Tom and Nicholas soon return. They go into the kitchen and find everyone waiting for them.
"Where's Nancy I want to talk to her." Tom says trying to hide his anger at his second to youngest daughter.
"She went out." David says.
"What do you mean she went out? Her brother was missing. We haven't had dinner yet."
"Dad uh she went..."
"Elizabeth not now."
"But Dad."
"Go set the table."
She rolls her eyes at him and gives Nick a kiss on the cheek and then goes to set the table.
In the dining room, Abby notices the way Elizabeth is slamming plates around. "Yeah, I think it's sort of an old-fashioned pattern, too, but I'll bet if we just ask, your father would consider letting us get a new set; you don't have to break them all."
Elizabeth laughs. "I'm sorry he just makes me so angry sometimes. He wouldn't even let me tell him where Nancy went."
"He's just upset. He'll get over it and apologize and then he'll want to listen to you. Where did she go, anyway?"
"To an NA meeting. She's been having a hard time lately."
"I know. Let me see if I can talk to Old Grouchy. You can handle the table?"
"Sure and hey Abby be careful." Elizabeth teases.
Abby laughs and goes looking for her husband. "Tom, do you have a minute?"
"Sure what is it?"
"Alone," Abby says, indicating they leave to Tom's study.
They go into Tom's study and he shuts and locks all the doors. "What's on your mind?"
"Why are you being so hard on Nancy?" Abby asks.
"Because it's high time she grew up. She's been moping around here most of the day while everyone else is doing the best they can to make this a good Christmas. And maybe if she hadn't of suggested they go visit their mother's grave maybe Nicholas wouldn't have snuck out."
"Nancy's going through a tough time; she's trying the best she can. You were willing to give Tommy his space a few months ago, why aren't you willing to do the same for Nancy? Instead of being able to talk to you, she's off at some NA meeting."
~Tom's face clouds over remembering that Nancy had tried talking to him in the car and he just scolded her and even made her get out of the car.~ "I plead total idiocy."
"I think you'd do better to plead abject apology when Nancy gets home," Abby advises.
"I think I'll do better than that. Any idea where that meeting is being held?" Tom asks.
"I think Elizabeth knows--she was trying to tell you before you barked at her."
"No you don't!!" Elizabeth says from the bottom of the steps.
He opens the door. "Elizabeth!!"
"Now Dad you don't have time to lecture me. The meeting is at the community center tonight."
Tom thanks her and then kisses Abby. "I'll be home as soon as I can."
"I'll save you some dinner." When he leaves Abby turns to Elizabeth. "He can be an idiot sometimes, but he's learning."
"Go call everyone in, then, and we'll get started."
"Ok, hey everyone dinner!!" Elizabeth yells.
One hour later the meeting lets out. Nancy sees Tom waiting by the car and she takes off in the other direction. He goes after her and stops her. She can't say anything she just starts crying. He holds her and she lets him comfort her.
A little while later in a coffee shop.
"Honey I'm sorry I haven't been there for you and I had no right to yell at you earlier."
"You were worried about Nicholas."
"Your right I was but you were too and you also needed some understanding. I shouldn't have gotten upset that you went to visit your mothers grave you kids have every right in the world to do that without checking with Abby or me first."
She starts crying again at the mention of her mother. Tom stands up and sits on the same side of the booth as her and hugs her. When she's finally all cried out.
"It's just so strange without mom. And I didn't want to hurt anyone. Everyone is trying so hard to make it work this year."
"Maybe we've all been trying too hard and overlooking things that are important." There's a short silence. "So why did you go to NA, you haven't been there in awhile."
"Because I've been wanting a drink and I figured that was the best way to combat it."
"And you should have been able to tell me that. Honey I really am sorry. I told you that you could come to me and I turn around and..."
"You're here now aren't you?" She manages a smile.
He smiles back. They talk for another hour or so before heading home.
Tom finds Abby in the kitchen and hugs her. "So how are you doing?"
Nancy goes upstairs to check on Nicholas and finds Tommy in the room also. She doesn't know what to say to Tommy after the comment she overheard so she just says. "Hey."
"Hi, you OK?" Tommy asks
"Yes, no, well I'm getting there, I feel a lot better. How bout you guys?" She sits down on Nicholas' Bed.
"I am glad this day is over." Nicholas says
Tommy nods in agreement.
"That makes three of us." Sam wanders in jumps on the bed and lies in Nicholas' lap. "This dog is pretty smart. He knows when he's needed." Nancy pets him.
"Yeah." Nicholas laughs.
Nancy laughs also and Sam starts licking Nick's face.
Tom finds Abby in the kitchen and hugs her. "So how are you doing?"
"I'm fine. I saved you dinner. How'd your talk go?"
"It went pretty good. She's doing a little better now."
"Guess all she needed was a little fatherly attention."
"Yeah I guess so, so you saved me some dinner eh? Are you still hungry? Want to eat with me? A date in the kitchen?"
"Why don't we eat in the dining room? Maybe we could even lock all the doors and put up a sign, 'no parents or children allowed'."
"Sounds good to me." He puts the signs up, lights some candles, and makes plates for both him and Abby and then he goes to pick her up in the kitchen. "Mrs. Bradford are you ready yet?"
"Why, yes, Mr. Bradford, I believe I am. Not only that, but I know exactly what we should talk about tonight."
"And what might that be." Tom asks as he holds out the chair for her so she can sit down.
"Slavery," Abby says. "It occurs to me that someone lost his bet about a week of calm and understanding, didn't he?"
Tom groans. "I didn't even last a day."
"Told you you wouldn't," Abby laughs.
"Can I have another try please. Maybe start fresh tomorrow."
"You can always have a fresh start," Abby says. "But fair's fair--you lost the bet."
"So I don't have a shot of talking you into bending a little?" Tom tries to negotiate.
"Oh, you definitely have a shot at that. But you still have to do whatever I want to for one full night."
"Yes dear."
"Don't pout, now. You'll live through it--probably."
"I'm not going to pout tomorrow is Christmas Eve."
"Well, then, don't cry, either. Besides, I hear Santa's taken back that lump of coal and gotten you something better."
They finish dinner and then head to bed.
But before Tom can talk Abby into anything, they are disturbed by Joannie's screams. "Nicholas!"
"What?" Nicholas says coming out of his room.
"Someone messed with my Christmas stash. Don't you go acting all innocent, Nicholas Bradford."
"Now Joannie you don't know for sure if it was Nicholas." Tom says.
"Oh, come on, Dad, who else would break into stash? Everyone else knows not to."
"Nicholas did you break into Joannie's stash?"
"Well....not on purpose." he says.
"See, Dad?" Joannie demands.
"Nicholas." Tom gives him a stern look.
"I can explain." Nicholas says "I was looking for Sam and he was in here I found him in the stuff. Sorry Joannie." Nicholas says.
"Nicholas," Tom says, "I told you that Sam could only stay indoors if he didn't cause trouble, didn't I?"
"Yes; but how was he to know not to go into this room. I mean the door was open." Nicholas pleads his case for Sam.
"Then he shouldn't be in the house. Go on, take him out back," Tom orders.
"Ok..." Nicholas walks slowly with Sam.
Dad, I didn't mean for you to do that," Joannie says.
"I'm sorry, but it had to be done. That dog gets into more trouble..."
Nicholas runs into Abby "I have to take Sam outside
"You mean for a walk?" Abby asks.
"No Dad is making me leave him outside for good."
"Why'd he do a silly thing like that for?" Abby asks.
Nicholas tells her the story. "Sam didn't mean too."
"Of course he didn't," Abby assures Nicholas. "Tell you what. Take him outside for tonight and I'll see if I can't get Sam's grounding revoked by the morning."
"Thanks Abby."
"No problem. Don't tell anyone," Abby leans in and whispers, "but I think your dad would miss having Sam in the house as much as you would."
"Really?" he says.
"Really," Abby answers. "He isn't all that bad, for a father-type person."
After talking to her brothers Nancy heads for her room and hears Joannie, Susan, and Mary talking and laughing in Joannie and Susan's room. Elizabeth steps out of their room.
"Shall we crash their party?" Elizabeth asks.
"I don't know do you think us younger sisters are invited?"
"Who cares we're still their sisters." Elizabeth says.
Nancy grins, Elizabeth smiles back and they crash the party.
"Don't you two believe in knocking?" asks Susan
"We knocked, you just didn't hear us." Elizabeth says. "Right Nancy."
"Right."
"Next time try knocking on the door instead of thin air," Joannie says. "Now beat it."
"Come on Liz let's go raid the fridge. I just realized I haven't eaten yet." Nancy and Elizabeth leave the room.
"What do you suppose that was all about?" Susan asks her sisters.
"I'll go found out." Mary says
Meanwhile in the kitchen.
"Well so much for all five of us getting together and having fun." Elizabeth says.
"Yeah maybe we went about it the wrong way?"
"Yeah maybe but it's kind of late to go back up there now and knock."
"I know, but this food sure is good."
"Sure is." They continue eating.
Mary finds Nancy and Liz in the kitchen "Elizabeth, can I talked to Nancy alone?"
"Sure." Elizabeth leaves the room.
"What's up Mary?" Nancy asks.
"What's up with you?"
"Look I admit that was stupid barging in the room like that. Elizabeth and I just wanted to hang out also. The five of us never get together like that anymore."
"Come on Nancy; we were joking. You should know that by now." Mary says "There is something more isn't there."
"Mary I'm fine now really. I had a talk with Dad. Now if you would've asked earlier it would be a different story." She jokes.
"It's been a hard year hasn't it." Mary says.
Nancy nods. "I can't wait til it's over with."
"Me too; but we can't run away from it either."
"Who's running?"
"No one; what I meant was, we can't hurry through emotions. We have to let them be what they are."
"Think it would be all right if I just put them aside for the next two days and get back to them the day after Christmas. I don't want to ruin the holiday for everyone else."
"I think we will all be doing that. But anytime you want to talk my door is open."
"Thanks Mary."
"That's what I am here for. How about coming back upstairs and joining us
"Are you sure it's ok with Joannie and Susan? And what about Elizabeth?"
"Well if it isn't we will just have our own party in my room." Mary says sternly.
"Better make it Liz and my room. I don't think Grandma and Grandpa would like it if we woke them."
"I don't know...I think Grandma would enjoy it." Mary laughs.
Nancy laughs also. They get Elizabeth and go back upstairs.
After Nicholas takes Sam outside, Abby goes looking for Tom. "If it isn't the grinch himself," she says when she finds him.
Tom smiles and whispers. "It's only for the night, and tomorrow I'll give Sam another chance."
Abby kisses him. "Good. You really had Nicholas worried, though. I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to sleep outside with Sam tonight."
"Hmm well if he does I'll bring him inside if it gets too cold. I'll tell Nicholas tomorrow to bring Sam back in that is if Nancy doesn't help Nicholas sneak him in tonight. She doesn't know does she?"
Abby listens for a minute. "I don't hear Sam in the house, so I guess not. Do you want him snuck in tonight? If so, I can make sure Nancy finds out."
"Make sure that she keeps him in either her room or Nick's and that they make sure that I don't find out about it." Tom says.
"You got it. One father-ordered deception of said father coming up," Abby says. She goes looking for Nancy and finds her in her own room with her sisters. "Are parents allowed in?" she asks.
"Hide the drugs quick." Elizabeth jokes.
Nancy laughs. "Yeah sure what's up Abby?"
"Men," Abby grumbles.
"My sentiments exactly. What did Dad do this time?"
"Sam has to sleep outside from now on," Abby says.
"I know," Joannie interrupts. "I thought Nicholas got into my gift stash, but it was really Sam, and Dad heard, so he kicked Sam out. That's so typical Dad."
"He's just a dog; he doesn't know better," Abby tells her.
"I know, I know. I didn't mean for Sam to get kicked outside," Joannie defends herself.
"I'm sure you didn't, but that's exactly what Tom did," Abby shakes her head. "Sometimes he's such a dictator; I don't know why you kids go along with it."
"It'll be all right." Nancy says in a calm tone as she starts plotting.
Mary can see Nancy has took the news too calmly. "What's in that brain of yours 'Lucy'?”
Nancy just smiles. "Nothing Ethel."
"Sure." Mary says unbelieving.
"Whatever you're plotting, just make sure your father doesn't find out, OK?" Abby plots. "All we need is to have him call a family meeting and start ranting just before Christmas."
"Don't worry he won't find out." Nancy assures her.
Later when everyone is asleep. Nancy sneaks Sam up to her bedroom. "Now you be very very quiet we're avoiding Dad."
Nicholas decides to go and check on Sam outside. When he can't find him he runs into the house and says loud enough for the whole house to hear "Sam is gone!!"
Abby groans, rolls over and shakes Tom awake. "Looks like your little plan backfired."
"We can pretend we didn't hear him."
"If you slept through that," Abby refers to the racket of kids exiting their bedrooms, "they'd know you were up to something."
"You're right." Tom puts his robe on and comes out of the room. "What's going on out here?"
"Dad; Sam is gone." Nicholas says frantically.
Nancy finds Nicholas and motions for him to be quiet. When everyone comes out. "Nicholas was just kidding. Sam isn't gone."
"I am not kidding; he isn’t outside."
"Nicholas yes he is." She says sternly.
"What?" he says confused.
Nancy whispers into his ear. "Trust me."
Nicholas looks at Nancy and says "OK, I guess."
"Squirrel cage. Sandra Sue, you should have stayed in Pasadena," Harry grumbles and heads back for Mary's room.
Nancy groans. "He's not gone Dad." Sam comes out of the bedroom to see what all the excitement is about.
"Nancy!!" Tom pretends to be upset.
~Oh no, don't get mad at me again.~ "Dad I can explain."
"SAM!!!” Nicholas says then falls to the floor to play with him
"Save it you shouldn't have brought him back in here."
"But Dad." She puts on her most pitiful sad pouting face.
"Nancy don't do that it's not fair." Tom says.
"Come on Dad; none of us will sleep until you give in." Tommy says.
"It's late; why don't we save the explanations for the morning," Abby suggests. "Maybe we should take Sam for the night," she says to Tom, "just so we make sure no one's sneaking around with him or going out to check on him."
"Ok, Nicholas thank your sister for freeing Sam." Tom says as he picks up Sam, and then heads back to the room and smiles at Abby when the kids can't see.
As soon as Tom's closed the bedroom door, Abby kisses him. "You're a good man, Tom Bradford. Even if you are setting a lousy example for the kids."
Sam barks and licks his face. Tom laughs.
Outside the kids start dispersing. "That was too easy," Joannie says suspiciously.
"If I didn't know better I'd say Dad planned that." Nancy says.
"I have a feeling we have been done in with the 'Good Cop, Bad Cop' scenario." Mary says
"So do I."
"If they're going to plot against us, I say we return the favor," Joannie says.
"Agree." Mary says.
"I agree" Susan says.
Nancy shakes her head. "I've done enough. I think I'll stay out of it this time."
"Any ideas what we should plan?" Joannie asks, ignoring Nancy's refusal to jump on the bandwagon.
"No, do you?" she asks
"I want to give them something they'll like, but trick them into accepting it like they tricked us to get Sam back in the house. If you were Dad and Abby, what would you like most?"
Nancy takes Joannie's silence to her statement as acceptance and heads back to her bedroom. When she gets there it suddenly occurs to her. "Wait a minute why didn't Joannie protest? She always protests."
"Maybe she's mad at you."
"Why I haven't done anything have I?" She goes to find Joannie. "Hey Joannie can we talk?"
Joannie takes a break from her plotting. "Sure. Your office or mine?"
"Yours; mine is occupied."
Joannie leads Nancy to her room. "Susan, if you're in here, out!"
Susan's not there so they enter and close the door.
"Is everything ok?"
"'Course it is. Why? Something wrong with you?"
"No," she lies. "I was just wondering because you didn't protest my non-participation and you usually do. It made me think something might be wrong."
"Oh, well, I figured you'd come around after we got it all planned out."
"Actually I'd thought I lie low for awhile. If I do something else right now they might disown me."
"But we're not planning to do anything wrong. After all, their little good cop/bad cop routine was to get Sam back inside, not to keep him out. We were thinking of doing something so they could have a nice quiet night alone or something."
"Oh, I'm sorry I've been acting all paranoid. Count me in then."
"I was thinking New Year's Eve. Nicholas could stay with a friend. And a side benefit is that if Dad and Abby are--you know, busy--they won't notice if we break curfew."
"Very good idea. What do you want me to do?”
"Help me figure out how we're going to get Dad to agree to this."
"How would he disagree? He'd love to be alone with Abby. It's what he lives for."
"Yeah, don't remind me," Joannie grimaces. "But if we just offer him an empty house he'll think we're up to something, so we have to trick him into what he wants."
"Hmm." Nancy starts to ponder how to go about this.
"Exactly."
~Well it will certainly get my mind of all the depressing stuff if all I think about is this.~ "Thanks Joannie, don't worry I'll think of something."
"Great. See? I know you'd end up joining us."
Nancy laughs. "Yes you did you psychic you."
"Nah, I just know you--you always hop on the bandwagon last."
"Not always, anyway I'm off to bed see you tomorrow."
"While you're as, dream something up to help us."
"Will do, goodnight." She goes to bed.