Episode 4--Complications

The day after the earthquake Tom takes Abby to a romantic restaurant. He wines and dines her and tries to work up the nerve to propose to her. He finally works up the courage.

"You know, Abby, after Joan died I thought I would never love another woman again and for a while that was proving true until I met you. Now, I know we haven't known each other that long, but that doesn't matter to me. All I know is that I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" Tom asks her.

For a while, Abby just plays with her wine glass, not answering. When she does speak, she doesn't look at Tom and her voice is low, wistful. "Sometimes when I think about you I can barely breath. My heart sometimes literally aches with the way I feel about you. After Frank...after Frank died, I thought I'd never love anyone ever again, but you--you're so..." She struggles for the words, and shrugs when she can't find them.

"I'm what?" Tom asks.

"You're so...kind, and gentle, and--well, the usual words just don't..." By now, Abby's eyes are full of tears. "But I don't think I can be the kind of wife you'd want," she says. "I'd never put Betty Crocker to shame, and I'm far too independent for your taste."

"Is that a no?" Tom's face falls. "Abby that's not why I want to marry you. That's stuff we can work out. I want to marry you because I love you and I don't want to be with anyone else."

"I don't want to disappoint you, that's all. And you have the kids to worry about. Wouldn't they be better off with someone who knew how to be a mother?"

"Abby most of the kids are adults now, and the other three are crazy about you. There's no way you can be a disappointment to me."

Abby laughs. "No way?"

"Well none that I can see right now," Tom says.

"Famous last words," Abby says. "I'm serious, Tom. This is a big step, and...Hey, what ever happened to taking it slowly, anyway?"

"We tried taking it slowly and that didn't work, remember? I'm serious too."

"I know, but... If it were just the two of us, I wouldn't hesitate. I probably would have proposed to you already. But this is a whole family. That's a little scary."

"I realize that, Abby. Believe me I do, and I know this is a tough decision for you so take your time and think it over. I'll be waiting for you when you make your decision."

"You think I've been thinking about anything else since Tuesday?" Abby admits. "I make a decision based on what I want, and then I think I'm being selfish and get scared and think I must be crazy."

~Oh no, she's going to say no.~ "Abby, what are you trying to tell me?"

"That I don't know. No, I do know what I want. I want to be with you so much it frightens me. But I'm terrified of what all that means. I know your kids aren't thrilled by the idea of anyone coming in and taking over their mother's place, no matter how much they like me."

"Abby, it will all work out," Tom promises.

"Will it?" Abby reaches out to hold his hand. "I want it to, I do."

"Yes we can make it work. I love you too much not to make it work."

"Well, then, the only question is when."

Tom smiles, kisses her, and presents the engagement ring.

Abby returns the kiss. "Well, you were pretty confident, weren't you?"

Tom slips the ring on her finger. "Well yes, actually I had a lot of hope. So what day is good for you?"

"Oh, I don't know. My schedule's flexible. I mean, if I can rearrange it to get Nicholas from Stockton or for an earthquake, I can certainly rearrange it to marry you."

"Ok how bout November 1st, naah that's not good I have to cover a debate." Tom ponders a while.

"How about New Year's?"

"Naah there's no way we'd get all the people we'd want to be there there that night, and most of the children will already have plans."

The two toss dates around, one proposing, the other rejecting on various grounds.

"The end of December? No, that's too close to Christmas."

"May I suggest a Saturday in June," a waiter says as he passes by.

Tom looks at him strangely and then turns back to Abby. "How about November 9th?"

"Why November 9th?"

"Because it's the only one neither one of us has shot down yet," Tom says.

"OK."

After dinner they go out for ice cream and then Tom drops Abby off at her apartment.

"Are you going to tell your kids when you get home?" Abby asks him.

"I thought maybe we can tell them together."

"Tonight? It's a little late to be running back and forth now, isn't it? Besides, if we go to your house now, I won't get my goodnight kisses," she teases.

"No I was thinking more like tomorrow at breakfast or at dinner," Tom says. "There's no way either of us is missing out on our goodnight kisses."

"I know you too well to think you could keep this from the kids a whole day, so I guess it'd better be breakfast," Abby smiles at him. "And enjoy the kisses while you can. I won't be kissing you goodnight at my front door for much longer."

"Yeah we'll be in the same house, the same bedroom for now on," Tom says as he kisses her.

"Mmm. I like that idea," Abby says, but she stiffens slightly and pulls away.

"Is anything wrong?"

"I know this is silly. You've said things will be fine between us, but still--it's her room, her bed. Are you sure that's wise?" Abby asks nervously.

"It was Joan's room and her bed. We can always redecorate. I've been thinking of doing that anyway with the bedroom," Tom says.

"In three weeks?" Abby says. "Look, it's not for me. I didn't know any of you when she was still alive, it has no memories for me. It's a question of what will be easiest for all of you. Me, I actually like brass beds," Abby says with something sultry in her voice.

"Abby, don't underestimate the power of the Bradford children. They can have that room, with David's supervision, redecorated in less than a week. Brass beds eh? Ok." Tom smiles and kisses her again.

"Brass beds," Abby confirms. "And you." She kisses him. "How many hours are there in three weeks?"

"A lot of hours," Tom says as he kisses her.

Abby kisses him some more, then pushes him away. "Go on, get out of here so I can sleep some of those hours away. I'll see you for breakfast tomorrow. And no telling them before I get there, OK?"

"You have my word that I won't tell them anything till you get there." He gives her one more kiss and then drives home.

~Three weeks,~ Abby thinks as she closes the door behind him. ~I'll never get everything done. Too bad Elizabeth didn't really want to go to the Women's Health Center yesterday--would have saved me a trip to the doctor,~ she thinks with some amusement. ~I have to get a dress. Call my parents. Maybe I wait until tomorrow for that lecture.~

Early the next morning Abby calls home, hoping to catch her father before he goes out to the golf course.

"You sound good, Sandra Sue," her mother says.

"I am good," Abby confirms.

"So, who is he?"

"Mom, why do you assume that if I'm happy it's a man? It so happens I'm speaking at a conference in December."

"That's wonderful. Do you want us to come up to hear it?" Katherine offers.

"Um, actually, I was hoping you could come up earlier, like the first week of November."

"Why?"

"I'm getting married."

"You see, it is a--you're getting married?"

"Uh-huh."

"That reporter?"

"Mom..."

"Do you love him, Sandra Sue?" her mother asks.

"Yes! Yes, I do."

"Tell me about him."

Abby rhapsodizes for a half hour about Tom's virtues and a few of his faults.

"Sounds like love," Katherine agrees. "We'll be there, of course." They discuss wedding plans and travel plans for a while, then Abby battles her father for his approval, and by the time she leaves the house, she's already running late. She hurries to Tom's house, surveying it now with a more critical eye, trying to see where she and her life can fit in, where her things can be blended into the already full house. She knocks at the door, but no one answers, so she walks in and through to the kitchen.

"Finally," Nancy exclaims. "Now will the two of you please tell us what is going on?"

Tom laughs. "Sure Nancy, everyone." He gets their attention. "If you have any plans for November the 9th cancel them, because Abby and I are getting married that day."

"What?! That's great!!" Nancy hugs both of them and most of the other kids come over to congratulate them.

Tommy says "It's about time; and to think it was all my doing. I may have to break my leg more often," Tommy jokes.

Nicholas comes over and says quietly, "Congratulations."

"Not unless you believe in polygamy; I think you've done enough matchmaking for your father now," Abby answers Tommy.

"I agree there," Tommy says.

"And besides, if you broke your leg again I doubt they'd let me be your tutor. Who knows, you might get a cranky old bat next time around."

"Like that would be worse," Tommy says and then adds, "I am kidding."

Abby picks up her purse. "Yeah, sure." She gives Tom a kiss, "I'll just be going now. You might want to check out Tommy's next tutor before you make any commitments," she deadpans.

Tommy grabs Abby arm and replies, "I am happy for both of you, honest."

"Just remember that the first time you're tempted to make some wicked stepmother crack," Abby laughs. "And don't forget--you were warned. You've known all along that I'm a cranky old bat."

Tommy laughs. "I'll remember that."

After she's finished teasing Tommy, Abby walks over to Nicholas. "You OK with this?" she asks.

"Yeah," Nicholas tries to say convincingly.

"It's OK if you're still upset," Abby tells him. "It wasn't all that long ago you thought your mom was going to come back, and now your father's getting remarried. That's a big change."

Nicholas nods and replies "I'll be ok."

"OK. But remember that you promised to talk to me if you ever weren't OK with this, right?" Abby says.

"I remembered," Nicholas smiles.

"All right then," Abby give him a hug and goes back to the rest of the kids.

~What the heck? No uh uh.~ Elizabeth slips out of the kitchen and goes for a walk.

Joannie notices that Elizabeth's not crowding around to offer congratulations even though she'd become president of Abby's fan club this week. She slips out the door to look for her sister.

Elizabeth winds up at park. ~Ok, so she's a nice lady and I really like her, but she's not Mom and she never will be.~ She starts crying.

Before Elizabeth gets to the end of the block Joannie's spotted her, but she follows at a distance until she sees where her sister's going. At the park she maintains her watch until she sees Elizabeth crying. "Hey, what's up?" she asks as she kneels down next to Elizabeth.

"Why does Dad have to get married for?" Elizabeth says through her tears.

"You want them just to live together?"

"I want mom back," Elizabeth says to her. "I know it's silly."

"No, it isn't," Joannie hugs her sister. "We all do. I'll bet even with him getting married again Dad does, too."

"Yeah but why does he have to get married why can't they just see each other?" Elizabeth cries on her shoulder. "I like Abby, she's great, but...."

"Shh..." Joannie considers reminding Elizabeth that no one's actually ruled out the possibility that this is a shot-gun wedding but decides that would only make things worse. "You said yourself that Dad is still a man, and an old fashioned one at that. We all knew it was only a matter of time until he went looking for a wife. And besides, I think Nicholas really does need someone besides us and Dad. No one can take Mom's place, but she can at least give him some mothering."

"That's true, but I can't go in there and congratulate them when I don't mean it. I just need some time to think."

"Of course--take all the time you want. It's not like they're going away or anything. And maybe you should talk to Dad about it all." Joannie stands. "Liz? You won't be upset if I go back and see if they need any help with the wedding, will you? I guess I owe it to her after that little bit of snooping I did, and her not telling Dad on me."

"No I don't mind, go ahead," Elizabeth says.

"You'll be OK?"

"Yeah I'll be ok, but I'll probably be a few hours."

"OK, then." Joannie goes back to the house and the chaos already in progress. She pulls Nancy out of the fray of questions and plans and tells her where Elizabeth is and why.

"I'll go hang out with her. If Dad asks tell her I took her out shopping or something," Nancy says and then leaves for the park.

She finds Elizabeth still crying, holds her, and tries to comfort her.

"Did Joannie tell you where I was?" Elizabeth asks.

"Huh, no, I was just out walking and saw you crying over here. What did you think I was just going to walk away, no way." Nancy tells her.

"I'm not going home, not yet," Elizabeth says.

"What a coincidence. Neither am I," Nancy replies.

After Nancy heads off, Joannie joins the fracas. "So how are you planning to pull off a wedding in only three weeks?"

"It's only going to be a small wedding," Abby says.

"Yes, with not a lot of guests," Tom says.

"We figure it's the second time around for both of us, so... What do you think?" Abby asks the kids.

"I think a small wedding will be nice," David says.

"Where are you doing it?" Joannie asks.

"We don't know yet, Abby do you have any ideas?" Tom asks.

"I'd assumed church, and the reception here--it's big enough to hold 50 people, isn't it?"

"Yeah if we have it in the backyard."

"In November?" Joannie says. "Why don't you find a hall or something?"

"The backyard will be fine for November," Tom says.

"Joannie has a really good point, Tom. Why worry? If it does rain we'd have to bring everyone inside, and then we'd have to clean up." ~And I don't intend to spend my first night with you cleaning up dirty ashtrays and spilled drinks.~

"Yeah and I don't want to spend my first night with you cleaning up a mess."

Joannie chokes on her coffee. ~Well, I guess that answers my question about a shot-gun wedding.~

"The only problem is time," Abby points out. "Neither of us can take a lot of time off of work to plan this right now. I've got that conference coming up and you've got elections."

"No problem," Joannie volunteers. "We can handle everything!"

"Now wait a minute, Joannie. Don't go crazy with this we want it to be small and dignified," Tom warns.

"It won't be anything in...bad taste," Joannie reassures him.

"Good," he looks around. "Where's Elizabeth and Nancy?"

"You know Nancy--give her an occasion, and she'll head out shopping," Joannie says to cover her sisters' absence.

"So she decided to only take one sister with her?" Tom inquires.

"She didn't want to take the only car we've got, and who wants to go hoofing it with Nancy on a mission?"

David laughs. "Yeah really."

"OK, so we need a hall, invitations, a band, a caterer, liquor..." Joannie starts organizing the world.

"Joannie, remember, keep it small," Tom says.

"Maybe we should handle the invitations and liquor," Abby says, nervous about leaving all this in the kids' hands. "Spread the load a little," she tells Joannie.

Some time later Elizabeth and Nancy return. Elizabeth goes up to her room and slams the door. Nancy thinks about going after her but decides not to. ~If she didn't want to talk about it five minutes ago she doesn't want to talk about it now. Some big sister I am. Nothing I say ever works with her it just ticks her off more.~ She goes to join the others.

"Hey how are the plans going?"

"Nancy, you're our expert," Joannie whispers to her sister. "Small and dignified doesn't necessarily mean tacky, does it?"

"No of course not, why?"

"Good. Then we have a wedding to plan," Joannie says. She looks at Tom and Abby. "Don't you two have work to go to or something? We can't plan anything if you're going to hang over us."

"Work on a Saturday?" Tom looks at her strangely. "Hmm, no I don't have anywhere to go," Tom teases.

"Umm..." Joannie tries to think of a way to get the adults out of the room, "guest lists. If you're handling the invitations, you need to write out guest lists, right?"

Tom looks at Abby. "Do you want to go to the study with me and make out guest lists?"

"Umm, sure," Abby says, but she seems distracted.

After Tom and Abby go to work on the guest lists, Joannie starts to plan out the wedding. "Nancy, you look for a place--banquet rooms, private dining rooms, gymnasiums. Anyone know any photographers? Tommy, don't just sit there--what are you going to take charge of?"

"Dad's bachelor party," Tommy says.

Joannie laughs. "You're going to throw Dad a bachelor party? He isn't some teen getting his first look at a girl, you know."

"Hey he is still single until he says *I Do* so why shouldn't he have a bachelor party?" Tommy says.

Nicholas asks, "What's a bachelor party?"

"A display of the most ridiculous chauvinism on earth," Joannie tells him. "You're actually going to order a girl in a cake for your own father?" she asks Tommy.

"It'll be dignified," Tommy says.

"A dignified girl in a cake. I've got you," Joannie laughs.

"What do you want me to do?" Nicholas asks.

Joannie thinks for a minute. "The bridal car."

"What's that?" Nicholas asks.

"It's the car Dad and Abby will come home from the church in, and go off on their honeymoon in. You get to decorate it, make it look special."

"OK," Nicholas says. "Do I use water colors?"

"Um, I don't think so, Nicky. Most people use ribbons and bows and fake flowers. Nothing that we won't be able to get off when they get home."

"Flowers? Yuck," Nicholas says.

"Hey, you know, you're going to have to wear one at the wedding. We all get flowers."

"No way," Nicholas says

"Yes way," Joannie insists. "And a tuxedo. You'll look adorable."

Nicholas just shakes his head. "Boy, this wedding is going to be all sissy stuff."

Joannie ruffles his hair since she can't really argue.

Tom and Abby go into the study and are finally alone. Tom asks. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Abby smiles. "Just a little disappointed. I was hoping you weren't going to add the words 'guest lists' to your last sentence."

Tom smiles. "Well what would the children think if I said something else?"

Abby makes a show of looking around. "I don't see any children here."

Tom closes and locks all the doors to the study and then goes to Abby and starts kissing her. ~I'll sure be glad when we can go further than kissing.~

"Hey, I thought you weren't allowed to have girls alone with men in locked rooms," Abby says.

"When did I say that?" Tom pretends not to remember.

"Oh, the first time you got me alone in your bedroom."

"Do you want me to unlock the doors?"

"It's not my house rules we're breaking," Abby says. "I don't have any of those old-fashioned rules."

"Ok then," Tom says and keeps the doors locked.

"Well, now I know who teaches the kids to break the rules around here."

"Not me, they never find out when I break the rules. I'm very careful about that."

Meanwhile, outside the study Nancy smirks when she sees that the door is locked and then goes upstairs to check on Elizabeth.

Joannie finishes assigning tasks to her siblings and goes upstairs to check if Elizabeth's back. She meets Nancy on the stairs. "Why are you smiling?"

"Dad is breaking his own rules again." Tells her about the study doors. "My next boyfriend I'm bringing him up to my room and sending Elizabeth out to a movie and then he and I are going to have some fun."

"I'll help plan your funeral," Joannie says.

Nancy laughs. "Not that, we'll just make it sound like that. You know, mess with Dad's head a little bit."

"You mean it's not enough of a mess?"

"Oh come on Joannie, don't you think that it's not fair that he enforces rules that he himself breaks?"

"Hey, he knows most of us aren't always celibate, but he and Abby are holding out, as far as I can tell. Hey, is Elizabeth back yet? I forgot that I have to tell her."

"Yeah and ticked at me, to tell her what?"

"That this probably isn't a shot-gun wedding. Wouldn't that have been something, Mr. Righteous having to get married. Why's she ticked at you?"

"I tried to get her to tell me what's bothering her and I wouldn't let up. I guess it seriously got on her nerves."

"Did she tell you?" Joannie asks, wondering how much she should share.

Nancy shakes her head.

"It's this whole wedding thing. She'll get over it, just give her time."

"Yeah I suppose." She starts to enter her room only to discover that the door is locked. "Elizabeth open the door!!"

"Go away I don't want to talk to you!!"

"Elizabeth, come on," Joannie calls. "Let us in."

"Only you can come in Joannie, the pest can't!!"

Nancy winces at the words. "I won't talk Elizabeth I promise!!"

Elizabeth unlocks the door and lets them in.

"Come on, Elizabeth," Joannie tries to reason, "taking it out on Nancy isn't going to solve anything."

"I need someone to take it out on. Why not her?" Elizabeth says.

"Thanks a lot kid," Nancy replies.

"You said you weren't going to talk."

"Yeah well I lied. Look I'm sorry I pushed earlier. I didn't mean to. I was just worried about you."

"Well no one asked you to worry," Elizabeth counters.

"Fine next time I won't," Nancy says having had enough and leaves the room. She goes downstairs and grabs the keys to the station wagon. "Hey Dad I'm going for a drive. I'll be back later!!" Nancy shouts on her way out the door.

Nancy's shout barely registers in the study, whose occupants are a little...occupied. About a minute later, when their brains catch up to their ears, Abby asks Tom, "Did she sound a little upset?"

"Yes but I wonder what she's upset about?" Tom ponders and then returns to kissing Abby.

Abby decides not to worry if Tom isn't, although she's beginning to worry if she'll last three weeks like this.

"Come on, Elizabeth, you're not being fair," Joannie says. "You want to be angry at anyone, be angry at Dad. He's the one getting married, not Nancy."

Elizabeth sighs. "I guess you're right, but sometimes she really does get on my nerves."

"She's your sister. That's her job. You think Susan and I don't fight?"

Elizabeth manages a smile. "She did keep me company that one time I was laid up in bed with a broken hip."

"And you appreciate her when you want to raid her closet," Joannie adds.

"Will you go get her and tell her it's safe to come in now?" Elizabeth requests.

"OK," Joannie says and goes looking for Nancy. She's nowhere upstairs and no one downstairs has seen her. She knocks on the study door and turns the handle, but the door is locked, so she knocks harder.

"Go away we're busy with guest lists!!" Tom shouts.

Joannie hears something in Tom's voice that she only associates with her own dates, and then Abby's giggle. ~Sure you are.~ "Dad, you know you're not allowed to lock your door if you've got a lady in there!" she says, momentarily forgetting that she'd come to ask if he knew where Nancy is--gossip is more important.

Tom shakes his head. "I'll be back in a minute." He kisses Abby and then goes to open the door and talk to Joannie. "Joannie what is it?"

"You're breaking the house rules again, Dad. Did you warn Abby about your wild side?"

"Ha ha that's funny. Now what's so important that you were banging on the door?"

"Oh, yeah. Have you seen Nancy? She stormed out of her room, and Elizabeth wants her to come back."

"Well Elizabeth is going to have a hard time catching up to her on foot. She shouted something about going for a drive. Is everything ok?" he asks.

"Oh, it's nothing important," Joannie says, not wanting to worry her father. "Just sister stuff. You know. Don't let me interrupt you two," she says as she backs out of the room.

"Ok," Tom says not really believing her but figuring that this is something his children can handle on their own. "But if it becomes important I want to know."

"Sure." Joannie starts up the stairs and at the first landing turns back to her father. "And don't lock the door or you'll be grounded!" she says before running up the stairs to safety.

She goes into Elizabeth's room and flops down on Nancy's bed. "Good going, hotshot. She took the car and ran out."

"Oh great." Elizabeth says and then becomes worried. "What if she wrecks? She shouldn't be driving when she's upset, or what if she goes to the ice cream shop and overdoses on chocolate milk shakes again. Remember how sick she got the last time she did that?"

"She's a big girl, Elizabeth," Joannie says and then sighs. "If Mom were here, she'd know what to do."

"If Mom were here she would have taken the keys from her and made her go with her to the sun room for a talk. But then again if Mom were here this wouldn't be happening in the first place."

Tom shakes his head and returns to Abby. "I was almost grounded." he tells her.

"Well," Abby says as she puts her arms around him, "tell them to hold off three weeks, and then I'll help you pass the time."

Tom grins and kisses her.

Abby breaks away and goes over to the door, one hand on the lock. "Should we risk getting grounded?"

"Sure why not?"

Abby locks the door. "You're just determined to get me into trouble, aren't you?" she says as she slinks back to him.

"Hey it's fun getting into trouble."

"Is it?" Abby asks Tom. "Well, then, why don't you show me what your definition of fun is."

"I will on our wedding night." Tom promises.

"Three weeks, huh?" Abby groans. "If I didn't hate politicians before, I hate them now."

"It'll pass quickly," Tom promises, "if we keep telling ourselves that it'll pass quickly."

"There are other things I'd rather be doing than talk to myself," Abby says and kisses him.

Tom smiles and returns the kiss.

After a while Abby comes up for air. "You know, if we don't stop, I'm going to forget that we're trying to be adult about this and wait. After all, no one besides us believes that we are."

"What do you mean?" Tom asks. "Have the kids done something?"

"Well, not done. Said, more like. Joannie and Elizabeth were trying to figure out if my father had chased you down with a shot gun to get this proposal."

"They what? Abby what exactly did they do?" Tom asks.

Abby moves away from him and goes to sit behind Tom's desk. "It's all straightened out, and I told them I wouldn't tell you details. If I'm going to be their stepmother, you're going to have to trust me to handle things with them on my own, you know."

Tom sighs. "Ok, as long as it's all straightened out, and I'll trust you."

"Oh, cheer up. All their speculation will be irrelevant soon. But before that happens, we have to make out these guest lists, and the liquor, and there are some other things we need to talk about--legalities, blood tests, a license. I don't know how we'll pull all this together in three weeks."

"Abby we'll pull it together, don't worry," Tom assures her.

"I'm not worried," Abby counters, "I'm just--see, I want everything settled by the time my parents...Oh, no, Tom, you have to forget anything I ever said about my father before you actually meet him, OK? They're coming up a few days early so they can meet you and the kids."

"I can do that, I think," Tom worries.

"Just remember that they live way down in Pasadena, and that they hate leaving home."

Tom sighs in relief.

"Behave," Abby warns, "or I'll start in on the long list of things you have in common with my parents."

"Now that's hitting below the belt, please don't do that," Tom requests.

Abby smirks, almost makes a comment, but decides to go easy on the poor man. "Come on, we might as well get started on these list. They certainly won't get organized on their own. My parents wanted to telex their list from Dad's office to yours, but I convinced them the mail works just fine."

"OK, I wanted to invite the Maxwells, my sister, Donna, and some other people from work."

"And I have some people from work, and one or two people in the Ph.D. program with me, my advisor, I guess...you're not going to invite that publisher of yours, are you? He redefines the term 'slimy'."

"You couldn't pay me to invite that man."

"Good. I'd hate to have to play spoiled little rich girl on my wedding day," Abby says, trying very, very hard not to think about what sort of games she'd rather be playing.

Upstairs: "That's true. Dad didn't even notice if Nancy was upset. He was too busy making out. He and Mom never made out where we could catch them," Joannie says, whitewashing history a bit.

"You mean you never accidentally walked in on them?"

"Never," Joannie says. "It was always on purpose."

Elizabeth laughs.

"Oh, I don't know. This whole thing is really confusing, isn't it?" Joannie sighs.

A little while later Nancy returns and finds Joannie and Elizabeth still talking. Elizabeth hugs her. "I'm sorry."

Nancy returns the hug. "It's ok."

"Nancy, don't run out on us like that, OK?" Joannie asks. "You got us worried. Elizabeth here had visions of you ODing on chocolate milk shakes and having a major zit crisis."

Nancy laughs. "I'm sorry, but sometimes I just need to get out and drive."

"Yeah, well, could you not do it after I ruined the other car, so at least we'd have a chance to chase after you? Hey, maybe after Dad and Abby get married we'll be allowed to drive her car. If so, run off anytime you want," Joannie says.

"Ok," Nancy agrees. "So what are you talking about?"

Joannie waits for Elizabeth to say something; she's broken enough confidences for one day, and it's still early.

"We're talking about Dad and how he's seemed to take complete leave of his senses. He didn't even notice you were upset when you left; he was too busy trying to get to second base with Abby. The door to the study was locked and who knows how far they've gotten by now. It was never like that with Mom," Elizabeth says.

"People are supposed to take complete leave of their senses when they're in love, but then again Dad has eight children to think about," Nancy replies.

"Give him some credit," Joannie says, "they're getting married in less than a month. By Christmas he should be back to normal."

Both Nancy and Elizabeth look at Joannie and shake their heads in disbelief.

"What? Oh, come on, you think either of you two are any better on an average Saturday night? And you're the one who kept reminding me that Dad may be Dad, but he's still a man," Joannie says to Elizabeth.

"Yeah but you're the one who keeps stressing that Dad has children and he should consider them before getting in a relationship," Elizabeth says. "And when Nancy does the same thing you lecture her, what's up with that?"

"I already did lecture Dad. Lots of times. And I sent you to lecture Abby, remember, only you chickened out because she was being too nice."

"Well you were too chicken to even listen to her lecture," Elizabeth counters.

"Children, there's no need to argue," Nancy says.

"Shut up Nancy!!" they both say.

"I think I'll go see what Mary and Susan are doing," Nancy leaves the room.

"I was not too chicken. But she'd never have believed that sweet and innocent act from me. Of course, if she believed it from you, she doesn't know you very well, either," Joannie says.

"Oh is that right? I'm not the one who stayed out all night partying that one night two summers ago," Elizabeth snaps.

"Only because no one's ever invited you to stay out all night, baby sister."

"Oh yeah!!" Elizabeth becomes exasperated. "Well Eddie asked, and I think now I'll say yes miss high and mighty!!"

"Oh, now, that's real smart. Stay out all night with some jerk just to prove you're an adult."

"Eddie isn't a jerk leave him out of this. And you did it, so why can't I?"

"Because you don't have to repeat all my dumb mistakes, OK?" Joannie says, about ready to shake her younger sister. "You're smart enough to come up with a whole new set of mistakes to make."

"You really think so?" Elizabeth smiles. "But Eddie will be so disappointed," she teases.

"Just invite him home and tell him Dad's study is the hottest new make-out spot in Sacramento."

Elizabeth laughs. "Hey let's go torture Nancy some more. She needs it."

"Race you!" Joannie says and bounds off towards the door.

In the study, Tom and Abby continue to make out the guest list and then start also working on the liquor list. "I want to make sure the younger kids don't try to sneak any."

"Good luck. You might to try to make sure the Landers are way for the day," Abby says.

"Oh please don't even mention that kid. He's every parent's worst nightmare," Tom says.

"So I've noticed. Does that make me a step-parent already?"

"Hmm, I don't know. Becoming a parent or a step-parent takes skill, knowledge, and time," Tom teases.

"Hey, I have all of those," Aby says. "Just not in the field of parenting."

"You will in time," Tom says. "And I'm here to help you."

"Good," Abby says, looking into Tom's eyes. "Oh, you mean with parenting, don't you?"

"What did you think I meant?" Tom asks.

"I'll show you on our wedding night," Abby quotes.

Joannie and Elizabeth find Nancy sitting on the back steps. Nancy eyes them both with suspicion. "What do you two want?"

"I say we attack her," Joannie tells Elizabeth.

"I second that," Elizabeth grins.

Nancy looks at both of them, makes a quick decision and barricades herself in Nicholas's fort.

"No pillows around," Joannie sighs and then wiggles her fingers. "But we're not entirely without weapons. Charge!" she screams as she rushes headlong into the fort.

Nancy is stunned that they made it past her barricades. "Hey no fair."

"Life's no fair," Joannie cackles as she starts to tickle Nancy.

Elizabeth tickles her also.

Nancy starts laughing uncontrollably and calls out for help. "Mary!! Susan!! Help!!"

"Scream a little louder," Joannie taunts. "No one can hear you."

In the study, Abby listens for a minute--"Did you hear that? It sounded like a scream."

"Yes it sounded like Nancy screaming, but it sounded like she was laughing too. I think I'll go check it out. Want to come with me?"

"Might as well find out all the secrets of this house," Abby answers.

"Dad, Abby help me!!" Nancy says as she tries to get away from Joannie and Elizabeth.

"Ha!! Nothing can help you now Nancy Bradford," Elizabeth cackles.

"Is it always like this around here?" Abby asks. "Never mind. I already know the answer to that--yes."

Elizabeth and Joannie finally let up.

"Yes they torture me on a daily basis, they are so mean to me." Nancy tells Abby.

"Aww... It's difficult being part of a big family, isn't it?" Abby teases.

Nancy exchanges a look with Joannie and Elizabeth. They nod in understanding and suddenly Abby and Tom are the victims of the tickling.

"This is war!" Abby says and starts tickling back at anyone she can reach.

"Oh, yeah?" Joannie says. "Welcome to the Bradfords." She laughs maniacally and tries to defend herself while tickling Abby and then grabbing for her father.

Tom tries to get away from the tickling but fails miserably so he just joins in the fun.

"I didn't know you were ticklish," Abby whispers to Tom as she gives up the fight against the girls and teams up with them against her fiance.

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me yet," Tom whispers back as he tries to fight them off.

"Tease."

The tickling eventually ends and the five of them go inside to get something to drink and settle down.

"So, are tickle fights one of those family customs I'm going to have to get used to?" Abby whispers to Elizabeth.

"Yeah I guess, excuse me." Elizabeth rushes out of the room.

Nancy and Joannie exchange a look.

"Was it something I said?" Abby asks.

"She's just having a hard day." Nancy says.

"OK." Abby's almost certain there's something more here, but can't figure out what. She checks her watch and gasps. "I made an appointment to see some dresses for the wedding. I was supposed to be there already. You know, before I met all of you I used to be on time for things," she jokes.

"Can I go?" Nancy asks. "I'm good at shopping."

Abby considers. She hadn't thought of making this a family outing, but it's time to get used to a new way of life. "Sure. I'd like that. Joannie?"

"I'd love to, but I've got find a caterer, listen to a few musicians, go look at some moonlighting intern's photography portfolio. It's a lot of work planning a wedding, you know," she jokes.

"OK. Nancy, you ready?"

"I'm always ready to go shopping." Nancy says.

"Good." She gives Tom a quick kiss. "I'll call you tonight."

Tom returns the kiss and then Nancy and Abby leave.

Abby drives, not to one of the bridal shops, but to some small expensive boutique in a good part of town. "Nothing fancy or frilly, OK?" she tells Nancy. "Just something simple and dignified. You know, I suppose you girls will also need dresses, so if you see something nice, just let me know."

"Ok," Nancy says.

They go inside, and the owner greets them. "Congratulations, Abby. I've set aside a few dresses I thought you might like, and one or two things for your trousseau. Who's this?"

Abby introduces Nancy--"This is Nancy Bradford, she's my fiance's next to youngest daughter. Nancy, this is Ellen Manning--she owns this place."

"Next to youngest? How many of you are there?" Ellen asks.

"Five girls altogether," Nancy says waiting for her reaction before she mentions her brothers.

"Five girls?" the woman repeats, shocked.

"Yep, makes my three brothers feel outnumbered at times."

"Eight children." She turns back to Abby. "Are you out of your mind?"

Abby just laughs.

Ellen leads them into a back room and a rack hung with dresses. "Nancy, which do you think I ought to try first?" Abby asks.

Nancy examines all of the dresses and holds them up to Abby. "No," she shakes her head at one of the dresses. "Maybe," she puts another aside. "Yes, try this one first." Nancy hands her one of the dresses.

"Too much lace," Abby disagrees. "I'd look like a tablecloth."

"How bout this one?" Nancy shows her another dress.

"I said simple, Nancy." Abby sticks her head out of the room. "Ellen!"

The boutique owner comes over.

"When have I ever taken anything like those? After all these years, you should know my tastes. Simple."

"Plain. It's your wedding day--don't you want something a little more showy?"

"No."

Ellen shakes her head.

"And while you're pulling out dresses, why don't you take Nancy and see if there's anything she thinks would work for the girls?" Abby suggests.

Nancy goes with Ellen. ~Simple for a wedding dress?~

"One of these days I'm going to get her into some lace, a few sequins," Ellen sighs. "Not that I've ever been able to before, but I figured for a wedding dress... So, what style do you think would work for you and your sisters?"

"Hmm," Nancy looks at the dresses and finds a style that would be perfect. "These."

Ellen comes over with several painfully simple dresses. "Think she'll like these?"

"Ouch," Nancy exclaims. "I sure hope not."

"Want to see if there's something you think she'd like better? Sometimes that woman is impossible to please."

Nancy smiles. "Sure," Ellen takes her to look at some more dresses and Nancy picks out two or three and Ellen takes them to Abby.

Abby takes a look at what they've brought back. "That's what you call simple? All I want is white. Plain old white. No frills, no ruffles, no lace. White. Never mind, I'll find something myself." She notices the one not-white dress in the pile. "Nancy, that'll look great on you. Why don't you try it on while I go looking?"

"Er ok Abby." Nancy eyes the dress and finally goes to try it on.

"She's a nice lady," Ellen tells Nancy, "but she definitely has her mind made up about the right way to do things. I'm looking forward to hearing how she'll deal with being mother to eight kids."

~Mother, we already have a mother, she'll just be Dad's wife, right?~ "Yeah," Nancy says. "It will be very interesting."

"And you'll have to deal with a whole new set of rules. I can't see her just fitting in to anyone's household," Ellen natters on.

Nancy slips back into her own clothes. "I think I need some fresh air. Tell Abby I'll be back in a minute." Nancy goes outside.

As Nancy passes through the main part of the shop, Abby sees her. "Hey, come back out to help me choose?" she asks.

"I will in a minute Abby." She rushes outside. "Ok breathe in, breathe out." ~Never mind that woman, she's just talking. Abby's a nice person. She won't become the wicked stepmother type.~

A minute later Abby joins her outside. "You OK? Max said we should keep an eye on you a day or two--are you in pain?"

"No, I just needed some air. I'll be ok in a minute," Nancy says.

"OK. If there's something wrong, though, I wish you'd tell me," Abby says. "After all, we're going to be family soon. I'd like to think we were already friends."

Nancy smiles. "We are friends, but some of the things that lady said in there..."

"What? What did she say that upset you?"

"Abby, what are your intentions? You're not going to try to take my mom's place are you?"

"I could never do that, you know that. I think we all know that."

"Yeah I know, I guess I just needed some reassurance."

~Breathe in, breathe out~ Abby tells herself. ~It'll be rough at first, but it will work out. Tom promised it would.~

"Are you ready to go back inside?" Nancy asks.

"In a minute. Why don't you go in and finish picking out dresses? Your sisters can come in and get measured afterwards, but at least this way Ellen can order what you'll wear to the wedding."

"Ok, are you all right? Look Abby, if I upset you or anything I didn't mean to."

"No, you didn't upset me--well, a little maybe. Do all of you feel that way? Worried about me?"

"No, I didn't even know I felt that way until Ellen mentioned it. I know it's stupid to even think that."

"No, it's not," Abby says. "In some ways I guess I will be, but not anything that has to do with you. But if I have to handle things, especially with Nicholas, I don't want to constantly worry that I'm going to be branded the wicked stepmother."

Nancy sits down beside her. "I can understand that. I guess this isn't easy for you."

"It's a little intimidating. Most women marry one man. I'm marrying nine people."

"I promise only one person will be with you on your honeymoon," Nancy says, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, we weren't planning on telling you where we were going, just in case. Sometimes I don't think your father completely trusts you all," Abby tells her. "Look, this is going to take time for all of us, but you kids just have to have some faith. I won't try to take your mother's place, I couldn't, but you need to give me some room to make my own place in this family, OK?"

Nancy nods. "Ok."

"OK." Abby stands up. "So, shall we go back in and see how much damage we can do to my credit card?"

Nancy smiles again. "Sure."

They go back inside and start looking through the clothes racks. "I don't know why I'm even looking at white dresses. I mean, everyone knows that I've been married before. I ought to just get something useful, like a suit or something," Abby says, frustrated.

"A suit for your wedding?" Nancy asks in shock.

"It's better than what I wore last time," Abby answers.

"Which was?" Nancy asks. "It's not too personal a question is it?"

"No, not too personal, but you may never respect my fashion sense again. Jeans and a leather jacket. We thought we were very dressed up, of course; most of our friends got married in tie-die and barefoot if they even did anything as conservative as actually getting married."

Nancy smiles. "That is so cool."

"Well, if we can't find me anything to wear, I may have to dig out that old jacket again," Abby jokes.

Nancy laughs. "There you go." She goes back to shopping for a dress for Abby and for her. "So Abby have you decided who your bridesmaids are going to be yet?"

"I thought you girls. And Dotty Gordon--we promised each other when we were kids that when we got married, we'd be each other's maid of honor."

"I'd love to be one of your bridesmaids." ~And I can help Dotty plan the bachorlette party.~

"Good. In a lot of ways, this wedding is as much for all of you as it is for your father and me."

"Because we missed our dad's first wedding?"

Abby laughs. "You missed mine, too, and except for Nicholas you all were alive for that one." She pulls a white dress off the rack. "What do you think of this one?"

"Oh Abby, it's beautiful. You'll look very irresistible to Dad in it," Nancy tells her.

"That is the point, Nancy," Abby smiles. "Now we need to find something for the bridesmaids. Could you make sure your sisters all get here and take a look at whatever you pick out, see if they like it, too?"

"Yes I'll make sure," Nancy says. "What do you think about these dresses Abby?"

"Hard to tell. Everything looks good on you, so how can you ever decide what looks best? If you think it'll look good on your sisters, let's tell Ellen to set it aside until they can all come look at it. But maybe you should pick out a few others in case one of them objects. I can't see all five of you agreeing on anything without an argument."

"Thanks for the compliment," Nancy smiles. "And yeah that would be better." Nancy picks out a few others.

Abby arranges with Ellen about fittings for the girls and herself and for the bill to be sent to her. "You ready to go back to the asylum?" she asks Nancy.

"Yeah I'm ready."