Soon the Chinese Food arrives and everyone eats dinner. Some time after dinner Nancy falls asleep. A little while later in the kitchen.

"You look exhausted." Mary says to Abby.

"Just a little tired," Abby yawns.

"Can I get you anything?"

"Think you could take us back to , oh, say the beginning of the week?"

"I haven't developed the power to do that yet." Mary says.

"Then some coffee. It's going to be a long night."

Mary makes her some coffee.

"Thanks. You know, you don't look so hot, either."

"Ok I'll admit it I'm tired too and worried."

"She will get her memory back," Abby assures her.

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then we'll help her make new memories."

"So either way it's going to be all right."

"Of course." ~But what about the memories that can't be made again?~

~But what about the memories of mom?~

Abby decides to take the bull by the horns. "There are going to be some things you're going to have to remind her of, memories I can't help her with."

"I know, and it's help that I'm willing to give. I just never thought I'd have to."

"I know."

A moment of silence passes. "I'm going to call her friends tomorrow and let them know that way if she runs into them they won't be shocked if she doesn't remember them."

"Are you sure you should? What if she gets her memory back before she sees them?"

"And what if they call here and she answers the phone?"

"You're right."

After awhile of drinking coffee the caffeine decides to be bad and not work and soon both are struggling to keep their eyes open.

"You know, you can go to sleep, Mary."

"Ok, and you'll be going to sleep soon too right?"

"I just want to wait and see if Nancy will need me."

Mary nods and then goes upstairs to bed.

Abby follows her and tries to stay awake by pacing the hallway.

A little while later Nancy is awoken by the last of the head pain. She tries not to groan so she won't wake her sister but winds up groaning anyway.

Abby hears her on her circuit of the hallway and walks into the room. "Nancy? What's wrong?"

"My headache is back." She whispers.

"I'll go get you some aspirin," Abby whispers back.

"Thank you."

"No need to whisper. I'm awake." Liz says.

"I'm sorry I woke you."

"No problem."

Abby goes off and comes back with the aspirin and a glass of water and sees the two girls talking. "Sorry we woke you, Elizabeth."

"Hey, its OK."

"Thank you." Nancy says after she swallows the aspirin.

"Do you want anything else?"

"No, I'm all right."

"OK." Abby tucks the covers around her. "Sleep well. If you need me, I'll be right outside."

"Thanks Abby." She says before dozing off.

Abby goes back to her hallway pacing.

The next morning Nancy wanders into Tom's study and finds a picture of Joan. She's looking at it trying to place the lady when Tom walks in.

"Dad who's this?"

"Oh" Tom stops what he is doing. "That's your Mother."

"Oh," there's a moment of silence. "How come she hasn't come over doesn't she know I got hurt?"

"Your mother would be here if she could, but she can't." Tom explains. "She passed away."

She sinks into the nearest chair. "Was it a long time ago?"

"A couple of years ago."

"Oh," she says not knowing how to feel about it. "What was she like?"

Tom smiles. "She was wonderful."

"As wonderful as Abby is?"

"You can't compare two individuals, its not fair to Abby or your mother."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean...."

"No, I am sorry." he says.

"It's all right."

"But, lets just say I have been very fortunate in falling in love and marrying two very wonderful women."

She smiles at this and then her stomach rumbles.

"Hungry?"

"Uh huh."

"How does eggs and bacon sound?"

"Sounds good but, I know this is getting old, just one question."

"You can ask as many questions as you need to."

"Thanks Dad, what are eggs and bacon?"

"Oh, well..." Tom says and describes what they are.

"Sounds good to me." She says.

"Great." he says. They go into the kitchen and Tom begins cooking.

The rest of the family soon starts coming in.

"I hope that's not for you Dad." Mary comments.

"Some of it is for Nancy."

She's about to comment further but doesn't it's been awhile since her father has cheated on his diet.

"Why can't Dad eat eggs and bacon?" Nancy asks.

Tommy speaks up. "His heart."

"What's wrong with his heart?"

"Nothings wrong with my heart." Tom replies. "Tommy stop scaring your sister."

Tommy sighs.

~Why would Tommy say that if it wasn't true?~ Nancy ponders.

Tom passes the eggs and bacon around.

Nancy and Mary thank him and eat their portions.

Abby comes in.

"Good morning. Would you like some breakfast?" Tom asks.

"Heart attack on a plate?" Abby asks.

"Just this one time."

"Thanks, but you can have my share."

"Am I going to get the silent treatment or dirty looks all day if I do?"

"Would I do that?"

Tom pushes his plate away from him. "Any one for oatmeal?"

Joannie looks back and forth between her dad and Abby. ~He didn't have to give up all his breakfast, did he?~

Elizabeth gets up. "I'll make some Dad."

"Thanks Honey." Tom replies.

"It's really good." Nancy says. "And Good morning."

"Good morning, Nancy. You feeling any better?"

"Yes, no more pain. How are you?"

"OK," Abby yawns.

"Good."

Abby pours herself a coffee and pulls a yogurt out of the fridge.

"I am glad at least one person likes my cooking," Tom says.

"No one can mess up breakfast." Mary says under her breath.

Tommy smirks.

"Did you get any sleep?" Mary asks Abby.

"Well..."

"I'm sorry I kept you up." Nancy says.

"Don't be. If I'd wanted to, I'd have gone to sleep." Abby gets up to pour herself more coffee. "Anyone else want some?"

"Please." Tom says.

Abby brings him a cup, nearly stumbling on her way.

"Abby, you OK?" Nicholas asks.

"Yeah," Abby says around a yawn.

Tom looks at her with concern. He makes a mental note to call Dr. Max later.

Abby drinks her coffee.

"Here you go Dad." Elizabeth replies.

"Thank you."

Abby smiles at Tom and his breakfast.

"Why don't you rest, I'll pour coffee if anyone else wants any." Nancy offers.

"No, you sit. You're recuperating."

"Ok."

Later at the office Tom dials Max's number.

Greg answers the phone, and when Tom identifies himself, asks, "Did Nancy sleep OK?"

"Not really." Tom says. "Are you coming by the house today?"

"Sure, I'll stop by when I finish afternoon rounds. You sound worried--she hasn't gotten worse, has she?"

"No." Tom says. "It's Abby. Can you give her a once over?"

"Don't tell me she's coming down with something, too."

"I don't know, you are the doctor." Tom snaps. He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry Max. Its been a rough couple of days."

"I know," Max sympathizes. "Why don't you tell me what Abby's symptoms are so I come prepared."

He explains what happened.

"Has she been this way long?"

"Now that you mention it; a few days."

"All right, I'll come by later and look her over. In the mean time, don't worry. Living in that house would give anyone a severe case of fatigue."

Tom sighs. "I hope you are right."

"Hey, what do I know? I'm just a doctor..."

Tom laughs.

"What time will you be home?"

"Tell me when you can be there, and I'll rush home."

Greg checks his schedule. "About 2?"

"Thanks Max, I'll be there."

Tom walks in the door about two. "Anyone home?"

Joannie comes down the stairs. "Shh. Nancy's sleeping."

"Oh." he says. "Is Dr. Max here?"

"In your study. I gave him some coffee."

"Thanks; and Abby?"

"She called and asked me to keep an eye on Nancy. When she came home, she went right up to bed."

"I'm not sleeping." Nancy says from the tv room.

"She was when I left her there," Joannie defends herself.

"Can you keep her company?" Tom asks Joannie.

"Sure." ~Something's up.~

"Thanks." Tom says and steps into his study.

Max puts down his drink. "I was wondering if you'd ever get here."

"Sorry." Tom says. "Did you get a chance to see Nancy and Abby?"

"According to Joannie, both were asleep when I got here."

"Nancy's in the TV room and Abby is upstairs."

Max hefts his doctor's bag. "Who's my first victim?"

"Nancy, I'll meet you upstairs after."

"OK." Max heads off to the living room.

While Tom and Joannie are talking. A memory comes to Nancy about one time she was in the tv room and she had feigned sleep. The details are sketchy but she remembers Joannie and David being there at the time. She sees her Dad go into the study to talk to Max and Joannie returns to
watch tv.

"Did I pretend to be asleep one time while I was in here? And you and David were here?" Nancy asks her.

"One time? It's one of your favorite tricks."

"I guess that explains why the details are sketchy."

"It'd be like trying to remember your entire life."

"Yeah," she tries concentrating on the memory anyway to see if she can remember more of it.

"It's usually when you've fought with someone or want one of us to do something for you."

"David wanted to watch football, but we wanted control of the tv instead."

"Sounds like last Thanksgiving. And we won, too."

"And kept control of the tv the whole day." Nancy smiles as she remembers it clearly details and all.

"And watched sappy movies. It was great."

"It sure was, except for my shoulder." She says remembering that it hurt at the time but not remembering why.

Joannie hugs her, not wanting to remind her sister about the bad times.

Nancy hugs her back and finally says. "Are you trying to protect me from something?"

"Me? Protect you? Would I do that?"

"Something tells me that you do it all the time."

"You sure you really don't remember things?" Joannie teases.

"You mean I got it right?" Nancy says. "Believe me Joannie I wish I was faking but I'm not."

"Well, maybe your memory's coming back."

"It has to be with what I remembered so far."

Joannie's about to answer when Dr. Max walks in.

"Hi." Nancy says to him.

"Bed check, young lady."

"But I feel fine."

"Hey, how about leaving the medical diagnosis to me? Otherwise, what do I have to do in life?"

"Ok." She says.

Max begins to check her. "Any memories come back?"

Nancy looks at Joannie and smiles. "Yes."

"That's terrific. Terrific."

"Thank you but so far it's only one big one the rest are bits and pieces of certain things."

"The rest will follow."

"I know, so what's your diagnosis?"

"You're doing very well. But I always knew Bradfords were a tough bunch."

Nancy doesn't know what to say.

Max gets up. "I'll be by to check on you again in a few days, and in the meantime, if you get any really bad headaches or anything else, just call me."

"I will and thank you."

Meanwhile Tom tiptoes in to his room.

Abby is coming out of the bathroom. "You're home early."

"Joannie said you were asleep."

"I was. I just got up. Is that why you're home early?"

"No." Tom says. "Max is downstairs taking a look at Nancy. I want him to take a look at you too while he's here."

"OK," Abby for once agrees.

Tom is taken aback. "What? No argument?"

"Too tired to argue."

Tom really worries now. "Are you in any pain?"

Abby shakes her head. "A little stomachache, but that's just worrying about Nancy, I'm sure."

"Why don't you lie down and I'll get you some tea."

"I'll lie down, but please, please don't mention food."

Tom gets a thinking ~no it can't be.~ He sits next to her waiting for Max.

Max then goes upstairs and knocks on Tom and Abby's door.

"Come in," Abby says and sits up in bed.

Max walks in. "Hello pretty lady." He says. "I hear you haven't been feeling too well."

"It's really nothing. Just tired and achy. If you weren't already here, I wouldn't have bothered you."

"Well let me take a look." He checks her over and does a lot of hmming.

"What?"
"Abby, have you been experiencing any nausea? Particularly in the morning hours."

Tom wonders if it could be true.

Abby thinks about it for a minute. "No, not really. I mean, I've been feeling a little queasy when I wake up, but I felt that way when I woke up a few minutes ago and it's not morning now."

"I'd like you to go and see your OBGYN, if you don't have one I can make a referral."

"Why...Max, you've got to be kidding."

"You are showing some of the symptoms."

"I had the same symptoms when I was eight and had the stomach flu."

"But this time it's not the stomach flu."

"You can tell that just by looking at me and going 'hmmm' a few times?"

"Let me rephrase, this time I don't think it's the stomach flu."

"If it'll make you feel better, helping another doctor make a living, I'll make an appointment, but I really think the stomach flu is more likely."

"Good." He says.

"Good? I might have the stomach flu and you think that's good? Some bedside manner you've got there, Max."

"No Abby I said good because you are making an appointment."

"I was joking, Max..."

He smiles, "Hey I thought that was my job." He writes a prescription for some pills that will help her but not harm the baby if she's pregnant.

"Thanks. I'll get one of the kids to fill this," Abby says.

"Not a problem, and call me if your symptoms start to worsen." He says before leaving.

"I will." Abby waits until Greg leaves. "It's just a stomach flu," she tries to reassure Tom.

Tom smiles.

"Don't smile like that at me."

"Why? Would it be so terrible?"

"I am not pregnant," Abby insists. "Besides, where would we put a baby? Joannie would have to move in with Mary, and Nancy with Susan...and if it's a boy, we don't have any room for a boy."

Tom kisses her. "We'll take it one step at a time."

"There's nothing to take any step at a time," Abby again insists. "Max is wrong. He has to be."

"And if he isn't?"

"I'm barely used to being married. We haven't gotten everything settled with the kids we already have. And even though you're grinning about it now, you're the one who didn't want any more kids."

"Look all I am saying is if it happens you are pregnant, its not the worst thing that could happen."

"Close, but not quite," Abby agrees.

"Abby if you happened to be pregnant you wouldn't........well you know." Tom worries.

"An abortion? That's a lot different than just not wanting to be pregnant in the first place."

"I know but, these are different times."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I just mean that women have more choices today."

"I'm not 'women,' and I thought we were talking about me."

"We are." Tom sighs. "This isn't coming out right."

"I guess not. So what exactly did you mean to say?"

"I love you and if we do happen to be 'pregnant'; I'll go out any time of the night to get what ever you are craving."

"If we are going to have a baby, cravings are the least of our worries."

"We can get through it."

"If I don't go off and get rid of it, you mean."

"OK OK, that was dumb statement I made."

"Yes, it was. Is that what you think of me?"

"No of course not. I am sorry."

"Sure. Then why did you say something like that?"

"Maybe because I know how important your career is to you."

"So suddenly I'm this hard-hearted career woman who doesn't care at all for your family? Forget that I took a leave of absence when things around here got too crazy. Forget that I went back to classroom teaching when Elizabeth needed me nearby. Forget that I cut back to part-time to be home with Nicholas." Abby slides down in bed and turns away from Tom.

~Tom Bradford, you are an idiot.~ "Abby you are right."

"I don't want to discuss it."

Tom sighs. "Can I get you anything?"

"Just leave me alone."

Tom decides to leave it alone for now. "I'll..I'll be in my study if you need anything."

"If I need anything. I'll get it myself. We career women are very independent."

~Great Bradford, just great.~ Tom covers her up and leaves.

Abby throws off the covers and starts to get up, but feels dizzy, so she stays in bed and broods.

Meanwhile downstairs:

"I wonder why Dr. Max went upstairs." Nancy ponders not knowing that Abby is feeling under the weather.

"I thought it was only before the accident you can't remember," Joannie jokes. "She was awfully tired this morning. And the morning before."

"I knew she was tired, but I didn't know she was needing a doctor tired. Maybe we should go see if she needs anything."

"She hasn't been eating much, either. And she is married to Worry-Wart Bradford. Come on, let's go up and see what the verdict was."

"Ok," on the way upstairs. "Worry- Wart Bradford?"

"Dad worries about *everything.*"

"And when does he not worry and just have fun?"

"Hopefully when he and Abby are alone."

"Yeah really." She softly knocks on the Master Bedroom door.

Abby wipes her eyes. "Come in."

Nancy and Joannie walk in. "Hi Abby, how are you feeling?"

"Oh, I'm fine," Abby lies. "I just needed a nap is all."

"Have you been crying?"

"My eyes are red? I must be coming down with something."

Nancy feels her forehead. "No fever, I don't think, can we get you anything?"

"Thanks, but the only thing that will help is time."

"You're welcome, and we're home if you change your mind."

"Thanks."

Nancy nods before leaving the room with Joannie.

"You believe her?" Joannie whispers to Nancy when the door shuts.

"Why shouldn't I?" Nancy whispers back.

"It's not hay fever season."

"But why would she keep what's wrong with her from us? Unless, oh now what if she's dying or something."

"Now you sound like Dad. No, Abby's just really private; she never wants anyone to know what's going on. Maybe we can pump Dr. Max or Dad for information."

"It'll have to be Dad, Dr. Max already left."

"Then Dad it is."

They go to Tom's study and knock on the door.
 

"What?" he asks.

Joannie takes a good look at her father. "Are you OK, Dad?"

"Sure, I'm fine." he lies.

"You don't look it."

Tom shrugs. "It's been a rough couple of days."

"That's not all it is, is it?"

"Of course, between coming home, work and Nancy."

"Dad I'll be ok my memory will come back."

"Honey, I know that."

"Is that what Dr. Max said is wrong with Abby, too?"

"She's just worn down."

"I didn't know being worn down made you cry."

~Terrific.~ Tom sighs. "I'll go see what's wrong."

"Didn't Dr. Max tell you anything?"

"She just needs to rest." Tom says "Excuse me." Tom makes a quick exit before more questions are asked.

"He's not telling the truth." Nancy says.

"Something's wrong," Joannie tells Nancy. "And it's not you, and it's not that they've had a rough week."

"I can tell. Even with this amnesia thing."

"You don't think Abby is really sick, do you? Dr. Max was here and now she and Dad are so upset...."

"I don't know what else can it be?"

Joannie shrugs. "She can't be sick. It wouldn't be fair to Dad. He's been through enough already."
 

"Is that how mom died? She got sick."

"No, she had an accident. None of us even got the chance to say goodbye."

"Dad said she was a wonderful woman but he didn't say much else about her."

"Wonderful doesn't begin to cover it. We were always her first priority."

"With eight of us that must have been a pretty tall order."

"She managed it, and never even broke a sweat."

"That is amazing."

"She really was. I wish you could remember."

"So do I, but when it comes to her I don't remember anything."

"Maybe if you looked at some pictures?"

"You mean besides the one in here?"

Joannie nods. "We have some of the two of you together."

"Let's go and look at them." Nancy suggests.

Joannie leads Nancy to the living room and starts showing her pictures.

Tom knocks on the bedroom door.

Abby wipes her eyes. ~Nancy and Joannie first. Who now?~ "Come in."

"Are you sure I'm welcome?"

"Tom?" Abby says, surprised that he would knock. "It's your room, too."

"I thought I would be banished to the dog house."

"Sam's getting big; it'd be too crowded in there."

"He sleeps in the house most of the time anyway."

"So do you."

"Yeah, Abby I'm sorry about earlier."

"Don't be. You were just saying what you felt. I know how much you hate it that I care about anything besides the house."

Tom shakes his head. "I do love you, you know that right?"

"That's what you tell me."

"But...."

"But?"

"You have a way of twisting my words into something I didn't say."

"Well, it's nice to know that being a heartless career woman is the least of my sins."

"I give up. I try to be supportive but I only make things worse."

"That's what generally happens when you try being something you're not."

"I've been supportive in the end."

"Well, this is only the beginning, so save your attempts."

Tom grumbles and grabs a book.

"Why don't you go read downstairs?"

"Didn't you say less than a minute ago that this was my room too?

"Fine, I'll go," Abby says and starts to get up.

"Why can't we stay here together? If you or I go down there the kids will bombard us with questions."

"They know you had Max come up here? I'll bet you told them what he said, too."

"Of course that's what I did I told them everything in total disregard of your feelings." Tom says

"Figures."

Tom shakes his head in disbelief. "Do you honestly think I would?"

"My husband? No. This man who thinks I'm just some opportunist? Who knows?"

Tom sighs "I don't want to fight with you when it could be one of the happiest moments in our lives."

"Well, you're doing a good job of it."

Tom sighs. "Honey I'm sorry."

"For being mean, for being insulting, or for being the most fertile man this side of the Mississippi?"

"All of it?" he states.

Abby laughs.

"Does this mean the fight is over?"

"I don't know. I'm not the one who started it."

"The only good thing about fighting is the making up afterwards."

"You'd want to make up with me, the way you think about me? The things you think I'd do?"

"OK Ok, I plead temporarily insanity."

"No, Tom, this is serious. You must have really thought I could do such a thing or you wouldn't have said anything."

"I swear I didn't...heck I don't even know why I said it. Maybe because I already have eight kids, why would you want a child with me?"

"I can't think of a single reason, since that we love each other is obviously not a good enough one for you."

Tom sighs. "you are right, I am being an idiot."

"I won't argue with you."

"I'm sorry."

"Look, this whole argument is silly. I'm not pregnant, and if I ever really am, you'll know better than to say make such ridiculous accusations, right?"

Tom nods.

"Then we'll worry about all this when and if we ever think it's the right time to have one."

"Let's find out for sure." Tom replies.

"Hilda's probably booked solid. I'll call tomorrow," Abby says, with no intention of calling.

"Let me just say one thing OK?"

~Could I stop you?~ "OK."

"Nothing would make me happier than to have a child with the woman I love."

"I'll remember that. Start saving up for an addition to the house and in a few years we can talk about it."

~Might be sooner than you think.~ "I love you."

"I love you, too. No matter what you think of me."

Tom shakes his head. "I said I was wrong what more can I do?"

"Nothing, I guess. It's not your problem I still feel hurt."

"That's the last thing I wanted."

"I know."

"In the mean time what do we tell the kids? They are suspicious."

"Nothing. It's none of their business."

"OK, it's your call."

"Thank you."

"It's not going to be easy, you realize that."

~Being pregnant? I'll bet Joan always made it look easy.~ "I'll manage."

"No, I mean the kids and their questions."

"We can just tell them 'thanks for worrying, but Abby's fine. Just a stomach ache,' because that's all it is. That and a very long week," Abby yawns.

"Why don't you try to rest. I can bring you up a tray if you'd like."

"Oh, please, no food. Why don't you stay up here? You can avoid the kids' questions and I sleep better knowing you're nearby."

"My pleasure."

Abby snuggles against Tom and closes her eyes.

Tom lays there with her and shuts the lamp off. Having gone through it eight times and knowing the symptoms. He knows there couldn't be another possibility. But plays along for her sake.

Nancy looks at all the pictures and almost gives up hope of a memory coming to her. When she sees some pictures of a family camping trip and some pictures Joan had taken. "Mom sure did have a good eye for photography." She says, Joannie having not told her that Joan had taken
the pictures Nancy points out.

Joannie smiles at Nancy's memory. "Yep, she did. Could have been a professional if she'd wanted to be."

"But she never had the time to."

"Well, that and the fact that Dad hated the idea of a 'career woman' for a wife."

"Yeah but remember when he gave in and they talked in the tent and we eavesdropped with the walkie talkies?"

"Well, until they stopped talking and starting romantic. Poor Tommy was so embarrassed."

"Yeah but he looked so cute when he blushed."

Joannie nods. "It was real tough on him when Mom died."

Nancy saddens and is hesitant to remember their mom dying.

"She wouldn't want you to be sad, Nance, but she wouldn't want you to forget anything about her, even the bad stuff," Joannie says, hugging her sister.

She doesn't say anything she just cries in Joannie's arms as the memories of Joan's death come back to her.

"Shh. It's OK, honey. It's OK."

Some time later after she's all cried out. "That's enough memories for today can we go out and do something fun?"

"Sure. Whatever you want to do."

"Thanks Joannie."

"So what do you want to do?"

"Go out to lunch maybe do some shopping."

"Oh, Nancy, I think you're almost all better."

She smiles at this and after they both get ready they leave.

While they're out, though, Joannie worries about what's happening back at the house.

Nancy also worries hoping that whatever is going on isn't bad.

part 4