In her mauve pajamas Cassie makes her way to the kitchen as Abigail's front door closes. She glances at the cup of tea, and unfolds the handwritten note. She reads it silently, and then collects a paper bag that lies beneath it.
When she enters Grey house Sam is sitting at the counter drinking a cup of coffee reading the newspaper. He glances up at her with a smile. He points to the toaster.
"I made you toast."
She tilts her head, "How did you know I was coming?"
"Full disclosure, I was watching you out the window. I was just trying to be sweet, and not concerned about your whereabouts."
"Why weren't you concerned with my whereabouts?"
"First of all it's you, second of all I remember that you turned on your tracking in case we got separated while we were travelling."
"So you were spying on me?"
"Just your location. I talked to the people over at the Department of Children and Family Services. They emailed me over some information."
"I think we should put that conversation on hold for a little while."
His face flashes of concern as he lowers the newspaper. He pauses from his morning read to read his wife, instead. Her posture is uncharacteristically tense. Her lips are drawn into a line. The worry lines on her face highlight her tired eyes. Sam motions for her to have a seat. He notices her ensemble. It's a simple black shirt, and a pair of jeans.
"Did you abscond to Abigail's fully dressed?"
"No. I had to run an errand after I went to Abigail's. Shouldn't you be headed into the office?"
He glances at his watch, "Yes. I feel like we were about to have a deep, and meaningful conversation."
"Tonight," she promises with a kiss.
At lunch Cassie quietly sits at a table in the corner of the bistro. Abigail slides into the seat next to her. Joy makes her way over at a sloth's pace. Cassie's eyes finally focus. Her eyes land on Joy.
"You seem less than enthusiastic about my lunch invite," Cassie comments.
Joy shrugs, "Because I have a sinking feeling about this family meeting."
"What are you having for lunch?" Abigail questions, looking at Cassie.
"A healthy case of indigestion. Why was a family meeting called?" Joy answers.
Abigail smiles, "Joy, I know you are the one who typically has all the dreams, but I had a relatively interesting dream last night, or this morning, depending on your definition, after I was rudely awakened by an intruder."
"An intruder? How scary," Joy responds.
Abigail shakes her head, "It was Cassie who was going on about some ridiculous arrangement of flowers in the middle of the night."
Joy furrows her brow, "Are we in crisis?"
"I am certainly not. I am definitely in the acceptance phase of things," Abigail responds.
The pair of them turn to Cassie who sits between them in silence seemingly staring off into the distance. Joy nudges her with an elbow.
"Are you alright in there?"
She purses her lips, and smooths the napkin on her lap, "Only time will tell."
"Is something wrong? Is it another curse? I'm just not sure my heart can handle more turmoil right now," Joy rambles.
"I think that really depends how you look at it. I didn't have an ominous dream, if that is what you are asking," Abigail responds.
"So what was the dream?" Joy gesticulates.
"Children playing on the swings at the playground," Cassie finally breaks her silence.
"You've been having that dream too?" Joy quizzes.
"I have. Cassie, have you?"
"For months," Cassie admits.
"It has been a recurring dream for me. Every single time I walk up to them from behind, and stare at the back of their little heads. Until last night, of course. Last night I was approaching them from the front, and I saw their precious faces, and they jumped off, and ran over."
Joy shrugs, "It seems like a sweet dream, but why are we all having it? What does it mean? Something in the past?"
"It's our future," Abigail explains.
"As in we are going to inspire a new generation?" Joy attempts to interpret.
"To heal our family line we have to raise a new generation of Merriwick descendants," Cassie answers in a somber tone.
Joy tilts her head, "I'm sorry, what?!"
"Some seeds to be sown are more than figurative ones," Abigail responds.
Joy waves her hand, "I know that is true for you."
Abigail smirks, "I'm sorry if you don't like the dream. I am only the messenger."
"Cassie tell her that she's wrong. No one else is preparing to bring up anymore Merriwick descendants. So does that mean that Cassie is off the hook then, since she already has Grace?"
"None of us are off the hook," Abigail insists.
"You can't really be serious, can you? Certainly this is some sort of scheme, right?"
Abigail clears her throat, and elbows Cassie. Cassie sights heavily, and shakes her head.
Joy's face puckers, "Why are you being so quiet? What is wrong with you?"
Abigail chimes in, "She's just in a state of shock."
"I understand the thought of the realities of this dream are pretty jarring. Perhaps the dream has been totally misinterpreted," Joy answers.
"She's not wrong," Cassie reveals.
"Abigail says the wrong thing all of the time," Joy reminds.
Cassie meets her glance, "Joy, this isn't Abigail putting her foot in her mouth."
"The two of you have lost it. You're literally talking about the three of us bearing more human beings. It sounds like a total work of fiction."
"As we're sitting here talking about this the lily of the valley is starting to make a lot more sense," Cassie admits.