The next morning in Nancy's room:

"Hey Joannie, bring over the list of people I have to call for the wedding and I can work on it from here. I don't even have to get out of bed. Also, can you take Elizabeth, Susan, and Mary to look at the dresses? We shouldn't wait til I'm healed. That won't be for four or five days."

"You sure about that? Aren't you supposed to rest or something?" Joannie asks.

"If it becomes too much I'll take breaks," Nancy promises.

"OK. I'll be over soon and bring you the list, and then you can tell me exactly where I'm supposed to be taking everyone."

"Thanks Joannie." They both hang up.

"May I go with you?" Elizabeth asks Joannie.

"Of course. I'm just going to run upstairs and get my clipboard, so get ready, OK?" Joannie answers.

"Ok," Elizabeth goes to get ready. After both of them are ready they leave for the hospital.

Later in her hospital room.

"You're looking very bored today," Elizabeth says after she kisses Nancy on the forehead.

"I am believe me. If I could move without it hurting I'd be out of here by now." Nancy replies.

"Hey, don't rush it," Joannie warns, "or you'll be walking down the aisle in a wheelchair, and Dad would complain it wasn't dignified."

"Hi Joannie," Nancy smiles. "How's it going? Did you bring the list?"

"Of course." Joannie produces the clipboard. "I had you down to find a hall, but we'll have to split that now. You find a few places and I'll go check them out, OK?"

"Thanks sis," Nancy looks over the clipboard. "So are they still fighting?"

"Aren't they always? Either they're making out or they're arguing. You'd think they were teenagers," Joannie complains.

Nancy observes her expression. "Joannie are you all right?"

"Sure, fine. Why?"

"You're not a very good liar. Now what's up?" Nancy continues to pry.

"Oh, I don't know. This wedding has me a little freaked, I guess."

"Believe me you're not the only one," Elizabeth says.

"Come on you guys it'll be all right. Maybe you should talk to Dad or Abby about it," Nancy suggests.

"Yeah really what good will that do?" Elizabeth asks.

"It did me good when I had doubts yesterday and I talked to Abby about it," Nancy tells them. "She's a very good listener."

"I don't have doubts," Joannie explains. "I like her, and I like seeing Dad happy. I just wish Mom were still here."

"I know, so do I sometimes," Nancy says quietly as tears well in her eyes.

~Great. Now I've made her cry.~ "So, you going to tell me where I should take everyone to try on dresses? And which one did you like best? This way we know which one to reject," Joannie says, trying to make Nancy laugh.

Nancy laughs and describes the dress she liked the best and tells her which store to go to. "And while you're at it can you stop by and pick me up a cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake. I can't eat this hospital food it'll kill me. Then you guys will sue the hospital and I won't get to enjoy any of the money because I'll be dead."

Elizabeth chuckles, shakes her head, and then looks at Joannie. "She is so morbid. What did you, Susan, Mary, and David teach her over the years anyway?"

"Only what any good brother or sister would teach a kid--touch our stuff and you die. And Nancy never could keep her hands to herself."

"Yeah but any time one of them was ready to kill me the others would protect me."

"Only because she was smart enough never to touch all of our things at the same time," Joannie tells Elizabeth.

Elizabeth and Nancy laugh.

"OK, so you want major amounts of junk food," Joannie repeats Nancy's order. "Anything else? Some handsome young doctor, maybe?"

"Oh definitely, but don't worry I'll take care of that one on my own," Nancy half kids.

"Good. And do you think you could find me one while you're at it?"

"Sure what are your preferences?"

"Tall, dark, and handsome will do for a start. How about you, Liz? Gonna place an order for your very own doctor?"

"I don't want a doctor. I want a musician." Elizabeth says.

"Maybe we could get you an intern who moonlights," Joannie suggests.

"Yeah and he can serenade you every night," Nancy says.

"Sounds good to me," Elizabeth replies.

"And meanwhile nothing's getting done. Come on, Nancy, you said you wanted to make phone calls, but all you're doing is talking about guys. That's so typical," Joannie teases.

Nancy laughs and calls half the places on the list before it starts becoming too much for her. "Hey Joannie I'll do the rest tomorrow ok?"

"Sure, no problem."

There's a knock on the door and Abby walks in. "Hi. I just came by to see how you're doing, Nancy."

"Hi, Abby," Joannie says, though Abby hasn't greeted her. "Look, I'm sorry about last night..."

"No, don't apologize. I hate apologies. Besides, I can understand why you were upset."

"OK. Thanks."

"A little better than last night," Nancy says to Abby and wonders what Joannie is apologizing for.

"Meet any of those cute doctors yet?" Abby asks, then turns to the one person who hasn't spoken to her yet. "Hi, Elizabeth."

"No not yet, but there's still time," Nancy replies and also glances Elizabeth's way.

Elizabeth doesn't say anything she just bolts from the room.

"Elizabeth!!" Nancy calls after her and considers going after her. She starts to get out of bed.

"Oh, no you don't," Joannie says. "Abby, make sure she stays put." Joannie runs out of the room to find Elizabeth.

"What was that about?" Abby asks Nancy.

Nancy sighs, takes a deep breath, and then lets it out. "Abby, Elizabeth is very sensitive. Always has been. She likes you but she's having a hard time accepting the marriage."

"I see," Abby says.

"She'll get over it." Nancy says.

"I'd kind of hoped this wedding would be something more than something to 'get over'," Abby says.

"It is," Nancy says. "I guess I chose my words wrong."

"Don't worry about it." Abby stands and picks up her purse. "I'm glad you're doing better. I'd better get going so your sisters can come back in."

"Abby you shouldn't have to leave because of that," Nancy protests.

"No, it's OK. I know that your sisters have to take some time to get used to things--to me," Abby says, trying to sound like she's not upset. "Besides, I have lots of things to do--I haven't even started packing up my apartment, going through what I'll keep and what I'll get rid of. It's OK."

"Ok," Nancy is about to say something else but falls asleep instead.

Abby leaves the hospital room.

In the hallway, Joannie runs Elizabeth to ground. "OK, want to tell me what that was?"

"Look, just because Dad is marrying her it doesn't mean I have to talk to her, so just leave me alone ok?" Elizabeth snaps.

"So you're just going to stay quiet for the next couple of years? Because they are going to get married, not matter what you or anyone else thinks," Joannie says.

"Joannie you don't understand. No one does," Elizabeth pouts.

"So explain it to me," Joannie says. "And if you think I don't understand, well, you were here last night."

Elizabeth sits down and looks at Joannie. "I just don't like the idea that dad is remarrying so soon."

"None of us do, but he isn't asking us. And besides, he's almost 50--even if he asked, he wouldn't listen to us."

"I'm well aware that Dad doesn't care about how we feel."

"Elizabeth, that's not fair. He does care about how we feel. It's not like he went out looking for a wife, you know," Joannie wonders why she's defending this marriage when she's just as upset as her sister. "Abby just popped up on our doorstep. You think they ought to wait until we're all over Mom dying? That will never happen."

"Well if he cares he sure has a funny way of showing it," Elizabeth says. "I'll see you at home." She walks out.

"Elizabeth..."

Abby comes out of Nancy's room and passes by Joannie. "I'm going now. Nancy's asleep, but it's safe for you and Elizabeth to go in." She doesn't give Joannie a chance to answer before she rushes away.

It's obvious to Joannie that Abby's hurt. "Great. Just great." She decides not to stay at the hospital. Instead she goes home and calls a family meeting--no parents or fiancees allowed.

Mary, Tommy and Nicholas go to Joannie and Susan's room.

Tommy says, "What's going on?"

David and Elizabeth join them.

"We have to talk about what's going on in this family," Joannie says. "We've all said that we're happy if Dad's happy, but it's pretty obvious that some of us are terrible liars."

"So what do you suggest we do?" Tommy asks.

"I'm not sure," Joannie admits, "but Dad's going to marry her whether we like it or not, and she is a nice person--we really shouldn't be hurting her like this. It's not her fault that Mom died or that it's so soon after, or that Dad proposed so quickly."

"I agree there," Mary says.

"Yeah, she did help me get back to Sacramento from Stockton," Nicholas replies.

"And she did help me with Phillips," Tommy concedes.

"Of course, it's easier said than done," Joannie backpedals. "You don't suppose we could sell this house and get a new one in time for the wedding, do you?"

"Then we would be running away," Mary says.

"Maybe running away is better than turning this house into a battlefield, which is what it'll be if we force Dad to choose between his wife and his kids," Joannie points out.

Mary turns to David and asks him "What is your take on all this?"

"I think we should let them be happy and not try to sabotage the marriage."

"I agree," Mary replies. "Moving out of this house won't solve our acceptance of this marriage either."

"That's exactly the point, David," Joannie defends herself. "None of us are happy with the idea of Dad getting remarried. Not now, and maybe not ever, if we're going to be honest. But he is getting remarried, and she will be living in this house, in Mom's room, sitting at Mom's place at the table, she'll be the one people mean when they ask to speak to our mother. And just saying it'll be OK won't be enough--we've all been pretty hard on her and Dad, and it isn't their fault. Elizabeth, you won't even talk to her. I've been rotten to her. We've got to do something about this."

"Like what?" David asks.

"What do you suggest? Go to her and apologize?" Tommy asks.

"I don't know, I told you! I'm going to work on making this wedding beautiful, and try to remember that it's not Abby's fault that Mom died. I mean, we've been treating her like The Other Woman or something. But I still don't know how I'm going to handle it the first time Dad takes her into his room--their room."

"I suggest that if we have problems with that when it happens we talk to each other about it," Mary says.

"So we just keep on the way we've been going since Abby got here--we stick together and gossip behind her back and Dad's, and she and Dad stick together? That's sure to tear this family apart."

"That's true. But there is only one other solution I can think of; talk to Abby or both of them. If she is going to member of this family she's going to have to get used to our feelings and problems anyway," Mary says.

"Well I'm not planning on sticking around," Elizabeth mutters.

"What do you mean by that?' Joannie asks.

"If they get married. I'm out of here," Elizabeth says.

"What's your problem?" Tommy asks.

Elizabeth glares at him and leaves the room.

Tommy runs after Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, what's going on?"

Elizabeth has slammed and locked her door by now. "Leave me alone Tommy!!" She continues to pout.

"Come on Liz; talk to me," Tommy replies.

"What's there to talk about? Nothing either of us says is going to change anything."

"Come on Elizabeth; I can't talk to you through a closed door," Tommy pleads.

She opens the door and returns to packing her suitcase.

"Where are you going?" Tommy asks.

"I don't know yet, but I'll send you a postcard as soon as I get there," she says.

"Elizabeth. You are acting like an 8 year old," Tommy says.

"I am not."

"Only 8 year olds run away from home," Tommy says.

"Fine don't be understanding." She finishes packing, heads downstairs, and out the door.

Tommy returns to Joannie and Susan's room.

"How is Elizabeth?" Mary asks

"She just ran away from home," Tommy replies. "I told her she was acting like an 8 year old."

"What's wrong with that?" Nicholas asks.

"Nothing Nicholas." David then turns to Tommy. "She'll return when she gets hungry."

"I hope so," Tommy says.

"Are you sure we shouldn't go try to find her?" Joannie asks David. "Or at least tell Dad?"

"Joannie we've all done it, and all of us have always returned for dinner." David assures her.

"I haven't done it," Nicholas says.

David smiles. "And hopefully you'll be the first never to do it."

"But David, we ran off for silly reasons. I think mine was because Susan borrowed a blouse and Mom didn't make her give it back." Joannie looks at Susan for confirmation. "This is different."

"This is serious guys. I think Elizabeth has a lot of feelings and stuff she needs to work through. We all do," replies Susan.

"I can't even remember why I ran away," Tommy says.

"I can," Joannie laughs.

"Why did I?" Tommy says curiously.

"Dad took you to the barber and cut off all your long, beautiful hair," Joannie says, and messes with Tommy's hair.

"That's right." Tommy laughs and then turns seriously "Hey, don't mess with the hair."

"Or you'll run away? Only one per customer," Joannie teases.

Tommy pretends to be upset, then hits Joannie with a pillow.

Joannie grabs the pillow and starts to hit him back, but notices that everyone else is staring at them. "OK, so what are we going to do about Elizabeth? And we have to get to work planning this wedding."

"If she's not back by dinner, we'll put out an apb and start searching," David says.

"You are right," Mary says. "What on the list do you need me to do?"

"A photographer. And a band. And we have to go to the store and look at the dresses Nancy picked out and choose one. David, could you handle the transportation? Susan, we're going to need flowers. Tommy--naah, you'll be busy trolling for dignified girls who pop out of cakes, and Nicholas--you're working on the car, right?"

"Sure," David replies.

"I'll take care of the photographer," Mary says.

"Is someone going to get me the stuff for the car?" Nicholas asks.

"Just write up a list; I'm sure one of us will," Joannie tells him.

With help from Kenny P. Landers, Nicholas sneaks into Nancy's room

"Hi Nancy," Nicholas says.

Nancy smiles at her little brother. "Hey big guy how did you get in here?"

"Kenny P created a diversion for me to sneak in; are you OK?" he asks.

"I'm a little sore, well a lot sore, but I'll be ok I promise. It wasn't that bad," she tells him. "What have you been up to today?"

"Not much, Joannie called a family conference bout Dad and Abby getting married and how we can get used to the idea."

"She did huh? Without me there. Hey Nicholas did they leave you out of it too?" Nancy inquires.

"No I was there," Nicholas says. "When are you coming home?"

"Either Wednesday or Thursday, but they're making me stay in bed the whole weekend."

"Good, nobody can make pancakes like you can; except for Mom," Nicholas says sadly.

"Yeah," Nancy also saddens. "You miss her a lot don't you?"

Nicholas nods. "It doesn't seem real."

"Come here Nicholas," Nancy says.

Nicholas gets on Nancy's bed.

Nancy wraps her arms around him and holds him. "Hey it's going to be all right you know. Mom will never leave us completely." Nancy says as tears well in her eyes. "She'll always be in our hearts and she'll always be watching over us." She kisses him on the top of the head.

"Won't she be mad that Dad is getting married?" Nicholas asks.

"No she won't be mad. She'll most likely be happy."

"You think so?" Nicholas asks.

"Yes I do, she wouldn't want him to go through his life never having a girlfriend or a wife."

"I guess you are right," Nicholas replies.

The door opens. Nancy hides Nicholas under the sheets as a family member comes in. Nancy sighs in relief when she sees who it is and then lets Nicholas out.

"Nicholas, how did you get here?" Mary asks.

"Um, he just appeared in mid-air Mary," Nancy says.

"Yeah right." Mary says "Now how am I going to get you out of here." Mary asks

"Kenny P. could help," Nicholas says.

"Oh great, he came with you?" Mary asks.

"Yeah, he created a scene so I could sneak in here."

Mary just shakes her head.

"Mary don't worry." Nancy says since she can't think of anything else to say at the moment.

"I know, but I better get him home before he gets caught or they won't let anyone come visit you," Mary says.

Nancy pouts. "Ok."

Mary takes Nicholas home and then returns to see Nancy.

"So how are you feeling?" Mary asks.

"I've been better. Can't wait to get out of here though. How are you doing?"

"Ok...I am just waiting to see what med school I will be going to." Mary says

"Hopefully, one in town will accept you." Nancy says. She had missed Mary when she had gone to college in Berkeley.

"Actually I applied to a school in San Francisco."

"But, Mary, that's an hour and a half away," Nancy protests.

"But they have one of the best med schools in the country besides you can come visit me and meet all the cute med students," Mary says trying to soften the blow.

Nancy smiles. "I would love to do that."

"So would I," Mary says.

"So how's Elizabeth? She bolted out of here today when Abby showed up."

Mary doesn't want to tell her that she ran away, so she tells her, "Well you know Elizabeth, she is having as much trouble as the rest of us trying to accept this wedding."

"You mean I'm the only one who has accepted it?" Nancy asks.

"No, what I meant was we all have to come to terms with the situation in our own way. I have pretty much accepted it and after I spoke with Joannie, I think she has come to an understanding too."

"And how did you accomplish that miracle with Joannie?"

"Just by listening and giving her some older sister advice."

~I wish I was able to do that with Elizabeth.~ "Well I'm glad someone was able to."

"So Joannie tells me that you and Abby found some dresses for the wedding?" Mary asks

Nancy smiles. "Yes I did." She describes them to Mary. "I just wish I wasn't stuck in the hospital I was supposed to take you all to try them on."

"That's OK...at least this way we can all talk behind your back and say what awful taste you have," Mary jokes.

"Ha ha, nice thing to say about your little sister who had surgery yesterday," Nancy pretends to be angry but winds up laughing.

Mary laughs along with her.

After awhile Nancy drifts off to sleep.

Meanwhile at David's he arrives home to find Elizabeth napping on the couch. He smiles, covers her, and phones home.

Joannie picks up the phone, and when she hears her brother's voice, reports that Elizabeth isn't home yet.

"It's ok Joannie she's over here." David tells her.

"Well, tell her to get home before Dad finds out and blows a gasket."

"Joannie, not now I'll talk to her when she wakes up." David says. "And Dad won't blow a gasket if she's over here."

"If he finds out why she's over there he will," Joannie says.

"Well it's high time he did find out. That way they can finally work it out."

"What's to work out? Dad's getting married, and most of us aren't comfortable with that, as much as we like Abby. Liz is just the most extreme, but Dad's not going to back out now."

"What do you mean? What's there to work out? Joannie, she ran away, she's obviously hurting. Maybe a good long talk with Dad is what she needs right now."

"What's Dad going to tell her? Get over it? Mom's gone and we all have to get on with our lives, but it isn't easy to see that the person who--oh, forget it. So who's going to tell Dad?"

"I'll tell Dad, let me know when he gets home."

A few hours later Joannie calls her brother. "His car just pulled up," Joannie reports. "And he doesn't look like he's in a good mood. Want me to put him on the phone, or do you want to come here and tell him?"

"Put him on the phone. Phone is safer." David says.

"One sec." Joannie puts down the phone and goes to find her father. "Dad, David's on the phone. He wants to talk to you."

"Thanks honey," Tom picks up the phone. "Hi David."

"Hi Dad." He tells him what's going on.

"Let me talk to her," Tom says.

"Dad she's asleep right now. Listen can she stay for a few days. Maybe after that she'll be ready to come home anyway."

"David I really think I should talk to her, yes she can stay, but I want to talk to her at some point," Tom says worriedly.

"I'll call you when she wakes up," David tells them and then soon they both hang up.

Tom turns to Joannie. "Why didn't anyone tell me that Elizabeth was hurting?"

"We tried, Dad," Joannie says. "OK, maybe not about Elizabeth specifically, but we've all been telling you that you were going too fast with Abby for us. We know you love her and we want you to be happy, but it's so soon. The rest of us can live it with, or are willing to try, but I guess Elizabeth isn't."

Tom's face clouds over, he grabs his car keys again. "I'll be back later. I'm going over to David's."

"Good luck, Dad," Joannie says. "But remember that you can't live your life based on what we want, OK?"

"I know." He smiles at her and then leaves.

Later at David's he tries talking to Elizabeth but gets nowhere; she won't even acknowledge his presence. He hugs her after awhile, tells her he's there if she needs him, and then goes back home.

When he gets home Joannie accosts him. "So?"

Tom sighs sadly. "She wouldn't talk to me, she acted like I wasn't even there."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to keep on trying, that's what I'm going to do about it."

"Are you going to tell Abby about this?" Joannie asks.

"I suppose I'll have to. She'll wonder where Elizabeth is."

"I think she'll know--oh, not where Elizabeth is, but why she ran away," Joannie said. "Today at the hospital Elizabeth wouldn't talk to her."

"Oh boy, how did Abby take it?"

"Not well," Joannie admits. "She left the hospital and told us that she was doing it so we could feel free to visit Nancy without her there."

"Oh no, I better call her." Tom leaves the room and dials Abby's number.

"Hello?" Abby answers the phone, her tone guarded.

"Are you all right?" Tom asks.

"Maybe I should be asking you that," Abby says. "You don't sound so hot."

"Abby, Joannie told me what happened today. I am so sorry."

"It was nothing," Abby says, but then realizes that this is too important to lie about. "Tom, if they aren't going to accept me, accept this marriage, well, then..."

"Then what?" Tom asks.

"Then I don't know if we can do this," Abby answers.

"Abby, it'll work out, I promise you," Tom says. "I'll talk to Elizabeth and see what's going on."

"It's not just Elizabeth. She may be the most extreme, but I don't think any of them really approve--well, maybe David, but that all."

"Then maybe we should both talk to all of the kids and clear the air."

"What's to talk about? All the talking in the world won't change the fact that I'm not Joan."

"Please."

"Don't use that tone of voice on me, Tom. You know I can't say no to you when you do," Abby says.

"Then you'll do it?"

Abby gives in. "I don't know what it'll accomplish, but sure, I'll try. Just let me know when to be there."

"Does Friday sound good?"

"You're going to let it go on almost a week before you say anything?" Abby asks.

"I want to wait til Nancy is out of the hospital, and..." He hesitates.

"And? Elizabeth? You think she'll be home by Friday?" Abby asks.

"How did you know about Elizabeth? I haven't told you yet."

"Joannie called me. I think she felt guilty."

Tom sighs. "I'm hoping she'll be home before Friday. She won't talk to any of us Abby."

"Do you know where she is? Joannie didn't when she called, just asked me to keep an eye out in case Elizabeth came here to confront me."

"Yes she's at David's."

"Then she's obviously talking to David."

"Don't be so sure. She probably won't talk to him about it either."

Abby sighs. "And what if she isn't home by Friday? How long do we put this off? It's not like we have a whole lot of time before the wedding--unless we postpone it."

"She'll be home by Friday. I'll make sure of it."

"If you say so," Abby says, not entirely certain she believes him.

"Abby, it's all going to work out."

"Easy for you to say. You're their father; they love you. I'm just the woman who's coming in and taking their mother's place."

"Abby relax, it's all going to be all right. It'll be tough in the beginning but we'll make it work."

"That's what you keep saying, but it just seems to get more and more complicated."

"Do you want me to come over?"

~Yes.~ "I think you have your hands full over there."

"Ok, but if you change your mind, call me I don't care what time it is."

"Sure." ~Like I'm going to call his house and get the cold shoulder from one of the kids. I don't think so.~

"Good, I love you Abby."

Abby smiles; that's what she'd been waiting to hear. "I love you, too. If anything changes with Elizabeth let me know, OK?"

"I will." They talk a few more minutes and then they both hang up.

Abby goes back to her packing, but soon gives up. ~If the kids can't accept me, there isn't much point. And I haven't given notice to my landlord yet--maybe that's a good thing.~ She tries to work instead but ends up sitting at a window, staring out at nothing. ~I thought my days of sitting here like this over some man were over.~

On Monday morning Joannie asks Susan, "I'm going to talk to a caterer today--some guy named Keith. You want to come along?"

"Sure, did Dad or Abby say how much they wanted to spend on a caterer?" inquires Susan.

"Yeah, and that might just about cover hamburgers. I think Dad was thinking about what his wedding to Mom cost," Joannie says, shaking her head. "I figure if we get part-time jobs we could add that to what Dad's giving, and then we can get someone good."

"Joannie where are we going to get part time jobs at?" asks Susan.

"I don't know, but I'll bet we can find something in the paper--girls like us with loads of charm and good looks? Someone's sure to want to hire us," Joannie answers.

Joannie and Susan go to see the caterer, and Joannie is completely bedazzled by what he's offering. "It's so--so glamorous, Susan, isn't it?" Joannie asks, "Well, except for the idea of the nude ice sculpture..."

"Yeah, everything here is so wonderful. "I really can't imagine Abby or Dad going for the ice sculpture though." replies Susan.

"Even if they would, I don't think we could," Joannie laughs.

Susan laughs.

"Now we just have to figure out how to swing this on the non-budget Dad gave us," Joannie says. "Did you find any likely-looking ads in the paper today?"

Nicholas rides over to Abby's apartment and knocks on her door.

"Hey, Nicholas," Abby says when she answers the door. "If you're looking for your father, I think he might actually be at your house."

"I actually came to see you if you aren't too busy?" Nicholas asks.

Abby looks at all the work she's got piled on her desk and coffee table. "Um, no, of course not, Nicholas. Come on in, have a seat. What can I do for you?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could help me with my Halloween costume," Nicholas asks nervously.

Abby thinks for a minute. "Well, it's been a long time since I've done any Halloween costumes, but why don't you tell me what you had in mind and I'll see if I can help you any?"

"Well since I had my little train adventure, I thought maybe a Hobo," Nicholas replies.

"Hobo, hm? Well, you've got to have some old, raggedy clothes in that house somewhere. I'll bet your dad or one of your sisters knows where. And you'll have to muck up your face--I don't think any of your sisters would contribute makeup for that except Joannie, but I can help out on that."

"Thanks," Nicholas says.

"Just remind me a day or two before so I make sure I'm around to help you on Halloween, OK? I'm not used to even thinking about it, though I suppose I'll have to from now on," Abby says.

"OK," Nicholas says. "I better be going; see ya later."

Later that Wednesday Nancy is released from the hospital with orders to take it easy til the next Monday. She goes into her and Elizabeth's room and is stunned when she looks around no one had told her about her younger sister running away yet. She checks the closet and dresser drawers.

"Where's Elizabeth's things?" she asks Mary and Joannie.

"Now, Don't panic," Mary says. "She ran away from home, but she didn't run too far. She is at David's."

Nancy glances at both of them. "And why did she run away?"

"The wedding," Joannie says. "I don't know what she thinks she'll accomplish. Dad isn't going to call it off, and I guess he shouldn't."

"Can one of you drive me over to David's place?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. You need to rest," Joannie says, "and she hasn't wanted to talk to any of us."

Nancy plops down on the bed in frustration. "But maybe she'll talk to me."

Nancy smiles at the comment. "Ok, you win." She goes to Tom's bedroom and dials David's place. Elizabeth picks up the phone and doesn't say anything.

"Liz is that you?" Nancy asks. Elizabeth hangs up on her. Nancy tries again and Liz hangs up a second time. Nancy stares at the phone for a second and then hangs it up and looks up at Joannie and Mary. "I don't think she wants to talk to me either."

"Told you. Look, it's her problem, not ours, and we can't change the way she feels, Nance."

"But she's so sensitive Joannie, and that worries me," Nancy says.

"David won't let her do anything stupid, and beyond that, I don't know what to do."

"If Mom were here she'd know what to do."

"If Mom were here there'd be nothing that needed doing," Joannie reminds her.

"True," Nancy says. "So who do you have to know to get lunch around here?"

"555-2525." Nancy replies.

"Someone who's willing to cook. Or you have to know the phone number of a pizza place that delivers."

"I get the hint. You want pizza, or you want me to make you something?" Joannie asks.

"That's a tough decision. Pizza is good, but so is your cooking." Nancy says. "What do you and Mary want to eat?"

"You're the one who just got out of the hospital. We'll eat whatever you want to."

"Ok, pizza then," Nancy says.

Joannie calls an places the order. "You are allowed to have this, right? You're not risking going back in the hospital just to see some cute delivery boy?"

"Yeah I'm allowed. It has to be better than the hospital food was."

A little while later the pizza arrives. Joannie goes downstairs to get it, then brings it and drinks up to Nancy's room.

"Thanks Joannie," Nancy starts eating. "Yum, real food!!"

"Wazzamatter, don't like the gourmet hospital food?"

"Nope, did you like it when you got hurt in that skiing accident three years ago?" Nancy replies.

"Don't remind me," Joannie shudders. "Eat your pizza."

"Sorry," Nancy says and continues eating.

For days Abby waits for Tom to call and say that Elizabeth has come home, but of all the things he says that week, none are word about Elizabeth.

~Enough's enough,~ Abby thinks. She checks her watch; David should still be at work and Elizabeth should already be home. Well, at David's at least...

She knocks on David's door, hoping that Elizabeth didn't run away from here, too.

Elizabeth opens the door sees who it is and returns to the couch not uttering a word.

"Elizabeth?" Abby follows her to the sitting area. "I think we need to talk."

"What can we possibly have to talk about?" Elizabeth says quietly.

"Your father, for one thing. We both love him very much, you know," Abby answers.

"Yeah I know, but what about Dad?"

"This is really hurting him. You haven't spoken to him in days, and it's tearing him apart."

Her face clouds in guilt. "It is?" She sighs. "But what am I supposed to do? Go home and pretend like everything is ok because it's not."

"What isn't OK? Besides your mother being gone, because that can never be made OK."

"Abby I know I haven't been acting like it lately, but I do like you. It's just that this wedding seems so weird. I knew Dad was going to remarry someday, but so soon?"

"I know. I told him that I thought it was too fast, too, but he's spent a lot of time thinking about this. He's been very lonely--you all have your own lives. Neither of us planned this to happen, but it did."

"I know, and I wish I didn't feel this way, but I do."

"You can't help feeling the way you feel, but sometimes talking makes you feel better. I'm an awfully good listener," Abby offers.

"But I've been so awful to you, a major brat," Elizabeth says.

"You've been upset. It's understandable."

"Yeah but it's no excuse." Elizabeth proceeds to tell Abby about what has been bothering her. "But I've been thinking things over while I've been here and I realize that I've been wrong."

"I wouldn't say wrong," Abby disagrees. "But I'll tell you a secret: if you wait until you're done mourning someone you love, you'll never have a life of your own, because you never are done."

"You mean I'll always feel terrible?"

Abby sits next to Elizabeth on the couch. "No, not at all. I just mean that you never stop missing them. But after a while you realize that it's OK to go on with life, and that loving new people doesn't mean that you love the people you lost any less."

"Oh, that's a relief." After a long pause. "I shouldn't have hung up on Nancy yesterday she probably just got home from the hospital, and I shouldn't have hung up on my other siblings either or my dad. I wonder what they're doing right now."

"Probably waiting to hear from you. I'm sure Nancy would love to see you; if you want, I could drive you over there," Abby offers.

Elizabeth smiles. "OK." She packs her things and leaves a note for David and then she hugs Abby. "Thanks for listening."

"That's what friends do for each other, right?" Abby takes Elizabeth's suitcase and puts it in her car. They drive over to the house and Abby parks, but doesn't get out of the car. "Go on in-- they're waiting for you."

"You're not coming in?" Elizabeth asks.

Abby shakes her head. "Your family wants to see you; I figure you could use some time alone together."

"Ok," Elizabeth says a little worried, but gets out of the car and goes inside anyway. Joannie is on the phone making wedding arrangements. "Hi, Joannie."

"Elizabeth! What are you doing here?"

She smiles shyly. "Abby drove me home."

Joannie cuts her phone conversation short and launches herself at Elizabeth, trapping her in a huge hug. "Oh, it is so good to have you home! Everyone--Elizabeth's back! She's home!"

Nancy, who had been lying on the couch and watching tv, puts her robe on and enters the entranceway and also hugs her little sister. "Welcome home kid." She kisses her on the cheek.

Elizabeth hugs them both back. "I'm sorry I kept hanging up on you guys. Nancy how are you feeling?"

"A little better, are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm ok, I had a good talk with Abby."

Tommy comes in and sees Elizabeth and tells her "Welcome back; I am sorry I called you an 8 year old."

"Don't worry about it I was acting like one." Elizabeth says.

Outside, Abby waits a little to make sure no one's said anything which causes Elizabeth to come tearing out of the house, and then she backs out of the driveway and heads home.

Tom walks in and hugs his daughter. "We need to talk."

"I know Dad." She hugs him back. Later they have a long talk and she tells him about what Abby did.

In the evening, the Bradford girls gather in Nancy and Elizabeth's room.

"I know I promised to take everyone for the dresses, but I didn't want to go without Elizabeth. When's good for you guys?" Joannie asks.

"How about tomorrow afternoon?" Susan replies.

"The afternoon will work for me," Mary says.

"That's good for me too," Elizabeth says.

"I'll be there in spirit," Nancy says.

"At least with you not there; maybe we will have a chance at the mirror," Mary jokes.

"Ha ha." Nancy throws a pillow at her.

"Hey, that's not fair," Joannie complains. "You can throw pillows but we can't throw them back at you, or tickle you, or anything."

Nancy cackles.

"One of these days, little sister, you are going to be better and you will be out of that bed. And then it's revenge time."

"Mary started it."

"Yeah, but I didn't throw the pillows; hey do you guys remember about 5 years ago we had a pillow fight in the living room while Mom and Dad were out and when they came home feathers were everywhere?" Mary asks.

~Yeah but you're the one who made that flip remark.~ Nancy knows she was teasing but it still upset her when her siblings made comments like that. "Yeah that was funny." Nancy fakes a smiles.

"Yeah funny for you; but David and I had to clean up the living room before we could go to bed," Mary states.

"Next time don't get born so early," Joannie teases.

"Ha ha," Mary says.

Nancy laughs.

Later that day, Tom knocks on Abby's door.

Abby opens the door. "Hi. I didn't think anything would drag you away from home tonight. Come in."

Tom walks in. "Neither did I, until Elizabeth told me who had convinced her to come home and who drove her home," Tom says. "Abby I owe you a lot. Thanks for bringing my daughter back home."

"Well, you said you wanted to talk to them all tomorrow, including Elizabeth, and it didn't seem like she was coming home on her own," Abby says, moving a few boxes so she and Tom have somewhere to sit.

"Still that was very brave of you to do that."

"If I need to be brave to talk to your kids, we're in trouble here," Abby says.

"Abby, do you take everything literally?" Tom asks in a half kidding tone

"When it's important," Abby admits. "But you want to know what'll really be brave? Facing all of them tomorrow. Maybe we should just skip it, since Elizabeth's home, I mean."

"That's up to you, but I don't want any more of my children running away. I need to know how they really feel about our upcoming nuptials."

"And if they tell you that they don't approve?" Abby asks.

"That won't change anything, but I will try to make it easier for them."

"The only way to make this easier for them is to keep me stashed in an apartment across town," Abby jokes. "Oh, Tom, how did this get to be so complicated?"

"I don't think so." Tom replies to her joke. "And life is complicated. Why should our wedding be any different?"

"Because weddings are supposed to be the fairy tale before the real life of marriage begins," Abby says. "If the wedding is this complicated, how bad is the marriage going to be?"

"Yeah, but planning the wedding isn't supposed to be easy."

"Hmm. So what is supposed to be easy?" Abby teases.

Tom grins and takes her in his arms and kisses her. "This." He continues to kiss her.

"Nope, this is really complicated," Abby returns his kisses, "but in a good way."

Tom smiles and just continues to kiss her.

"But we still have a problem," Abby says when Tom lets her take a break to breathe. "What are you going to say to them tomorrow?"

"I figured we'd ask them what they think about us getting married and ask for their complete honesty. And if that doesn't work I'll keep prying."

"I'll bring my crowbar," Abby jokes.

Tom laughs.

"Now go on, go home to your kids. I have two weeks to get everything finished here, and clear my schedule so I can take a few days off, and if I just stand here kissing you, nothing is going to get done. Well, nothing productive, at least."

"Ok ok I'm going, are you sure you don't want me to stay and help you?" Tom asks.

"If you stayed," Abby kisses him, "we wouldn't get any packing done. What time should I come by tomorrow?"

"Is 7pm good for you?"

"I suppose. Is that the proper time of day to face a firing squad?"

"Yes it is my love," Tom teases.

"That's good. Wouldn't want to be gauche. Do I get a last request?"

"You sure do."

"Don't be so quick to agree," Abby laughs. "Remember, you're facing the firing squad with me."

"Well, as long as we're together," Tom jokes.

"A suicide pact?"

Tom laughs. "No, not a suicide pact."

"Might as well be. They do say that marriage is a civilized suicide pact."

"Who says that?" Tom asks.

"I think I read it once in your column," Abby says.

"Naah, you must have mistaken it for another column."

"Well, as long as I don't mistake another columnist for you," Abby says, kissing him.

Tom returns the kiss and after awhile goes home.