A couple of days later Nancy wakes up with all her memories intact and tries to think of a subtle way to let her family know. After a bit she finds a way. No one had told her about Abby's book yet so during breakfast she decides to speak up.

"Hey Abby have you heard anymore from the promoters?"

"Promoters?" Abby asks, not knowing that Nancy's memory is back

"Yeah for the book." Nancy then goes into detail.

"You remember?" Abby asks, astonished. "What else do you remember?"

"Let's see, Elizabeth and I have that double date Saturday. You and Dad were married November 9th." She goes on to name a few other events.

"Nancy, that's great. I'm going to call Dr. Max. I want him to check you out."

Nancy smiles, "ok."

Mary gives her a hug. "I'm so happy for you."

Nancy returns the hug. "Thank you."

Abby calls Max.

Max answers the phone. "Dr. Maxwell's office, my secretary can't come to the phone right now so this is Dr. Maxwell."

"Cute, Max," Abby says. "Could you come over? I think Nancy's regained her memory."

"She has that's wonderful, I can be there in an hour."

"Great. We'll see you then."

One hour and a few odd minutes later Max shows up.

Abby leads him to the living room, where Nancy is waiting.

He checks her over and gives her a clean bill of health and once they're alone Nancy asks him.

"Is Abby sick?" She asks having been worried ever since that day.

"No, of course not. Why would you think that?"

"You came to see her and she was in bed for most of the day afterwards."

"It wasn't anything that won't pass with time."

She sighs in relief.

"Don't worry your pretty head about it." ~Leave that up to Tom.~

"I'll try and thank you for telling me this much I was so scared that..."

"That what?"

"That we were going to lose Abby."

"Possibly to insanity..."

"Huh?"

"Forget it."

"Ok."

After Max leaves the room. Nancy wonders why her Dad hasn't said anything about her getting her memory back. While Max approaches Abby. "She's fine, and how bout you? Have you made that appointment yet?"

"There's no reason to. It's just an upset stomach and I'm getting better already."

"If the symptoms come back tomorrow morning will you please make an appointment."

"Really, Max, thanks for your concern, but I'm fine, really."

He sighs. "Ok," he concedes before leaving.

Max and Abby are unaware that Nicholas overheard the converstaion. ~Abby's is ill and is going away like Mom.~ he thinks. He runs to his room and slams the door.

Abby heads back upstairs just in time to hear the door slam. ~I don't have the energy for this~ she thinks and retreats to her room

Soon there's a knock on Nicholas door.

"Come in."

"Why did you slam your door?" Nancy asks.

"Abby is going away, isn't she."

"No she's not." Nancy says although the same fears have been going through her mind.

"Then why were they talking about Abby making a appointment?"

"Who was talking about Abby making an appointment?"

"Abby and Dr. Max."

"Hmm, you know Nicholas the appointment can be for anything it doesn't mean it's life threatening."

"Really?"

She nods. "Yes really."

Nicholas sighs.

She hugs him. "It's going to be all right, Abby isn't going anywhere."

"OK."

"Hey what do you like to do for fun?"

"Baseball."

"If you'll teach me I'll play with you."

"Cool." Nicholas grabs his mitt and bat.

He and Nancy then go outside to play baseball.

"You are a good for a girl."

"Thank you Nicholas." Nancy says.

Liz sees Nancy outside with the bat and ball. "Plan on joining the Majors?" she jokes

"Naah, I was playing with Nicholas."

"You playing sports?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Well nothing, but it would be like Susan joining a beauty pageant."

"Ha ha."

Elizabeth laughs with her. "I'm so glad you are back."

"Thanks kid."

"Kid? I'm not that much younger than you."

"Well I'm not much younger than Joannie and she calls me that."

Elizabeth laughs. "I see your point."

"So are we still on for Saturday night?"

Elizabeth sighs. "I don't know."

"What's up?"

"I'm apprehensive."

"If you don't want to go then we won't go, but if you want to go I'll be there with you."

"I got to get back on the horse sometime right?"

"Yes, but not if you're not ready."

"Nah lets do it. How bad can it be?"

"There's the spirit." Nancy smiles at her.

"I'll go call Paul."

Nancy nods.

Elizabeth picks up the phone and dials the number.

Paul soon answers.

"Hi. It's Elizabeth."

He smiles, "Hi Elizabeth, what's going on?"

"Is the offer still on for Saturday?"

"Of course, are we still going with your sister and her friend?"

"Yeah, if that's OK."

"Of course it is." He says realizing that she might be scared to go on a date alone.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, what time should I pick you two up?"

"Seven?"

"Ok, I'll see you then."

Liz hangs up.

After playing. Nicholas still worries and decides to go talk to Abby. He knocks on her door.

Abby is sitting on the bed, reading some paperwork for the promotion tour. "Come in."

"Hi." he says.

"Hey, Nicholas. What's up?"

"Can we talk?"

"Sure. Is something wrong?"

"That's what I want to know, Are you going away like my mom did?"

"What? No, Nicholas, of course not. Where'd you get that idea?"

"Don't get mad but I overheard you and Dr. Max talking about making an appointment. Are you sick?"

"No, I'm not sick, not that way. I'm sorry we had you worried over nothing. I've just had an upset
stomach--probably from eating your father's late night snacks."

Nicholas sighs. "That's good."

"Trust me--I'll be more careful about what I eat from now on."

Nicholas laughs.

"I'm sorry I had you worried."

"That's Ok, I just I am just glad you aren't sick."

"Don't worry. I don't plan on leaving you or your dad."

Tom comes home late not knowing the news.

"We missed you at breakfast this morning." Mary says.

"Had an early meeting."

"Why don't you go talk to Nancy she's on the sunporch. Ask her something that no one has reminded her of yet."

"Huh?"

"Trust me."

Tom shrugs and go and sees Nancy. "Hi."

"Hi Dad where have you been all day?"

"Work."

"Mr. Randolph on you again about deadlines?"

"Yes......." he begins to say. "Mr. Randolph?"

"That is your boss' name, right?"

"You remembered?"

"And you and Joannie are going to that show like you do every year, and..." She goes on to name a few other things.

Tom smiles. "Tell me more."

"Well what do you want to know?"

"Nancy, this is wonderful."

"Thanks Dad it feels wonderful to remember again."

"When did this all happen?"

"Everything came back to me when I woke up this morning."

"This is wonderful."

She smiles at his excitement.

Tom hugs her.

Nancy hugs Tom.

After talking with Abby, Nicholas gives her a hug and leaves running past Tom. "What was that about?" Tom asks Abby.

"More of those questions you warned me about. He thought I was sick and I told him I'm fine."

Tom sighs. "When is your appointment?"

"I've been so busy with Nancy and planning this book tour I forgot to call Hilda. I'll do it next week."

Tom goes to the phone. "You are stalling, whats the number."

"I'm not stalling. I just have to clear my calendar a little."

"If it was me, you'd me on my case every five minutes. So I m returning the favor honey, Call...Please?" He asks concerned.

"First thing Monday morning."

Tom starts to get upset and goes to the phone book.

"Don't you dare."

"Abby if you are pregnant, you need to start taking care of yourself. If not then we have to find out why you've been ill."

"I always take care of myself, and Max said if I wasn't pregnant, there wasn't much wrong with me."

"You'll call Monday then?"

"I said I would."

Tom puts the phone down. "OK."

~I can't believe he'd try to call Hilda. Well, he can good and wait for me to make that call.~

Elizabeth finds Nancy "Is Saturday at Seven OK?"

"Yes that's fine. Should I have Luke meet us here?"

"Might not be a bad idea."

Nancy goes to call him and then returns. "He's going to meet us here."

"Great." Elizabeth replies. "Uh, Nancy. Have you notice Abby acting a little strange lately?"

"Yes, but Dr. Max says it's not anything that won't go away."

"Still, she hasn't been acting herself."

"She will when she gets better."

"Then what could it possibly be?" Elizabeth wonders then a light bulb goes off her in head. "You don't suppose.....nah she couldn't be."

"Oh my." Nancy says. "But what if she is?"

"One more in line for the bathroom." she jokes.

Nancy laughs.

Late Saturday afternoon, Elizabeth knocks on Abby's door.

Abby wakes from the light doze she's fallen into. "Come in."

Elizabeth sees her waking up. "I'm sorry, I can come back later."

"No, no, it's fine. I guess I've just started to learn the fine art of napping from your father."

"I am having second thoughts about going tonight, silly huh?"

"No, not silly. It's understandable. But you have to decide at some point if you're going to want to ever date again and if so, if it'll ever be safer than it is tonight."

"I suppose."

"Look, if you're really feeling uncomfortable, don't go. Or if you'd rather, we can clear out the downstairs and you can have your date right here at home, with help just a scream away."

Elizabeth nods no. "I'll just hang on Nancy all night."

"OK. But if you feel uncomfortable at any point, call home and we'll come get you."

"I will, Thanks." Liz says. "Uh...may I borrow your white shawl?"

"Sure. It's in the closet, third shelf on the left."

"Thanks." she retrieves the shawl. "So how are you feeling?"

"Fine. And you can pass that along to your brothers and sisters."

"Uh?"

"Just tell everyone that I appreciate their concern but I'm fine, and I'd appreciate it if the parade of sick visits would stop."

"You think my coming in here was a ploy?"

"I didn't say that, Elizabeth. All I asked was that as long as you did come in here, you pass along a message."

"I'll tell them, but its not like they listen to me anyway."

"You and me both," Abby shakes her head.

Elizabeth drops it then becomes brave. "Abby if I ask you a question will you promise not to bite my head off?"

"Of course I won't bite your head off."

"Are you pregnant?"

"Not as far as I know. Why?"

Elizabeth shrugs. "Some of your symptoms; I seen them when Mom was pregnant with Nicholas."

"Bite your tongue. I think there's a law against having eight people share the same bathroom."

Elizabeth laughs.

"Shouldn't you go get ready for your date?"

Liz looks at her watch. "You're right. I'll see you later."

"Remember--call if you need us."

"OK." She then leaves.

~I'm not pregnant~ Abby thinks. ~I'm just a little late. It's all the stress; it's just finally gotten to me.~

After Elizabeth's talk with Abby. Nancy seeks Joannie out and finds her in Joannie and Susan's room.

"Joannie can I borrow that blue blouse of yours?"

"Sure. Got a date or something?"

"Thank you, and yes, the double date with Elizabeth is tonight."

"You be careful--don't let her date even think about trying anything."

"Believe me if he does even think about it he's going to wish he was never born."

"Good girl. How's Elizabeth? Nervous?"

"Nervous would begin describe how she's feeling. She also apprehensive, hesitant. I'm prepared in case she backs out. I have a night of fun back up plan for her."

"But if you let her back out she may never get up the courage to date again."

"I know but if she's not ready..."

"If she weren't, she wouldn't have set this up."

"Good point, I won't let her back down."

"Tell her if she wants to borrow anything, my closet's open."

"I will." Nancy says before getting the blouse. "And thanks again."

"No problem. Enjoy."

"Thanks," she says before leaving the room.

She runs into Abby. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Abby says. "How are you?"

"I'm ok, and don't worry everything will be ok tonight."

"If you think anything suspicious is going on, you call us, OK?"

She's about to say that she can handle anything that happens but comes to her senses. "I will I promise."

"Good." Abby yawns.

"Hey that's contagious you know." Nancy jokes trying to keep the concern out of her tone.

"Oh, no you don't. We need you awake tonight."

"Abby I was just joking I'll be awake tonight."

"Oh, OK. Sorry," Abby says around another yawn. "I should be awake tonight, too, in case you call. Maybe I should take a nap now."

She smile. "It's all right, have a good nap."

"Thanks. If Elizabeth starts getting cold feet again, you'll wake me up?"

"Anytime, and yes."

"Thanks. Anyway, wake me up before you go, OK?"

"I will." Nancy says before going to her bedroom.

"Thanks," Abby says and goes to lie down.

Elizabeth waits nervously by her door.

"Hi, are you ready yet?" Nancy asks.

Liz nods.

Nancy gets a closer look at her. "It's going to be fine."

"I hope so."
 

Nancy gives her a hug.

"Thanks for coming with me."

"Anytime."

The doorbell rings.

"Tommy will you answer the door."

"I'll get it." Tom says shooing Tommy away from the door.

"Oh great." Liz whispers to Nancy. "He's going to give him the third degree."

"He's supposed to do that." Nancy whispers back. "He's our Dad."

Tom opens the door.

Both boys are there. Nancy's date had picked up Elizabeth's date on the way there.

Tom gives them the date speech and leaves Nancy and Elizabeth with their dates.

They go out to dinner first.

Elizabeth starts to relax and realizes she is enjoying herself.

"So where do you ladies want to go next?" Nancy's date asks.

~Someplace public.~ Elizabeth thinks.

"How about the movies?" Liz's date asks.

"OK."

~It gets dark in the movies. Can't keep an eye on them as well.~ "But there's nothing good playing." Nancy says. "We can try out that new arcade." ~Very well lit there.~

"Good Idea."

"All right." Nancy's date says and then they leave for the arcade.

At the arcade Elizabeth pretends she doesn't know how to play pinball.

"C'mon I'll teach you." he smiles at her.

"OK."

Nancy keeps an eye on them all the while.

Elizabeth lets her date win at pinball.

At home, Tom knocks on Joannie's bedroom door.

"Come in."

"Hi, you ready to go?"

"Just a sec." Joannie finishes putting in her earrings. "I'm all yours."

"You look beautiful."

"And you look very handsome."

"I try."

"Hope your wife doesn't get jealous, you dolling your self up for a date with another woman," Joannie teases.

"Hmmm...I don't know, one look at you and she might."

"Oh, so that's all there is between us, huh? Just trying to make your wife jealous."

Tom laughs. "C'mon, we are going to miss the curtain rising."

Joannie takes Tom's arm. "So let's go."

They go off to the play.

At intermission Joannie leans over to her father. "Thanks for remembering, Dad. I would have hated to miss this."

"No need to Thank me, I did it for me too."

"Oh, I'll bet you have better things to do on a Saturday night."

"Why do you think I wouldn't want to spend time with you?"

"You don't do it much anymore."

"Tell you the truth Joannie? I felt like you didn't want to with me."

"Me? You're the one who never has time. Even when you come home, lately you just spend all night locked up in your study."

Tom sighs. "There's a reason for that."

"What?"

"I asked Abby not to tell any of you kids, but with you being an actress....Can you not divulge what I am about to tell you?"

"Of course, Dad. I'm good at keeping secrets."

"I'm writing a novel."

"Your Korean war book?"

"No, A fictional piece."

"That's great. Why is it a secret?"

"Because I don't know if I can do it."

"Of course you can, Dad. If you can write thousands of columns and still have people wanting to read you, you can do anything."

Tom smiles. "Thank you."

"Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Read a chapter or two?" Tom says.

"I'd love to."

"Maybe you and Abby could get together and proofread it."

"Maybe we'll get more accomplished if we each do it on our own."

"OK." The bell rings. "Looks like intermission is over."

Joannie takes her dad's arm and they head back into the theater.

After the play Tom asks, "Want something to eat?"

"Isn't that part of the tradition? If we're doing this, let's do it right."

"Ok, what'll it be ma'dam.'

"Is that even a question? Veal Oscar, of course."

Tom smiles. "Your wish is my command."

"I could get used to that idea."

Tom laughs and drives to the restaurant.

"So what's your novel about?" Joannie asks over dinner.

"A mystery."

"The butler did it?"

Tom takes out his notepad and begins to write. "That's an original idea." he jokes. "See, you are helping already."

"Funny. So, is it a murder mystery?"

Tom nods. "I am using some old notes from when I was a reporter in the old days."

"I hope you're disguising things well. Last thing we need is for you to get sued."

"I am."

"Good. I wouldn't want to have to visit you in jail."

Tom shakes his head.

"I'd much rather watch you on TV, promoting your book. Abby doesn't have to be the only famous author in the family--you were writing first, and you write better, too."

"There's no competition."

"You sure about that?"

"Of course, hers is an educational book."

"It's still a book. Bet she wouldn't like it if you were awarded a Ph.D. in journalism while she's trying to earn hers in education. She wouldn't say 'it's a different field'."

Tom can't argue that point. "I am happy for her."

"Hey, I never realized it really did happen," Joannie says.

"Huh?"

"Your nose really does grow when you tell a fib."

"Joannie.....I am not lying."

"Come on, Dad, not even a little?"

"Why do you try to make me say something that I don't want to?"

"I'm not really, am I?" Joannie says. "It's not disloyal to admit you're envious, you know."

"Maybe because it's coming from you." he admits.

"In this case, maybe envy's a good thing. Look, it's got you working on a novel. That's constructive."

"You've got it wrong, Abby is the one who encouraged this."

"She did? Why?"

"You'll have to ask her that."

"You mean you didn't ask?"

"Of course."

"Of course you didn't ask, or of course you did, but you got no answer?" Joannie asks, confused.

"Of course I asked, she's doing it because she loves me. Is that so hard to understand?"

"No, I suppose not," Joannie grudgingly admits.

"Abby isn't the enemy you know." Tom says. "Time is."

"How so?"

"You should know better than anyone how fragile Life can be."

"But I can't fight time. Abby I can."

"But why would you want to?"

"I don't know. Maybe she's a reminder how quickly you were able to move on."

"Well if you want to blame anyone, Blame Tommy for breaking his leg."

"That wasn't Tommy's fault. And he didn't make you go fall in love."

"So it's my fault." Tom states. "You know I wasn't out looking you know. It was the furthest thing from my mind."

"Come on, Dad. It takes Nancy longer to get over some dumb boy she knew for a week than it took you to get over the woman you'd been married to for 25 years."

"Joannie, How do you know what my feeling are? I still haven't gotten over it and I never will." he says with anger in his voice.

"You haven't? It sure looks like you have," Joannie answers back just as angrily.

"So what was I supposed to do?"

"You could have waited until your little mid-life crisis blew over."

"You think I married Abby because of my mid-life crisis?"

"You're the kind of man who would."

"So that's how little you think about me."

"Little? Because I think you're the kind of person who'd feel you have to marry the woman before you could have a fling?"

"I could never do that."

"That's one of the things I love about you, Dad--you're hopelessly square."

"But getting mad at me or Abby isn't going to accomplish anything is it?"

"No," Joannie sighs. "What's done is done."

"Gee Thanks."

"Well, what do you expect of me, then?"

"A little understanding, is that too much?"

"I've been understanding. But I suppose I can try to be more."

"Thank You."

Joannie finishes her food. "It's getting late. Maybe we should start heading home."

"What? No Creme Brulee' "

"I thought Abby doesn't allow you desserts."

"It's a special night."

"I won't tell her if you don't."

"I don't care if she knows." Tom says as he orders dessert.

"Never knew you were a masochist," Joannie mutters.

Tom ignores the comment and changes the subject "How's school?"

"Same as usual. Much more boring since I told everyone I don't plan on doing any more nude scenes."

"I appreciate that." Tom says as he takes a drink.

"You know me--anything to please my father."

They eat their desserts.

"Is there anything else on tonight's schedule?" Joannie says, basking in her father's attention.

Tom shrugs. "I don't know, what would you like to do?"

"I don't suppose running away from home and finding some year-long Gilbert and Sullivan festival is an option, huh?"

"Sorry Honey."

"Then I guess we'd better go back to the house."

Tom nods.

Joannie hugs him. "Thank you. It was a lovely evening."

"I enjoyed it too."

"Then we have a date for next year?"

"If not sooner."

"Really?" Joannie's eyes light up.

Tom chuckles "Why are you so surprised?"

"Because it's been a long time since I've seen my good ol' dad around these parts. Welcome back."

"I have always been here Joannie, you just never notice."

"I'll try to from now on. I promise."

Tom smiles. "C'mon, I'd hate to ground you for missing curfew." he jokes.

Joannie smiles and they head home.

After their dates have dropped Elizabeth and Nancy off, in the kitchen.

"That was a fun evening." Nancy says waiting for Liz to either agree or  call her stupid.

"Oh yeah, I love playing the dumb female."

"No you don't, and why did you do that?"

"I couldn't very well tell him I was pinball champ."

"Why not?"

"Oh that would have made him feel real good if I beat him."

"He would survive."

"He would, but would his ego?"

"And what about your needs?"

Elizabeth shrugs.

Nancy shakes her head.

"Don't be mad at me." she says. "I'm tired, I'm going to bed."

"I'm not mad at you, goodnight."

Elizabeth goes upstairs. On her way to her bedroom she stops and knocks on Abby's door.

"Come in," Abby says, looking up from her books.

"Dad and Joannie still out?"

Abby nods. "How'd your date go?"

Elizabeth tells her about the date. "Nancy thinks I was wrong."

"What's more important is what you think. Did you want to cater to his ego, or did you think it would just be easier that way?"

Elizabeth shrugs. "Easier, I guess."

"Is easier what you wanted it to be?"

"For tonight yes, I was just trying to get through it in one piece."

"Are you going to go out with him again?"

"Yes."

"And cater to his ego again?"

"No."

"How do you think he'll handle the change?"

"I'll tell him what happened and why."

"Sounds good."

"So what did you do tonight?"

Abby raises her book slightly. "Studied. Worried."

"Worried? About what?"

"How you were doing, among other things." ~Like what's going on with me. Like what Joannie and Tom are talking about.~

"I'm fine."

"I know that now, so I won't worry about you for at least the rest of the night."

"I better let you study, goodnight."

"If you want to talk some more, well, I'm not getting much studying done, anyway."

"That's ok, I am pretty beat. Unless you need to talk."

Abby smiles. "No, not tonight. Get some sleep."

"OK, Goodnight Abby."

"Good night."

Elizabeth leaves and finds Nancy in their room. "I'm sorry Nancy."

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged, it's just that I care about you so much."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

Elizabeth crawls in bed.

Nancy soon goes to bed also.

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