New Tunes, Part 4

Abby, who'd arrived at the hospital while Nancy was visiting, goes into Joannie's room shortly after Nancy leaves.

"Hi Abby."

"Hi, Joannie. I brought you some ice cream--figured it would be a treat after hospital food."

"Thanks Abby. How are you doing?"

"Everything at home is fine."

There a few moments of silence. "Abby, I hope I did not ruin yours and Dads plans?"

"Don't worry about that. You just concentrate on getting better."

"I can take care of myself, I just don't want you and Dad to not go because of me. That would make me feel a lot better."

"Joannie, your father and I will do what we think is best, OK?"

"Ok. When I become rich and famous, I will send you and Dad anywhere you want to go."

"And you'll invite us to all your premiers?"

"Of course darling." Joannie laughs.

"I'll bribe the local drama critic into letting your father review you."

"I'll make sure there won't be any nude scenes." Joannie smiles.

"I'm sure he'll thank you for that."

"Poor Dad. The look on his face was priceless."

"Sort of the look he had when we all thought he'd had a heart attack."

"I like how you handle him after he found out he did not have a heart attack. He thought he could eat anything wanted but you let him have it good." Joannie chuckles.

"It wasn't easy."

"I can believe that. I hope You and Nancy are not the only two that plan to come visit me."

"Of course not. I guess everyone wanted to give you a chance to rest a little before the invasion, though."

"It gets a little bit lonely being stuck here."

"Then I'll tell the troops the invasion can proceed."

"Thank you Abby."

"I'd better go tell them--they're anxiously waiting to come."

"Ok. Could I have a hug?"

"Of course." Carefully, Abby hugs Joannie.

"Is Nicholas home, I want to let him know that I am ok."

"He should be." Abby reaches over and gives Joannie the phone.

Joannie dials the phone number.

Tommy answers the phone. "Hello."

"Hi little brother."

"Joannie, how are you?"

"Besides feeling like I got ran over by a train, I am doing pretty good."

"Good, I'll try to be over tonight after practice."

"Ok. Is Nicholas there by any chance?"

"No, he's over at Kenny P's Uncle's place."

"Can you let him know that I am ok. How is Nicholas taking it."

"He's OK, Dad and Abby played down the accident so he wouldn't worry too  much."

"Anyone else home besides you?"

"Let me check." Tommy says. "Joannie's on the phone." He yells out.

"Then tell her to hang up the phone and get some rest!!" Mary yells back.

"Did you hear that?" Tommy asks Joannie.

"What did you say. I think the yelling has made me deaf." Joannie jokes.

Later at home, Nancy's outside glancing at Noah's family's house contemplating whether to go over there and warn them or not.

She's about to go over there when Matt and his friend pull into their driveway and go knock on the door. She sees Noah's mother hug Matt and then the young men go into the house. ~Maybe he's a distant cousin of Noah's?~ She considers going over there to check it out but changes
her mind and goes inside instead. She hears the phone ringing and since Elizabeth isn't there she answers it. "Hello?"

"Nancy?"

"Yes it's me."

"Honey I think you'd better get over here." Noah's mom says.

"Why?" Nancy asks not feeling too good about it.

"Just come over you'll see." She hangs up the phone.

Nancy goes over to the house and Noah's parents show her Matt. "You see he didn't really die he's right here."

Matt almost panics remembering her from the hospital but soon regains his composure.

Nancy glares at him. "What are you trying to pull?"

Matt's friend intervenes. "Nancy I know it must be a shock to see Noah again and I know it's sudden."

"This isn't Noah!! And how do you know my name?!"

"Of course it's him honey." Noah's mom tries to assure her.

"No it's not I saw them at the hospital earlier. His name is Matt." Nancy insists.

"Babe why are you doing this? I thought you loved me." Matt says pretending to be Noah.

"You stay away from me." Nancy says and walks out of there and goes back home not knowing whether she should call the police about this or what they can do about this.

At that moment Abby walks in. "Did you see my...Nancy, are you OK?"

"No Abby I'm not ok."

"What's wrong?"

"I saw a guy at the hospital earlier and I thought it was Noah but it wasn't he told me his name was Matt and apparently he didn't know who I was or he would have lied to me then, but wait it gets better. He's over there with Noah's parents and he and his friend have them convinced that
he is Noah."

"Why would someone do something that cruel?"

"I don't know what their motives are, but I don't like this one bit." She says angrily.

"How are his parents taking it?"

"They are very happy. I'm worried about what those guys are after and how he's parents and Holly will be when they discover it's a hoax."

"They'll be devastated."

"I know, and there has to be something that can be done."

"He's probably doing something illegal, stealing another person's identity. The question is, who'd press charges."

"Can the police do that on their own in a crime like that?"

"I don't know. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask."

Nancy nods and dials the number. Meanwhile at Noah's parents house. ~That's not my brother.~ Holly thinks to herself. ~Mommy and Daddy must be pretending to believe him.~ She shakes her head, goes outside, and then knocks on the Bradford's front door.

Abby answers it. "Holly! What are you doing here?"

"Some guy is pretending to be my brother." She says. "Can I come in?"

"Of course you can. Do your parents know where you are?"

She shakes her head no and Nancy finishes talking to the police.

"They're on their way over to their house." She says before she sees Holly.

"I came here because I knew Nancy didn't believe them either."

"Maybe you two should have a little talk, make some plans," Abby suggests. "But not too long, or Holly's parents will begin to worry."

Nancy nods and she and Holly talk a little.

Moments later at Noah's parents house after his friend has left.

"Sure my son has no problem taking a blood test." Noah's Dad says to the police.

Matt panics inside. ~Oh no.~ "Dad why should I have to do that. Why do I have to prove anything to the police?"

"Honey don't worry as soon as they discover it's really you they'll apologize." Noah's mom says.

"But I hate needles."

~Since when? He's always been brave about shots and blood tests are much less painful.~

"I'll be right back." Matt says. He goes upstairs and sneaks out of the house, he then meets his friend in a hotel room.

Soon the police and Noah's parents discover they're gone. "I don't think they'll be back." Noah's mom says in an angry tone.

"Sure they will." Noah's dad says not realizing yet that it was a hoax.

"Honey that wasn't Noah." She says and then looks around. "Where's Holly?"

"Of course it was, and she probably went over to the Bradford's house." He says.
 
"I'm going to get her then, but when I get back we need to have a long talk." She says to him. After picking up Holly they have that talk and she finally makes him realize it was a scam and he breaks down and cries in her arms. She cries also and when they're through crying they become very angry and file charges against the young men.

Nancy goes over to see them briefly to see how they're holding up and a little while later returns home. "His mother figured it out and got his dad to figure it out also." She tells Abby.

"How are they holding up?"

"Not too good." Nancy sighs. "The police are looking for those guys right now."

"You told them what you know?"

"Yes, which isn't really much. I don't know how it will help the police find them."

"Well, having a name is a start. And they can try to find out why he was at the hospital."

"True," she says and then sighs again. "And another thing they're having a squad car keep an eye on their house and ours."

"Ours? You're father's going to love that...."

"They don't want to take chances in case those guys figure out that I'm the one who called the police and they don't want to risk them going back to Noah's parents house and causing trouble."

"I can understand that. I'll deal with Tom."

"Thank you." ~Why would Dad be upset that I'm getting protection?~

When Tom comes home from work that afternoon, Abby is waiting for him with tea.

"Tea?" he says.

Abby nods. "And conversation."

"Uh oh...who and what." Tom says as he sits down.

"Well, who do you want first--Nancy or us?"

"Us? What's wrong with us?"

"We can't go away. Not with Joannie recovering from surgery."

"I know, I was thinking about that today. I'm sorry." Tom says.

Abby shrugs. "I never really thought we'd end up going, anyway. But it was a lovely dream."

"Yeah it was." Tom sighs. "Maybe we can postpone it for a month."

"That's getting too close to the school year."

Tom nods. "Tahoe?"

"Maybe we shouldn't try to make plans. Less disappointment when they don't come through."

"One day I'll make it up to you, I promise." Tom vows.

"It's OK," Abby assures him.

"You said something about Nancy?"

Abby explains what happened with the Noah look-alike. "They'll be watching our house to make sure he doesn't come back to get even with her for blowing the whistle."

"Poor Nancy." Tom says.

"She seemed to be handling it pretty well."

"That's good." Tom says. "Did you see Joannie today?"

Abby nods. "I went to the hospital, and I know Nancy's been there, but I don't know who else has been."

"I planned on going during work, but got tied up. I'll go see her now before it gets too late. How is she?"

"She seems to be OK--it didn't look like she was in pain. She was very friendly."

"That's good.'' Tom says.

"I suppose. Maybe I was too harsh about her. Maybe she really has turned herself around."

"Only time will tell I guess." he says rising. "I'll be back in a little  while."

"I'll keep your dinner warm."

He kisses her. "Thank you."

"Go, already."

Currently at a hotel somewhere in Sacramento.

"It had to be her. Who else could it have been who ratted on us?"

"Settle down man let's just get out of town while the trail is still cold." Matt says.

"No way we could have made a lot of money with that con and that witch is not going to get away with screwing it up."

"Let it go, if we go back there and take care of her there's a bigger chance that the police will catch us."

"I'm going back there to settle things are you coming with me or not?"

"Fine but I still think this is stupid." They leave for the Bradford house and hide when they see the squad cars. "What now genius?"

"We wait, they have to fall asleep sometime." They wait and wait, and are very disappointed when the officers are relieved some time later.

"Come on let's get out of here."

"Not till we get even."

Nancy comes outside to put a bag in the trashcan. They're about to jump on her when they hear a voice behind them.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you son." They're both cuffed and read their rights. One officer puts them in the car while another one approaches Nancy.

"They won't be bothering you anymore." He tells her.

Nancy watches them being put in the squad car. "Thank you but can I have a moment of their time please? You'll be there the whole time right and they are cuffed?" He nods and takes her to them. She basically reads them the riot act, thanks the officers, and then goes inside. "They
caught them." She tells Tom and Abby.

"Good," Abby says. "The officers outside told you?"
 
Nancy nods not having any idea how close she came to being attacked outside. "Yep, and that's a load off my mind."

"Mine, too."

"Score one for the Sacramento P.D." Tom says. "Nancy, you OK?"

"Yeah Dad I'm ok," Nancy smiles and hugs them both.

"Are you sure? It can't be easy."

Nancy sits down and takes a deep breath and let's it out before continuing. "No it's not easy but the only way I could have made it through today is by being brave about it. When all I could think is I wish it really would have been Noah and not a con artist."

"I know." he says. "Look, I have to go see Joannie. If you want to talk later."

"Ok."

Tom leaves for the hospital.

~But I needed to talk now. Oh well, bad timing on my part.~

"I think there may still be some pudding from last night in the refrigerator," Abby says. "We can have some, sit and talk, if you want to."

"I'd like that." Nancy says.

Abby prepares two bowls of pudding. "We can go out to the sun porch--more privacy."

"Ok," Nancy takes hers while Abby takes her and then they go out to the sun porch. "I still can't believe today."

"It was pretty amazing. I wonder how they knew about Noah."
 

"I don't know, and I don't think I even want to know how their minds work."

"You'd rather just close the door and lock it, right?"

"At times like this, yes."

"Things you lock inside have a way of coming back out to haunt you."

"Then what do I do when my first instinct is to lock it up inside?"

"Talk."

"Well what I said to Dad before he went to go and see Joannie.... What I would give if it really would have been Noah and not some con artist. Abby I want to tear them apart for what they did."

"I can understand that."

"What if Holly would've believed them, heck what if I hadn't of seen him at the hospital earlier..."

"You still wouldn't have been taken in. You're smart enough to know that sometimes there's a difference between what we want and what we can have. And you knew Noah well enough to know that he wouldn't have let you believe he was dead if he wasn't."

"You're right he never would have done something like that and thanks for the compliment but all the brains in the world are no match when the heart decides to lead."

"If it came down to that--you wouldn't have been taken in for long. Your heart would have known it wasn't Noah."

Tears well in her eyes. "You're even more right on that."

Abby gives her a hug.

Nancy hugs her also.

Joannie is in her room, watching TV. Tom walks in. "Anything good on?"

"Hi Dad. Nothing good on right now."

"How are you feeling?"

"Sore and very hungry. How about yourself?"

"I thought you might say that. I brought you Chinese.'' he pulls a bag from behind his back.

"Thanks Dad. I just hope that I didn't ruin yours and Abby's trip."

"Don't worry about it."

"I can't stop worrying about it. I guess daughter like father." Joannie gives a small smile.

Tom smiles too.

"Do you want any of the food Dad?"

"No thanks, Abby is keeping my dinner warm."

"If you see my roommate, tell her to come and visit."

"I will." he says.

"I love you Dad, even if have not shown lately. I am sorry for the stunts that I have pulled on you and Abby."

"It's not important right now, just get well OK?"

"Ok." Joannie is starting to nod off.

Tom kisses her and leaves.

After Nancy's all cried out she glances at the uneaten pudding. "You know it would really be a shame if we let that go to waste."

"Definitely. Your father might come back and eat it all."

Nancy smiles and they finish what they brought with them. "Joannie's worried that her accident will postpone your trip." She says not knowing that Abby has already talked to Joannie.

"It will be. We can't leave her to recuperate on her own."

~Uh oh~ "How bout if Grandma Katherine and I take care of her."

"There will be plenty of time for your father and me to go away a different summer. Right now, here is where we should be."

"You have a good point."

"So don't worry about it."

"Ok, I'll try not to."

"Good. You OK now?"

Nancy nods. "Yes I think so, thanks for talking with me."

"Any time. I'm going to go call my mom and tell her the invasion is off. If you need me, I'll be upstairs."

"All right." Nancy says. ~I have to arrange a meeting with my siblings.~

Abby goes upstairs and dials her parents.

Katherine soon answers the phone. "Hello."

"Hi, Mom. I've got some bad news."

"What is it Sandra Sue?"

"In the end, Tom and I aren't going away, so we won't be bringing the kids down to you."

"Why not? What happened?" Katherine asks.

"What hasn't? Joannie got into a car accident and ruptured her spleen, Tommy's band has a gig, and Nancy had another run-in requiring the police."

"Oh my, are Joannie and Nancy all right? And that's wonderful about Tommy."

"They'll be fine, but we can't just leave them right now."

~Hmm~, "Oh believe me I remember how that goes." ~Who can I talk to to make sure they go anyway and to make sure Nancy and Joannie are taken care of?~

"I was really looking forward to it, but--there will be other chances. Maybe once the kids are all grown and out of the house."

~I will call tomorrow and speak to Mary.~ "I'm so sorry honey."

"It's OK, Mom, really it is. I just wanted to let you know the kids wouldn't be coming after all."

"Thanks for calling me." ~Now I can plot so that everything doesn't get screwed up.~

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too honey."

"Tell Dad I said hi."

"I will."

They say their goodbyes and hang up. Abby goes back downstairs to wait for Tom.

Tom walks in as Abby is walking downstairs.

"Hi," Abby says, kissing him hello. "How was she?"

"Her exact words were 'sore and hungry' " He says.

"I don't know where that girl puts it. Nancy and I both fed her. The food there can't be *that* bad."

"We are talking about hospital food here."

"Hmm. You have a point. So you think home-cooked food kept warm a few hours is better?"

"It'll be gourmet."

"Well, then, I'll assume you didn't share Joannie's dinner. Yours is waiting for you in the kitchen."

Tom follows her into the kitchen "Any news?"

"Nothing new. I calmed Nancy down a little, I think, and I told my parents we won't be bring the kids down to Pasadena."

"Suddenly I lost my appetite." He says.

"You wouldn't think the mere mention of my parents could do that to a man..."

"No, not that you called your parents, but why you had to."

"Maybe next summer. You know we're doing the right thing. Especially since it's Joannie who needs us."

"I know we are." he says picking at his food.

"Would you rather I made you something fresh?" Abby offers.

"Huh? I'm sorry...no. I think I'll just go to bed." he says

"This really has you down--or is there something more?"

"No." he says. "Are you coming up?"

"Just let me clear these things up."

"OK, I'll wait for you."

Abby clears the dishes and starts to wash them.

Abby then dries the dishes and puts them away. ~He could have helped. Oh, well.~

Tom is drowned in his own thoughts to even notice

"You...Tom, what's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh...sorry. I was just thinking how close we came to losing Nancy and Joannie."

"But we didn't, and both of them are going to be fine."

"I know, but still it was close."

"Your kids are...adventurous. I don't think we had the last of our worries yet."

Tom sighs. "I know, I still have a few gray hairs to lose."

"And I have a few gray hairs to get in the first place."

Tom shakes his head and laughs.

"Come on, let's go to bed. And stop fishing for compliments."

"Best offer I have had all day."

"You're really looking to get on my good side, aren't you?"

"Is it working?" He jokes.

"Nope."

"Shucks." he pouts.

"You're already there."

Tom smiles.

"Come on. Let's go upstairs; I'll make you forget all your troubles."

Tom puts his arm around her and they go upstairs.

The next Day Mary and David stop by to visit Joannie.

"How are you feeling sweetheart?" David asks her.

"Besides being sore all over, I'm ok. What about you guys."

"Much better than the other night." Mary says as she hugs her. "I'm so glad you're going to be ok."

"I should had listened to you Mary, but I was so worried about Nancy, common sense did not kick in."

"Don't you even worry about that."

"How is Nicholas doing?"

"He's doing ok."

"That's good."

"Do you need anything?" David asks.

"A new body," Joannie jokes. Or how about some rocky road ice cream."

"Coming right up." David leaves to go get the ice cream.

Joannie looks at Mary "We have him well trained don't we?"

"That we do."

"Mary, we need to plot on how to make sure that Dad and Abby don't cancel their cruise thanks to my stupidity."

"We're way ahead of you. Nancy already talked to me and so did Grandma Katherine."

"What the plans big sister?"

"The name is Mary all right?" She jokes.

"Ok big sister Mary." Joannie jokes back.

Mary laughs, David returns with the ice cream and after awhile David and Mary leave.

Joannie decides to take a nap. During her nap, Joannie has a nightmare. Joannie wakes up screaming "Don't go!" Joannie does not see the family member in her room.

"Joannie," Nancy shakes her gently. "Wake up."

Joannie wakes up, shaken really badly.

Nancy tries to calm her.

Joannie starts to calm down.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It was so realistic. In my nightmare, Abby left us saying it was all my fault." Joannie is starting to get teary eye.

Nancy hugs her. "Shh it was just a bad dream. Abby isn't leaving."

"It was so realistic."

"I've had dreams like that which seem very real."

"Are you ok from yesterday? It must been strange to see someone who look like Noah." Joannie says, not knowing it was a con job.

"It got worse." Nancy tells her everything.

"Oh my g-d. Why those little weasels. How can anyone do that to someone. I am glad that those two punks got found out before they could had done some real damage."

"Believe me so am I."

"Mary tells me that you , Grandma Katherine and the rest of our siblings are plotting. What the plans?" Joannie get that plotting look in her eyes.

"You can't breathe a word of it to anyone. We've already sworn the others to secrecy."

"I swear on my records that I won't tell a soul."

"Grandma Katherine is coming to visit, on the night before the cruise, she's going to take Dad and Abby out. While they're gone we're going to pack Dad and Abby's suitcases. And the next morning, Nicholas is going to hand them the tickets and everything and Grandma Katherine will tell them that she'll stay with us while they're gone and help take care of things."

"Grandma Katherine is something special isn't she."

"She sure is."

"I think Dad and Grandpa Harry really like each other but will never admit it."

"They're not allowed to, they're in-laws."

"Talking about in laws, I believe Grandpa Wells is softening."

"That's what you told me months ago."

"We should invite them to come and visit. Nicholas would love to see them."

"So would the rest of us."

"I will give them a call when I get out here."

"Good idea." After awhile Nancy leaves.

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