Part 3

He suddenly gets a brilliant idea and goes and finds Mary. "Mary?"

"Yes Dad." Mary looks up to where she, Susan, and Tommy are making out the schedule to keep their sister from dying of boredom.

"Hi Kids." Tom says

Tommy responds. "Dad, you look happier than earlier."

Tom ignores him "Mary I need to talk to you privately."

"Sure."

Tom leads her into his room. "Can you watch things for the next 24 hours?"

"Dad do you remember what they did to me the last time you left me in charge?"

"What can happen in 24 hours?" Tom says. "Forget I said that. Please Mary? I'll repay you."

"Ok Dad I'll watch things."

Tom gives Mary a bear hug and throws a few things in a bag.

"Drive carefully."

"I will." Tom says.

After their Dad leaves she approaches Susan and Tommy who are in the kitchen. "Spread the word, there are to be no parties. We have a sister who is still getting headaches every day." Mary uses Nancy as an excuse.

"After my last party, I am through with them for a while." Tommy says remembering his hangover and the trouble he got in with Abby and his Dad.

"I don't blame ya there." Mary says. "How's the schedule coming along?"

"Without Joannie, we are going to have almost double up." Tommy says

"Not necessarily. We'll let the empty slots be her private time or nap time."

"OK." he says

"That sounds like a good idea." Susan says

"Good."

The next morning at 7 am. There is a knock on Abby's hotel door.

"Come on in, John!" Abby calls out.

"Hi." Tom says as he walks in.

"Tom! I wasn't expecting you," Abby says.

"That was the plan." Tom says and hands her some wilted roses. "Sorry, they were fresh when I left last night."

Abby takes the flowers and kisses Tom. "You drove through the night?"

"Yeah, I couldn't wait to see you."

~And make sure for yourself that you're paranoid?~ Abby thinks, but just gives Tom another kiss.

"I thought we might have breakfast together."

"Oh. Um, I'd already made plans with someone, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind...In fact, you probably should meet him, since I'll be seeing a lot more of him from now on."

"Him?" he asks

"John Easton. I told you--the man whose son I've been teaching, remember?"

"Oh....yeah." he remembers and promises himself he will not be jealous. "No, that's OK. You do what you need to do and I'll shower and maybe take a nap."

"Are you sure?" Abby asks. "Maybe that is a good idea; after all, we've both got long drives ahead of us today."

"Yeah, yeah. You go ahead."

"OK," Abby says. "If you're asleep when I get back, want me to wake you up?"

"Of course, maybe we can spend a little time together before we leave."

"Maybe I'll show you around town a little," Abby says. "Or better yet, maybe we'll never leave this room."

"The sights in this room is all I care about as long as you are part of the scenery." he smiles.

"I can call John and cancel, if you want," Abby offers.

~Yes, I would love that, but you have to prove to her that you trust her.~ "Only if that's what you want. Otherwise I'll be OK."

"You rest," Abby says. "You look exhausted. I'll be back in an hour or so."

Tom sighs "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

Abby laughs. "I'm such a sucker for corny lines."

"I have more of them." He teases.

"Good--you practice the worst of them, and I'll fall for every single one of them when I get back."

Tom kisses her.

"Tom, you didn't..." Abby says, then hesitates.

"I didn't what?" he asks perplexed.

Abby considers how to say what she wants to without sounding angry or hurting Tom's male pride. "I'm assuming you didn't bring anything of mine down here with you, did you?"

The light bulb goes on. "I was in such hurry to get down here. Maybe I could go to a pharmacy."

"Good idea. And you're very, very lucky you didn't say you expected me to have anything with me," Abby smiles at him.

Tom frowns "I am sorry I acted like a jerk."

"So am I," Abby answers. "At least now that I know you were. After you called, when the kids said you were acting strange, I couldn't even imagine why."

"I am going to have to make it up to them, but mostly you."

Abby is about to answer when the phone rings. She picks up the phone. "Hello? Yes...Of course. No, that's fine....I'll be by Monday but I won't have anything yet...All right, I'll see you then."

She hangs the phone up and turns to Tom. "So, you were offering breakfast?"

"I thought you had to go out?"

"I've been stood up in favor of a high school boy," Abby says. "Guess you're not the only one missing absent family members. John decided to go straight home. I may stay a little late on Monday to talk to him, though."

Tom smiles. "We have all day then."

"I promised Nicholas I'd be home early today," Abby worries.

Tom realizes that it would calm his son's fears if she was there later "OK, how about we take the 'Do not disturb' sign home with us and take up where we left off?"

"You're such a good father. But are you sure you can drive back after just having gotten here?"

"I am afraid if I sleep now, I won't be able to get up later."

"Sounds like exactly the kind of driver I want on the road. Nicholas will just have to wait. You're not driving home until you've gotten at least a few hours sleep. I'll call home and let them know we'll be a little late."

Tom realizes that there is no sense in arguing with her when she has made up her mind. "Yes Ma'am."

Abby laughs. "You sound like Nicholas when I tell him it's bedtime."

Tom laughs also. "Like Father, like son."

"At least you don't have to sleep with your brother and a pet frog."

Tom face lights up. "I do have the best roommate, care to join me?"

"After I call home, yeah. But no 'mushy stuff'," she quotes Nicholas, "you have to get some sleep."

Tom laughs and lays on the bed.

Abby sits down next to him, picks up the phone, and dials home.

Elizabeth answers. "Hello."

"Hi, Elizabeth. How's the party going?" she jokes.

Elizabeth laughs. "Actually we're not having a party this time."

"You're learning. Is Nancy behaving herself?"

"Yes now that we're not acting like bad boyfriends and are spending a little time with her."

Abby laughs. "Is Nicholas around?" she asks.

"Yes." She puts Nicholas on the phone.

"Hello." he says

"Hey, Nicholas," Abby says. "Everything OK there?"

"Yeah, but I miss your Sunday morning blueberry pancakes."

"Tell you what--if you can wake up early one day this week, I'll make them for you then."

"All right." he exclaims. "When are you and Dad coming home?"

"That's what I'm calling about. Would it be OK if we came home later tonight, maybe even after you went to bed? Your dad drove all night, and I think he needs to sleep some before we head back."

"Can I wait up for you guys?"

"How about if I promise to wake you up?"

"Promise?" he asks

"Scout's honor."

"OK." Nicholas says reluctantly

"Thanks, Nicholas. I'll see you later." Abby says, making a mental promise to bring Nicholas a surprise.

"How is he?" Tom asks groggily

"Fine, He says I can stay out late," Abby jokes. "Now sleep."

"No curfew?" he jokes

"I even convinced him not to wait up for me," Abby says.

"Knowing him, he will still be awake until we get home."

"Knowing you, we'll get home late enough that Nicholas will have fallen asleep on the couch," Abby counters.

Tom laughs and falls asleep.

Abby kisses him, tucks the blankets up around him, and then sits down to make some notes for the book that she's planning to write.

Currently at home. Nancy and Susan are playing poker back at home.

"So how's your love life?" Nancy asks.

"What love life?" says Susan

"Oh, sorry if I brought up a touchy subject."

"That's alright." Susan say "Actually I haven't had much time lately between school and tennis."

"How is school? Have the gossips found anyone new to torment?"

"School's okay and no the gossips are still tormenting the same people. They really need to get a life."

"That they do."

"So, how's your love life?" Susan asks

Nancy just smiles.

"Okay, sis." Susan says "Gimmie details."

Nancy tells her all about Noah.

"He sounds like a pretty neat guy." Susan says

"He is, and I don't think you guys will have to worry with him."

"That's good." Susan says

Nancy smiles they continue to play poker till she tires and then she falls
asleep.

Tom wakes up a few hours later and sees Abby writing. "Hi, what are you writing?"

"Oh, it's an idea I had while I was looking around this conference," Abby says, and explains to him what she'd explained to John Easton.

"Interesting concept, think it will sell?"

"If I can get plays and contacts from the pro football guys I used to know, maybe," Abby says, wondering how Tom will feel about her contacting Frank's old friends.

"You need to?" Tom asks

"Would you buy a book of football plays written by some teacher?" Abby asks.

Tom sighs "You have a point. Maybe you can get them to autograph a ball for Tommy and Nicholas."

"Better yet, if I have to go meet with any of them, maybe I can take Tommy and Nicholas along as chaperones," Abby only half-jokes.

"I think they would love that; but they would be too much in awe to chaperone." He jokes. "Besides I trust you," he says.

"Until the next time you get jealous, right?"

"Well, you are beautiful, but I promise to keep my jealousy in check."

"I just wish I could get it through that head of yours that there is nothing for you to be jealous of. I made my choice."

Tom sighs. "I just don't want you to regret making that choice."

"See, that's real easy--just lay off the jealousy bit and..."

"and?" Tom asks

"And," Abby kisses him, "do absolutely everything I say."

Tom laughs. "Do I have to?" he whines.

"Uh huh," Abby says. "I'll try to make sure you don't suffer too much."

"Oh all right then." he resigns

"Now, the first thing you do is get me some breakfast. Then you take me for a little shopping."

"Do I have a choice?" he asks

"Of course you do. I could go hungry and you could wait until we got home."

"I just thought we might order room service."

"If you don't go shopping, Tom Bradford, you're not getting anywhere," Abby warns.

"OK, Let's go then." He says.

When they leave the hotel Abby takes Tom's arm. "So--breakfast first or the pharmacy?"

"Breakfast, I am starved."

"Guess the honeymoon's over," Abby teases.

"On the contrary my dear, it has just begun. I just need to keep my strength up." He jokes.

"Excuses, excuses...."

They laugh and go to eat and shopping.

After spending the day together Tom says "I guess we better think of going home."

"Do we hafta?" Abby singsongs.

"We could pretend we don't have kids at home."

"And scare Nicholas out of a year's growth when we don't come home," Abby shoots down her own idea.

"Well, the idea was good for a second anyway."

"A nice fantasy."

"What if we try and go somewhere together this summer alone?"

Abby shrugs. "If Tommy and Elizabeth's lesson hasn't worn off."

Tom laughs. "Maybe your parents would like to spend a week in Sacramento."

"My parents watch your kids?" Abby laughs. "I don't know which of them I'd feel sorrier for."

"And we would be on a cruise somewhere." Tom says making a decision.

"Mmmm. I like that idea. No possibility of kids barging in."

"Or phones." he says. "What do you say? Are you game?"

"You think the kids will let us do it?"

"If we plan it right."

"I sense a battle strategy forming in that devious mind of yours."

"Hmmm....maybe." Tom begins plotting. "Shall we go?"

"I guess," Abby sighs. "Want to meet somewhere along the way home?"

"How about that diner on I-5 halfway home?"

"OK." Abby gives him a quick kiss. "I'm glad you came down here to see me."

"Really?" he asks.

"Well, not the jealousy part, but I really enjoyed the day."

"Me too." he says. "Did you want to pick something up in the lobby gift shop for Nicholas?"

"Oh, right--thanks for reminding me. What do you think he'd like?"

"Anything to frightened his sisters with." He laughs.

"You mean you want me to stop off in Pasadena and bring my father back with us?"

"Now that would scare me." Tom acts horrified.

"I'll have to remember that," Abby teases. "I think I saw some big dinosaurs in the gift shop. Think that'll do?"

"He likes anything." He says.

"If you have a better idea, just say so. They don't sell snakes and bugs and frogs in a hotel, you know."

"No, the dinosaurs are fine."

"You sure? We could try to find a pet store..."

"A real pet?" he asks

"Something small."

"He does have a hamster.'" he reminds her.

"Male or female?"

"Heck, I don't know. I never checked." he jokes.

"Should we bring him back another one and hope we don't touch off a population explosion?"

"Oh that would be swell." he says. "Maybe we can grind some of your pills up and put it in their food." he says joking.

Abby almost gets upset at this, but instead decides to get some of her own back. "I don't know, I was thinking of letting one of the girls have them."

Tom face goes white "You wouldn't" he asks.

"Of course not. They're a prescription. And it's not like they don't have their own."

"Their own?" Tom panics.

"Oh, come on, Tom, they're big girls. Don't tell me you thought they were just taking their chances."

Tom just stands there in total disbelief.

"Tom?" Abby asks at the look on his face.

"Huh?" he says coming out of shock.

"You OK?"

"Yeah, I think so." he lies. "Let's just go home."

"But what about Nicholas's hamster?"

"We will pick one up on our way to the freeway."

"Oh. OK. You sure you're OK?"

"Fine." He says not wanting to think about his girls using birth control.

"So you want to lead, follow, or we just meet up at the pet shop?"

"I'll follow." he says

"All right, but don't say I didn't warn you," Abby jokes and heads for her car.

They get the hamster and drive home. They arrive late and notice the lights are out except for the porch light.

"See?" Abby says when they get out of their cars. "I told you Nicholas wouldn't be waiting up for us."

"Don't be surprised if you trip over him on the landing." Tom says.

"At least he'll be asleep. He never promised to actually be in bed."

Tom laughs. "That is true, just be careful. I don't want you to fall."

"I'm always careful."

They go inside and carefully feel their way upstairs. "I guess you are right, he went to bed." Tom says surprised. Unbeknownst to them he fell asleep on their bed.

Abby turns on the light in their room. "He certainly did go to bed," she laughs. "Guess he wanted to make sure I'd keep my promise and wake him." She gently shakes Nicholas awake.

"Hi," he says still half asleep.

"Hi. We're home," Abby says.

"That's nice." He says and falls back to sleep.

"If you carry the boy to his room," Abby says to Tom, "I'll carry the hamster."

Tom laughs. "So much for waiting up for us." He takes Nicholas to his room.

"I told you he wouldn't be waiting up," Abby insists. "He promised me he'd go to sleep. You ought to trust people more."

"I think there was a hidden shot in there." Tom says.

"No one ever accused you of not being quick on the uptake."

"Hmph." Tom says. "I guess I deserved that."

"And I'll always give you just what you deserve. That was part of our wedding vows."

Tom smiles and crawls into bed.

"Good night, my love," Abby says, and shuts the light.

"Abby...I love you." he says.

"I know."

They are soon asleep.

Monday morning Nancy awakens, takes her turn at the bathroom, and goes downstairs to the kitchen. "Hi, when did you two get back?" She hugs Abby and Tom and then gets something to drink.

Tom moans over his coffee.

"That late eh?"

"Later," Abby smiles.

"Ahh." Nancy smiles also and starts getting things ready for breakfast.

"I hate Mondays."

"I'll be hating Mondays come next Monday." Nancy sympathizes.

"Enjoy it while you can." Tom says

"I'm trying."

"Oh, come on, what's so bad about Mondays?" Abby teases. "A new work week, new columns to write..."

Tom gives her that look. "Thanks for reminding me."

"Any time, dear," Abby smirks.

Tom half smiles at her and plays footsies with her under the table.

~With Nancy in the room? What's gotten into him?~ Abby think, but smiles at him and plays along.

"How do you want your eggs?" Nancy asks Tom.

"The usual, over easy."

"Ok, Abby?"

"No thanks--I've got to get some work done before I go to work, so I'll just have my coffee."

"Ok," Nancy says.

"You need to eat something."

"Tom, I'm fine," Abby insists.

"OK." he says

The rest of the kids start coming in.

"Welcome home." Mary hugs Tom and Abby so does Elizabeth.

Nancy finishes her Dad's eggs and hers starts to get started on the rest of the family's but starts to feel her injuries again so she sits down. "Now I know what the doctor meant by gradual. Tomorrow I'll be able to cook for everyone." She insists.

"Tomorrow you can rest," Abby tells her.

"Oh, all right."

Tom finishes his breakfast and winks at Abby "I am going upstairs to
shower."

~There goes making those phone calls.~ "And I should get started on that work I've got," Abby says, and puts her cup in the sink.

"Yeah ok." Nancy tries to keep from laughing.

Abby leaves the room, and when she catches up to Tom whispers, "You're scandalizing the children."

"Why shouldn't they know I am in love?" he says

"Love is one thing. Practically inviting me upstairs on a Monday morning with all the kids in the house?"

"You didn't have to come up if you are that worried."

"I'm worried," Abby says, "but not *that* worried."

Tom kisses her and they retreat to their bedroom.

During school in the hallway.

Elizabeth is heading for class when a couple of guys block her way.

"Hey Elizabeth let's go cruising." One of them says.

"No I don't think so." She tries to get past them but they won't let her. "I think you'd better move."

"We don't want to move."

Meanwhile her boyfriend Billy is talking with Tommy when he looks around and sees the predicament that Elizabeth is in. "Oh that does it. Hank Johnson and Brett Ford are messing with your sister." He heads over there ready to bust heads.

Tommy goes over and punches the guy. After Tommy punches the guy, he is hit in the eye.

Billy punches the other one.

"Sheesh we were just having a little fun." Hank says.

"No you were just being jerks." Elizabeth retorts.

"Don't ever mess with her again." Billy threatens.

"Yeah, or you will be sorry." Tommy says nursing a black eye.

Elizabeth goes over to him. "Let me see."

Tommy shows her the swollen eye. "How bad does it look?"

"I think we should go and see the nurse." She replies.

Hank, the one who hit him, gets a good look at it and winces. "Tommy I'm sorry man."

Tommy nods and goes with Elizabeth

Later in the Nurses office.

"How did this happen?" The nurse asks as she tends to his eye.

"He was defending me." Elizabeth says.

"I am fine, can I go back to class?"

"Yes, and you're not in trouble this time." The nurse says.

"Thanks." Tommy says and leaves. "Sure I am not in trouble here, but what is Dad and Abby going to say when they find out I was fighting?"

"You won't get into trouble. I'll talk to Dad and Abby." Elizabeth assures him.

"Thanks." Tommy says and returns to class.

Before Tommy leaves for class. Elizabeth hugs him and thanks him for coming to her rescue.

"No problem, that is what brothers are for."

Elizabeth smiles and then she goes to class.

After school, Tommy hurries in the house and nearly runs Abby down.

"Hey, watch it," Abby cautions. "Tommy? Something wrong?"

"Sorry." Tommy says trying to hide his face from her. "I am fine."

"Uh huh." Abby grabs his face and looks at it. "Want to explain that?"

"I got in a small fight today." Tommy replies

"A small fight?" Abby repeats.

Elizabeth walks in. "Abby it's not his fault."

"Don't tell me you did this to him."

Tommy doesn't answer and lets Elizabeth do the explaining.

"No not me, there were these guys at school messing with me they wouldn't let me pass by them and Billy and Tommy saw it and came over."

"Messing with you? Has this happened before? Are these new guys at school?"

"No and they're not new, but they've been jerks lately."

"Still, Tommy, wasn't there some other way to stop them?" Abby asks. "Now they may still be obnoxious to Elizabeth, and they'll be gunning for you, too."

"There wasn't another way." She says. "And they did apologize."

"I don't really approve of violence."

"What? Ask them politely to leave her alone?" Tommy says sarcastically.

"And what if they just apologized because you were there and decide to start with her next time when you're not around?" Abby counters.

"I'll Handle it." Tommy vows.

"How?"

"Liked I handled it today."

"More fighting? Tommy, I hate to disillusion you, but Charles Atlas you're not."

Tommy frowns and realizes she is right "I can't just let them bully her."

"No, but bullying them back isn't the answer, either."

"What is good for the goose is good for the gander." Tommy quotes an old saying.

"So if it's OK for you to bully them, it's OK for them to bully Elizabeth?" Abby deliberately misunderstands.

"I'll only mess with them if they continue to bother Elizabeth." Tommy promises.

Abby frowns. "It's something, at least," she says reluctantly.

"I know, but Abby."

Tom walks in and sees Tommy's eye. "Son what happened?"

Tommy tells him the story.

"Good, I am proud of you." Tom replies.

Nancy walks in. "Tommy what happened to your eye?"

"I ran into a door." Tommy says

"Some door." She gets something to drink and sits down.

"It was in a shape of a fist." he says.

Elizabeth tells her the rest.

Nancy is filled with rage. "If I wasn't laid up right now. Tommy I never thought I'd say this." Nancy begins when she calms down a little. "But maybe you two should tell the principal."

"Are you kidding? Then Elizabeth and I will be hassled for sure."

"And if you're nowhere around? The next time they do hassle her?" Nancy says.

Elizabeth shakes her head and starts laughing. "I can't believe this, all three of you are acting like I can't defend myself. I'm not some delicate flower."

"So next time it'll be you coming home with a black eye?" Abby says.

"Neither one of them will be coming home with a black eye again." Nancy states.

Tom interrupts all of them "Who is to say there is a next time. Maybe Tommy solved the problem today?"

"It's easy to tell it's been a long time since you've been a high school boy. Or had one hassle you," Abby says.

Tom frowns and doesn't answer and retreats to the study.

"What did I say now?" Abby wonders.

Tommy shrugs. "Maybe you need to find out?"

"I think I'd rather fight your high school bullies," Abby admits.

Tommy laughs.

Abby sighs. "But I get the home grown sulkers. I'll be back. Go put something on that eye or it'll just look worse."

"I don't suppose we have a steak?" Tommy asks.

"Check the freezer" Abby says on her way to the study.

"I'll take care of this." Nancy says. "I still have connections in that school and there won't be any violence involved." She goes to make a few phone calls.

Tom is looking out the window when Abby enters.

Abby comes up behind him and gives him a hug. "Hey there."

"Probably wondering what that was about." he says.

"Yep."

"I was bullied as a kid only I ran from it."

"So you think Tommy should take on two guys at once to make up for that?"

Tom shakes his head. "I am sorry it had to happen, but at least he didn't run and hide like I did. To this day that guy is still on my back. Maybe if I had let him beat me up. He wouldn't still be on my mind."

"You mean if I'd really wanted you to forget all about me all I'd have had to do was beat you up?" Abby teases, trying to get Tom out of his latest funk.

Tom laughs "Silly when you put it that way."

"Besides--what if you had stood up to him and you'd beaten *him* up? It would have blown your whole image of yourself."

"Oh instead of being meek and mild, I could have been strong and tough?"

"I prefer to think of it as sweet and caring, not meek and mild."

"Thanks." Tom kisses her.

"Any time."

"You think Tommy's eye will be OK?"

"He'll live," Abby says. "As long as he doesn't keep on taking on other people's fights."

"Yeah, hopefully this will be the last of it."

"Not if you encourage him to be the scourge of high school that you never were."

"You are right, if it happens again; I'll talk to him."

"Maybe you should talk to him before it happens again."

"OK. I'll try."

Nancy finishes making the phone calls and goes to tell them they don't have to worry anymore.

"Yeah whatever." Elizabeth says. "Come on Tommy it won't be that bad." She helps him with the steak.

Nancy's taken aback by this. ~That's the last time I help her out or worry about anyone in this family. They always take it the wrong way anyway.~ She goes upstairs to sulk.

Tommy puts the steak on his eye and tells Elizabeth "She was just trying to help."

"Huh?" Elizabeth asks confused.

"Nancy was just trying to help."

"Oh man!!" She brings her hand to her head. "Tommy I was worried about your eye. What did I say to her?"

"When she told you she arranged for us not to get hassled you said 'whatever'."

Elizabeth cringes. "Can you help me get my foot out of my mouth before I go up
there."

Tommy laughs "Good luck."

"Gee thanks." She laughs and goes upstairs and enters her and Nancy's bedroom. "I'm sorry, my mind was someplace else." She hugs her. "Thanks for taking care of things."

"No problem." Nancy smiles and returns the hug.

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