A few hours later Vivian heads for the hospital to see Nancy with gift in tow.
She walks in to find Nancy sitting, very bored, in bed. "This might cheer you up a little," she says, dropping the package in Nancy's lap and giving her niece a kiss.
"Auntie V." She hugs her. "When did you get into town?"
"Today. Just passing through, you know me."
Nancy smiles and opens the gift. "Wow this is great, thank you."
"What's a visit from Auntie V without gifts, right?"
"I'm glad you're here this place is deader than a morgue."
"Even with all those cute doctors out there?"
"Not interested." She shows her a picture of Noah.
"Oh, now I know why you haven't been calling or writing me lately."
"Sorry about that." Nancy says.
"That's OK. I haven't entirely forgotten what young love is like."
"I hope not since you're still young."
"Trying to butter your old aunt up?"
"I'm only speaking the truth."
"If I'm young, then so's your father."
"I know."
"You know? I must be in the wrong room. I came to visit a Bradford kid."
Nancy laughs. "You're in the right room. Being in the hospital gives one lots of time to think."
"But will you remember it once you get home?" V imitates her brother.
Nancy laughs. "Probably not."
"Whew. I was getting worried there, thought the damage might have been permanent."
"Damage, what damage, who are you?” Nancy jokes.
"You know, I'm not really sure."
Nancy laughs again.
"So what's with you?" V asks suddenly.
"Huh?"
"From what I hear you're in the hospital more than out lately."
"This time I was an idiot the last two times were just accidents."
"Are you sure it doesn't have anything to do with that other hospital you were in?"
"Yes."
"You have to admit it's a strange coincidence. You're usually OK, and since September or so..."
"I just had a run of bad luck, happens to everyone every now and then."
"Not this bad."
"What are you getting at?"
"I'm not sure. But I don't believe in coincidence."
"But it is coincidence, I didn't wish any of it to happen or anything like that."
"If you say so," V says, not wanting to push.
"Seriously, why would I want all of this to happen? It doesn't make sense."
"Lots of things in this world make no sense."
Nancy sighs and thinks it over. "I went through a period where I was missing mom a lot it got real bad around the holidays. But that can't be it either because everyone was going through a hard time and how would that cause all of this?"
"You don't mean that you're the only one having problems, do you? I was by the house--the tension was so tight you could have used your family to play the drums."
"No I don't mean that at all."
"So if everyone else is having problems, I guess you're entitled to, also."
"What do you want me to say? That I'm to blame for everything that's happened to me since September?"
"I didn't say that, Nancy. Well, for one thing, you said you were here now because you're an 'idiot'--what did you mean by that?"
She tells her about not listening to Abby and going to see that guy one last time anyway.
"You're right. That wasn't very bright of you. Why on earth didn't you listen to Abby?"
"I thought I'd be ok anyway. Obviously I was wrong."
"Sometimes the benefit of experience is more than just that we don't have to take tests in school anymore."
"Yeah."
"Nancy, if I ask you a question, you won't get upset with me, will you?"
"No I won't, go ahead." Nancy braces herself.
"If it had been someone else who'd warned you--I don't know, maybe David?--would you have listened?"
"No I wouldn't have. But for now on I will listen."
"Really?" ~At least it wasn't some kind of protest against Abby not being her mother.~
"Yes really. I'm going to do everything in my power to stay out of hospitals."
"If you need any help with that, just holler."
Nancy smiles. "You got it, and thank you."
"Well, I'd better go face my own execution..."
"What do you mean?"
"Your father. You know how he loves it when I come visit, bearing gifts."
Nancy cringes in sympathy.
"You got it."
"Be careful."
"Ever since I've decided that I wasn't going to be good, I've been careful."
"Good idea." Nancy says.
"You might want to try some of that being careful, too."
"I will believe me."
"I'll hold you to that." She gives Nancy a kiss good bye. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"See ya then." Nancy watches her leave and then a nurse comes in with the flowers. "Wow those are beautiful." She takes a look at the card and frowns. "Take them away and donate them to someone who doesn't have any flowers."
Meanwhile in the mans jail cell. He's lying in bed gazing at a picture
of Joan. He had known her back in the early days before his business had
gotten big. She had been having problems with her
husband at the time and hadn't known about the shady business that
her secret lover was involved in until she was already pregnant. She had
broken it off anyway and sworn the baby was Tom's not his.
But he had his doubts.
Meanwhile in the billing department. A man comes in and pays all of Nancy's hospital expenses.
The person in accounting looks at the name of the payers check.
"But this is the main guy the one that the guy who hurt her works for."
He shrugs. "Don't ask me lady I can't make heads or tails of it I'm just his accountant."
She shrugs also and takes care of the transaction and then he leaves.
Tom sees Vivian standing in the door way. "V, what are you doing here?"
"I was visiting my Niece." She hugs him. "It's good to see you too little brother we have to talk later."
"Uh oh V, what do you want." Tom asks.
"I'll tell you at home. Go visit your daughter." Vivian walks away.
Tom just shakes his head and goes visit Nancy.
"Hi Honey." Tom says.
"Hi Dad."
"Ready to get out of here?"
"I sure am. I miss home."
"Everyone misses you too."
Nancy observes him wondering if Abby has spoken to him yet.
"Nancy besides your little escapade; did anything else happen while I was gone."
"Dad I'm sorry it'll never happen again. I promise." She says.
Tom is confused "What will never happen again?"
~Ooops.~ Nancy starts yawning. "Dad can we talk about it later."
"Nancy, you are stalling." Tom replies.
She sighs. "I didn't listen to Abby when I should have." She tells him what happened.
"Nancy, do you realized you could have been killed?" Tom voice rises
"Yes, and I'm really sorry."
"OK, but we will discuss this more when you get home." Tom says.
"Ok." She says quietly.
"I am sorry Nancy, I didn't mean to yell; well at least not here." Tom says trying to lighten the mood.
"It's ok, I don't blame you for yelling."
"Can I get you anything before I go?"
"A hug." Nancy replies.
Tom gives her a hug. "I love you Nancy, if anything had happened to you...." Tom doesn't finish his thought.
Nancy hugs him back. "I love you too Dad."
"I better get out of here before they kick me out." Tom jokes.
Nancy smiles. "Yeah, drive carefully ok."
"OK." Tom leaves. He finds Abby upstairs. "Why didn't you tell me that you knew Nancy was going over there that night?"
"I didn't," Abby defends herself. "I told her not to and why not to, and I thought she'd agreed she wouldn't."
"Obviously she didn't." Tom says "If this is your idea of trusting you...." Tom cuts his sentence short.
"What did you expect me to do, lock the kids up in the house?" Abby says. "I did the best I could. I don't see that you've done any better, or have you forgotten that she started with all this mess before we got married?"
Tom drops to the bed. "Abby, I am sorry."
Abby sits next to him and starts to rub his back. "It's OK. You're worried about her."
"It is just so frustrating." Tom says.
"I know," Abby says. "But there's a limit to how much you can control them now that they're growing up."
"Speaking of growing up, how did you talk Tommy and Elizabeth into doing the lawn and helping Nancy when she gets home?" Tom asks.
"It wasn't difficult at all," Abby says. "I just sat them down and had a talk with them about responsibility."
"A talk? The only time I talk to them about responsibility is when they did something wrong and I am about to punish them." Tom says and then the light goes off in his head. He starts to laugh "OK what did they do to you?"
"Nothing," Abby smiles. "They didn't do anything to *me*."
"Abby....what happened?" Tom says.
"What any normal teenager would do when their parent goes away," Abby says. "They got themselves fake ID and had a drunken bash with their friends. But it's OK now--I doubt they'll ever do anything like that again. The price was too high. I think they sort of wish you'd been the one to catch them--grounding is easier to bear than slavery."
Tom laughs. "I told you they would try something."
"Yes, you did," Abby answers, relieved that he's laughing. "And I told you not to worry, that I'd be able to handle it."
"So you did." Tom says. "Slavery huh? You know I wouldn't mind being your *slave* sometime."
"Is that an offer?" Abby says and kisses him.
"Depends on what you have in mind for me." Tom says while kissing her back.
"Nothing you won't enjoy..."
Tom kisses her and then someone knocks on the door.
"Go away." Tom replies.
"But Dad, it's important," Joannie says.
"Of course it is." Tom mumbles. "Come in Joannie."
Joannie comes in. "I wasn't disturbing anything, was I?" she smiles.
"Just my life." Tom says. "What's going on?"
Joannie laughs and wipes some lipstick off her father's cheek. "I can come back later. It's not *that* important." ~And you'll be in a better mood if I get to you afterwards instead of interrupting you.~
"No No...as long as you are here, what do you need?" Tom asks attentively.
"Have you and--oh, forget it," Joannie says. "It really can wait."
"Joannie...." Tom says
"It's OK, Dad," Joannie continues to smile. "Auntie V is probably the last thing on your mind right now."
"What does my sister have to do with it?" Tom asks.
"You haven't spoken to her yet?" Joannie says, sorry she even brought it up.
"No...just a hello, what is she up to now?" Tom looks at both Joannie and Abby.
Abby glares at Joannie. "She has a favor to ask you. It's probably best you talk to her--after we get Nancy home and settled in."
"A favor" Tom sits in his chair "I can only assume that means one thing.....trouble for me."
"No, not necessarily. Look, you should really talk to her--I don't think she's here right now, but later," Abby says.
"And I really should be going," Joannie says to escape her father's inquisition and Abby's glares. "Classes, you know."
"I am almost afraid to talk to my own sister." Tom replies
Abby laughs. "It won't be too bad. And if it is, I'll comfort you afterwards."
"Promise?" He asks
"It would be my pleasure," Abby promises.
Tom laughs and kisses her.
Later as Tom goes into his study he runs into Tommy and Elizabeth on the stairs.
"You two, in my study now." Tom says
"Yes, sir." Tommy gulps.
"Oh no." Elizabeth says as they enter his study.
Tom shuts the study door behind them.
"It seems you two have help out Abby a lot this past week with the lawn and the house."
"It was the least we could do." Tommy says.
"Yeah she had her hands full." Elizabeth says.
"Oh I am sure she did especially with the stunt you two pulled." Tom says.
"Dad we can explain." Tommy says.
"I would love to hear it...but if Abby didn't buy it. What makes you think I will?" he asks.
"Come on Dad don't be like that." Elizabeth says.
"Excuse me young lady, watch who you are talking to." Tom says angrily. "Unless you want me to tell Abby to continue this little boot camp of hers until I *say* it is over."
"She didn't mean it Dad. She's just upset that Nancy got hurt again." Tommy makes excuses for Elizabeth.
"Yeah I'm very upset." Elizabeth says trying to get on Tom's good side.
"I am sure you are." Tom says. "So I guess you won't mind being Nancy's Slave the next few days."
"Yes sir."
"Huh?" Tommy asks.
"Relax Tommy, Abby has arranged for Elizabeth to help Nancy. As for you, I don't know what she has in store but I am sure it isn't anything you don't deserve. I suggest you see her pronto." Tom says. "Along with this boot camp, I am also going to suspend both your allowances for 3 months."
Tommy and Elizabeth look at each other and mouth. "Three months."
"Yes three months, If you can waste good money on Fake Id's you don't deserve an allowance." Tom explains.
"But Dad." Elizabeth whines.
"Want to try for four months?" Tom asks.
"Three months is fine." They both say.
"Good choice, you two can leave now." Tom says.
"Boy that was rough." Tommy says to Elizabeth when they leave the study.
"Yeah it was."
"While you are off playing Florence Nightingale; I better go see what Abby has planned for me." Tommy sighs.
"She doesn't come home til tomorrow Tommy."
"I know."
"Oh ok. Good luck with Abby."
"Thanks." he says.
"No problem, and if you don't make it back remember, always remember I love you." She musses his hair and makes a fast exit.
"Elizabeth......." Tommy says and goes upstairs while recombing his hair. He knocks on Abby's door.
"Come in," Abby says.
"Hi." Tommy says.
"Hi. What can I do for you--or more accurately, what can you do for me?"
Tommy sighs "Dad said you might have something planned for me."
Abby shoves an armful of laundry at Tommy. "He was right. And you can ask everyone else to make a donation, too."
"Tonight?" Tommy asks holding an armful of laundry.
"Tonight, tomorrow night, the night after that..."
"OK...OK." Tommy says. "But even prisoners get parole, how much longer do Elizabeth and I have to pay for our crimes?"
"Until you're 18?"
"Abby…please." Tommy says "We have learned our lessons, so couldn't you give us a break?"
"Let's see. Because you lied to me? Because you did something stupid? Because you broke the law? Because you broke my trust?"
"Abby, I am sorry I lied to you; I promise I'll never do any of that stuff again." Tommy says sincerely.
"Oh, I'm sure you won't, if only because I'll make you remember this punishment for the next decade or so. You know, I think I can hear more laundry being created even as we speak."
"So I guess your forgiveness isn't going to happen any time soon." Tommy sighs.
"Guess you're right," Abby says.
Tommy takes the laundry and leaves passing Tom on the way down.
"Boy he looks unhappy." Tom says to Abby as he walks into the bedroom.
"That's what happens to people who get on my bad side. Remember that."
"Yes ma'am." Tom says acting like a school boy.
Abby smiles at him. "You really think you're cute, don't you?"
"Well I try." he says.
"And succeed."
Tom laughs. "So how long are you going to keep Tommy and Elizabeth slaves?"
"I don't know," Abby admits. "It's the first time I've had to punish anyone outside of academic detention."
"Want some advice?" Tom asks trying not to step on her toes.
"Will it hurt?" Abby answers.
"No." Tom says. "For the first time at this, I am impressed. You did good. But even when you give someone detention it does have a time limit."
"True. OK, what time limit do you suggest? I really do think Elizabeth would be best to help keep an eye on Nancy--after all, they do share a room, and I can't keep punishing her if I let up on Tommy."
"I am not saying to stop it tomorrow. The time limit is up to you. Just let them see the light at the end of the tunnel." Tom explains "and if they slack off, you can re-imposed the sentence. Also so you know I took there allowances away for three months." Tom says.
"Three months, huh? I'll bet they hate that. Think two more weeks of chores would be too much?"
"No, especially with what they pulled. I think they will think twice before doing anything like that again."
"They'd better, because I can be very creative in my punishments."
Tom laughs "How creative?" as he moves closer to her.
"Lock the door and I'll tell you all my secrets."
Tom happily complies.
Meanwhile Tommy runs into some of the rest of the family in the kitchen. "Any one have any laundry, better get it down here."
Mary observes him for a moment. "My laundry is done."
"Well when you do have laundry, let me know." He says as he sulks to the laundry room.
"What's wrong with him?" Mary asks Nicholas.
"I don't know, maybe it is the chores Abby has him doing."
"Yeah probably."
"I wish things would go back to normal." Nicholas says.
"What do you mean?"
"With Nancy being in the hospital and Abby being mad at Tommy and Elizabeth."
~If I have my way it'll be the last time she's in the hospital even if I have to watch her like a hawk. Going to recruit David too.~ "Hey Nancy is going to be all right and she's coming home tomorrow. And Abby won't stay mad at Tommy and Elizabeth forever."
"If you say so." Nicholas says and goes up to his room.
Sam follows Nicholas to his room.
"I miss Nancy too." Nicholas says as he holds Sam.
Sam licks his face and rests his head on Nicholas's lap.
The next morning Abby and Vivian arrive to help Nancy pack to go home.
Vivian goes and offers to pay the bill and she's told it's already been taken care of. She asks by who and is told. She then returns to Abby and Nancy.
Nancy glances at her. "Where did you go?"
"Oh just to freshen up a little. Abby can I talk to you for a minute."
"Sure. I'll be right back, Nancy."
Vivian and Abby go out into the hallway and V shows her the paid bill and who the payer was.
"I don't believe it. Who does he think he is? I don't want his money!" Abby says, pacing.
"I can find out if you'd like in the meantime I'll tell them to send back his check and pay it like I intended."
"Would you?" Abby says, gratefully.
"Sure." She goes to take care of the bill and then returns to Abby and Nancy. ~After she's settled in at home then I pay that bastard a visit.~
"I'd like to give that...that man such a piece of my mind," Abby whispers when Nancy goes to change into real clothing.
"You won't have to I'll do it for you." Vivian whispers.
"We can both do it."
"Ok."
Nancy comes out and soon Dr. Mason arrives and signs the release papers.
"Bet you're happy to see the last of this place," V says.
"That's not the half of it." Nancy says. "No offense." She says to the doctor.
"None taken."
Abby and Vivian laugh.
After getting Nancy settled at home and making sure that Tommy and Elizabeth are tending to her every need. Abby and Vivian go visit the man who tried to pay the bill.
He glances at them as the guard brings him and then sits across from them.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asks.
"Oh it won't be a pleasure I assure you." Vivian glares at him.
"I'm Nancy Bradford's stepmother," Abby says. "And I want to know exactly who you think you are."
"Look, I was just sorry she got caught in the middle and wanted to make reparations." He lies.
"I find that very hard to believe." Vivian says.
"With the reputation you have," Abby adds, "you'd be long broke if you took care of everyone who got in the middle."
He remains silent.
Vivian glares at him again. "You stay away from my Niece and keep your money away too."
"But she's..." He stops himself in time.
"She's what?" Abby says.
"She might be my daughter." He finally reveals.
Vivian looks at him in complete shock. "So you're the man Tom told me about. Well get rid of any parenting fantasies that you might have because I can assure you that she's not your daughter."
Abby looks, stunned, from the man back to Vivian.
"Yeah how?" He demands.
Vivian takes out her wallet and shows him a picture of her Grandmother who is the spitting image of Nancy. "That's my Grandmother when she was around Nancy's age, convinced?" She practically spats out.
~There was even a doubt?~ Abby thinks, still shocked.
The man is taken back to his cell. After Vivian simmers down she glances at Abby. "Tom never told you I see."
"No, he never did. From all that I've heard Joan was a candidate for sainthood."
"Well it's not something he likes to discuss. About a year before Nancy was born they were having serious marital trouble but they eventually worked through it."
"And Joan was seeing someone else?"
"Yes, only because she thought Tom was, and by the time she found out he wasn't that it was a lie. Tom had found out about her affair. They fought long and hard about it and finally started seeing a marriage counselor."
"Joan had an affair, and Tom gave me a hassle about having a boyfriend in *college*," Abby shakes her head, still not managing to take it all in.
"I never said my little brother was logical."
"That's an understatement. At least now I know why he has that huge jealous streak."
Vivian nods.
"I assume the kids have no clue."
"You assume right."
"OK." Abby says.
Two minutes later: "I still am having a hard time believing this."
"I know and I'm sorry you had to find out that way."
"I wish Tom had told me. All the times I was worried I'd never measure up to Joan's ideal..."
"Do you want me to beat him?"
"And take all my fun away?"
"Oh I wouldn't dream of doing that."
Currently at home in Nancy and Elizabeth's room.
"Please don't run us ragged." Elizabeth pleads while Nancy pets Sam.
"I'm not going to run you ragged honey but you have to realize that for the first few days at least I won't be able to do anything on my own. After that it'll be limited for the next four days."
"Can't you be the Nancy we all know and love and not follow doctors orders."
"Do you want me to wind up in the hospital again?"
"No."
"Then I'm following doctors orders."
Elizabeth sighs.
Joannie knocks on the door.
Elizabeth opens the door and lets her in.
"So, you really are home," Joannie says to Nancy.
Elizabeth goes to the kitchen to do something.
"Yeah." Nancy replies cautiously.
"Good. It's been quiet without you."
"Even with Auntie V here?" Nancy relaxes.
"She's only noisy when Dad's around."
"Yeah, hey listen I'm sorry I didn't confide in you that night the oatmeal
fell to the ground. I just didn't want anyone in the family getting caught
up in it." Nancy says hoping it's not too soon to
mention it.
"Probably best you didn't," Joannie says.
"Yeah probably."
"Cause if I'd have known, I'd have beaten you black and blue if that's what it took to keep you home."
"I love you too." Nancy says.
Joannie hugs her sister. "You know, you're a real jerk."
Nancy returns the hug and braces herself for the lecture that's coming.
Joannie stands up. "Well, if you need anything, you know where I live."
~Whew~. "Yeah I know and I'll holler."
"Good."
Nancy falls asleep. Sam decides to take a nap with her.