Part 2

Part 3

At the restaurant: "Thank you." Tom says and takes a seat. "Nice Place." he says trying  to break the ice.

"Want some chop suey?"

Tom chuckles. "I think I'll pass, how about Egg Foo Yong?"

"One order, coming up. I've been learning to cook Chinese."

"That's good." he says wanting to say her siblings would enjoy that but decides not to press the issue yet.

Joannie retreats to the kitchen to cook and panic.

Tom drinks his tea. "Need any help?" he asks.

"You? In the kitchen? I don't think so."

"Hey, I am not that bad of a cook."

"Ptomaine Tom Bradford? Ha."

"Hmmph." Tom acts upset.

"Oh come on, Dad, Mom never let you cook."

"Only because, she wouldn't let me."

"Only because *she* was sane."

"Probably right." Tom agrees.

Joannie comes back with the plate of food. "Here. Eat your breakfast."

"Thank you." Tom says and eats. "Hey, this is good."

"See? I'm learning something here."

"Yeah." Tom says. "Joannie, is this where you really want to be?"

"New York's where any actress would want to be."

"Of course it is, but do *you* want to be here."

"Eat your food or it'll get cold."

"I take that as a no." Tom says. "Joannie what happened?"

"I told you, but I suppose you were too preoccupied to listen."

"Do you honestly believe that you think I ignore you because you remind me of your mother?" Tom says in disbelief.

"That's what I said."

"Joannie, nothing could be further from the truth." Tom reaches out and holds her hand. "It's because you do remind me of your Mom that I love to have you around; not only that but you fill the house with excitement." He tells her.

"Then why don't you ever have any time for me?"

"If you felt that way, I am sorry." he says. "I never intended to do that. In  fact I was going to surprise you with this when you came home with V." Tom pulls out two tickets to Madame Butterfly and hands them to her. If I remember correctly we have a standing date every year."

"You remembered?" Joannie whispers. "I thought for sure you'd forgotten."

"Never." he says. "There is just one problem though."

"What?"

"It looks like I am going to be stood up by my date, unless I can convince her that we love her and miss her and want her to come home." Tom says looking into her eyes.

"You could, but there's only one problem."

"Really? What?" Tom asks seriously.

"There isn't any home to go back to."

"Of course there is home....there always will be." Tom says and finally gets what she means. "You mean with Abby there."

"Yes. I mean, no, not really--well, yes."

"I thought you two were getting along." Tom replies.

"We are, I guess. She's nice--somewhere else."

"Look Joannie, the problems you're having with Abby is well...between the two of you." Tom says. "All I am asking is that you come home and try to make it work. If after a while you decide you can't, I won't try to stop you from leaving. I just want you to be in NY for the right reasons."

"How can I make it work?" Joannie shouts at him. "I can't make her be Mom!"

"Nobody is asking you." Tom says as he holds her.

"I'm asking me!" Joannie says, and begins to cry. "I want Mom."

"Oh honey." Tom says as he continues to hold her.

Joannie cries harder.
"Shah." Tom says. "I am sorry you had to feel like this alone."
 
"I tried to talk to you, but you never had time for me."
"I am sorry Joannie." Tom says with sincerity. "I can't change the past, I can only promise that I will be a better father."

"How?" Joannie sniffles.
 
"By not yelling as much?" Tom jokes

"Dad, I'm serious."

"So am I." he says. "OK...OK, what if we set up a family conference once a week and we can talk and maybe if we are lucky settle differences. That's one idea anyway. Do you have any suggestions?" Tom asks wanting his daughter to be proactive in this discussion.

"How about we forget the family conference and have a Dad and Joannie conference?"

"OK, we could have lunch and dinner whenever you want."

"Promise you won't cook?"
Tom laughs. "I promise, but can you make a promise to me?"

"What?"
"Try not to be mad at Abby for not being Mom, She is not trying to take her place. She is trying to be friends with all of you and we all know we can never have too many friends." Tom tells her.

"I'll try, but it's not going to be easy."

"Nothing worth having is ever easy." Tom reminds her. "So does this mean you will come home with us day after tomorrow?" Tom says having a little idea up his sleeve.

"Well, I don't know, Dad," Joannie says. "I've got all these call backs I haven't been called back for, and a lot of chop suey to serve."

Tom smiles. "Well we can leave a forwarding number for the call backs and I know there is a whole bunch of people at home you can serve chop suey to."

"And if things don't work out at home?"

"They will work out." Tom says with authority. "We will make it work out."

"And if we don't?" Joannie insists.

"Then I will get you started wherever you want." Tom says. "But that is only if we exhausted all our options."

"And who defines 'all'?"

"I don't know Joannie. You want concrete answers and right now I don't have them all, though I tell of you kids I do."

"So I don't have Mom and now I don't have you, either?"

"Of course you have me." Tom says frustrated "I am not going anywhere, unless you know something I don't."

"But you're just...just a person," Joannie says, equally frustrated. "You don't know the answers any better than I do."

Tom shakes his head. "I am sorry that your knights armor has rusted."

"Maybe if I got you a Brillo pad--they've got plenty here in the back room, right under my cot."

Tom laughs. "A cot? Are they still as uncomfortable as I remember them to be?"

"Worse. My back will never be the same."

"Ouch....you know there is an extra bed at the hotel that has your name on it."

"Share a room with Nancy? I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of drama just yet."

"Joannie she is your sister, not the enemy."

"That's what you think."

"I have an idea, before you decide anything. Let me call Nancy and Abby and we can meet somewhere for lunch."

"Both of them? At once? Maybe we should just wait on that until the flight."

Tom eyes light up. "Does that mean you will come home with us?"

"If you give me an honest answer to one question."

"OK...what?" he asks.

"You and Mom--did you--were you--did you ever cheat on Mom?"

"Joannie sit down." Tom explains what happened between him and Joan and what has been going on at home with Nancy stalker.

"Mom had an affair?"

Tom nods. "I am sorry, I never wanted any of you kids to find out."

"You're lying. Mom wouldn't do that."

"Joannie, you asked me to tell you the truth. Do you think I would tell you all this if it wasn't true?" Tom asks.

Joannie avoids the question. "Mom wouldn't do that," she insists. "Mom loved you. Mom was a good wife."

"Yes she was a good wife." Tom agrees with her. "But parents are not perfect Joannie. Sometimes they make big mistakes. But the important thing is we found our way back to each other. Now I am not asking you to forgive me or her. What I am asking is to try and understand."

"You're asking me to understand that you and Mom weren't any better or any different than I am. You're asking me to grow up like this," she snaps her fingers, "and then come home and pretend nothing's changed."

"That's right, because our love for you and your siblings never wavered. Now I am sorry we are not perfect enough for you. I have an observation for you. Neither are you, but my love for you is unconditional." Tom tells her. "Now this is where we are staying in NY." Tom writes down the address and gives it to her. "I want you to come home; but I will not stand here and let you talk
to me that way. Frankly I deserve better." Tom says and walks out.

After Tom leaves Joannie puts her head down on the table and cries.

A little while later. "He's been gone awhile maybe he's making progress." Nancy says trying to start a conversation.

"Or he's out hiring people to tie Joannie up and haul her back home against her will."

"Maybe." Nancy jokes.

"I'm going to go crazy waiting here."

"Then let's go see some sites."

"I hear there's a great fight going on down in Chinatown."

"Or maybe there's something on tv."

"Oh, let's go out. If he comes back in a foul mood, I don't want to see it," Abby finally decides.

Nancy goes to her room and comes back with brochures. "What do you want to see first?"

"What ever you'd like. You've never been in NY, have you?"

"No I haven't, have you?"

"A few times."

"So where should we go first?"

Abby thinks about this. "The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, or the designer showrooms."

"Somehow I thought you'd say that."

"Designer showrooms."

Nancy smiles and then goes to get ready.

Tom goes to a pay phone and calls the hotel.

Abby and Nancy are just heading out when the phone rings. "Maybe that's your father," Abby says, and rushes back to pick up the phone.

Nancy waits.

"Abby?" Tom says. "I really messed up this time."

"What happened?" Abby says, motioning for Nancy to sit down; this sounds like it will be a long phone call.

Nancy sits down.

Tom tells her the whole story. "Me and my big mouth."

"You really must have given her a shock."

This grabs Nancy's attention and she's surprised to find that she still cares even after all the pretending. ~Guess it's impossible for me to quit caring about my family. Might was well not waste the effort in pretending.~ She pays close attention to Abby's end of the call.

"She wanted honesty so I gave it to her." Tom defends himself. "But apparently all she wanted was her Mother to be the good guy and me a villain. I don't know maybe I should have just lied and said it was all me."

"Tom," Abby starts, but then notices that Nancy is listening. "Why don't you come back here and we'll talk. Joannie's not going anywhere, is she?"

"I don't know what her plans are. I gave her the address of the hotel so she knows where we are at." he says. "I'll be back at the hotel in a few minutes."

"I'll be waiting."

Tom hangs up and wants to go back to the restaurant to check on Joannie but realizes it would be hopeless right now and he hauls a cab to take him back to the hotel.

He walks into the hotel room.

Abby walks over to him. "You OK?"

"Yeah fine." Tom says. "I am going to the bedroom to lie down."

"I'll join you," Abby says. When they close the door behind them, she asks--"Just how disastrous was it?"

"Oh Abby, I finally did it. I lost Joannie for good this time."

"I can't believe that. Those kids love you too much for you to ever lose them."

Tom shakes his head. "You should have seen the look on her face."

"Well, of course," she says. "Those kids..."

"Those kids what?" Tom asks.

Abby gives him a 'you're not going to like what I have to say' look.

"Well?" Tom asks

"The kids--well, they act sometimes like Joan was a saint and not a woman. And you encourage them. Now you've shattered Joannie's illusions, and she's not taking it very well."

Tom is shocked by what she said and doesn't say anything.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything," Abby says, "but maybe you didn't go through it because your childhood wasn't exactly idyllic. Finding out your parents are people is probably the most traumatic thing a kid goes through, and you left Joannie to deal with it alone."

Tom says "Oh no, you are right!" Tom gets up and gets his jacket.

"Good luck." ~I have a feeling you're going to need it.~

"I hope she will talk to me."

"You won't know until you try."

"Right." Tom says and goes back to the restaurant.

One of the owners approaches him. "Can I get you a table?"

"Is Joannie Bradford available?" he asks.

"Depends on who's asking. You an agent?"

"No, her father." Tom says

"You, Mr. Bradford, are a horrible man," the woman says. "Your daughter has been in the back room, crying, since I got here."

"Yes, I know I am a horrible man." Tom gulps. "May I go back there please?"

"Only if you plan to apologize."

"I will." Tom says

"All right, then. But if says she doesn't want to see you, you leave." She leads Tom to the back room.

Tom follows her. "Joannie, honey. I am sorry."

"You ought to be," Joannie says.
 
Tom looks at the owner "Could I please talk to my daughter alone?"

The woman look at Joannie. "Do you want to?"

"If I don't talk to him now, he'll just keep coming back."

"OK." The woman leaves and shuts the door behind herself.

"Joannie, I am sorry I snapped at you earlier. I should have been more understanding when you found out some things about your mother and me."

"It's OK. At least now I know what all your promises of listening to me if I came home are worth."

"So do you feel better now?" Tom asks.

"Yep. You know, for a while there I actually fooled myself into thinking that if I went home you'd really listen to me once in a while. Now I know better." Joannie opens the door. "I think you'd better go now."

Tom gets up and shuts the door. "You want me to listen, OK. I am here to listen." Tom says and goes back and sit on the crate.

"And if you don't like what I say you'll tell me I'm being disrespectful and leave again?"

"I won't leave again." Tom assures her.
 
"And if you do, you'll just tell me it's because you don't have all the answers and that you're sorry, right?" Joannie taunts.

"And I supposed you do have all the answers?"

"At least I never pretended to have them. All my life I've had to listen to you because you knew more than I do, but you don't. You've even made stupider mistakes than I ever will."

"You are only in your early 20's Joannie, give it time. After all the chip doesn't fall far from the old block."

"Maybe I'd better just give up on the idea of a husband and family so I don't go doing the stupid things you and Mom did."

Tom sighs. "Maybe you should, after all working on relationships day in and day out is hard." Using reverse psychology

"You'd know about that, wouldn't you, speaking of chips and blocks."

"Joannie your Mother and our problems happened when you were just a small child." Tom tries to reason with her. "We made up and we had a good 25 years together. How many of your friends can say that about there parents?"

"Certainly not you," Joannie says, wanting to hurt her father as much as he's hurt her.

"Joannie, I am sorry If I ever indicated to you that your mother and I was perfect; and if it helps to say these things to me, go ahead and say them. But know nothing you say to me, hasn't been said to me by me.

Joannie starts applauding. "You know, I always wondered where I got my acting skills from. Maybe you ought to try out for the Sacramento Repertory."

"Fine Joannie." Tom gets up and opens the door. "I hope you never have to ask someone else's forgiveness, because they just may react to you as you are to me."

"What do you want me to forgive you for? For what you did to Mom? For what she did to you?"
Tom shakes his head. "What we did to each other was awful. But our love for each other and to you kids grew out of that."

"Boy, you're doing just great. So I guess before that you two didn't love each other all that much, and David, Mary, Susan and I were just sort of mistakes, huh?"

Tom doesn't say a word and goes over and hugs Joannie tight.

Joannie tries to push him away, but Tom just holds her tighter. "Why did you tell me this? Why didn't you lie? I'm not grown up enough to know this yet. I still need my Mom and my Dad, not just another fallible adult."

"You still have me Joannie, that will never change." he says and doesn't let go.

"This is so scary," Joannie finally admits.

"What is honey?" he says to her.

"Growing up, I guess."

"It is never easy, that's for sure." Tom says.

"Oh, that's comforting."

"Sorry sweetheart." Tom says and then his stomach starts to growl.

Joannie laughs. "Good ol' Dad. Nothing ever gets in the way of mealtime."

Tom laughs. "It is good to see you laugh, I have missed you."

Joannie decides to try out the new "we're all adults here" relationship. "You're a nut, Dad, you know that?"

Tom smiles. "So I have been told."

"By Mom?"

"Yeah." Tom says sadly.

"She may have done some stupid things, but she wasn't blind," Joannie jokes.

"We both did stupid things." Tom says taking blame.

"Yeah. How'd a smart kid like me wind up with parents like you?"

Tom laughs. "Pure Luck?"

"Good or bad?"

"I guess that is for you to decide." Tom tells her.

"How much time do I have to do that?"

"As long as you need." he tells her.

"OK," Joannie pretends to think about it. "I'll get back to you in a century or two."

Tom smiles. "Would you join me for lunch?"

"Isn't Abby going to be worried about you?" ~You'd better not do to her what you did to Mom. And if she ever hurts you like Mom did, I'll...I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be pleasant.~

"I am sure her and Nancy went to lunch without me, but I'll leave a message at the hotel. I would like to tell them that I am bringing you back tonight?" he asks her.

"How about telling them I'll meet you all for dinner and we'll see how it goes from there," Joannie suggests. "I was pretty awful to Nancy."

"Good idea...Where do you suggest we meet them?" Tom asks.

"Anywhere that doesn't serve Chinese."

"I am with you." Tom says. "Joannie, except for you. None of your siblings know about what really happened. I know I haven't a right to ask you this but...." Tom can't finish his sentence.

"You don't want me saying anything. But, you know, Elizabeth suspects, or at least she did before I left."

"I know." Tom says. "But do you think they could handle it?"

"No. But we may not be able to keep it from them forever."

"Well, lets at least try OK? After all an actress of your stature can pull it off."
 
"If you're resorting to flattery, you're really desperate. I'll try is all I can promise."

"That's all I ask." Tom says. "Where is the phone in here?"

"Over by the bathroom," Joannie points.

Tom calls the hotel and leaves a message that they will meet them for dinner at the restaurant around the corner from the hotel.

Tom returns to Joannie. "Know where we can get a real NY hot dog?"

"You kidding? That stuff makes the Hamburger Pit's food look good. I knew you were angry with me, but I didn't think you were suicidal."

"I love the Hamburger Pit." Tom whines.

"OK, OK," Joannie sighs. "There's a guy outside Rockefeller Center whose hotdogs won't actually kill you. But I still think we'd be better off at some good deli."

"Deli food?" Tom says. "That sounds even better."

"There's a great place on Second Avenue." Joannie starts imitating the old waitresses at the deli. "They make a cole slaw you could die for. And the pastrami--oy, such a pastrami..."

Tom laughs. "NY doesn't know what they are missing."

"I'll be back."

"Back?" Tom asks. "You are coming home with us tomorrow?"

"I'm not cut out for a life of slinging Chinese."

Tom jokes. "Oh, I don't know. You are pretty good at it."

"If I've got to have something to fall back on, waitressing isn't it. People come in from out of town, eat your Egg Foo Yung, and never leave a tip."

 "Got a point there." He says and looks at Joanie's dreaded cot. "You know if  you don't want to sleep in Nancy's room. I bet the couch in the hotel room is more comfortable than that."

"Don't push it, Dad," Joannie warns. "I said we'd see where we stand after dinner."
 
"Well, I had to try." Tom replies.

Joannie laughs, a little relieved. "You never change, do you?"

Tom smiles. "Can we go get some lunch?"

"The deli it is. We walking or taking the subway?" Joannie asks, sounding like a real New Yorker.

"Cab." Tom tells her and explains how Nancy got lost.

Joannie shakes her head. "She just took the train in the opposite direction, Dad. She's not a little kid anymore. But if you insist on pampering us..."

"I insist." he says.

"Cool. New York cabbies are a real trip."

At the hotel: "Abby, what did Dad say to Joannie to shock her?"

"Hmm? Oh..." Abby hesitates, trying to decide how much Nancy can be told. "That he didn't have all the answers. After years of listening to 'Tom Bradford will solve it all for you' speeches, that must have shocked her right down to her toes."

Nancy takes this in and thinks. ~Yeah right.~ She considers saying that out loud but thinks better of it. "Yeah is must have."

"You know, we don't have to wait here," Abby says, hoping to distract Nancy. "If I recall correctly, we were on our way out the door before."

"Yes we were let's get out of here before I get these four walls memorized."

"Those showrooms should still have some clothes left, if you're still game."

"I sure am."

"Let's go then." Abby quickly looks something up in the phone book and then, when they get outside the hotel, hails a cab. "Broadway and 36th, please."

"Sure." The cab driver says and Nancy and Abby get in the cab. He then heads for their destination.

The cabbie lets them out in midtown and Abby stands on the curb, checking addresses. She points to a big brick building. "There."

Nancy stares at the building in awe. "I've heard about this place I never thought I'd actually see it."

"If you think this is good, wait until you actually get inside." Nancy and Abby join the other women streaming into the building.

Nancy considers pinching herself to see if she's dreaming when she's all of the beautiful clothes.

"Now you know why people love NY," Abby smiles.

Nancy smiles back. "Yes I do, Abby these outfits are amazing."

~Looks like I've finally done something right for a change.~
Nancy observes her. "Are you all right?"

"Sure. Why don't you go try some of this stuff on?"

"Ok." Nancy goes to try on some outfits.

When she comes back, Abby asks, "So, is your father going to hate me for bringing you here?"

"Why would he hate you?"

Abby motions to the pile of clothing Nancy is holding.

"I'll pay for it."

"He'll still have to pay for the new closet you'll need."

"Ok I'll just get a few of them."

"No, no, get what you want. The way your sisters borrow your clothes, you'll hardly see them, anyway."

"Yeah you're right." Nancy purchases all of them.

"Do you want to go looking at some of the other showrooms, or go back to the hotel and dump this stuff?"

"We should probably drop this stuff off at the hotel first."

"OK. Maybe we should go for lunch while we're out, too."

"Sounds like a plan, where do you want to eat at?" Nancy asks as they drop the clothes off.

"There were a few places near the hotel that looked interesting--the kind of places your father always say are bad for his stomach."

"The spicier the better?"

"Exactly."

They find such a restaurant and then go to eat.

"I wonder how your father's doing," Abby worries.

Nancy shrugs. "I hope he's doing good."

"Yeah."

Nancy just continues to eat her food.

"Maybe your father's left word," Abby says.

"Want to check after lunch?"

Abby thinks this over. "Hey, this is also supposed to be 'pamper Nancy day.' Forget checking--where should we go next?"

"Back to the showrooms." Nancy smiles.

"Your wish is my command."

"Are you sure about that?" Nancy half jokes.

"Within reason."

"Got it."

Tom and Joannie have a wonderful afternoon together. Tom looks at his watch  "Ready to go meet Abby and Nancy at the restaurant?"

"No, but here goes nothing. Dad, are you going to tell Abby that I know?"

"I already did earlier." Tom says. "In fact she is the one that got me to  realize what an idiot I was for walking out on you this morning."

"She's pretty smart, even if she did marry you."

Tom pretends to be hurt by that remark. "Thanks a lot. But you are right, she is smart."

"You'd better treat her right or you will have five very angry daughters. We're not little girls anymore."

"Don't worry. Not only will I have you five to deal with, but also one angry wife."

Joannie laughs. "That's true. Abby isn't one to suffer in silence."

Tom laughs with her. "No, you always know where you stand with her."

"Think she'll forgive me?"

"If you meet her half way, there won't be any forgiveness to ask." Tom assures her.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, she will forgive you." he says.

"But how far do I have to grovel first? Come on, Dad, you've got experience at this--give me some pointers here."

"Ok, just tell her you are sorry. But be prepared for one of Abby's lectures." Tom reminds her of what happened to Tommy and Elizabeth.

"Ouch. Maybe coming home isn't such a good idea."

"Joannie, don't back out now. It might be a little uncomfortable at the beginning. But believe me it will be worth it in the end." Tom assures her. "She is one person you definitely want on your side."

"Will you ask her to go easy on me? If you ask, she'll do it."
Tom sighs. "You still know how to wrap me around your finger. But yes I'll talk to her but I can't make any promises."

Joannie gives him a kiss. "Thanks, Dad."

"I'll tell you what, why don't you go to the restaurant, get a table and I'll go talk to her now to make a path for you later."

"Thanks, Dad." Joannie heads off to the restaurant and turns the corner just as Abby and Nancy walk into view.

On the way to the restaurant Nancy sees them before Abby does. She's a little leery she doesn't know how Joannie is going to act.

Abby notices Nancy's reaction, but not its source. "What is it?"

"What if she doesn't really want to see us? Maybe she's doing it to make Dad happy."

"Does anyone in this family do things just to make Tom happy?"

Nancy thinks it over. "Well no."

"So don't worry about it."

She manages a smile. "Ok."

"I'll bet Joannie's just as nervous as you are."

"You think so?"

 "I'd be if I were her."

"I just hope..." She doesn't finish her sentence.

"What?"

"That she doesn't hate me."

"Nancy, she doesn't hate you. She's your sister."

All Nancy can do is hope that Abby is right about Joannie not hating her while they head for the restaurant.

Abby sees Tom waving her over. "Maybe you should head on inside," Abby suggests to Nancy.

"Ok here goes." Nancy goes inside and finds Joannie sitting at a table.

"Hi," Joannie says.

"Hi." Nancy says a little nervously and sits down.

"Enjoying NY?"

"Yeah it has some nice showrooms, you?"

"Lots of theatres. Too bad they're not hiring."

"It's their loss."

"They're just not ready for me."

"Exactly, they need to mature and learn to appreciate real talent when they see it."

"Yeah."
 
Nancy starts looking at the menu. "Any idea what's good here?"

Joannie leans over and whispers, "The waiters."

Nancy finally relaxes and smiles. "In that case it's time to flirt."

"Overdue, I'd say."

"Well all I can do is look these days."

"I have Noah remember."

"What? Why? Is something wrong?"

"Spoilsport."

"That's right." She smiles.

"OK, you point them out and I'll take 'em home."

"It's a deal." She starts pointing out prospects.

Outside, Abby walks over to Tom.

"Hi." Tom says and gives her a kiss. "How was your day?"

"You would have hated it," Abby says. "We went shopping."

"How broke am I?" he kids.

"Nancy said she's paying for her own clothes," Abby assures him.

"I hope she didn't overspend."

"Not too badly. How did it go with Joannie?"

"It was tense for a while, but we talked it through." Tom says. "Right now she is worried that you won't forgive her."

"Me forgive her? For what?"

"You'll have to ask her that, my speculation is she feels bad about how she has treated you. So much so she ask me to ask you; to go easy on her." Tom says and quickly covers his ears.

"How she's treated me? I always thought that was just the way Joannie is." Abby pulls Tom's hands off his ears. "And I'm not that much of an ogre, Tom Bradford. Am I?"

"No, you know how dramatic Joannie can get. But underneath her mask she really is a vulnerable young lady."

"I'll take your word for it. But why were you just cringing?"

"Well, I know how you hate it when the kids want something from you they go thru me first."

"So tell them that. Most of them are grown up enough to take care of themselves, you know."

"Abby, I know that and normally I would have but this hasn't been a normal situation." he explains to her.

"When is it ever normal with this family?"

Tom rolls his eyes. "You have a point there."

"That's OK. I love the chaos. And you."

"I love you too." Tom tells her and gives her a romantic kiss.

Joannie notices the kiss through the window and nudges Nancy to draw it to her sister's attention.

Nancy smiles at this. "Newlyweds." She finally says.

"If I ever get like that with a guy," Joannie says, "shoot me. No--actually--encourage me."

"Oh I will definitely encourage you. Once a romantic always a romantic."

"Just makes sure I keep it within reason, OK. That I don't do anything stupid."

Nancy glances at her. "What do you mean? I'm the one who's made all the bad choices in the men department, except for Noah."

"Hey, I'm young yet. Give me time."

"Ok then I'll look out for you. But I still think you'll be fine."

"We'll see," Joannie says gloomily. "We'll see."

"Joannie what is it?" Nancy says worried about her tone.

"Nothing. Drop it."

~You always say drop it.~

After the kiss Abby laughs. "Well, that's one thing I can cross off my list."

"What?" Tom asks.

"What every woman who's ever stayed up watching romantic movies on the late, late show has on her list--to get a wonderful kiss form the man she loves on a New York City streetcorner."

Tom laughs. "What else is on that list?"

"Oh, a few things. You'll find out in time." Abby smiles.

"I can hardly wait to find out." He assures her, and notices his daughters are looking at them thru the window. "Look like we have a audience." Tom says.

Abby sighs. "We always do. At least it looks like they're smiling."

"How about we meet for a nightcap?" he asks.

"Are you asking me out for a date?" Abby flirts. "My husband might not like that."

"I think I might be able to persuade him to let you go out for the evening."

"If you're going to talk to him, ask him just how far he'll let me go with you."

Tom laughs and sees Joannie and Nancy. "Oh dear, I guess we shouldn't keep them waiting."

"I suppose not," Abby answers. "But one day they are all going to be grown and out of the house and they won't be able to save you from my clutches."

"That sounds like a threat." he jokes

"More like a promise."

"You know we can still go on that cruise this summer and you can make good on that promise."

"Let's see what crises come up between now and then."

"You don't believe me?" he asks.

"I believe your intentions, but in this family things seem to get in the way."

"We will see" he says.

"Yes, we will."

Tom and Abby walk into the restaurant.

"They're coming in," Joannie says, trying to end her discussion with Nancy.

Abby looks at Nancy to see how her talk with Joannie has been going.

Nancy gives her a reassuring look. She wasn't going to judge her and Joannie's conversation on the last few words said between them.

Abby keeps waiting for Joannie to say something to her other than, "pass the salt," or "the rolls are good, aren't they?" but besides looking at her a few times, Joannie isn't cooperating. Finally Abby excuses herself from the table and a minute later, Joannie does, too.

She meets up with Abby in the ladies' room, by the sinks. "Did Dad talk to you?"

"You know he did. You were watching."

"I meant about me."

"Yes."

"And?"

"I don't know what I'm even supposed to forgive you for, Joannie. You've been treating me the way you've always treated me."

"Meaning I've never been very nice to you."

Abby shrugs. "If you say so. I just figured it was the way you are."

"It isn't. I'm really kind of nice if you give me a chance."

"I've been trying to give you a chance," Abby points out.

"I know. Maybe I just didn't want to take it."

"Because I'm not your mother."

"I know it's not your fault. I know it here," Joannie points to her head. "But sometimes I forget that here," she points to her heart.

"We all have to go through that," Abby points out. "Losing the people you love is part of living."

"I know," Joannie admits. "But sometimes it makes me so mad, and I can't take it out on Dad. After all, he lost her, too."

"So you take it out on me."

Joannie nods. "I'm sorry. I'd like to promise it won't happen again, but..."

"Tell you what. If you take it out on me, I'll forgive you, and if I react to it before I realize why you're doing it, you forgive me. OK?"

"OK."

Abby starts walking towards the door, but Joannie stops her. "About what happened between my parents..."

"Leave the past in the past, Joannie."

"It isn't that easy."

"I know," Abby says.

"Weren't you angry at Dad when you found out?"

Abby considers not answering, but her new relationship with Joannie is too fragile for that. "Yeah, a little,. But, see--it's not my place to forgive your father for it. He hurt your mother and she hurt him, but they forgave each other and had a wonderful marriage. That's all that's important."

"I suppose," Joannie says, not entirely convinced.

"Does your father love you?"

"Of course."

"Then don't sweat the rest," Abby advises. "Now let's go back before your father starts to worry we're battling in here."

"Abby, thanks."

"For?"

"Not treating me the way I deserve to be treated."

"Actually, I'm treating you exactly the way you deserve to be treated. Come on, let's go."

They head back to the table.

"Finally, we were about to send out a search party." Nancy teases.

Tom stands up and waits for them to be seated ~At least they are still coming back to the table together. ~ "Nancy and I are trying to decide what to have for dessert."

Abby smiles at him. ~Now that this mess is straightened out, I know what I'd like for dessert.~

"They have a great selection here," Nancy says.

"I am trying to decide if I should have a triple hot fudge sundae or the double double chocolate fudge cake." Tom jokes but acts serious.

"Oh have both." Nancy encourages. "You only live once."

"Hmmm....what do you think Abby?" he asks her.

"Go for it," Abby says.

"Nah....I might need my strength later." Tom says. He then sees the look on his wife and daughters' faces. "For Dancing."

Abby whispers in his ear "There are all sorts of ways of dancing."

Tom face turns red and quickly asks "What are the rest of you having?"

"Chocolate Cake." Nancy says.

"Oh....that sounds good." Tom says distracted.

Joannie gives Nancy a kick under the table.

Nancy tries to quiet her oww and glances at Joannie with a 'what!!' in her eyes.

Joannie nods in her father's direction with a smile.

Nancy smiles also.
 
Tom face turns a deeper shade of red.

"Hey, Nance, why don't I show you the town tonight?"

"Ok." She says not even having to think twice about it.

"And you can take Abby somewhere," Joannie says to her father.

"Hmmm...Joannie, do you know where I could take a pretty lady dancing?"

"Not the kind of dancing you do, Dad."

"Hey, my dancing is still in style."

Joannie laughs. "Yeah, but I never did check out the old age homes here."

"I am not old." Tom retorts. "OK Abby, what would you like to do?"

"Dancing," Abby says.

"I guess we can walk around and see what there is." Tom says trying to keep the girls off the track.

When the girls go off, Abby asks Tom, "So what is it you really want to do tonight?"

"We can always go dancing. I know a quiet room where we can turn the lights down low and turn the radio on to dance by."

"Now why didn't I think of that?" Abby says. "Sounds good to me. How long do you think the girls will be gone?"

"Hopefully, they will break curfew tonight." Tom replies.

"The girls are going to think I'm a bad influence on you."

Tom laughs. "Well just for one night I wouldn't mind if they stay out late. How much trouble could they get into?" he asks and quickly adds. "Don't answer that."

"Maybe you should just worry about how much trouble you can get into."

"Sounds good to me." Tom says as he pays the bill. "Shall we go?"

"My mother warned me about going places with guys like you," Abby teases.

"Me? I am a perfect gentleman."

"That's too bad."

"Well, perfect until we get inside our room."

"I think you're pretty perfect there."

Tom laughs. "I had a good teacher." He says referring to her.

This time it's Abby's turn to blush.

They walk back to the hotel.

Part 4