Since the Memorial Day holiday was on the last day of May that year that meant the next day was June 1st. It was back to school for the kids, back to work at the studio for Greg, and back to working in the cottage for Susan. Suddenly they all had a lot to do and the day started very early.

"Man, I can't believe this," Matt said sounding stressed. He came down to the kitchen for breakfast early, stuffing papers and books into his backpack as he went.

"What is it, Matt?" Susan asked.

"This report is due ... tomorrow! Friday was May 28th. That sounded so far away from June 2nd," Matt exclaimed.

"How much more have you got to do?" Susan asked.

"A lot. I've got to tell Dave I can't work tonight. He's going to be pissed at me about it, but I don't see what else I can do," Matt told his mother as he picked up a glass of juice and drank it down in one gulp. "I've gotta' go Mom."

"You're not waiting for your brother?" Susan asked.

"Not today. He's not ready and I can't wait," Matt said as he picked up a couple pieces of toast and hurried out the door.

"Was that Matthew I saw leaving just now?" Greg asked as he came down to breakfast slightly later than he normally did on a workday.

"Yes. Apparently he has a report due tomorrow he didn't get done over the weekend," Susan explained. "I suspect he's gone to the school library to work on it before class."

"That could be," Greg said. "Are you going to be able to come to the studio with me tomorrow?"

"Are you shooting something?" Susan asked in surprise.

"Just some background footage of one of the sets. The special effects people asked for it, for one of the shots they're adding to electronically. They need a 'blank' I think they called it," Greg explained.

"I can," Susan said. "I don't have any meetings that I know of."

Greg nodded as he sat down. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Jessie and Zack need to hurry. I wonder if they know they need to take the bus," Susan said, and she left him to eat while she went to check on the children, trying to hurry them along.

"Come on, you guys," Susan called. "You have to get to school on your own today. I don't have time to take you to school if you miss the bus, so you can't be late."

"Coming Mom," Zack called back.

"Me too, Mama," Jessie said. "How come Matt didn't take us today?" she asked as she came to join them for breakfast.

"He had something he has to do, so he went early," Susan told her. "Besides, you're going to have to get used to taking the bus again after this year. Matt won't be going to school with you and Zack any more after he graduates."

"When precisely does school get out?" Greg asked curiously.

"Next Thursday, on June 10th," Zack said as he joined them.

"When is Matthew's graduation?" Greg asked.

"It's on the 11th, late in the afternoon," Susan said. "My parents are coming on Thursday and staying through the weekend. Michael is coming on Friday and staying a night or two. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are coming for the ceremony, but Michael didn't think they will want to stay with us."

"Michael's parents?" Greg asked to clarify.

"Yes," Susan said.

"Did you invite them?" Greg asked.

"Through Michael, I did," Susan said. "Mrs. Cooper and I don't really get along, so I try not to call her directly if I don't have to."

"Yeah. Mom and my other grandma don't agree on stuff most of the time," Zack agreed. "Grandma says it's because Mom isn't Catholic."

Greg arched a brow, but otherwise he didn't react to Zack's statement. "So where will they stay, Susan?" Greg asked.

Susan shrugged. "In a motel, I suppose. I don't really know, Greg. Michael didn't say and I didn't ask. So anyway, we'll have company next weekend, starting on Thursday."

"I'll make a note of it on my calendar," Greg promised.

Breakfast was quickly over, and the majority of the family hurried on their way.

c

That morning, Susan spent extra time with Melody in the swimming pool while Rosemary watched. She set up the ballet bar across the entrance of the pool, in very shallow water. Then sat Melody down at the edge of the pool where the water was just touching her toes. Melody looked at her in surprise when Susan left her there, stepping over the ballet bar before diving into the deeper water of the pool and swimming a quick lap across and back, the length of the pool.

"Momma," Melody called as Susan swam towards the shallow end again.

"You can come in," Susan invited. She floated on her stomach in the shallow water, just on the other side of the bar, wiggling her fingers at her daughter.

"In," Melody said.

"Come on," Susan coaxed.

Melody waved her hands, scooting her bottom forward slightly so that now her feet were now fully in the water. She studied them for a few minutes before turning over and cautiously crawling down the gently sloping surface of the natural entry pool, into the water. She stopped when the water level came up to her chin, sat back and called to Susan again. Susan pushed the bar towards her until Melody could reach it with an outstretched hand. Taking up a crawling position again, she came towards it, reaching for it when she could. She clung to it awkwardly for a moment with one hand, while the other hand was still on the bottom of the pool, mostly supporting her weight. Then very cautiously, she sat back slightly, shifting her weight to her knees, similar to what she did when she went up the stairs. Grasping the bar with her second hand, she inched forward on her knees, finally pushing to her feet, which put the water comfortably at the level of her chest, well below her shoulders.

Susan held her breath. She felt like cheering. After all these weeks of helping Melody to stand while she held onto the bar, she was finally learning she could pull up on it to get herself to a standing position by herself.

"Good girl," Susan breathed softly.

"She's doing it, isn't she," Rosemary said. Her voice was quiet too, but she sounded just as excited by Melody's achievement as Susan felt.

"Yes, she is," Susan said, smiling broadly. "That's a huge accomplishment, Melody. I am so proud of you."

Melody grinned, holding the bar tightly as she balanced by herself, on her own two feet.

"Oooh!" She exclaimed.

"You see? You can do this," Susan told her.

"Me," Melody said.

"Yes, you. You can do this, Melody," Susan said. "You can stand up."

Melody was so excited, she bent her knees, bouncing slightly, discovering the water splashed slightly when she did that.

Susan grinned. "Jessie and Zack are going to be so happy to see how you are using the bar they made for you."

"Shall we add that to her regular routine?" Rosemary asked.

"It worked. I don't see why not," Susan said. "Maybe if she practices pulling up on the bar in the water, she'll eventually try it in the house."

Susan worked with Melody at the bar, trying to get her to move her feet, but Melody wanted no part of that. She was happy to simply stand. Susan also swam with her daughter on her chest, similar to the way she'd done when Melody was very small, the summer before. They thoroughly enjoyed their time together, but when it was time to get out, Susan turned Melody over to Rosemary to do her regular exercises while Susan worked on her programming for the rest of the day.

c

Between the day and a half Susan needed to spend at the studio that week, Matt struggling to complete his report, finals for both Matt and Zackary, and the family preparing for the company which would be coming for Matt's graduation, the first two weeks in June went by very quickly.

Greg was home by noon on June 11th, even though Matt's high school graduation ceremony wasn't until 4:00 that afternoon. Mr. and Mr. Abernathy had arrived the day before, and Michael arrived with Rachelle from the airport shortly after Greg got home.

"Hi Michael," Susan said as she met her ex-husband at the front door.

"Hi Susan," Michael said.

"Come on in," Susan invited.

"Thank you," Michael said, and he and his wife stepped inside. "Is Zack here? I understand Matthew has graduation practice this morning."

"Matt does and Zack is," Susan said. "Are your parents here?"

"They're driving down. They should be here by 3:00 at the latest," Michael said.

"Well come on in. You can get settled while you're waiting for Matt to get home," Susan suggested.

"Is Zack here?" Michael asked again.

"Yes, I'll call him," Susan said.

"Hello Michael, good to see you Rachelle," Greg said as he walked up to the living room from the library just as Susan left to get Zack.

"Hi Greg," Rachelle said. "Susan told us Matt isn't even here?"

"He will be soon. Their practice was supposed to be over at noon. I think he and Ashley were planning to pick up burgers afterwards," Greg said.

"Are we planning to take Matt out to dinner after graduation? Do you know?" Michael asked.

"I don't know what his plans are, for certain," Greg said about the same time Susan returned with Zack.

"Hi Dad," Zack said with a grin as he hugged his dad.

"Hi Zack. I think you've grown another six inches since you were in Seattle in the last month!" Michael told him.

"Yeah, I have," Zack said. "I'm almost as tall as Matt."

"I think he may be as tall as you," Susan told her ex.

"I think you're right, Susan," Rachelle said. "Turn around Michael. Let's measure him against you."

Michael and Zack did what she said, and Zack was absolutely thrilled when Susan announced he was now a hair taller than his dad.

"How can that be?" Michael asked. "You're not even done growing yet!"

"No, he isn't," Susan said. "I know boys hit a growth spurt around the time they turn fifteen, but Zack won't be fifteen until September."

"Which means you're going to be a very tall man," Michael told his son proudly.

Zack grinned. "Isn't Grandpa tall?"

"He was, when he was a young man," Michael told him. "You still look like your mom, but I suspect you are going to be as tall as my dad, and he's the tallest man in our family. It's good to know you have some genes showing from my side of the family."

"Speaking grandparents, where are your parents, Susan?" Greg asked.

"Down walking in the garden, I suspect," Susan said. "Michael, why don't you drive around? Zack and I can meet you at the bottom. I can let mom and dad know you're here. Matt will probably be home by the time we have you unloaded and settled in your room."

"Sounds good," Michael said, and he went back out to their rental car to drive it down the gravel side road to the Abernathy's guestrooms down below.

"Who's here?" Rosemary asked as she came from the nursery carrying Melody.

"Michael Cooper, who is Susan's ex-husband, and Matt and Zackary's father," Greg said. "Susan is helping him and his wife to get settled."

"Oh, okay. Did Jessie go with them?"

"No. I think she's in her room," Greg said.

"Come on, Melody. Let's see what your sister is up to," Rosemary said.

c

Matt arrived home from graduation practice to find both his parents and his brother down in the garden below the guestrooms.

"Dad!" Matt called as he came down to greet them.

"Son!" Michael said as he strode towards Matthew and embraced his son.

"You got here," Matt said with a grin.

"We landed late this morning and got here about noon," Michael told him.

"Are Grandma and Grandpa coming?" he asked.

"They are. They were in Bakersfield an hour ago," Michael related.

"Which means they should be here soon," Susan predicted. "Have you decided what you want to do about dinner?" she asked her son.

"Oh ... ah, Mom, you know Ashley and I are going to Grad Night tonight," Matthew reminded her.

"What's that?" Michael asked.

"It's the trip for their graduation class to Disneyland they're doing this evening," Susan said. "Yes, you did tell me about it, but I couldn't remember if you were planning to have dinner out with us first," Susan said.

"No. We're going to eat at Disneyland after we get there," Matt said.

Susan nodded. "That sounds like fun. I know that's what me and my friends did when we went to Grad Night after we graduated from high school too," Susan said.

"So when do we get to go out with you?" Michael asked. "We are here to celebrate your graduation."

"How about tomorrow, Dad?" Matt suggested. "We get back at like five tomorrow morning, but we could go out for brunch about noon, after I sleep a few hours. Would that work for you?"

"It might end up being lunch for us, but we could do that," Michael agreed. "Is there someplace around here you'd like to go?"

"I dun know. Mom, do you know if that place over in Malibu that overlooks the beach does brunch?" Matt asked.

"I think they do on Sundays, though I'm not sure about Saturdays, Matt," Susan said. "But I read in the paper that Edwardo's is doing brunch for the local graduates both days this weekend. We could go there."

"Where?" Michael asked.

"It's this new, fancy place up on a hill," Matt said. "It's actually old. It used to be a house, but they fixed it up and now it's really nice inside. That could be good."

Susan glanced at Michael with a questioning expression.

"Sounds good to me," Michael told her. "Is it hard to find?"

"It's not too hard to find," Susan said.

"It's easier to find than our house," Matt pointed out.

"True. Okay, if everyone likes that idea, I'll make the reservations," Susan said.

"Can I invite Ashley?" Matt asked.

"She might be doing something with her family too," Susan reminded him.

"Yeah, she is. But maybe I can suggest it to her. It would be nice if she could be there too so she can meet Dad," Matt said.

"I would like to meet her," Michael said.

"Okay," Matt said with a grin.

c

The entire Abernathy household, plus Michael, Rachelle, and the two sets of grandparents gathered to witness Matthew's high school graduation on that Friday afternoon. Greg had never met Mr. and Mrs. Cooper before, but other than to be introduced to them, he didn't interact with them all that much. They all sat in one long row in the bleachers watching the graduating class out on the athletic field, with the Abernathys at one end and the Coopers at the other. Zack sat in the middle, looking lanky and tall and awkward with his new height.

The speeches went on forever as they sat in the sun, trying to shade their eyes from the glare. Eventually the diplomas were awarded to the graduating class and graduation caps filled the air. Greg and Susan helped Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy down out of the bleachers while Zack and Michael did the same for Mr. and Mrs. Cooper. Then they all walked out onto the field, amongst the sea of blue graduation robes and teenagers excited by the events and their anticipated evening at Disneyland.

"Mom, Dad! Over here!" Matthew shouted as he made his way towards them through the crowd, grasping Ashley firmly by the hand.

"Dad," Matt said as they finally came to them. "This is Ashley. Ashley, this is my dad. I wanted you guys to meet."

"Nice to meet you, Ashley," Michael said politely.

"I'm happy to meet you too, Mr. Cooper," Ashley said. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Of course. It's not every day a man's son graduates from high school," Michael said with a grin.

"No, it isn't," Susan said. "I'm so proud of you, Matt. Congratulations," Susan gave him a hug, right in front of all his friends.

"Thanks, Mom," Matt said. "Good to see you Grandma, you too Grandpa. Both sets of you," he added with a cheeky grin.

"Congratulations Matt," Mr. Abernathy said. "I'm glad I lived long enough to see this."

"I am too," Mr. Cooper said, although compared to Mr. Abernathy, who was leaning heavily on his cane, he looked relatively well.

Each of the grandmothers hugged him next before Matt was dragged away to meet some of Ashley's family who were visiting.

"Who is this girl, Ashley, Matt introduced us to, Susan?" Mrs. Cooper asked.

"Ashley is his girlfriend. They've been dating exclusively since Matt moved here," Susan told her.

"I thought they were seeing each other before that," Michael said.

"They were, but I don't think it became quite so serious between them until the middle of their Junior year," Susan said. "I don't think either one of them has dated anyone else since then."

"How serious is it, Susan?" Mr. Cooper asked.

Susan shrugged. "They both have the goal of getting through college first, but I suspect they want to get married someday."

"Why do you think that, Susie?" Mrs. Abernathy asked.

"Because, when they went with us to Elliot's sister's wedding this past spring, they were both very interested in all the various aspects of the wedding ceremony. And they've been equally interested in Rosemary and Neil's engagement," Susan said.

"Who is Elliot?" Mrs. Cooper asked.

"My son-in-law," Greg said. "It was a family wedding."

"I see," Mrs. Cooper said. "Who is Neil?"

"My step-son through my late second wife," Greg supplied. "Rosemary has been working as our nanny."

"It could be that they were simply curious, Susan," Michael pointed out.

"At this point, I'm sure that's all it is," Susan told her ex. "But I do suspect they are headed in that direction."

Michael arched his brow. "Then it would be in our best interests to get to know Ashley."

"I would definitely recommend it," Greg said.

As a group, they moved in the general direction Matthew and Ashley had gone through the crowd, trying to catch up with them again. Eventually they came to the McGuiness family who also had extended guests.

"Hi Susan," Barbara said.

"Hi Barbara. Good to see you again," Susan said.

"Did Matthew ask you about brunch tomorrow?" Barbara asked.

"Yes. We have reservations at Edwardo's at noon for our family," Susan told her.

"I'll call them this evening, see if we can get in," Barbara promised before she was pulled by her daughter in the direction of some Ashley's other friends.

"How long do you have before the bus leaves?" Michael asked Matt.

"About an hour," Matt said as he stretched up on his toes, trying to keep an eye on where his girlfriend went.

"She's over by the basketball courts," Zack said.

"Yeah, I see her," Matt said. "So are we all going? Tomorrow at Edwardo's?" he asked looking at his two sets of grandparents.

"If that's what you'd like to do to celebrate your graduation, we'll be there," Mrs. Cooper assured him.

"Cool," Matt said with a grin.

They chatted a bit more about nothing in particular, but before long, Matt was handing his graduation robes and cap to his mother and saying goodbye.

"See ya in the morning!" he called, and he sprinted to collect Ashley before the couple made their way to the school busses which were beginning to line up nearby, ready to take the graduates to Disneyland for the evening.

"Mama, is Matt really going to go to Disneyland tonight?" Jessie asked.

"Yes, he is. His graduating class is going as part of their celebration," Susan told her.

"Mama, I want to go," Jessie told her.

"Hasn't she ever been to Disneyland, Susan?" Mrs. Cooper asked looking curiously at Susan's adopted daughter. Michael had told her about the little girl Susan brought home with her from the islands, but somehow she'd pictured a little Asian girl, not this blonde-haired, brown-eyed girl vaguely Scandinavian-looking girl standing here.

"No. We haven't had the opportunity to go to Disneyland since we've been home," Susan told her. "Maybe we should though, this summer? While school is out?"

"We could," Greg agreed. "We'll have to plan a trip there, Jessie."

"Yea," Jessie said with a smile and she turned to talk to Zack about the idea while the adults talked.

"Speaking of trips, are you and your family going anywhere this summer I should know about?" Michael asked.

"I don't think we have any firm plans for the summer just yet," Susan said. "Why, are you?"

"Susan, I need to sit down," Mr. Abernathy interrupted. "I don't suppose you and Michael could talk about this back at the house?"

"Of course, Dad," Susan said. "Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, would you like to come with us? It would be much more comfortable to visit at our house than it is standing here in the sun."

"We should probably be looking for a motel close by, Susan, but thank you," Mr. Cooper said.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with us?" Susan offered.

"Do you have room?" Michael asked.

"It's just you and Rachelle, and Mom and Dad with us at the moment. They could have the room next to you," Susan suggested.

"For free?" Michael asked hesitantly.

"Of course," Greg told the other man. "Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, you are welcome. There is no reason you need to spend money on a hotel if you don't have to."

"Oh, I don't know," Mrs. Cooper said uncertainly.

"Teresa, I know you and I haven't always seen eye to eye, but you can trust Susan on this," Mrs. Abernathy said. "She and Greg have plenty of room. Their guestrooms have separate entrances, so you don't even have to go through the house, if you don't want to."

"They are comfortable, Mom," Michael told her.

"Have you stayed there?" she asked Michael and Rachelle doubtfully.

"Several times," Rachelle said.

"Why don't you want to, Grandma?" Zack asked curiously.

"Because, Zackary, me and your grandfather aren't really part of your mother's family anymore," Mrs. Cooper explained. "I would feel like I'm intruding."

Zack shrugged. "That's stupid. Jessie's great-grandfather stayed with us for almost a month, and he's even less related to us than you are. Come on to our house. We can show you were we live."

"But Matt won't even be there, Zack," Mr. Cooper said.

"I will be. And Matt will in the morning, and all weekend," Zack said.

Mr. and Mrs. Cooper looked at one another doubtfully.

"What do you think, Albert?" Mrs. Cooper said.

"Why don't we go back to the house with them for a little while? Susan is right about one thing, Teresa," Mr. Cooper said.

"What's that?"

"It's too hot to keep standing out here in the middle of the football field, surrounded by teenagers, in the sun," Mr. Cooper said. "Michael, do you know the way?"

"Yes," Michael told him. "What about dinner though?"

"I tell you what, Michael. Why don't you take Zack with you? He can open the door when you get there. We'll pick up some Chinese on the way home; then we can all eat together and talk out on the pool deck," Susan proposed. "It's a nice evening. Everyone is getting hungry. Then you can decide if you'd like to stay or not."

"Sounds good to me," Mr. Cooper said.

"Good," Michael said to no one in particular. "Follow me."

Michael, Rachelle, and Mr. and Mrs. Cooper disappeared into the crowd.

"Should I go with them?" Zack double checked.

"Do you have your house key?" Susan asked.

"No," Zack said.

Susan handed him hers. "Don't lose it," she admonished. "We'll be there before too long."

"Okay Mom," Zack agreed and he disappeared into the crowd too in the direction his father had gone.

"We'll meet you at the house too, Susan," Mr. Abernathy said. "Mildred, are you coming?"

"Yes Dick. We'll look after the Coopers, Susan, until you get back," Mrs. Abernathy told her.

"Thanks Mom," Susan said and her parents also disappeared into the crowd.

"What exactly do you have in mind, Susan?" Greg asked. He was carrying Melody while he, Susan, and Jessie made their way together, back to their car.

"Both of the Coopers have trouble with stairs. So I thought we'd take them down in the elevator, or else they can drive around. We'll eat outside, so they don't feel like they have to be in our house any more than they are comfortable with. Then if they want to stay, they can have the room next to Michael's. If they don't, we can tell them goodnight," Susan said.

Greg shrugged. "That sounds like as good a plan as any," he agreed.

c

Just as Susan predicted, the Coopers and the Abernathys were already at the house ahead of them when they arrived home with the food. Zack had already directed them on how to drive around along the service road to park closer to the pool deck. There they found the four grandparents plus Michael and Rachelle enjoying the early evening sun while sitting around their patio tables beside the pool.

Greg and Susan arrived with their hands full of sacks of Chinese food, along with paper plates, flatware, and a stack of the plastic tumblers they used down by the pool for drinks. Mrs. Abernathy and Zack brought down pitchers of iced tea and lemonade Susan had in the refrigerator, and they set everything atop one of the round poolside tables. The men pulled the two tables together, while the grandmothers began to distribute the plates around the tables, and Susan pulled out cartoons of Chinese food, careful to place the containers from one of the sacks on a specific table, while mixing up the others.

Greg cocked his head when he saw what she was doing.

"Those are defiantly not kosher," she warned.

"Thanks for telling me. Do the Coopers enjoy pork dishes?" Greg asked.

"And shrimp," Michael said. "What did you get, Susan?"

"Sweet and sour pork, moo-hsu pork, and shrimp chow mein for you. We have beef with snow peas, almond chicken, vegetable fried rice, orange chicken, and chicken chow mein over here. There are cartons of steamed rice and won tons on both tables," Susan explained.

"It smells wonderful, Susan," Mrs. Abernathy said as she and her husband pulled up chairs near the middle where they could reach both sets of cartons.

Everyone else gathered around, closest to the end that had the foods they liked best. Greg brought down Melody's high chair, and everyone ate and visited while the sun went down. The garden lights and the lights around the pool went on, and they kept right on visiting, long into the evening, speculating on where the graduates were and how they might be spending their time at Disneyland.

The Coopers ended up spending the night that night ... all of them, although none of them ventured into the main part of the house until morning.

c

Susan was up early on Saturday morning with Melody. Consequently, she was awake to glance at the clock just before six am when Matthew came home.

"Hi. You're up?" Matt asked, looking tired but happy.

"Yes. Melody thought we should be, so I am," Susan said quietly. "No one else is."

Matt nodded.

"Did you have fun?" Susan asked.

"Yeah, it was a blast. It's been years since we've been to Disneyland, so it was really fun. I'm really tired though. We slept some on the bus coming home, but I'm beat. I'm going to bed for a while, okay?" Matt asked.

Susan smiled. "Definitely. We'll try to keep it down once everyone else is awake. Remember though, our reservation at Edwardo's is at noon."

"I won't forget. It's only six now. That gives me a few hours to sleep," Matt said, and he trudged off to bed.

Susan entertained her daughter as best she could for the better part of an hour before anyone else got up. Her mother was next, coming up the stairs into the family room from the guestrooms below. She entered the room to see Susan carefully supporting Melody as she stood beside the sofa, clinging to it.

"She's on her feet," Mrs. Abernathy said excitedly.

"Hi Mom," Susan said. "Yes, she's starting to use her feet more. She's not actually cruising yet, but she will stand here for a moment or two if I set her in a standing position."

"She doesn't pull up on her own yet?" Mrs. Abernathy asked in concern.

"She does in the pool," Susan told her. "We found a way to help her learn to do it in the water, so eventually she'll figure out how to do it in the house too."

Mrs. Abernathy came over to join her daughter and granddaughter.

"Is Dad still asleep?" Susan asked.

"No. He's having coffee in our room. I don't think he can face your stairs without it," Mrs. Abernathy confided.

"Even with the elevator?" Susan asked in surprise.

"It's quite a walk, just to get to the elevator, Susie. I know he doesn't want anyone to know, but he's gotten even weaker on his left side than he was the last time we were here," she said.

Susan frowned. "What does his doctor say, Mom?" she asked.

"He says he's already given your father the best preventative medicine he can, which is why he feels each incident he's had since last summer has been so minor. But the fact is, he's had at least six of what they're calling thrombotic events since he had his actual stroke last August," Mrs. Abernathy said.

"That's not good, Mom," Susan told her.

"I know, Susie. My feeling is, eventually he'll have another one, and that will be the end. But we've had a good life. He's weak but not in any pain. There are so many worse things he could die from," Mrs. Abernathy said.

Susan paled slightly at her words. She knew it was true, and she was glad her mother was mentally prepared for it, but saying so, so openly didn't sit well with her inside.

"Don't give up on him, Mom. Not ever," Susan told her firmly.

"I won't," Mrs. Abernathy started to say when they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

Susan looked up to see Greg standing there. He looked at the strained expression on the faces of the mother and daughter, and he wondered for a moment if something had happened to Susan's father.

"No, not really," Mrs. Abernathy said when he asked. "I was just telling Susan what his doctor told me last month when he did some more tests. He's got Dick on blood thinners to help prevent clots, but they've been having trouble getting the dosage right, and he's had another minor incident since we were here last at the beginning of April."

Greg exchanged a look with his wife. "I didn't want to say anything, but I thought he looked weaker."

"He is, but only on one side," Mrs. Abernathy said. "Still, he refuses to slow down and tries to stay as active as he can. Mentally he seems fine, which I'm grateful for. He was so determined to be here for Matthew's graduation, I didn't want to discourage him if he could be."

"I'm glad he could be here, Mom," Susan said.

"So am I," Greg told her sincerely. "You and Dick mean a great deal to this family, Mildred."

"Thank you Greg. That's nice of you to say," Mrs. Abernathy told him.

"I mean that sincerely. I regret that Susan never had the opportunity to know my parents. I was thinking of that last evening while you and the Coopers were visiting," Greg said.

Mrs. Abernathy smiled sadly. "I'm sure they must have been older."

"My mother was seventy-five when she passed away. She died almost exactly six years ago, while we were in the islands. Papa was sixty-eight, but he died more than fifteen years ago," Greg said. "They were older, but not that old if I'm honest with myself. I'm fifty-nine myself."

"You called your father 'Papa'," Mrs. Abernathy observed. "That's what Jessie calls you."

"My parents were both old world immigrants," Greg said. "They were very old-fashioned in many ways."

"When did they come to this country?" Mrs. Abernathy asked curiously.

"Just before the war," Greg said. "I don't know the details. Mama didn't like to talk about it, and Papa always told us not to ask, but I always got the impression they were very young."

"World War II?" Mrs. Abernathy realized.

"Yes," Greg said.

"Were their parents with them?" she asked delicately. "They couldn't have been very old when they came."

"No, they weren't. They came together but they came alone, we were told. I know their parents died during the war, sometime after they left ... but I've never known anything more," Greg told her.

Mrs. Abernathy blinked at her son-in-law as she considered what that might mean. Greg's family was Jewish. His parents must have been in their teens when they arrived here, just before the official start of the war. Knowing what she did about what was happening to Jews all over Europe during that period, it wasn't hard to imagine a desperate escape for the young people, engineered by relatives who knew what was happening. But then again, it might have been something much less dramatic that happened to them too.

"Forgive me," Mrs. Abernathy said. "I suppose my imagination is running away from me, given what you've said."

"Don't apologize, Mildred. My brother and I used to imagine all kinds of heroic adventures or alternately stories of daring surrounding their journey here. But the truth is, we don't know. They never told us," Greg said. "We always guessed, they didn't want us to know."

"It couldn't have been good," Susan said. "Given when they came and what was happening in the part of the world they came from."

"I know," Greg said. "Perhaps I will find out someday, but as of right now, I just don't know."

"Maybe something to look into when you finish the movie?" Susan suggested.

"Perhaps," Greg said. "Is Matthew home yet?"

"Yes. He got home about an hour ago ... just before six, and went directly to bed," Susan said.

"Did he have a good time?" Mrs. Abernathy asked.

"I think so. I'm sure he'll tell us more about it at brunch later today," Susan predicted. "Do you think anyone will want something to eat before noon?"

"Your father may. We found some cereal in the cabinet in our room," Mrs. Abernathy said.

"Yes. We started keeping a few things there while Mr. Simms was staying with us," Susan said.

"It's a good idea, Susie. Perhaps I could take him down a pitcher of milk to go with it?" Mrs. Abernathy said.

"Sure Mom. I'll get it for you," Susan told her.

Susan ended up taking coffee, milk, and cereal down to the Cooper's rooms too, Greg noted part way through the morning. Even after Zackary got up and went downstairs to visit his father's parents, they seemed reluctant to join him to visit in the house. It wasn't until Matt finally got up, about an hour before their reservation for brunch, that he finally was able to convince them to come up to the kitchen for a little while so he could show his grandfather something in his room. Eventually though, the hour came to leave for brunch. Everyone dressed appropriately, the Coopers loaded up their cars, and after thanking Greg and Susan for their hospitality, they followed them to the restaurant.

c

Edwardo's was packed that morning with families celebrating the accomplishments of their slightly blurry-eyed graduates. Ashley's family was also there, and although she didn't look much more alert than Matthew did, they both looked extraordinarily happy. Brunch was a buffet, served out on their glass-enclosed brick patio beneath the large, upstairs balcony, giving diners from different families much more opportunity to mingle and talk to one another than there usually was in restaurants. The teens all knew each other, making for a very friendly atmosphere.

"I want you to know, I'm real proud of you Matthew," Mr. Cooper said after brunch as they got ready to leave. "Congratulations on your graduation from high school and getting into UCLA too. That is quite an accomplishment."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Matt said.

"Congratulations from me too, Matthew," Mrs. Cooper said.

"Are you leaving too, Dad?" Matt asked when his father and Rachelle also got up from the table.

"Yes. We're going to spend some time with your grandparents while they're down this way, before we fly home. Let me know the next time you and Zack think you'll be ready to come up for a visit and we'll arrange something," Michael promised.

"We will Dad, sometime this summer probably. I'm working and freshman activities start in early September. Also, Zack starts Cross Country practice in August. So maybe sometime in July?" Matt suggested.

"July sounds good," Michael told him. "Goodbye Son. You've done well. I want you to know."

"Thanks, Dad," Matt said and he watched from the porch of Edwardo's as his father and the rest of the Coopers drove away.

"Are you ready to go home?" Susan asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Matt said. "This is so weird ... thinking about high school being over. I mean all these people here ... it's like I see them all the time. But that's not going to happen anymore, is it?"

"No. Things change after high school," Susan said. "It doesn't seem like they will for a while, but suddenly you wake up one day and they are different."

"Yeah I know. Somehow after this, I've got this feeling that everything in my life is going to change."

c