Part one

Monday morning Abby wakes and immediately wishes she hadn't. ~I'm supposed to call Hilda today. Maybe, instead, I should just call in sick.~ She tries to get out of bed without waking Tom and hearing his lecture.

"The alarm go off?" Tom yawns.

"Not quite yet. Go back to sleep."

"Why are you up then."

"Go to bed early, get up early, I guess. I'll be right back." Abby rushes off to the bathroom.

Tom gets out of bed. ~Today, we will find out. I hope.~ "Abby, are you OK?"

"Of course. Go back to bed."

"Only if you join me."

"I'll be there in a minute." Abby finishes what she's doing, washes out her mouth, and then comes back to bed, just as the alarm clock starts to go off.

Tom sighs and crawls out of bed.

"You wouldn't mind if I just smash that thing, would you?" Abby asks.

"Only if it would make time stop." Tom replies.

"I wish," Abby says and gets back out of bed. "I hate Mondays."

Tom nods in agreement. "Calling Hilda this morning?"

"Hmm?" Abby says, as though she's forgotten. "Oh, sure. I'll get around to it."

"Abby, you promised me."

"I said I'd call, and I will when I get a chance to," Abby snaps.

"What are you so afraid of?"

"I'm not..." Abby starts to say automatically, but stops. "Of everything. You wouldn't understand."

Tom sits next to her. "Try me."

"You'll take it the wrong way."

"Look. We are partners right?"

"We are," Abby smiles at him. "Certainly in this. But your life won't change much--everything in my life will."

"Correction, both of our lives will."

"Right. You'll quit working to stay home with the baby?"

"No, but I can work a lot from home."

"You're joking," Abby says, surprised.

"You sound shocked. Who do you think did it while Joan pursued photography?"

Abby shrugs. "I didn't think male chauvinists did diapers," she jokes.

"Contrary to rumors, I changed a few in my day."

"I hope you're telling the truth, because if you aren't, I can bribe David to tell me what really went on," Abby teases.

Tom laughs. "I promise you, we will work this out."

"Hilda's office opens at 10. I'll call at my first break."

Tom kisses her. "Do you want me to come with you when you can see her?"

"She won't have any answers for me on the spot."

"I know; just for support."

"No, I think I should go alone. When I'll need support is while I'm waiting for the results."

Tom nods. "OK."

Abby gets up and starts gathering the day's clothing. "I'll see if she can see me after work today."

"I'll go put the coffee on." Tom puts his robe on.

"Ugh. You had to mention food?"

"Sorry." Tom says. "Tea?"

Abby nods. "Tell me it gets better than this."

~I wish I could.~ "The morning sickness will pass."

"Why is it you don't sound especially encouraging?"

Tom sighs. "Every woman is different."

"OK, but..." Abby says, bracing herself for the story of Joan's pregnancies.

"But?"

"You were about to tell me what it is that comes after the morning sickness and is even worse."

"Swollen ankles, backaches...but like I said each woman is different as well as each pregnancy. You may not develop any of that. Joan didn't. Each child was different."

"And maybe we're putting the cart before the horse. Maybe I'm not pregnant at all."

"Exactly." Tom says. ~But I doubt it.~ "I'll go put the kettle on."

"Thanks." Once Tom leaves the room, Abby sinks down on the bed. ~I'm pregnant. What am I going to do now?~

Tom puts the kettle on and wonders how he's going to arrange the bedrooms.

Joannie comes downstairs, yawning. "You didn't make any coffee?"

"Huh?" Tom says lost in his thoughts. "I thought Tea would be a change today. But help yourself if you want some."

"You never drink tea in the morning. Are you sick?"

"No of course not." Tom says as he drinks the tea.

Joannie starts making coffee. "Dad, you don't even like tea."

"I know, but I am not sick. Just ate something that didn't agree with me. So I thought it might settle my stomach." Tom sips the tea wishing Abby would come to his rescue.

"How many times have I told you not to eat your own cooking, Dad?"

Tom grumbles. "Guess I'll never learn."

"Learn what?" Abby asks as she walks into the kitchen.

"About my cooking causing me to have an upset stomach." Tom replies holding his cup of tea.

"You didn't tell me your stomach's upset," Abby says, confused. "If you had, I'd have made you the tea."

"I didn't want to worry you." He says winking at her out of Joannie's sight.

"How many times do I have to tell you--if you get up in the middle of the night, don't come downstairs to stuff yourself. Just wake me up."

"I don't think I'm old enough to hear this," Joannie jokes.

Tom face turns red. "You are right."

"I meant to fix you something to eat," Abby clarifies.

"I knew that." Tom says. "Tea?" he offers her.

"Thanks."

"I'm making eggs," Joannie says. "Either of you want some?"

"No, I am running late." Tom says.

Abby adds, "I'm a little late, myself." She gulps down the tea.

As Tom and Abby leave. Tommy comes in. "What was that about?"

"I don't know," Joannie says, shaking her head. "But something is definitely up with those two."

"I swear they are getting weirder in their old age." Tommy comments.

"Dad's bad influence rubbing off, I guess."

Tommy smiles.
 
"Unless something really is up," Joannie worries.

"I don't think I want to know." Tommy says.

"You really don't?"

"Why stir up trouble?"

"If there's going to be trouble, I want to know in advance. I've had enough of surprises for one lifetime."

"And I say let sleeping dogs lie."

"Then the only thing you end up with is fleas."

"Ha Ha." he retorts.

"Oh, come on. Aren't you just the least bit worried. First Abby's sick, now Dad, and both of them are being very cagey about it?"

"Since when are you concerned about Abby?"

"I've always been. I just have funny ways of showing it."

"Oh.."

"Gee, thanks, Tommy. What do you take me for?"

"You have to admit, you haven't been very nice to her since she married Dad."

"Look, this isn't about me," Joannie changes direction. "It's about her and Dad."

"They seem fine to me." Tommy replies.

"Who's fine?" Liz asks.

"Most people," Joannie tries to divert her little sister.

"Uh huh." Elizabeth says not believing her.

"Sheesh. Dad had tea for breakfast. I thought I was the Drama Queen around here."

"Tea?" Elizabeth asks. "That's strange."

"We're talking about Dad--everything he does is strange."

"That's for sure."

"Abby had tea, too, so maybe it's just something new she's getting him to do."

Elizabeth laughs. "You think?"

"You have any other ideas?"

"Well......." Liz wonders if she should say what she's suspicious about.

"Well what?" Joannie asks, knowing her own suspicions about Abby, but stumped about her father's behavior.

"You don't think Abby may be pregnant do you?" Elizabeth asks.

Tommy chokes on his milk.

Joannie rolls her eyes. "And Dad's drinking tea out of sympathy?"

"Maybe the Tea was for Abby and he was trying to throw us off track."

"I think I am going to be sick." Tommy says.

"What's the matter, don't want to share your room with a baby?"

"Hmmph. This house is already too crowded."
 
"Maybe they'll build an addition. With another bathroom."

"Cheapskate Dad?" Tommy says.

"What's he going to do, hang the baby's crib from the ceiling?"

Elizabeth laughs. "Maybe we are jumping the gun here."

"It's the most reasonable explanation so far, unless Tommy can come up with something better."

Tommy shakes his head. "I'm going to get some Air." he walks out the back.

"I haven't seen him this upset since he found out Mom was pregnant with Nicholas," Joannie says.

Elizabeth laughs then stops. "Oh no, I wonder how Nicholas will react?"

"Hopefully better than Tommy did to the news about him."

"Yeah."

"Maybe he'll like having someone to boss around."

"Can you imagine Nicholas as a big brother?"

"Can you imagine him with a baby sister?"

Elizabeth sighs. "Not really."

"At least he's not 'Abby's baby' like Tommy was Mom's. That might make things easier."

"That's true."

"See? There's a silver lining to every cloud."

"You realize if she is pregnant we will have to throw another shower."

"Well, we'd better not do too good a job of it, or she'll get herself pregnant every year."

"Bite your tongue."

"I can just see it--a whole 'nother family of eight kids..."

Elizabeth shudders.

"It's one way to make sure the rest of us move out or get married."

"I wonder how much boarding school would cost?" Elizabeth jokes.

"More than El Cheapo would shell out."

"There must be a law against more than 8 people sharing one bathroom."

"If we could get Officer Bernstein to arrest Dad, we wouldn't have to worry about any more kids."

"He could plead Insanity."

"Hmm. And the truth is the best defense."

"Poor Dad."

"Hey, don't feel too bad for him. You know, it does take two to make a baby."

"It does?" she smiles.
 
"Don't tell me--Dad's the one who gave you The Talk."

Elizabeth laughs. "No, Mom fortunately did that."

"Good, because otherwise I would have had to de-program you."

"I wonder who told Dad?"

"I guess he picked it up in a locker room. Or Auntie V told him. I don't know which one is worse."

"I know."

"Can you imagine that conversation?" Joannie laughs and puts on her best V-imitation. "Now, Tommy Belly Button..."

Elizabeth laughs. Nicholas enters. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, we were just imagining Dad and Auntie V as kids," Joannie tells him.

"Oh, is there any breakfast?"

"I'll make you something," Joannie offers and heads over to the stove. "Hey, Nicky, you ever think what it would be like not to be the youngest kid around here?"

"No, why?"

"Just wondering."

Elizabeth gives Joannie the ~we may have a problem look.~

Joannie serves Nicholas his breakfast and then says, "Liz, I need you to help me look at something in the laundry room."

"Be right back Nicky." Liz says.

"OK." he replies back.

She follows Joannie to the Laundry room.

"OK, kid, what's up?"

"What do you mean?"

"What was that look you gave me for?"

"Nicholas." she explains. "If Abby is pregnant, it's going to affect him more than any of us."

"He's a good kid. He'll deal."

"If you say so."

"And he'll still be *our* baby brother."

"You are right."

"Maybe this will turn out to be a good thing. It'll give Abby something to do."

"Oh you mean like taking care of dad is a vacation." Elizabeth jokes.

"You call what she does taking care of Dad?"

"Come on Joannie, she has gotten him to eat healthier?"

"And keeps ice cream in the freezer. You think he isn't sneaking some?"

"What do you want? To ban it from the house so the rest of us can't eat any?"

"If that's what Dad needs. We can get it outside. There's a lot of thing we've been having to get outside lately, haven't there been?"

Elizabeth shrugs. "I suppose."

"I wonder if I can transfer to an out-of-state school."

"Not when Dad's paying for it." Elizabeth reminds her.

"Maybe I could get my own place."

"And pay for it how?"

"Good looks and charm?"

"If that works, let me know."

"We've got to do something."

"There's nothing we can do."

"Well, not about them--they do what they want, always have. But we're adults. It's time we started thinking about ourselves for a change."

"You really going to move out?"

"Is there any reason for me to stick around?"

"Yes, I'd miss you."

"You could come visit me. Stay over once in a while and get away from little babies crying all the time."

"Don't you think we are jumping to conclusions?"

"I like to think of it as being prepared."

"I didn't know you were a boy scout?" Liz kids.

"Well, I've dated a few."

"Bad dates?"

"Depends on what it was they were prepared for."

Elizabeth laughs.

"We'd better go back to the kitchen before Nicholas comes looking for us."

Liz nods.

They head back into the kitchen.

Meanwhile Tom says to Abby, "That was too close."

"You could have just said the tea was for me; I'm getting to be expert on ducking the girls' questions."

"I bet you are, what's your secret?"

"Speak softly and hide out in our room a lot."

"I'll have to try that."

"It's even more fun if you do it while I'm hiding out there, too," Abby says and kisses him. "I'll try to call you later and let you know what's happening."

"OK."

In the early afternoon Abby calls Tom's office.

"Bradford." Tom states.

"Isn't that funny. I'm Bradford, too," Abby says.

"What a coincidence." Tom jokes.

"More like fate. Do you think you could get dinner organized tonight? I'll be home late."

"I think I can manage. You going to see Hilda?"

"Yes. I'm not sure what time I'll be home."

"Want me to meet you?"

"Won't the kids get suspicious?"

"We could go out to dinner."

"To celebrate or to commiserate?"

"Both."

"Well, at least I'm not the only one with mixed feelings. OK, where should I meet you?"

"Come here and I'll drive you."

"Then we'll just have to come back here after dinner to pick up Gwendolyn."

"Or I could leave my car and you could drive me in the morning."

"We could do that. I'll pick you up after my appointment, then."

"OK." he says. "See you then."

Sometime after seven Abby sticks her head into Tom's office. "I could hear your stomach growling all the way in the elevator."

Tom laughs. "I worked through lunch."

"Hey, at least you can keep down what you find time to get down."

"How'd it go?"

"She'll run a test--She might know by late tomorrow."

Tom nods. "Where do you want to go?"

Abby shrugs. "It's up to you."

"Right now, my main concern is you."

"And my main concern is making sure that rumbling stomach doesn't set off this state's next big earthquake."

"Cute, then what do you suggest?"

"Anywhere but the Grease Pit."

"Steak?"

Abby surreptitiously grabs her stomach. "If you'd like."

"Why don't we just go to the diner."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."

Abby hands him the car keys.

"You trust me to drive Gwendolyn?"

"You'll be gentle, won't you?"

"You are talking to a guy that doesn't drive over 55 MPH."

"I'm also talking to a guy who thinks that first gear is down and towards himself."

Tom sighs. "I'll be gentle."

Abby gives him a kiss. "I knew you would be."

Tom drives to the diner.

When they get there, Abby just orders coffee.

"You need more than coffee." Tom states.

"I'm not very hungry."

"Not trying to sound like a nag, but you need to take care of yourself."

"Which to me means not eating when it isn't going to stay down anyway."

"Didn't Hilda give you any suggestions?"

"Yeah--wait it out," Abby says, shaking her head.

Tom orders a burger and fries.  "It'll pass." He tries to assure her.

"Well, you're the expert."

"Are you upset with me?"

"Now why would I be upset with you?" Abby snaps.

~Hormones~ Tom thinks. "You tell me?"

"No, I'm sure you already have the answer. After all, pregnancy's old hat to you."

"I never claimed to know all the answers."

"Right."

"Abby, what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing. I don't want anything." Abby starts to get up.

"Wait." he says.

"What?"

"I may not always say the right things at the right time but I do love you."

Abby sits down. "I'm sorry."

"What can I do to make it easier for you?"

Abby shakes her head. "Nothing. It's not about you."

"I hate to see you hurting like this." Tom puts his fork down.

"It just that we always do things so fast, you know? And this time there's no way to slow down."

"Yeah."

"I'll get over it. It's not like I've got any choice, is it?"

"We all have choices."

"Really? What choices do you think I have now?"

"Let's not go through this again."

"Why not? You're the one who brought it up--then and now. Maybe that's what you want me to do."

"Never." He says

"Then why do you keep bringing it up?"

"I'm scared Abby."

"Of?"

"What if I am not around long enough to see this child grow up?"

Abby nods. "I thought of that. But there's no reason you shouldn't be, not if you take care of yourself."

Tom sighs. The waitress brings his hamburger. He takes one look at it. "I'm sorry, will you bring me a Salad instead?"

"I'll have one, too," Abby tells the waitress.

The waitress mutters something under her breath and walks away.

"We'll have to make that up to her," Abby laughs.

Tom laughs.

"I think having babies must only be for the young."

"I think maturity has its advantages."

"Like all this worrying? I may have this all wrong, but I always thought people are supposed to be happy if they're having a baby."

"It does seem wrong. I think we both need an attitude adjustment."

"And how do you plan to accomplish that miracle?"

"By concentrating on our strengths. We both are healthy, financially stable, have a nice home and we love each other. How many people can say that?"

"How much of that is going to survive midnight feedings and the terrible twos?"

"Not to sound like a broken record but each stage does have its charm."

"Maybe for the first," Abby says. "But what about the second, and the third?"

"What do you mean?"

"If we could have one accident, who's to say we won't have a second, or a third--or an eighth?"

"I guess I could have a vasectomy." Tom face turns red when as he says this the waitress brings their salads.

Abby tries not to laugh.

"Thank you." he says quietly. The waitress stares at him as she leaves the check.

"Cross this place off my list." Tom tells Abby

"Oh, I don't know. There must be some advantages to places you can't shock any worse than you already have."

"Cute." he says. "So...what do you think?"

"I think that I hate having to make decision like that."

"It's so final, you know?"

Abby nods. "And what if we change our minds? The girls are getting older; they'll get married, move out. What if in the end we wish we could have had more?"

"I guess I need to visit the drug store more often."

"Maybe we should just table this discussion for a few months. It's probably not really relevant right now."

Tom smiles "It is like closing the barn door after the fact."

"As long as we close it before the next horse escapes, we should be fine. Who knows? Maybe, after the baby's driven us crazy, the kids will make sure we get separate rooms at the funny farm and all this worrying will be academic."

Tom laughs at the thought.

Abby starts unloading some of her salad into Tom's plate.

"Honey, you've got to try and eat."

"I did."

"How about a milkshake or something." he suggests.

"No, really, I'm fine. Enjoy the salads."

"Only if I were a rabbit."

"Then order yourself something else. You won't go the rest of your life eating like this, I know you."

"That's Ok, I'll get something later at Home."

"Where, if you're not eating and I'm not eating, we ought to be getting to, I guess."

Tom nods and pays the bill.

"You know, you ought to consider yourself lucky," the waitress says to Tom as he's leaving. "At your age, most men are worried about retirement funds and prostate problems, not babies."

Tom's face turns red and he leaves the diner.

"Poor Tom," Abby says when she catches up to him. "But she's right, you know. Since we're stuck with this, we should make the best of it."

"So what do you suggest? I grow my hair long ~Don't say it.~ and we backpack through Europe?"

"Now that's an idea. But it'd get a little crowded, with the kids and all." Abby pretends to think. "We could move into Haight-Ashbury. Our family'd fit right in there."

"Ha Ha."

"How are you going to tell the kids? They're going to freak."

"Me? What happened to 'we tell the kids'."

"I'll be too busy hiding."

"You can't hide forever."

"Nine months or so should do it. I figure once there's a cute baby around they'll forgive me. At least until she's lining up for the bathroom with the rest of them."

"If it gets me to add on another bathroom, they will kiss your feet."

"Oh, so that's how you're going to do it. 'Kids, how'd you like another bathroom? Well, there's just one catch...'."

Tom shakes his head. "When do you expect Hilda to call?"

"Tomorrow afternoon or the next morning. Oh, no."

"What?" he states.

"What if Hilda calls the house when you and I are at work?"

"I'll work from home tomorrow."

"I can probably rearrange my schedule for Wednesday if I need to."

Tom nods and pulls into the driveway.

Abby gives him a brief kiss. "Definitely a civilized suicide pact. If we don't make it through the week--it was worth it."

"Yes it was."

"Ready for another evening of playing 'duck the kids'?"

"Sure, we are becoming old pros."

"Old?" Abby glares at him.

"Experienced?"

"I've always said you were a man of experience."

Tom rolls his eyes.

"Let's go inside and get this over with," Abby yawns.

"Might as well."

Late the next day the phone rings in the Bradford home.

Tom hurries and grabs the phone. "Hello?"

"This is Dr. Krauss's office. Is Abby Bradford home, please?"

"No I'm sorry, she's at work. Is this about her tests results?"

"To whom am I speaking?" the voice from the doctor's office asks before saying yes or no.

"This is her husband."

"Yes, this is about her tests, Mr. Bradford. Could you please have her call us back?"

Tom sighs hoping she would have told him. "Sure."

"Thank you. You're very understanding--most husbands try to bully the information out of me."

"I'll have her call as soon as I hear from her."

"Good luck reaching her," the nurse says and hangs up.

Tom dials the school.

A rather harried school secretary answers.

"Yes I need to locate a Mrs. Bradford please."

The secretary puts him on hold for a moment, then comes back. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Bradford is teaching right now. May I take a message?"

Tom sighs. "It's very important she calls her husband."

"Do you want me to have her called out of class?"

"Please."

"I'll try. Does she know where to reach you?"

"I am at home."

"All right. I'll send someone to get her." She hangs up and grabs a handy student to go get Mrs. Bradford.

A few minutes later the phone once again rings in the Bradford house.

Tom answers. "Abby?"

"Tom? What's wrong? Who's hurt?" Abby asks, just this side of frantic.

"Relax, everything is fine. The Doctors office called. They have your results."

"For that you pulled me out of class?"

"I thought you'd want to know." Tom says defensively.

"I do, but not while I'm teaching. I'll call her when I get a break and get back to you, OK?"

"I guess that'll have to do."

"Good. I'll talk to you later," Abby says and hurries off the phone.

Tom stands there in disbelief. and goes back into his study.

Nancy comes into the house after walking Sam and heads into the kitchen to get something to drink when a family member walks in.

"Have you seen the paper?" Joannie asks her. "I could have sworn I left it on the counter, but it's gone now."

"No I haven't, I just got home."

"Oh, well. It's got to be here somewhere," Joannie says, and starts rummaging around.

"Did you make the front page or something?" Nancy asks wondering why she's looking for the newspaper.

"No, I had a few things circled in the help wanted ads."

"Oh, I'll help you look then."

"Thanks. There really wasn't much good, but it's better than nothing, right?"

"Anytime," Nancy starts looking also. "And always better than nothing."

"Most were for waitresses," Joannie complains, almost to herself. "I must really be getting desperate."

"Desperate for what?"

"Huh? Oh, a job. Not everyone's cut out to do the cool stuff like modeling."

"Yeah, but you can do the cool acting stuff."

"Well, it's a lot of fun, but it sure doesn't pay the bills."

"Are you planning on moving out?"

"Eventually." ~Like in about nine months.~

"But you're still in school."

"Never too early to start saving, is it?"

"Of course not." She says.

"So help me look for the paper."

"I am." She finds the paper with half its pages missing.

"Oh, great. Someone beat me to it. The rats are leaving the ship."

"I'll get you another newspaper."

"At this time of day?"

"Oh yeah, hey maybe we can find the rest of the paper."

"Don't count on it."

"Will you please humor me and let me cheer you up by at least me trying to find it?"

"Sure. Thanks."

"You're welcome." Nancy says and starts looking for the rest of the newspaper.

Joannie flips through what's left of the paper.

Nancy finds the want ads and hands them to her.

Joannie starts circling ads.

Nancy finally pours that drink that she came into the kitchen for.

Joannie pushes the paper over to Nancy. "See anything else you think would be good for me?"

Nancy does some checking. "How do you feel about secretarial work?"

"Oh, no. I'm not that desperate--yet."

"Here's some acting jobs."

Joannie is about to grab the paper from her sister when Tom walks in.

"Hey Dad."

"Hi Nancy, what's going on?"

"I'm helping Joannie how are you?"

"Can't complain."

Joannie kicks her.

"Oww, stop." Nancy whispers to her sister.

"You, too," Joannie whispers back.

"Anything wrong Nancy?" Tom asks in oblivion.

"No."

"Then why did you just say 'Ow'?"

~I didn't know it was a big secret.~ Nancy catches on to what Joannie is trying to convey to her. "I don't know."

Tom shrugs ~weird.~ He turns to Joannie. "Desperate?"

"Oh, hi, Dad." Joannie pushes the paper away guiltily. "Just looking for a little after-school work."

"Are you sure you can handle it?"

"No, but I think it's time to try."

"Joannie, this is supposed to be the best time of your life. Don't over extend yourself."

"A little responsibility never hurt anybody. Besides, Dad, aren't you always telling us your Tom Bradford Junior Achiever stories? Maybe I just want to be a chip off the old block."

"Well, OK. Just as long as your grades don't suffer."

"Would I let that happen?"

"You did take off for NY, remember?"

"I remember," Joannie says, and then something in her voice changes as she remembers her father's promise to help set her up somewhere out of town if things didn't work out at home. "I remember."

"What?" Tom asks noticing her face changed.

"Nothing important." ~I'll try to make my own way locally first. NY will still be there if I can't.~

"Oh, its every person for himself tonight. Abby has classes and I'm not very hungry."

"Is something wrong, Dad? First it's tea for breakfast, now you're not hungry."

"No, I am fine. I got myself something earlier."

"At the Grease Pit?"

"No, I had fish."

"Oh. OK."

"Will one of you make sure Nicholas eats?"

"Sure. I'll make him something."

"Thank you, I'll be in my study."

Part two