Meanwhile back at home. David comes for dinner and goes upstairs to visit Nancy for a bit.
"How are you feeling sweetheart?" He sees the tv. "I see you conned Dad and Abby."
"Naah, Mary did it and left a note, it's still here so apparently it was ok. And I still feel pretty yucky. It's taking a long time to recover."
"Well what do you expect you hit your head very hard and was unconscious for almost a day. It's going to be awhile till your healed." He sits down.
"I'm sorry I scared you guys."
"Yep scared us you did and don't ever do that again, please."
"Come on just once a year." Nancy teases him.
"Hey!!" He pretends to be mad. And she just laughs at him.
"So how's your love life." She finally asks.
"Pretty good I'm seeing that lady who used to be your nurse again Friday night."
"That's good."
"Did Joannie and Auntie V make it to NY ok?"
"Yeah they called a little while ago."
He visits with her a few minutes longer and then goes downstairs. "Smells good." He says to Mary and Abby. "Mind if I test it?"
"Don't touch." Mary warns him.
"Come on just one bite." David says.
"What is it with you men?" Abby pretends to complain. "This is a no-picking zone."
"Ok I won't touch." While Mary and Abby aren't looking he sneaks a bite.
Abby catches him as he finishes chewing and glares at him.
"You let Nancy have the TV why can't I get away with sneaking food." He teases.
"Next time you come home from the hospital I'll let you sneak all the food you want. Besides, it was Mary who let her have the TV. We just let her keep it."
"Ok, it tastes good by the way."
"Thank you. Flattery will get you nowhere."
"Ouch." He laughs.
Meanwhile Noah rings the doorbell.
"What kind of puppy does she have?" His little sister Molly asks.
"A very smart and lovable one." He tells her. "Now be good while we're up there or mom and dad will think I'm a lousy sitter for you."
"Why don't you make yourself useful," Abby says to David, "and get the door."
David goes to answer the door and lets Molly and Noah in.
"Where's the doggie?" Molly asks.
"He's upstairs in Nancy's room." David says.
She starts to go upstairs to her room.
"Molly wait for me." Noah smiles nervously at David and then goes up after her.
~Dad is letting a boy upstairs?~ He shakes his head in confusion and goes to hang out with Tommy and Nicholas in the tv room.
"Hi David." both Tommy and Nicholas say in unison.
"Hey guys what are you watching?"
"Baseball." Tommy says.
"Who's winning?"
"The A's."
"Darn." David watches with them anyway.
"What's up with you?" Tommy asks.
"I'm still seeing that Nurse."
"Oh, she makes house calls?" Tommy says in jest.
"Tommy." David motions that Nicholas can hear them.
"OK, sorry." he says
Back to the kitchen.
"Think the men in this family will ever grow up?" Mary inquires.
"Around the year 2000, maybe."
"If we're lucky."
Meanwhile at the front door.
"But Elizabeth."
"Forget it Billy, I am not ready yet and if you really like me you'll understand that."
He sighs. "But the guys will think I'm a wimp."
"No, and until you can understand the word no we're not going out." She goes inside. "Goodbye."
He sighs again and walks away. She shuts the door and goes into the kitchen. "Smells good can I have a bite?"
Abby takes a look at Elizabeth's face. "Sure. Grab a plate."
Elizabeth smiles. "Thanks Abby." She grabs a plate and sits down.
Currently upstairs while Molly is playing with Sam.
"He's very gentle with little kids." Noah observes.
"Sam loves people of all sizes." Nancy says. "So what brings you by? Deciding to live dangerously?"
He smiles. "Yep, naah Abby cleared it with your Dad."
"She's going away Friday you know. She won't be here to tame him." Nancy teases him.
He gulps. "I'll be brave."
She laughs at him and kisses him.
Molly stares up at them. "Can I be in the wedding?"
"Uh um." Noah stammers.
"Sure, If I marry your brother one day you can be my flower girl." Nancy tells her.
Molly smiles. "Good, and there'll be lots of pretty flowers." She proceeds to describe a fairy tell wedding.
They leave after awhile so Nancy turns on the tv. The news depresses her too much so she switches it to one of those comedy shows. ~I want to eat with the family I'm tired of eating alone.~
A little while later. Abby brings her dinner to her.
"Can I eat downstairs with the rest of ya." Nancy asks.
"You've been downstairs once today. I don't want to take any chances," Abby says.
"Ok, and it looks good." Nancy says while Sam tries to pretend that he's not going to beg for scraps.
"Sam, you have perfectly good food of your own downstairs," Abby says.
Sam tries the hang dog look but when that fails he goes downstairs to eat his own food.
Nancy laughs and shakes her head.
"A Bradford male is a Bradford male, no matter what his species."
"Very true." Nancy starts eating. "It's very good too is it a new recipe?"
"Help," Abby says, "don't tell me I've become one of those boring women you can only discuss cooking with."
"Of course not. All right what's been going on downstairs what have they done to you?"
"Nothing," Abby says. "I guess domesticity is just getting to me."
"Then it'll be good for you to get away."
"Yeah, I'm going to enjoy it. Only don't tell your father I will."
"The secret is safe with me."
"You're too generous."
"Shh, it'll get around."
"You keep my secret and I'll keep yours."
"Deal."
The next day Joannie and Vivian prepare to go to a Broadway show.
<insert conversation>
Meanwhile at home, Nancy gets a letter from Ray. She decides to open it instead of trashing it like she's done with the others. In it he apologizes for hurting her and for abandoning Cassie but he won't come back he's not ready to be a father. "Wimp." Nancy says as she tears up the letter and trashes it.
Elizabeth walks in. "Who's a wimp?"
"Just someone who is going to be a father and doesn't care."
"There's a lot of those especially with boys our ages."
"Yeah I know."
Currently in the kitchen.
"Hey do you guys need a ride to school?" Mary asks Susan, Nicholas, and Tommy.
"Yeah." Nicholas says.
"OK." Tommy replies.
Mary waits for Susan's reply.
"Sure" replies Susan
Mary gives them a ride to school and also Elizabeth.
A half an hour later upstairs. Nancy sees her Dad pass by.
"Hey Dad, can you bring home a double cheeseburger, onion rings, and a chocolate milkshake to me for lunch today?" Nancy requests.
"Are you sure your stomach can take all that grease?"
"Yes, I miss fast food."
"OK. It might be a little late though."
"Thanks Dad." She falls back to sleep due to the pain medication.
Thursday morning Abby finishes packing her bag. "I'll leave straight from work," she tells Tom. "It's a long drive, and if I come home and get involved with dinner and the kids I'll be on the road all night."
"How about I just meet you somewhere for an early dinner?" He asks.
"How about lunch? I really do want to get on the road as early as possible."
Tom sighs. "A long lunch?" he asks hopefully.
"I have a student until noon and a meeting at 1:30," Abby shakes her head.
"Well, maybe some other time." Tom says not too happy.
"When I get back," Abby says, not noticing Tom's unhappiness, too busy with her packing.
"Fine." Tom says and leaves the room.
Abby looks up when the door closes loudly, but shrugs and goes back to her packing.
Meanwhile in Nancy's room she had been marking down how many days till she can get out of bed. And a smile spreads across her face today she's officially off constant bed rest. She takes her turn at the bathroom and then ventures downstairs to the kitchen. She tries to make something to eat. However, Mary catches her and makes her sit down.
"One step at a time." Mary tells her.
"Ok." Nancy gives in.
"Where's Dad and Abby?" Elizabeth asks.
"Upstairs."
Tommy and Nicholas enter and start eating.
"Has Joannie or Auntie V called?" Nancy asks.
"Yes and they're having a great time." Elizabeth says. David walks in.
"Good morning." He says.
"Morning." Elizabeth, Nancy, and Mary say.
Tom goes in the kitchen and doesn't say hello to anybody.
"Morning Dad." Nancy says.
"Uh?�" Tom says and realizes he is in the kitchen with his family and tries his best to keep up appearances. "Morning Nancy and family."
Tommy and Nicholas just nod.
"Are you ok Dad?" Nancy asks.
"Yeah fine, I love having my wife take off for a few days." Tom says and then regrets what he said. "I have work to do in the study before going in the office." he leaves the kitchen.
Nancy goes after him. "Dad you went away for almost a week."
"I know and I was miserable."
"She'll only be gone a few days."
"Still too long for me." He says and retreats to the study.
Nancy shakes her head and goes upstairs. "Hey Abby do you need any help?" She asks.
"Only if you know where I left my briefcase. I could have sworn I brought it up here..."
Nancy goes to the chair picks up the briefcase and hands it to her.
"If my head weren't attached, I'd misplace that, too. Thanks."
"Not a problem, and don't worry if you ever misplace your head we'll help you find it." Nancy jokes.
"In this madhouse? I'd better keep it attached."
Nancy laughs.
Abby closes her suitcase. "Well, that's it. Try to make sure your siblings behave for your father, OK?"
"Ok, have a good time."
"I'm sure I will. It'll be nice being courted, even if it's only for the school district's funds."
"Yeah."
Abby picks her suitcase up. "Well, if you need me for anything, I'll be home--I mean at my parents'--tonight, and then at the hotel. I should be home Sunday afternoon."
"Ok." She hugs her and then they go downstairs where the rest of the family is waiting to see her off.
Nicholas stops Abby at the staircase. "Abby, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Nicholas," Abby says.
"Are you coming back?" he asks bluntly
"What?" Abby asks. "Of course I'm coming back--I'm just going for the weekend. Why would you think I'm not coming back?"
"Well, Mom went away and never came back."
Abby puts her suitcase down on the steps and hugs Nicholas. "I'm not going anywhere, Nicholas. I'll be back Sunday--you'll see."
"OK." Nicholas says still not quite believing.
Abby tries to think of some way to reassure Nicholas. "Could you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Tonight I'll be at my parents and after that at the hotel. Will you call me every night and tell me what's going on here at home?" ~If he talks to me every night, maybe he won't be scared that I've disappeared.~
"OK." he replies
"Good. Well, I'd better go say goodbye to everyone or I'll be late to work. Think anybody left any coffee for me?"
"Dad left you some in the kitchen." Tommy says.
"Great." Abby picks her suitcase up again and goes downstairs.
"I'll put that in the car on my way to school, if you want." Tommy says.
"Thanks," Abby says as she pours herself a cup of coffee.
"Have a safe trip." he says.
Abby shakes her head. "People are acting like I'm flying to the moon. I'm just driving down to LA, you know."
Tommy just says nothing and tells Nicholas "C'mon I'll give you a ride on my bike."
"Kay." he says
"You're a Bradford now get used to it." David jokes to Abby.
"I don't know if that's a threat or a promise," Abby jokes back.
David laughs.
After she finishes her coffee and says goodbye to the kids, Abby stops by Tom's study. "Well, I'm off now."
Tom looks up at her ~I hate this.~ "Have everything?"
"I think so. I mean, it's only three days, so whatever I forgot I can live without."
"I hope you can't live without a good-bye kiss."
Abby checks her watch. "There's a lot more I can't live without," she says, "but a kiss will have to do."
Tom kisses her. "I am going to miss you."
"It's only three days, Tom."
"I know, silly isnt it."
"Yep," Abby smiles and kisses him. "But I must be silly, too, because I'm going to miss you."
Tom smiles. "I heard what you said to Nicholas. That was nice the way you calmed his fears like that."
"I may have calmed his, but the rest of them seem jittery, too. They weren't like this when you went to your conference."
"That's different. They are used to my going away." He explains.
Abby nods, not sure whether to be flattered that the kids are so used to her they're upset to see her go or whether it's just that they're all thinking about their mother.
"Like it or not we all love you and you are stuck with us." he says.
"It's a burden I'll have to live with," Abby gives an exaggerated sigh. "I really do have to go or I'll be late for work. I'll try to call you before I head out, though."
"OK." he says and walks her to the car.
Abby throws her briefcase and purse in next to her suitcase, then hugs Tom. "I'll see you Sunday."
"I will be counting the hours." Tom says
Abby kisses him and gets into the car.
Tom waves at her and goes back in the house.
Friday afternoon in the den. Nancy gives up on watching tv she had grown tired of daytime tv she flips through some magazines puts them aside and sighs in boredom. ~What I'd give for company right now. No one in this family sits still for anything. Such a large family and no one home to talk with, play games.~ The telephone rings so she goes to answer it. "Fred's house of boredom. Cobwebs are going at 3 dollars a web and bottles of no doze are 5 dollars a bottle."
"Selling your friend's potions again?" Joannie asks.
"Hey Joannie, how's New York?"
"Great. I love this place. It's everything home isn't. How are you?"
"Bored out of my skull. I never realized before how often this house is empty."
"That's just because you weren't there when it was."
"I wish that were the case now. Meet any men yet?"
"Who's had time? We've been going to a show every night, and shopping--you'd love this city."
"Then I'm going one day."
"I'll show you all the sights."
"Cool, you're a nice sister."
"Hey, it's part of my job."
"I thought a big sisters job was knocking her little sister around when she does something stupid." Nancy jokes.
"That, too."
Nancy laughs. "So what plays have you gone to see?"
Joannie gives her the run down. "And every night, after the shows, we go to theatre hangouts, and during the day I've been...shopping, you know."
"Sounds like a lot of fun I'm glad you got to go."
"So am I. So what's going on at home, besides major boredom?"
"Not much, except that Nicholas is worried about Abby going away."
"Why? Did she forget something she promised to do for him?"
"No, because Mom left and never came back."
"Abby's not going anywhere," Joannie says a little bitterly.
"No she isn't. She's in for the long haul. You ok with that?" Nancy asks detecting the bitter tone.
"Hey, it's Dad's life," Joannie says, thinking of what Elizabeth had told her. "How's he taking Abby's going away?"
"About as well as Nicholas is. I still think it's unfair I mean he went away for almost a week."
"You know Dad. What's good for the goose is good only for him."
"I second that."
"I just wish he'd make up his mind about her," Joannie says.
"What do you mean?"
"One minute he's feeling guilty he married her at all, and the next he can't have her out of his sight for the weekend. Sheesh."
"He's a man." Nancy says.
"That is true." ~So I was right; Nancy's noticed it, too.~
"Men are like babies Joannie."
"Nah, babies grow up."
"True, then what are they like?"
"Puppies? Nah, that's not fair to Sam."
"Yeah really. Hmm." Nancy ponders. "They're like um I don't know."
"Good choice."
"Thank you."
"Well, I'd better go. Got people to see, places to go."
"Ok, you have fun and I love you."
"Love you, too."
After awhile they both hang up. Nancy goes and falls asleep on the couch.
Saturday morning, after not sleeping well. Tom decides to give Abby a call. "Mrs. Abby Bradford's room please."
"One moment..." The connection is made and a man answers the phone.
"I'm sorry. They must have rang the wrong room." Tom says about to hang up.
"Who are you looking for?" the man asks.
"My wife Abby Bradford."
"Oh, sure, one minute." The sound is muffled for a second, and then Abby's voice comes over the line.
"Hi, Tom."
"Is that all you have to say to me? Who was that?" he asks
"What else should I say to you?" Abby asks. "And that was--well, actually, it's a long story. You probably wouldn't be interested."
"Abby, what's going on?" he says trying not to jump to conclusions.
"It's just a friend of mine, Tom. He's exhibiting here."
"Exhibiting what and at this early hour?"
"Tapes--his company puts out a series of tapes on high school subjects, and I think they may be really good for kids who have trouble reading. And no, I'm not that much of a workaholic, you know, we're not talking about his tapes at this time of the morning--he just came by to take me down to breakfast."
~Can I trust her?~ "Oh, I see. I am sorry I interrupted the two of you." Tom says and hangs up.
Abby calls Tom right back. "You want to tell me what's going on?" she demands.
"It's nothing, except for maybe the fact there is a strange man in my wife's room this early." he says upset.
Abby covers the phone. "John, I'll meet you downstairs, OK?"
John Easton nods and leaves the room.
"He isn't a strange man, Tom," Abby says into the phone. "I've been teaching his son since the start of the year. Remember when you were away and I had to go teach at night? That's his son. We were talking about his son's progress before you called, if you must know."
"Abby, did you know your student's father was going to be there?"
"N... Tom, this is bothering you, isn't it?"
"Yes, Abby, I'll admit it, It does bother me. So shoot me." He says.
"But I don't understand why it bothers you," Abby says.
"Abby if you don't know, then there is nothing to talk about now." he says "Have a good day and I'll talk to you later."
"Fine. When you're ready to talk instead of trying to get me to play guessing games, just call back and have me paged," Abby answers.
"Fine." Tom hangs up
Abby hangs up the phone and heads downstairs. Only in the elevator does it dawn on her what Tom might be so upset about. ~Nah. He said he wasn't comparing me to her, so that couldn't be it. The kids must be giving him a hard time.~
During the lunch break, Abby calls home.
Nancy answers the phone. "Elizabeth is busy, can I take a message?"
"Amazingly enough," Abby laughs, "this is one of those two calls a year that aren't for Elizabeth."
Nancy laughs. "Hi Abby, how are you doing?"
"Busy. I haven't had this much fun in--I don't remember when."
"I remember fun, barely." Nancy half kids. "I'm glad you're having a good time."
"How are things at home? Who's hassling your father?"
"No one, not that we haven't tried. Any time we try to talk to him since this morning he quickly ends the conversation."
"Come on, Nancy, even from down here I can tell he's in a mood. So what happened to put him there?"
"He won't tell us."
~So maybe it wasn't the kids.~ "Hmm. Well, if you do find out..."
"Yeah I'll tell you, do you want to talk to him?"
"Um, no that's OK."
"Do you want me to tell him that you called." ~I guess they're fighting again.~
"It sounds like it's better to just stay out of his way. He knows where to find me if he wants to talk to me."
She hears the front door open and then close. "I think he just left anyway to take Tommy and Nicholas to a game." Soon Elizabeth, Susan, and Mary leave also.
After hanging up with Abby Nancy tries to get interested in TV but can't. She glances over at Sam. ~We wouldn't be gone long and it's not like anyone will find out anyway. If I get tired I'll stop and rest. I'm not spending another day in this house without going outside if only just for a little while.~ "Hey boy want to go for a walk?"
Sam starts wagging his tail and runs to where his leash is. Nancy hooks it to his collar and takes him for a walk.
A little while later Tom and the boys return home to find Mary on the phone. She hangs up and approaches him.
"Dad we need to talk."
"What?" he asks.
"Nancy, she has a serious case of cabin fever. She took Sam for a walk. Thankfully I was driving by and saw her so she got a ride home and didn't relapse. I had a long talk with her and I think that maybe we should all work out a schedule so she's not cooped up here all by herself. I can make time in the day to stay with her, but I can't do it all the time."
"Oh that's just great." he says "Where is she now?"
"Upstairs in her room."
Tom goes upstairs and knocks on Nancy's door.
"Come in." Nancy says.
"Nancy, are you all right?" he asks
She nods. "I guess Mary told you. Dad I'm sorry it's just that I've been going stir crazy."
"I don't know if I should yell or give you a hug."
"Mary already yelled at me, and hugs are always good."
Tom hugs her. "You are still not off the hook though from one of my famous lectures."
Nancy hugs him back. "I know."
"But I'll suspend it unless you do anything like that again. OK?"
"Ok, and did Mary discuss everything with you?"
"About the schedule?"
Nancy nods hopeful that she won't have to spend the rest of the recovery with no one to have fun with.
"I'll call a meeting later to see what we can arrange."
Nancy smiles and gives him a kiss. "Thanks Dad."
"Your welcome, now young lady. Do you need anything?"
"Just a nap, that walk tired me out."
"Well I would think so." he says covering her up.
She says she loves him before nodding off.
Tom quietly retreats from her room and runs into Mary in the hall. "She is sleeping."
"Good you weren't too hard on her were you?"
"Me, hard on my kids? Never."
Mary chuckles.
Tom then turns serious. "Have there been any messages for me?"
"Not that I know of."
Tom face turns somber. "I'll be in my room, if anyone needs me."
"Dad what's wrong?"
"Huh?....nothing, I am fine."
"Why don't I believe you?"
"I just miss Abby, thats all."
"Don't worry she'll be back tomorrow."
~Will she?~ "You are right." he says.
Mary gives him a hug and then goes to study.
Tom goes to his room.
At the end of the conference, Abby stops by John Easton's booth. "If I have to look at rubber chicken one more time, I'm going to scream. Besides that, I have an idea I'd like to bounce off of you. If you've got the time, want to go grab something to eat somewhere a little better than the dining room here?"
"Oh you bet I do. My stomach can't handle anymore rubber chicken either."
"Great. Want me to help you pack your materials up?"
"Thanks but I got it." He packs them up and then they go find a decent restaurant.
"So how'd the conference go for you?" Abby asks after they've ordered their food.
"Very well, I found out a lot of good information that will be a help to Jamie."
Abby smiles. "You're such a father. I hope you made a few sales of your tapes, though, too."
He returns the smile. "Yes I did, so what idea did you want to run by me?"
"It's something I use a lot with math students, particularly boys," Abby explains. "Jamie liked it, and my stepson did, too, when he had problems with geometry. Football is just applied geometry, see, so I thought a new kind of textbook--one that uses football plays to illustrate theorems--might be of use to kids that were having trouble with geometry. I know that you don't really deal in books, but you know the marketing end of things more than I do--what do you think?"
"I think it has great potential, but there is one aspect that might be brought up. What about girls? Will they do well with one that uses football plays?"
"Well, it wouldn't be for regular classroom use," Abby says. "Just in remedial situations or as a supplement. I guess high school girls might not be too interested in it, but there'll be other things to use on them. And if it would help market the idea, I used to know some professional football player--I could try to get some of them to contribute plays, and then suit the theorems to them, instead of the other way around. Then maybe football fans who didn't need the geometry lesson would want to buy it, too."
"Sounds great to me. If you like I can help you market it."
"I guess I should first write it," Abby says. "But I wanted to make sure I wasn't getting all excited about an idea that wasn't viable."
"I think it's a very good idea and that you should get started on it."
"Thanks, I will. And after I finish, expect a call from me, taking you up on your offer of help."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Abby smiles and concentrates on her food for a while. Then she asks, "So--have you managed to get out any at all? Or are you still burying yourself in your work?"
"Burying myself in my work and you?"
"Some of us have the unique talent of going from one extreme to the other," Abby laughs at herself.
"That just means you're a well balanced person." He smiles.
"Flattery will get you everywhere," Abby laughs.
"Will it get you to eat dessert with me."
"I never say no to dessert."
After they finish the main meal. "So what are you having?" He asks as they check out the dessert menu.
~And just when's the last time I was 'allowed' to order for myself? There are definite advantages to having dinner with a friend.~ "The tartufo, I think. You?"
"I think I'll have the same."
The waiter comes and takes their orders, then brings their desserts.
After they're done. "I have to get back to my room. Do you want to have breakfast tomorrow?"
"Yeah, that sounds good. I'd like that."
"Good."
"We should be getting back to the hotel, I guess," Abby says reluctantly.
"Yes we should. If I pay the bill will you leave the tip?"
"Sure," Abby says.
He pays the bill, she pays the tip, and then they head back to the hotel.
"This was really nice," Abby says as they get off the elevator. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Thank you I enjoyed it too, see you in the morning."
Abby goes into her room where the phone is ringing and rushes to answer it.
"Abby? It's Nicholas." he says
"Hey, Nicholas," Abby says, sitting down on the bed and kicking off her shoes. "Enjoying your last night of not having me around?"
"Nah, it has been boring here except for Nancy leaving the house alone."
"Nancy? Is she all right?" Abby asks, worried.
"Yeah, Mary read her the riot act and Dad said a few words too."
"Oh, I'll bet he did. I hear he's been in a real mood."
"He has been acting strange, even at the game today. He didn't seem to take interest in what was going on."
"Hmm. Maybe he's just lonely."
"I guess." Nicholas says.
Meanwhile there is a knock at Abby's door.
"I'd better go get that," Abby says. "I'll see you tomorrow." Abby says goodbye, hangs up, and goes to answer the door.
"Sorry about this Mrs. Bradford, but your husband has left 10 messages since 6 PM tonight. I hope it isn't an emergency." The hotel desk clerk says as he gives her the messages.
"Oh, I'm sure it isn't. Thank you." Abby closes the door, goes back to the phone, and dials home.
Tommy answers the phone. "Dan, I told you no! I am not going to one of your parties again."
"Jumping to conclusions again, I see," Abby says. "Your dad around?"
"Oh hi, Abby. Sorry." He says "Yeah, he has been hiding in his room since we got home."
"Could you ask him to pick up the phone?"
"Sure, Dad!" Tommy yells. "It's Abby"
Tom hurries and picks up the phone. "Abby? Where have you been?"
"Just because I'm working this weekend doesn't mean that I don't get to take a meal break now and then, Tom. And hello, how are you, how was your day?"
Tom fumes "Forgive me for worrying about you."
"Worrying about me? Almost a dozen messages in less than three hours is more than just worrying about me. What's going on, anyway? The kids say you've been acting strange all day."
Tom's pride won't let him say what he has been really thinking all day.
"Oh, we're still playing those guessing games?" Abby says. "Fine, you win, I lose. I have no clue what you're so upset about, and until you're willing to say, I don't think you ought to take it out on everyone."
Tom swallows his pride and quietly asks her. "Abby are you having an affair?"
Abby starts to deny it, but then gets angry. ~No comparisons, huh?~ "What kind of question is that, anyway?"
"It's an honest one."
"It's a ridiculous one, and you know it."
Tom sighs in relief. "Then you do love me?"
"Would I put up with your mood swings if I didn't?"
Tom laughs in silence. "Abby, I am sorry for what I was thinking."
"Yeah, well, I can't say that I'm not pretty angry with you right now--for more than one reason."
"More than one reason?"
"For suspecting me. And for comparing me to her."
"You are right. It is just that I love you so much. I don't know what would happen to me if I lost you." He says choking up.
"Well, the stunt you pulled today is a good way to find out," Abby snaps.
"I don't know what to say except I am sorry, Will you forgive your foolish husband?"
"I think I'm too angry to talk about it. I promised Nicholas I'd be home tomorrow, so we can talk about it then."
"OK." he says "What time shall we expect you?"
"Well, I'm..." Abby decides not to tell Tom her plans for the morning. "Mid afternoon, I guess. In time to cook your dinner for you, don't worry about that."
"Abby, I don't care about dinner." he says hurt.
"So then what is it you do care about? It's obviously not me--not us--or you wouldn't be making ridiculous accusations. You never told me what happened because it was all so long ago, but you can sure hold me accountable for what someone else did, can't you?"
"Give me a break here Abby." Tom asks. "I am not the only one here who has carried scars from the past."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Remember not too long ago when David gave Nicholas his old BB gun?
How you
reacted?" Tom reminds her. "I realized it's not the same thing, but
we do react from what has happened to us from our pasts. It isn't fair
but that is what makes us human."
"As soon as that gun became an issue, I told you exactly what was going through my mind," Abby defends herself. "I didn't wait for you to find out from someone else and then try to tell you it wasn't important, water under the bridge. It's really unfair, your always being so jealous about me. I've never given you any cause--you're just making me pay for Joan's mistake."
"Abby, I said I was sorry. What more can I do to prove it?" Tom says frustrated.
"Trust me once in a while, that would be a good start."
"You are right, anything else?"
"Remember that I love you and that I'd never hurt you."
Tom remains silent for a few seconds. "I love you too."
"Was that all that was bothering you, or was there another reason you've been sulking around the house worrying everyone?"
"No, its just I didn't realized how much life you brought into this house since you have been gone."
"Try to buy me off with flattery," Abby mutters. "You know, that's working pretty well."
"Good." he says "I don't want to hang up."
"Elizabeth's going to get upset if you keep the line busy," Abby teases.
Tom laughs "I don't want her to go into withdrawals."
"Could be a scary sight. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight." Tom says and hangs up.