Part 4:
Tom soon returns with Nicholas.
"Just tell me you're not a covers hog like your father, Nicholas," Abby pleads.
"I don't know, but once I woke up at the foot of the bed," Nicholas says.
"So if I feel someone tickling my toes in the middle of the night, I should know whom to blame?"
Nicholas laughs.
"So how do we work this?" Abby asks Tom. "Put him between us, so if he's feeling worse in the middle of the night he can wake either of us up?"
"Yes that would be best." Tom says as he gets ready for bed.
"Or you could go sleep in his bed and I can watch him tonight," Abby suggests. "That way you'll get a night's sleep; you'll need it to take care of everyone tomorrow."
"I don't know." Tom hesitates.
"You're not going to get any sleep with Nicholas moving around the bed; it's barely big enough for two."
"You're right." Tom says, he bids them goodnight and then goes to sleep in Nick's bed.
"Dad what are you doing in here?" Tommy asks.
"Hoping to get some sleep, which you should be doing."
"I'm trying" he says.
"Does your throat hurt too much?"
"It's pretty sore."
Tom goes to get him some tea with honey and lemon in it.
"Dad thanks for the tea, but if I drink anymore, I will float away."
"Would you like a bedtime story?" Tom kids.
"Ha Ha."
Tom smiles and offers him a lollipop.
"Dad I am not 5 years old."
"I know you're not but it would be good for your throat."
Tommy sighs and takes the lollipop. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"Well, Nicholas," Abby says, "looks like it's you and me tonight."
"Yeah." Nicholas says and soon falls asleep. Later he starts tossing and turning and starts to say things incoherently.
Abby wakes from the tossing and turning and the lack of covers. "Like father, like son," she sighs and get a lukewarm washcloth to cool Nicholas down.
"Sorry to be a bother."
"You're not a bother, Nicholas," Abby assures him. "You're sick is all. You want something to drink? Some ice cream?"
"No, thanks." He says.
Abby tucks the covers back around him. "Try to get some sleep, then, OK?"
"OK," he says.
Abby smoothes down Nicholas's hair and tries to go to sleep herself, but now it is she who is restless.
The next morning Brad knocks on the Bradfords' front door.
Joannie answers it. "Come in only if you want to get sick," she warns.
"I'm going to get sick anyway. Is Nancy awake?" He walks in.
"I don't know," Joannie shrugs. "Just go on up and check."
"Joannie, I might act a little wild sometimes but I'm not crazy. I know how your Dad would react if I did that."
"Oh you got that right." Tom says. "What are you doing here?" He comes out of his study.
Abby comes down the stairs and sizes up the situation. "I think I'll grab some breakfast at work," she says and tries to slip out the door without getting involved.
"You don't have to go. Brad will be going. Out Brad." Tom says.
"Please just let me see her."
Tom glares at him.
"Fine." Brad leaves.
"Well, that's one way to make sure Nancy sneaks out once she's better," Abby says.
"No she won't. Because if she does she'll be looking for another place to live." Tom says.
"You don't mean that, Tom."
"Don't I? Nancy needs to learn some common courtesy."
"So this solely is your decision, is it?" Abby asks.
"Abby."
"Don't 'Abby' me," she says. "You're right--sneaking off in the middle of the night was wrong. But grounding her was enough. Forbidding her to see someone won't work, and if you were thinking straight you'd know it."
"Well what else am I supposed to do? Every time she and Brad get together trouble is just around the corner. They're bad for each other."
"So you punish them every time they get together, so they want to be together even more. Great plan," Abby says. "How much trouble can they get into? They're both good kids. Why not let them discover on their own that they're bad for each other?"
"Abby, she can become pregnant."
"I think she's responsible enough to take precautions."
Meanwhile Nancy is sitting on the very top step listening in.
"Even if she is it can still happen."
"If you treat her like a child, a careless accident is more likely to happen," Abby insists.
Tom mulls this over. "You're right."
"And Brad really is a nice boy," Abby continues the pressure.
"Yes he is and I guess I should give him another chance with Nancy," he says.
"All right!!" They hear Nancy's voice from the stairway. She then groans and rubs her throat.
"Eavesdropping, snooping--I'd say your kids make sure they stay informed," Abby says softly so Nancy doesn't overhear.
Tom laughs and then looks up at his daughter. "Are you up to eating anything today? And do not yell come downstairs so we can hear you."
Nancy comes downstairs but keeps her distance so her parents don't get sick. "Sure, is there any ice cream left?"
"Vanilla," Abby says and makes a face.
Nancy also makes a face. "Daddy."
"Oh no she only calls me Daddy when she really wants something."
"Please get chocolate ice cream today."
"I can pick some up," Abby volunteers. "I have some...errands...to run anyway."
"Thanks Abby." Nancy says.
"Do you need money?" Tom asks.
"No, I've got," Abby says. "I'd better get going. Like I said, I'll get some breakfast at work or something."
"Ok, I want to kiss you right now, but I'm not allowed." Tom says.
Abby leaves for work, the doctor's, and shopping.
~Well I thought it was funny.~ Tom goes to work on his column.
Nancy stifles back a laugh and goes to watch tv.
Tommy joins her "What's on?" he asks
"Just cartoons. How are you feeling?"
"Sore, yourself?" Tommy asks.
"Pretty yucky."
"I wonder what we can do today?"
"Anything that doesn't require a lot of energy."
"Yeah, Nicholas must be ill if he isn't down here watching cartoons."
"Let's go check on him."
"You go check on him," Tommy says, tired from lack of sleep.
"Ok." She goes upstairs and starts to become worn down however she makes it to the boys room. "Hi Nicky."
"Hi" he says
"How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"
"OK, I guess" he says "I sure would like a milkshake."
"Coming right up." She goes downstairs to make him a milkshake and brings it up to him.
"Thanks." Nicholas says and drinks the shake and falls back to sleep.
Nancy takes it back downstairs and then goes to lie down having worn herself out.
"Why don't you go back to bed?" Mary says to Nancy in the TV room.
"Because I don't have the energy to make it back up there?"
"Can I help you back upstairs?" she asks.
Nancy nods.
"Come on Tommy, give me a hand."
"OK." he says
They both help Nancy upstairs and put her into bed.
Tommy thinks of going back downstairs but suddenly he is feeling fatigue. "I think I'll go lie down too."
Mary says "I know what you mean." and retreats to her own room.
Elizabeth ventures out of the bathroom and goes downstairs to watch tv. "Where did everyone go?"
That afternoon Abby comes home, brings in the groceries and starts to put them away. "I got some decent flavors of ice cream if anyone's interested," she calls out.
Nancy enters. "You bet I am if I have to eat anymore vanilla I'm going on a hunger strike."
"I got chocolate chocolate chip, rocky road, butter pecan, peach, strawberry, and I got macadamia brittle to satisfy my cravings," Abby says.
"Thanks Abby." Nancy fixes herself a bowl of the chocolate chocolate chip.
"Your father home? I should offer him some. Maybe we can convert him from vanilla."
"When he isn't checking on us he's in his study pouting."
"Pouting? What about? Have you kids been ganging up on him again?"
"No, and he won't tell us."
Abby fills up two bowls of ice cream. "Well, I guess I'm the lucky one who gets to beard the lion. Wish me luck."
"Good luck." Nancy says as she enjoys her ice cream.
A little while later. Nancy knocks on Joannie and Susan's door.
"Hey Joannie do you want ice cream?"
"Not if it's vanilla."
"It's not." Nancy brings in Joannie's favorite flavor.
"Oh my god, where'd you get this? Who snuck this in past Dad?"
"Abby did."
"Guess I'm glad we have her then. I told you she'd drag Dad into the 20th century."
"Yeah kicking and screaming." Nancy jokes.
"Better than not at all. After all, he agreed to let you see Brad, didn't he?"
"Yes and I have Abby to thank for that also." She coughs.
"Here, have some ice cream," Joannie offers. "We're both sick, so we can share."
"Thanks Joannie." She has some ice cream. "And that's right."
"I wonder if you already got Brad sick."
"Hmm, if I did I wonder if he'd be able to recover over here."
"Maybe Dad will let you use him as a stuffed animal."
Nancy laughs. "I doubt it."
"Maybe we could keep him out back with Sam," Joannie suggests.
"Sam would like that. But I don't know about Brad."
"If you'd offer to go out and pet him as often as you do Sam, he'd love it."
Nancy laughs again. "Oh he'd definitely love that."
"So why now?" Joannie asks. "You've known Brad forever. Why'd you decide to get together with him now? The football game?"
"I don't know. I guess it's because I feel like I can trust him."
"You mean he's better than Ray and Jason."
"Yep, at least I know he's not going to cheat on me or flake out on me."
"And that's why you had to slip out in the middle of night to see him?"
"Am I ever going to live that down?"
"Maybe by the time you get to Dad's age," Joannie assures her. "By then you'll have done lots more for us to tease you about."
"Ha ha."
"Hey, if anyone's going to be the Auntie V of our generation, it's you."
"You think so?" Nancy asks liking the prospect.
"Really do. And I'll let you spoil my kids rotten."
"And I'll be happy to do that." Glances around the room. "So I guess Susan's waiting till we're all better to get sick so she'll have a lot of people to take care of her?"
"I don't know. She's been hiding herself; she sleeps when I'm not here. I don't know--maybe she's angry at me; she hardly talks to me anymore," Joannie admits.
"Hmm, come to think of it. Yesterday in the cafeteria was the first time I've talked to her in ages. So if she's mad at you she's mad at me too."
"You have any idea what we've done? You didn't get down on her about Ray, did you?"
"No of course not it's not Susan's fault. And I do not expect her to stop being friends with him."
"Well, if you can find her, I say we tie her down and give her the third degree."
"I agree."
"I'm going to take the dishes downstairs and grab some TV time," Joannie says. "Want to come?"
"Yes." Nancy helps her bring the dishes downstairs to the kitchen.
Susan comes into the kitchen just as her sisters are putting their dirty dishes into the sink. "Hey guys, what's goin on?"
"Hey Susan how are you feeling? And is everything ok with you?" Nancy asks.
"I'm okay. My throats been a little scratchy lately though." Susan replies
"Uh oh that's how mine started. Do you want some ice cream?"
"Sure, what kind do we have?" asks Susan.
"We have chocolate chocolate chip, rocky road, butter pecan, peach, strawberry, and macadamia brittle, but the macadamia is Abby's." Nancy says.
"That's not fair. I guess I'll have chocolate chocolate chip." says Susan.
Nancy gets her a bowl and then sits down when she starts feeling worn down again. "I don't know about you two but I hate the part of the illness where you think you're getting better so you decide you can do a few things and then it hits ya again."
Enter Elizabeth who is all better now but will have to go back to school the next day. "Be glad you're still sick at least you don't have to go to school tomorrow."
"Poor Liz" Susan says.
"Would you like us to cough on you little sis?" Nancy asks.
"Oh you're funny." Elizabeth says with a tinge of sarcasm.
"I thought she was." Susan says.
"Just wait soon all of you will be better and no longer will be able to stay home." Elizabeth says as she goes upstairs.
"I'm going to go hog the couch." Nancy says and leaves Susan and Joannie in the kitchen.
"Hey, Susan?" Joannie asks a little hesitantly. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure, what do you want to talk about?" Susan asks.
"You. Is everything OK with you?"
"Yeah why?"
"Well, it feels like you're avoiding me, and I can't think of anything I've done wrong. I returned your blouse, I didn't come on to any of your friends, and I try not to snore anymore," Joannie answers.
"Joannie, I haven't been avoiding you or anyone for that matter." Susan says. "I've just been pretty busy lately."
"Morning, noon, and night?" Joannie asks, disbelieving. "Come on, we share a room. There's got to be time you can talk to me. I mean, I've had to hang out with Nancy for companionship."
"I'm sorry Joannie." Susan says "I'll try to be more available."
"Are you sure it's nothing? I'm your sister, you can tell me," Joannie insists.
"Well, it's not exactly nothing." Susan says "I'm not doing so well in my English class and I've been thinking a lot about mom lately especially with Christmas coming up."
Joannie gives Susan a hug. "Yeah, so have I." She holds her sister for a minute quietly. "And I can help you with the English, silly rabbit. All you had to do was ask."
"Thanks Joannie."
Abby takes the ice cream and goes to knock on Tom's study doorway. "Ready to take a break?" she asks.
"Sure, what kind of ice cream is that?"
"I brought a little bit of everything but vanilla. Want to share?"
"Sure." They share the ice cream. Neither one of them saying much to each other.
Finally Abby gives up waiting for Tom to confide in her. "I heard you've been pouting all day. Want to talk about it?"
Tom sighs. "I've just been upset because I can't get this column started."
"You, at a loss for words?" Abby laughs.
"Yes, I suppose I could write about this epidemic."
"See? There's always some medical situation to write about here."
"That there is. By the way how did your appointment go?"
"Fine. Hilda sends her regards. I've got some blood tests to go for; I thought I'd do it tomorrow and get it out of the way," Abby says.
"Blood tests for what?"
"To figure out what's wrong with me," Abby says. "I'm going to go upstairs. I have a test to study for."
"Ok, but what does she suspect?"
Abby just gives him a look and leaves the room.
Tom goes after her. "Abby why won't you confide in me?"
"What? About what?"
"About what might be wrong with you?"
"Oh, that. Well, I just thought it was pretty obvious," Abby says.
Tom's confused for a second and then it finally dawns on him. "Whoa."
"Well, we'll know for sure after the blood tests, right? In the meantime, I really do have to study," Abby says.
"Abby we have some important things to discuss. Can't studying wait?"
"Tom, my test is later this week," Abby reasons. "And what's there to discuss, anyway? What is, is."
"The possibility of another child in this house. Our child." Tom smiles.
"You're smiling. I thought you didn't want any more kids."
"Well I wasn't planning on anymore but if one arrives I'll be more than happy."
"OK," Abby says. "So--anything else we have to discuss, other than that I love you?"
"Only that I love you too."
"I'd certainly hope so, considering," Abby smiles at him and gathers the ice cream bowls.
Tom returns the smile.
Abby takes the dishes to the kitchen, washes them, then goes upstairs to check on the kids.
Unbeknownst To Tom and Abby; Mary overheard their conversation. She decides to retreat back to her bedroom.
After Abby goes upstairs the phone rings.
Tom picks it up. "Hello."
"You didn't call me back last night," Max says. "I assume that means Nicholas's temperature went down. How're the rest of my patients doing?"
"Yes it did. And the others are doing better. By the way, tell Brad that he can see Nancy."
"Forget it. I don't need that kind of trouble."
"Greg if we forbid them to see each other it will make things worse in the long run."
"In the long run Brad will cause me endless grief. I'm just worried about making it to the end of the week."
"He's a good kid."
"You don't have to tell me about my kid, Tom," Greg says. "I just think Nancy and Brad together is a bad idea."
"Why don't we just let them figure that out for themselves."
"You know what?" Greg hedges, "why don't we discuss that after things get back to normal in your house?"
"You mean to tell me that you never want to discuss it?" Tom jokes.
"Sounds good to me." Max tries to change the topic. "How are you and Abby doing? Either of you need any medical attention?"
"No," Tom answers too quickly. "How are you and Daisy?"
"What aren't you telling me, Tom?" Greg asks. "I know you too well for whatever trick you're trying to pull."
"I'll tell you as soon as I find out for sure." Tom says.
"Look, if it's medical, I suggest you leave it to me. Last I checked, your MD had expired," Greg tries to joke the information out of his friend.
"Thanks Greg, but I'll tell you as soon as I can."
"The man of mystery. All right, but if you need me, you know where to find me. I'll be the one with the short leash on his son."
Tom laughs. "Thanks Greg."
Greg gives Tom some more advice on dealing with his plague house and then they hang up.
A while later Abby comes back downstairs. "You think any of the kids will be up for dinner tonight?"
"Put a bowl of ice cream at Nancy's place at the table and yes t'll all be up to eating." Tom jokes.
"OK. Would you mind if we had rabbit food? I don't think I really want to smell meat right now."
"I don't mind at all."
"You're such a good husband. So when do I get to kiss you again?"
"Max said a few more days but we can always not follow his orders."
"You into living dangerously?"
"If you are."
"I've been known to take a chance or two."
Tom kisses her.
"Mmm. I'd almost forgotten what that was like. Was it three centuries ago or four we were in Tahoe?"
"Feels like five."
"Then it was before my time," Abby jokes.
Tom pretends to growl.
"Come on, prehistoric relic--let's get dinner on the table. I don't want any of those Typhoid Marys helping me, so it looks like you're on KP tonight."
"You're letting me cook?" Tom asks stunned.
"No, I'm letting you peel," Abby answers.
"Oh, you had me worried for a second."
"I'm having enough problems keeping food down, I don't need to try for more," Abby assures him.
Tom helps in the kitchen and then gets a phone call and goes to take it in the study.
Mary comes in the kitchen and to get some juice and sees Abby getting dinner ready.
~What do I say to her? If I avoid her she will know something's up.~
"Hi" she says "What's for dinner?"
"Ice cream and tea for the invalids, tofu stew for the rest of us. Which is your pleasure?"
"Stew I guess, are you feeling all right Abby?"
"Sure I'm fine. Of course I am. A little tired, maybe. Nicholas is just as bad as your father to share a bed with."
Mary starts gagging on her juice "Excuse me?" she asks.
"He steals the covers," Abby explains.
"Oh." she says relieved. "Well it could be worse you could have 2 am feedings."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, that would be worse," Abby agrees.
"You know Abby if you ever need to talk to another adult; you can talk to me."
"Thanks, I'll remember that, but right now you have to concentrate on getting better, right? There's nothing going on with me that won't still be here when you're better."
"Right." Mary says "I am going to go back upstairs." ~obviously she doesn't want to talk about it. Note to self: Never overhear anything else again.~
"Hey, Mary?" Abby says. "When you're better, how about you and I go out for lunch and have a long talk? It really is a nice offer; maybe I will take you up on it."
"I'd like that." Mary says "You can pick the place."
"OK. Then all you have to do is get better first."
Mary smiles and retreats to her room.
Currently in the den.
"Hey Joannie let's start a betting pool. How much do you want to put down on the odds of Dad and Abby contracting strep throat anyway." Nancy asks.
"Or at least faking it so they get to spend some time alone again."
"Ok we'll add that too. How much can I put you down for?"
"Ten bucks. What are we going to do with the money while they're playing sick?" Joannie asks.
"I don't know, do you have any suggestions?"
"Rent a club and throw another party?"
"I'm all for that."
"So what's the pool? When they're going to get sick or if?"
"If they're going to get sick, and if they get sick whether or not they're faking."
"How are we going to know if they're faking?"
"Dr. Max."
"You think he'd rat Dad and Abby out? Dr. Max has his mind so far in the gutter that if he thought it would get Dad some 'quality time' with a woman, he'd swear Dad was dying."
"Good point, maybe Mary could tell."
"Or at least could fake it long enough to get them to slip up. Sounds like a plan. I'll put my money on the faking."
Nancy smiles. "Ok, how bout the rest of you?"
"I only have a dollar." Nicholas says
"Five for me." Tommy says
"Count me in for five also." Susan says.
"Cool, and Nicholas a dollar is plenty."
"OK."
"I think I will pass." Mary says knowing they have something more to be worried about than strep.
"Spoilsport," Joannie sneers.
"I am not a spoilsport." Mary says.
"So why aren't you betting?"
"Because with me being a med student. I think it would be unethical of me to bet if someone gets ill or not." Mary says, trying to keep them off guard.
"You're not a med student until next year. And you still haven't told us if you've been accepted anywhere."
"That's beside the point." Mary says.
"Yeah and it's not fair for you to worry us like that." Nancy says.
"Sorry." Mary says.
"It's cool now where have you been accepted?"
"Well I wanted to wait until I told everyone together."
"Dad!! Abby!!" Nancy shouts and then rubs her throat. "Ouch."
"Oh that was smart." Mary says "Now what about David?"
"I was going to call him but the strep. Oh wait he was at the party too." Nancy goes to the phone and calls David. "Your presence is required at the house right now and don't worry about us making you sick you'll have it soon anyway."
"Great I don't get sick pay."
"Your health is more important than money."
"Tell that to my landlord, I'll be right over." They both hang up.
"Hey guys. David doesn't get sick pay he's going to need some help when he comes down with the strep."
"I guess we can cook for him." Mary says.
"That's a good idea." Susan says "We can help him out til he got better."
"He might need financial help."
Abby walks in from the kitchen. "What's wrong? Who's feeling worse? Nancy, why are you yelling? It's bad for your throat."
"I realize that now Abby." Nancy says as she rubs her throat. "Mary has an announcement and she won't make it unless the whole family is here."
"Then someone better find your father and call David."
Nancy's about to shout for her father again but thinks better of it.
Abby taps Nancy on the shoulder. "Let me." She cups her hands around her mouth. "Tom!"
Tom enters the room. "What's with the shouting I'm trying to work on my column."
"Excuse me, O Great Cogitator," Abby teases. "Mary has an announcement
"Ok let's hear it."
"I have to call David first." Nancy says.
A little while later David arrives.
"It seems everyone is here; so I'll get to the point. I have some good news and bad news." Mary says.
Joannie moves towards her sister, ready to hug her if the news is really bad.
"Well give us the bad news first so we can be cheered up by the good news afterwards." Tom says.
"It looks like my sisters aren't going to get my room anytime soon."
"Mary," Joannie pretends to whine, pretty sure what the good news must be if that's the bad news.
"The good news is that I was accepted to U.C. Davis Medical School here in Sacramento."
"All right!! Oww." Nancy rubs her throat, laughs, and then hugs Mary. Elizabeth, David, and Tom hug and congratulate Mary also.
"Thanks." Mary says.
"Way to go Mary." Susan says congratulating her sister.
"Thanks." Mary says
"Does that mean you're going to expect us to be your guinea pigs?" Joannie teases.
"Yeah; want to volunteer to be a cadaver?" Mary deadpans.
"Over my dead body."
"Mary that's morbid; you're getting worse than Nancy." Elizabeth says.
"Wait until I start bringing home lab projects." Mary kids.
"Oh geez." Nancy says.
"You're not leaving any fetal pigs in the refrigerator," Abby orders.
"Not even one?" Mary asks.
"Not even a single body part," Abby says, more seriously.
"Darn." Mary says acting hurt.
"See, I'm afraid your father would mistake it for breakfast," Abby jokes.
Mary laughs.
"Ha ha." Tom says.