Part 1

"Good Morning." Tom says as he enters the kitchen.

"Morning," Abby says and gets Tom a cup of coffee. "Nancy had a bad night, so I told Elizabeth she could sleep in."

"Is Nancy, OK?" Tom asks

"I think so. Her doctor said it wasn't abnormal, but he's coming over later to check up on her."

"Hmmm...I think I will call Donna and tell her I'm working from home today." Tom decides.

"You don't have to. I can handle things here."

"I know you can." Tom says not doubting her. "I am just being a concerned father and want to stay close by."

"If that's what you want."

"Abby, are you OK?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Why?"

"I don't know, you seem a little distracted." Tom says.

"No, not distracted. Well, no more distracted than I am whenever you're in the room."

Tom smiles. "That's a relief; I thought maybe you were still upset about yesterday."

"I am, a little, but it'll pass."

Tom decides not to press her. "I'll be in the study, if you need me."

"I'll call you when the doctor gets here."

"OK."

When she gets back to the kitchen the phone rings, and since she's sent Elizabeth upstairs to sleep, Abby answers it.

"Yes...Really? When? I don't know--I'll have to talk to my husband...Yes, I know I used to be able to give you answers right away, but...No, he is not holding me back...Look, I'll talk to him later and get back to you."

Abby hangs up the phone and sips at her coffee. "Tom's going to love this..."

"Good morning." Mary says as she walks in.

"Oh. Good morning, Mary."

"How was dinner?" She smiles and gets a cup of coffee.

"Fine," Abby says distractedly.

Mary glances at her. "Hey Abby is everything ok?"

"Yeah. Just work stuff, nothing serious."

"Ok." Mary starts on breakfast.

One hour later Dr. Mason arrives and rings the doorbell.

Abby answers the door. "Dr. Mason. Thanks for stopping by."

"Not a problem, is my patient awake yet?"

"I think so. I can get you something to drink while I go upstairs and check."

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine." He says about the drink.

"OK. I'll be right back."

Abby hurries upstairs to see if Nancy is awake.

Nancy is lying in bed reading a magazine when Abby enters.

"Good morning." She says.

"Good morning," Abby says. "Are you up to letting a man into your bedroom?"

"Noah's here?" She says hoping.

"No, sorry, it's just Dr. Mason." ~Where has Noah been, anyway? I'd better stop by him and ask.~

"Oh, I thought only Dr. Max made house calls."

"Guess Dr. Max found us another of the old fashioned types. I'm going to go
bring him up, OK?"

"Ok." ~Where has Noah been?~

Dr. Mason comes to examine her and after he's done.

"She might get sick a few more times." He says to Nancy, Tom, and Abby. "However, if a fever develops call me."

"OK. Thank you," Abby says.

"Thanks. Dr." Tom says.

He nods and starts putting his equipment away.

After Dr. Mason leaves and another Bradford comes home, Abby walks over to
Noah's house and knocks on the door.

His mom opens the door. "Hi come on in. How's Nancy?"

"Recuperating. How's Noah?"

"He's fine, been worried about Nancy but other than that."

"That's good. We haven't seen him around much lately."

She checks around to make sure no one is eavesdropping. "He wants to wait till she's allowed out of bed." She whispers. "He's always been afraid of his girlfriend's fathers."

"There's always the telephone," Abby whispers back.

"That's what I told him. And he said no because that would require Nancy getting out of bed to talk to him on the phone."

"Tell him... Wait--is he home? I'll tell him myself."

"Yeah he's out back." She leads her out there. "You have a visitor."

"Hi." He greets Abby. "How's Nancy?"

"Lonely and worried about a certain boy-next-door."

"Tell her I'm all right and I'll come see her after the bed rest is over."

"You can come whenever you like. If you're afraid of disapproving parents, call first and I'll let you know if the coast is clear."

"Is the coast clear now?"

"Tom's home, but I'll keep him out of the way. Who knows? I might even be able to get you permission and then you won't have to worry about sneaking around."

"That'll be great thank you, hold on a sec." He goes upstairs and gets a gift he got for Nancy. "I'm ready now."

"OK. You know, for a male you're pretty reasonable."

"You haven't seen me on my bad days." He jokes.

Abby and Noah go to the Bradford house. Abby goes looking for Tom while Noah goes upstairs to see Nancy.

"Hey long time no see." Nancy says to him.

Abby checks in the study to see if Tom's there.

"Who was that?" Tom asks.

"Noah. And before you go off on your 'no boys upstairs' speech, it's not like Nancy should come downstairs to visit with him."

"I don't like it. After all rules are rules; and if I let Nancy, I will have to let the others and then what?" Tom says

"Tom, stop being such a stick in the mud. They're just talking. Nancy's not up to anything else."

"I am not a stick in the mud, I am just trying not to turn this house into a coed dorm." Tom pouts.

Abby kneels down next to his chair. "It already is, just you're the only one who gets to have a coed dorm room."

Tom smiles. "OK, but just until Nancy is better; than it is back to the old rules." Tom stands firm.

"That's fine; I actually like being the only one who can have a member of the opposite sex in her room," Abby jokes.

"Who? Nicholas?" Tom jokes back.

"Hey, at least he doesn't hog the covers."

"No but he can leave cookies crumbs in them." Tom replies

"Sounds like you're speaking from experience."

"On more than one occasion, especially after Joan died." Tom says with a far away look in his eye.

Abby puts her arms around him. ~Now's not the time to talk to him about this...~

"Did you need anything else?" Tom asks

"Yeah, but later. This probably wouldn't be a good time."

"Sweetheart in this house when is there a better time?" he asks.

"Well, I wasn't talking about in this house, I was talking about how things stand between us."

Tom doesn't like the way that sounds and stutters "HHooow do things stand between us....."

"Shh..." Abby gives him a quick kiss. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just," she takes a deep breath. "See, there's this two day instructional technologies conference down in LA. Usually I wouldn't be the one they'd ask to go, but because I've lightened my work load so much I'm the one with the least students, so I'm the most expendable. And I just thought it would be rotten timing to tell you that I need to not only work late, but stay away from home a few days."

"Perfect timing." Tom sighs.

"I know. That's why I didn't want to say anything, but they need an answer."

"Well, what do you want to do?" Tom asks.

"As a teacher or as a wife?"

"Both?"

"I think I'd like to see what's at this conference. I'm tired of working with the materials someone else has chosen. But I don't want you getting worked up over nothing."

Tom thinks about it and answers. "Well, if you can stand being here alone while I went to a conference. I guess I can too. So go and have fun."

Abby gives him another kiss. "You're such a good husband. I'll go, but I don't promise to have fun. I'll save that for when I get home."

"You better." Tom sighs.

"What did you mean by that?" Abby asks sharply.

"What I meant was that don't have fun without me." Tom says trying to smooth things over.

"Tom..." Abby chides. "What did you mean?"

"Abby, I am sorry. It is just the past is coming back to me again." Tom explains that Joan went on a photo shoot to LA when she had the affair.

Abby stands up and walks away from Tom. "I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer."

Tom doesn't go after her and walks outside.

Abby picks up the phone and dials work. "Yes," she tells the person at the other end of the line, "I'll go to that conference. And if you have anything else you need me for, just call. Day or night."

Meanwhile Nicholas sees his Dad by the tree crying.

He goes inside and sees Abby by the phone. "Is Dad OK?"

~Other than being an idiot?~ "Yeah, as far as I know. Why?"

"He's outside crying."

"Crying? Your dad?" Abby repeats. "Guess I'd better go check this out. Hey, Nicholas--don't tell anyone else, OK? Don't want to ruin your father's tough-guy image."

"OK, is he going to be all right?" Nicholas asks worriedly.

"Sure. I'll go see what's wrong. I'll bet it's nothing going for an ice cream wouldn't fix." Abby musses Nicholas's hair and hurries outside to Tom. "Hey, there."

Tom hurriedly wipes his eyes. "Hi."

"You've got some people in this family worried."

"I am all right." Tom lies.

"I thought you said you were going to tell me the truth from now on."

Tom looks at her. "OK, so I am not all right. But what does it matter? I tried telling you the truth in the house regarding Joan. It didn't mean I didn't trust *you*. I was just telling what happened."

"It matters to me," Abby insists. "But it was bad enough when I had to worry that when I'd do something you liked it would remind you of Joan. Now I have to worry over the things you don't like, too."

"Abby, if I ever tried to compare with you Joan. I am sorry." Tom tells. "Just be patient with me. You go to LA and do what you need to do and I will handle things here."

Abby briefly considers not going to the conference, but only briefly. "All right. And if any of the kids tell you they want to sleep over at a friend's while I'm gone, check them for fake ID."

"I'll remember that." Tom says "So when do you leave?"

"It's Friday and Saturday, so I figure I'll drive down to Pasadena after work on Thursday and visit my parents overnight."

"That should be fun." ~Glad I am not going,~ Tom thinks.

"Too bad one of us has to stay home. I'm sure my parents would love to see you again."

"Well if Tommy and Elizabeth can get into trouble with you here, can you imagine what would happen with both of us gone?" ~Yes, thank you Tommy and Elizabeth, I might just give you your allowance back.~

"And here I thought you said Tommy and Elizabeth had learned their lesson," Abby smiles, knowing exactly why Tom won't be joining her in Pasadena.

"Oh, I am sure they have." Tom says, smiling. "Give my best to your parents."

"I will. You want to come back inside now?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I have a column to write; but I have writers block today."

"Hmmm. Why don't you write about how when you're a father-in-law you won't act like a father-in-law? Then in a few years I'll be able to make you eat your words," Abby teases.

"Oh you are a lot of help." Tom says in jest.

"You know what they say," Abby agrees. "Those who can do. Those who can't, teach."

"Me teach? Never." Tom says. "I'll get that column done even if I have to update an old one."

"On behalf of teachers everywhere, thanks a lot."

"Abby, you are missing the point. I don't have the talent for it. You on the other hand do; and correct me if I am wrong, but you love it as well."

"Well, I certainly don't complain as much as you do about not being able to do my job. And I think you're underestimating yourself; I'll bet you'd make a wonderful teacher."

"Well we won't have to find that out." Tom says as he walks back into the house.

"I don't know," Abby whispers in his ear, trying to cajole him out of his funk, "I'll bet you could teach me a thing or two."

Tom blushes like a 16 year old. "Now?" he asks.

"Maybe it'll inspire you," Abby smiles.

"Hmmm...maybe it will." Tom smiles.

"There happens to be a classroom right upstairs..."

Tom laughs "Let's go." They run upstairs hoping to be undetected.

Later Vivian takes it upon her self to see if Tom's made a decision yet. She finds him in the kitchen.

"Hi V, want a cup of coffee?" Tom asks.

"Sure I'd love a cup." She says.

Tom pours her a cup. "So how long will you and Joannie be gone?" he says nonchalantly

Vivian smiles and gives him a hug and a kiss. "For a week and you won't regret this baby brother. Thank you." She goes upstairs and knocks on Joannie and Susan's door. "Hey Joannie start packing!!"

"He said yes?" Joannie bursts out of the room. "Auntie V, you're the best!"

"Thank you honey but I wasn't the one who talked him into it. I tried believe me."

"Oh, I bet you did. It just needed some time to sink in."

Vivian's about to reply when Tom enters the hallway.

"Don't I get a Thank you too?" he asks.

"Thank you, Dad," Joannie says, and gives her father a hug.

"You might want to thank Abby too." Vivian says.

"Sure, I'll do that later. But first I have to pack. What are we going to do? What should I take? Maybe Nancy will let me borrow her pink cashmere sweater..."

Vivian laughs. "Why don't you ask her she's awake."

"V is right." Tom says. "Abby was very persuasive."

"I'll bet she was," Joannie mutters very low.

"Joannie, I am going to ignore that remark." Tom walks away angry.

"He's real good at ignoring things, isn't he?" Joannie says. "I think I'll go check about that sweater."

"Ok." Vivian says wondering what's going on with Joannie and Abby.

Joannie knocks on Nancy's door. "Is my favorite sister awake?"

"Yeah, and which piece of clothing do you need to borrow?"

"Hey, that's not the only reason I like you," Joannie protests. "Your pink cashmere sweater."

Nancy smiles. "I know, come on in. It's in the closet."

"Thanks." Joannie starts going through the closet. "Hey, when did you get this blouse?"

"Noah got it for me and you're welcome."

"I don't suppose it's available?"

"Well um, where are you going with it?"

"New York," Joannie says and starts dancing around the room. "Auntie V's taking me to New York for one whole week."

"You're kidding, that's wonderful, of course you can bring it I trust you to bring it back in one piece."

"Oh. Um, you know what, maybe I shouldn't borrow it. Give you a chance to first."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Well, thanks for the sweater."

"No problem, have a good time."

"Oh, I will."

~And be sure to come back.~ Nancy doesn't voice the thought aloud.

"Well, I'd better finish packing."

"I'd offer to help but the bed police might catch me."

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself."

"I know."

"You just worry about taking care of yourself, OK?"

"Ok." Nancy drifts off to sleep.

A couple of hours later. Elizabeth goes looking for her Dad and Abby and finds them on the sun porch. "I need to talk to you two."

"Sure," Abby says.

"If this about your allowance...." Tom says.

"No, it's about a conversation I overheard between the two of you before you left for dinner last night." Elizabeth says.

Abby looks at Tom, wondering if they could just deny the whole thing.

Tom returns the look. "What are you talking about?"

"You said that you had betrayed Mom." Elizabeth whispers so that no one overhears.

Tom face goes white.

"And it didn't sound like you were kidding."

"Now, Elizabeth," Abby tries to bluff. "I'm sure you completely misunderstood and took everything out of context. That's what happens when you listen in on other people's conversations."

"I didn't listen in, not on purpose anyway."

"I didn't say you did," Abby answers. "Just that I wouldn't worry too much about one line from a conversation you overheard. Right, Tom?"

"Right." Tom says in agreement. "Besides did you ever see your Mother and I seriously fight?" Tom asks because this happened before she was born.

"Well, no."

"Well then." Tom says. "Look Elizabeth, I loved your mother. You should know that. You just heard wrong." Tom looks over to Abby.

"I do know that, and I'm glad I heard wrong." ~I guess they're not going to tell me, oh well if not then it's none of my business. Besides mom obviously forgave him anyway.~

"I'm glad you came to talk to us, Elizabeth," Abby adds. "You must have been so worried. And over nothing."

"I'm glad too, and yes I was worried."

"Next time if you hear something you don't understand, let us know right away. You will probably save yourself some heartache." Tom says.

"I will Dad."

"Besides, Elizabeth, you know there's nothing in this house that remains a secret," Abby says. ~Except this.~ "If there was something to worry about, you would have known long ago."

"Good point."

"Is there anything else you need?" Tom asks.

"No that was it." She leaves the room.

After Elizabeth leaves, Abby hisses in an undertone, "I told you the kitchen was not the place to discuss this. I wonder who all else overheard."

Tom sinks in his chair. "I can't believe that just happened."

"Like I said, nothing stays a secret in this house for long. I wonder if she bought it."

"If she didn't I am sure we will hear about it soon enough." Tom says. "I don't know, maybe I should just tell them all the truth and let the chips fall where they may."

"With Joannie going away tomorrow and me on Thursday? And besides, Nicholas
is too young to understand, and even if the kids could handle what you did, I doubt they'd want to believe their mother could have done it, too."

"You have a point there." Tom agrees. "So I guess we will have to hope Elizabeth bought the story and that it ends there."

"And if it doesn't, I'm sure all the whispers and significant looks will warn you. You know, I think I'm glad I'll be away this weekend."

"Gee thanks, it will be a long weekend without you." Tom confesses.

"I'm sure you'll find something to keep you busy." ~As long as it's not a 'someone.'~

"Maybe David and I can do something."

"I'll bet he'd like that."

"I'll go give him a call later."

"OK. I'd better start thinking about dinner," Abby says and stands up.

"Need a hand?" Tom asks.

"Yours? In the kitchen? No, thanks."

"OK, but don't ever tell anyone I wasn't willing to help you with dinner." Tom replies with relief.

"I'll take care of dinner," Abby says, "you can take care of cleaning up afterwards."

"That's the girls' job." Tom says.

"Chauvinist."

Tom smiles and kisses her on the cheek on the way to his study.

Upstairs, Elizabeth bumps into Joannie. "Hey, watch it!" Joannie says. She takes a
look at her sister. "Didn't anyone ever tell you your face could freeze that way?"

"Yeah, but I have faith that it won't happen." Elizabeth retorts.

"Something wrong?" Joannie asks.

"No, everything is fine." Elizabeth lies.

"Yeah, that's why you look like you're about to cry."

"Joannie I'm in enough trouble already I can't say anything."

"Trouble?" Joannie says, shifting the clothes in her arms around. She opens her bedroom door and checks that Susan's not inside. "If you're in trouble, tell me. Maybe I can help."

In their bedroom. "I overheard something and I did the right thing and went to the people I overheard but they're not talking."

"If you're in trouble, then I guess you're on to them, no matter what they aren't saying, right?"

"Yeah." ~And if it's what I think it is.~ She remembers a conversation she had with her Grandfather the last time she saw him. After his fight with Nancy after their mom died Elizabeth had tried to calm him down and he said in spite that Tom wasn't Nancy's Dad. At the time she thought he was lying to be mean and hoping she'd tell Nancy but she never did. It couldn't be true anyway. But if Dad betrayed mom maybe she betrayed him back.

"Elizabeth?" Joannie asks, getting worried by the look on her sister's face.

"Joannie listen you can't tell anybody if word got out..."

"Hey, I'm going away, remember? No one will hear it from me."

Elizabeth double checks to make sure no one is listening and tells her what she overheard and what Paul had said.

"No way. I don't believe you. Mom would never do anything like that. And Dad--Mr. Straight and Narrow? Mr. Wait Until the Wedding Night? You've got to be kidding. Mom would never have done anything like that."

"I don't want to believe it either."

"You've got to be wrong, Lizzie. Maybe Dad's just having guilt pangs about getting married so quickly. Maybe that's what he meant by 'betraying' Mom. And as for Grandpa Wells, he's just a horrible, bitter old man. Grandma Wells never said anything like that, did she?"

"No she didn't, and when you put it that way. Yeah that's got to be it. Dad just feels guilty for remarrying."

"Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I mean, if it were, and even if Mom and Dad forgave each other, if Abby found out--I mean, if I knew my boyfriend had cheated on his last girlfriend, I'd leave. And Abby's still here, isn't she? Dad's just feeling guilty for getting remarried so quick, and of course he's worried that that's got Abby upset."

"Exactly."

"And boy, are you going to be in trouble if you go spreading this around. You know how touchy Dad gets when he finally realizes he's done something wrong."

"I don't plan on spreading it around."

"Good. Now, what skirt do you think would go best with Nancy's cashmere sweater?"

Later in the middle of the night Nancy starts tossing and turning from a nightmare and winds up falling out of bed and onto the floor. Sam gets out of the way in time so he doesn't wind up a pancake underneath her. She awakens with a start. ~I don't think I've done this since I was little.~ "Are you ok Sam?" She pets him and he licks he face.

Elizabeth is too worn out to have heard her but another family member heard the last scream of Nancy's nightmare and walks in.

"I didn't wake you did I?" Nancy asks.

"No," Joannie says. "I was up packing.Come on, let's get you into bed."

After Joannie has helped her into bed. "You and Auntie V be careful in NY ok."

"Oh, Auntie V always lands on her feet. We'll be fine."

"Good, because I want to hear all about it when you get back."

"What? No postcards while I'm away?"

"Of course postcards, but I'll probably see you again before the postcards arrive." Nancy half jokes.

"Hey, you never know, right?" Joannie answers.

"That is true."

"Now get back to sleep. You still have healing to do."

"Ok."

The next morning while V and Joannie are getting ready for the trip. In Nancy and Elizabeth's bedroom.

"Hey Nancy how old were you when you first did it?" Elizabeth asks.

"When I first did what?"

"You know."

"Oh that."

"Yes that."

"That's personal information. Why do you ask?"

"There's this guy at school I really like and he likes me too but..."

"But what? Is he pressuring you."

"Yes, and maybe he's right. Maybe it is time I grew up."

"Um no." Nancy stresses. "Sex doesn't make you grown up and it shouldn't be... Listen Elizabeth there will be plenty of time for that when you're ready."

"I knew you wouldn't understand." She leaves the room.

"Elizabeth!!" Nancy shouts after her but her little sister doesn't return. "Oh great."

Elizabeth goes downstairs.

"What time are they leaving?" She asks Abby.

"In about an hour and a half," Abby says. "If they ever finish packing."

Elizabeth laughs. "Yeah." She gets something to drink. "Hey Abby can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"When was your first time?"

"Going to New York? Choir competition in 7th grade."

"No." She whispers it in her ear.

"Oh," Abby says. "Well....uh, why? Are you thinking of...?"

"Yes."

"Do you love him?"

"Well uh no not really but I like him a lot."

"Elizabeth, remember when we talked about this before? When you and Joannie were trying to find out whether..." Abby lets the sentence drop instead of bringing up old mistakes.

"Yes, but it's different this time."

"Why?"

"Because I'm ready now."

"Are you?" Abby asks, "or do you just want to check out what you think everyone else is doing?"

"I want to get it over with. I'm tired of them thinking I'm a little girl."

Abby purses her lips, thinking for a minute. "You asked me how old I was my first time. Did you mean how old was I really, how old do my parents think I was, or how old my high school buddies think I was?"

"How old you really were."

"About 5 years older than the kids in high school thought I was," Abby says. "Amazing how well you can fool your friends with talk about your out-of-town
boyfriend."

"Are you suggesting that I do that?"

"If your main goal is to get people to stop thinking something, change them, not you. It's a pretty silly thing to judge people on, so maybe it's OK to be silly in return."

"That will help with my friends but not with Billy."

"Ah, that's true. But you know, if you had any other friend who said 'you have to' when you said 'no,' would you give in?"

"Well no, but..."

"But?"

"Billy is so cute."

"There are lots of cute guys in the world," Abby notes.

"She's got a point there little sis. He's not worth it." Nancy says as Mary helps her sit down. "And don't run out on me like that I do to understand."

Elizabeth ponders what Abby and Nancy told her. "You guys are right."

"Remember what I told you last time--I've never really regretted waiting. In fact, waiting has its own charms."

"Yeah I remember." Elizabeth smiles. "Thanks for talking some sense into me."

"Any time."

Nancy looks around the kitchen she hasn't seen since being confined to her bedroom. "Has this place gotten smaller?"

Mary and Elizabeth laugh.

One hour later Vivian knocks on Joannie and Susan's door. "Joannie are you ready to go?"

"More than ready," Joannie says, grabbing her bag. "Let's blow this joint."

"Let's." V says goodbye to the family.

Joannie does the same.

Nancy's allowed a little more time up to say goodbye to her Aunt and Sister. She hugs them both, tells them she loves them and then goes and parks on the couch to watch tv.

"We should get going or you'll miss your flight," Abby says.

Vivian finishes saying goodbye. "Are you ready to go honey?"

"More than ready."

Elizabeth hugs her and so does Mary.

Joannie hugs whoever wants a hug and then says to Abby and V, "Let's go already. Don't want to miss that plane."

"Wait a minute, don't I get a goodbye?" Tom asks quietly.

"Of course you do." Vivian hugs him.

They leave for the airport.

After Joannie and V have left. Mary goes to talk to Nancy.

"Hey you still have a few more days of bed rest, come on let's get you upstairs." Mary says.

"But it's so boring in there."

"I'd rather you be bored than try to make it to the bathroom, pass out, and tumble down the stairs. If you're going to pass out it's going to be in the hallway where you won't have far to fall."

Mary gets her upstairs and then brings in Tom and Abby's tv.

"They do know right?" Nancy asks.

"I'll leave them a note." Mary says and goes out into the hallway. "Susan who's watching her till Abby and Dad get back?"

"I don't think they left anyone in particular in charge." Susan says

"Well I don't have classes today so I'll do it."

"Good, cause I still have two more."

Several hours later in New York in the hotel room. V is making reservations for dinner while Joannie is staring out the window. V smiles.

"So what do you think of the big city kid?"

"I could live here," Joannie smiles.

"That's what I thought."

"Always said you're my smartest aunt."

"Even though I'm your only Aunt I'll take that as a compliment."

"How 'bout if I tell you you're the smartest Bradford of your generation?"

"I'd say you're a very perceptive woman."

"Nah--it's pretty obvious--I mean, look at the competition."

"Are you angry at your father?"

"No more than usual."

"Why?"

Joannie shrugs.

"Hmm, well why don't we just go out and have some fun? Let's not think about things that make us unhappy tonight."

Joannie turns from the window and gives her aunt a hug.

Vivian returns the hug.

"So where are we going?"

"This great place I go to each time I come here you'll absolutely love it."

"Cool."

A little while later in the restaurant.

"So what do you think?"

"Wow," Joannie says. "This is incredible."

Vivian smiles at the look on her face. ~It's about time this kid smiled again.~

"And Dad says I'd be miserable living like this...ha."

"Well it's not always fun and games."

"How could it not be?"

"Well for one thing there's no one waiting up for you to get home to find out how your evening went. Especially if your husband is out on business trips most of the time."

"I think I could live very happily with a little solitude. You have no idea what it's like living in an overcrowded dorm."

"You're right I don't."

"Trust me, you don't want to."

"That bad eh?"

Joannie nods.

"Well now you're away from that place."

"Yeah. Yeah, I am," Joannie smiles. "No reason to think about depressing things. I'm here to have fun!"

"That's right so let's have fun. After dinner we're going to see a play."

"You really are the best, Auntie V."

"Anything for my Niece." Vivian smiles.

"I'll have to remember that."

"You do that."

Part 3