Part 3:
Meanwhile Nicholas accidentally drinks out of Nancy's glass.
"Nicholas you shouldn't have done that." Mary says.
"What?" he asks perplexed.
"What?" he asks perplexed.
"Nancy might have mono." She says.
After getting Max's service. Tom overhears Mary and Nicholas. "What's going on?"
"First Susan and now Nicholas."
"OK..that's it. Until we get this cleared up. We will all use disposable cups, dishes and utensils."
"Did I do something wrong?" Nicholas asks.
"No son, everything will be fine." Tom looks at Mary.
"It'll be all right Dad." Mary whispers, gives him a kiss on the cheek, and then leaves the room.
Tom rolls his eyes and goes seek Abby upstairs. "You wouldn't believe what is going on."
"Probably not," Abby agrees. "What's going on?"
Tom tells her about Noah and the kids.
"Three of them?"
"If we are lucky." Tom says
"More? Not you, I hope."
"Why? Wouldn't you want to take care of me too?" he kids.
"After the way you and I were wrestling, it'd be more a question of who'd take care of the both of us."
Tom face goes pale.
"What's the matter, wouldn't you want to take care of me, too?"
Tom laughs. "That wouldn't be the problem. Who would take care of the inmates in this asylum?"
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
"I am, I am."
A few hours later Dr. Max returns Tom's call.
"Hey buddy what's going on?" Max asks.
"Max, we may have an epidemic on our hands here." Tom tells him of the situation.
Max controls his laughter. "Again? Ok I'll be right over."
"Thanks Max."
"Not a problem." He comes over and examines Susan, Nancy, and Nicholas. "They definitely have it. Hopefully they'll only be sick for a week or two." Greg tells Tom and Abby.
Tom just shakes his head in disbelief
"A week or two?" Abby repeats. "Why did I have to pick now to go on leave?"
"You were Psychic?" Tom says.
"I was crazy."
"Welcome to the club."
"Now Tom don't worry as long as the rest of you don't share their food or drink then the rest of you won't get sick."
"Oh that's easy for you to say, they aren't even your kids."
"You'll both be fine, have the healthy kids help tend to them."
Tom sighs.
Abby shakes her head. "So what do we have to do for them?" she asks Max.
"Make sure they get plenty of liquids and rest, and soup might be all they can handle for the next few days." Greg says before leaving.
"Thanks Max." Tom says.
"You're welcome." ~I sure am glad that Nancy is no longer seeing Brad.~
The next morning Nancy awakens feeling much worse than she did the night before she makes it to the bathroom despite this. Luckily the morning rush ended a few hours ago. After she's finished in there she's about to head to her room when she hears Nicholas groaning. She goes in there to check on him. "Oh no, Nicholas not you too. At least now I know who all has been sneaking my drink over the years." She jokes trying to get his mind off feeling bad.
"My throat has never felt so sore, even when I had my tonsils out."
"Yeah I know what you mean. See ya later kid." She returns to her bedroom and lies down.
Elizabeth gets up. "How are you feeling?"
"Awful, hey shouldn't you be in school? You're not sick too are you?"
"No...I am going. Just running a bit late"
Nancy hands her some money. "Can you bring Susan, Nicholas, and me some lollipops home."
"Sure, I don't think Abby will mind if I make this stop on my way home."
"Cool."
"I better get going. See ya."
"See ya kid, and be good."
Liz laughs. "I don't have a choice."
Nancy laughs also and after Liz leaves. She tries to get up to go and get something to drink but her aching joints won't let her. "Dad!! Abby!!"
Tom hears her screams and runs out of his bedroom with shaving cream on his face. "Nancy what is wrong?”
"I need something to drink." She says as she rubs her throat. "Can you get me something after you're done shaving."
"OK, what would you like?"
"Soda."
"This early?"
Nancy nods. "Please."
"OK." Tom says.
He leaves and hears his youngest son moaning. "Nicholas, you OK?" ~dumb question~ he thinks.
"No." he says.
"What can I do for you?" Tom asks.
"Just leave me alone." He whines.
Tom feels his forward and sees he is very hot.
"I'll be right back." Tom says and returns to his bedroom. "Have you seen the thermometer?" he asks Abby.
Abby thinks a moment. "I think it's in the kids' bathroom, near the first aid kit--I'll go check. Who's the patient?"
"Nicholas." He says. "He is burning up."
"Should I call Max?"
"May not be a bad idea." Tom says as he goes finishes shaving. "Though, he may say we are over-reacting."
"Hey, I'm allowed to over-react. It's the first time I'm dealing with mono."
Tom agrees. "Oh, Nancy needs a soda."
"OK, I'll go get it. Will you take Nicholas's temperature, or should I do it on my way back?"
"Would you do it please? I am already late for a meeting at work." Tom explains.
"Sure." ~Why did I think taking a leave of absence would be a good thing?~
"Thank you." Tom says and returns to his shaving.
Abby gets Nancy her soda.
"Thanks Abby." Nancy says to her retreating stepmother.
"I'll be back to check on you soon," Abby responds.
"Ok."
Abby then gets the thermometer and goes to the boys' room.
Nicholas doesn't look to see who entered his room. "Go away." he says as he pulls the covers over his head.
Abby comes in anyway, walks over to his bed and pulls the covers off his face.
"Oh, hi." He says as he focus on the figure.
Abby feels his forehead. "You're burning up all right. Come on, open your mouth," she says, brandishing the thermometer.
Nicholas complies with her request.
Abby takes his temperature. ~I didn't know these things went up that high.~ "I'll go get you something to drink while we wait for Dr. Max. What would you like?"
"A milk shake?"
"I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." Nicholas replies and pulls the cover over his face once again.
Abby goes downstairs and leaves a message for Max while trying to remember what exactly goes into a milkshake.
Tom goes downstairs. "How is he?"
"Hot. How much milk do you use for a milkshake, anyway?"
Tom smiles. "You never made one before?"
"Why would I have?"
"For yourself for one." He counters. "Abby, are you upset about something?"
"No, of course not," Abby says, and turns her attention to trying to make that milkshake.
"Don't forget the ice cream, milk and chocolate." he says not quite believing her.
"How dumb do you think I am?" Abby snaps.
"Abby, just a few seconds ago, you asked me what goes in a milkshake." he snaps back. "Now what is wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, and I was asking you about proportions. Any idiot knows it's milk and ice cream and flavoring."
"Oh." Tom says retreating. "I am sorry."
"You ought to be," Abby answers. "Shouldn't you be going to work already?"
"Yeah, I better." Tom says. "Will you call me later and let me know what Greg says?"
"No, I thought I'd just let you worry until you came home. Of course I'll let you know." Abby glares at the phone she's been holding. "Doesn't he ever return his calls?"
Tom kisses her and leaves.
The telephone rings in her hand.
"About time," Abby says, and answers it.
"Hi Abby, which kid?" Greg asks.
"Nicholas. He's burning up."
"What's his temperature?"
"102."
"I'll be over to check him asap, in the meantime give him some bayer and plenty of liquids. If it rises anymore put him in a lukewarm bath."
"OK, thanks." Abby hangs up, pours the milkshake into a glass, and goes upstairs to get the aspirin.
Greg heads over to the Bradford's and knocks on the front door.
Abby rushes down the stairs to answer the door.
"Hi Abby, how's the little guy doing?"
"Uncomfortable. He looks like everything hurts, not just his throat."
They go upstairs and then Greg checks on him. "He's fever is starting to go down." He tells Abby. "And everything is going to ache with this mono."
"Poor kid," Abby says. "All the aches of mono, none of the fun."
"Yeah I know, poor little guy."
"Abby." Nicholas says from his bedroom.
"The sound of my master's voice," Abby says. "I'd better go up to him."
Greg smiles. "I'll check on Nancy and Susan."
"Thanks." They go back upstairs, Abby continuing on to Nicholas's room.
"Could I have another milk shake please?" Nicholas asks.
"Sure," Abby says, smiling. "Guess your father was wrong, then."
"Wrong?" Nicholas asks.
"That I wouldn't be able to make a decent milkshake. Just because I never did before..."
"It was good." Nicholas states.
"Thanks."
The phone rings.
"I'll go get that, then I'll make you another milkshake," Abby says and hurries to answer the phone.
"Hi Dear, How are things?" Tom asks.
"Busy. Max is still here," she says, explaining why she didn't call first. "Nicholas's fever is breaking, and I'm just about to go down and make him another milkshake. I may need you to bring home more ice cream tonight."
"Sure, anything else you need from the store?"
"I'll have to let you now. Probably soda, if that's what Nancy will keep drinking."
"That's nutritious." Tom chuckles.
"Would you rather I tried to force milk down her? At least she's drinking something," Abby snaps.
~gee, I was joking.~ Tom thinks. "I'll call you later to see if you want anything else."
"Fine," Abby says. "You do that."
"Abby, why do I feel like every time I open my mouth, I am saying the wrong thing?"
"Maybe because you do. I'd better go--I have a house full of sick kids,
if you don't recall."
"OK, bye." Tom says. "I'll try to get out of here early, to give you a hand."
"If it's no trouble," Abby says, then hangs up. ~Give me a hand? As he keeps reminding me, they're *his* kids.~ She goes back to the kids' rooms to check if Nancy or Susan want anything while she's downstairs and to see what Max has to say about the girls.
While Max is checking on Susan.
"Are you ok Abby?" Nancy asks.
"Sure. I'm just heading down to make Nicholas a milk shake--want something to eat or drink?"
"Another soda if it's not any trouble."
"No problem. I'm just going to check if Susan wants anything and then I'll bring it right up."
"Thank you."
"No problem." Abby next goes to check on Susan. "How is she?" she asks Max.
"Her fever is a little higher than Nancy's but not as high as Nicholas' was." He says.
"Do you think it will go up?"
"It's a possibility, but I gave them both some aspirin to help prevent that."
"OK. Should I keep giving them aspirin the rest of the day?"
"Yes, and if their fevers rise anyway don't hesitate to call me."
"Thanks."
"Anytime." He looks at her more closely. "Abby is everything all right?"
"Sure it is. Of course it is. I'm just not used to being in charge of sick kids is all."
"And Tom should be helping. Do you want me to beat him up?"
"No, he has to work. And it's not like he made me take this leave of absence, not really."
"Ok but if you change your mind."
"I'll let you know."
"Good, and don't let the kids wear you out. Let the healthy kids help out."
"If they're willing to."
"Bribery always helps." He jokes.
"I will not bribe them to help their own family. If they don't want to do it..." Abby shrugs. "Speaking of which, I have drinks to get the kids."
"And I have rounds to make. Do you need help with the drinks before I go?"
"No, it's OK. I've got it. Go to work." ~Just like a man....~
"Ok." He leaves for work.
Abby checks what Susan wants, considers calling Tom and decides against it, then goes downstairs to fill the drink orders.
The doorbell rings.
"A regular LAX here..." Abby sighs and goes to answer the door.
"I have a flower delivery for a Mrs. Abby Bradford?"
"For me?" Abby says, surprised.
He hands her the flowers. The card reads: Since I seem to say the wrong things with my mouth, I hope these roses will say the right thing. Love, Tom
Abby tips the delivery boy and then goes to put the flowers in water. ~Pay off the little woman, is that the game we're playing, Tom?~
Tommy comes home after school wondering where Elizabeth is. ~I hope she didn't break the grounding.~ "Hi." Tommy says as he sees Abby making another milkshake.
"Hi. Hey, would you mind taking this upstairs to Nicholas? If I have to run those steps one more time..."
"No problem." Tommy says. ~Do I dare ask?~ "uh, have you seen Elizabeth?~
"No--she didn't come back with you?"
Tommy shakes his head. "I haven't seen her since lunch
"Well, her grounding herself didn't last long."
"I am sure she had a good reason." Tommy says as he takes the shake up to Nicholas.
About 20 minutes later Elizabeth walks in.
"Well, look who remembered where she lives," Abby says.
"What?" she asks.
"Where did you go after school?"
Elizabeth hands her the suckers. "Nancy ask me to pick these up." she says and leaves the room.
"You should have told me this morning!" Abby calls after her.
"I thought Nancy would have told you." She replies returning back in the room.
"Nancy can barely talk, and she slept most of the day. Besides, she's not the one being punished."
"Look, I was running late this morning. I am sorry."
"Sorry. Sorry. You're always sorry, aren't you?"
Elizabeth ignores her and takes the lollipops upstairs almost throwing them at Nancy.
Nancy dodges the suckers. "What did I do?"
"You ask for these stupid suckers and got me in trouble with Abby." she snaps.
"I'm sorry, but how was I supposed to know you'd get in trouble?" She rubs her throat.
Elizabeth looks at her. "I thought at least you would have told her."
"I thought you told her."
"I was running late for school."
"If I had known, oww." She rubs her throat. "That you didn't tell her, oww, I would have told her. Thanks for getting these."
Elizabeth sighs. "It really hurts?"
Nancy nods.
"Anything I can get you?" she asks.
"Another soda." She falls asleep.
Elizabeth goes downstairs and gets a soda without saying a word to Abby.
"Now that you are home, you can run up and down the stairs. I have to start supper," Abby says.
"Fine." she says.
"Good."
Tom comes thru the back door with the ice cream. "Hello ladies." he says cheerfully.
Elizabeth ignores him and goes upstairs.
"What's with her?" Tom asks Abby.
"What does it matter? I'm handling it."
"What is that suppose to mean?" Tom asks.
"Nothing." Abby goes to the refrigerator and begins taking the dinner ingredients out.
"Oh no you don't, you meant something by that so just say it."
"Don't push me, Tom," Abby warns.
"Push you?" he asks. "Why? Don't you think I can take it?"
"Frankly, no. I don't think you could."
"There is obviously something bothering you so just tell me?" Tom says firmly.
"Your interrogating me is bothering me, for one thing," Abby says, slamming the refrigerator door.
"I am not interrogating you. I am just trying to figure out why my wife is upset."
"I am not upset!"
"OK Abby, fine don't tell me. Just let me play guessing games." Tom says and goes to the study.
Abby starts chopping vegetable very loudly and grumbling nasty things about insensitive men.
Nicholas comes into the kitchen.
"Nicholas! What are you doing out of bed?" Abby says.
"I heard yelling." Nicholas says.
"Well, no one's yelling now, and you should get back into bed."
"Is everything OK?" Nicholas asks
"It will be once you kids are all healthy. Now scoot."
"Yes ma'am." Nicholas says and leaves.
Meanwhile Joannie comes in the front. "Joannie is that you?" Tom asks.
"The one and only."
"Did you remember the play was tonight?" he asks distracted.
"We're going to go out when there are sick people here?" Joannie asks and fully enters the study. "Hey, Dad? You don't look so hot. You getting sick, too?"
"No, I am fine. Are you sure you won't hold it against me if we skip the play tonight?" Tom asks not wanting to upset another Bradford.
"No, you'll just owe me." Joannie sees the look on her father's face. "Tell you what--you tell me what's really wrong and I'll forgive you for skipping the play."
Tom tells her about the conversation he had with Abby. "Why won't she tell me what is wrong?"
"Maybe she's not sure what's wrong. Why do you have to know right away, anyway? Let her come to you for a change."
"You know me, I am not one for waiting."
"Maybe you're just going to have to learn, Dad."
"If I had waited, you would still be in NY." Tom states.
"Well, you had to come after me, didn't you? I sure didn't make it easy on you."
"No, but that's OK." Tom assures her.
"Face it, Dad, you just like making everything right for everyone."
"Old habits."
"Well, you can't expect new people to fall in line with old habits."
"I just want to take care of things."
"Maybe I'm not the one you ought to be telling that."
Tom laughs. "I know, but I am afraid to open my mouth."
"Abject begging usually works with women. At least that's what my boyfriends tell me."
"Begging?" Tom thinks about it.
"Dad, I can't tell you all the tricks of the trade. They'd kick me out of the sisterhood union."
"Well we wouldn't want that, now would we." Tom says.
"Could get ugly."
"Yeah, I wonder if its safe to go back in the kitchen."
"Come on, Dad, she's your wife, not the enemy."
"OK..OK." Tom says.
"You're so cute when you're pretending to be macho."
"Who's pretending?"
"Nice try, Dad."
Tom just shakes his head and goes into the kitchen. "Need any help?"
"No. I can do this myself," Abby says.
"OK." Tom says standing there.
"Making dinner is not a spectator sport."
"I know, but watching you is kind of nice."
Abby stares at him for a second or two, then laughs. "You are impossible. Did you know that?"
"So I have been told."
"Well, they were right. If you're going to stick around in here, at least make yourself useful--get me two tomatoes from the refrigerator."
Tom goes to the fridge and fetches the tomatoes. He hands them to her. "Anything else?"
"And ruin your chance to sit down and watch the little woman at work?"
"I offered to help...."
"No, you asked if I *needed* your help. I don't."
"Ok...since we are going to be technical. Would you like me to help."
"Yes. Wait--no. What am I saying? You help in the kitchen? No. Definitely no."
"I can cook." He defends himself.
"Not in the kitchen you can't."
"What do you mean by that.......oh." Tom blushes.
"Always fishing for a compliment, aren't you?"
"Sure why not? Got to take them while I can get them."
"Yeah, you look seriously compliment deprived," Abby says.
Tom laughs. "Have I told you today I love you?"
"Well, the flowers were an attempt. A typical male attempt, but an attempt."
"You didn't like them?" Tom asks
"Flowers aren't what I need from you."
"Then what?" Tom asks sincerely.
"You."
"You have me." Tom says.
"Then I don't need you to try to buy me with gifts."
"I wasn't trying to buy you with gifts." Tom states. "I just wanted you to know I love you and I appreciate everything you are doing."
"Then tell me that. Flowers I can buy myself, or will be able to once I go back to work."
"Are you thinking of going back to work?"
"Don't worry, I won't do it with a house full of sick kids."
"Abby, I didn't mean it like that."
"Then how did you mean it?"
"First you tell me you are taking a leave of absence and the next thing you are telling me is that you are going back to work." Tom explains. "If you want to work then work. Far be it for me to try and stop you."
"I just don't think I'm cut out to be a full time mother substitute."
"I don't know, I haven't heard any complaints so far. Have you?"
"Yes, I have."
"By whom?" Tom asks.
"Me. Or don't I count?"
"Of course it counts, but why don't you think you are doing a good job?"
"All I'm doing is running around putting out fires--or fevers, as the case may be."
Tom laughs. "What do you think I have been doing the past 20 or so years."
"Oh, come on, there has to be more to parenting than that."
"Sure there is but it doesn't show itself in the obvious ways. It is very subtle."
"Maybe I'm not cut out for subtle."
"I disagree with you."
"Oh, now that's subtle."
"What?"
"I tell you what I feel and you overrule me. I am not a four year old."
"I didn't say you were. I just meant I think you are being too hard on yourself or doesn't my opinion count."
"Why do you get an opinion on how I feel?"
"You are right, just blame me for trying to help." Tom sighs.
"Tom Bradford will solve all your problems for you, whether you want him to or not."
"What is wrong trying to help the one you love?"
"I don't like being patronized."
"Is that what you think I am doing?"
"Yes!"
"OK, I won't do it anymore."
"Good."
"So is this the part where we kiss and make up?"
"You think this argument's over?"
"There's more?" Tom asks.
"You're the one who seems to be dictating a time schedule."
"OK, I concede."
"Huh?"
"You win, I don't want to fight anymore."
"Great," Abby says. "Do you have a clue what we were fighting over?"
Tom thinks about it. "I think it was about......I don't have a clue."
"Figured as much. Men."
"You love us anyway."
"Don't be so sure of yourself."
"Well, at least 'one' of us, I hope." Tom states.
"Maybe," Abby teases.
"Only maybe?"
Abby nods, trying to hide a smile.
"Gee thanks a lot."
"The Band-Aids are upstairs," Abby tells him.
"Humph."
"Poor wounded ego," Abby murmurs and returns to her cooking.