New Tunes, Part 3

A few days later after getting a clean bill of health from Dr. Max Nancy finds Joannie on the sun porch. "Joannie we need to talk."

"What's on your pretty little mind of yours?" Joannie ask.

Nancy sits down beside her. "What's this I've heard about you losing your nerve?"

"I just want to make sure that I have some options if the acting career does not work...." Joannie stop in mid sentence and starts crying.

Nancy hands her a tissue. "Ok what happened, and don't leave anything out."

"It has not been a slow summer for auditions like I told Abby. I have had 6 auditions this summer, and I have not been able even one part. I don't think I have it anymore." Joannie begins weeping again.

Nancy hugs her. ~I am so worried about her she hasn't been herself lately.~

"Little sister, I'm sorry for bothering you with my little problems. You need to take care of yourself instead of having to worry about me."

Nancy sighs and stands up. "The problems aren't little if it's got you in tears."

"You been a better sister then I have . I'm sorry I was not there for you when you were going through that rough patch of life a few months ago. I am a real selfish bi...brat."

"Joannie we already put that behind us, you were going through a hard time too."

"If the acting career fails, my minor is in communication. Maybe I can be a tv news person." Joannie smiles.

Nancy hugs her back. "There's a thought but it won't fail."

"I have a idea if your up for it. Lets go visit Holly. Maybe we can take her to get ice cream."

"I'd like to but they're out of town til next weekend."

"I guess we wait till then. She such a good kid and she knows how to dress Sam." Joannie smiles.

Nancy laughs but soon her laughter turns to tears.

"Let it all out, kid. I know it hurts. I wish I could take the pain away, but I can't."

Nancy just cries in her arms.

After a few minutes, Joannie hands Nancy a tissue.

"Hey kid, let's go to the ice cream shop, it'll be my treat."

"Ok."

Joannie gets her purse.

"Are you ready Nancy?"

"Yes, and thanks Joannie." They leave.

Joannie and Nancy returns home from getting ice cream. The phone rings, and Joannie answers.

"Hello! Yes this is Joannie Bradford." The person on the other line speaks and Joannie has sad look on her face. " I see, thank you for calling." Joannie hangs up the phone and runs up to her room in tears.

Abby passes her in the hallway. "Joannie, what's wrong?"

"I won't have to worry about getting any calls while I am at your parents' house," Joannie says while she is crying.

"You got a call about that part? But I thought the audition wasn't even until Monday."

"They canceled the whole thing, not enough money to fund the play."

"That's terrible, Joannie. But there will be other plays."

"Getting what you deserve? What do you mean by that. Joannie, you're still in college. You don't have to get every role you try out for."

"Abby, I told Dad it was a slow summer in auditions for plays. That's not the complete truth. I had audition for six other plays and I have not even come close of getting a role. I am just getting what I deserve."

"Getting what you deserve? What do you mean by that. Joannie, you're still in college. You don't have to get every role you try out for."

"The way I treated you, Dad, and Nancy. I am just selfish brat who just getting what she
deserves." Joannie breaks down in tears again.

Abby puts her arms around Joannie. "Whatever happens here at home has nothing to do with you getting parts."

"Abby, I believe in that saying. 'What goes around, comes around' and it is coming around big time."

~OK, I see that reason isn't going to get us anywhere today....~ "Maybe, with everything that's been happening at home, you just haven't been totally focused when you went to audition. Taking the rest of the summer off and just relaxing might not be a bad idea."

"Abby, your probably right. Thank you for listening. I know your not my mom, but I am really glad to have you around. I know I can repair all the damage that I have done. I just want to have
relationship with you that I can come to you when I have a problem." Joannie gives Abby a hug.

"Of course you can come to me," Abby says, wiping the tears from Joannie's cheeks. "You always could have."

"I guess I was just a little blind." Joannie smiles a little.

"Not blind. Maybe just a little confused."

"Maybe after you and dad come back from the cruise, all of us girls have a girls day out."

"I'd like that," Abby answers.

"Do you think we can include Holly and her mom. They have had a bad few months."

"Hmmm. I think you'd better ask Nancy about that first."

"Good idea! I just hope I never have to know how it feels to lose a child." Joannie says in a sad tone.

"Me, too."

"I better go talk to Nancy about the plans after you come back. Do you need help with dinner?" Joannie ask.

"I never say no to help in the kitchen."

"Except for if any of the Bradford men offers to help." Joannie laughs.

"Well, I don't consider those offers of *help*."

"Yea, those are offer to torture. Maybe Nicholas is still young enough to be the first male Bradford to learn how to cook."

"I don't know. The lack of ability might be genetic."

"He has some ability, He makes a good peanut butter and jelly beans sandwich." Joannie laughs. "Oh! I better find Nancy so I talk to her about the plans for girls day out." Joannie gives Abby a hug and leaves her room.

Joannie knocks on Nancy's door.

"Come in!!"

Joannie walks in. "Hey Nancy!"

"Joannie why are you yelling?"

"Sorry, I did not mean to yell. Guess what, I won't have to worry about getting any phone calls while I am at Grandpa Harry's."

"Is Susan going also?" Nancy asks worried that she'll wind up in charge.

"I don't know. Abby and I talked about us women getting together for an all day girl's day out. What you think?"

"Sounds good to me."

"I do have one question. Is it ok if Holly and her mom get invited?"

~This is too much too soon.~ "Joannie, why this sudden interest in Holly and her mom?"

Joannie sees the look on Nancy's face. "I am sorry if I said the wrong thing. It just that Holly and her mom maybe could use some company. We both have each other and our other siblings. Holly I think could use some attention. I am just glad I have had not to feel what is like to lose a sister or a brother." Joannie says in a sad tone.

"You didn't say the wrong thing it's a good idea.... Hey Joannie I'm going out for awhile can we talk later?"

"Sure little sis. Have fun. Oh bye the way do you know where Nicholas is?" Joannie says while leaving the room.

"No I don't." Nancy leaves the house.

After dinner, Abby asks Tom, "Do you have to work tonight?"

"Uh, I don't know...it's something I usually do, why?"

"It's a beautiful night. I though maybe we could take a walk."

"How can I pass that up?" He says. "OK."

"Good. Just let me finish washing the dishes and I'm all yours."

"I'll dry." he says as he grabs a towel. "Why isn't one of the kids helping?"

Abby shrugs. "Besides, I prefer having you here."

"I prefer to be here." Tom smiles "It seems the chores are getting lax around here."

Joannie comes walking in the kitchen. "Do you want me to finish the dishes for you?"

Abby sneaks a quick look at Tom before saying, "No, Joannie, that's all right. We've got it under control."

"Ok , You two have fun." Joannie smiles as she leaves the kitchen.

"But thank you." Tom says.

Abby starts to wash the dishes faster.

"You missed a spot." He tells her.

Abby glares at him. "Forgive me, o great dish-washing expert."

Tom smiles. "Just trying to help."

Abby hands him the re-washed dish. "Then dry."

He does as he is told and winks at her.

Abby smiles, shakes her head, and finishes the dishes.

Meanwhile outside on her walk, Nancy glances over at Noah's family's house and continues walking. Truth was they weren't out of town at all and she would love to go and see Holly but lately it was becoming too much to handle. Anytime she went over there, Noah and Holly's mom would go on and on about Noah and how much she missed him. Nancy didn't begrudge that not at all. She felt bad for his family but she couldn't handle it. She wasn't ready to help Noah and Holly's mom through her grief, it was easier with Holly. And she certainly wasn't ready for
Joannie to keep suggesting that they go over there. She winds up at the cemetery. "I don't know how to help your mom Noah I'm sorry." She starts crying. She stays there for awhile, talking to him until she cries herself to sleep.

Joannie goes outside and she sees Nicholas.

"Hey Nicky."

"Hey." he says.

"How are you doing kiddo?"

"I'm OK." he says. "Why?"

"Can we talk?"

"About what?"

"I just to say how sorry I am for the stunt I pulled about those signatures, and I am really sorry for using you like that."

Nicholas shrugs. "It's OK."

Joannie gives Nicholas a hug. "I never meant to hurt you kid."

"Stop the mushy stuff." he tells her.

"We are ok then?" Joannie asks.

"Yeah."

"I love you Nicholas."

"I love you too."

"Hey Nicholas, I bet you are glad that Kenny P is coming for a visit."

"Yeah, I missed him."

After finishing the dishes, Tom asks: "Ready to go?"

"Any time you are."

They go out walking.

Later that night. Mary knocks on Nancy and Elizabeth's bedroom door and sticks her head inside. "Hey Liz do you have that hat I let you borrow?" She glances around the room. "Where's your roommate did you kick her out for snoring?"

"Huh?" Liz glances over to the empty bed. "Where is she?"

"You mean she's not downstairs or something?" Mary asks now confused.

"Not that I saw."

"Hey has anyone seen Blondie!!" Mary shouts from the hallway.

"She's not in here." Tommy yells from his room.

Joannie enters the room. "Hey Liz, has your room mate return from her walk?"

"What walk?" Mary asks.

Joannie is starting to panic at this point. "She went out for a walk around 4 or so."

"But that was several hours ago. Did she seem upset about anything?" She knocks on Tom and Abby's door.

Joannie tells her about her talk with Nancy. "I told her I was sorry if I had upset her."

"Dad!! Abby!!"

Abby and Tom are still out on their after-dinner walk. "Great they're not home either."

"Lets split up. I go the cemetery, and you and Liz go the ice cream shop."

"Maybe we should wait for Dad and Abby."

"Maybe you guys should wait, but I am going out to find her."

"Joannie if she's upset about what you two talked about maybe it's best if you don't go out looking for her." Mary says and then sees the look on Joannie's face. "You told her your sorry now maybe it's best to give her some breathing room. When she's ready to tell you why it upset her she'll come to you."

"I need to make sure she's ok." Joannie leaves the house.

Mary looks out the window and sees Joannie has taken the sedan.

On their walk, after a few minutes of silence, Abby finally broaches what's on her mind. "Tom, do you think we should get someone to take a look at Joannie?"

"You mean besides the fact she has done 180 degree turn towards you?"

"Only 180 degrees? I can't breath without Joannie popping up somewhere, wanting to be helpful. Tom, she's beginning to scare me."

"I know." He admits. "I don't understand it either and I am her father."

"Maybe you should have a long talk with her. Maybe she'll explain herself to you."

"I can try."

"Otherwise, I don't know what to do with her. I could handle it better when she was hostile."

"Maybe she's finally growing up."

Abby shrugs. "I suppose you know her better than I do."

"Well one can hope."

"If instead of fighting with you Tommy was tripping over himself to help you--even when you didn't want or need help--what would you think?"

Tom gasps. "You have a point."

"So what do we do about her?"

"Find out what's going on."

"And how do we do that?"

"I'll talk to her when I get home."

"Thanks." Abby takes his arm and they keep walking.

Currently at the cemetery Nancy awakens, looks at her watch and sighs in relief. "Good it's not past curfew." She brushes herself off, glances at the grave one more time and starts to head home. She's lost in her own thoughts when she runs into Tom and Abby. "Sorry about that, didn't see you there, are you two ok?"

"Nancy, where have you been?" Abby asking, brushing some grass off Nancy's shoulder.

"I fell asleep while visiting Noah's grave." She says.

Abby gives Tom a look, and then puts her arm around Nancy's shoulders. "Why did you go visit his grave?"

"Because I was missing him and all upset again, and I was hoping I'd find some answers there about how to handle something." She says.

"Did you?"

"No."

"What got you so upset?"

"Joannie, but she didn't mean to. There's no way she could have known.  Holly and her parents didn't really go out of town." She tells them what's going on.

~Wonderful~ Tom thinks.

~I should have known Joannie would be involved,~ Abby thinks to herself. "When this first happened I told you it might be like this, remember?"

"Yes, but how do I handle it? I don't want them to feel like I deserted them."

Abby shrugs. "It isn't easy. You have to balance taking care of yourself and doing what you feel is right."

"I'm trying believe me."

"You know if there's anything I can do to help, I will."

"I know." She manages a smile.

"Should we send your father on ahead? If you want to, we can go get some ice cream and talk."

"I don't mind if he comes with us." She says feeling comfortable talking with both her parents.

"Thanks." he says.

"Well...." Abby considers. "OK, he's been watching himself. I guess an ice cream now and then won't hurt."

"Cute." he says

"Yes, you are."

Tom shakes his head.

"It might even be good for his morale," Nancy says.

"You interested, Tom?"

"Out on a date with two of my favorite gals? Of course."

Nancy smiles. "Let's go then."

They go to the ice cream parlor.

After they get their ice cream. Nancy observes the two of them. "I interrupted your walk, I'm sorry.'

"That's all right, Nancy," Abby says.
 
 
 

"Whew." She says. "Hey there's something else I wanted to talk about."

"Hmm?"
 
 
 

"If Susan goes to Pasadena I don't have to be in charge do I?"
 
"You could go to Pasadena, too."

"But what about Tommy's gig?"

"Tommy can stay with David. Or maybe we could ask the Maxwells if he could stay there. And if Joannie has the car, maybe some of you can come back to hear him, and they go back to my parents'."

"That will work, I'll go then."

"Tom, will you talk to David or Max?"

"David."

"He may not like being put in charge. Tommy can be a handful."

"Maybe I can bribe him." Tom thinks.

"Will that work with David?" Nancy asks.

"I don't know, depends if he's up to date on his rent or not."

Nancy laughs.

Tom half smiles.

Joannie goes to Noah's grave, but does not find Nancy. She gets back  to the car and starts driving around to find Nancy. She fails to see  the stop sign and gets broadsided on the passenger side. The other driver comes and checks on Joannie, who is unconscious. The other driver seeing this yells for someone to call a ambulance. The ambulance comes and takes Joannie to the hospital. A nurse calls the Bradford house to tell them.

Mary answers the phone. "Hello."

"Hello, is this Mr. or Mrs. Bradford?"

"They're not in right now, who's this?"

"Sacramento General. A Miss Joannie Bradford was brought in after she was involved in a car accident."

Mary pales. "Is she all right? I'm her sister Mary."

"When she was brought in she was still unconscious."

"I'll be right there." She says and after she hangs up she locates the insurance papers when Tom, Abby, and Nancy arrive home.

"Mary, what are you doing with the insurance papers?" Abby asks.

"It's Joannie she got in an accident." Mary says purposely leaving out why Joannie was out driving.

"Is she ok?" Nancy asks in a worried tone.

"I don't know yet honey." Mary says.

Abby hurries to get her purse. "You driving or am I?" Abby asks Tom.

Tom takes the keys.

At the hospital, Joannie starts coming around and sees Dr. Max. "Hi." She says weakly.

He smiles. "Hi honey how are you feeling?"

"I feel like I got ran over by a train. How is the sedan?"

"Don't worry about the car you just rest. There's no concussion but I want to wait till we can reach your Dad and Abby so they can take you home."

"How is the other driver?"

"The other driver is fine a little shaky but fine."

"Thank g-d." Joannie suddenly gets a sharp pain on her side. "Owww!"

Greg checks her over again and orders tests.

Later at the hospital while they're waiting for word. Nancy approaches Mary. "Why was Joannie out driving?"

"She was looking for you, we got worried when you were gone on your walk so long." Mary tells her.

Nancy's face clouds over. "It's my fault."

"No it's not." Mary tries to assure her. "Joannie's the one who chose to go looking."

"Yeah sure, if anything happens to her..." She starts crying and goes to the snack room.

Mary starts to go after her when Dr. Max approaches them. "Dr. Max how is she?"

"Tom, Abby can I talk to you two for a minute?" Greg says.

"Of course." Tom says. "how is she?"

"There's no concussion which is good. However she's complaining of sharp pains in her side. We're running tests right now to see what's going on."

"Thanks Max."

A little while later Greg returns with the results. Nancy's back from the snack area by now. He again asks to speak to Tom and Abby privately.

"What's the word?"

"We have to operate she has a ruptured spleen."

"Damn." Tom says.

"You have the papers for us to sign?" Abby asks.

"Yes right here." He hands them the papers.

Abby starts filling them out, knowing Tom's too upset for it right now.

When she's done Greg assures them that he'll be in there with her and then returns to Joannie.

"What did he say?" Nancy asks when they return to the waiting room.

"Joannie's spleen is ruptured. They're taking her in for surgery." Abby takes Tom hand and holds it.

"Oh no." Nancy's face goes very white.

"Nancy don't go there." Mary says knowing what she's probably thinking.

Nancy ignores her. "But she'll be ok right?" She asks not planning on forgiving herself anytime soon if she isn't.

"Of course she'll be OK." Tom tells her.

"She's being silly and blaming herself for this." Mary says out loud.

"Hey I thought we didn't squeal on each other." Nancy counters.

"This is one of those exceptions." Mary says.

"It's not your fault." Tom assures her.

"Dad she was looking for me when she got in the accident, Mary said."

"So? You didn't make her go look for you, did you?"

"No, but that doesn't make everything ok."

"Blaming yourself isn't going to solve anything...OK?"

She sighs and nods. "Ok."

"We might as well go sit down."

The four of them go to the waiting room to sit down and wait for word.

Meanwhile while Joannie is getting test done on her.

"Dad is going to kill me." Joannie keeps on repeating to herself.

Joannie sees Dr. Max coming back.

"What's the verdict Dr.Max?"

He tells her and she goes under the anesthesia before she can become scared.

When the surgery is done, Joannie is moved to the recovery room.

Max goes to tell the family that surgery went well and that Joannie is in recovery. Her sisters sigh in relief.

"When can we see her?" Mary asks.

"As soon as she's out of recovery. Tom and Abby you two can go in now."

"Thanks."

Greg nods and returns to Joannie.

After a hour in the recovery room, Joannie starts coming around.

"Doctor she's coming around." A nurse says. Greg goes over and examines her.

Joannie tries to talk but can't.

"Don't try to talk yet you're going to be ok."

"We're right here, Joannie," Abby says.

After a few minutes, Joannie regains the ability to talk. "Hi. Surgery go well Dr. Max?" Joannie says quietly.

"Shh. Rest," Abby says.

"Yes it did, you'll have to rest for awhile and stay with us a few days."

"How long is a few days?"

"Three days."

Joannie nods her head and falls asleep.

The next day Nancy comes by to see Joannie. "How are they treating you in here?"

"Please get me some real food, they are trying to kill me with their food here," Joannie says.

"Sheesh now you're sounding like me. I'll get you some food in a minute I wanted to apologize first."

"Nancy, you have nothing to sorry about. I am the one who should be sorry. I did not mean to upset you."

"Don't apologize till you've heard me out. I haven't been completely honest about things." She tells Joannie what's really going on with Noah's family.

"My advice to you little sis is to go over there when you are ready. I am sorry that I was pushing you into doing something when you  were not ready."

"It's ok, I'm sorry you got in an accident because you were looking for me."

"I am the one who choose to look for you. I thought you were at Noah's grave."

"I was but I fell asleep I must have woken and left before you got there."

"It is nobody's fault, It that darn cursed sedan fault." Joannie smiles weakly.

Nancy laughs but then turns serious. "Don't scare me like that again ok."

"Ok." Then a thought hits Joannie. "Oh no!"

"What?"

"Dad and Abby are supposed to go on their cruise. We need to make sure they don't cancel because of me. I can take care of myself."

"Joannie you'll be better by then, they don't leave for a couple of weeks."

"I thought it was this coming week." Joannie said in a relief tone.

"Hmm, I'm not sure which one of us is right, either way don't worry."

"You all probably think I have flip out a little on how I been around Abby lately. Don't deny it, I seen the look on everyone's faces."

"Ok that came out of left field." She turns to the nurse. "Is she on medication or something?"

"I am not medicated. I just want to get things out in the open. The bad thing about this family is we do not get on our minds out in the open. I want to change that."

"Of course she is," the nurse answers. "She just had surgery. I don't know if that would make her say things 'out of left field,' though."

"Thank you." She turns to Joannie. "Everyone is just surprised that's all. Maybe now isn't the best time."

"Ok, but I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Where is Dad and Abby?"

"I don't know."

"How about if you can get me some real food." Joannie gives a Sam pout.

"Sure, what will it be?"

"Some rocky road ice cream would be good. I knew the Sam pout would work." Joannie teases.

"Ha ha." Nancy says and goes to get the ice cream On the way there she bumps into a guy.

"I'm sorry are you all right?" The guy asks wondering why she's staring at him like she is.

~No it can't be it's impossible.~ Nancy's unable to speak she just continues to stare not believing her eyes. "Noah?"

Another guy comes over. "Matt come on man we're going to be late, stop flirting."

"Leave me alone." The guy who looks like Noah says. "No my name's Matt."

He says to Nancy. "Sorry." He and his friend leave.

Nancy takes some time to recover from the encounter before bringing the ice cream to Joannie.

"What's the delay?" Joannie teases.

"Sorry, I ran into someone that looked a lot like someone I used to know. Turned out to be a complete stranger."

"What is the matter kid? I can tell that something is wrong by the look on your face."

"You'll think I'm nuts."

"No I won't. You can tell me anything."

"He looked like Noah."

"I know how you are feeling right now. I have not told anyone this. The first couple months after Mom was gone, I swear I saw her every place I went." Joannie tells her while tears are starting to fall.

Nancy's about to say this isn't the same thing that this guy really did look like him but doesn't she just hugs her and after visiting with Joannie she goes home.

Part 4