Part two

Several hours later, the phone rings again. When Tom picks it up he's greeted by a cheerful, "Hello, Daddy."

Tom smiles. "You are pregnant?"

"About six weeks along. Hilda called in a prescription to the pharmacy. Could you go pick it up? I'll just about have enough time to come home and change before my night class."

"Are you sure you are up for it?"

"Of course I am. I'm always up to going to class, you know that."

"OK, yeah sure I'll pick it up, Anything else?"

"No, that's it. I'll see you when I get home."

"OK, I love you."

"Love you, too," Abby says, distracted, while a bell goes off behind her. "I've got to go. Bye."

"Bye." he replies.

Abby hangs up before she can hear him.

Tom just stares at the phone and then hangs up. He grabs his keys and leaves for the pharmacy.

He's still out when Abby comes home, changes, and grabs her books. She hurries into the kitchen, takes a piece of fruit, and tells the girls, "I may be late tonight."

She's just backing out of the driveway when Tom pulls up.

Tom gets out of the car. "Hi."

"Hi. Is that mine?" Abby asks, pointing to the bag in his hand.

"Yes." he hands it to her.

"Thanks. I may be late tonight--I think they have us scheduled for some kind of film in class."

"No Celebration?"

"Tom, I have a class to get to. In fact, if I don't get going..."

"Fine, I'll move the car." he says exasperated. He moves the car out of her way.

Abby waves to him as she drives past.

Tom walks in the house.

Close to midnight Abby finally drags herself home. She heads into the kitchen, pours herself a glass of milk, and opens a textbook.

Tom walks in in his robe. "Hi."

"Hi. I thought you'd be asleep by now."

"I was missing my security blanket." he jokes.

"What? Without me there, you could hog the blanket to your heart's content."

"What's the fun in that without you there to complain?"

"I'll make you a tape."

Tom sighs. "You OK?"

"Sure. Class just ran late, and I want to review my notes before I forget some things we went over."

"Oh......" Tom says ~Not a word about her pregnancy and how she feels about it now that she knows. "I won't interrupt. Goodnight."

"I'll try not to be too late. Night."

Tom returns to bed. About 20 minutes later Nicholas appears in the kitchen

"Nicholas! What are you doing up," Abby yawns "at this time of night?"

"I had a nightmare."

"Want to talk about it?" Abby asks as she gets up to start making Nicholas a snack.

"I've forgotten already, dumb huh."

"No, not dumb. Those are the worst dreams--when you forget what it was, but still remember how it made you feel."

Nicholas nods.

"Want to talk about how it made you feel?"

"Scared, alone."

Abby leans over and hugs him. "About the only way you could be alone in this house is in your dreams."

"Yeah." he says. "Maybe I should try and go back to bed."

"Maybe we both should," Abby says, closing her book. "If you have another bad dream you come wake me up, OK?"

"Thanks Abby."

"Any time. Sleep well."

Nicholas returns to his room.

Abby cleans up around the kitchen and then goes up to bed quietly, so as not to wake Tom.

"Finish studying?" Tom asks.

"For the night at least. And here I thought it was an old wives' tale that pregnancy kills off brain cells."

"Now that you know you are pregnant, how do you feel about it?"

Abby thinks about it for a minute. "Numb. You?"

"Honestly?" Tom asks. "Happy."

"What happened to all your worries?"

"They are still there, but I am ready to work at it."

"Ready? Being ready or not is no longer a luxury we have."

"Touch'e." he replies. "So we better start planning."

"For when we commit suicide--I mean, for when we tell the kids?"

"It wont be so bad. They might just surprise you."

"Like they did when we told them we were getting married?"

"And it has worked."

"After we got through the fights and the resentment it's worked out--with most of the kids."

"I'm not staying it's going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile is."

"I'm sure it won't be. I've got study group tomorrow night--maybe that would be a good time to tell everyone the news. You can tell me how it went when I get home."

Tom laughs. "Uh huh, It took two. remember?"

"But for the next few months it only takes one, so I'm just trying to save my own life here."

"Honey, they'll be shocked sure. But how will it looked if you are hiding?"

"Like I know them better than they think I do?" Abby guesses.

"We will tell them in the morning."

"It already is morning," Abby sighs.

"At breakfast. Only time everyone is here to begin with."

"How are you going to get David to stop by?"

"I'll call him, he can never pass up a free meal."

"You know your son too well. Speaking of sons, how do you think Nicholas will take it? He had a bad dream tonight--I hope this won't make things worse."

"Is he OK?"

"I think so. He was just feeling scared and alone afterwards. Will he think a baby means he's being abandoned?"

Tom shrugs. "Tommy went through it, heck all of them did."

"And they got through it with your help--and with Joan's."

Tom nods. "Nicholas loves you, don't forget that."

"The older kids will need you, too. They may not take it as well as you think they will--they may not like the idea of you 'starting a new family'."

Tom shakes his head. "I think they always knew this was a possibility."

"Knew or feared?"

"Why are you being such a pessimist?"

"I like to think of it as being a realist."

"Somehow, I knew you were going to say that."

"I guess you're finally getting to know me," Abby smiles and snuggles up to him.

"Try and get some sleep." Tom says.

"You, too. You're going to need your strength come morning."

Tom turns off the light.

Abby kisses him.

The next morning, Abby wakes to her by-now usual routine of nausea and its aftermath, then
remembers what's on the agenda for breakfast and really feels nauseous.

Tom brings her some tea. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Abby sips at the tea. "Did you call David yet? Might as well get this over with."

Tom goes to the phone and dials David.

"Hello." David answers.

"Hi Son, did I wake you?"

"No you didn't wake me what's up?"

"I'm having a family meeting this morning over breakfast, and afterwards I need to talk to you about something."

"Ok I'll be there."

"Thanks David." Tom says.

"No problem Dad."

Tom hangs up.

"Ah, I see you're going for the 'get a new bathroom' way of breaking it to them," Abby says after Tom hangs up.

"Correction, a garage conversion."

"The garage? What are we going to do with the garage?"

"Build a small apartment for one of the girls."

"Mary will love that and the others will hate it."

"I can't add on. The property line is too close."

"And your study is scared. What about the screen porch? Mary would have her own entrance. Great for when she breaks curfew."

"That is an idea...except for the curfew part."

Abby laughs. "Mary and Joannie will like the idea, but Susan, Nancy, and Elizabeth will be envious."

Tom shrugs. "I can't build everyone a room."

"And you can't make Joannie move in with Mary...I give up."

"She still giving you a hard time?"

"Joannie? I never hear a word out of her."

"Oh...and that upsets you because she won't talk to you?"

"It upsets me that I think she's still playing games. Watch how she reacts to our announcement," Abby predicts. "Speaking of which, if we don't get downstairs, someone's bound to run off before we get them all together."

Tom nods.

"Ok."

Abby finishes getting dressed and then kisses Tom. "If we don't make it back here alive, I just wanted you to know--it's been worth it."

Meanwhile, downstairs several of the kids are beginning to gather for breakfast. Joannie is
hurrying through her food while reading a script.

"We're out of jelly again." Nancy states.

"Well it's your turn to do the grocery shopping." Mary reminds her.

"I'm going today, who wants to go with me." She says.

"When are you going?" Joannie asks.

"Right after breakfast."

"Nah, I've got to get to school. In fact, as soon as I can wolf this down, I'm out of here."

"Oh yeah." Nancy says trying to keep the nervousness out of her voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just hoping I don't blow it again this year." Nancy says referring to college.

"You won't." Joannie looks at her watch. "Eep. I'd better get going." She slugs down some more juice and stands.

At that point Abby and Tom enter. "Hold on."

"What?" Joannie says.

"But Dad she has to get to school and I have to get to the grocery store." Nancy says.

Tom doesn't pay any attention. "Is David here yet?"

She says no.

Tom looks at his watch.

David soon arrives.

"Ok. Abby and I have an announcement." Tom takes her hand.

Elizabeth nudges Nancy.

Nancy nudges her back.

Tommy rolls his eyes.

"We are getting a pool?" Nicholas asks.

Tom shakes his head no.

"Something better." Tom smiles.

"What could be better than a pool?" Joannie asks.

"You'll see." Tom says.

"You're banning curfews." Nancy hopes.

Tom laughs. "No."

"Then what's going on?"

Tom squeezes Abby's hand. "We are going to have a baby."

Abby smiles hopefully at the kids.

Nancy goes from shock, to disbelief, to joy in a matter of seconds and then hugs both her parents. "That's wonderful." She says.

Mary and David also hug them and express their happiness.

Susan also adds her congratulations

"Thank You." Tom says.

Abby hugs the kids who've come to hug her.

Soon Elizabeth joins in. Tommy shakes his head but soon congratulates them.

"A baby?" Nicholas asks.

"Yes, Nicholas," Abby says. "You're going to be a big brother."

"Oh....."

"You've got plenty of time to get used to the idea," Abby says. "And in a few years there will be someone who thinks you're as cool and grown up as you think Tommy is."

Nicholas smiles at the idea. Tommy whispers to her. "Good Line."

"It's more than just a line," Abby smiles back at him.

Joannie goes over to Tom. "Well, that explains the tea, right?"

Tom nods. "We wanted to be sure before we said anything."

"I'll tell Nancy to add dry crackers to the shopping list." Joannie throws her roommate a "we need to talk" look.

Susan gives her a "what about" look back.

Joannie shakes her head. "Later," she mouths.

Susan mouths "Okay" back to her sister

"Should I add anything else to the grocery list? Any cravings yet?" Nancy asks Abby

"I think it's a little early yet," Abby laughs.

"Ok, just checking." Nancy smiles.

"Uh...I hate to interrupt this joyous event." Elizabeth says. "But where are we going to put the baby?"

"Good question," Nancy says.

"Well, that's about a year off," Abby reminds her, trying to give Tom a grace period before he has to make any decisions.

"Have you thought of names yet?" Nancy asks.

"Names? Uh, no," Abby says. ~Don't tell me--the kids will come up with a list.~

"Well if you two need help let us know. Help with anything." She says.

"Thanks." ~Oh, no. I'm going to have all nine of them hovering over me for nine months. Maybe I could work out a 'hover schedule'."

"Anytime." Nancy gives her another hug..

"Is the meeting over?" Tommy asks.

Tom nods. "Have a good day everyone."

"I'm out of here," Joannie says. "Don't expect me home for dinner."

"Joannie, wait. I'll walk you out." Tom says.

Joannie sighs and waits in the doorway for her father.

"I'll be right back." Tom tells Abby

Abby nods, busy with Nancy.

"David, I need to talk to you before you leave ok?"

"Ok."

"Dad, I really have to get going," Joannie says.

Tom walks out with Joannie. "If you need to talk...."

"Nothing I need to talk about. Is there something you want to talk about, Dad?"

"No..." Tom says. "I'll see you later tonight?"

"Sure. I'll be kind of late, though."

Tom nods.

"It'll be OK, Dad," Joannie says, kisses his cheek, and hurries out of the house.

As the rest of the kids (except for David) clear out, Abby waits for Tom to return.

Tom walks back inside. He sees Nancy. "You need any money?"

"Yes, and is Joannie ok?"

Tom shrugs. "Who can tell?"

"I'll see if I can talk to her at school later."

"Thanks honey."

"You're welcome." She says and waits for the money.

Abby looks up at him, trying to gauge how his talk with Joannie really went.

Tom sighs.

"That bad?"

"No, she's fine...I think."

"And you?"

"I'm fine, what about you?"

"Fine," Abby says, casting a glance David's way.

Tom nods.

Abby looks at her watch. "I've got to get going. I'll see you whenever I get home, OK?"

"When are we ever going to celebrate?"

"When I can keep something down?"

Tom mopes. "OK, but I am holding you to it."

"I figured you would." Abby gulps down the last of her tea, kisses Tom, and heads out.

"David, can we talk in the study?"

"Sure."

In the study

"What do you think about converting the sunporch into a bedroom?"

"It'll be a pretty small bedroom and whoever gets it won't have much  privacy."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"The attic or the garage would be perfect."

"Think you could draw me up a proposal?"

"Sure when do you need it by?"

"Soon." Tom says. "Like in nine months."

"Dad I can have it ready long before then."

"Good." Tom says. "Uh how do you feel about my news? Man to Man."

"I think it's great Dad."

Tom sighs. "Thanks Son."

"No problem, but why are you thanking me?"

"The truth? I didn't know how All of you would take the news."

"Ahh."

"Well I better get to work, if I am going to pay you for your services."

"Yeah I have to get to work too, I can have the plans by this weekend."

"Good."

David then leaves.

Nancy finds Joannie in the college cafeteria and sits down across from her. "Hi sis."

"Hey, Nance. Want a word of sisterly advice?"

"Sure."

"Stay away from the macaroni and cheese," Joannie says, pointing to her tray. "It's deadly."

"Thanks for the warning." She says. "Hey, are you all right?"

"Sure, fine. You know me."

"Yes I do, and would you tell me if you weren't all right?"

"Of course I would. We're sisters."

"Good, now about this macaroni and cheese, should I call an ambulance?"

"I'll live. It's no worse than Dad's cooking."

"And all of us have survived that."

"There you go."

"Yeah, so where are you going to be tonight?"

"A job interview."

"All right." She smiles. "What's the position?"

"One in which I get to put all my acting skills to good use."

"You got a part in a play, which one?"

'"It's not a play," Joannie frowns.

"Then what is it?"

"Selling frozen Chinese dinners door-to-door."

"It's a start."

"Everyone's got to start somewhere, right?"

Nancy nods. "By the way I take it from yesterday that you don't want anyone else to know?"

"Well, not until I get the job."

"Then the secret is safe with me."

"Thanks. I'll let you know how it went when I get home." Joannie picks at her poison. "So, what did you think of this morning's big announcement?"

Nancy smiles but then notices that Joannie isn't smiling. "Joannie it's going to be ok with a new baby in the family. I'm excited about it. Why are you worried about it?"

"Why are you excited about it?"

"I think it will be cool having another baby in the house. Remember how cute Nicholas was as a baby?"

"Think it'll be as cute when Dad and Abby ask you to give up dates to babysit?"

"They won't do that? Will they?"

"Want to bet on it?"

This depresses her a little but then she says. "I'm still happy about it."

"Well, I hope you don't mind Susan's snoring."

"The baby might be a boy."

"We'll all still move. You can't fit three boys in that room. Tommy'll get his own, and Nicholas will have to deal with screaming infant."

"Not for awhile. I'm sure when the baby is first born that Dad and Abby will keep him/her in their room."

"Oh, sure, for a few month, but then they'll ship it out and get started on the next."

"Joannie you don't know that for sure."

"Yesterday I didn't know for sure that Abby was pregnant, but I was right, wasn't I?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that you're right about this."

"Talk to me again next year."

"I wish I can make you feel better about this."

"Don't. I'm a big girl. Maybe this is the kick in the pants I needed to realize that it's time to start living my own life."

"I'll try not to."

"Good."

"So do you have any idea what is safe to eat here?"

"Your nails," Joannie suggests.

"Very funny." Nancy smiles.

"Eat whatever you want. We Bradfords have cast iron stomachs."

"That is true." She goes to get something to eat.

When Abby gets home that night it's late, past dinner. She heads for the kitchen to see what, if anything, might be left to snack on.

Elizabeth walks in. "Hi."

"Hi." Abby digs around in the refrigerator some more. "I thought Nancy was going shopping today, so why is there nothing worth eating?" She goes back to the table and grabs an apple. "Want some?"

"I'll take a Banana instead."

Abby hands her one and waits to hear what comments Elizabeth has, if any, about this morning.

"So you must be excited huh?"

"Excited? Terrified is more like it."

"Really?"

"What do I know about babies? Everyone here but Nicholas probably knows more than I do."

"You'll be fine." Elizabeth assures her "and I'll help."

"Thanks. I have a feeling I'm going to need all the help I can get."

Elizabeth smiles at her. "Dad looked like he was on a cloud all day."

"Really? You'd think anyone who complains as much as he does about the cost of maintaining a family this size..."

She laughs. "I know."

"And I suppose, once he lets his friends know, they'll tease him unmercifully."

"I'll survive." Tom says.

"Hi Dad." Elizabeth gets up. "Goodnight."

"I thought you'd be asleep by now," Abby tells him.

"I can't sleep unless you are right besides me."

"Better get all the sleep you can. In nine months or so, we won't be getting any."

Tom smiles. "That goes for two of us." Tom extends his hand.

"Oh, please. I don't think I'll get a chance to sleep at all the next few weeks. Between school and work and the way I'm feeling and the book coming out next week..."

"Abby, remember. You are taking care of two now."

"I can't put my life on hold, Tom."

"Nobody's asking you to. Just listen to your body. That's all I am saying."

"Of course I will. Stop treating me like a child."

"I'm not treating you like a.......oh never mind, goodnight." Tom turns and walks away.

Abby grumbles under her breath about inconsiderate men.

Tom grumbles up the stairs about women not wanting to be cared for.

Abby yawns. ~I am not going up there and letting him think he was right. I'd rather take my chances on the screen porch couch.~

The next morning Abby wakes, stretches, tries to work the kinks out of her back. "I am too
old to be sleeping on this couch," she sighs.

Tom is in the kitchen. "Coffee?"

Abby rubs her back and gives him a frosty glare. "I'll get it for myself."

"Fine." He says. "I'll be home late." Tom says

"What do you mean by late?"

"Exactly what it means...late." Tom says.

"Fine. On second thought, I think I'll skip the coffee," Abby says and heads towards the doorway.

"Abby...wait." Tom sighs. "Why are we fighting?"

Abby walks back into the kitchen. "If I told you I'd be home unexpectedly late, you'd tell me to try to take care of myself, that I had to be careful and get my rest."

"Is that a crime?"

"I can take care of myself, Tom."

"Well forgive me for caring."

"It's not the caring I mind, it's the bossing around."

"I wasn't trying to boss you around, I was just trying to help."

"Help?" Abby laughs. "Sometimes I think you forget how to turn off the father mode."

"I don't do that...do I?"

"I keep waiting for you to tell me to eat all my vegetables and clean my plate like a good girl."

Tom shakes his head. "I'm sorry."

Abby kisses him. "You're so cute when you're all repentant."

"So are you."

Abby starts to say "But I've nothing to be repentant for," but decides to drop it. Instead, she kisses Tom again.

Nancy walks in and gets something to eat. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Abby says, cheerful again now that she and Tom are making up.

She gets a cup of coffee. "Is it Friday yet?"

"Sorry, not until tomorrow."

"As long as it gets here I'm not complaining, how are you two doing?"

"We're fine," Abby says, glancing at Tom to be sure they indeed are.

"Terrific." he gazes at her.

"That's good." Nancy says and eats her breakfast.

Abby nods. "It's very good."

Tom sighs. "I really will be late tonight, union business."

"I know how that goes," Abby sympathizes. "Try not to get elected to anything, OK?"

Nancy finishes her breakfast and then leaves.

"Not on your life." Tom says. "Have a good day Nancy." Tom nods then kisses Abby.

"She left pretty abruptly," Abby worries after Nancy's left the room.

"I'll see if I can catch her." Tom says.

"OK." ~Just when we were making up. Oh, well, it's always one kid or the other--and here I go, adding chaos.~

Tom catches up with Nancy. "You OK?"

"Yeah Dad I'm ok." She lies not wanting to ruin his or Abby's joy.

"You are forgetting who you are talking to here. I know you. Now what's wrong?"

She sighs hands him a letter and sits down on the hood of his car. "The police found this stored in their evidence room. Since Rick died before he could stand trial, Officer Bernstein handed it to me yesterday." She says and takes a deep breath. "It's a love letter Noah had written me a day or two before he died. He never got around to giving it to me."

"Have you read it?"

She shakes her head. "I can't."

Tom hands it back to her. "Something like this happened after your mom died. I found her journal. After reading it, It made me feel like she was here talking to me."

"How else did it make you feel?"

"Sad and contented."

Nancy glances at the letter but then just puts it away again. "I can't, Dad I know you mean well, but..."

Tom nods. "When you are ready, you'll know."

"Yeah," She smiles sadly. "Well I'd better get to school."

Tom nods. "I love you Nancy."

"I love you too Dad." She gives him a hug.

"I'll see you later tonight."

"Ok." She says and then leaves.

That day Nancy leaves school early and goes to the place that she and Joannie used to go when they needed privacy and reads the letter. She's soon in tears and is unable to finish all of it. It's sometime before she starts reading again. When she's finally all cried out and has finished the letter she puts it away again and starts heading home. When she gets there she heads upstairs to her room and shuts her door Not knowing Abby was home at the time and saw her go into her room. Soon there's a knock on her door.

"Come in." Nancy says.

"What's wrong?" Abby asks.

"It's been a rough day." She admits.

"Want to talk about it?"

She tells her about the letter and finally reading it.

"Oh, Nancy," Abby hugs her. "Are you OK?"

"I think I am." She says. "But I'm not completely sure."

"I can imagine."

"Part of me wishes I never found out about the letter but another part of me wants to hold on to it forever. Is that normal?"

"Very. I suppose everyone who's lost someone wonders what it would be like to get a letter like that."

"I think you're right." She says.

"I am. At least now you don't have to wonder."

"Yeah." She manages a smile.

Abby hugs her again.

Nancy hugs her also and cries a little more.

"Shh. It's OK." ~You don't know how lucky you are.~

A little while later. "Thank you Abby."

"Any time," Abby smiles, drying Nancy's tears.

They talk a bit longer and then finally go downstairs to forage for food.

Part three