The day of Jessie's birthday party was almost anticlimactic in a way. Jessie's main gift from the family had already been revealed. Not everyone they'd invited decided to come, and so the crowd that gathered at the Abernathys for Jessie's party was much smaller than the one who'd come for Melody's first birthday. Even those of her friends who came from school weren't enough to tip the head count balance to even things out.

"That's just the way first birthdays are," Susan tried to tell Jessie later that day.

"It is," Sam agreed. "On your first birthday, your folks had a huge crowd. Even your Grandpa Bobby was there, but I bet you don't even remember it, do you?"

"No," Jessie said as she shook her head. She pursed her lips together in annoyance.

"Try not to be disappointed, Jess," Susan advised.

"Why not, Mama?" Jessie asked.

"Because, you will remember this birthday years from now, and it will be nicer to remember if you could be happy about it," Susan said.

"Oh." Jessie thought about that for a moment. "You mean a long time from now? When I'm old?"

"Yes," Susan told her, suspecting that what Jessie was asking was, would she remember this in another life. "Maybe. Just think of the way you want to remember it when you dream, and try to make it that way."

"Oh!" Jessie exclaimed. "Okay, Mama. I can do that," she told Susan, and she went to join her girl cousins, determined to have a good time anyway.

c

All that happened towards the end of the day, but in the morning things started out very differently.

Greg and Susan were up first, followed soon after by Melody and Mr. Simms.

"Would you like to go to services with me?" Greg asked their guest.

"Do you have a temple nearby?" Mr. Simms asked.

"I am a member of the Temple in Los Angeles which I attend semi-regularly; however we also have a local synagogue in town here I attend the rest of the time. I plan to attend locally today," Greg explained.

"It has been years since I've been. I would value the opportunity to come with you," Mr. Simms said.

No sooner had he said that when Jessie appeared in the kitchen still wearing her pajamas.

"Are you going to services with Papa and your Grandpa Bobby this morning?" Susan asked her.

"Are you going to Temple Papa?" Jessie asked.

"We're attending at the synagogue today so we'll be home in time to help Mama with your party," Greg said.

"Is Julie coming?" Jessie wondered.

"I expect they will attend Temple before coming here," Greg predicted.

"Oh," Jessie said. She looked thoughtfully at Greg for a moment or two.

"Why do you ask, Jessie?" Greg asked curiously.

Jessie shrugged. "I thought maybe Grandpa Bobby might like to meet Rabbi Sloane," Jessie explained.

"He may. I expect we'll attend Temple next week during Passover," Greg told her.

"Okay. Mama, should I get dressed before breakfast?"

"Yes please," Susan told her.

"Okay," Jessie said and she darted towards her room.

"Does Jessie typically attend with you?" Mr. Simms asked.

"She sometimes does," Greg said as Susan served them breakfast.

At the moment, they were the only two at the table, aside from Melody who sat nearby in her high chair. Susan put a dozen tiny pancakes in her daughter's dish and gave her a baby fork. Melody picked it up and made and attempt at using the fork to eat her pancakes, and ended up by picking the food up with her fingers first to set it on the fork, before trying to get it from her dish to her mouth. She lost most of it in the process, but Greg was pleased to see she was trying. She simply lacked the coordination necessary to carry out the task ... not unlike other children he supposed, at her age.

"Jessie sometimes goes to church with me too," Susan commented as she took her place beside Greg, near Melody, and served herself breakfast as well.

Mr. Simms arched his brow. "And you allow that?"

"We have made it a practice to expose Jessie to faith in all its forms," Greg answered.

"I see," Mr. Simms said with a frown. "Well at least she does go with you to the synagogue. That is better than what Robby was doing."

"He didn't take his children with him?" Greg wondered.

"He didn't attend. He was afraid the children would be confused since Alison always took them to church with her on Sundays," Mr. Simms said.

"There was a time when Susan and I were concerned about that too. However we decided it is ultimately Jessie's decision what she will believe. We can give her a foundation of faith, encourage her development spiritually, teach her to read scripture and to pray. But, that is all we can do. Her relationship with the Lord is between her and Him," Greg said.

"I suppose that is true," Mr. Simms said. "But again it brings to mind the beliefs of your wife and the role those Christian teachings Jessie is exposed to might play in her development as she grows. Will she be misled along the way? Or will she grow up to believe in the only true Lord?"

Susan arched her brow at Mr. Simms. "You could ask her, see what she says," Susan suggested.

"I may," Mr. Simms told her. "But not today. I have no wish to disrupt the harmony on what otherwise should be Jessie's day."

"Harmony," Greg repeated thoughtfully. "I find it curious you would put it that way."

"You said something about harmony to me when I was a boy," Mr. Simms said. "I thought that might reach you in some way."

"It does ... more than you might realize, but equally important is rhythm ... or timing," Greg shared.

"You sound like you are talking about music rather than faith," Mr. Simms said.

"Oooh, me oh me oh, Gloria," Melody sang, and Mr. Simms looked at her in shocked surprise.

"Melody can sing?" he said in astonishment.

"She can. She has a gift it seems," Susan told him.

"Will you bring her too?" Mr. Simms wondered, looking at Greg.

"I do sometimes, but not today. As you say, I'd prefer to focus my attention on Jessie today," Greg said.

"Are you talking about me, Papa?" Jessie asked when she returned, wearing a dress she often wore for services, whenever she went.

"We were. We were just saying that since today is the day of your party, today should be your day," Greg told her.

Jessie grinned. "Did I miss the prayer?"

"Yes," Susan told her. "Can you say your own?"

Jessie nodded, bowed her head and said a simple mealtime prayer. To Mr. Simms astonishment, she said the prayer in Hebrew.

"Do you go to Hebrew School, Jessie?" Mr. Simms asked.

"No. Me and Mama and Papa and Matt and Zackary all take Hebrew lessons," Jessie said. "Mama, can I have cereal?" she asked after looking at the pancakes.

"If you'd prefer," Susan told her and she got up to get her a bowl and the milk, while pulling a couple boxes of her favorite cereals from the cabinet too. Jessie chose one and Susan put the other choices back.

"You all take Hebrew lessons?" Mr. Simms asked. From his expression, it was clear he was certain he must have heard wrong.

"We do. We have engaged a language teacher to give our family private lessons in both Conversational Hebrew and the ancient form," Greg told him. "We do use it for reading scripture, however we are also learning in anticipation of an eventual trip to Israel we hope to someday take."

"How long have you been doing that?" Mr. Simms asked in surprise.

Greg glanced at Susan with a question in his expression.

"We began just after Thanksgiving, the year we were living in the farmhouse," Susan reminded him.

"The first year we were home," Greg said.

"When did you get home?" Mr. Simms asked curiously.

"I was six," Jessie supplied helpfully.

"So approximately, three years?" Mr. Simms concluded.

"We got here in September, so a little less than that," Susan told him.

Mr. Simms regarded Jessie thoughtfully. "Your Hebrew is very good for a student who has been studying for less than three years."

"Thank you," Jessie told him.

"I taught Hebrew at our local Hebrew School at the synagogue in Menlo Park at one time," Mr. Simms added casually. "Our rabbi felt I had a flare for languages."

"How long did you do that?" Greg asked curiously.

"About ten years," Mr. Simms said.

"Did you also teach for a living?" Susan asked.

"I did," Mr. Simms told them.

"Languages?" Susan added.

"Mathematics, at Menlo Park Academy. It was a private school once upon a time. It has since closed its doors ... about the time I retired, actually," Mr. Simms said.

"Then you like working with children," Greg concluded.

"Very much," Mr. Simms said. "I miss having children in my life. As I believe Sam mentioned when you initially visited with him, Susan, he and Robby used to visit my house regularly. My wife Ella and I truly enjoyed having them."

"Speaking of children and things, it will time to leave soon. Jessie, have you brushed your teeth?" Greg asked.

Jessie stared at him. "No. I've been sitting here, talking to you."

"I think what Papa means is that it is time," Susan told her.

"Then why didn't he say so," Jessie protested.

Susan gave her a significant look and Jessie took her empty plate to the kitchen and went to brush her teeth.

"I'm going too," Mr. Simms said in a tone suggesting he thought Greg was going to ask him next.

He followed Jessie to the kitchen with his dishes and went in the direction of the powder room to brush his teeth.

Susan watched them curiously for a moment before Greg also got up from the table to finish getting ready to go. He was just leaving when Mrs. Abernathy came up the stairs from the guestrooms, passing him on her way to the kitchen.

"Hi Mom," Susan said.

"Good morning Susan. Is Greg going to services?" Mrs. Abernathy wondered.

"He is. Mr. Simms and Jessie are going with him," Susan told her.

Mrs. Abernathy hesitated slightly. "Is Mr. Simms Jewish?"

"Yes, he is Mom. Weren't you the one who said something about that last night?" Susan asked.

"It was a guess, Susan, that's all. He didn't exactly come out and say so, so we wondered," Mrs. Abernathy explained.

"Well, he is. So was Jessie's father and grandfather, so he's pleased she is going," Susan said.

"Was her mother?" Mrs. Abernathy asked curiously.

"No. Like Mr. Simms said last night, from what I know of her, she was Christian, like me," Susan told her. "But Mr. Simms is anxious for Jessie to know something about her Jewish roots."

"I suppose he would be," Mrs. Abernathy said thoughtfully as she helped herself to a cup of coffee and joined her daughter and her granddaughter at the breakfast table. "I never considered the idea that Jessie might be Jewish, other than her exposure to Greg. It just never occurred to me."

"We've learned a lot more about Jessie's family since meeting him. For her sake, I'm glad we did," Susan said.

"I think it's wonderful how welcoming to him you and Greg have been, inviting him here, giving him our rooms, that sort of thing," Mrs. Abernathy said.

"Do you mind?" Susan wondered.

"Not really. He told your father last evening he plans to be here at least two weeks. We're only going to be here for the weekend, so it makes since he should get the larger set of rooms," Mrs. Abernathy said, just as Susan heard a click from the bookcase door and was surprised to see her father walk in.

"Who's going to be here longer than we will?" Mr. Abernathy asked as he walked down the half-flight of stairs from the library, using a combination of his cane and the handrail to support himself.

"Good morning, Dad," Susan said as he joined them.

"Good morning. It took me a while to get here, but your new elevator is a big improvement over all those stairs," Mr. Abernathy told her.

"Is it?" Susan wondered. "Even with the walk to get to the bottom of it?"

"It is, Susan. You do realize the number of stair steps from your guest rooms to your kitchen is almost twice what you find in a normal flight of stairs," Mr. Abernathy pointed out.

"It is good exercise though," Susan said.

Mr. Abernathy cocked his head. "It probably eliminates the need for any exercise equipment, if that's what you mean, but it is too much for an old man like me. The path from your guest rooms to the bottom of your elevator is much better. You've even got a few benches along there to rest on the way. The elevator brings me more or less into the house, with relatively few steps to navigate once I get here."

"Is that your way of saying you like it, Dad?" Susan teased.

"I do," Mr. Abernathy said. "What's for breakfast?"

"Pancakes," Susan said getting up. "The griddle is hot."

"It can get it for us, Susan," Mrs. Abernathy said.

"It's no bother, Mom. Melody is finished and she wants to get up. And I need to get started on the food for the party anyway, so I can," Susan said.

She had her parents' breakfasts ready quickly and moved on to the pasta salad she intended to make for lunch while they talked. The boys were up by the time they were finished and Mrs. Abernathy took on the job of cooking their pancakes on the griddle.

"Why are you up so early?" Mrs. Abernathy asked her grandsons as she served them.

"We're decorating the cottage for Jessie's birthday," Matt told her. "Is she up?"

"She went with Greg and Bobby for services," Susan told him.

"Good," Zack declared. "Maybe we can get it done before she gets here?"

"I don't know. They've been gone a while," Susan told them.

"When are Rosemary and Neil getting here?" Matt wondered. "They wanted to help."

"They did?" Susan asked in surprise.

"Well, Rosemary did. I think she talked Neil into it," Matt told her.

"Is Ashley coming to help too?" Susan wondered.

"I dun know. Maybe. It all depends. I think she was supposed to help her mom with something this morning and I think she said she's working this afternoon, so maybe not," Matt explained.

"Rosemary and Neil are probably coming after services, so they probably won't get here before Greg, Jessie, and Mr. Simms get back," Susan cautioned.

Just then, the upstairs doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Zack said, jumping up as he swallowed the last bit of his pancakes and took a piece of turkey bacon with him.

"Finish eating first!" Susan called after him.

But Zack ignored her, sprinting to the top of the stairs. She could hear voices coming from the living room before she could protest any further, and followed him to discover that not only Rosemary and Neil, but also Julie had arrived.

"Hello!" Susan greeted their company in surprise, as they all came down into the kitchen.

"Hi," Julie said. "I thought I'd come ahead again to help with things."

"We did too," Rosemary added.

"Yea, you're here in time," Matt said grinning from his place at the table.

"In time?" Rosemary questioned.

"Yeah, we're trying to get the cottage decorated before Jessie gets home. Mom said she went to services with Greg and Mr. Simms," Matt told her as he finished his breakfast and carried his dishes to the sink.

"She did. We saw them there," Rosemary told him.

"Then they should be here soon," Susan predicted.

"They may not be, Susan. The man who was with them ... Mr. Simms?" Neil questioned looking at Rosemary. When she nodded, he went on. "Well anyway, he wanted to talk to the rabbi, so Greg said to tell you they've been delayed. Hi, by the way."

"Hi Neil. Thanks for coming early to help," Susan told him.

"It's no bother. So Matt, what exactly are we going to do?" Neil asked him.

"Come with me," Matt said.

He led Zack, Rosemary and Neil into the cave, leaving Julie with Susan in the house. Even Mr. Abernathy followed them, leaving Julie looking slightly dazed for a moment as she was left behind.

"Should I go with them?" she wondered.

"You don't have to. Mom and I are preparing the food in here," Susan told her. "We'll take it up to the cottage closer to party time."

"Do you need any help?" Julie asked. From what she could see, Susan and her mother were busy, but it looked like they were handling things.

"Maybe you could entertain Melody for a while?" Susan suggested.

"I'd be happy to," Julie told her as she came further into the kitchen to find Melody trying to move between Susan and her grandmother in her walker, effectively getting in the way.

"Hi Melody," Julie said and Melody turned to look at her.

"Ju Jee!" Melody exclaimed, smiling broadly.

"That is really close," Julie told her as she picked her up. "I'm happy to see you too. Do you want to come to me? Maybe we can help your Mama finish getting ready for Jessie's party by keeping you occupied? Hum? What do you say?"

"Momma," Melody repeated, reaching a hand out towards Susan.

"Yes, I'm talking about your mama," Julie agreed.

"Grr ma," Melody said next pointing at Mrs. Abernathy.

"I understand. That's your grandma," Julie said.

"Ju Jee?" Melody asked.

"Yes, I'm Julie. Is that what you're asking?"

"Okay," Melody said.

"She's really getting this talking thing, isn't she?" Julie commented to Susan.

"Surprisingly, she is," Susan said.

She was about to say something more when a click sounded in the library and voices reached coming down the stairs, announcing those who went to services were home.

"We're back, Mama!" Jessie called.

"We're in here," Susan called back.

Julie went around the corner with Melody in her arms to greet them.

"Hi Dad," she said.

"Hi Julie. Are the rest of your family here?" Greg asked.

"Not yet. I came ahead ... as usual," Julie told her. "I wanted to help."

"Do you need help, Susan?" Greg asked his wife as he came into the kitchen.

"Not really, but we do enjoy the company and Julie is keeping Melody occupied for us," Susan said. "Is Bobby with you?"

"I'm right here, Susan," Mr. Simms said as he made his way slowly down the stairs. "And who is this lovely lady?" he asked looking at Julie.

"Bobby, I'd like to introduce you to my daughter ... my other daughter. This is Julie Rosenberg, my daughter with my first wife, Ruth. Julie, this gentleman is Mr. Robert ... or Bob Simms. He's Jessie's great-grandfather," Greg said.

"You must have very strong genes," Mr. Simms remarked. "Both your daughters look like one another ... they also look like you."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Simms," Julie said.

"My pleasure. Greg has told me something about his family. Are you one of those who lives in Oakland?" Mr. Simms asked.

"No, that's my brother and my mother. I live closer to Los Angeles, sort of in the direction of Anaheim, if you know the area," Julie said.

"I don't, but I have been to Anaheim. My wife and I went to Disneyland with my son and his family, when their children were young," Mr. Simms said.

Jessie stared at him. "Did my daddy go?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact he did ... and he was about your age when we made the trip," Mr. Simms told her.

"Papa, can we go?" Jessie asked.

Greg arched a brow. "Perhaps, someday. Not today, though. We're having your birthday party here today."

"Oh, I know. But Eddy told me about Disneyland. She says it's really fun," Jessie told him.

"It is, and we should take you sometime," Susan agreed. "Maybe next summer, okay?"

"Okay," Jessie agreed. "Are we ready for my birthday party, Mama?"

"That's what I was going to ask, Susan."

"We are getting there," Susan told them. "Grandma and I have the food almost ready. We just need to finish making the hamburger patties and cut up the tomatoes to put on them. Everything else is ready."

"How are the boys doing with the cottage? Do they need help?" Greg asked.

"They may. Could you go check on them?" Susan suggested.

"I can do that," Greg said.

"Melody, maybe you and I should go with Dad. Maybe we can help too," Julie suggested.

"Should I help, Mama?" Jessie asked.

"No. You should make sure you've got yourself ready for your party. Is that what you want to wear?" Susan asked.

"No," Jessie said.

"Then why don't you change your clothes before more of your guests get here," Susan said.

"Okay," Jessie said and she went off to her room to change.

"I don't know how much help I can be in the cottage, but I think I'll go with them," Mr. Simms said and he followed Greg and Julie into the cave.

c

The preparations for Jessie's party took them through the rest of the morning, and gradually as it grew closer to party time, more and more of their guests arrived. Elliott and the boys got there about the same time as Steven, Jenny and their girls. Those who were spending the night got settled in their rooms while everyone else headed towards the cottage through the cave.

The boys were using the elevator to move the family's barbeque from the pool deck to the patio beside the cottage by the time Susan began moving the food, which meant by noon, everything was ready. Sam arrived right at noon, visiting eagerly with Jessie and Mr. Simms, asking him about his stay with the Abernathys so far.

The last of their local guests, including a half dozen of Jessie's friends from school, arrived shortly after Sam, and Jessie's party was underway. Mr. Simms was introduced to the various guests as they arrived, while Greg took on cooking the hamburgers on the barbeque out on the patio when it was time.

"Good to see you, Susan," Richard remarked when he, Marion and the twins got there, somewhat later than most of their guests.

"Hi Richard," Susan said.

"Who's the old man out on the patio with Greg?" Richard asked curiously.

"He's Jessie's great-grandfather," Susan explained. "He's been visiting with us from Menlo Park the last few days."

"Really? That's him?" Richard asked in surprise. "Greg told me something about him while we were at the studio the other day, so I knew he was here, but that man looks so much like Greg, I just assumed he was a relative of his."

"As far as we know, he isn't. But you are right, there is something about him that does suggest a family resemblance," Susan said.

"It's more than a hint of a family resemblance, Susan. They really do look like they're related," Richard told her.

"Could he be?" Marion asked curiously.

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

Richard frowned. "I thought Greg doesn't really know that much about his family."

"He knows who his parents are, Richard. And if you'll recall, Bernie seemed to know something about them, the one time we met him in New York, the year I went with the two of you for a premier," Marion said, suggesting she was reminding him of something.

"True," Richard agreed.

"And if he does, Greg probably does too," Marion insisted.

"Of course. I probably don't know what I'm saying," Richard told Susan. "Excuse me. I think I'll go say hello to Greg."

Susan smiled and nodded as she went back to entertaining the children who'd come for the party.

"I'm sorry about that, Susan," Marion said. "Richard just doesn't think before he speaks sometimes."

"Something we all do from time to time, Marion," Susan assured her. "No harm done."

Marion nodded then went off in the direction of Charlie who was trying to reach a bowl of radishes sitting on the buffet table.

"Was Marion saying something about Dad's family?" Julie asked curiously as Susan began to gather things for the party games she and Jessie planned for her school friends to play.

"Only that your dad's brother knew something about it," Susan told her.

"He did, but why was she talking about that?" Julie wondered.

"She and Richard seem to think your dad looks a bit like Mr. Simms," Susan said.

"Really?" Julie said in surprise. "I don't think so."

Susan shrugged. She could see Richard's point, but to her although they had features in common, there were differences between them too.

"Where is Melody's new slide?" Julie wondered as they came to the end of the relay races for the day.

"We put it out on the deck beside the children's rooms. Jessie got some play equipment too for her birthday, so we set it all up out there," Susan explained.

"Mama, can I show Eddy my new swings?" Jessie asked as she overheard them talking.

"After lunch and birthday cake, okay?" Susan suggested.

"The burgers are ready," Greg announced as he brought in a platter of patties and set them on the buffet table.

"Then lunch is ready, everyone. Please, come help yourselves," Susan said.

A lunch of hamburgers, followed by birthday cake, and opening presents rounded out Jessie's birthday party. Then the guest of honor insisted on escorting everyone to see her new swing set on the other side of the house. Everyone was led through the cave, with some of the adults taking their time as they walked with their elderly guests, while others hurried ahead with the children. By the time Mr. Simms, and Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy got there, the play structure was filled with children trying out the swings, going down the slides, or climbing the climbing wall up to the platform on top of the play house. Two girls were inside the play house chatting in front of the window with one of them holding a plastic phone.

"I think this is the best part of the party, Susan," Julie commented.

"This is wonderful, Susie," Mrs. Abernathy remarked. "It's almost as good as having a back yard."

Susan grinned. "I think it will be, once we get a table and chairs out here. We've brought up the plastic ones from the pool deck for now, but I think a more comfortable seating area for adults might be in order long term."

"That's the thing about home improvements," Julie said knowingly. "First you improve one thing, but that only makes you see something else you'd like to change."

"Speaking of changes, have you seen our new elevator, Julie?" Greg asked.

"You put in an elevator?" Julie said in surprise.

"We did," Greg said.

"Where?"

"In the cave," Susan told her.

Julie stared at her father. "Now that, I have to see, before we leave. Mom's going to be so impressed when she comes to spend Passover with you next weekend."

"It makes it much more convenient for taking luggage down to the guest rooms," Susan agreed.

"Yeah, it does," Matt said from nearby as he overheard them talking.

The children played and the adults visited until some of Jessie's more local guests began to go home. At that point, the remaining adults were invited to see the new elevator. Everybody took a turn riding it to the bottom section of the cave, after which both Julie and her family, and Richard and Marion, decided it was time to go home, leaving only Sam and those who were staying the night lingering longer at the Abernathy's home.

"Aren't you going to stay, Neil?" Susan asked in surprise when he got ready to leave too.

"Not this time. Thank you for the invitation though," Neil told her. "I'll see you later Rosemary," he said as he kissed her on the cheek.

"Bye," Rosemary said with a slight blush and she walked him to the door.

c