Tom arrives in NY and takes a cab to the hotel. Since he knows the room number he immediately gets the list from the front desk and a key to the room after he assures them who he is.
Abby is in bed and Channing is perched on the edge of the bed, talking to her. They don't hear Tom enter.
Tom walks in ~Be calm~ he thinks. "Hi."
Channing gets up. "Um--I think I'd better go now. Sleep well, Abby. I'll see you in the morning." He walks past Tom on his way to the door. "Try not to upset her," he hisses at Tom.
"Leave my wife to me ok Channing?"
"If you hurt her in any way, Tom..."
"I'm not going to hurt her and why am I even talking to you? I want to be alone with my wife."
Channing turns back into the room. "Abby, if you need
me, I'll be in my room."
"Thanks, but I'll be OK. Good night."
"Night." Channing glares one more time at Tom and then leaves.
Tom tries to forget about Channing and sees the surprised look on Abby's face. "Why do I get the feeling you are surprised to see me?"
"Because you journalists are trained to see the truth
when it hits you in the face? What are you doing here? You shouldn't be traveling.
You were hurt."
"I told Channing I was coming." Tom says. "Besides you need your feet massaged and your favorite waiter." he tries to lighten the mood.
"Did Max say it was OK for you to come?" Abby frets.
"I didn't ask." Tom says. "Besides my nose will heal, unless you try to break it."
"I wouldn't do that. I like your nose."
Tom smiles. "So are you mad at me for coming?"
"Depends."
"On?"
"On whether you come over here and hold me or not."
Tom takes his coat off and gently lays in the bed with her. He puts his arms around her. "Like this?"
Abby nods and then lays her head against his chest and begins to cry.
"Shh...It's going to be OK." Tom says.
"You promise?"
"I promise, no matter what happens its going to be fine."
"How can it be?"
"How can what be?" he asks. "I'm here and Hilda gave me a list of specialists to call in the morning, we are going to get through this."
"But what if I'm losing the baby? How do I get through
that?"
"Stop thinking about what ifs." Tom tells her. "Just concentrate on the moment at hand. I'm here, you are here and our baby's ok, all's right with the world."
"Well, except for your poor nose."
Tom laughs. "A minor detail." he says. "Have you eaten, can I get you anything?"
"I'm not really hungry, but you go ahead and get yourself something."
Tom orders her soup regardless of what she said and himself pie ala mode.
"So much for your optimism."
"Just because I ordered pie ala mode, doesn't mean I am pessimistic."
"No? Then what's got you depressed?"
Tom sighs. "Because my nose hurts."
"My poor sweetheart." Abby kisses him, making sure to avoid his nose. "Did you bring a list of doctors for yourself, too?"
"Funny.", he says
"Well, I hope you at least brought your pain pills."
"That I did." he says. "But the best medicine in the world is laying next to me now."
"You are so corny. I'm glad you didn't listen to me."
"So am I."
"Just don't make a habit of it," Abby teases.
"Yes ma'am." he says in his school boy voice.
"Oh, don't do that to me, Tom. Getting out of bed isn't the only thing the doctor told me not to do for now."
Tom laughs. "I miss you." he says.
"Well, I'm right here for now."
"What do you mean 'for now'?"
Abby yawns. "'Cause in about a minute now I'm gonna be asleep."
~Whew~ "Good, that's what you should be doing."
Abby snuggles into him. "It's easier now that you're here."
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
"I know that--now."
"Good.." he says. "Now get some sleep."
Abby kisses him and then closes her eyes.
Tom stays awake until the early hours worrying.
Channing stays awake until the early hours, pacing, waiting for Abby to call and ask him to come rescue her.
Tom is awake when Abby starts stirring.
She smiles. "So it wasn't a dream."
"Nope, I am here."
"Hmmmm. Too bad."
"Too Bad?"
"If you being here were a dream, so would the reason be."
Tom hugs her. "yeah."
"You won't start a fight with Channing today, will you? It's really no work, these interviews, cross my heart."
"Only if you are doing it laying down and if Channing realizes I am your husband instead of an outsider."
"You know, I can sit up in bed. And as for Channing--it's tough to step aside, I guess. He's been here the whole time I haven't been feeling well."
~I will not argue.~ "I'll do whatever you need me to do, but please don't ask me to like him. OK?"
"Is that the best I can get?"
"Look, I appreciate he was here for you. But when he couldn't get me at the house and V gave him the number to the office, why didn't he call me? Not to mention the fact I told him to tell you I was coming."
"When he called the house, it was before we knew there was anything wrong--give him credit for even thinking of calling you with nothing more than vague worries. And as for why he didn't tell me you were coming, I don't know. He did try telling me something after he got off the phone with you but I didn't want to hear it."
Tom shrugs. "So what's your schedule today?" Tom asks as he gets the list of doctors out of his briefcase.
"Well, there's this interview, and another one at 5. And Channing and I have to work on some ideas for follow-through. And you'd better find yourself a doctor to look at your nose and make sure you didn't do anything to it by flying."
"I'll make a deal with you, I'll find a doctor if you
can fit one of these doctors in your schedule."
"You know, I really don't need that tone of yours. Of course I'll see a doctor. What do you think, that I want to take chances with our baby?"
"No, of course not. I am sorry. I am just tired." he slumps in a chair.
"Come over here."
Tom walks over to the bed.
"Sit down--I won't bite."
Tom sits next to her. "Yes?"
Abby starts to massage his shoulders. "You looked like you needed this, but I couldn't do it when you were way over there. I'm on bed arrest, remember?"
"Thanks, but I am the one who should be doing this for you."
"Why? It's your baby, too. And it's your nose."
"Because if Channing came in here while you were doing
this, he'd say I was a selfish jerk."
"Then lock the door. You'd think anyone with eight kids would think of that..."
"I did."
"Then Channing can't come in here, can he?"
Tom relaxes and perks up a bit. "No he can't can he?"
Abby kisses Tom's neck and continues to rub his shoulders. "Not unless you let him in."
"Only if you tell me to." he sighs. "This is nice."
"It is," Abby agrees. "I'm glad you came out."
"All you had to do was ask." he says. "You sounded like you didn't want me here."
"I didn't. I thought you'd be angry at me."
"Angry? Why?"
Abby shrugs. "We've been through this before. You didn't really love the idea of my writing this book, and then you would have preferred if we'd promoted it in San Francisco only, and you wanted to come along to the other cities but I told you no, and you hate Channing," she says, listing only some of the reasons.
"Well you are right about the last reason and I was wrong about the other reasons." he admits. "I was jealous and I'm sorry about that, but I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise? I'm pretty sure resting is the only activity I'm supposed to be doing in bed, Tom."
"Give me a little credit, will you?" Tom goes to his briefcase and pulls out the first six chapters of his novel. "Something for you to do when you are bored."
"Oh, this is wonderful! Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, you haven't read it yet."
"It'll be great, I know it will."
"We'll see." he says. "But I am not counting my chickens...:"
"You saying we're both in the hatching business?" Abby teases.
Tom laughs. "I'm going to shower, do you want me to make those calls or did you want to do it?"
"How about you make the calls and I shower, or I'll never be presentable for my interviews."
"Are you allowed to shower?"
"Now I know why you don't like Channing--the two of you are exactly alike," Abby sighs. "Yes, Mother, I'm allowed to shower. I'm supposed to be resting, but I'm not tied to the bed, you know."
"OK, I was just asking."
"Eight kids and not a clue. Guess she did that better than me, too," Abby mutters and then hopes Tom didn't hear.
Tom did hear it. "Abby, I am not comparing."
Abby sighs. "No, I know you're not. Just pregnant lady
mood swings, I guess. Ignore me."
"Never."
Abby shakes her head. "Go make those calls--and don't forget to get yourself an appointment, too."
Tom nods.
Abby goes to shower.
He makes the calls and pours himself some coffee.
"Tom?" Abby calls from the shower. "Tom!"
Tom drops his coffee and runs into the bathroom. "What is it?"
By now Abby's started to cry. "I'm...I'm bleeding. Call the doctor. Please."
Tom turns pale and calls Channing, since he doesn't know what doctor he called.
Channing listens to what is happening and promises he'll call the doctor. A few minutes later there's a knock on the door.
Tom runs to the door and opens it.
Channing walks in and punches Tom square in the nose. "I told you not to hurt her. She was fine before you got here."
Tom doubles over in pain.
At that point the doctor walks in. "What the hell is going on here?"
"My wife is in the bathroom." Tom says
Channing waits for him to straighten so he can hit him again.
"Later." Tom says.
The doctor gives the men a stern look. "No fighting while I'm tending to her or I'll kick you both out of this room." She then heads toward the bathroom.
"I'll go wait in the hall. But this isn't over, Bradford," Channing says.
Abby looks up when the doctor comes in. "I'm losing it, aren't I?"
The doctor wants to say no that she'll be fine but can't bring herself to lie she quickly starts tending to Abby.
Tom ignores Channing and shuts the door behind him. He then runs to the bathroom and knocks.
Abby hears the knocking. "Unless that's my husband..."
The doctor nods and lets Tom in.
"Abby?" Tom says almost in tears.
Abby shakes her head. "It's not--we're not..." She can't say it aloud again.
"I'm sorry." The doctor tells them.
He nudges the doctor out of the way and holds her. "Is there anything we can do Doctor?"
"She'll have to go in to the hospital to be checked but other than that....."
Tom nods and puts her robe around Abby.
The doc goes to use the phone to tell the hospital to expect them.
Tom leads Abby out of the bathroom.
"I'm sorry, Tom," Abby says. "I'm so sorry."
"Abby, you have nothing to be sorry about." Tom says.
"But--our baby."
"It wasn't meant to be this time." Tom says unaware blood is trickling down from his nose.
"Oh, Tom..." Abby says, and looks up at him. "Tom, is that blood on your face?"
Tom grabs a towel. "It's nothing."
"It's not nothing," Abby says, glad for something
to distract herself. "What happened?"
"Our friendly PR guy welcomed me to New York."
"You're joking. Channing did that? Why?"
Tom shakes his head. "I guess he thinks I did this to you...but it doesn't matter, let's get you ready to go."
"I can go ahead with the doctor, or take a cab--there's no rush now, is there? But you have to see a doctor. What if it's broken this time?"
"I am not letting you out of my sight. I'll see someone at the hospital."
"Promise?"
Tom nods.
"Then let's go get this over with," Abby says and starts out.
Tom ignores Channing as they pass him.
The doctor helps Tom get Abby in the cab. She also ignores Channing.
"I'm sorry, Abby," Channing says.
"I know."
Tom and Abby head into the elevator and out to the hospital.
Tom shakes in disbelief.
"Not now, Tom, OK?" Abby asks.
Tom nods. '"you are right."
During the ride to the hospital Abby stares out the window so Tom won't see her cry.
Tom takes her hand.
Abby wipes away her tears and then leans up against Tom.
"I'm sorry Abby."
"Nothing for you to be sorry for. You didn't cause it."
"But maybe if I hadn't argued with you........."
"If that's all it took, Tom, it would have happened sooner or later. We always argue."
"So it is my fault." he says.
"No, it's not. If I hadn't gone and done all this traveling..."
"No, we need to stop this. We didn't do anything wrong."
"Yeah, you're right." Abby gives his hand a squeeze. A moment later: "Then why does it feel like we did?"
"Because we are trying to make sense of it, and there isn't any sense at all."
"First we try every way we can not to have a baby, then we aren't even sure we want one when it's on its way, and now we're upset because we've lost it. Does that make any sense?"
Tom shakes his head no.
"I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
"Doesn't mean we can't try again."
"We already have eight kids. Just because an accident happened doesn't mean we have to go out and make it happen on purpose."
"Why not?" he says. "I'd love to have a baby with you."
"Well, we tried that," Abby says and turns back to the window.
~It's too soon~ Tom thinks. "Remember when I said I am not comparing you between you and Joan? You two have more in common than you know."
"Oh?"
Tom nods. "Before David..."
"Back when you were both still young and optimistic and had no kids."
"My point is, its nothing you or I did wrong. I love you Abby and if you decide you want to try again later, I'll try and do my part."
Abby bursts out laughing. "Gee, there's never a wrong time to proposition me, is there, Tom?"
Tom doesn't answer, he pulls her closer to him.
"Be careful of your nose."
"I'm fine." he tries to assure her among his physical and emotional pain.
They pull up at the hospital. "We'll let the doctors decide that," Abby tells him.
"After I make sure you are OK."
Abby starts to protest, but since she'd like him with her, just nods.
They are escorted to the examination room. Tom leaves for a moment to fill out the necessary paperwork.
The doctor takes advantage of his absence to examine Abby and confirm the diagnosis.
Tom returns to the room. "How is she?"
"After the D&C she'll be fine."
"Surgery?" Tom asks. His eyes start to glisten.
"It's the quickest and safest way. " The doctor looks over the paperwork. "Usually we release patients two or three hours after the procedure, but I wouldn't want her flying home today."
Tom nods unaware his eyes are turning Black and blue.
"Mr. Bradford, are you all right? I've seen some odd
reactions, but this takes the cake."
"No, he's not all right," Abby interrupts. "I think his nose might
be broken."
"I'm fine really." Tom says.
"Mr. Bradford, your wife's going to be prepped for surgery now in any case. Let's get you looked at in the meantime, shall we?"
Tom looks at Abby, not wanting to leave.
"Go on. They're going to put me under; I won't know if you're here or not," Abby says.
Tom sighs and gives her a kiss.
"I love you."
"I love you too, I'll see you when you get back."
"OK. You listen to the doctors now, OK?"
Tom nods and goes with the Doctor.
Abby waits to get prepped for surgery and cries.
"You'll take good care of her, right?" Tom asks as he walks with the Doctor.
"Of course we will. Really, the worst part of a miscarriage is emotional, not physical."
Tom nods. "What can I do to make it easier?"
"Let us take care of you so you're in a state to take care of her."
Tom relents. "OK."
"As for afterwards," the doctor says as he hands Tom over to a specialist, "for the husband, the worst part is generally his wife's hormone swings."
"Wonderful." he sighs.
"Would it have been your first child?"
"Us together? Yes. I have eight at home."
"Oh. Well, then, good luck--you're going to need it." The doctor hands over Tom's chart. "I've got to be getting back to her," he says and beats a hasty retreat. ~Poor guy. It's gonna be tough on him.~
"I know...boy do I know."
"Well, Mr. Bradford," the new doctor says, "let's get a look at you. What happened to you?"
"I ran into a door..." Tom says then tells what
has happened the last couple of days.
"That's some door," the doctor says as he examines Tom. "You
might want to consider pressing charges."
"If it was just me, I would. But my wife has to work with this guy."
"You might want to suggest this guy take up boxing. It's broken, all right."
"Wonderful, what else could go wrong?"
"You don't really want to know, Mr. Bradford, do you?"
"No, Sorry. It's been a long couple of days."
"I didn't think so. Hold still and we'll have you taken care of in no time."
"OW." Tom says as his nose is put back into place.
"Sorry."
Tom is in too much agony to respond.
"I can give you something for the pain if you like."
"No, maybe later. I want to get back to my wife."
The doctor looks at his watch. "She should be in recovery by now."
"Can you show me the way?"
"Of course. Just let me write you a prescription in case you change your mind." The doctor takes a moment, hands Tom the paper, and then leads him to the recovery room and hands him over to the nurse in charge.
"How is she?" Tom asks.
"Resting. The doctor's going to want to talk to you."
"Of course. May I see her first?"
"Yes, of course. Third bed down."
Tom finds his way and quietly sits next to her in a chair and gently takes her hand.
"Hi," Abby says and turns her face to look at him. "Impressive."
"See I told you it was nothing."
"Kids are going to love seeing you like that."
"I can only surmise the teasing I am going to get." he jokes. "How are you feeling?" Tom then asks seriously.
"Cold. And I want to go home."
Tom pulls the blankets up around her. "Tomorrow."
"I don't have to stay overnight, do I?"
"I don't know." he says. "But what about Channing and the publicity tour?"
"I think he'll have cancelled everything, don't you?"
"I would hope he would, but with that little stunt this morning, Nothing about him would surprise me."
"This morning is the reason why I think he's probably
talking to the publishers right now, dropping everything."
"If you say so." he replies. ~She's still defending him.~
"I'm tired. Will you stay here with me?"
"I'm not going anywhere." he says.
"Good." Abby closes her eyes.
Tom sighs and waits for the Doctor.
About five minutes later the doctor walks in. "Mr. Bradford?"
Tom nods. "Hello Doctor." he says as he gets up.
"Sit--the less you move around, the better."
Tom complies. "How'd it go?"
"All right, considering. Had she been showing any signs of infection in the past week or two?"
"Well she had a cold."
"Yes, that would make sense."
"I don't understand."
"It probably wasn't a cold, you see. More like an allergic reaction. She didn't actually lose the pregnancy today--from the looks of things it stopped developing about two weeks ago, and since then it's been acting on her body like an allergen."
"I understand, so it was never a viable pregnancy to begin with?"
"No, it was for a while."
"Could we have done anything differently?"
"No, when a pregnancy miscarries, it's usually for the best. I'd suggest you wait a few months and just try again."
Tom nods. "May I take her back to the hotel?"
"Yes. If she gets dizzy or disoriented or if there's excessive bleeding, bring her back, and schedule an appointment with her doctor."
"What about when we can fly home?"
"If she's all right over night, by tomorrow afternoon you can fly home."
"Thank You Doctor."
"Did you bring anything for her to go home in? She might not want the robe she came in; it's a little worse for the wear."
"No, I guess I better go get her something."
The doctor takes another look at Tom and his face. "Tell you what--I'll bet I can find a set of scrubs around here some place for her."
"Oh, Thank you."
"Wouldn't want you to scare the local shopkeepers," the doctor says as he walks off.
"Ha ha." he mocks. He waits for Abby to awake.
The next time the blood pressure cuff tightens Abby wakes, wincing.
"Abby, you OK?"
"Yeah. Just this thing hurts."
"I am sorry." Tom says.
"You're the sadist who put it on me?"
"No, I'll go get someone."
"Thanks."
Tom finds a nurse and brings her to her bed.
The nurse detaches the blood pressure cuff. "Mr. Bradford, could you wait outside, please?"
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just going to help Mrs. Bradford get dressed."
Tom sighs in relief. ~Aged another ten years.~
"Now shoo."
Tom leaves.
Five minutes later Abby comes out to him. "We can go now."
"I'll go get a cab, You just sit and wait. OK?"
"I can come outside with you. I'm OK now."
"Ok." he says as he takes her arm.
"Anyway, I'm the one who should hail the cab. If I were a cabdriver, I'd be afraid to take you, looking like you do."
"Well if it looks as bad as it feels...I am glad you are by my side. I might be arrested."
Abby nods, and then steps out into the road to hail a cab.
Later, at the house, the phone rings. V answers hoping that it's Tom.
"V?" Tom says nasally.
"Tom how is she?"
"She's fine." he says not wanting to say out loud that she lost the baby.
"Tom you're not being honest with me." She says hearing the sadness in his voice.
"We...uh....lost the baby."
"Oh no." V is stunned.
Tom starts to tear up on the other end. "It doesn't get easier V."
"I know Tommy." She says wishing she can hug him right now. "Is Abby up to talking?"
Tom hands the phone to Abby.
"Hi, V."
"Hi Abby, I am so sorry."
"Yeah, so am I."
"If you need to talk at all or just need a shoulder..."
"I'll remember that."
"Good." ~I wish I could be there with them right now.~
"If you want to wait and not tell the kids, don't. We can tell them tomorrow when we get home."
"Ok, but I'll do what ever is easier for you two."
"Doesn't matter, one way or the other. It's all hard."
"I know honey."
"How are things at home?" Abby says before she can break down.
"Things are fine." ~I'll tell them when they get home.~
"Really?" Abby says, surprised.
"Well," V hesitates not knowing if Abby would want to hear now to get her mind off what's going on in NY or if it would be too much for her.
"Well what?" Abby urges.
V sighs and tells her about what's going on with Elizabeth
and the solution she came up with.
"I'm going to have to talk to Tom about that. Poor Elizabeth."
"Ok, and yes I know."
"I'm glad you were there for her."
"So am I, and I'll still be here for as long as all of you need me."
"I appreciate it."
"It's no problem." V insists. "I'd better let
you go so you can get some rest."
"Yeah, I guess I'd better. I'll see you tomorrow."
"I'll see you then." V says.
"Tom, we have to talk," Abby says.
Tom comes out of the bathroom. "What do you need?"
"We've got problems at home." Abby relates what V told her and V's solution.
"Terrific, just when she was starting to feel safe again." he says as he throws the hand towel across the room. "What do you think?"
"I don't know. I hate to encourage her to hide out like
she's done something wrong."
"What about a transfer?"
"To where, Memorial?"
Tom shakes his head. "Well one thing's for sure, we don't have to decide tonight." Wondering how much more he and Abby took take.
"No, we can wait until the plane ride home tomorrow."
"You need anything?"
"No. I'm fine."
"Well I need something."
"Call room service."
"I was talking about sleep."
"Oh. Well, then, go to bed. Need something for the pain?"
"I took something, you?"
"I'm going to sit up a while and read. I'm not really tired."
"I'll wait up with you." he says not wanting to leave Abby alone this night.
"No, go to sleep. I'm not very good company."
"May I have a kiss?"
Abby kisses him briefly. "Good night."
"Good night." ~That was cold.~
Abby waits until Tom's in bed, then sits down by the window and stares outside.
Tom has trouble breathing but doesn't wake up.
Abby falls asleep in the chair.
Tom suddenly wakes up gasping for air. He sees Abby in the chair. "Abby, why don't you come back to bed."
"Hmm? Oh, I'm not really tired. Go back to sleep."
"Then why were you sleeping?"
"No, I just closed my eyes. Do you need more medicine for the pain?"
"No...Abby, do you want to talk?"
"About what?"
"About whatever's on your mind."
"Just thinking about how we'll reschedule the rest of the interviews I was supposed to do."
~Didn't take her long to get over the baby did it~ Tom thinks. "I am sure you'll work it out." he says as he grabs another pillow from the closet.
"You're right, I will." ~I have to think about work. I just have to get busy and stay busy and try to forget.~
Tom hands her a blanket.
"Thank you. While you're up, could you get me my notes? They're in the nightstand drawer."
~Be calm, don't say anything you'll regret.~ He does what he is asked.
"Thanks." Abby takes the notes and begins to leaf through them.
Tom decides to drown his sorrows in some fatty food and orders room service. "Yes, I'd like two Double Cheese Burgers, Onion Rings and a Chocolate Malt. Want anything?" Tom asks Abby
"Some Alka Seltzer," Abby says.
"You have an upset stomach?" he asks concerned. "How about some Tea?"
"No, not for me. After that dinner, you're going to need it."
~I have to get my comfort from somewhere.~ "No, that'll be all, thank you." Tom says to the waiter and hangs up.
"You really are going to be in pain," Abby warns.
"I'm already in pain, what's one more?"
"The pills aren't helping your nose?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Oh. Food won't help, you know."
"Oh? Do you have any better suggestions?"
Abby holds up her notes. "Work."
"That won't help either."
"Maybe you're right. But it's the only thing I know."
"Then let's talk."
"Talking won't change anything."
"No it won't. But trying to forget can't be good either."
"Why not? It lets you get on with your life."
"You and I both know, that it only works for a little while, then it comes back full circle."
"So what am I supposed to do, Tom? Scream and shout?"
Tom shrugs. "If I had the answers, I'd write a book." he sighs. "I'm sorry, I just don't want this to tear us apart."
"But it is. At least, it's tearing me apart."
"Don't you think I know that?"
Abby shrugs. "You managed to fall asleep easily enough."
"I was tired Abby, I haven't slept since this whole
thing started and you know as well as I do pain pills make you drowsy."
"I know," Abby apologizes. "I told you I wouldn't be good company tonight."
"Good Company I wasn't after, just maybe a hug or to be held. I thought you wanted that too."
"Don't be nice to me Tom, not now."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Because I'll fall apart."
"Abby, it's not your fault."
"I know that, here," Abby points to her head. "But I can't believe it."
"Why not?" he says. "The doctor told me, it was probably your cold."
"What? A cold caused this? Then it was my fault?"
"No." Tom says. "It's just one of those things that just happen."
"Yeah." There's a knock at the door. "I think
that's your heart attack special."
Tom answers the door and signs the ticket.
"Abby, the doctor said that cold of yours was sign that the baby was
already dead." he explains the rest of it.
"How could I not have known?" Abby wonders.
"How could you? You weren't pregnant that long."
"So much for women's intuition."
"Stop beating yourself up about it."
"But I'm so good at it."
"Beat me up, instead. What's one more bruise." he jokes.
"If you really want to be beaten up, I could call Channing," Abby jokes back.
"Funny, next time he comes near me, I'll have my guard up."
"Tom," Abby starts. "Oh, forget it. Not tonight. I think I'll go to bed."
"I am not going to swing at him, only if he swings first." he explains.
Abby shakes her head. "Looks like Tom, sounds like Tommy."
"What? You'd rather he beat me to a pulp?"
"What ever happened to talking things out? Or is that good advice only when you're giving it, not getting it?"
"Tell Channing that."
"Next thing you're going to tell me is, 'But he started it!'."
"Well if the shoe fits..."
"You're impossible. I ought to have Nicholas teach you how to get along with kids your own age."
"I'm impossible, if I had did what the doctor told me to do, that guy would be in jail. As it was out of respect for you I decided not to press charges."
"Respect for me? I can just imagine what would have
happened, you going in to the police station and saying 'he beat me up because
he thought he was protecting my wife and baby, so I want him put away'."
"He had no right Abby."
"Why not? Oh, I don't mean about hitting you--but about the rest?"
"That's what I am talking about----him hitting me."
"How silly of me, thinking you'd be thinking of anything else."
~No, I am not getting into this.~ Tom thinks. "Look, I am glad he was here when I wasn't but how come you won't defend me on this? Are you somehow happy he hit me?"
"Oh, sure, I'm thrilled. That pain medicine must be making you paranoid," Abby says, itching for a fight.
Tom shakes his head and grabs his pillows and a blanket off the bed.
"Maybe I should stay here a few days longer. Alone."
"I thought you wanted to go home?"
"Not the way you're acting."
"My acting what about ......" Tom begins to say and then remembers what the Dr. said. "I'm sorry Abby, so much for this not tearing us apart." he sighs.
"Right. I'm going to bed. Enjoy your dinner."
"Abby, please let's not go to bed angry at each other."
"Fine. You don't want me to be angry? I'm not angry. See? Wasn't that easy?"
"I'll be here, if you need anything."
Abby doesn't answer him. She climbs into bed and lays there staring at the ceiling for a while. "How are we going to tell Nicholas? And my parents?"
Tom doesn't touch his food and lays there with her. "We'll do it together."
Abby rolls over and buries her head against his chest.
"It'll work out, you'll see." Tom replies.
"With the way we fought just now? I wonder if it will, any of it."
"It has to..." he says. "We are just tired and our nerves are on the brink."
"I guess you're right," Abby admits. "But we're always tired, and our nerves are always on the brink."
"It's called Life."
"No, I think it's called the Bradford Family Madhouse."
"That madhouse would be even madder without you there."
"That's true--you need me home to help explain that nose of yours."
"Don't remind me, I'll never hear the end of it."
"We could always say you were mugged again. Or that I did it to you."
"Yeah, right. They would believe that." Tom says. "I'll tell them it was dark and I ran into a door."
"Sure. They'll believe that one. Who're you kidding?"
"It's better than the truth."
"If your kids could only hear you now."
Tom sighs. "I'm delirious"
"You've been through a lot the last few days. Maybe sleep will help."
"We *both* have been through alot."
"At least I wasn't mugged."
"No, something far worse."
"I don't want to talk about that."
"OK, try and get some sleep."
"I will if you will."
"Ok."
Abby rolls away from him and pretends to sleep so that he'll go to sleep and she can go back to brooding.
The next morning in the kitchen.
"Good morning." Nancy says to her Aunt as she enters the kitchen.
"Good morning honey, how are you feeling?"
"As good as new." She takes a look at her Aunt. "What's
wrong?"
"Your Dad and Abby are coming home today."
"But isn't she supposed to be staying in bed? Why are they coming home so
soon?"
"Nancy I think you'd better sit down." Mary says.
"No I don't want to sit down what's going on?"
V gets her sitting and tells her about Abby losing the baby.
"No uh uh." Nancy says stunned and soon the tears come. V hugs her
and tries to comfort her.
"Hey what's all the tears about?" Susan asks after coming into the kitchen.
"Sit down Susan." Mary repeats what she had said to Nancy.
"That's awful" Susan says before tearing up.
Mary hugs her and tries to comfort her.
A little while later the rest of the kids start to venture downstairs.
Nicholas walks in the kitchen and sees everyone sad. "What's going on?"
V takes one look at Nicholas and silently makes a decision. ~No, he should hear it from Tom and Abby not one of us.~ "Hi Nicholas are you hungry?" She gives a silent look that Nick can't see to the other kids not to say anything.
"Yeah, what are we having."
"Pancakes."
"All right."
V makes him some pancakes.
While he's eating, he notices no one else is eating. "Why isn't anyone else eating?"
"Guess we're not all that hungry, Nicky," Joannie says.
"I already ate." Nancy says and leaves the room.
In New York, Tom gets up early and dresses. He decides its time to have a chat with Channing. He knocks on his door.
Channing answers the door. "What's wrong?" he
asks, knowing the only reason Tom would come by is if Abby needed help.
"Abby's still asleep and I thought you and I could have a talk."
"About what?" Channing asks, suddenly on his guard.
"May I come in?" Tom asks.
"Maybe we'd better go downstairs to the coffee shop," Channing suggests, not wanting to be alone with Tom.
"Fine." he says.
Channing steps out into the hallway. "How is Abby?"
Tom shrugs "About as well as any woman would be after losing a baby."
"Poor Abby. Why are you leaving her alone?"
"Because, I thought maybe you and I could call a truce for Abby's sake."
"For her sake? I could do that."
"Oh, Channing one more thing."
"Yes?"
"If you ever take a swing at me again, you will find yourself behind bars, is that clear?"
"I wouldn't threaten if I were you, Bradford."
"Oh really? By all rights I could have you locked up yesterday."
"Just because she's your wife doesn't give you any right to treat her like your property."
Tom chuckles. "Apparently you never been married before." he states.
"Actually, I was."
"Was?"
"My wife was a nurse in Vietnam; she was killed in action. It was a long time ago."
"I'm sorry."
Channing shrugs it off and returns to the matter at hand.
"I guess that's why I can't understand why anyone who has a wife like
yours would be so cruel to her."
"Cruel? If you think I am as cruel as you think I am, do you really think Abby would still be with me?"
"The way she talks about your kids, yeah. She really loves them."
"You never quit do you?"
"Should I?"
"I know you don't like me, what I can't figure out is why.....unless you are jealous perhaps?"
"Envious. You'd think a writer would know the
difference...And of course I'm envious. You've got a wonderful wife and family
and you treat them the way you do. You don't deserve them and you're
right--it's a wonder they stick with you."
Tom smiles. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for my family Channing and before you got your fist in my face yesterday. I proved that when some thugs tried to take my daughter."
"There's more to a family than fighting for them, Bradford. Or with them."
Tom nods. "Its about making sure they feel safe and secure and being there when something goes wrong or just letting them talk even though you don't know the answers."
"And maybe you ought to think about who's been doing that for your wife the past two weeks."
Tom gets up from the table. "You don't scare me Channing, Abby is her own woman and chooses to be with me and I'll admit I've been jealous that someone might try and take her from me but if you think you are that man, go ahead and try."
"Don't worry. For whatever strange reason, Abby loves you. I might be able to take her away if I wanted to, but it would hurt her too much and at least I'm not interested in hurting her. Be as jealous as you like, but Abby and I are just friends, and that's all we want it to be. And if you were a better husband, you would know you have no reason to be jealous."
"Abby would like you to rearrange the interviews if you can." He says. "Now, I am going to take some breakfast to her. We are returning home this afternoon." he says as he pays for the take out and Channing's coffee.
"I've already cancelled all the remaining interviews. I'll be in touch with Abby about rescheduling. And I will be keeping an eye on you."
"Do whatever you like." ~You big bully.~ Tom says as he walks back.