Sunday night Noah strolls over with a guitar and determination having missed Nancy terribly all weekend. Soon the Bradford's are awoken by his serenading. Nancy opens up her bedroom window and smiles. ~He can't sing worth a lick but he sure is cute.~ She smiles gets dressed
intent on going outside. "Go back to sleep everyone it's for me."

Nancy goes downstairs to him.

He stops singing and approaches her. "Please forgive me, please."

"I don't know." She pretends to hesitate. "I need time."

"Ok." He says sadly.

A few seconds pass and she smiles at him and kisses him. "Ok I forgive you."

He smiles and returns the kiss.

After Noah leaves Nancy goes back upstairs and goes to bed.

Abby puts a pillow over her head. "It would be so much more romantic if that boy could sing," she moans.

"I hope he doesn't wake the neighbors." Tom says.

"We'll know when they call the police..."

Tom covers his head with the covers.

"Hey, give those back!"

"You have enough." Tom replies.

"You never warned me you hog the covers."

"You never warned me you snore." Tom immediately regrets what he said.

"I never snore."

"If you say so."

"Maybe you're just confused. After all, one of us does snore--constantly. And it isn't me."

"I don't snore." Tom states matter of factly.

"Only when you sleep."

Tom turns over in a huff then quietly says, "Abby? Even if you are wrong, I love you."

"And even if you snore like a locomotive, I love you."

Tom laughs.

Abby does, too, and afterwards, in the quiet, notices: "At least the singing's stopped."

"Maybe they hauled him away." Tom jokes.

"Or maybe...nah. Go back to sleep, Tom."

"Maybe what?" Tom sits up suddenly.

"Nancy's boyfriend was here singing, now he isn't singing," Abby answers in a 'work it out for yourself' tone.

Tom jumps out of bed and puts on his robe.

"Tom, come back to bed. She wouldn't do anything with everyone here at home, and if he's waiting for her to get up, get dressed, and get into her makeup, he'll still be waiting at a decent hour of the morning."

"Still, I better check." Tom says.

"It's your sleep you'll miss out on," Abby says and turns over.

Tom shakes his head and goes and quietly knocks on Nancy's door.

Elizabeth's moans "Come in."

Nancy is back in the room by the time Tom comes in. "Hi Dad."

"Hi." Tom says. "....uh just checking to see if you are OK."

"Yeah Dad I'm ok, sorry Noah woke everyone."

"OK." Tom says. "Well, goodnight."

"Goodnight." She smiles and gets back into bed. "Hey Liz are you awake?"

"Yes." she says ~how could I not be~ "What's up?"

"I think I'm going to marry Noah someday."

"That's nice." Elizabeth says nearly falling back to sleep. Then she realizes what Nancy just said. "Nancy, when?"

"After I graduate from college."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Well Dad knows that it's a maybe and chances are he's told Abby. But right now it's a almost yes."

"I am surprised he hasn't flipped yet." Liz replies

"Why would he flip? I'm handling it responsibly."

Meanwhile Tom returns to his room.

"So? No boys under her bed?" Abby asks.

"Ha Ha." Tom crawls into bed. "It was you who thought the worst before I did." Tom states.

"That's because if a man had come singing at my window when I was that age..." Abby remembers who she's talking to. "Never mind."

"What? You would have just ran off with him?"

"Well, it depended on the guy. There were a few I would have. There were a few I did."

"What? Oh, Harry must have loved that or did he ever find out?"

"I know how to be discreet."

"Just don't teach the girls how to be discreet."

Abby thinks about this for a minute, then accuses, "You don't trust me."

"I trust you, but if they find out. We will have anarchy in this house."

"Just because I did something doesn't mean I'd encourage the kids to do it. After all, I wouldn't encourage them to get married on a few months' acquaintance, either."

"That's different, we are mature adults."

"I'm not so sure about that. And besides, the girls think they're mature, too."

"Yeah, too mature."

"They're more grown up than you give them credit for being."

"I still don't have to like it." Tom states.

"Maybe it'll help to think of it this way--the faster they grow up, the faster we don't have to lock the bedroom door anymore."

Tom chuckles. "I love your thinking."

"You just love that I always know exactly what to say to change your mood."

"Why do you think I married you, besides the fact you are beautiful and smart?"

"I knew you had ulterior motives. My mother warned me about men like you."

"Ulterior motives? Just love, my dear."

"The best ulterior motive there is."

Tom smiles.

The next morning between classes in the cafeteria. Nancy is in the cafeteria drinking coffee and trying to get some studying done. When the gossips sit down. She looks at them warily.

"Look we've been jerks and we shouldn't have given you such a hard time." One of them says.

~What do they want?~ Nancy ponders not trusting them as far as she can throw them.

"Just wanted to let you know that." The other one says and then they leave.

"The next time we ask her if she can get us into modeling." The other says when out of earshot.

Nancy is humming the theme to the twilight zone by the time Joannie and Susan join her.

"If you insist on singing, ask Abby to teach you how," Joannie says, wincing.

"Heckler." Nancy jokes but stops humming. "Sorry it's just that strange things are occurring today."

"Like?"

"The gossips were nice to me."

"What did they want?"

"I don't know yet, but I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later."

"Just make sure you tell them no."

"Oh I plan to, so what have you two been up to?"

"Ask the strong, silent type over there," Joannie says, pointing at Susan.

Nancy smiles. "Is something going on?"

Susan smiles back "You could say that."

"What? Come on spill."

"Do you remember that guy I told you about a while back. You know the basketball player. Well, he finally asked me out." Susan says

"It's about time he came to his senses, Susan that's wonderful."

"Thanks"

"Anytime sis."

The next day at college in the cafeteria the gossips ask Nancy if she can get them into modeling.

"No I don't think so." She says.

One of them threatens her and she starts laughing. They glare at her and one of them is about to hit her when her hand is grabbed from behind.

"If you want a job modeling," Joannie says, "I hear they're holding auditions for 'World's Ugliest College Students' down at the Rotary Banquet Hall."

She shakes loose and turns around. "I was just kidding I wasn't really going to hit her."

"I ever see you kidding like that again and I'll be the one hitting you."

The gossips scatter.

"Thank you." Nancy says.

"Gotta watch out for my little sister, don't I? Guess we know why they were being nice the other day."

Nancy smiles at the first comment and then sobers at the second one. "Yep I guess so. One day they're going to mess with the wrong person and..."

"Let the wrong person worry about that, OK?"

"Ok, you wouldn't be embarrassed if I hugged you right now would you?"

"You'll do it anyway," Joannie jokes.

Proving Joannie's right, Nancy gives her a hug.

"Hugs are all fine and good, but how about buying me an ice cream soda instead?"

Nancy laughs. "You got it."

"Let's go then."

They gather their books and head for the local soda shop. The manager is in shock.

"You're smiling." He says to Nancy.

"Yes I do that sometimes."

"I'm the one getting the ice cream, not Ms. Model over here," Joannie explains.

"Ahh, and are you all right? Is it man trouble?" He asks Joannie.

"Sister trouble," Joannie says.

"Huh?" Nancy asks.

"You were in trouble, and now I'm getting the reward," Joannie explains.

"Oh all right."

"So what will it be?" He asks Joannie.

"A triple ice cream soda."

"You got it." He then looks at Nancy. "I have just the thing for models who want to watch their figure." He soon returns with both.

"What is that you're giving her?" Joannie asks.

"Low fat ice cream and diet root beer."

"Does it taste like that." Nancy asks.

"No it doesn't."

"Good."

Joannie pulls a face. "Boy am I glad I'm an actress and not a model."

Nancy laughs.

"So how is it going in the man department?" Nancy asks Joannie.

"Men? What are those?"

"Uh oh." Nancy says.

"I'm sticking to goldfish for a while," Joannie declares.

"I hear ya."

"What do you mean by that? You've got Lover Boy with the lousy voice."

"And if I didn't have him I wouldn't want anyone else."

"That's what you say with every boy."

"I do?"

Joannie nods her head.

"I'm one ditzy blonde." Nancy half jokes.

"We can solve that."

"There's a cure for ditzyness?"

"No, blondeness."

"But I don't want to change my hair color."

"But you'd look good as a brunette."

"Brad would freak."

"There's always a market for redheads."

"I'm not dying my hair."

"Then you're doomed."

"Doomed to a life of ditzyness."

"Blonde ditzyness."

"Oh yeah." Nancy makes note of the revision.

"Drink your diet shake."

"Ok ok quit your nagging." Nancy teases and drinks her shake.

The next day Nancy has the day off from modeling so after classes she goes home, calls the veterinarian, and talks to her for a few minutes. And after hanging up she gets Sam's leash and puts it on him. She then leaves a note that she's taking the station wagon and that she and
Nicholas are taking Sam to the vet.

She gets Sam in the car and then heads to Nick's school. "Sit still Sam." She has to say on most of the way there. When they get to the school Sam and Nancy wait outside the car for Nicholas. Sam lets off a ruckus when he sees Nicholas.

"Hey, what's going on?" Nicholas asks.

"Today is vet day." Nancy tells him. "We have to take Sam for his checkup."

"Oh, OK."

They get in the car and head there. "Sam stay still. Hey Nicholas why don't you pet him so he'll stay still." Nancy says while driving.

Nicholas tries to calm him but to no avail "I think he knows where he is going."

"Yeah I think so too and I think after the vets he deserves a special treat and so do we."

"Yeah."

Nicholas gets Sam on the table.

Sam fusses and squirms.

"There, there everything's ok," the vet pets him and talks to him in a soothing tone which gets Sam calm enough for the examination. After it's over.

"Sam is just fine, but bring him back in about six months for his shots."

"We will, and thank you." Nancy says.

Nicholas gets him off the table and Sam nearly runs away with him on his leash.

"Oops. Sam!!" Nancy runs after them.

Finally Nicholas stops him at the door.

"How bout we take him to the park and get ice cream cones while we're there?" Nancy suggests.

"Cool." Nicholas says.

They take Sam to play and also get ice cream. Halfway through the outing.

"So Nicholas we rarely get a chance to talk anymore. How's life?"

"OK, I guess." Nicholas says. "How about you."

"Pretty good. Sure is nice to have a day off though."

That afternoon, Joannie walks into the house with a large bundle of envelopes and stops off
in the study. "Mail call, Dad. Lots of it for Abby. I didn't see her car out front--want to hold on to it for her?"

"Just put it by the phone." Tom says

"OK, just tell Abby to take it before Tommy or Nicholas try to steal it."

"They never steal mail, do they?" Tom asks

"This mail they might," Joannie says and starts to head out of the study.

"Wait a minute, what is it?" Tom asks.

Joannie looks through the envelopes. "Well, OK, this one's safe--it's from the Mitchells. But this is from the 49ers office, this one's from John Brodie, Board of Ed, Ken Willard..."

"49'ers? Why would they write to Abby?" Tom wonders aloud.

"Don't know, but do you really trust the boys around these?"

"Give them to me for safe keeping." Tom says.

Joannie starts to hand the envelopes over. "But maybe I should keep this one from her parents--just for safekeeping..."

"Joannie....." Tom says.

Joannie smiles at him and hands him the envelopes.

"Thank you." Tom says.

Nicholas and Nancy arrive home with Sam. Nancy stops at the doorway to Tom's study. "Sam got a clean bill of health and they'll bill you Dad."

"Of course they will." Tom replies.

Nancy smiles and goes to the kitchen.

Later Abby comes home.

"Hi," she says to Tom, dropping her books on his desk. "Sorry I'm late, but I found one reference which led to another, which led to another. I only stopped when I thought my hand would fall off if I copied anything more."

"Hi." Tom says. "You might want to rest your hands before opening your mail." Tom hands her the mail.

"Hmm? Abby says, looking at the top envelope. "Just because I got a letter from my mother?" she says and starts to open it.

"That, and I couldn't help noticing you got a letter from the 49'ers."

"I did?" Abby says and leafs through the envelopes. "This is great--at least I hope it is."

"Do you mind me asking why it's great?" Tom says wondering how far to go.

Abby opens one of the envelopes, smiles, and then slips it into her school books. "Because it's always great when I get what I want."

"Oh, well what was it you wanted?" Tom asks.

"Plays," Abby responds. She notices the look on his face. "For the geometry book, remember? What did you think these were?"

"Oh, right the book." Tom says. "I didn't know, just was curious. How is your mother." Changing the subject.

"Suspicious, like her daughter. You were more than just curious."

"Ok, I'll admit I was more than curious." Tom says with embarrassment.

"You're so cute when you're flustered. What did you think the letters were about?"

"Frank." Tom confesses.

"Frank?" Abby laughs at the idea, but quickly stops. "Well, maybe a little. They might have only answered me because they remember when Frank was on the team, I guess."

"At least you got the plays for your book."

"True. Still need to get some more, but the fact that I got these will help." Abby starts to leave the room, but then turns back. "Why would anyone be writing me about Frank?"

"I don't know.....just my wild imagination I guess."

"Is something wrong?" Abby worries. "You're not usually this paranoid."

"The only thing wrong is that I am hopelessly in love with my wife." Tom smiles.

"I think I prefer it when you're hopefully in love."

"That too."

"I'd better start dinner," Abby says, "but afterwards you can tell me just what it is you're hopeful about."

"OK." Tom replies.

Abby heads off to the kitchen, reading her mail along the way.

Nicholas is at the table doing his homework.

Nancy is getting something to drink. "Hi."

"Hey, Nicholas, how was school today?" Abby asks, putting her letters down on the table and going to the refrigerator to get out dinner fixings.

"It was OK." he says. "What are we having?"

"Roast. OK?"

"Yeah, as long as Nancy cuts the carrots." he says.

"Nancy?" Abby says.

"Of course I'll cut them," Nancy says.

"Good, I am going to finish my homework upstairs," Nicholas says.

"Ok."

"Was it something I said?" Abby asks Nancy after Nicholas leaves.

"He probably just wants quiet."

"In this house?"

"Stranger things have happened." Nancy says as she slices the carrots.

"I suppose..."

"Hey if you're worried why don't you go upstairs and talk to him." Nancy suggests.

"If he really is just doing his homework I hate to bother him."

"You won't be a bother to him."

"OK. As soon as I get this roast in the oven I'll check on him."

"Good deal."

After she gets the roast in the oven, Abby heads upstairs and knocks on Nicholas's door.

"Come in." Tommy says.

Abby walks in and looks around. "Where's Nicholas?"

"I thought he was downstairs?" Tommy replies.

"He said that he was coming upstairs to do his homework. I thought he might be angry at me or something--he left the kitchen kind of abruptly."

"He has been acting weird the last couple of days." Tommy remembers.

"Any idea where he might be? His playhouse, maybe?"

"That's where he usually goes when he wants to be alone."

"Then that's where I'll try. Let's hope the sign doesn't still say 'No girls allowed'."

Tommy smiles. "I think he will make you an exception."

"We'll see." Abby goes downstairs and out back to knock on the door to Nicholas's playhouse.

"Who is it."

"Abby. Can I come in?"

Nicholas sighs and unlocks the door. "Yeah."

"Thanks." Abby comes in and closes the door behind her. "You didn't go upstairs."

"I just wanted to be alone."

"You could've just said. Nicholas, is there something wrong? Because if there is, you can talk to me about it, you know."

"I know. It's just I found out a couple of days ago that Kenny P is moving away."

~Hallelujah!~ "It must be tough. You spend a lot of time with him. But you have other friends, too. Like that nice Irving J. Moore."

"Yeah, but he isn't as fun as Kenny P."

"True. But you can make other friends, too."

"I guess so." Nicholas says not quite convinced.

"So why are you moping around instead of spending time with him while you can?"

"He's grounded."

"That doesn't surprise me. But sitting in here isn't going to change anything, you know."

"I guess I am being silly huh?"

"Not silly, exactly, but there's got to be something better you can do than sit here brooding. I know--why don't you and your friends make him a goodbye party? I'll bet most of the parents would chip in for treats."

"Could we have it here?"

"He's definitely leaving? This isn't one of his practical jokes?"

"He told the class...he wouldn't do that, would he?"

"Tell you what. You check it with Mr. and Mrs. Landers and if it's really true, you can have the party at our house."

"OK."

"Hey, you could go over before dinner and find out what's really going on," Abby suggests. "Then I can talk to your father tonight about it." ~The sooner we start celebrating, the better.~

The next day David arrives at work and is told that he needs to go see Thelma in accounting to get an error he had brought up in his paycheck corrected. He knocks on her door.

"Come in!"

"Hi I'm David Bradford. I was told to come here to fix my check."

Thelma looks up from her paperwork, takes off her glasses and primps her hair. "So you're David Bradford. I haven't seen you since you were....Well, in a while. You've certainly grown up."

David smiles politely and hands her the check.

Thelma starts looking at his records. "No dependents, huh? Well, looks like you don't take after your father."

"No I don't, do you take after your mother?"

"In some things. She also appreciated fine art."

"Appreciated?"

"Uh huh," Thelma says, leaning back in her chair and appreciating David. "So how do you like working here?"

"It's pretty good here." David says not wanting to reveal much.

"Not as many pretty girls to whistle at, though, huh? I know all about you construction men..."

"Oh you do huh? So what about us construction men?"

"All those muscles...I'll bet they come in handy, working here. Or just pushing all the pretty ladies away."

"I never push pretty ladies away."

"Oh, well," Thelma says, stands up, and walks over to David. "Now what exactly is it I can help you with?"

"I'm missing a few hours from my paycheck." He shows her the error.

"That's computers for you. I'll fix it. So-what do you do when you're not at work?"

~Geez Dad wasn't kidding about this one.~ "Watch tv, have dinner with the family, and then go out for a bit."

"Maybe, sometime when you go out..."

"What do you do after work?"

"Look for cute guys who are off work."

"And have you found any?"

"Not as many as I'd hoped to."

"Well here's hoping we both have luck."

"Speaking of luck, how are things going with your family?" Thelma says, deciding that a date she won't get out of the conversation, but gossip's still a possibility.

"Things are going pretty good."

"You all adjusting to having a new mom?"

"Is that error almost corrected?" He asks.

"Could take a while," Thelma hints. "Computers are real touchy. If you don't work them just right..."

~Dad where are you when I need you?~

"So I guess you don't like to talk about your stepmother. Hear your sister's modeling now."

"My stepmother is a wonderful woman, and yes she is."

"So, you like your stepmother, huh? From what I hear, she's about your age, right? And it's wonderful about Nancy. What kind of modeling is she doing, anyway?"

"Of course I like her, and I don't know what kind of modeling that Nancy is doing."

"So, her you like..." Thelma mutters. "Well, I've fixed the problem, at least for this pay period. It might happen again--with computers, who can tell? If it does, just come back and see me. Or give me a call--I'm available any time."

"Thank you." David makes a fast exit.

Thelma goes to the water cooler to start spreading the word that the Bradford boy likes his new young stepmother and that that's the reason Mr. Bradford's been so grumpy lately.

The news reaches Tom.

Tom is furious. "Who said this, Donna?"

"I just know what I hear around the water cooler. I think it was Jerry from Sports who asked me about it."

"That's just terrific." Tom says. "Get David for me, please."

Donna picks up the phone and checks to see if David is still in the building.

"Yeah he's here what do you need?" His supervisor asks.

"I don't, Mr. Bradford does. Send him up here, OK?"

"Can't do that. His break isn't for another two hours."

"I suppose I could call Mr. Randolph and get him special permission," Donna threatens.

He grumbles. "All right I'll send him up. So Donna are we still on for tomorrow night?" He asks.

Donna covers the phone and tells her boss, "The things I do for you, Mr. Bradford..." Into the phone she says, "Yeah, sure. I'll see you then."

He smiles and sends David to Tom's office.

"Do?" Tom asks.

Donna hangs the phone up. "David's on his way up here. And to placate my boss, I'm going out with his boss."

"Oh," Tom says.

"Just remember that next time you criticize my filing."

"Come in, David." Tom says. Donna retreats and leaves the two Bradfords alone.

David comes in. "What's up Dad?"

"Sit down, Son." Tom says. "There's a rumor going around the office about you."

David sits down and looks at his dad. "What kind of rumor?"

Tom hem and haws. "This isn't easy to ask, but are you in love with Abby?"

David laughs. "What?"

"That's the rumor David." Tom says not laughing.

"Where would they get a crazy idea like that?" It dawns on him. "Oh sheesh."

"Where?" Tom asks.

He tells her about the conversation with Thelma. "Is it a crime to like my stepmother?" He shakes his head in disbelief.

"I should have known. Thelma." Tom replies. "Well what do you say we really give them something to talk about." Tom tells him of his plan of getting Abby down there and pretending to be in love with David.

David laughs. "I'm all for that."

Tom calls home.

Joannie answers.

"Hi Honey, how are you?" Tom asks.

"OK. Dad, could you do me a favor?"

"What?" Tom asks

"Think you could put the theater critic out of commission for the rest of the season? Have you read what he wrote about the Rep this morning?" Joannie asks indignantly.

"I read it, but honey there's not much I can do about it."

"Of course you can, Daddy," Joannie tries to sweet talk him.

"I'll talk to him, but I can't promise anything."

"Talk to him? Dad, you've got the power of the press behind you."

"Joannie, I don't own the paper." Tom says. "But I have an idea."

"A plot? I love plots."

"Not a plot, but this paper has an equal time policy for family members. Why don't you write about the rep and I'll see it gets published." Tom suggests.

"I don't write as well as that...that man does. Will you help me?"

"Sure, just write what you want to say and I'll organize it for you."

"Thanks, Dad. So, did you call for any reason other than hearing my beautiful voice?"

Tom laughs. "Is Abby around?"

"Sure--one minute." Joannie holds the receiver away from her mouth. "Abby! It's Dad!"

From upstairs Abby calls down: "I've got it." She picks up the phone. "Hi, Tom."

"Hi. How are you?"

"I'm fine. What are you doing, calling in the middle of the day. Bored at work?"

Tom laughs. "David and I need your help." Tom explains the situation.

Meanwhile Nancy reads in the newspaper that the jerk pretending to be her real dad has gone to prison for 50 years.

"Hmm I was wondering what happened to him, not." ~Good riddance.~

She knocks on Joannie's door. "Hey Joannie you busy?"

Joannie puts the play she's studying aside. "No, not really. Come on in."

Nancy comes in and shows her the newspaper. "Want to go out and celebrate with me?"

"Why are you celebrating some guy going to jail?"

"I thought you knew."

"Knew what?" Joannie says, then realizes what Nancy must be talking about. "Wait--is this the guy?"

Nancy smiles. "Uh huh."

"I wonder if Dad knows."

Nancy shrugs. "I'm sure he does."

"Doesn't sound like you much care."

"Well I do, but he's probably busy with other things right now."

"What do you mean by that?"

"That he's probably busy with other things right now."

"I heard you the first time. I know what you said, I want to hear what you meant."

"Well he's still at work and is probably concentrating on his column right now. I don't want to bother him."

"This you think would be a bother? He'll probably write a column about it. Well, maybe not that..."

"You're right, ok I'll tell him."

"And then we'll go celebrate."

Nancy smiles and then goes to call Tom but sees that Abby is on the phone.

Abby covers the mouthpiece. "You need me for something?" she asks Nancy.

"It can wait. Can I use the phone when you're done?"

"Sure." Abby goes back to her conversation with Tom.

Nancy goes to wait in the kitchen.

"And I thought the academic life was full of intrigue...Sure--what did you have in mind?" Abby asks Tom.

"Pretend that you and David are in love with each other."

"If I do this, do you promise to remember that *you're* the one who put me up to it? Bad enough you get jealous of any man I've ever met, but if you started in on David…"

"I promise, it is just to teach a certain gossip a lesson." Tom says.

"OK. When do you want me to come by? Today?"

"Yes, in about an hour?"

"I'll be there. Just make sure my new boyfriend is around, too."

"He's here in my office now."

"OK, then, I'll see you soon--an hour at the most."

 A few minutes later Abby walks downstairs. "Phone's all yours."

"Thanks Abby." She goes to call her dad.

"Hello." Tom says.

"Hey Dad have you read the front page?"

"No not yet, why?"

"I'll tell her. Is she there?"

Tom grabs the paper off his desk. ~Oh my~ "You OK?" he asks Nancy.

"I couldn't be happier. Do you want to tell Abby or should I?"

"Yeah hold on." She goes to get Abby. "Dad wants to talk to you."

"Again?" Abby says as she takes the phone.

Nancy smiles. "Yep."

"Hi, Tom," Abby says into the phone. "You're not going to cancel this plan, are you?"

"No." Tom says seriously. "Did you read the front page of the paper?"

"No, I haven't had a chance to look at the paper. Why?" Abby turns to Nancy. "Do you know where the paper is?"

Nancy hands it to her.

Abby scans the headlines. "Wow. Who managed that?"

"The DA I guess and the jury." Nancy smiles.

"Maybe its finally over." Tom says.

Abby starts to say something, but then decides better, what with Nancy standing there. "I'll be at the Register soon," she tells Tom.

"OK, see ya soon." Tom replies

"I've got to go now," Abby tells Nancy. "I should be back in time to start dinner."

"Ok."

Abby drives down to the Register and stops at the reception desk. "Is my husband in?"

"Yes he is." Donna says.

"Think you could keep him busy for a while?" Abby drops her voice a little, but still is loud enough to be heard over at the water cooler. "And is David around, by any chance?"

"I sure can, and David is in the break room. Do you know where that is?" Donna asks.

"Yes, I do. Thanks."

Abby walks towards the break room, checking her makeup in one of the office windows and generally making a show of herself for the office gossips. When she gets to the break room she sneaks in and stands behind David. She covers his eyes and leans in close, whispering a "Hi," into his ear.

David smiles. "Hi yourself." He pretends to look around. "Dad's not around is he?"

"No, he's in his office. I told Donna to keep him busy and not to tell him I'm here. We have a few minutes, at least."

"Then let's not waste them."

Abby sits down next to David. "I know I probably shouldn't have come down here, but I had to see you."

"I'm very glad you did. I couldn't have gone another day without seeing you."

"There's got to be a better way. I don't want to hurt Tom, but I can't go on like this."

"I don't want to hurt him either but all of this sneaking around is driving me crazy."

Thelma, having heard who was in the break room, lurks in the doorway, not realizing that David can see her.

"We can always run away together."

"And what then? You never see your family again? That's no good."

"Well what else can we do?"

"I won't give you up," Abby vows.

"I won't give you up either."

"At least you have your own apartment so we don't have to resort to cheap motels...I wish you'd have said something before the wedding. Then none of this would be happening."

"How could I, Dad was so happy."

"Was," Abby emphasizes. "I think he suspects something."

"But how could he? We've been so careful."

"Maybe it's just my imagination. He's always been jealous. But the last few weeks, ever since we..."

"Do you think he saw us?" David asks in a shocked tone.

"He hasn't said anything, but he's been getting very...demanding."

Thelma nearly chokes and is torn between continuing to listen and running to spread the word.

David restrains himself from laughing out loud.

"You have no idea what it's like, David," Abby warms to her subject. "Knowing how you and I feel about each other. And then your father--he comes home at night and wants...sometimes he even wants to stay home all day with me..." She covers her face with her hands to hide the fact that she's shaking with laughter, not tears.

"Abby, please don't cry. I do know. When I think of you and Dad it drives me crazy knowing that it's him you spend time with instead of me."

"'Spend time with'? That's a nice euphemism..."

"Well if I say what I really mean I'll really lose it."

"David, please--hold me."

David wraps his arms around her and hugs her.

"If that woman doesn't go off to gossip soon or you don't have to go back to work, I'm going to burst out laughing," Abby whispers into David's ear, making it look more like a nuzzle. "I hope your father knows what he's doing."

"Yeah tell me about it." He whispers back.

Thelma leaves the doorway.

"She's gone," Abby says, but doesn't move out of David's embrace in case Thelma comes back. "Look, why don't you come for dinner tonight? I have a feeling people will be in a celebratory mood."

"A celebratory mood? Why's that?"

"When I left the house Nancy seemed really cheerful--not sure why--and if this plan works, your father will be in a good mood. Don't you want to rescue me from his clutches?" she teases.

"I sure do."

"You're so good to me."

"Because I love you."

"I love you, too."

Thelma is about to go gossip but she turns around and runs into Tom.

"Hi, what's the rush?" Tom says.

"You poor man." Thelma says.

"Oh?"

"You must be so hurt."

"What for?"

"Your wife and your son, oh you poor man."

"What? Are they hurt?" Tom plays along.

"Hardly; they're having a private conversation in the break room and are playing you for a fool."

"Oh?" Tom says and goes into the break room with Thelma behind him.

"What's going on in here?" he yells.

David pretends to be startled. "Dad, we weren't expecting you."

"Obviously not." Tom replies. "Abby?"

"Tom, it's not what it looks like," Abby says, stepping behind David and putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Dad, I know what you must be thinking but I can explain." David begins.

Tom pulls out a fake gun and points it at David.

"Tom, no!" Abby switches places with David. "I won't let you. I love him."

Knowing it's fake David pretends to be scared. "Dad, no, you can't do this!!"

"Mr. Bradford!!" Thelma screams.

Tom quickly glances at Thelma and returns his eyes to Abby. "But you two betrayed me." Tom cocks the gun.

"You knew it couldn't last," Abby says. "You're almost old enough to be my father!"

"Dad, come on, put the gun away." He steps in front of Abby. "Please."

Tom pulls the trigger, it goes off silently. "Oops, I guess Nicholas's gun was a fake." Tom looks at Thelma for her reaction.

"Well I never!!" Thelma says realizing it was all an act.

"Maybe next time you will be sure of your facts." Tom tells her.

"Uh uh, sorry about that." She rushes out of the room in embarrassment, and David starts laughing.

Abby walks over to Tom and hugs him. "I don't know if the effects will be long term, but it sure was fun."

Tom laughs. "I actually felt a twinge of jealousy there. You two are good."

"Thank you." David grins.

Abby gets a little nervous. "Tom, you promised."

"All I said was you two were good." Tom says. "Don't worry, I am keeping that promise."

"Maybe tonight I'll share my motivations with you," Abby promises and kisses her husband.

"Why wait until tonight?" Tom says. "Let's take off." He then remembers David. "Son, don't you have work to do?"

"Uh yeah." David says, surprised. He thought there was going to be a celebratory dinner at the house. "I'll be home for dinner though."

"Good." Tom replies.

David returns to work.

"You and I need to talk," Abby tells Tom.

"About?"

"Nancy. But it can wait, I guess, if you really want to leave now."

"We can talk in the car." Tom says.

"Or later. It's really not urgent." ~And I'd hate to spoil your mood.~

"If it wasn't urgent, you wouldn't have said we needed to talk, so what's up?"

"It's about Nancy and that man. I just don't see why you and Nancy think this is such good news."

"Being sent to prison for fifty years?"

"He's been in prison this whole time," Abby reminds him.

"But at least he won't be in Sacramento."

Abby sighs. "You're an optimist."

"So you don't think its over?"

"I'm not sure. As far as Nancy is concerned, yes, I think it is. Really? I don't plan to let my guard down much."

"Well then, we will keep our eyes and ears open then."

"OK," Abby says, relieved that Tom isn't dismissing her concerns out of hand. "Speaking of eyes and ears, I thought that poor Thelma was going to explode. Remind me never to get on the wrong side of one of your pranks."

"I would never do that to you." Tom assures her.

"Not even if I were in love with your son?"

"Why do you say things like that? You know that makes me crazy."

"Because it makes me crazy that you don't trust me. If I were planning to go after someone else, I would have, but I didn't. Why can't you just accept that you're the only one I'm in love with and not jump ten feet every time some other man's name comes up in conversation?"

"I do trust you."

"But you get jealous."

"Only a little."

"I don't get jealous. Not at all. I trust you."

"But that is different, you are special."

"So are you."

"Thank you." Tom eyes start to tear up. "Let's get out of here."

Abby puts an arm around his waist. "Sure. Let's get going."

They drive home in their own cars.

On the way home, Abby mulls over the fact that Tom never did answer her. She pulls into the driveway and waits for Tom.

"Hey, handsome, come here often?"

"Actually I don't but I heard there was a very pretty lady here." Tom plays along.

"Probably inside."

"Oh I don't know, the one outside is very easy on the eyes." Tom smiles.

"Only yours."

Tom kisses her.

Elizabeth and Tommy arrive home from school.

"Looks like they are at it again." Tommy says.

Elizabeth laughs. "Yeah."

Abby overhears them. "Kids..." she mutters to Tom.

Tom sighs.

"Hi." Tommy and Elizabeth say in unison

"Don't you two have homework or something?" Tom asks.

"Yeah." Tommy says. They giggle and go into the house.

Abby laughs. "Come on, we should be going in, too. I've got to start dinner or when my boyfriend shows up he'll have to go hungry."

Tom laughs. "Any chance to steal you away from your boyfriend later?"

"I don't think he's allowed to object. You know the rules around here--seniority has its privileges."

"I guess that's one good thing about getting older."

"I can think of lots of good things about men older than David."

"Really, you will have to tell me later."

"Guess I'll have to."

Tom retreats to his study until dinner.

They have a celebration dinner to celebrate the man pretending to be Nancy's father going to jail, and then after that Joannie and Nancy go out to celebrate.