At 1 pm, Abby knocks on Nancy's door.
Nancy answers and locks the door behind them. "So where are we going?" Nancy asks on the way to the car.
"Up to you. I'm treating--what do you want to be treated to?"
"In that case, shrimp would be nice."
"You got it." Abby drives to a nice seafood restaurant.
After they've ordered. "How have you been?"
"Crazy. This town isn't big enough for my father and yours."
"That bad eh?"
"Worse. They're each trying to show the other how young and strong they are. How are you?"
"I'm fine, work's going good."
"And when you're not at work?"
"Noah and my friends are keeping me busy." Nancy says not mentioning the nightmares.
"I'll bet Noah's keeping you busy," Abby jokes. "You look exhausted."
"That he has." She laughs half-heartedly, not telling her that Noah has been making himself scarce.
"OK, Nancy, cards on the table. What's up?"
"Nothing's up." She says not wanting to worry her.
"Uh huh. Come on, Nancy. What's going on?"
She almost confides in her but then doesn't. ~Yeah you'll look real independent if you go crying to her.~ "Abby everything is all right really."
"If you say so," Abby says as their food arrives. ~I'll try again later.~
~Whew~ Nancy thinks having almost spilled.
While they're eating: "So what do you do with all your free time, now that you don't have to wait on line for the bathroom?"
"I sleep a half hour later each morning. How's Joannie liking her own room?"
Abby leans in close. "I think she's lonely."
"Sleeping with the lights on?" Nancy whispers.
Abby nods.
"Oh boy, should I kidnap her for a night of fun."
"You should." ~Maybe Joannie can get her to talk.~
"I'll do that then."
"Good. Hey, after lunch, why don't we go shopping?"
"Ok, but I can't do that for long I have to get ready for my plan to get Joannie out of the house."
"I could help you plan."
"Ok." Nancy agrees.
"Where should we head first?"
"There's a new boutique on the corner of Cherry and Pinewood."
"Boutique. The nicest word in the English language. After 'sale', of course."
"That's for sure." After eating they go shopping at the boutique. "This would look good on you."
"It would give your father a hear..." Abby starts with her old joke, "your father wouldn't approve."
"Yeah you're right." Nancy puts it back.
Abby takes it off the rack again. "The way he's been treating my father, he deserves it."
Nancy laughs.
Abby looks through the clothes some more. "This would look good on you. Got a lot of your back exposed, but what your father doesn't see he can't complain about."
"I don't know Abby, it's not me."
"What do you mean? It's just like some of the things I've seen you drool over in magazines."
~Hmm, the bruises are probably gone by now and if I don't turn around or if I do and stand far enough away she won't inquire about the scars like Mary did.~ "Well ok." She goes to put it on and then comes back out.
"Nice," Abby says. "Turn around so I can see how it looks from the back."
"Come on Abby if you seen the back of one outfit you've seen them all." Nancy says.
Abby walks up to Nancy, takes her by the shoulders and turns her around. "Pretty n...Nancy? When did you get hurt?" Abby says, trying to remember if she's ever seen Nancy's back before.
"Mary said there were scars there. Probably from when I fell down during the Earthquake."
"Dr. Max didn't tell us you'd been hurt this badly. And I'm surprised your boss hasn't said anything about them."
"Well it's the only thing I can think of, and my boss has never seen my back that I recall."
"Maybe I should talk to Max..."
"Why? It's nothing major it doesn't even hurt."
"Because I don't like that he saw something and chose not to tell you or your father."
"Maybe he thought it was minor, Abby please don't worry if it were serious I'm sure he would have said something."
"You're probably right." ~I'm going to ask Tom if he knew, and if not, I'm having a little talk with Max.~
Nancy changes back into her regular clothes and observes Abby who still looks worried. "Really it's nothing."
"Not important, right?"
Nancy nods.
"We should be getting back. Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? You could kidnap Joannie then."
"Sure."
"Great." Abby drives them back to the house. "I'll just tell your father we're home. Why don't you see if you can find your sister?"
"Ok, thanks for lunch and shopping." Nancy says and then finds Joannie on the sunporch. "Hi."
"Hi there, stranger."
Nancy sits down. "Want to get out of here after dinner?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"Out would be good. Somewhere without men over the age of 40."
"Hey you got it." Sam runs in and hops on Nancy and starts licking her face. She laughs and gives him a hug and pets him. "I missed you too buddy." After Sam settles down somewhat. "How have you been Joannie?"
"Enjoying my own room."
~Yeah right.~ "It's not lonely?"
"Are you kidding? I love it."
~Hmm~
"How do you like having your own place?"
"It gets quiet sometimes but it's wonderful overall."
"Quiet? You mean Noah doesn't make enough noise?"
"He's not over there 24/7." ~More like every once in a blue moon.~
"Well, that's a waste."
"Yeah but it's good when he's there."
"I think Sam misses Molly. You ought of bring the two of them by sometime."
"Ok, I heard Molly likes to dress him up."
"You should have seen Sam in a cowboy hat."
Nancy laughs.
Abby comes down stairs and looks in on the girls. "So you're going out tonight?"
"Yes."
"Good." She heads off to see if Tom is home.
"So where are we going?" Joannie asks again.
"I thought we'd go to that new place."
"The one where all the fast crowd hangs out?"
"If you don't want to go there we can go somewhere else."
"No, I'll try it. Just don't tell Dad or Grandpa Harry."
"I won't don't worry."
Tom is in their room hiding from Harry.
Abby gives him a kiss. "We need to talk."
"Oh? Sounds Serious."
"It is. When's the last time you had a real talk with Nancy?"
"I don't know. Oh when she told me she was moving out. Why?"
"Did Max ever talk to you about her getting hurt in the earthquake? I don't just mean knocked around a little. She's got terrible scars on her back."
"What?!? No she didn't." Tom says. "But why didn't Max say anything?"
"I don't know. Nancy just kept sliding away from the topic. You might want to ask him yourself."
Tom goes over to the phone and calls Max.
Max answers. "Hello."
"Greg, its Tom." he says. He explains to him about Nancy. "Did you know about any of this?"
"It's possible it could've happened in the Earthquake, I didn't check her back then." He says. ~If she doesn't remember why put them through it.~
"Greg, Abby says the scars are pretty pronounced, if you know something. Tell us."
"Tom I don't know where they came from."
"OK, Greg. Thanks Anyway."
"Not a problem." He hangs up feeling guilty about lying to his best friend.
When Tom hangs up Abby anxiously asks, "Well?"
"At first he said it was an earthquake, now he tells me he doesn't know. Apparently something is up."
"Well, she wouldn't tell me anything about it. Maybe you'd have better luck."
"I'll try, is she still here?"
"I think so. She and Joannie were planning to go out, but not until after dinner."
Tom goes downstairs. "Nancy?"
She comes out of the sunroom after talking to Joannie. "Hi Dad."
"Hi Nancy, may I speak with you in my study?"
"Ok," they go in his study.
"Nancy, Abby told me about your scars. Are you OK?"
"Yes it's not like they hurt or anything."
"But where did they come from?"
"Most likely from the Earthquake, I don't know for sure."
"But why didn't you mention it to us before?"
"I didn't know about them til Mary saw them, and there's no really no point in worrying anyone. There's more important things going on in this house."
"What do you mean, more important things? You are my daughter and you qualify under that heading."
"Dad I'm an adult now, you don't have to worry about me anymore."
"So is David, Mary, Joannie and Susan; and I worry about them. So what gives?"
"Dad with everything that's happened, I think I've used up my quota."
"Nobody is keeping score."
Nancy sighs. "Dad please don't worry." She gives him a kiss. "I'm going to check on what time dinner is." She leaves the study.
Tom just sits there. Abby walks in.
"How did it go?"
"I really don't know, she talked in circles."
"So what are we going to do?"
"Just keep our eyes and ears open."
"I hate just waiting," Abby grumbles.
"Me too, but in short of putting a bright light on her in a dark room and interrogating her, There is nothing else we can do."
"Joannie wouldn't stop short of that. She'll be spending the evening with Nancy--maybe we should ask her to see what she can find out."
"Might be worth a try."
"Can't hurt. However she got those scars, though, must have." Abby shudders.
Tom goes to the door and calls for Joannie.
"You bellowed, dear father?" Joannie says.
"Abby and I need a favor."
"Having the grown ups owe you one is always good. This doesn't involve public nudity or anything?"
Tom chuckles. "No." He then explains to her about Abby seeing Nancy scars and Nancy's explanation. "So will you try and find out what's going on?"
"I can try. But if she won't talk, what do you want me to do? Interrogate her under bright lights?"
"Funny you should mention that." Tom says.
"Huh?"
"Never Mind." Tom says. "So you'll look out for her?"
"Sure, Dad. That's what a big sister is for."
"Thank you Honey."
After dinner, Nancy and Joannie go out. They go to that new place first.
"What will you have!!" The waitress yells over the music.
"A coke!!"
The waitress turns to Joannie. "And you!!"
"The same!!!"
A little while later there's a break in the music.
"I'm deaf now, you?" Nancy jokes.
"Huh? I can't hear you."
"What?!"
Joannie laughs.
So does Nancy, they spend a little more time there and then hit a few more clubs. Later in a diner.
"When's your next play?"
"Not for a while. Summer break. What are you working on now?"
"Winter fashions for a Winter catalog."
"All bundled up. Hope the studio has good air conditioning."
"It does, but it doesn't always help."
"Great beauty comes at a great price."
"Huh?" Nancy says having nodded a off for a second. "Sorry it's not you."
"Maybe I should get you home," Joannie says. "Brad will kill me if his star shows up half asleep."
"But I'm having fun." She protests.
"Bed for you, young lady."
"Oh all right." She hands Joannie the keys and pays the check.
"Sorry we had to cut the night short," Joannie says as she drives Nancy home.
"Don't worry about it, it's all right. The important thing is did you have a good time?"
"I did," Joannie admits. "I didn't think I would, but I did. We have to do it again sometime, when you're not so sleepy."
"Good idea, it's a date."
"Want me to see you in?"
"Sure, do you want to stay over?" She asks too exhausted to remember about the nightmares.
"A slumber party? Sounds like fun."
Nancy smiles. "I don't know how much fun I'll be while I'm asleep." She unlocks the door and they go inside.
"That's OK. Just beware when you wake...." Joannie pretends to threaten.
She laughs. "Hey do you have to call Dad or anything?"
"After we get you to bed."
"Ok, which bedroom do you want?"
"You mean I don't get to stay in yours?"
"Huh?" She says sleepily. "Of course you do." She goes to bed.
Joannie tucks Nancy in then calls home.
Mary answers the phone. "At this hour you better be my secret lover."
"Sorry, Mary, you're not my type."
"Hey Joannie, everything all right?"
"Yeah. I'm just going to be sleeping over at Nancy's tonight. Didn't want anyone to worry."
"Ok, did you want me to tell Dad and Abby? Or do you want to talk to them?"
"No, you can tell them. As long as someone knows."
"Will do, goodnight Joannie."
"Sleep well."
"You too." She says before hanging up.
In the middle of night.
"No, get away!! Stay back!!" Nancy shouts in her sleep and starts thrashing.
"Wah?" Joannie wakes from the screaming. "Nance...Hey, Nancy, wake up."
She awakens with a start and finally calms down a little when she realizes she's awake and no longer dreaming. "Sorry I woke you." She finally says something.
"You OK? You sounded pretty scared."
"I think." She says a little jittery.
"Want to talk about it?"
"I can't even remember what it was about."
"Who was it you wanted to stay away from you?" Joannie prods.
She thinks it over but still can't remember the guys face. "I don't know."
"Want a snack?"
"Yeah."
"Got pie and ice cream?"
She nods. "Yeah come on let's go raid it."
Joannie goes to Nancy's closet to find a robe. ~None of Noah's clothing in here...~
Nancy finds an extra robe and hands it to Joannie and then she puts hers on. ~Why is she looking in my closet like that?~
As Joannie fixes the pie a la mode she asks, "So where's Noah tonight?"
~Not here that's for sure.~ "He's probably at home sleeping."
"Giving you the night off, huh?"
"Yeah something like that."
"Lucky for you. This way if Dad and Abby ask, I don't have to lie."
"Why would you have to lie anyway?"
"Oh, come on, don't tell me Noah doesn't practically live here."
"Do we have to talk about Noah right now?"
~Well, woof.~ "No, I guess not. So what should we talk about?"
"Abby said that there's been a problem with Dad and Grandpa Harry, what's your take on the situation?"
"You don't want to hear it."
"That annoying eh?"
"Not annoying.. Just kinda--well, strange."
"Yeah I don't like being around it."
"Maybe Dad's just jealous. Instead of Abby hugging him all the time, she's Daddy's Little Girl."
"Poor Abby, being in the middle like that."
"Poor Abby? I think she thrives on it. If she didn't want to be in the middle she could tell ol' Harry to lay off."
"Maybe she has and you just haven't heard her say it."
"Think Harry tells her no? If he does, maybe he could teach Dad the skill."
"It will never happen."
"Harry teaching or Dad learning?" Joannie laughs.
Nancy laughs also. "Both."
Joannie starts putting away the food. "You think you could sleep now?"
"I hope, hey can we keep that bad dream between us?"
"Of course. We all have them now and then."
~More like almost every night.~ "Thanks Joannie." They go back to bed.
The next morning Katherine finds Harry on the sunporch.
"Harry we need to talk."
"What's wrong, dear?"
"I was thinking about a few things that you said, and you're right. Men your age and Tom's need to take better care of themselves. That being said I'm putting you on a new diet."
"What? But Katherine, I just had my annual checkup. I'm in perfect health."
"Now Harry, at your age, things can sneak up on you."
"Yes--like my wife. What have you and Sandra Sue cooked up this time?"
"You are so paranoid."
"That's how I got to be senior partner in one of the most prestigious law firms in this state."
She hands him the new diet plan.
"It's Thomas who needs to watch himself, not me," Harry says, ripping the pages in half.
"You're not getting my copy of it." She rises and walks away
"And you're not getting me to eat any of that rabbit food," Harry fumes.
She smiles and goes to find her daughter.
Abby is in the dining room, working. "How did it go?"
"Just like you predicted he tore up his copy of the diet plan."
"One of these days Dad will do something totally unexpected and then I'll be the one who has the heart attack. So--it's on to stage two?"
"Don't even joke about that." Katherine says. "Yes on to stage two."
"I almost feel sorry for Dad."
"Don't feel sorry for him, feel sorry for us we'll have to deal with the both of them."
"Yipes."
"Don't worry we'll do fine."
"For once, they'll even have something to agree on."
"And it's about time."
"Why does Dad dislike Tom so much, anyway?"
"It's not that he doesn't like Tom. It's just that he thinks that no one is good enough for his little girl."
"I don't remember him being quite this bad towards Frank."
"Well he was."
"Maybe I just didn't mind it as much because Frank didn't. See, Tom's very touchy when it comes to his pride, and when Dad gets on him in front of the kids..."
"And you want me to try talking to him again."
"Would you?"
"Of course."
Abby hugs Katherine. "Thanks, Mom."
She goes to talk to Harry.
"I told you, I'm not going on that ridiculous diet," Harry grumbles as soon as he sees his wife.
"Oh yes you are, unless..."
"What are you scheming, Katherine Mitchell?"
"I want you to lay off of Tom."
"Why on earth would I want to do that?"
"Because, it's hurting him and it's hurting the children. And I won't stand for that."
"It's hurting him? Katherine, our daughter has married a man almost old enough to be her father, with a house full of children, a barely adequate job, and ill health. I have no idea what she sees in him."
"She loves him and that's all you should need to know."
"Sandra Sue has never had two bits of sense when it comes to men and you know it. That football player was bad enough, but this..."
"It's not your opinion that matters here it's hers. She's the one who has to live with him not you."
"Not if he doesn't watch his diet. At least the football player was healthy."
"Why do you have to be so difficult?"
"Because I'm worried about our daughter. You remember what it was like when Frank died. Do you want her going through that again?"
"No, but you're not making things easy for either one of them."
"Maybe it's all my fault," Harry muses. "Did I fail her? Maybe if she didn't have enough of a father figure in her childhood. Maybe I should have spent less time at the office..."
"No you didn't fail her, but you're failing her now." Katherine leaves the room.
"Katherine!"
"What?"
"Do I have to *like* him?"
"No you don't have to like him."
"Fine. So what is it you want me to do exactly?"
"Stop making him feel bad for starters."
"What do I make him feel bad about?"
She lists off everything.
"I haven't heard such a list of requirements since I made partner."
"I know it's long, but I know you can accomplish this."
"What incentive do I have?"
"I'll let you cheat on your diet every now and then."
"How about you forget that diet altogether."
"How bout we see how you do first."
"How about when I'm hungry I'm less likely not to speak my mind."
~Sheesh he acts like a little boy.~ "Ok we'll get rid of the diet."
"And I'll be charming. I know--I'll pretend Tom is a prestigious, if obnoxious, client."
"Well that's an improvement."
"I could be bribed to do even better."
She smiles. "What do you have in mind?"
He pulls Katherine close and whispers a few suggestions.
They go upstairs and lock one of the doors.
Abby goes looking for her parents before she clears away breakfast. "Mom? Dad?" she says, surprised to find the sunporch empty. "Hmm... that's strange."
Mary comes in. "What's strange?"
"My mother came in here to talk to my father, but they've gone. I don't see them in the yard..."
"Maybe they went upstairs."
"My parents? In the middle of the day? With all of us home?"
"Why not?"
"Mary, they're my *parents.*"
"Abby, this is going to be hard to take, it was hard for me to take when I found out about my own self. The stork did not drop you off on their doorstep."
"Maybe not in Sacramento. In Pasadena, it's strictly storks."
Mary laughs.
"My parents," Abby shakes her head and sighs. "Another myth shattered...."
"It'll be ok." Mary says.
"I may never be the same again," Abby says dramatically.
"Sure you will, at least we can hope."
"I have got to tell your father about this."
"I'm sure he'll love to hear it."
"Every good journalist keeps blackmail material on the competition."
"True."
Abby stares up the stairway, shaking her head.
"Come on there's a good movie on tv."
"My parents...in the middle of the day..." Abby says as she follows along.
Mary tries not to laugh.
Meanwhile at Nancy's, she wakes up before Joannie and starts breakfast.
About an hour later Joannie starts stirring.
Nancy pokes her head in. "Rise and shine sis, breakfast is ready."
Joannie grumbles and buries her head under the pillow.
"Want another hour?"
"At least. What time is it?"
"10:14am."
"Oh, no, I'm late."
"For what?"
"I've got a hot date for lunch."
"Oh, sorry I didn't know I would have set the alarm for you."
"No, that's ok. So did you sleep well the rest of the night?"
"Yes, no more scary dreams."
"Good. So what's for breakfast."
"French toast and sausage links."
"Yum. So what are you waiting for? Serve."
"Oh you want breakfast in bed I see, well ok." She goes to put it on a tray and brings it to her.
"You spoil me."
"You deserve to be spoiled every now and then."
"So do you. Come spend the night in my room and I'll make you breakfast in bed."
"I'd love to Joannie, but.."
"But what?"
"Do you think it would be like coming home?"
"What's wrong with coming home for a visit?"
"You know what? Nothing is wrong with that." She smiles. "When shall I come over?"
"As soon as you'd like. Tonight?"
"Ok, I'll be there."
"Cool." Joannie eats her breakfast. "Living alone's sure improving your cooking fast."
"Thank you, you're so kind."
"Maybe we ought to get Dad his own apartment."
Nancy laughs. "Let's."
"The whole family will thank us."
"That's for sure."
Joannie gets out of bed. "OK, I've got to get moving."
"Ok," Nancy takes the tray away and cleans up a little while Joannie gets ready.
After Joannie's dressed and ready to go she asks, "So you'll come over for dinner and then stay the night?"
"Of course, you can count on me."
"Great. I'll see you then." Joannie gives her sister a hug. She heads out to the street, finds a pay phone and calls home. Afterwards she heads over to the Register.