Joannie kicks Susan under the table and discretely points to where Channing is monopolizing Abby's attention.

Susan takes Joannie's cue and tries to divert Channing's attention.

"You're the athlete, aren't you?" Channing asks Susan.

"Yes, I am. I can play almost any sport."

"Really? I wish I could. The only thing I play is tennis, and that badly."

"It's all in the wrist."

Channing leans over and takes Susan's hand. "Oh, yes, I see."

"So," Joannie says, "what types of books do you like working on?"

"It's not so much the books that I enjoy, it's the authors," Channing says, looking at his latest acquisition.

Joannie shoots a look at Mary. ~Your turn~

Mary glares at Channing.

Channing ignores Mary.

~Hmm, not so charming when someone isn't swooning over him.~

Channing tries to turn his attention back to Nancy.

Meanwhile Nancy observes all the action while eating and hasn't failed to notice that Channing has smiled at all of her sisters and completely ignored her brothers. ~Yeah I know his type, creep.~

Channing throws a quick glance V's way, and then settles back to talking to Abby.

"Maybe I can try." Tom brainstorms. "Abby? Would you like a roll?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, please."

Tom passes the rolls down and smiles at her. "So did you tell Channing the good news?"

"Good news?" Abby says blankly.

"The baby." Tommy says before his father.

"Oh. No, actually, I hadn't." She turns to Channing. "Don't worry, it won't interfere with the tour. I'm not due for over half a year."

"Well, congratulations," Channing says. "Both of you." He turns back to Abby. "No wonder you've been glowing. I've always heard that pregnancy makes women even more beautiful."

"Thank you, we are very excited about it." Tom says.

"I'll bet." ~Which is why Abby's never said a word.~

Later that night, Nancy is in the kitchen finishing up her studying when Abby walks in. Nancy looks as she enters and sees the 'we need to talk' look on her face. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," Abby says. "Doing homework?"

"Yeah, well finishing up anyway."

"I've heard about some of your homework."

"News travels fast in this family, so what do you think about the homework?"

"The contents or the assignment?"

"Both."

"Well, the questions aren't anything you wouldn't find in some magazines," Abby hedges.

"So you approve?"

"There's nothing wrong with the questions," Abby repeats. "But the assignment..."

"I'm being careful." Nancy says.

"It's not about that. I'm sure you're being careful, but what your professor is asking you to do just isn't appropriate."

"I know the assignment is pretty radical but he's a good teacher."

"I'll bet he is, but this...it's a big risk he's having you take."

Nancy ponders this and sighs. "If you don't think I should interview any more people for this assignment I won't." She says not wanting to worry her.

"Will it hurt your grade if you stop now?"

"It shouldn't, I think I have enough data."

"Then why put yourself at further risk?"

She nods in agreement. "I won't, no more interviewing."

"I'm sure your father will be happy to hear that."

"Yeah, but are you happy to hear that?"

"I don't want you getting hurt."

"I know."

"Good," Abby says and smiles at Nancy.

Nancy smiles back.

"You want anything? We still have some dessert left from dinner."

"Sure, studying always makes me hungry."

Abby cuts two slices of pie. "Want ice cream on it?"

"Only if it's chocolate, and I'll get it, do you want some ice cream on yours?"

Abby nods. "Vanilla. And lots of chocolate sauce."

"Coming right up." Nancy says and gets Abby's order and her Chocolate ice cream and serves it.

"Thanks." Abby picks up her spoon and starts playing with her food.

"You're welcome." Nancy says and halfway through eating says. "You know the only problem with playing with food is that it can't play back."

"I thought that was the good part."

Nancy laughs. "You got me there."

Abby laughs a little, too, then goes back to playing with her food.

"Are you all right?" Nancy finally asks.

"Yeah. No." Abby shrugs. "I don't know."

"Want to talk about it?"

Abby shrugs. "Just men and their egos."

"Any man in particular?"

"All of them at the dinner table tonight."

"Excluding Nicholas and Sam."

"Give them a chance."

"Well not for a very long time with them I hope."

"It's only four years until Nicholas is a teenager."

"Ouch."

"At least Sam will stay the same. I hope."

"He will." Nancy assures her.

"He'd better," Abby jokes.

"I'll say."

At that moment Sam wanders in hoping to get some dessert also.

"Speak of the devil. Sam, apple pie isn't good for you."

He just sits down and wags his tail.

"Not this time buddy it's too soon since your last treat of dessert."

"See? Even Sam's getting a swelled head, thinking everything's all about him."

"It could be worse, at least he can't talk about it."

Abby laughs. "And we can barely tell when he's pouting," she adds.

Nancy laughs also.

"Shouldn't you be getting to bed? It's late."

Nancy looks over her books one more time. "Yes I should, I'm done with this for the night, goodnight Abby." She gives her a kiss and goes upstairs.

"Good night, Nancy."

Two days later Nancy hands in her assignment. After class is over and her professor has looked it over he calls her to his desk.

The professor looks the paper over one more time. "You've got the basic idea down, but..."

"But?"

The professor takes a deep breath. "It's always a mistake to theorize based on too little data."

"Oh....." A moment later. "As it stands what grade will I get on it?"

He shakes his head. "Not the grade your ideas deserve."

"I'll have to take it." She stands firm.

"Nancy, it's a real shame. I know you can do better, and it would only take an afternoon or two of your time."

"I know but...."

"But what?"

"I don't feel comfortable asking people questions like these, and it's pretty risky."

"Risky? Nancy, don't you think you're exaggerating just a bit?"

"No I don't, you never know what can happen."

"You could also drown in your bathtub, but that's not likely to happen, is it?"

"No it's not, but I can't go out there again not only for me but I also promised I wouldn't."

"Promised who? Who'd interfere with your school work?"

"Someone who cares very much for my well being, my stepmother."

"Perhaps she simply doesn't understand the purpose of this assignment."

"What is the purpose of the assignment?"

"Now, Nancy, you know answering that question is part of the assignment itself..."

"Yes I know it's part of it, but what's the reason behind it?"

"Have you read chapters 10 and 13 in your textbook?"

"I was planning to tonight."

"They should answer your questions. And I wish you'd try to get some more people to answer mine."

"I have to get to my next class." She puts off answering him.

"I can give you until Wednesday," the professor tells her as she leaves.

She nods and after her next class she decides to read the chapters early in the library. Later that night at home she tells Abby what she read and why she thinks the professor assigned it.

"What do you think? Does it sound like he's on the up and up or that he's just trying to create controversy?"

"Nancy, I can't answer that," Abby says as she packs. "You're a grown woman. You have to make your own choices."

"Right now I'm not sure what to think, but I know you're right."

"Well, you can think it over tonight, at least."

"Yeah and whatever I decide it still doesn't change the facts so I'll take whatever grade he's going to give me. Are you leaving in the morning or just packing early?"

"You might want to talk to your father about the paper, and yes, I've got to get down to San Francisco first thing in the morning."

"I will, and while you there doing all the promotion work please have some fun too."

"Fun? I'll be lucky if I remember what city I'm in. I wish your father had been able to come with me, but one of us does have to stay here, it's true."

"Maybe Auntie V can stay longer and he can go with you."

"No, he wouldn't get any work done at all."

"And that's a bad thing?" V says as she walks in.

"Of course it is. How often does Tom get a chance to write what he wants to instead of his column?"

"Good point." Nancy says.

"Besides, I wouldn't have much time to spend with him, I'll be working all the time, so why drag him along just to sit in hotel rooms all day?"

"Good point." V says.

"And Channing will be with me for most of the trip. He and Tom don't exactly get along."

"That's for sure." Nancy says.

"I just don't understand it. Channing's a really nice guy, and so's Tom, most of the time."

~Sure he is.~ V thinks.

Abby shrugs. "So you see, it's just better all around that Tom stays here."

"Speaking of Dad, I'd better go have that talk with him." Nancy says and goes to seek him out.

"Good luck," Abby calls out and returns to her packing.

"Thank you!!" She answers back.

"Do you need any help?" V asks.

"Maybe you could help me choose what to take for some of the parties?"

"Ok," V looks at some of the outfits. "This one, oh and this one."

"What about this?" Abby holds up a dress somewhat lower-cut than the ones V's picked out.

"Hmm, I don't know it might get cold in Frisco."

"No, I was thinking about the reception with the Dallas Cowboys."

"Then it would be perfect."

"Good." Abby looks at the dress a minute longer. "Tom always likes it when I wear this. Might as well get use out of it while I can."

V smiles thinking about the upcoming baby.

Abby smiles, too, for the same reason. "V, you don't think I have anything to worry about, do you? I mean, with me going off on a business trip and Tom feeling down, like he has been?"

"Tom is strong he'll be fine."

"I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about, well..."

"What?" V asks gently.

"About the past repeating itself."

"That's not going to happen. Tom has learned his lesson."

"See, what worries me is, well, if someone's as jealous as Tom is, it's because someone's giving him reason to be. And since it's not me, well, then..."

"Oh Abby believe me he is not doing what you think he's doing."

"Not yet, but what about while I'm away?"

"All I can tell you is to trust him and to trust the love you two have for each other."

"I'll bet Joan trusted him, too."

"Yes she did."

"My point exactly."

V sighs.

"V? Could I ask you a favor?"

"Sure."

"Could you keep an eye on him? I don't mean stay here, but at least call him a few times while I'm gone? If anyone would know if he were doing something he'll regret, you'd know."

"Of course."

"Thank you."

"Not a problem."

Abby gives V a quick hug.

V hugs her back.

Meanwhile downstairs.

"Joannie have you seen Dad?"

"I think he's pouting in his study."

"Oh, thank you." She knocks on the study door.

"It's open."

"Hi Dad are you busy?"

"Huh? No, Come in."

She walks in, takes a deep breath, and proceeds to bring him up to speed on the survey situation. "Now don't worry I'm not going out there and interviewing again, but I just wanted you to know that my grade on it might not be very good."

Tom sighs. "I have to admit, sometimes grades aren't important."

"So you'll be ok with this?"

Tom nods. "But don't spread it around." he jokes.

"I won't."

"Good."

Nancy leaves the room kind of feeling like her Dad had his mind on other things at the time.

Tom stares out the window. He makes a decision and goes upstairs. "Abby, I'm going with you."

"What? Tom, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? I won't be in your way."

"I won't have any time to spend with you. You'll just sit in hotel rooms all day while I do interviews and publicity. You'll hate it, we'll fight, and meanwhile no one will be home with the kids and you won't be writing."

"Do you really think I can get any work done while I am here? I'll take my portable typewriter with me." Tom says as he gets his suitcase.

"Tom, why do you want to go? Really?" Abby asks, reluctant to say that she really doesn't want him tagging along.

"Is there a reason you don't want me to go?" Tom answers with a question.

"I don't think I like what I think you're thinking."

"And what exactly am I thinking?"

"Tom, I'm going on this trip for work. That's it. Nothing more. I don't need a chaperone."

"Who said anything about chaperoning? I am going to write on my novel, while you do what you have to do."

"And who's going to pay for all this?"

"You are." he says. "Unless you don't want me to share your room."

"And what about the airfare? OK, you could drive to San Francisco, but what about Dallas, Green Bay, Washington, and New York?"

Tom sits on the bed defeated.

"I wish you could come with me," Abby says, sitting down next to him, ~no, I don't~ "but I'll call you every night."

"Sure." he says. He looks at his watch. "I better call Elliot about some things." He then makes a hasty exit.

~OK, I think I blew that. Why do men have to have such fragile egos?~ Abby goes back to her packing.

Elizabeth walks in.

"Hi, Elizabeth," Abby greets her.

"Hi, getting ready to go?"

"Yep," Abby smiles, "I'm just about ready."

"Abby, may I be honest here?"

"Sounds like I might need to sit down for this one," Abby jokes. "OK, go ahead."

"Be careful OK?" she says.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to let any of those '49ers tackle me for old times' sake."

Elizabeth slightly laughs.

"What is it you think I need to be careful of?"

Elizabeth takes a deep breath. "Channing."

"Channing?" Abby laughs. "Why would I have to be careful about him?"

"You didn't notice around the dinner table the other night?"

"You mean that he was flirting with all you girls? Sure. There are men who'll flirt with every pretty girl in sight. Doesn't mean anything."

"He was flirting with you too."

"No one flirts with old married ladies like me--well, except your father."

"Yeah, well...."

"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

"That's what I thought about me too."

"Oh." Abby finally realizes what Elizabeth's getting at. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. But really, I don't think there's anything to worry about. I'm just his latest project--week after next he'll be promoting a different book and flirting with someone else."

Elizabeth sighs. "OK."

Abby gives her a hug.

"How long are you going to be gone?"

"About a week and a half. And not a chance to breath the whole time."

"We will miss you."

"I'll miss you all, too."

"Abby." Tom calls "Great news." He comes bounding up the stairs.

"Oh, Hi Elizabeth."

"Hi Dad."

"Abby, the strike is over." Tom beams.

"That's wonderful! I'll bet you can't wait to get back to the office."

"I won't be going to the office."

"But you have a lot of work to make up, don't you?"

"Elliot is sending me to cover your press tour." Tom replies and gets his suitcase.

"You're kidding." ~Please tell me you're kidding. Pretty please tell me you're kidding.~

Elizabeth sees Abby expression. "Uh, I'll leave you two alone."

"No, he figured it was a great angle." Tom says as he starts packing.

"Elizabeth, that would be a very good idea," Abby says, temporarily ignoring her husband.

Tom gets his shirts and socks out of the drawers.

Once Elizabeth is out of the room, Abby turns to Tom. "Elliot Randolph didn't come up with this idea on his own, did he, Tom?"

"Well, I'll admit. I told him about your book tour and then he asked if I would like to cover it."

"Well, isn't that convenient."

"You told me earlier that you wish I could come with you, was that a lie?"

"No more than all your excuses for coming along have been."

"What excuses?"

"The ones you gave your publisher. The ones you gave me. Who knows--maybe even the ones you gave yourself."

"Abby, I didn't ask for this assignment, but I am not going to admit that I wish it wasn't me."

"Oh come on, like you didn't know when you told Elliot Randolph 'my wife wrote a book and the publisher's doing a tour' he'd see dollar signs dancing in his head."

Tom continues to pack. "Ok, Abby. On this trip I am just another reporter. I'll even get my own hotel room and sit with the press corp."

"Right. You won't react when you see Channing in the same room with me. Or if anyone from the '49er front office forgets that I've remarried. Who are you kidding?"

"It sounds like you want that to happen."

"You're being ridiculous."

"Am I? Then why are you so dead set against me going along?"

"Because I don't want to have to baby-sit your ego!"

"My ego? I think you are the one with the ego problem."

"Ego? Me?" Abby laughs. "I'm going on this tour to do a job. If you can't even be honest with me about why you want to go, well, then..."

"Honestly? Tom says. "Because I can't stand the thought of being away from you more than one night and because I love you." Tom says loudly. "And if that's so wrong then shoot me." He replies and leaves the room to call Donna about the reservations.

Elizabeth leaves and seeks out Nancy and V. "You guys won't believe what just happened."

"Sure we will." Nancy says.

"Try us." V says.

Elizabeth explains the latest.

"Oh wonderful." Nancy says knowing Abby doesn't want Tom coming along.

"Yeah, I am sure we will hear them talk."

"I'll be in our room with my headphones on." Nancy says.

Liz laughs. "OK."

"What do you think Auntie V?"

Nancy leaves the room.

"That your father should stay home and let someone else do the assignment."

"Why?"

"Conflict of interest."

"Never thought of that."

"And besides as much as you kids like to deny it you'll need a parent here when the other is out of town. Not that I wouldn't be willing to stay but you still need one."

Tom comes downstairs. "Oh, V. I need a favor."

"And Tom I want to talk to you, now." She says in her big sister you need to listen to me tone

"This is my cue to leave again." Liz says

"What??" Tom asks.

"Take advantage of it, and go do something fun."

"I think I'll go to the movies."

"Why don't you bring your brothers and sisters with you, I'll pay for it."

~Uh oh, this is not going to be pleasant conversation.~ "OK, Thanks Auntie V." She gathers her siblings together.

"You're welcome honey." V watches them leave and waits for Tom.

Abby sits on the bed. "This is great. This is just wonderful. Maybe it's not too late to cancel this whole thing."

"Cancel what?" Nicholas asks through an open door "and who are you talking to?"

"Oh, hi, Nicholas. I was just talking to myself."

"Could I ask you a favor?"

"Of course you can."

He pulls out his football. "Could you get the 49ers to sign this?"

"I think I can arrange that. I'll certainly try."

"Thanks Abby."

"Nicholas!" Elizabeth calls for.

"In here." he replies.

"C'mon, Auntie V is paying our way to the movies."

Abby holds her hands out for the football. "Go on."

He gives it to her. "Bye."

"Good luck." Liz says to Abby.

Abby considers going downstairs to talk to Tom, but decides hiding is the better part of valor.

Tom calls Donna to confirm his reservations.

V goes into Tom's study and waits for him to get off the phone.

Tom bounds into his study. "Ok, what did you want to talk about?" he says as he goes through his desk.

"Tom, did you or Elliot consider the ramifications if you take this assignment?"

"V, what are you talking about?"

V tells him what Elizabeth told her earlier. "Abby is your wife Tom, they should probably get someone else so neither of you get in trouble."

"That's ridiculous." Tom says. "now can I count on you to keep an eye out here? Or do I need to find somebody else."

"No it is not ridiculous and it's so soon after you and Abby have left the kids with her parents."

"V, you are the one who keeps saying the kids are old enough to take care of themselves and you didn't answer my question."

"I know I've said that but that doesn't change the fact that they need you. And yes I'll watch them but I don't think you should go."

"Well, it's a good thing you are my sister and not my mother." He says. "and thank you."

~Oh well I tried.~ "Not a problem." V says and leaves the room .

Abby hears the silence and ventures out of her room.

"I couldn't talk him out of it Abby." V says.

"I didn't think you'd be able to," Abby sighs. "Oh, well, at least I know he won't be cheating on me while I'm gone. We might come back divorced, but still faithful."

"There must be a way to stop him."

"Murder's still illegal. Too bad your Horst can't buy the Register the way he bought your cruise line."

"Yeah I know."

"I'll just have to figure out how to live with it. At least I know one newspaper will give the book a glowing review, even if I do have to sleep with the reviewer in exchange."

V smiles. "Hey maybe I can talk with Elliot, he might not have checked into the conflict of interest thing."

"Would you? The marriage you save might be my own."

"You bet I will." V starts plotting.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"So when are you going to call?"

"Tomorrow unless it's too late."

"No, I already told him he could come with me to San Francisco. It's the rest of the time I'm worried about. I married him for better or for worse, but not for a publicity tour."

"I know."

Abby nods. "Yep, if anyone knows Tom, it's you."

"Yeah." She says a little angry at her brother.

Abby suddenly has another idea. "I'd better get ready for bed. I have a long day tomorrow."

"Sleep good." V says.

"Thanks. If you see Tom, send him up, would you? It's going to be just as long a day for him."

"Sure and you're welcome."

Abby goes upstairs and tries to make the bedroom seem as romantic as possible.

Tom goes upstairs and sees the room lit up with candles. "What is this?"

"What does it look like?"

"We are trying to save electricity?"

"Well, I'm certainly trying to save something."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. It was a stupid idea."

"Abby, first you are fighting with me and now this...I don't know if I am coming or going and it isn't a stupid idea....whatever it was."

"I don't want to fight. Besides, if you write anything nice about me or the book, everyone will assume that it's only because I've slept with the reviewer, so if I'm going to get the blame, might as well have the fun, right?"

Tom thinks about this. "You think I would do that?"

"It doesn't matter what I think. That's what everyone else will think--the only way I could get a good review in my hometown paper is to make sure my husband wrote it."

~Great, I don't want to do that. Now what?~ "Abby, I am a professional too."

"And you're not worried about what people will say when you spend a week or two writing nice things about your wife's book? Or worse yet, what they'll say if you write not-so-nice things?"

"Abby, I can't drop out now. It's too late for them to send someone else to San Francisco."

"Why? I'd think the newspaper business is always last-minute."

"What if I go to San Francisco and write about it in my column and have Elliot send another person out for the rest of the tour?"

"And have someone else review the book, if anyone will? After all, you're not generally the literary critic."
 

Tom nods.

"Then it sounds great to me," Abby smiles, thinking she's won the war.

"I always wanted to write like Charles Kuralt. 'On the Road'."

"Well, this can be your first attempt."

"So, it's ok if I tag along now?"

"Just to San Francisco, I won't fight with you about it." ~But if V can get Elliot Randolph to pull you off the story, I won't be upset at all.~

"Thank you."

"We ought to go to bed. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

Tom jokes. "No romantic interlude?"

"I said bed, not sleep."

"Oh..." he plays dumb.

Abby laughs.

He kisses her. "You know, I wouldn't act like a jerk sometimes If I didn't love you so much."

"That's kind of scary, Tom."

"Scary? How so?"

"It's only because you love me that you do things which could hurt me?"

Tom shudders "I see your point."

"We've been all through this before. Several times."

"Maybe its time I go through it with a professional" he sighs.

"Maybe it's just a matter of different generations," Abby sighs.

"I'll make an appointment when I get back."

"If you think it would help if I spoke to someone--if you think I'm over-reacting, I'll do it," Abby offers.

"Well....."

~But I'm not over-reacting.~ "I just said I'd go too, didn't I?"

"Then why are you so ornery about it?"

"Look who's talking. If you wrote down everything you know about being ornery, you'd have a bestseller."

"That's a low blow."

"So's treating me like I can't be trusted out alone. And to think I told your sister that my biggest concern for the next week was--never mind."

"What?"

"Was whether when I got back you'd still be here waiting for me."

Tom is appalled by the accusation. "Now why wouldn't I be?"

"It's happened before, and sometimes I get scared that it'll happen again."

"So you are saying you have more reason to worry than I do."

"Do you blame me? Last time you were feeling down professionally, your wife's career was taking off, you were feeling neglected. This time, well, until a few hours ago the paper was on strike, your wife the teacher is horning in on your profession, and I'm going away and didn't exactly shout for joy at the idea of you tagging along."

"I was a different man then Abby."

"I know. I guess being in love makes you worry about things that'll never happen."

Tom nods. "Ok. I'll let you have the final say, no questions asked. Do I stay or go?"

"I thought we'd already agreed on a compromise."

"We did, I just wanted to make sure you were OK with that."

"It's a good compromise. As long as you're OK with it."

Tom nods. "So now what, do we sign our names in blood?" he deadpans.

"I don't know. I can think of better ways of sealing a pact."

Tom smiles.

"So? What do you say?"

"I say let's go to bed."

"I thought you'd never ask."

Tom blows out the candles.

The next day V calls Elliot and he tells her he'd already checked into it and there won't be any conflict of interest. She relays the information to Abby.

"I figured he'd say that," Abby sighs. "Thanks for trying, though."

"No problem."

The phone rings. "Could you get that? I've got to pack a few last things."

V answers the phone. "Nancy it's for you!!"

"Thanks Auntie V." She talks for awhile and then hangs up. "I have to go into school early."

Joannie overhears this. "A hot date?"

"I just have to talk to my Professor." Nancy says and gives Abby a hug. "Have a safe trip."

"Thanks," Abby says. "Is it about your paper?"

"Yes." She smiles. ~And I do hope he's on the up and up. Just looking at those eyes.~ Nancy then hopes her thoughts aren't showing on her face. "Well I'd better get going." She says not knowing yet if her Dad is leaving for sure yet also.

"I'll see you when I get back." ~If I'm not in jail for murdering your father.~

"See you then, how long is the tour again?"

"About a week and a half. But it'll only feel like a century or two."

Nancy hugs her again. "It'll be over before you know it."

"Yes, it very well might be."

Nancy misses her deeper meaning and then leaves for school.

The phone rings again. "V could you get it?" Abby calls out.

V answers the phone. "It's for Sam, just kidding Abby it's for you."

Abby's already headed down the steps and takes the phone from V. "Thanks." She speaks into the phone. "Hello? Oh...well, there's been a change in plans...Tom's coming along. No, no, as a reporter--his paper thinks having coverage for a local author would be good. ... Well, it wasn't my idea. I tried to get him not to come....Well, he said he'd keep it strictly professional, get a separate room, but that's silly, isn't it? Besides, we do have to keep the members of the press happy..." Abby laughs. "Channing. You're just going to have to keep yourself happy instead, I guess....OK, so I'll meet you at the hotel? Great." Abby hangs up.

Tom overhears this. ~It's a good thing I'm coming a long."

"Who was that?" V asks.

"Channing. He was going to drive me to San Francisco, but Tom wouldn't fit into his car."

"What kind of car does he have?"

"A roadster. Two seater. Not as nice as Gwendolyn, but still....Three would definitely be a crowd."

"That's for sure."

"So I'll drive Tom down in my car. Tom can drive her home."

"Good idea."

"Who knows. Maybe this'll be good. Maybe if he comes on the tour a little he'll have had enough, and when he comes home to drop the car off, he'll stay home."

"Maybe."

"It's worth a shot."

"Yes it is."

A little while later at the college.

"So is it a bad grade or will my GPA survive?" Nancy asks Professor Williams."

"It'll survive, but you'll have to work like the devil the rest of the semester to make up."

~But I already work hard.~ "Not a problem."

"Good. I know you can do it."

"You sure have a lot of faith in your students." She says.

"Mainly in the promising ones."

She looks at him and is caught in his eyes again. "Did you say something?"

"I think you're really special." ~Back up. Careful. She's your student, for crying out loud.~

"You do? You're not so bad yourself."

"Well, I like to think I'm a pretty good teacher."

"You are believe me." She smiles at him.

"Thank you," he smiles back at her.

She's about to say something else when there's a knock on the door.

"Come in," the professor says, glad for the interruption.

Another student comes in. "Can I talk to you, alone?" He asks.

~Oh perfect.~ Nancy grouses in her thoughts. "I was just leaving anyway."

"If you need any help with your work, be sure to let me know," the professor tells her.

"I will." ~Hopefully I'll need plenty of help.~ She leaves the office and goes to meet Joannie for lunch.

"What are you so happy about?" Joannie asks her.

"Huh?" Nancy breaks out of her reverie.

"You look like the cat that ate the canary."

"I think I'm falling for someone and if I'm reading the signs right he's falling for me too."

"That's great! Anyone I know?"

She whispers his name in her ear.

"But he's your teacher!"

"Shh." Nancy says. "I know."

"He's scum."

"He is not, he's a good person Joannie."

"Not if he's messing around with a student he isn't."

"He hasn't laid a hand on me ok. He probably won't even admit what he feels to me." She says in disappointment.

"That's better. But if he starts talking about your grade..."

Nancy hands her the graded paper. "I'll just have to work harder is all."

"I'll bet he offered to help you raise your grade."

"Yes he did but not in the way you think."

"Yeah, right."

"Joannie you don't even know him so how can you judge him so quickly."

"Nancy, you are so naive."

"No I'm not."

"If you get involved with this jerk, you'll regret it," Joannie warns.

"He's not a jerk."

"Nancy, just be careful, OK?"

"I will be Joannie. Please don't worry."

"I always worry."

"Ever since I've known you."

"Even before."

"With Susan?"

"No, her I wanted to disappear. When Mom was pregnant with you."

"What were you worried about?"

"That Susan would try to beat you up the way I always tried to beat her up."

"She did but you were always there to stop her."

"See? All I've ever done was try to protect you. Now, too."

"I know, but I promise this time everything will be ok."

"I'll still worry."

Nancy gives her a hug. "Well I have to get going. I'll see you at home." Nancy then says. She then leaves for her next class.

Part 3