Like an Open Book
Part 4
They get to her room. Dr. Max examines her and afterwards...
"Nancy you are not better yet." He says.
"I am too."
"No you're not, do I have to put a 24 hour watch on this room?"
"No," she pouts.
"If you want to get out of here, you'd better listen to Dr. Max," Joannie
says.
She sighs. "Ok."
"There's something else we need to discuss. The nurse tells me you
asked her to stop bringing your meds for your manic depression. That
will not happen either."
"I don't need them anymore." Nancy says a little angry he brought it up when
they're not in private.
"If you think you don't need them, you really need them," Joannie pipes in.
"Do not."
"Yes you do young lady, did you take today's dose?"
She doesn't say anything.
"Nancy..."
"No I didn't."
"Nancy!"
She sighs, "I feel fine without it."
"That will change." Max tells her. "Going of your medication is a very
bad idea. I'm sure your counselor will say the same thing. Now if you
don't agree to take it I'm calling her."
"Ok I'll take it."
"I'll watch," Joannie says.
Nancy sighs and Max has a nurse bring the meds in. Nancy swallows them
this time.
Joannie smiles at her.
Nancy smiles back.
The nurse pulls Max aside. "Maybe when they take effect she'll realize
she does need them." She whispers to him.
"That's what I'm hoping for."
Some time later after the meds start taking effect.
"Joannie I'm sorry, I was an idiot."
"Occupational hazard."
"Huh?"
"Being a Bradford means being an idiot now and then."
"Hmm, makes sense to me."
"I'm always right."
"Yeah but that's not why I love you."
"I'm hurt. I'm really, really hurt."
"Don't be, I love you because your my sister, and ok because you're always
right."
"That's better."
"Good." She says. "What day is it?"
"Thursday."
"Oh good, just two more days."
"If you behave."
"I'll do my darndest."
"You'll stay in bed and you'll take your medicine?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"You're not going to tell Dad and Abby are you?"
"Not unless you do it again."
"I won't."
"OK, then."
She soon falls asleep.
Joannie sits with her a while.
Soon David shows up. "Hey," he says to Joannie.
Joannie shushes him.
"Can I buy you a cup of coffee." He whispers.
Joannie nods happily.
"In the cafeteria or do you want me to bring it here?" He whispers.
"I think she'll be out of it for a while."
David scratches his head in confusion.
"Meaning I think we can even risk the diner across the street."
"Ok," he says as they leave for the diner.
Joannie sips her coffee and sinks down in the booth with a grateful sigh.
"Long day?" He asks.
"Very."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, it's all OK now," Joannie says, not wanting to break Nancy's confidences.
"Good." He says.
"Yeah."
"How's Liz?"
"I was with Nancy. I'll check in on Liz when we go back."
"I'll go with you."
"I think she'll like that."
"Do you want anything to eat?"
"Do I ever turn down food?"
"Of course not, I taught you never to do that."
"And I'm a very quick study."
"That you are." The waitress comes and they order.
"A real meal for a change. What a pleasure," Joannie says as she digs in.
"Yeah it's been awhile since there's been a real meal at home." He agrees.
"Every man for himself there."
"Things will calm down soon."
"With this family?"
"Yes with this family."
"Never happen."
"Ye of little faith."
"That's me."
"Want to know a secret?"
Joannie sits up. "Of course."
"Me either." He says having lost faith himself.
"David, you can't give up on us."
"Why not you have?"
"Because you're our big brother."
He shakes his head. "Can you at least humor me and pretend that the
reverse psychology has worked on you?"
"Oh, OK," Joannie laughs at him.
He smiles, "thank you."
"How thankful are you?"
"What do you need?"
"Dessert."
"Sure go ahead."
Joannie calls over the waitress.
She comes over.
"I'd like a banana split." Joannie looks at her brother. "For two?"
He nods.
"For two," Joannie repeats to the waitress.
"Got it." The waitress says and goes to retrieve their order.
"I was thinking of having Nancy come and recover at my apartment." David
says.
"You're crazy."
"Why am I crazy?"
"How are you going to make sure she stays in bed? You know how bad she gets
cabin fever."
"I'll take a week off."
"And stay awake the whole time?"
"Joannie it would be better at my place. Noah would be able to come over."
"And after the week? Noah has to be able to come over."
"I guess Nancy will be well enough to go and see him at that point."
"And what about if they get married? At some point Abby's going to have to
learn to deal. Better sooner rather than later."
He sighs. "You're right, but I just wanted to make sure everyone was
comfortable."
"Then make sure to come around the house a lot and be the neutral party."
He nods not knowing about the decision Noah will make in a couple of days.
"We'd better be getting back."
"Yeah." He leaves a tip and then goes to pay the check. Soon after that
they leave.
"Nancy first or Elizabeth?" Joannie asks.
"Elizabeth, we just came from Nancy's room."
"OK, let's go."
They head for Elizabeth's room.
Tom walks in the house. "Hello?"
"I'm in here."
Tom walks in and notices she is looking at the dwindling supply in the
liquor cabinet. "What's going on?"
"I don't know," Abby says. "I was going to sit down and have a nice quiet
drink, only there doesn't seem to be much here."
"It does look a little sparse doesn't it."
"Maybe we should call Max. If Elizabeth drank this much, he should know."
Tom decides to come clean. "No, it wasn't Elizabeth or any of the other kids
for that matter...I'm the guilty party."
Abby looks at the bottle, then back at Tom. "You?"
Tom sighs and nods.
"Well, I did ask you not to go to bars..." Abby sighs.
"I'm sorry." he says.
"No. You have as much right to a drink as I do."
"I do?"
"Of course. Now that that mystery is solved, would you like one?"
He nods.
Abby pours them each a drink.
"Thanks." he says as he sits in a chair."
Abby takes a seat on the couch.
"Quite a few days. huh?"
"You have a talent for understatement."
Tom shakes his head. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? You didn't do anything."
"Yeah I did, I conned you into marrying into this family." he jokes.
"Oh, that. Well, it's true, you certainly didn't tell me the whole truth..."
"The whole truth?"
Abby nods.
"What?"
"You never warned me how hard I'd fall for all of you."
"Really, you did?"
"Would I put up with all of you any other way?" Abby jokes.
"Touch'e." he says as he moves from the chair to the couch.
"Question is, why do you put up with me?"
"What?" he asks. "Where did that come from?"
"It just did."
"Why?"
Abby shrugs. "So why do you?"
"Because I love you."
"And them?" Abby gestures to the upstairs.
"I love them too, what are you getting at?" he asks confused.
Abby laughs. "No, I meant why do they put up with me."
"Oh well...that's easy. They love you too."
"Even when I mess up?"
"Abby, I'm confused. Why the doubting?"
"I feel--I feel like I'm being pulled in too many directions all at once.
When I'm home with Nicholas I think I should be at the hospital with Elizabeth
and Nancy. When I'm there I think I should be here. And we won't even start
on work and school..."
"Don't you think I feel that way?"
"You do?"
"All the time."
"No such thing as a perfect parent?"
Tom takes her hand "You are learning."
"But not fast enough. Tommy feels neglected. So does Nicholas."
"Honey, this is a family of eight kids. Someone is always feeling a little
slighted."
"Maybe you're right."
"I'm right? Mark this day in your calendar." he jokes.
"You're right more often than the rest of us admit."
"I am? About what?"
"A lot of things."
"Abby, what's got you down?"
"Nothing important. Look, why don't you go lie down for a little? You look
all in. I've got to get dinner started."
"We will order out, You look exhausted yourself."
"The kids deserve real food."
"Which kids?" he asks. "Nicholas is ill, Elizabeth and Nancy are in the hospital,
Who knows where Joannie, Susan and Mary are. David isn't here. So that just
leaves Tommy. He'll eat anything that's not chained downed."
"True," Abby laughs. "I mean, he does eat your cooking."
Tom glares at her jokingly. "Gee Thanks a lot."
"Any time, dear."
"So are you really hungry?"
"No, not really. You?"
Tom shakes his head. "All I want to do is go to bed and fall asleep with
you
in my arms."
"I'd like that," Abby smiles.
Tom gets up and takes her hand.
Abby follows him.
No sooner than Tom head hits his pillow, hes fast asleep.
Abby slips out of bed, grab a few pills, and then goes back to bed and sleep.
Tom hits the snooze button when the alarm goes off.
Abby groans and gets up. ~No one told Tommy to order take out.~
"What are you doing?" Tom asks groggily.
"Someone has to tell Tommy to order dinner for himself."
"I'm sure he figured that out by now." he yawns.
"I'll just go check. Go back to sleep."
Tom rolls over.
Abby pulls on a robe and goes looking for Tommy.
Who has his head deep in the refrigerator.
Abby taps him on the shoulder. "Need the number of a good pizza joint that
delivers?"
"No, actually I am tired of Pizza."
"So what do you want?"
"Nothing, I guess I am not that hungry."
"I could cook you something," Abby offers.
"An Omelet?" he asks.
"You got it. What do you want inside?"
"Cheese, tomatoes and onions?" he asks. "Are you sure you are up to it?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. As long as you're still in there, want to hand me things?"
Tommy hands her the ingredients.
Abby begins making the omelet. "Think Nicholas would like some, too?"
"Probably."
Meanwhile Tom smells eggs. He becomes wide awake and follows the aroma downstairs.
"Eggs?"
Abby smiles at him. "Tommy, want to hand me some more of everything? I think
your father's suddenly famished."
Tommy gets more ingredients.
Abby continues to cook. "You two want anything to go with this?"
"Milk I guess." Tom says.
"I'll get it." Tommy replies.
"Milk?" Abby asks.
"Yes, to drink." Tom states
"You feeling OK?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"I've just never seen you drink milk before," Abby shrugs.
"I'm a man of mystery."
"I see."
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just need another egg." Abby goes to the refrigerator, takes
out another egg. On her way back to the stove she trips over something which
isn't there and stumbles, breaking the egg. "Don't worry, I'll clean it up."
Tommy helps her.
"Abby, you did it again." Tom states. "You are not OK."
"Tom..." Abby says, not wanting to discuss it now.
"Uh...why don't I go see how Nicholas is." Tommy says.
"Thanks Tommy." Tom says
When he leaves the room. Tom turns to Abby. "Can't you see yourself, something's
not right with you?"
"I'm going to Hilda next week, Tom. There's nothing wrong with me a year
or two worth of sleep wouldn't cure, anyway."
"This is more than just lack of sleep."
"I'll be fine. I promise I'll keep my appointment with Hilda next week, OK?"
~Do I have a choice?~. "OK."
Abby leans over and gives him a kiss.
"Thanks for the food."
"Guess you were hungrier than you thought."
"I guess I was."
"Want some dessert?"
"You mean it?"
"Why act so surprised?"
Tom shrugs. "I thought it wasnt part of my diet."
"Well, once in a while, if you don't try to take advantage."
"Moi?" he jokes
"You," Abby smiles at him.
He smiles back.
"So--do you want some dessert?"
"You mean food?" he winks at her.
"Unless you have something else in mind."
"I can think of something sweeter."
"Sweeter than pie ala mode?"
"Definitely." he kisses her.
"Well, we'll have to be a little innovative, but I'm game if you are."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Tommy clears his throat......
"Tommy! I didn't realize you were here."
"I just came back down. Nicholas isn't hungry."
"That's strange. He's always hungry."
Tommy shrugs. "i'm going to watch some TV."
"OK."
After Tommy leaves. Tom turns to Abby.."Now where were we?"
"Embarrassed?"
"Not me."
"Nothing embarrasses you."
"We were just talking."
"No, we weren't."
"Kissing too..."
"And flirting. The three big sins to a kid Tommy's age."
"I have already have had the talk with him."
"I know. If you hadn't, he would just have thought we were planning to wrestle,"
Abby smiles.
"Cute." he says. "Want to 'wrestle' upstairs?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Tom smiles and they go upstairs.
"Should we check on Nicholas?"
Tom nods.
Abby takes his hand and they go to the boys' room.
"Hi son, I heard you weren't hungry. Are you ok?"
Nicholas nods.
"You sure?" Abby asks. "Do you want something else?"
"No thanks, I am just tired."
Tom feels his forehead."You don't feel hot."
"I guess he's getting better," Abby says hopefully.
"I guess." Tom says.
"Can I go downstairs and watch TV?"
"What's wrong with the TV Susan brought you?"
"It's black and white."
Tom rolls his eyes.
"I think he could probably handle one trip downstairs, don't you?" Abby asks
Tom.
"Sure, why not."
"You need help getting downstairs?"
"No thanks."
"OK. But no breaking curfew, you hear?"
Nicholas laughs. "OK."
Abby bends down and gives him a kiss. "I'll see you in the morning."
In Elizabeth’s room: "Hi." Elizabeth says squinting to see who it is.
"Hi sweetheart." David says. "How are you feeling?"
"Good."
"How are things?"
"Pretty good."
"Any new girlfriends?" Liz jokes
"Not lately." He says.
"There's always the laundromat."
"I think I need a break from women that aren't related to me for awhile."
He says.
"Huh?"
"Yep, have a date next Friday night, until then I need a break."
"Oh."
He smiles.
"Could you get me a drink please?"
"Sure, what kind do you want?"
"A Cola?"
"Sure," David goes to get it.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Two days later, in Nancy's hospital room, Noah helps her pack her things
and then kisses her. "I'll see you when you're off bed rest."
"What? Why are we taking a week off from each other?"
"I don't think it would be a good idea if I came by the house." He
says to her.
"Noah that's silly."
"No it's not." He shakes his head. "You've been trying to tell me to be patient
and I finally get it. Abby doesn't need to see me there every day."
"I guess you're right." She says and kisses him back. After he leaves
she starts crying but quickly dries the tears when Tom enters the room.
"Is Abby with you?"
"No. " he says.
"Oh," she says. "I'm ready to go home now."
"Would you let me finish?." Tom says. "She's getting Elizabeth ready to come
home too."
"Cool, how long does Elizabeth have to stay in bed?"
"Until she can see better and she may need glasses for awhile."
"She's lucky it wasn't permanent." She says still thinking about Noah.
"Try to tell her that."
"No thanks." She says trying to keep the sadness out of her voice.
"Whats wrong?"
"Nothing." She says trying to cover it up.
"Nancy, I know you too well." Tom states.
"Dad I'll be fine."
"Ok......"
They wait for Abby and Elizabeth.
"I'll be glad to get home again." Liz says to Abby.
"And we'll be very glad to have you there."
"Are you sure? Between me and Nancy, we might be a handful."
"But all the fun in life is the challenges," Abby teases.
"Yeah right."
"Well, for me it is, at least."
"Me too..trying to get around."
"We'll help--you know that."
She nods.
"So--you ready?"
"Yes, get me out of here."
"Let's just collect Nancy and your dad and we're history."
"Great.'
Abby and Elizabeth head for Nancy's room. Along the way, Abby tries to discreetly
help Elizabeth along.
"Are we there yet?" she asks feeling queasy.
Abby puts an arm around her waist. "Almost. Just lean on me."
"Thanks."
"If you want, I can try to get a wheelchair for you."
She nods reluctantly.
Abby helps her to a seat. "I'll be right back."
"OK."
Abby soon comes back with a wheelchair. "Trust my driving?"
Elizabeth manages a laugh. "You trusted my driving didn't you?"
"Shouldn't I have?" Abby asks as she starts to push.
"Well Dad did teach me." she jokes.
"And you still managed to pass the test to get a license?"
She nods. "I just did the opposite of what he said."
"Very smart." Abby pulls up in front of Nancy's door. "Well, here we are."
"Good." Tom says. "I'll go check out and see what damage was done to my wallet."
he winks at his girls.
Nancy manages a laugh.
Tom smiles at them both grateful they are going to be ok.
Once Tom leaves to go see about the bill. Nancy goes back to packing
her things.
"It'll be nice to be roomies again." Liz replies trying to break the ice.
Nancy looks at her and smiles. "You got that right."
"And real food."
~Yeah but no Noah.~ "Yeah."
She forgets about her injuries and tries to pick up her suitcase. She
quickly puts it back down. She looks over at Elizabeth and Abby and
sees that Abby has Elizabeth's things, so she decides to wait for her Dad
to get back to take her things.
Tom comes back. "What do you say we break out of this joint?"
"I think that's a great idea," Abby says.
"So do I." Nancy says.
"Same here." Liz says.
They drive home.
"Dad can you get my things?" Nancy asks.
"Sure honey." he says as he takes her things. "Dr. Max says he'll be by later
tonight."
"Thanks, and ok." Before going inside Nancy glances over at Noah's house
and then heads into the house.
As soon as they get settled in their room. Elizabeth asks Nancy "Are you
OK?"
"Yes," she lies. "Why do you ask?"
"You've hardly said two words to Abby, what gives?"
"She hasn't spoken to me either." Nancy tries to avoid the question.
"Want to talk about it?"
"Well it's not like it's anyone's fault." She says.
"What's not anyones fault?"
"Dad told me that Abby was having trouble with Noah being back because of
Frank. So Noah is staying away till I'm better enough to go and see
him because he doesn't want to upset Abby."
"Oh wow."
"Now what am I supposed to say to her I obviously can't talk to her about
this."
"Why not?"
"Because she won't even admit to me that she barely came to see me at the
hospital because she didn't want to run into Noah. That doesn't exactly
open up the lines of communication."
"Sometimes you have to take the direct approach."
"And what good will that do?"
"The longer you and Abby stew about it, the harder it will be to talk."
"Then I guess she and I won't talk about it." She says. "But
thank you for listening."
"I never knew you were one to give up."
"I'm not giving up."
"Prove it, talk to her." she dares her.
"And if me bringing it up hurts her? What then?"
"You can't ignore her."
"I won't, as long as she doesn't ignore me."
"She won't."
"We'll see."
"Yeah."
"I hope she doesn't." She says before drifting off to sleep.
When Nancy's asleep. Elizabeth gets up and feels her way out of the room.
"Do you need help?" Mary asks assuming she wants to go to the bathroom.
"Yeah, wheres Abby?"
"She's in her and Dad's room do you want me to get her?"
"Please, can I wait in your room?"
"Sure," she helps Liz to her room and then goes and knocks on Tom and Abby's
bedroom door.
Abby was lying down, but sits up when she hears the knock. "Come in."
"Hey Elizabeth needs you. She's in my room." Mary says.
Abby gets out of bed. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't know." Mary says.
"OK. Thanks for coming to get me." Abby heads out to Elizabeth.
"No problem." Mary says and then goes downstairs.
Elizabeth waits for Abby. When she comes in Liz says "You may have a problem"
"A problem?" Abby asks, "Me?"
She nods and tells her about Nancy and the decision of Noah to stay away.
Abby sighs. "I suppose I'd better go have a talk with her. No--I'd better
have a talk with Noah."
"Might not hurt."
~That's what you think.~ "OK. In the meantime, you OK?"
She nods. "I wish this bluriness would hurry up and go away."
"I wish so, too, but you just have to be patient."
"So everyone tells me."
"I know it's tough. I wish I could make it a little easier."
"Thanks anyway."
"Well, if anyone needs me, I'm down the street."
"OK..good luck." she says getting ready to leave Mary's room.
"Need any help getting back to your room?"
"No thanks."
"OK." Abby leans over and gives her a kiss.
Elizabeth uses her hands to guide herself back to her room. she gets into
bed before waking Nancy.
Abby heads out to Noah's house.
Noah's mom answers the door. "Hi Abby."
"Hi. Is Noah around?"
"Sure he's out back, come on in."
"Thanks." Abby follows Noah's mom out back.
"Noah someone's here to see you." She says and goes back inside.
He looks up to see who it is. "I wasn't expecting to see you." He says
a little stunned.
"I wasn't expecting to have to, at least not at your house."
"I thought it would be better for you if I stayed away."
"I think right now what we need to be concerned with is what's best for Nancy."
He opens his mouth to argue but can't think of an arguement.
"So you'll come back to the house with me?" Abby asks.
"Yes." He says.
"Thanks."
"Not a problem, thank you for coming by here." He says on the way back
to her house.
"It's what Nancy needed."
He nods.
Abby walks awkwardly alongside him until they get back to the house.
When they get there they run into Tom.
"Can I go and see her?" He asks Tom about going upstairs.
"Well..............." Tom starts to say.
"You can trust me."
Tom sighs. "OK, but just this once and keep the door open."
Noah thanks him and goes upstairs to see her.
Elizabeth is asleep in the room.
Nancy awakens, sees him, and smiles. "I'm glad you changed your mind."
"Well I had a little help." He returns the smile. "Abby came to see
me."
"But how did she know?"
"I thought you had told her." He says.
She shakes her head and looks at her sleeping sister. "That little
rat I'll kill her."
Noah laughs and kisses her. "No, don't do that she was doing what's
best for you."
She kisses him back. "You're right."
Elizabeth awakens. "Is that you Noah?"
"Yeah it's me, how are you feeling?"
"Better." she says. "Does Dad know you are up here?"
"Yeah he told me to leave the door open."
Nancy laughs.
Elizabeth laughs.
"Elizabeth we need to talk later."
"Don't come down on her, we should be thanking her." Noah says.
"I won't come down on her."
"Look, I know I shouldn't have meddled but you were so miserable."
Nancy smiles at her. "Thank you for talking to Abby."
"You are not angry?"
"No I'm not angry, how did Abby seem?"
She shrugs. "You know how she is."
"Yeah I know." She sighs. "And I don't want her to hurt over this."
"Then talk to her."
"Ok I will the next time I see her."
"Good."
After Noah goes home, Abby comes in to check on the girls.
"How are you doing? Are you two ready to eat yet?"
"I am a little hungry, Abby are you all right?"
"Sure, I'm fine."
Elizabeth clears her throat to prod Nancy to talk.
"You're all right about Noah?"
"Fine. As long as you're happy, Nancy."
"But what about your happiness?"
"I've got your dad for that," Abby smiles.
Nancy sighs in relief.
"Anything special you want to eat?"
"I guess what everyone else is having."
"OK. Elizabeth, what about you?"
"Something fattening."
"You've got it."
"I'll go get your food. You sure you don't want something fattening along
with your 'whatever everyone else is having'?" Abby asks Nancy.
"I'll take the fattening too."
"I'd hoped you would. I'll be right back."
"Ok, and thanks Abby."
"You're welcome." Abby goes downstairs and prepares something for the girls.
On her way to the kitchen Abby sticks her head into the study to see if Tom
is there.
Tom gets up when he sees his wife. "Hi, are you Alright?"
"I'm not sure."
"Tell me."
"I'm just going to have to get used to Noah being around. It did a world
of good for Nancy."
Tom nods. "That was very unselfish of you."
"You know me. I hate feeling like a coward."
"Coward you are not." Tom states.
"Not with you here to prop me up."
Tom pulls her close to him. "I'll always be here."
"Just as long as you're here now," she answers, hugging him.
He hugs her back.
"I wish I didn't have to go make food for the girls."
"Then don't. I'll go get them something."
"Same difference. I wish we could just stay like this for a while."
"Me too." he says. "I've missed you."
"Missed me? I've been right here."
"No. between, hospitals work and school, we hardly see each other or
spend time together."
"That's true. Well, at least we're done with hospitals--for now."
~Let's hope.~ "Thank goodness they are both ok."
"We were very lucky."
Tom nods.
Abby sighs. "The girls will be wondering where I went."
"The offer still stands you know,I could bring home some chicken from Clucky
Chuck."
"That's almost as bad as the idea of your cooking."
"Well I could have offered to cook."
Abby cringes in mock horror.
"Just never say I don't offer."
"I promise, I won't. Want to keep me company in the kitchen?"
"Well actually......I need to finish something first."
"oh," Abby says, a little disappointed. "OK."
"It's a surprise."
"OK. Look, I'll be in the kitchen when you're done."
Tom nods and gives her a kiss.
Abby heads to the kitchen.
Tom returns to the typewriter to finish his project.
Abby finishes making the girls' food and hesitates at the door to Tom's study
before heading upstairs.
"Thanks Abby." Liz replies.
"Thank you Abby." Nancy says.
"You're welcome."
Nancy takes a bite, looks around and shakes her head. "This is going
to take some getting used to, never been confined to a bed and had a roommate
too in my house." She half jokes.
"Well, you know, that's what happens your first time around on the disabled
list," Abby jokes back.
Nancy laughs. "Yeah."
"How about you, Elizabeth?"
"Eh...I could have worse roommates."
"True--Nicholas steals the covers. Must be a genetic thing," Abby says.
"Snoring must be genetic too." Kidding about Nancy.
"It certainly is."
Elizabeth smiles at Nancy.
"Some of the best people in the world snore." Nancy retorts.
"But I'm sure some of your good traits are inherited, too," Abby adds.
Nancy smiles back at Elizabeth
"So, you two want anything else?"
"No I'm good."
"Elizabeth?"
"I'm fine, thanks."
"OK, then. If you need me, I'll be in my room."
Tom is waiting in their room.
"Hi. That was quick," Abby says.
Tom hands her his novel wrapped in a red bow.
Abby looks at what she's been handed. "Wow--you're finished?"
"Well...I am sure ther'll be rewrites,but yes its finish."
"That was quick," she says, undoing the bow and starting to read.
Tom gives her time to read. "Well?"
Abby leans over and gives him a kiss.
Tom smiles. "You like it?"
"I'm lucky to be married to such a talented man."
Tom laughs at this."I wouldn't go that far."
"I didn't think you'd want to be married to a talented man."
"Huh?"
Abby shakes her head. "Never mind. And I meant what I said. I don't know
why
you keep running yourself down like this."
"I'm sorry." he says. "I'm glad you like it."
"But now comes the hard part--getting a publisher to like it."
"It doesn't matter if it gets published or not. I did it for you."
"All this work--you honestly don't care if anyone reads it but me?"
"Look if it gets published great..but I'm not going to go through the hassle
trying to find a publisher like I did with my Korean novel and getting turned
down."
"So what--you give up before you start?"
"Do you think I am doing that?"
"Sure sounds like you are."
"OK, if you can get me a list of publishers I'll mail them off."
"It's a deal."
Tom kisses her."Thanks."
Abby yawns. "Why don't you go to bed?"
"It sounds like you are the one that needs to go to bed."
"I just want to read a little more."
"Ok." he says as he crawls into bed.
"Good night," Abby says absently, already absorbed in her reading.
"Abby?" Tom says. "Thanks for encourageing me to write this."
"You're welcome."
"I love you." he says before drifting off to sleep.
Abby gets up and adjusts the covers over Tom. "I love you, too," she whispers
before going back to her reading.
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