Susan at the table staring at the post card in front of her. She drummed her fingers on the address book next to it and sighed. Chuck came in and stopped when he saw her back at the table. He frowned a little and went to the refrigerator. He took out the milk carton and carried it to the counter. Susan watched him silently as he took a glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass of milk. He sat down at the table and put the glass in front of him. Their eyes met and held.
"Don't do this, Susan," he said finally. "You don't even know if she is still in Seattle."
"That's why I need to do it," she said.
"Who is it possibly going to help?"
"We've been through all of this, Chuck...several times."
"How can you do this to Susie? Are you willing to risk her happiness and security right now?"
"How will she feel down the road knowing that we knew where her mother was and didn't try to help her?"
"But you don't know where her mother is! And I don't think she really cares anyway. Her mother hasn't been there for her in a long time...if she ever was."
"Chloe is...still...her mother." Chuck shook his head and sighed heavily.
"It's wrong, babe," he said quietly. "Wait until Chloe comes to you... don't go after her."
"I'm not going after her," Susan said. "I just want to make sure she is all right."
"Well, I'm with your dad on this one...and Abby...and Luka...," he said. Susan nodded.
"I know you are," she said without looking at him. Chuck frowned sadly and then stood up. He picked up his glass of milk and looked at her for a long moment. He leaned over and kissed her cheek as he passed.
"I love you," he said before he left her alone in the kitchen. She sighed and turned the post card over and read it once again. Then she reached for the address book and flipped through it. She picked up her cell phone and dialed a number she hadn't called since the day they'd learned that Mark Greene had died.
Susan waited a moment as the phone rang. Her heart was beating wildly in her throat. Was she doing the right thing? Maybe Chuck was right. Maybe she should wait until Chloe contacted them. If she'd sent her dad a postcard, maybe Chloe was closer to contacting her.
"Hello," came a voice from the other end.
"Doug," Susan said. "It's Susan Lewis."
"Hey! Susan! How are you?" Susan grinned.
"I'm fine, Doug. You?"
"Great...great. Very busy though. We seem to be running a chauffeuring service here. Carol is picking Tess up from dance right now and I am almost on my way out the door with Katie and Mark for soccer practice. Hey, I just looked at my caller i.d. What the heck are you doing in...Iowa City?" Susan chuckled.
"Uh...well...let's just say that I'm another casualty of the 'Weaver Machine'. They wouldn't give me a tenured position so I left County... again."
"You're kidding," Doug was aghast.
"But, it's been a very good move, however," she said. "I love my job here."
"Aww...that's good. Me too." Susan ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath.
"Um...Doug," she said. "I need a favor." He listened as she told him quickly about Susie...and Chloe...and the postcard.
"I think she's in another rehab program in Seattle," she said. 'Is there anyway you can check for me?"
"I don't know, Susan." he said. "There are some pretty strict confidentiality rules in those places. You know that."
"That's why I'm calling you, Doug. Since when have you given a rat's behind about rules?" She smiled as she heard him chuckle on the other end.
"I don't want to contact her or anything. I just want to make sure she is all right." There was silence on the other end.
"I'll see what I can do," Doug said finally.
"Thanks, Doug," she said. "I'll let you go now. Give my love to Carol."
"I will, Susan," he said. "I will be in touch as soon as I find anything out, okay? And I want to talk longer so we can really catch up."
"Okay...me too," she said. "Bye." Susan ended the call and set her phone on the table. She took a deep breath and wiped away the tears that spilled out of the corners of her eyes.