zohar," Rosemary said enthusiastically as they breakfasted together on the packaged sweet rolls and coffee provided by the motel. "Do you know about those? You said Mr. Abernathy is interested."

"I do know about it ... mostly that it touches on the concept of reincarnation," Susan told her, as they ate together at the little table in her room. "Greg has mentioned the teachings to me on occasion, though I don't know the details of what is in them."

"Neither do I ... but the idea of reincarnation ... do you think such a thing exists?" Rosemary wondered aloud. "Do you think it's really possible that some people could have lived more than one life?"

"I do think some people believe that," Susan answered cautiously.

"Does Mr. Abernathy believe in it?" Rosemary asked.

"Why do you ask?" Susan said.

Rosemary shrugged. "Because ... something Mr. Simms said to me last evening made me think that maybe he does," she explained.

"My husband does believe in the teachings of Zohar," Susan told her quietly. "He doesn't consider himself a scholar on the subject and when I ask about the details, he insists one needs to be a student of the kabbalah to understand the nuances of those writings. However when it comes to reincarnation, it is a topic we have discussed many times."

Rosemary smiled. "Good. That is very good to know," she commented.

"Any particular reason?" Susan wondered.

"Maybe. I plan to talk to Mr. Simms about it today ... while we're away from the home. I was just hoping I wasn't coming totally out of left field to be asking him about it," Rosemary was explaining, just as Melody began to fuss in the next room.

"Oh?" Susan asked cautiously.

Rosemary nodded as she got up to tend the baby and Susan did too. "I just thought it might have something to do with my dreams. I dream about Mr. Simms, you know," she said off handedly.

"It is possible he could know something about that," Susan said as Melody's cries got louder.

"I'll get her. I know you need to go," Rosemary told her.

"You're right, I do," Susan said. "Thank you Rosemary. I hope you have a good day, if you do go to visit Mr. Simms."

"Thanks. You too. We'll see you here tonight, before dinner," Rosemary said.

"Or I could pick you up at the retirement home if you plan to be there," Susan offered.

"No thanks. We'll probably come back here so Melody can nap in the afternoon. We can do her exercises atop one of the beds after she wakes up, so we'll probably be here," Rosemary predicted.

"I'll call you to be sure," Susan told her.

She said goodbye to her daughter, she picked up her computer and her purse and hurried out the door.

. . .

And that was what happened just over breakfast.

Rosemary's comments stayed with Susan throughout the day, and she couldn't wait to find out how their day went while she was at work.

c

"Hello?" Rosemary answered her phone on the second ring at a quarter after five that evening.

"Hello Rosemary, its Susan ... Mrs. Abernathy. How did your day go?" Susan asked.

"Oh hi. We had a very good day. Melody and I went to visit Mr. Simms, and he decided to come with us on the bus to go to the park. We really had fun ... all of us," Rosemary began.

Susan listened in surprise as she drove back to the motel after work. Given her conversation with the director of the facility the previous evening, she was surprised they'd allowed Mr. Simms to go with Rosemary without hers or possibly the Siskle's permission.

"Melody loves the swings, as you know," Rosemary went on, "and Mr. Simms likes being outside, so a trip to the park where he could sit on a bench and watch us was perfect for him. He sat on the one closest to the sand, where we could talk while I pushed Melody in the swing. His stamina is just about as long as Melody's attention span, so that worked out well. We went rode back to the retirement home with him on the bus afterwards. Then when he went to have lunch, we did too. We went back to the room, Melody had her nap, we did her exercises. Now we're just waiting for you," Rosemary reported.

"It sounds like you had a good time," Susan commented.

"We really did."

Rosemary's tone conveyed her glowing account of their morning as clearly as her words. Susan smiled.

"Well, I'm leaving the office now. In fact, I'm on my way. I should be there in about 30 minutes. Have you given any thought to what you'd like to do for dinner?" Susan asked.

"Are we still intending to have Mr. Simms join us?" Rosemary asked.

"Yes of course, if you think he's up to it," Susan said.

"I think he's looking forward to it," Rosemary told her. "He recommended an Italian place, near where he used to live. We could go there."

"That sounds good to me. Do we need reservations?" Susan wondered.

"I don't know. I can check," Rosemary offered.

They decided on a time and Rosemary promised to call the restaurant. Susan ended the call and decided to call Greg.

"Hello?" Greg answered on the first ring.

"Hello. How are you?" Susan asked.

"I'm well, thank you." Greg paused. When Susan didn't immediately reply he asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Susan answered, but she paused again.

"What is it?" Greg asked, his instincts immediately aroused.

"It's Rosemary and Mr. Simms ... I don't know what to make of it," Susan confided.

"I take it something happened when you went to visit him last evening?"

"It did. I spent most of the time at the retirement home with the director, as I told you on the phone, but the two of them really hit it off. What's more, Rosemary almost immediately brought up the topic of the teachings of Zohar after meeting him. He cautioned her not to talk about it out in the open, but agreed to discuss her interest in it today. I think they did, because he agreed to go to the park with her this morning. Then at breakfast, Rosemary told me she has dreams that involve Mr. Simms," Susan shared.

"I see. She is speaking openly about her dreams to Mr. Simms ... but not to me," Greg realized.

"If she remembers who you used to be, it is possible she doesn't quite know what to say to you. You are quite a bit older than she is this time, married to me, with children older than she is. Perhaps if she remembers Mr. Simms as Bobby, and they've had these sorts of conversations before in the past, that might be a more comfortable setting for her to talk to someone about it, more openly now," Susan speculated.

"That could be. Did she mention anything more to you directly about that?"

"Yes and no. She was pleased when Mr. Simms shared that the teachings of Zohar are something you and he have also talked about," Susan said.

"Hmm. I'm beginning to understand why you called me ... and why you had difficulty figuring out how to start this conversation. This sounds like one of those things we could talk about for hours," Greg said.

"Yes. Definitely," Susan agreed.

"Have you made any progress with the idea of Mr. Simms coming for a visit?"

"Some. I've talked to Sam about it ... and the home. We're working it out ...and I do think he wants to come. We're all having dinner together this evening. That could be quite telling all the way around," Susan said.

"More than likely," Greg said. "Call me, before you go to bed?"

"I will," Susan promised and she once again closed her phone.

The tires hummed beneath her car as she drove, right up until the time she encountered traffic, at which point she inched forward a little at a time. The traffic made the journey longer, but it gave her time to think before arriving at the motel, trying to prepare mentally for the evening ahead.

c

Rosemary and Melody were ready and waiting when Susan pulled in front of their rooms at the motel. She took a few minutes to freshen up and spent time with Melody before deciding it was time to leave. Everyone got in the car and they headed for the retirement home.

"How was it getting around on the bus today?" Susan asked.

"It was okay. Driving would be better, but Melody quite enjoyed it I think. Do you know more than one older lady thought she was my daughter?" Rosemary commented. "One even commented that she looks a little like me. That really surprised me."

"It shouldn't. Melody takes after her father quite a bit, and you and she have similar coloring. That's reason enough for older ladies around here to make that sort of comment," Susan told her.

"Is it?" Rosemary asked in surprise.

"Yes, it is. When Zack was a baby, his hair was so blonde ... so much lighter than mine, most of the ladies I saw at bus stops assumed I was babysitting. I don't think they take a very good look half that time, because otherwise, he looks a lot like me," Susan said. "Your hair and Melody's are very similar in color and your eyes are both brown, even though hers have that lavender tint in bright light. That's probably enough for some of them to think you're related, I suspect."

"Could be," Rosemary said thoughtfully. "I can't help wondering what my babies will look like when I do have them someday."

"I think that's something most young women think about from time to time," Susan assured her.

Rosemary nodded. "I dream about them sometimes ... about having babies, caring for them, holding them ... and it feels so real. I don't know why I do that, when I know I've never actually had a baby before."

"Maybe you did ... in some other life. You never know," Susan remarked.

Rosemary looked at her with a startled expression.

"Do you believe in reincarnation?" she asked.

"I suppose I do," Susan told her as they parked at the retirement home and prepared to go inside.

Rosemary nodded, but she let the subject drop as they got out of the car.

c

Mr. Simms was ready and waiting for them at the retirement home.

"Lucky me. I get to go out to dinner with three lovely ladies," Mr. Simms told them as Susan, Rosemary, and Melody escorted him out to Susan's rental car.

"You have that backwards, Mr. Simms. Lucky us for having you to accompany us so we don't have to have dinner alone," Susan said.

"And you don't think your husband minds?" Mr. Simms asked Susan curiously.

"Not in the least. He was delighted when I told him we were seeing you this evening," Susan said.

Since Susan was driving, but it was Mr. Simms who knew where they were going, she asked him to sit in front so he could give directions. The restaurant Mr. Simms recommended wasn't far away, but the traffic was heavy at that hour and it took them some time to get there.

"Rosemary tells me you went to the park with them today," Susan commented to Mr. Simms as they drove.

"I did. After your visit last evening, I went to see the director myself. I explained about Rosemary and her connection to your family. He agreed to add her to the list of those who could accompany me for an outing now and then. It's been years since I've been to any of the local parks, and even longer since I'd been to a playground, so I found our morning together watching Melody very enjoyable," Mr. Simms said.

"That's good to know. And they weren't worried about you wandering off somewhere with somebody the staff didn't know?" Susan asked.

"No. I don't do that, Mrs. Abernathy. I never have. I find now that they know I have family alive, they're a bit more lenient with me than they used to be," Mr. Simms said.

"Oh really," Susan said as they came to the restaurant and she parked. "Maybe that will work in our favor ... eventually?"

"Possibly," Mr. Simms agreed as they all got out.

They made their way to the restaurant, and once the four of them were inside, seated at a table, and had menus in their hands, they continued their conversation pretty much where they'd left off.

"Are you still intending to extend an invitation to me for Jessie's birthday?" Mr. Simms asked casually as they perused the menu.

"The invitation has been extended," Susan assured him. "Both for Jessie's birthday and for you to join us for Passover. The only question in my mind is whether you will accept, and whether they will let you come."

"And that is up to Fred and Carmen," Mr. Simms said.

"Who?" Rosemary asked.

"Fred and Carmen Siskle are Sam Siskle's parents. Sam is Jessie's godfather," Susan explained. "You met Sam at our house last Saturday. He was there for Melody's birthday party."

Rosemary nodded blankly. "Okay. I remember Sam, but who are they? Exactly?"

"Nosey busybody, friends of my son's," Mr. Simms supplied. "Fred and Albert were friends since they were boys."

Rosemary nodded. "I remember Albert ... and that little boy, Freddy? The one who lived across the street?"

"That's the one. Albert decided he should look after me in the event something happened to him after Tilly and me moved into the home," Mr. Simms explained. "It was a requirement on the application."

"Tilly?" Rosemary said doubtfully. "I don't think ..."

"You never met her. She was my third wife ... after Ella died," Mr. Simms said.

Rosemary cocked her head, her brow furrowed, obviously thinking. "This is so weird ... remembering so many things."

"What sorts of things?" Susan asked cautiously.

"We talked about it at the park today," Rosemary hedged.

"You can tell her. She knows," Mr. Simms advised.

Still, Rosemary regarded Susan doubtfully. "Do you remember this morning, we were talking about reincarnation?"

"Yes, and you said you sometimes dream about Mr. Simms," Susan said.

Rosemary cocked her head. "I may have said that ... but what I meant to say was I have dreams that have Mr. Simms in them ... not that they are about him. But he was younger then. Much, much younger." She regarded Mr. Simms doubtfully for a moment.

"I was in my thirties when my grandmother passed," he said gently.

Rosemary frowned slightly. "This is so confusing."

"It didn't help to talk about it?" Susan wondered.

"It doesn't always, Mrs. Abernathy," Mr. Simms warned. "Grandfather cautioned me that for those who remember, the flood of memories, out of context and out of time, can be overwhelming to those who experience them."

"Have you ever experienced them?" Rosemary asked the old man curiously.

"I thought I did ...when I was young. About the time I met Ada ... my first wife," Mr. Simms said. "I thought I could remember a whole lifetime with her ... being married .... Raising a child ... living in another time. I tried to talk to her about it, but she didn't believe in the dreams. Thinking of them terrified her, so I didn't discuss them with her at the time. They left me when she died."

"I'm sorry," Susan told him sincerely.

"I am too. Ada was my soulmate. I don't why she left me so young ... the same year Grandfather did. He died in the winter, just after the new year. She died the next fall, just after the first frost touched the ground. In between Grandma Rosie came to live with Mama and me," Mr. Simms said.

"I don't know why either," Rosemary told him without thinking. "Sometimes it happens that way. We never know why."

"It is difficult to fathom what the Lord is thinking, sometimes," Susan agreed.

Rosemary and Mr. Simms stared at her, but neither of them said anything and the silence between them grew to be uncomfortable after a time. Apparently neither of them was quite sure where she fit into all this ... and the truth was, she didn't. The things they were discussing were their memories ... not hers ... coming from a time when neither she nor any of her previous selves were alive. Come to think of it, Greg and his previous self wasn't either, since Mr. Simms made it a point to say his Grandfather had just died. The things Rosemary seemed to remember best were from those years after he was gone.

"So what is good here, Mr. Simms?" Susan asked.

"It has been a long time since I've eaten here, but as I recall they do an excellent kosher lasagna," Mr. Simms said.

"I like raviolis," Rosemary commented. "These look good. They're filled with butternut squash and topped with marinara sauce."

"With pine nuts," Susan read. "Those do look good."

"What will Melody eat?" Rosemary wondered.

"I think I'll get a bit of the cheese raviolis too. It looks like you can order it half and half. She should be able to manage some of that, if I cut it up for her," Susan said.

With their menu choices decided, the conversation gradually drifted back to Rosemary and Mr. Simms's memories. Susan made it a point to remain silent, listening but not participating to any great degree. She got the impression it was good for them both to be able to talk about such things. Eventually however, their orders were taken and dinner was served, at which point the talk came back to Susan's invitation to Mr. Simms for a visit.

"Tell me what you have in mind, Mrs. Abernathy," Mr. Simms said as they ate.

"As I mentioned last evening, I have to be here again at the end of March for business ... March 30th and 31st to be exact. I could come collect you after work on my second day, and take you home with me on the plane. I typically fly between San Jose and Burbank and the flight is short ... only about 50 minutes on most days," Susan said.

Mr. Simms cocked his head. "It can take me that long to get to my doctor's in San Francisco. I think I can manage that."

Susan nodded as she cut up a bit of cheese ravioli for Melody and put it on a small plate for her. "From there, it's about a 30 minute ride home in my car."

"Would Rosemary and Melody be with us?" Mr. Simms asked as they interspersed their conversation with their meal.

"I don't know. I'm in the process of weaning Melody, so it depends how we're doing with that at the time. If she's weaned completely, Rosemary will probably stay with her at home while I'm here," Susan explained.

"But I could come with you, if it would help," Rosemary offered eagerly.

Mr. Simms cocked his head, taking in the evidence of youth in her tone as he worked his way through his meal.

"Probably not necessary, Rosemary. Do you live with Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy?" he asked curiously.

"No, but I do stay overnight from time to time," Rosemary said.

"And they have room for you to do that?" Mr. Simms asked in between bites of his lasagna.

"They have a great place ... built for guests," Rosemary said. "So yes, they do have room for me ... and you too. It's like they have this mini-hotel attached to their house."

Mr. Simms arched a brow at Susan, watching as she helped Melody with her food.

"We have been very fortunate since our return from Australia. Between my job, the settlement monies we were awarded as a result of the trial after the crash, and my husband's career, we've managed to build a very comfortable home in the Malibu Hills. We both have family scattered about and the place where we live is a bit of a drive for everyone ... so my husband had our home built with plenty of guest rooms," Susan said. "I wouldn't call it a motel exactly, but I can see why Rosemary would call it that."

"So you do have space for me?" Mr. Simms wanted to know.

"Yes. You would have your own room ... or even a little apartment if you prefer," Susan said. "And any day that Rosemary wants or needs to stay, she would have a room too."

"What about for Passover?" Mr. Simms asked. "You did mention that."

"I did. I expect there may be a night or two when some of Greg's family joins us for the holiday. They usually do," Susan said.

"And it wouldn't crowd you too much for me to be there also?" Mr. Simms asked.

"I don't think so," Susan said.

"Oh ... I didn't think about that," Rosemary remarked, pausing in her meal. "Would you have the room if all your family came?"

"We wouldn't have as many people at our house for Passover as we did at Thanksgiving," Susan reminded her. "It would only be Greg's children and their families who are there ... and maybe Ruth and Reuben."

"Who are they, exactly?" Mr. Simms asked, as he realized there might be more than just the Abernathy's immediate family involved.

"Greg has two children by a previous marriage," Susan explained.

"So he said. Alan and Cindy, if I'm correct," Mr. Simms recalled.

"You're close. Alan is his son. Cindy is Alan's wife. They don't have any children so far. Greg's daughter's name is Julie. She lives in Southern California, about an hour away from us. She is married and has two boys. Her husband is Elliott, and her sons are Aaron and Jake. It is likely they would all come," Susan said.

"Who are Ruth and Reuben?" Mr. Simms asked.

"Ruth is Greg's ex-wife ... his first wife," Susan said. "They've maintained a friendly relationship in recent years, and since they share Alan and Julie, it makes family gatherings easier sometimes to simply invite them along. Reuben is Ruth's husband, and they are both lovely people."

"I see," Mr. Simms said. "Families are never simple, are they?"

"Rarely," Susan agreed.

"And you have room for all these people?" Mr. Simms asked doubtfully. "Even if I am there?"

"We have six guest rooms, two of which can be combined into a mini-apartment, or they can be used separately if for some reason we need them all as bedrooms. We also have a guest house we refer to as a cottage on the grounds, so we can accommodate a lot of people quite easily," Susan said.

"Your family wouldn't come?" Rosemary asked.

"They might for Easter ... but I don't think they will. My Dad wasn't feeling well when he left our house last Sunday. We think he may have had a mini-stroke while he and Mom were out having dinner," Susan related.

"Oh no!" Rosemary said. "I had no idea! I know I didn't see them again after Melody's party on Saturday before Neil and I left. But I had no idea he was ill."

"Melody's birthday was last Saturday?" Mr. Simms asked, as he tried to follow what they were saying.

"Yes. We had a lot of the family over for a party. Afterwards, Greg and I and some others babysat while those with children went out for the evening ... since in addition to Melody's birthday, it was also Valentine's Day," Susan explained.

"And your father had a stroke, you say?" Mr. Simms asked in alarm.

"They classified it as a probable mini-stroke as the symptoms were transient and he felt no pain. We treated him for it anyway, and Mom took him home first thing on Sunday," Susan related.

"Is he going to be okay?" Rosemary asked.

"They think so, Rosemary, but Mom didn't say for sure. I called her from work yesterday; they were doing tests, which they were supposed to get back by the end of today. I should probably call this evening to hear what the doctor had to say," Susan said sounding concerned.

Rosemary nodded. "So you don't think they'd come," she said tentatively. "For Jessie's birthday?"

"I expect that depends on how Dad is and how he feels by then," Susan said.

"More than likely," Mr. Simms said. "Do your parents typically join you for your children's birthdays?"

"Not always. If they are in the area already, they do. Otherwise it's just too far for them to come. They're more likely to visit for a holiday, when they can spend some extra days with us, but not for Easter. In fact, Dad always makes it a point to be home on Easter because of the special service his church does on Easter Sunday," Susan explained as she came to the end of the raviolis on her plate.

Mr. Simms cocked his head, pausing as the waiter came to take away the plates they were finished with. He was finished and so was Rosemary, and the waiter took that opportunity to ask them about dessert. Spumoni came with the dinner entrées, so they all decided to have a small scoop.

"We started this conversation with you inviting me to your home to join your family for Passover ... then the next thing I know, you are talking about Easter. Mrs. Abernathy, are you Christian?" Mr. Simms asked as the waiter left.

"Yes, I am," Susan said. She'd been assuming he knew that, but she realized now they hadn't actually come out and said so to him before. "My husband is Jewish, as you know."

Mr. Simms regarded her thoughtfully. "I didn't think I'd ever met you before ... prior to December, I mean. Grandfather did ... he told me that about you," he mused.

"Grr pa," Melody repeated.

Everyone looked at her in surprise.

"Yes. I had one of those once, you know," Mr. Simms told the baby. "And he told me what he remembered about your mama from long ago."

"Ooo," Melody said with an impressed expression.

Mr. Simms and Susan smiled, but Rosemary ever so slightly frowned.

"He told you I was Christian?" Susan asked.

"Always, apparently ... and for the two of you, it's worked out a time or two," Mr. Simms commented.

"Not always ...but this time it has. And yes, both religions are practiced in our household. We support each other's faith, to the best of our ability," Susan said.

Mr. Simms nodded. "He said that too."

He considered Susan for a full minute and their ice cream was brought before any of them say anything more.

"You know," Rosemary commented when she was half way through her tiny dish of spumoni. "Jessie's going to be disappointed if Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy aren't there for her birthday and you aren't either, Mr. Simms."

"Why is that?" Mr. Simms asked.

"Because, they did come for Melody's birthday."

"Yes, they did. Given Melody's health problems and how involved they were in helping us before her birth, I think they felt rather invested in her being here at all," Susan said.

"That was the Lord's doing, Mrs. Abernathy," Mr. Simms told her.

"Yes. We thank the Lord for her each and every day because of it. But my parents were with us when she was born. They took care of me and our other children ... they did help our family a lot around the time she was delivered," Susan said. "That's why they came. They'd come this year for Jessie's too just because they know she wants them to, if Dad was up to it, even if they didn't stay for Easter. They know it's important to her. But I don't think it would be worth risking Dad's health for them to do it."

Rosemary nodded. "No, of course not. I don't suppose there is anything we can do to help the situation."

"Unlikely," Mr. Simms advised. "It's harder for an old man to travel in the first place, Rosemary. It would be even more difficult if he isn't well," Mr. Simms told the young woman.

"Oh ... I suppose," Rosemary said looking just as disappointed as she anticipated Jessie would be, and she sighed. "Well anyway, would you have room for them if they did decide to come, and Mr. Simms did too?"

"We would," Susan assured her. "As I've said, we have the cottage, so we should have room for them too."

"How old is your father, Susan?" Mr. Simms asked curiously.

"Eighty two," Susan told him.

Mr. Simms nodded thoughtfully.

"I don't suppose it would help make things up to Jessie if her Grandpa Bobby could be there?" he wondered. "I'm relatively well these days. I don't see why ... apart from Fred's stubbornness ... I wouldn't be able to come, if you came to get me."

Susan smiled. "I think it would go a long way towards making it up to her, Mr. Simms."

Mr. Simms said nothing for a moment or two.

"What are you thinking?" Susan prompted.

"I am considering whether I am up to meeting quite so many people, if I come to visit you. But if we arrive on March 31st ... when is Jessie's birthday again?"

"April 2nd. We'll have her party the following Saturday, which is the 3rd," Susan said.

"And Passover starts on the 6th," Mr. Simms commented.

"That's what my husband said," Susan agreed. "It ends on April 13th, so you'd be with us for approximately two weeks, perhaps a bit longer depending on when we decide you should come home."

"I see. Well ... since I'm assuming you do celebrate ..."

"We do ..."

"I don't see how this is something I can pass up. A chance to see in action the things my grandfather told me about ... the opportunity to get to know my own great-granddaughter and her family better ... and a chance to celebrate the Passover with family and away from here. An occasion like this doesn't come along every day ... and at my age, I've learned not to delay things. You never know. I might not live long enough for there to be a next time," he told her.

Susan smiled. "I am so glad to hear it ... not to hear you are thinking about it in those terms. I'd like to think you'll be with us a good while longer."

"And I may be, but you never know. I've had a birthday myself since you were last here," Mr. Simms reminded her.

"Yes, I remember. Did you get our birthday card?"

"Yes, I did. I've been intending to thank you, and Jessie too for her note," Mr. Simms said as they came to the bottom of their dessert. "I want her to know, I'm proud of her for skipping a grade."

"I'll let her know," Susan promised.

"Jessie skipped?" Rosemary asked in surprise.

"Yes, she was doing so well with her reading and math; they skipped her from second to third grade in January. She was a bit older than the rest of her classmates anyway, so this seems to fit her better," Susan explained. "We're all very proud of her."

"You should be," Mr. Simms said.

"We are," Susan assured him.

"You can also tell her we'll do what we can so I can be there for her birthday too," Mr. Simms said.

They talked a bit longer about birthday plans and the Passover holiday, but eventually the check was brought and it was time to leave.

They returned Mr. Simms to the retirement home relatively early that evening, although after such a long and unusually active day, both Rosemary and Susan could tell he was getting tired. Melody was too, and she was craving Susan's attention more than she usually did.

"I'll see you again in late March," Susan promised as she walked him to the door while carrying Melody ... who wouldn't be left behind ... in her arms. "I'll be here regardless, so I will come to see you, whether or not we can get Mr. and Mrs. Siskle to agree. And we'll certainly talk to you before then."

"Good luck with that, Mrs. Abernathy. Personally I plan to play the Jewish card to get them to agree. Fred always backpedals slightly when it comes to religion. He just doesn't know what to say whenever I bring it up, to the point where he actually brought a rabbi to see me one day," Mr. Simms remarked.

"He did?" Susan asked in surprise.

"He did. He doesn't mean to neglect me, but it's alien to him I suppose ... and he does try. But allowing me to visit a Jewish home for Passover, to spend it with family ... even if the family part is a bit of a stretch ... that would absolve him of many years of neglect in that respect," Mr. Simms said thoughtfully. "You know, I may just have to give Freddy a call. Ask him to visit on the Sabbath this week ... then see what he says."

"I see. I'm supposed to talk to Sam about it on Saturday," Susan shared. "He plans to make the case that as Jessie's godfather, it is up to him to see to her spiritual wellbeing ... and that a visit from her family would do more for her than anything."

"Are you now? You know, if we combined forces ... we may just be successful. I'll see you in March, Mrs. Abernathy. Good night."

"Good night, Mr. Simms. I expect Rosemary and Melody may be by tomorrow to visit with you while I'm working."

"And I'll be happy to see them," Mr. Simms said.

And he waited just inside the doorway while Susan and Melody returned to their car, considering them thoughtfully as they drove away.

c

Susan made it a point to spend extra time with Melody that evening when they got back to their motel. With all the excitement between Rosemary and Mr. Simms, she felt like she might just be ignoring her precious little girl.

"I am sorry, Melody," Susan told her as they played together atop her bed. "I don't mean to pay more attention to other people than I do to you."

"Mamamom, Momma?" Melody said with a question in her tone.

Susan smiled. "Maybe you enjoyed getting to know Mr. Simms too?" she wondered.

Melody grinned. "Simmm," she repeated.

"That's right. His name is 'Mr. Simms'. Jessie calls him 'Grandpa Bobby'," Susan said.

"Grrrpa," Melody tried that name too.

"You are trying so hard at this," Susan told her. "You just about have a half dozen words or more."

"More," Melody said clearly reaching for Susan.

Susan took her into her arms. "Would you like a story this evening? Papa told me the other kids got a special one yesterday. Maybe I should read you a story too? What do you say?"

Melody only yawned as she settled herself in Susan's lap and leaned against her.

"Okay, how about pajamas, a story and then I'll put you to bed. Is that okay with you?" Susan suggested.

"Okay," Melody murmured, passively allowing Susan to put her into her pajamas while lying atop her mother's bed.

"Mrs. Abernathy?" Rosemary looked in on them about the time Susan finished.

"Hi Rosemary. I was just about to read her a story. Would you like to listen?"

"Sure," Rosemary agreed.

"Which one would you like, Melody?" Susan asked as she pulled two colorful board books intended for young children from her bag. "We have the Three Little Pigs or Winken, Blinken, and Nodd."

Melody stared at the covers of the books. One featured pink pigs dressed in overalls, dancing together in front of a brick house, while on the other three children sailed upon a boat made from a wooden shoe beneath a brilliant moon.

"Moo," Melody said pointing at the picture.

"That's right. That's a moon," Susan told her. "Shall we read that one?"

With the story chosen, Susan read her daughter the children's tale, while giving her a bottle of water on this particular night. She held her close against herself, with Melody leaning against her chest, looking at the pictures while Susan read. Slowly growing sleepier, she nodded her head. Susan ended the story with a brief bedtime prayer, then as Melody gave a deep yawn and dropped the bottle, Susan slid her into her port-a-crib bed. She handed her the stuffed giraffe she liked to sleep with, covered her with a blanket and crept out, following Rosemary to her room.

"You wanted to see me?" Susan asked with the door between their rooms mostly closed behind her.

"Yes. I wanted to ask you about tomorrow. We're supposed to check out in the morning, according to the sign on the bathroom door. So I wondered what you wanted us to do," Rosemary asked.

"I'm not sure. I probably haven't thought this through. Maybe we can arrange for a late check out for you and Melody?" Susan wondered. "If I take our suitcases and most of Melody's things with me in the morning when I leave, you could go to the park again after you check out, then visit with Mr. Simms after lunch and I could pick you up after work there?"

Rosemary tipped her head thoughtfully as she thought about Susan's suggestion. "That means you'll need the port-a-crib folded up before you leave."

"Yes. Melody is usually awake early in the morning anyways," Susan said.

"She is, but she usually likes to play in there while I start my day," Rosemary explained.

"Oh ... I suppose that is true," Susan said with a frown.

"She didn't want to nurse tonight?" Rosemary asked.

"She seemed more interested in the story than in me ... so I thought I'd try a bottle of water for her at bedtime," Susan said. "She seemed fine with that, although she may have different ideas about it in the morning."

"So she really is down to nursing only once per day," Rosemary realized.

"Just about," Susan agreed. "About the morning though ... I really don't know what to do. I don't suppose you have an idea?"

"We could easily spend the morning with Mr. Simms, and he does like to get up early, we found out today. Maybe you could simply drop us off there? There's a café that's open for breakfast just down the street. We could eat there and visit with him for the day," Rosemary suggested.

"We'll have to get up and packed much earlier that way," Susan cautioned. "In order to check out of our rooms, have breakfast out, drop you off and still allow me to get to work by eight o'clock. Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Don't we always get up early, when we're at home?"

"Usually we do," Susan conceded. "Okay. We can do that. I suppose I should be savoring this trip with the two of you. It will probably be the last one, so it would be nice to spend the extra time with you in the morning."

"Do you think she'll be fully weaned a month from now?"

"Probably, which means it probably won't be necessary to have you come with me, the next time I come."

"We'd love to come with you too ... but you're right. If there's a chance you may be bringing Mr. Simms home with you, you'll have your hands full just helping him. It probably would be better if we weren't with you too," Rosemary agreed. "Melody's going to miss you though."

"I know. I hate thinking about that part," Susan said with a frown. "But since I do have her and you with me on this trip, and we've decided getting up early tomorrow is the best way to go, I suppose we should probably go to bed?"

"Probably a good idea," Rosemary agreed.

Susan nodded and smiled. She told Rosemary good night and returned to her own room. She'd told the young woman she was going to bed, but she knew in her heart she'd lied. She wouldn't be able to sleep ... not for a long time yet. And so she took out her cell phone, pulled on a jacket, grabbed her room key and stepped outside. Setting herself a brisk pace, she began to walk in a very large circle around the parking lot.

First Susan called her mother to get an update on her dad. The tests had all come back inconclusive, so not even the medical community was sure whether or not he'd had a stroke. Once Susan was satisfied her father was more or less okay, she ended the call to her mother and immediately called Greg.

"Hello." Greg's deep soothing voice answered at the other end.

"Hello," Susan said.

"Susan? Are you alright? You sound out of breath," Greg said.

"Only because I'm walking in circles around the parking lot," Susan admitted.

"At this time of night? Why?"

"Because ... I doubt I can sleep. And you aren't with me to talk to ... so I'm pacing. I'd wake up Melody if I did it in our room, so I'm out here," Susan explained.

"What's happened that you feel the need to pace?" Greg wondered.

"Rosemary and Mr. Simms. She remembers him, Greg. From her past life. She doesn't seem to remember much else from that life, but she remembers coming to stay with him after she was widowed. She'd come to California and was there, visiting her daughter, when her grandson Bobby's young wife, Ada, went into labor. She helped until the mid-wife came ... but he lost his wife within a few days after the baby was born. She began running a fever. Antibiotics weren't yet available, and she died of a secondary infection ... leaving him alone with a newborn son. Rosalie was there when it happened ... and it sounds like she stayed with him, helping him with the baby until he married again the following year. She was still living in the area when Jessie's grandfather, Albert, Mr. Simms's second son was born. She knew both him and Freddy Siskle as little boys."

Greg listened as Susan spoke and the story she'd heard over dinner came pouring out. It was the story of what happened to Rosalie after Maxwell died. He'd known she'd lived longer than he did as Max, but he'd never know very much about those intervening years. Now he was learning about them ... about how Rosalie first got to know their grandsons well during their young adult years instead of as teens, the way he knew them, helping with their young children while they themselves struggled with tragedy and loss. She'd been there, standing with them, helping in any way that she could, lending her faith ... the faith they'd grown together ... to others in her final years.

Greg let Susan talk until she was talked out. He knew Susan played no part in Rosalie's life. Neither did he, during those years; but hearing of the connection Rosalie made with Bobby in the past ... how well they must have come to know each other then, it wasn't surprising to hear it was surfacing again now.

"Do you feel better?" Greg asked when she finally fell silent.

"Yes, thank you. It was just such an incredible tale to hear ... and so much of it has been caught for Rosemary in her dreams. She has them too, but they are of much different things than they are for me and you," Susan shared.

"Are they? Entirely, do you think?" Greg asked.

"The ones I heard about tonight certainly are," Susan said.

"And those were probably pulled to the forefront of her memory through meeting Mr. Simms," Greg reminded her.

"Of course. I do know that ... it's just that ... I kept looking for a tie in to our particular situation ... the mystery we've been trying to solve ... but there isn't one. In fact, aside from the fact of their relationship to you ... I mean Max ... I'd say what Rosemary and Mr. Simms are going through has nothing to do with us at all."

"That is possible, Susan. Or it is also conceivable that the connection is so remote, it may not be possible for us to see. But as with all things of this nature when they are revealed, we must trust and pray and believe it is in the Lord's hands. Events like this and the revelation that occurs when we learn about them are His doing, not ours," Greg reminded her.

"I know. I know that is true ... it's just that once again, I'm on the outside looking in ... like we were at Thanksgiving ... and it's so very odd," Susan said.

"Is it?" Greg wondered.

"Yes, it is. It makes me feel wrong footed somehow."

"It shouldn't," Greg assured her. "Pray, Susan. Go back to your room, get ready for bed, and pray. Take a shower if you need to, to unwind. But tell the Lord these things, not only me. Something tells me He will understand what you are feeling better than I do."

"And you don't?" Susan asked doubtfully.

"I'm not there. It's possible I might if I was ... but I doubt it. As you say, I do have a connection with both of them. You don't ... except for the one you are forging now. And my suspicion is, that may be enough," Greg told her.

Susan sighed. "Yes, alright. You are probably right. I'll do that."

"That's my girl," Greg told her in an encouraging tone.

"Thank you, Greg ... for listening. I needed that tonight," Susan said.

"I could tell. Would it help if I gave you some other news to think about?" Greg suggested.

"It might."

"Mr. Van Kirk called me this evening with an estimate for installing the cage-style elevator we talked about in the cave. Brian doesn't need to be involved because it's not technically part of the house and there's no elevator shaft that needs to be constructed. The city doesn't either, because it's an improvement to private property, not a structure."

"So what does that mean?"

"That means, we won't need a permit, there is no design work to be done, and the actual installation won't take all that long; which makes the cost involved is extraordinarily reasonable." Greg told her what it was then said, "I told him to go ahead and order one. I'm going to sign the contract with him to install it at noon on Thursday."

"Wow," Susan said in surprise. "When does he think he can put it in?"

"As soon as it arrives. According to his distributor they can usually get equipment of that sort in two to three weeks ... provided it's not back ordered," Greg said. "The actual installation shouldn't take more than five to ten working days, including the prep and finishing work in the cave."

"Which means we could have the elevator in and ready to use by the end of next month?" Susan asked in amazement.

"That's what it means," Greg confirmed. "We should have an elevator by the end of March."

"Wow," Susan said again.

"Now, have I given you something better to think about?" Greg asked.

"Yes ... I still need to pray, but yes you did," Susan said.

"Good. I was hoping hearing that news would help. Good night, Susan. Rest well. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow evening."

"Me too. Good night," Susan said and she hung up the phone.

Taking Greg up on his suggestion, Susan did take a shower, running the hot water over her head while she prayed, trying to understand why she felt so unsettled by the things she'd learned from Mr. Simms, balancing that with the good news she'd learned about their elevator on that day.

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