Episode 1: The Die is Cast--part 2

Meanwhile in the backyard:
Tom comes home and finds Nancy there and sits down beside her.

"Let me reword last night's question," he begins. "Why did you fall asleep at your mother's grave last night?"

Nancy is about to tell him but winds up closing her mouth again and looks away.

"Honey it's ok to talk about your mom with me. I miss her too, and right now you have your old dad pretty worried, so will you please tell me what's going on?"

Nancy takes a deep breath, lets it out, and then goes on to tell Tom everything she had told Mary earlier.

"First of all, if Rick is smart he won't show his face here again. Secondly, honey you can talk about your mom with me anytime you want."

"Thanks, Dad." She manages a smile. "But what do you think about school?"

"I think if those girls are going to talk about you that way then they're not worth knowing. Don't give up yet it's only your first semester. Give it more time. Nancy you are not a dumb blonde. That's one thing I know for a fact and if that's what they want to think. The heck with them. You're one of the smartest people I know and don't ever let anyone tell you different but that's not why I love you. I love you because you're my daughter and nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too, Dad." They hug. A few moments later. "So am I grounded?"

"No not this time, but don't let it happen again, ok?"

"Ok."

On Saturday morning Kenny P. Landers is on his way to visit his friend Nicholas Bradford. Kenny knocks on the door and waits for someone to open it. Then he hears footsteps coming to the door.

Nicholas comes down the stairs and answers the door. "Oh. Hi, Kenny, what's up?"

"Not much. What are you going to do today?" Kenny asks.

"I thought I would play in the backyard, have you had breakfast yet?"

"Yes, I had breakfast at home. Have you?" Kenny says.

"Nah, I thought I would get some cereal, want to wait with me in the kitchen?" Nicholas asks.

"I guess so," Kenny says as they go to the kitchen.

"So what do you want to do today?" Nicholas asks.

"Why don't we go to the movies?" Kenny asks.

"OK," Nicholas says.

After breakfast they head towards the movies. Just before they get to the ticket booth, Kenny ask, "Do you have any money I can borrow? I don't have any."

"Kenny, I only have money for myself," Nicholas replies.

"Why don't you go on in and then slip me in the exit door? Okay?" Kenny asks.

"I don't know, Kenny, what if we get caught?" Nicholas asks.

"We won't get caught. C'mon don't be such a sissy," Kenny says.

Nicholas sighs and says "OK." He then goes inside and when nobody is watching cracks the exit door open.

When Nicholas opens the door an alarm goes off.

"Uh oh, we're busted. What did you do that for?" Kenny says.

"You told me, remember?" Nicholas says.

"I didn't tell you to set the alarm off," Kenny says. The usher starts down the aisle and both boys take off running out the exit door.

Nicholas catches up to Kenny P. "That was too close; now what do you want to do?"

"Let go play in your yard now. I don't want to get in any more trouble today," Kenny says.

"Good idea" Nicholas says but unbeknownst to Nicholas the usher recognized him and called his home about the incident.

Nicholas and Kenny P. go in the back yard and play ball.

Susan arrives at the college tennis courts hoping to join in a game or two with some of the tennis team.

"Hey Luke," Susan says waving at him. Luke smiles and nods his head in Susan's direction. Susan smiles ~Oh my gosh he is so cute~ Susan watches as Luke wins the game. "Hey, Luke nice game," Susan says.

"Thanks, do you want to join us for a match?" Luke inquires.

"Sure," replies Susan as she watches him head over to the other side of the court. Luke tosses her the ball "Why don't you serve first." After an hour of intense playing they all decide to call it quits for the afternoon.

Luke comes over to Susan "Are you busy later on?"

"No, why?" replies Susan.

"Would you like to go get something to eat?" Luke asks.

"Sure, that sounds great." Susan answers trying to hide her excitement.

"Great, why don't I pick you up in about an hour okay." Luke says.

"I'll see you later then," as he walks away. Grinning, Susan heads home.

Meanwhile inside. Elizabeth and Nancy have made up by now and are talking in the kitchen while Joannie is cooking. Suddenly Joannie starts swearing as she looks for something and doesn't find it.

"What's wrong?" Nancy asks.

"We're out of milk again and my recipe specifically calls for it." Joannie pouts.

"I'll get the milk. Are any of the cars home?" Nancy asks.

"The sedan. Susan took the station wagon to go play tennis." Elizabeth says.

"Nance do you have money?" Joannie asks.

"No."

Joannie gives her some money and then Nancy leaves for the store.

On the way home from the store. Nancy is driving along, blasting the radio and singing along to it. A stupid song comes on so she changes the station and only looks away from the road for a second. Her eyes grow wide with fear when she looks up in time to see a car make a turn on their red light. She tries to swerve to get out of the way but is too late. There's the loud sound of glass breaking and the car breaking up and then eerie silence.

Moments later on the witnesses manage to pry her car door open.

"Hey kid, are you ok?" The man asks. He helps Nancy out of the car and she finally gets a good look at it on the outside.

"He's going to kill me." Nancy says in shock. "He is going to go ballistic."'

The other driver gets out of his car and makes a run for it. A lady looks inside and notices a bunch of empty whiskey bottles. She calls the police and the paramedics while the man makes Nancy sit down.

"I'm not hurt. Leave me alone," she protests. "Although that might change when my father sees what I did to his car." Her voice trembles.

"With the way that car looks, he'll be happy that you're still alive," he tries to assure her.

Seconds later, Abby stops her car and gets out when she sees the accident scene. Sounds of sirens fill the air about that time.

"Nancy?" Abby calls out, hoping that she's mistaken. After all, she's only seen the sedan--and the girl--a handful of times. But when Nancy looks up at the sound of her name, Abby loses even that faint hope. Abby sits on the pavement next to Nancy and puts an arm around the girl's shoulders. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm ok," Nancy says, her voice shaky. "But the car isn't."

Mrs. Abbot surveys the damage. "No, it certainly isn't."

One of the paramedics comes up to the two of them; he wants Nancy to go to the hospital to be checked over.

Nancy shakes her head emphatically and insists that she's fine.

"Nancy, that might not be a bad idea. You might feel fine now, but that might just be the adrenaline," Mrs. Abbot cautions. When she sees that Nancy is still reluctant, she whispers, "And your father might be easier to handle if you're calling from the emergency room."

"You have a good point there. Hey wait a minute is the other driver ok?" she inquires.

"We don't know. One of the witnesses said that he high tailed it out of here. Also said there were some empty whiskey bottles in his car."

"See?" Mrs. Abbot says, "Your father can't blame you for getting blindsided by a drunk driver. Now would you please go with them and get yourself looked over?"

"If you're not real busy or anything, can you take me?" Nancy asks, a little nervous about having to ride in an ambulance and trying to avoid it at all costs. And would rather have someone she knows take her even if she hasn't known Abby that long.

Mrs. Abbot looks at her watch. Last night Lisa's friend from the music program had finally gotten through to her ~Knew I should have screened my calls...~ and, more to get him off the phone than anything else, she agreed to meet him today for lunch. Well, she couldn't ask for a better excuse to cancel a date than this. "Sure,"
she tells Nancy, then looks up at the paramedic. "Is it all right if I take her there instead of the ambulance?"

The man considers. "Well, usually we like them to go in a neck brace and on a board, but since she's already been moved... Yeah, I guess so. We'll call ahead and tell them to expect you."

"Thanks." She turns her attention back to Nancy. "Your chariot awaits."

Nancy manages a smile but it quickly disappears replaced by jitteriness. They get in Abby's MG and then Abby drives towards the hospital driving especially careful.

They arrive a little while later and Nancy is taken to an examining room to be checked over.

"Want me to call your father?" Mrs. Abbot offers. "I suppose he'll have to come down here anyway to sign the insurance papers."

"Yeah I guess he has to find out sooner or later. Oh no I left the milk in the car."

"I'll tell him that, too," Mrs. Abbot promises. "If you need me, just tell someone to come get me, OK?"

"Ok," Nancy replies. "Thanks for being here."

"No need to thank me. You're actually doing me a favor," Mrs. Abbot confesses. "But I'd better go call your father."

Abby goes over to the bank of phones, and before calling the Bradford house calls and leaves a message on her date's machine, canceling. She tries not to sound too relieved. Then she dials the Bradford home.

Elizabeth answers the phone. "Nancy if that's you where the heck are you? Joannie is about to have kittens waiting for that milk."

"Ummm," Mrs. Abbot hesitates, trying to figure out which of the girls is answering the phone, "No, it's not Nancy. This is Mrs. Abbot. Is your father around?"

"Yes hold on." She covers the mouth piece. "Dad!! Phone!!"

He comes out of his study, thanks her, and takes the receiver. "Tom Bradford here."

"Hi, Tom. It's Abby Abbot. Um, could you meet me down at the medical center? See, I was out driving, and I saw an accident, and, well, it was Nancy. She's going to be OK, she's just shaken, but your car is going to need some major body work."

All Tom's mind processes are the words *Nancy* and *accident*. "What? Is she all right?" he asks Abby. "I'll be right there." He hangs up, not giving her time to reply and heads out the door. Susan had come home by then so Tom takes the station wagon and heads for the hospital.

Abby stares at the phone receiver a second before she hangs up. She goes to tell Nancy that her father's on his way and that she'll wait for him outside.

Soon Tom arrives and rushes over to Abby. "Where's Nancy? Is she all right?" he asks frantically.

Abby lays a hand on his arm. "Relax, Tom. She's fine. She didn't even want to come here, but the paramedics and I thought she should be looked at, just to be sure. In fact, she's more worried about you being angry with her than anything. And it wasn't her fault. The other driver, they said, was probably drunk."

Tom lets out a huge sigh of relief. But soon anger takes over. "Probably drunk? Don't the police know for sure?"

"He fled the scene," Abby tells him, "which your insurance agent's going to love."

"He fled? Did he even check to see if Nancy was all right first? She could've been dying for all he knew." He tries to calm himself down. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to unload all of this all of you. Thanks for bringing her here."

"It really was no problem," Abby dismisses his thanks. She ought to go now, she knows, now that Nancy's father is here, but if she goes home, her date might track her down, and she isn't interested in a Saturday of stifling boredom. "Do you mine if I hang around? Just to make sure she's OK?" Abby asks.

"No I don't mind at all." He gets them both some coffee and then they have a seat in the waiting room.

Tom's mind drifts back a few years to a similar incident that had happened to a neighboring family. Their son had wrapped their car around a tree, and instead of being grateful that their son was alive his father had yelled at him and grounded him indefinitely. After Tom and Joan had witnessed that they promised each other that they would never do that to one of their kids if the same thing happened to them. "I think all children when they total their parents car think that they're going to get yelled at, and in some cases the yelling is justified but not when it's not their fault. And not when the parent has come so close to losing the child. It's going to be a headache getting that car repaired or replaced, but things could've been a lot worse."

Abby nods. "True. I wonder when it is kids stop worrying about their parents' overreactions."

"I guess when they have their own kids and start seeing things through their parent's eyes."

"Well, there goes any hope for my parents to be optimistic," Abby jokes.

"Don't be so sure. You never know what the future holds," Tom says.

"I suppose I could suddenly see the light one day, be a good girl and move back home," Abby says, avoiding the topic of any potential for her to ever have a relationship, much less children.

"No don't do that," Tom answers.

"I'd only move back to Pasadena if I took permanent leave of my senses," Abby assures him.

"That's a relief."

Abby looks at him, wondering why he should care. ~Because Tommy's done well this week? Or something else?~

A little while later Nancy and Dr. Maxwell find them.

"Dad I'm sorry," Nancy says nervously.

Tom gets up and hugs her. "For what? It wasn't your fault. Are you ok?"

"She's fine Tom, but I think she should rest for the rest of the day," Greg tells him.

"Thanks Greg."

"Too bad the car wasn't as lucky," Nancy says.

"I can care less about the car right now," Tom tells her. "It can be replaced, you can't."

"Hey Tom are you going to introduce me to your friend?" Greg asks.

"Yes I am. Greg this is Abby Abbot. Abby this is my best friend Dr. Greg Maxwell," Tom says.

Abby reaches out to shake Dr. Maxwell's hand. "Hi," she says, wondering which of the inevitable questions Tom's friend will ask first, or if he's too professional to ask who this strange woman with the strange name is and what she's doing waiting here.

Greg shakes her hand. "That's quite a name you have there Mrs. Abbot."

Abby shrugs. There are two groups of people when it comes to explanations about her name--those who she'll see again, and so gives a real answer, and those she won't, so she doesn't waste her time. "It gets me remembered," she laughs, placing Dr. Maxwell in the 'never going to meet again' category. ~He didn't ask who I am or what I'm doing here. Either Nancy explained, he's got no curiosity, or he's used to seeing Tom with strange women.~ She considers the possibilities. ~Nancy probably explained.~

Greg makes some more small talk and then he returns to his regular rounds.

"So are you two ladies hungry?" Tom asks.

"No, I'd really just like to get home." Nancy sees he doesn't have milk with him and figures that either he didn't give Mrs. Abbot a chance to tell him about it or he forgot. Oh well the people at the car shop probably either threw it away or put it in the fridge. "Mrs. Abbot are you staying for dinner again?" she asks her.

"Dinner?" Mrs. Abbot repeats. "Aren't you going to have to replace the milk first?"

"Milk?" Tom asks.

"Yeah I was getting milk for Joannie, but then I had the accident." Nancy tells him.

"We'll get milk on the way home." He then turns to Abby. "Please come for dinner again. I owe you at least that for getting the kid who hates hospitals here."

"It really wasn't any bother. Nancy didn't make any fuss. Must have been that cute paramedic who convinced her," Abby answers. "Are you sure Tommy wouldn't be upset, seeing me on the weekend?"

"Just assure him that you're not there for tutoring on the weekend and he'll be fine," Nancy says.

Abby looks at Tom to see if he agrees with what Nancy's said, and when Tom nods, she says, "Sure, then. I'd love to."

Tom smiles. "Good." The three of them leave and after picking up the milk they head home.

"Finally, Nancy where have you been?" Joannie asks as she takes the milk, measures what she needs and puts it into what she is cooking.

"And dad why did you rush out of here? Hi Mrs. Abbot." Elizabeth says.

Joannie greets her also and then turns to Nancy. "If you're going to scout for men please don't do it while on an errand?" She kids.

Nancy's face clouds over. "Why do you always have to think it's my fault when I'm late?"

Joannie glances at her and finally gets a good look at her. She's still jittery and still a little dazed from the wreck. "Nance what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"The sedan is badly damaged. I totaled it." She tells them the rest.

"Oh no. Are you ok?" Elizabeth asks her.

"Yeah I'm ok."

Joannie hugs her tightly. "Don't worry about the car it's just a piece of machinery with four wheels. I'm really glad you're still in one piece."

David and Joannie helped Tommy downstairs and got him situated in the kitchen with his leg propped up on another chair when Nancy, his Dad and Mrs. Abbott came in ~Don't tell me she's here to tutor me on the weekends too~ Tommy thinks and says "Hi, what are you doing here?"

"Don't you remember? We had a session scheduled," Mrs. Abbot deadpans.

"But it is Saturday," Tommy asks.

Nancy stifles back a laugh, gets something to drink and sits down. She's still too shaky to help with dinner.

"Learning doesn't stop just because it's the weekend," Mrs. Abbot preaches. "And besides, if you add up the number of hours we work together during the week and the number of hours you'd be in school you'd see we are several hours short. Saturday's a great time to make up the time." By the end of her speech she's biting her lip to keep from laughing.

"Don't you ever take a day off?" Tommy asks.

Tom sees the look of doom and gloom on his sons face. "Tommy relax. She's only here for dinner," he smiles.

Tommy looks at her and replies, "You know you really had me going there." Tommy starts to laugh.

Mrs. Abbot shakes her head. "How many times do I have to tell you, Tommy? Don't jump to conclusions."

"Old habits die hard," Tommy tells her.

"I think I've already heard that line this week," Mrs. Abbot says, sneaking a glance at Tom. She then asks the girls, "You need any help getting things ready?"

"No we have it covered, but thanks anyway." Joannie says.

"Joannie," Elizabeth complains. "You're turning down help with dinner? Are you nuts?"

~Does anything get done in this house without an argument?~ Abby wonders as she waits to be told what to do with herself while dinner is being prepared.

Nancy glances at her dad just standing there looking like he doesn't know what to do either. "Hey Dad why don't you show Mrs. Abbot the house? I don't think she's seen everything."

Tom turns to Abby. "That sounds like a good idea. So do you want the grand tour of this place?" He asks her.

"Sounds good," Abby agrees. ~If I didn't agree, Nancy probably would burst.~

Tom takes Abby for the grand tour. Elizabeth observes Nancy watching their exit.

"Ok, what was that all about?" She asks.

"Well isn't it obvious? They like each other, and just maybe they want to be alone." Nancy comments.

"My tutor and my father, yuck" Tommy groans.

Joannie swats Tommy over the head with a towel before turning back to her sister. "Hey, Nance, you didn't go crash the car just to set this up, did you?" she teases.

"Very funny Joannie, and Tommy she won't be your tutor forever, and it was pretty cool of her to take me to the hospital and everything, and I think dad is starting to like her. I miss Mom, I know we all do, but dad can't go through the rest of his life alone. What's going to happen when all of us move out and get lives of our own?"

Joannie laughs and shakes her head. "Are you sure you didn't hurt your head in the accident? You already have them walking down the aisle."

"I do not, I'm just speculating."

Tommy looks around and notice one person is absent "Hey you guys haven't seen Nicholas lately have you?"

"The last I saw he was with Kenny." Elizabeth says.

Tommy laughs "Oh great, Dad will love that, wonder what kind of trouble they got themselves into."

Nancy laughs also. "I don't even want to think about it."

Moments later upstairs, Tom is showing Abby the rooms and is about to show her his room.

When they walk into the room, Abby leans her back against the wall and smirks.

Tom observes her smirk. "What's so funny?" he asks.

"You have a woman upstairs in your room with you. Don't you know that's against house rules? Or do you only get in trouble if you lock the door?" she teases.

"That's different. I'm the father," Tom says.

Abby laughs. "Talk about a double standard. So, what is it the father has to do to get in trouble?"

Tom's mouth almost drops open. ~But it's so soon.~ "Well er um," Tom stammers. "What do you think?"

"I think that if you have to ask me the house rules, you're already in trouble," Abby drawls. ~He's cute when he's flustered.~ "So, is there anything else you wanted to show me in this house besides your bedroom?"

Tom tries to regain his composure. "Yes, come with me," he says and he shows her the rest of the house. They finally wind up in the backyard. "So now that I bored you with the tour of the place, can I ask you something?" Tom inquires. ~It's now or never.~

"Of course," Abby says.

"Are you doing anything after dinner tonight?" he asks hoping she'll say no.

Abby shakes her head. "Not that I can think of." Only after she's said this does she realize what Tom's probably getting at. He's the parent of a student--potential ethics problems. But there isn't actually any rule against it, she justifies herself.

"Well I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me. You pick the place and we'll go," Tom says. ~Please don't say no.~

Abby knows she should say no. If they do go out and things go wrong, she still has to come back here every day for the next month. But she doesn't want to say no, so she says yes, instead. ~Pick the place? Lisa keeps telling men to take me to the Marimba Lounge; somehow I don't think that's his style.~ "But why don't you pick the place. I've been living in Sacramento a few years now, but I don't get out all that often."

"Have you heard of the Pelican Club?" Tom asks.

"I don't think so," Abby says. "But I'm willing to find out."

Tom smiles. "Good, you'll have a good time I promise you."

Abby smiles back at him. "I'm sure I will."

Elizabeth comes outside. "Dinner's ready," she says, interrupting them a second time.

Abby smiles at this replay of the last time she had dinner with the Bradfords. ~At least this time it won't end at the door. Wait--I'm supposed to sit through a meal with his kids before we go out? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Oh, stop worrying. They're his kids, let him handle how or if he tells them anything.~

Later during dinner:
"So did your life flash before your eyes? Or is that just a myth?" David asks.

"No, but there was a white picket fence nearby. For the first few seconds I thought it was the pearly gates," Nancy jokes, trying to make light of what happened earlier.

"And you thought the paramedic was a real angel," Abby adds.

Nancy nods. "Yes I did."

"Tell me all about it," Joannie insists. "I can probably use it in a play sometime."

Nancy looks at her like she's grown a second head. "You're going to take a bad experience of mine and use it in a play?" She shakes her head and then thinks about it more. "Ok, but if you make any money off of it I want my cut."

"Don't worry," Joannie assures her. "When I'm rich and famous, I won't forget all you little people."

Elizabeth takes a spoon and uses it to put a second helping on Joannie's plate. "For your ego." She says and sits down. She and Nancy laugh.

"Humph. See if I thank either of you when I win my first Oscar," Joannie warns. "Or Tony. 'I'd like to thank my brothers David and Tommy and Nicholas, and my sisters Mary and Susan, and, umm, my other sisters. That's the best you'll get."

"Oh come on, Joannie." Nancy continues to laugh. "You know we love you."

Joannie goes into full Sarah Bernhart mode. "I'm an actress. We don't need love. We need respect for our craft. We need to suffer for our art. Or at least have family members who suffer and are willing to tell us every gory detail," she jokes.

Nancy pretends to be upset at the comment. "Yeah sure whatever."

Joannie sticks her tongue out at Nancy. "Philistine."

"I am not a Philistine, whatever that is," Nancy says.

"How do you know you're not one if you don't know what one is?" Joannie asks. "And of course you are--you have no appreciation for Real Art, or you'd tell me exactly what it was like today so I can use it in my acting."

Nancy glares at her and is about to say something, but she gets up from the table and leaves the room instead. She goes up to her bedroom and slams the door.

"Nice Joannie, real nice," Elizabeth chides.

Joannie throws down her napkin and leaves the table without being excused. Abby looks at Tom, wondering if this is normal behavior in the Bradford household.

"Don't worry Abby, this kind of thing happens often. Last week it was Nicholas and the time before Susan who left the table angry," Tom says.

"How do you keep track?" she wonders.

Tom shrugs.

"Since I have broken my leg I haven't been able to run off." Tommy laughs.

Elizabeth laughs also. "Don't worry. If you get upset I'll help you get out of
here."

"Thanks Liz, I knew I could count on you."

"Not a problem, Tommy."

Upstairs, Joannie knocks on Nancy's door.

"I'm not coming back down!!" Nancy shouts through the door.

Joannie opens the door. "Then I'm coming in. Look, I'm sorry. I was joking, OK? I thought you could use some laughs after what could have happened today."

Nancy manages a smile. "I know you were, but after what did happen, I don't know I guess it hurt anyway. I know you didn't mean it. I just can't talk about it right now; I want to forget it even happened but I can't."

"I'll bet. I'm sorry I asked, and if you don't ever want to talk about it, that's fine, but if you do, I'm here, and I won't even use it if you don't want," Joannie tells her. "But please come downstairs. I think Mrs. Abbot's getting a little nervous about us, so I'll pretend to be a normal person if you pretend you're all right, just until they leave, OK?"

"Ok, and I'm sorry I ran off like that." They go downstairs and sit down. "Sorry," Nancy tells everyone. "I had something in my eye."

After dinner and after Tom and Abby leave for their date:
Mary is sitting home alone Saturday night wishing she had something to do. Doug has classes until late that evening and then might even go out with the boys after that. So Mary decides to go and see what her family is doing.

Mary gets to the house and enters yelling, "Anyone home?"

Nicholas comes in and says "Hi Mary."

Mary goes and gives Nicholas a hug, "It's good to see you. I sure have missed you little brother. How are things with you?"

"Yeah in here Mary!!" Joannie shouts from the kitchen where she and David are having coffee.

"Be right there!" Mary shouts back at Joannie in the kitchen.

"Ok!!" Joannie shouts back.

"I missed you too, I am doing ok" Nicholas replies "Wished you were still living here."

Mary smiles, "Sometimes I do too."

"I am going to go play checkers with Tommy, say good-bye to us before you leave OK?"

"Ok, I sure will," Mary replies.

Mary goes into the kitchen where Joannie and David are and gives them both a hug. "I sure have missed you guys," Mary says with a smile.

They hug her also.

"We've missed you too." Joannie says. "Are you here to check on Nancy because she's really fine." Joannie says thinking her father must have called her and told her what happened earlier.

Mary's smile vanishes as worry takes over, "What's wrong with Nancy?"

"I'm sorry I thought dad had called and told you." Joannie apologizes.

"She had an accident. A drunk rammed into her and the sedan. She's not hurt but still a little freaked out about the whole thing." David says.

"Oh my, I guess she is upset and I bet dad is too. Where is she anyway?" Mary asks.

"She's upstairs in her room. Yeah dad is upset but mostly at the other driver." Joannie says.

"That's good that he's not mad at her. Where's Dad at, anyway?" Mary asks.

"Yeah he better not be. One of the guys at the shop said she would have died instantly if she hadn't of been wearing a seat belt." Joannie then smiles. "He's out on a date with Mrs. Abbot."

"Well thank goodness she is okay," Mary sighs. "Mrs. Abbot?....oh yeah, Tommy's tutor. I met her the other day. They're dating? Wow, I never thought she would be his type."

"Me either but you should see the way his face lights up when she enters the room. I haven't seen that look on his face in a long time." Joannie tells her.

Mary grows quiet for a moment thinking about her mother then says, "Well, that's good. If she makes him happy then I'm happy for him."

"So am I." Joannie says. "Hey why don't you go upstairs and see Nancy. I'm sure she'd be happy to see you right now, and I think she needs her big sister right about now."

"Oh, I thought she was resting. I'll go up now," she says as she goes up to Nancy's room and knocks on the door.

"Come in!!" Nancy shouts from inside.

Mary goes in, "Well, are your really okay? I heard about your accident."

"Yeah I'm ok. Just a little jittery." Nancy replies.

"Well, I guess so. Want to tell me about it?" Mary asks.

"Can we talk about something else? I really don't want to talk about the accident right now. Too frightening."

"Sure, after all what matters is you're okay. Want to talk about Dad and Mrs. Abbot?" Mary says with a grin.

"Yes, you should see the way they look at each other." Nancy contributes.

"That's good I guess. I want to see Dad happy. I know it's been hard on him since Mom died. Maybe she will be good for him," Mary says.

"Yeah, and she is a very nice lady that's for sure." Nancy says.

"I only met her once, as I was going out the door so I don't know much about her. Tell me what you know about her," Mary asks.

"She has this real cool MG, and she's a very nice lady." Nancy tells her all the rest that she knows about Abby.

"Wow, maybe she'll be a good influence on Dad, you know modernize him some," Mary laughs.

Nancy laughs also but soon her face clouds over. "Mary I really feel bad about the car."

"Well don't," Mary replies. "You're okay and that's all that matters, besides I'm sure the insurance will cover it."

"Mary you don't understand." Nancy begins her confession. "I looked away for a second to change the radio station. Now if I wouldn't have done that maybe I could have avoided the accident. It wasn't completely the other drivers fault."

"Nance, listen everyone looks away for a second to change the radio station, but the guy that hit you was drinking and has a record for doing the same thing. It wasn't you that caused the accident it was him. Now stop worrying about it," Mary explains.

"Easy for you to say." Tears well in her eyes. "You didn't total dad's car." The tears start falling.

Mary hugs her, "Well, it's going to be okay I promise."

Nancy cries in her arms for awhile and then finally calms down. "I can't wait til this day is over with."

"Well, why don't you try to get some sleep now and I'm sure tomorrow things will seem better," Mary tries to assure her.

"Because every time I close my eyes I see the accident again."

"Well, I can understand that. I think I would do the same thing. Do you want me to stay a while longer? We can talk about something other than the accident if you wish," Mary says.

"Ok, how are you and Doug doing?"

"Ok I guess I really don't know. I don't see him very much. Seems like I saw more of him before we moved in together, " Mary laughs.

"Oh no, hey maybe you two should take a day off and spend it together."

"Well, we did take part of a day off a while back to spend together...oh when was it? Oh yeah it was the day after you spent the night in the cemetery. That's the last time we spend any time together," Mary says sadly.

"Then you two are obviously due another day off."

"I don't know if I can get him to do that. I mean he doesn't even come home until late, and that's every night now. I hardly see him at all," Mary states.

"Well then bring it up when he gets home."

"I guess I'm going to have to. You know this living together isn't what I thought it would be. It isn't easy, you know," Mary says.

"Yeah, well you can always come back home and still see him."

"Well, I still hope things work out for us, but if they don't I don't think I'll want to continue seeing him. You know it's funny how you really never know someone until you live with them," Mary says.

"Yeah," Nancy sighs in sympathy.

"Oh well, so much for me. Anything going on interesting in your life? Any new boyfriends?" Mary asks.

"No not yet."

"Well, are things at school any better?" Mary inquires.

"No not really. But I ignore them now," Nancy says.

"I guess that's about all you can do. Some people can be so insensitive," Mary tells her.

"Yeah I know." Nancy replies.

~Well it's obvious she doesn't want to talk to me.~ "Well, I guess I'll go check on Tommy, then I guess I'll go back to the apartment. Hope things are better for you tomorrow," Mary says as she starts to leave.

"Ok, and Mary I'm sorry I'm not very talkative tonight. It's not you I promise." Nancy says still shaken from the accident.

"It's OK Nance, I understand, but if you need to talk give me a call," Mary says as she goes to knock on Tommy's door.

Tommy says, "Come in."

Mary goes in, "Hi Tommy, how's it going?"

"OK...I guess; I am trying to keep up with all this school work Mrs. Abbot gave me, but it isn't easy." Tommy says and closes his math book "How is it going with you?"

"OK I guess. So how do you like Mrs. Abbot?" Mary asks.

"Well, it's hard to explain," Tommy says. "She's one of the toughest teachers I have ever had and you want to hate her but you can't; so you try your best. It's like a mouse being baited by the cheese but you know the cheese is in the trap but you go for it anyway."

Mary laughs, "Oh OK, I see. What do you think about Dad dating her?"

"I have mixed emotions about it," Tommy says. "My first reaction was 'Yuck,' but you should see Dad around her; I haven't seen his eyes light up since Mom was alive you know?"

"That's what the others are saying too. I'm just going to have to come by one day when dad's here. I sure would like to see his eyes light up again. Does it make you feel kind of strange though to see Dad with someone other than Mom?" Mary asks.

"Sort of; it makes it all seem so final. Before you could make believe she was on a trip or something."

"Yeah, I know," Mary says and then grows quiet thinking about her mother again. After a few moments of silence Mary looks up at Tommy with tears in her eyes, "I sure do miss Mom, but if Mrs. Abbot makes dad happy that's all that matters now."

Tommy laughs. "Lets not marry them off until I least get my cast off. OK?"

Mary smiles, "Ok, so when are you going to get the cast off anyway?"

"Dr. Max says in a month. So how are you and Doug doing?"

"Ok I guess. Have you got your eye on some pretty little lady?" Mary says trying to change the subject.

"Well there was this one girl I like," Tommy says.

Mary smiles and sits back ~I've finally found someone to talk to me.~ "Tell me all about her, little brother."

Tommy blushes. "There really isn't that much to tell. Her name is Wendy Springer, but she already has a boyfriend on the football team."

Mary laughs, "Tommy, at your age people date for a month or less then move on to someone else. My advice to you is to be there when they break up."

"Even if they do break up, I am not exactly the jock she goes for," Tommy says.

Mary laughs, "Yeah right, I hear you've broke hearts all over the school."

Tommy laughs. "Speaking of hearts, you don't look too happy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing really, it just seems I never see Doug now that we're living together. He's always at work, in class or out with the boys. This living together just isn't what I thought it would be," Mary explains.

"Then come home," Tommy tells her.

"I'm not giving up just yet. I'm going to have a little chat with him the next time I see him," she says.

"Good idea; but I know Dad would be thrilled if you came home," Tommy replies.

"Yes, I'm sure he would. You know it's really strange being in an apartment alone. It seems so quiet compared to this place. I miss all the noise. Can you imagine?" Mary asks.

"Miss the noise?" Tommy says, shocked. "You are out of your mind."

"Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but wait until you move out, I bet you'll miss it too," Mary tells him.

Tommy looks at his leg and replies "All I want to do is move out of this room."

Mary looks at him sadly, "Yeah, I guess so. Do you need anything while I'm here? A sandwich or anything?"

"A glass of milk and slice of cake would be nice." Tommy says and then adds, "Why don't you join me?"

"Ok, I think I will. Be right back," she says as she goes to the kitchen to get the milk and cake.