January was off to a quick start for the Abernathy household following Greg and Susan's anniversary dinner out. Although Greg did go into the studio on Friday, January 2nd, falling as it did at the end of a week which most people considered a holiday, he wasn't able to get much done. On the following Monday however, on what Susan considered the first real working day of the year, Matt, Zack, and Jessie all went back to school; while Susan and Melody went into the studio with Greg. They decided to ride in together as Greg didn't anticipate his day would be overly long. He and his crew would be regrouping, getting organized for the new year, inspecting everything and making sure they would be ready to resume shooting again on Tuesday.

Greg pulled up in his usual place at the front of the studio offices. He and Susan were met in the child watch room by Rosemary. They left Melody with her before going to Greg's office to get settled. Once there, they sat down at their respective desks and went right to work. Both Greg and Susan were involved in various inspections in different parts of the studio that morning, which kept them mostly away from the studio offices, but the afternoon found them each working at their desks in their shared space. Various members of the production crew came and went from the office throughout the rest of the afternoon, and Greg was only a little surprised to find there were just as many people looking for Susan as there were looking for him. Shelly, their lead actress for his movie, was first in looking for his wife, arriving just past noon, following an early lunch.

"Hello Mrs. Abernathy," Shelly said as she knocked on the open office door.

"Hi Shelly," Susan said as she looked up from her programming with a warm smile.

"Do you have a moment?" Shelly asked. "I'd like to ask you about this scene from your apartment in Sydney we're getting ready to shoot."

"Sure," Susan said and she got up to have a word with one of the stars of The Tropical Dream out in the hall.

Greg arched his brow as he saw them leave before going back to his work, plotting out and refining the production schedule, given what he'd learned during his morning inspections. Susan returned 30 minutes later and they worked un-interrupted until close to two. This time it was Greg's turn to be called away. He was gone for an hour, after which Susan stepped out for an Art department meeting, followed by a phone meeting with her team at Ingene Pharma. Greg was surprised to hear her switch gears so easily and completely, talking about drug development projects and timelines that had nothing to do with their production schedule at the studio. It wasn't that he intended to listen, it's just that it was hard not to given the furniture arrangement in what had once been his private office. What he heard jarred him completely, causing him to remember how he'd felt when he was first exposed to what it was Susan did in her profession all those years ago. By the time she was finished with her meeting, it was time to go home.

Tuesday was more or less the same, although Susan spent more time in the office as those who needed her around the studio now seemed to know they could find her there. The only difference was, Greg found Susan was now timing her meetings with Ingene Pharma for those times when he was most likely to be in other places at the studio, meaning he overheard her doing her 'other' job less often. Greg found it necessary to stay at the studio later than usual that afternoon, and at first he was concerned Susan would be bored and eager to leave, but as it turned out, she had plenty to do too; and so they stayed until six, far later than Susan usually stayed. She called Matthew to pick up Jessie, and they picked up dinner for the family on the way home. Wednesday and Thursday went like that too, although nether day ran quite so long. But when Friday came, Susan stayed home with Melody for the entire day.

"Are you going to do the same thing next week?" Greg asked Susan on Saturday afternoon at the end of that first week. He found her in the kitchen when he returned from services, trying to cook ahead.

"No. I think I'll try making my day off in the middle of the week instead. Melody gets too tired going into the office every day ... and I do too. Maybe I'll take Wednesday off next week. That's in the middle," Susan proposed.

"Will that make you too tired for Saturday?" Greg wondered.

"Saturday?" Susan asked blankly.

"Jake's bar mitzvah ... we received our invitation over a week ago," Greg reminded her. "We should R.S.V.P. immediately."

Susan nodded. "I don't think I would be too tired ... but I've done some reading about this since our visit with your family and our talk about it on our anniversary. Do you really think it would be appropriate for the boys and I to be there, given we're committed Christians? I understand as his grandfather, you should be. It sounds like you and Elliot will take part in the ceremony," Susan related.

"We will be, along with Aaron, Alan and Jake. It is a highly religious and significant event," Greg related, "One that traditionally, family and friends of the honoree are present for. However for you and the children, your only role will be as an attendee at the service and a guest at the party afterwards."

"It's an event that's important to you and your family," Susan recognized.

"Yes, it is. Talk to me, Susan. What specifically is your hesitation in attending?" Greg asked. "As you say, we did talk about this on our anniversary."

"I am trying to make sure it wouldn't be in conflict with my own faith for me to be there. I'm not sure I feel comfortable supporting the practice of religion in the absence of faith," Susan explained.

"The rite of passage is tied to the responsibility of keeping the commandments and the Laws of Moses rather than a specific belief," Greg tried to explain. "The acceptance that God exists is implied through the willingness of the child to, as of that day, accept those responsibilities as an adult. For the Jewish person, faith as you and I know it, is something that is grown into, as the blessings of keeping the commandments as an adult are experienced."

"So you do see it as a step towards faith," Susan said, trying to fit what Greg was saying into her own concept of faith. Sometimes the Jewish ideas for things, for her, just didn't fit. But they did for Greg, and in her heart of hearts, she knew it was important for her to be sensitive to that.

Greg considered what she was trying to say. "Perhaps. I do not wish to mislead you, Susan. The bar mitzvah is a ceremony recognizing physical maturity. In some cases, that is all it is: the celebration of a specific birthday. But in Jake's case ... he has studied. He has spent extra time in recent months at Temple preparing for this event. From my conversation with him over Chanukah, he was anxious to assure me he feels ready for his first Aliyah."

Susan looked at him questioningly.

"His first public reading of the Torah during services," Greg clarified. "It is a highly spiritual experience."

"Something that could lead to his development of faith," Susan concluded.

Greg hesitated only for a moment; then answered, "Yes."

Susan studied him carefully, waiting for him to explain.

"Both the ceremony and the party afterwards are a celebration. It is a considered a joyous event for both Jake and his family, myself included. I will understand if for some reason you don't feel comfortable attending, but as family, I would be honored if you would," Greg said.

Susan considered him thoughtfully for a moment. "If faith is somewhere in the mix for what it's about, then I will. You know I do want to support you and your family when it comes to faith."

"I do," Greg said. "Thank you."

Susan nodded. "Should all of us come, do you think? Not only me, but the boys, Jessie, and Melody too?"

"As they are family, yes they should," Greg said.

"Alright, I'll discuss it with Matt and Zackary this evening and ask them," Susan said.

"Thank you," Greg said.

Susan went more or less immediately to discuss Jake's invitation with her boys. Both were curious and said yes, especially after Matthew asked,

"So it will be like what we saw that other kid do at the Temple on Chanukah?"

"From what I understand, yes it will, except it will also be Greg, Elliot, Alan and Aaron reading from the scrolls," Susan told him. "And, there will be a party afterwards."

Matthew looked at his brother.

"That sounds cool," Zack commented.

"Yeah, it does," Matt agreed. "Okay Mom. We'll go."

Susan smiled. "Thank you. I'll let Greg and Julie know."

Greg called Julie to RSVP that evening, and that was all that was said about Jake's bar mitzvah until the following week.

c

And so they tried Susan's modified scheduled for the second week in January, the one where she worked at the studio every day except Wednesday. Again that meant they rode into the studio together and, Greg was quick to notice, Susan was also working longer hours each day than she had before the holidays.

"Did that work for you?" Greg asked as they rode home together on Friday evening, at the end of the week.

"It was better to have a break in the middle of the week, but given our language lessons are on Thursday evenings, working in the studio on Thursdays too makes the day extra-long," Susan observed. "Maybe I should make Thursdays my stay-at-home day with Melody?"

"You could certainly try it," Greg agreed. "I think the crew at the studio is committed to helping you find the schedule that works for you."

"Thank you," Susan said. "Are you ready for Jake's bar mitzvah tomorrow?"

"Yes. We should be there by nine-thirty, no later," Greg said.

"Okay," Susan agreed. "Should we plan to stay over, do you think?"

"Not necessary. The service is in the morning, the party in the afternoon. We should be home again by suppertime, I do believe," Greg said.

"Even with the rest of your family coming from the Bay Area?" Susan asked in surprise.

"All the more reason why we should come home. It would be too much work for Julie on the Sabbath to host more people than necessary in her home," Greg explained.

Susan nodded, noting that this was one of those occasions when her husband seemed to adhere more closely to the letter of the Laws of Moses than he did at other times. Perhaps that wasn't surprising as centered as the event was on the Jewish faith.

c

Jake's bar mitzvah was a nice break at the end of a busy week. The entire Abernathy did attend both the ceremony and the party afterwards. Susan and her boys stood with Julie and the other women in the family as the men were called to the front, and each of them took a turn reading from the scrolls. Julie was close to tears as first Greg, then Alan, then Elliot, then Aaron, and finally Jake read from the Torah. It was the pride of a parent that touched her face and Susan smiled in recognition of the emotion she was feeling. Julie's mother Ruth looked on with equal pride, but a more reserved expression on her face.

"Could we do that?" Matthew whispered to Zack afterwards on the way out.

"Yeah, I think we could," Zack said. "Our lessons are pretty good."

Matthew nodded as they joined the family in caravanning to the venue for the party afterwards.

The party that followed was simply that: an elaborate birthday party for a thirteen year-old, held at a nearby hotel and including Jake's family and friends.

"This is so nice," Susan commented to Reuben as she joined him at a table nearby while her boys went to visit with Jake and his friends. Those more closely related to the birthday boy seemed to be more involved, and they were up too, surrounding him and visiting.

"It is," Reuben said. "I wasn't sure how comfortable you would be being here."

"I wasn't either," Susan confessed. "But it's important to Greg and Jake and their faith, so I'm okay with it."

Reuben smiled. "It's not every birthday that gets celebrated like this."

"No it's not. Melody's party won't be nearly so elaborate," Susan commented.

"That's right, that's coming up. Isn't her birthday next month?" Reuben asked.

"Yes. It's on the 14th," Susan told him.

"February 14th ... Valentine's Day," Reuben remarked. "I suppose if you hold it during the day, couples with children might still be likely to come."

Susan smiled. "I actually have an idea about that."

"What sort of an idea?" Reuben asked.

"You'll see. I hope to get the invitations in the mail shortly," Susan said.

Reuben grinned, but he didn't say anything more as he was invited to join the other men in a traditional dance on the dance floor.

The reception following Jake's bar mitzvah ceremony didn't last all that long, and Greg was right. They were home in time for dinner, though no one aside from Melody was hungry.

"Are we doing anything tomorrow?" Matt asked.

"We're going to church," Susan reminded him.

"Yeah, of course. Aside from that, are we?"

"Not that I know of," Susan said.

"Good. I'm working tomorrow afternoon, but after that I need to study. I have a test on Monday," he said.

"And while you are doing that, I'll be cooking ahead again for another week," Susan told him.

c

Before they knew it, the weekend was over. It was the third week in January, and Susan started another work week at the studio, this time taking Thursday as her day off at home with Melody. That worked out so well, she stayed with that schedule for the rest of the month, which meant she was generally at the studio every day except Thursdays, every week. Even though she took Thursdays completely off, she still managed to put in enough hours to do the work for both her Technical Consultant contract with the movie studio and her programming job for Ingene Pharma during the four days she was at the studio by riding in with Greg and staying as long as he did on most days. It made for long days for her and Melody, but since Susan took her with them, they managed to spend some part of every day together. On occasion, Greg spent time with her too, and that, Susan suspected was as good for him as it was for the baby.

c

It was on one such morning on the last work day of January that Greg volunteered to be the one to get Melody settled for the day in the child watch room with Rosemary, so Susan could call in on time for an early morning meeting with Ingene Pharma. It was also on that occasion that someone at the studio finally said something to him about their arrangement.

Greg took his time in the child watch room that morning, consequently that he wasn't in their office yet when Richard came to their shared space, looking for Susan at 7:45.

Susan smiled as she looked up from the call.

"Just a moment, Janice," Susan said to the person on the other end of the line. Then she asked, "Do you need me, Richard?"

"Are we still meeting at eight?" Richard checked.

"I'll be there. I'm in my one on one with my manager. We're almost finished," Susan advised.

Richard nodded. He glanced at her computer screen and saw not the production schedule for The Tropical Dream, but what looked like programming code for something.

"Sorry," Richard said and he retreated out into the hallway again.

c

"Good morning, Richard." Greg met his friend and colleague coming out of the office he shared with Susan, after leaving the child watch room.

"Good morning," Richard said looking thoughtful as he paused in the hallway to chat.

"Do you need something?" Greg asked.

"I'm not sure. I wanted to talk to Susan about her hours. We only contracted for her services sixteen hours per week, but she's been here physically more than ten hours per day, four days per week, every week this entire month," Richard remarked. "Instead of working the equivalent of two days per week, she's been here nearly full time ... every day except Thursdays."

Greg cocked his head. "That's because she's trying to balance two jobs. She can be productive with her programming job by coming in early with me, before most of the studio staff has started, and staying later, after our usual production meetings."

"And she's told you that?" Richard asked.

"Yes, she has," Greg said.

"And you don't mind her doing that, with the baby?"

"Rosemary's involvement with Melody's care has been extraordinary. She's been to every one of Melody's appointments since we hired her, and has proven herself to be a competent physical therapist, which means she is able to help a great deal with Melody's care, freeing up Susan to do this for me," Greg explained.

Richard considered Greg doubtfully. "And you're okay with someone aside from Susan doing that?"

"I am because we need the help, Richard ... and this is temporary. We know Rosemary will go back to school later this year. She's already been accepted for a master's in education program for the fall. The Tropical Dream will be in the can by then, which means my time will be freed up and Susan can start working from home again. It will work out," Greg assured him.

"If you say so. From what I can see, at the moment, Susan doesn't have time for anything else," Richard said.

"She is extremely busy. We all are," Greg reminded him. "But she takes the time when she needs to."

"Does she?" Richard questioned, just as Susan emerged into the hallway looking for him.

"Does she what?" Susan asked the two.

"I was just commenting to Greg how many hours per week you've been here lately. You're here when I arrive, and often you two are leaving the same time I am ... and you have not only Melody, but your other kids at home to care for as well. Are you really able to do that?" Richard wondered.

"With each of the kids helping, I am," Susan said. "Matt can pick Jessie up at after school care if we're running late. Usually we get there on time, but he is able to help us out, now that he has his own car. And of course Rosemary helps on the days I am here."

"But are you taking the time to care for Melody when you need to?" Richard wondered.

"Are you sure you want to have this conversation in the hallway, Richard?" Greg prompted with a meaningful expression as additional members of their staff began arriving for the day too, walking down the hallways to their respective work areas.

"No, probably not," Richard agreed. "Come with me, Susan."

Richard directed her to his office. Greg looked questioningly after the two.

"Do you need me?" he asked.

"I don't think so. Do we, Richard?" Susan said.

"No. I'll call you if I do," Richard assured him.

Greg nodded, watching as Richard shut the door before proceeding into his own office where Susan had already been working for nearly an hour.

c

"How did that go?" Greg asked his wife when she returned from her meeting with Richard.

"Fine. I just went over my schedule for the next couple of weeks with him. I'm only here three days next week due to appointments for Melody," Susan said. "Once I assured him of that, he seemed a lot happier."

"I thought he might be," Greg remarked.

"Greg, do you know if it's causing problems with the studio for me to be here so much of the time when I'm only contracted for sixteen hours per week?" Susan asked.

"Not that I know of. It's only through the end of March, when we complete the filming, then you can probably cut back," Greg reminded her.

"True. I know we'll need to adjust our schedule again then, but for now, I think what we are doing is working," Susan remarked.

"It is," Greg said.

Susan smiled, sitting back down at her desk. Greg watched her off and on out of the corner of his eye as she spent another hour on her programming, before changing gears once again, and picking up the notebook she'd begun using while working at the studio. She gave him a little wave as she left the office, this time headed for an inspection of the props under construction in the Art Department.

Greg smiled too as he left right behind her, and the two settled into what had become a completely normal and busy day.

c