House Calls
Part 4
Meanwhile upstairs, Mary tells Joannie, Elizabeth, and Nancy what she
told her.
"That's a relief." Nancy says.
"You can say that again." Liz responds.
"That's a relief," Joannie repeats for Elizabeth's benefit.
Elizabeth laughs. "I didn't mean that literally."
Nancy laughs, soon there's a knock on the door. "Come in!!"
"Hi, girls," Abby says.
"Hi." Mary says.
"Hi Abby." Liz says.
"Hi, Elizabeth.”
"Hi, glad you're ok." Nancy says.
"And I'm glad you are, too."
"You've heard, thank you."
"Heard what?" Mary is confused.
"Nancy will tell you while she's resting," Abby says.
Nancy confesses.
Mary shakes her head. "That was stupid."
She sighs. "Yes."
Elizabeth mouths drops. "You are joking."
"Not one of my higher points."
"I'll say." Mary agrees.
"No kidding."
"Have you been resting?" Abby asks Elizabeth.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
"But may I please go downstairs and watch TV?"
"Sometimes, OK."
"Like now?" Liz asks
Abby takes a long look at Elizabeth. "OK, like now."
"Thanks." she grabs her robe.
"I'll go down with you." Mary says.
"Good idea," Abby says.
"Wait--I'll come with you," Joannie tells her sisters.
The three sisters then venture downstairs to watch tv.
"Thanks, I could use some help on the stairs."
"No problem."
Nancy glances at Abby. "It won't happen again." She says to her.
"I hope not. Max said if it did he'd have to put you in the hospital for
the duration, and that's the pits."
"He was pretty angry at me."
"He was right to be. What was so important you tried to go downstairs?"
"The sound of glass breaking and I had a feeling something was wrong."
"There was--you were putting yourself in danger."
"I'm sorry, I reacted without thinking."
"Only because you care, and we love you for it, but you have to take a little
time to be selfish and worry about yourself. If you don't, I'm going to have
to sit right here next to you and do it."
"That's not necessary, I'll behave. But I love you for it." She
smiles.
Abby leans over and gives Nancy a kiss on the forehead. "Nicholas and I are
going to bake cookies--want me to bring some up when they're done?"
"Yes please, I heard he ranaway to David's, is he all right?"
"Sure, he's fine. He just needed to remember that we love him."
"Oh, all kids go through that at least once or fifty times in their lives."
"Even people who aren't kids anymore," Abby says, looking right at Nancy.
"Yep, sometimes. I wish the forgetting didn't happen it's a pretty
awful feeling."
"I guess we'll all just have to keep reminding each other."
"I'm all for that."
"Then it's a deal."
Nancy gives her a hug, being careful of her ribs.
"I'd better go get Nicholas; I'll be back soon with warm cookies."
"Thanks Abby."
"You're welcome. Now rest."
"I will." She promises.
Abby tucks her in and then goes to get Nicholas. "Cookie time!"
"YAY!." he states as he jumps off his bed.
"Save some of that energy for dough mixing, OK?"
"OK."
"So--what kind do you want to make?"
"Chocolate Chip."
"Good choice."
"I'll get them out of the cupboard."
"Might as well get the flour, sugar, and baking soda out, too. I'll take
care of the stuff from the fridge."
Nicholas tries to carry all the ingredients at once, dumping some of the
flour and sugar on the floor. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, what's cookie making without a little mess?" Abby says. "Why don't
you just get the broom and sweep it up?"
"OK." he fetches the broom.
Abby pulls the stuff out of the fridge and waits.
He sweeps up the mess and returns to the table.
Abby tells him how much of each dry ingredient to put in the bowl.
"OK, now what?"
"Milk and eggs."
Nicholas breaks the eggs in the bowl and adds milk.
"Now mix like crazy."
"I thought that was what a electric beater was for."
"That's no fun. But if you really want it..." Abby gets the beater for Nicholas.
"NO thats ok."
Abby pulls an extra mixing spoon out of the drawer. "Want me to help?"
"No, I got it." he says putting everything he has into the mixing.
Abby nearly tells him to slide back a little, but since he looks likes he's
having a good time, decides to say nothing.
Nicholas loses his grip on the bowl and it soon crashes to the floor
Abby sighs and bends to pick it up. "Not *too* much spilled out," she says.
"I am not very good at this." he sighs.
"Oh., come on, one accident doesn't make you 'not good'."
"Really?"
"Really truly."
"Thanks Abby, you are the best."
"Well, I certainly try."
"You wouldnt believe some other of my friends stepparents."
"Maybe the difference isn't me, it's what your friends are like. You're easy
to be good to."
"I supposed."
"You are. I think that batter's mixed enough."
He nods.
"OK, cookie time!" She prepared the sheets and gives Nicholas a spoon to
drop the cookies.
"OK."
"Do you think I could have one lick from the bowl?" Abby asks.
He laughs. "I'll share."
"Thanks."
He gives her a spoon.
Abby drops a few cookies on the baking tray, then swipes a taste of the batter.
Nicholas laughs
"Oh, like I haven't noticed you swiping a taste here and there," Abby laughs,
too.
"The best part."
"Man after my own heart."
"Abby!!" Liz calls from the TV room.
"One sec," Abby calls back. She puts the cookies in the oven. "Nicholas,
help me keep an eye on the time, OK? If I'm not back in about 6 minutes,
call me."
"I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be back." Nicholas says.
"OK, but hurry," Abby says, hurrying herself to get to Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, across town:
"Did anyone see you come here?"
"Of course not, are you going to let me in or not?"
He sighs and lets him in. "Well?"
"They refuse to drop the charges." He says about Noah and his family.
"Do you realise how much time we can get in the slammer if we're convicted
just for simply making it look like that kid was dead. Nevermind the
other charges."
"Not to worry I have a backup plan." He says.
Fade out as they discus it.....
"They are talking about your book on one of the educational channels." elizabeth
tells Abby.
"They are?" Abby says, excited, and sits down next to Elizabeth. "Raise the
volume."
She turns up the volume.
Abby listens to what they're saying and when she realizes it's good, starts
grinning.
Mary also listens to it not wanting to talk till it's over.
Several minutes later, when it's over, Abby is all smiles.
"Abby that was great." Mary says to her.
"Wow Abby." Elizabeth says\.
"I thought by now everyone would have forgotten all about the book."
"Apparently not." She says. "It's very popular."
"Wow," Abby says again, still somewhat in shock.
Mary smiles
"Wish your father could have seen that."
"Yeah really, too bad we don't have a way to have taped it."
"Maybe someday."
"Someday soon I hope."
Abby starts to answer, then remembers something. "Oh, no, the cookies!"
Mary goes with her to the kitchen to see about the cookies.
Abby opens the oven. "I hope everyone likes their cookies a little brown."
"They do taste better that way." Mary says.
"I'm glad you think so."
"Do you two need any help with them?"
Abby looks around for Nicholas.
Nicholas runs back into the kitchen. "My, they are pretty dark."
"We have some guinea pigs here--let's see if they're still edible," Abby
says, handing out cookies all around.
Mary tastes one. "Nice and crunchy."
Nicholas tries one. "Crunchy."
Elizabeth passes.
"Maybe if we had them with ice cream..."
"That might work."
Mary gets the ice cream out.
"Cookies and ice cream?" Nancy asks the family member who brings it to her.
"Yep." Nicholas says.
Nancy gets a good look at the cookie. "Oh......... crunchy cookies are better
with ice cream, thank you Nicky."
Nicholas laughs.
Nancy laughs also
"They are still good."
Nancy takes a bite of the cookie and ice cream. "They sure are."
"Need anything else?"
"Naah I'm ok, how bout you?"
"I'm OK too."
"Good, because for awhile there I got to thinking you weren't ok."
He shrugs. "I wasnt but, things are better now."
"Good."
"You?"
"I'm doing better now, can't wait to get out of bed though, and better yet
go outside."
"I know."
Nancy finishes the cookie and ice cream.
"I better go."
"Stop by again sometime you don't have to bring me anything to come and see
me."
He laughs. OK."
Soon he leaves the room and she falls asleep.
Tom walks in to the kitchen. "A science project?"
"No, cookies."
Tom takes one "hmm..these arent bad."
"They're pretty good." She helps Abby dish out the ice cream.
Abby gives Tom the smallest portion of ice cream possible.
He looks at her strange ~What'd I do wrong now?~
Abby continues dishing out ice cream.
"May I have another scoop Mary?"
"Sure." She gives him another scoop of ice cream.
"Thanks." he says. "I'll be in my study."
"Ok."
~What did who do now?~ Abby thinks as Tom leaves the room.
The next morning, phone rings in the Bradford house.
Joannie answers it.
"Hi Joannie, is Abby awake yet?" Max asks.
"I think so. What's up?"
"I just need to talk to her." He says.
"Big secrets, huh?"
"The biggest kind." He jokes.
"Does Dad know you and Abby are keeping secrets from him?"
"Of course he does. He and Daisy are keeping secrets from Abby and I."
"Dr. Max," Joannie laughs. "I'll go tell Abby you're looking for her."
A few seconds later Abby picks up the phone. "Hi, Max."
"Hi, how are you feeling this morning?"
"Fine," Abby starts, then confesses, "pretty lousy. I guess the Tylenol really
had been doing something."
"Is it pain or do you feel sick?'" He asks.
"A little bit of both, I think."
"It might take a day or so for the medication to start alleviating some of
that, and I got your test results."
"Did I pass?" Abby tries to joke.
"It looks like there is some damage but I think the meds will be able to
alleviate it. But it may take a few weeks. And Abby have you
been resting?"
"Greg, you know that just isn't possible around here."
"I want to talk to Mary, Susan, Joannie, and Tommy."
"I don't want to make a big deal of this. You'll scare them if you talk to
them."
"Abby you have to rest somehow and if they take over things for awhile you
can do that."
"I promise, I'll try to get some more rest. OK?"
"Ok, " he concedes.
"Thanks. And I'll talk to Tom about it all myself."
"Good, now how are my other patients this morning?"
"Seem to be all right. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep them in the
house, though."
"Have they started carrying around I won't rest protest signs yet?"
"It's the up and coming cottage industry."
"Ahh, I'll be by around lunch time to check on all of you."
"What time? I'll make sure I get back from work by then."
"You're going to work?"
"I have to go to work."
He sighs. "I don't like this."
"No one likes work, but it's gotta get done."
He shakes his head. "I'll be by at noon. I suppose it wouldn't
work if your doctor said you're not allowed to work?"
"It might have if I had any sick time left, but I don't."
"Ouch." He says.
"You got it."
"Would they make an exception if you were in the hospital?"
"You're joking."
"Only you and I have to know that, they don't." He says.
"Thanks, but I try not to do things like that--gets too complicated to remember
where I'm supposed to be, and life around here is complicated enough already."
"Got it."
"I'll see you at noon."
"I'll see you then." He says before they hang up.
Abby hangs up and gets ready for work.
"Who was that?" Tom asks
"Oh--I didn't realize you were here," Abby says.
"I live here..remember?" he says. "Is there something wrong?"
"No. Max is going to come by at noon to check on the kids. I'll make sure
I'm back."
"And?" Tom asks knowing Abby doesn't know he heard her side of the conversation.
"And I've really got to start getting ready for work."
"And risk your health in the process."
"Tom, I'm not going to risk my health. I'm just teaching--you make it sound
like I'm going to go out and join one of David's crews."
"I overheard you telling Max you were going to rest."
"And that's what I intend to do."
"Teaching? What are you going to doze between history and english?"
"Did you ever think that maybe, just maybe, work is more restful than this
place is?"
Tom concedes as he has done the same at the office. "Yes."
"I didn't want to tell that to Max," Abby adds. "Leave him an illusion or
two."
"What about your trip to Pasadena, it might do you a world of good."
"And who's going to stay home and watch the kids?"
"Dear, who do you think?"
Abby gives him a look of disbelief.
"I did it before I married you." he states.
Abby starts to say something, then abruptly shuts her mouth.
"What?"
"Do you remember who took Nancy to the hospital after her car accident while
I was tutoring Tommy?"
"So, I'm not a good father. Is that what you are saying?"
"I've never said that."
"Well it sounded that way." he says as he puts on his tie.
"Why are you so anxious to get me to leave?" Abby tries a different tack.
"Are you serious? If it was up to me. I'd chain you to our bed.
But if going to Pasadena is going to make you get the rest you need. Then
so be it. I'll miss you like crazy, But I want you to get better."
"Chain me to the bed?" Abby smiles at him.
"The Neanderthal in me." He smiles back.
"Don't make promises you don't intend to live up to tomorrow night."
"I intend to keep my promises."
"I'm looking forward to that," Abby says, and kisses him.
"Would you like me to drive you to work?"
"I'd love it, but I have to have my car if I'm going to get back here at
noon."
Tom shrugs. "I can come pick you up."
"And interrupt your work? There's no need, really."
"I have to have a lunch break anyway..."
"What a way to waste it, chauffeuring me around..."
"Spending anytime with you is not a waste. Besides I can just grab a sandwich
hereb when we come home."
"Tell you what. You drive me and I'll make you lunch when we get home."
"If you insist, but I do know how to make my own sandwich."
"I know." ~And you know how to give yourself heartburn.~
"Shall we go?"
Abby takes a last look in the mirror. "Ready when you are."
Tom stops her and kisses her. "You look beautiful, all I can say is I am
glad I'm not one of yout students."
"What? You never had any fantasies about making out with your teacher?"
"My Dear, when I was going to school. I didn't have young attractive teachers."
"I'll bet that's what my students think, too."
Tom laughs. "You never know."
"Actually, I do. I eavesdrop."
"Hmmm..I better be careful." he jokes.
"Very careful."
He drives her to work.
"Thanks. I'll see you at a quarter to?"
"I'll be here."
Abby gives him a quick kiss and heads inside.
Tom goes to work and before he knows it. He is back where he was that morning,
waiting for Abby to come out.
A few minutes late, Abby comes rushing out, trying to look rested.
Tom takes one look at her and shakes his head. "Bad Morning?" he asks.
"Not really, just a little rushed."
"So much for a restful morning, huh?"
"Well, who's to say it would have been better at home?"
"Not me." he says driving home.
"How was your morning?"
"It was OK."
"Maybe Donna and I should switch jobs."
"Oh why?"
"Sounds like a restful kind of job you have."
"Cute.'
Abby just smiles at him.
Nancy is trying to do makeup work that Susan and Joannie had brought home
for her. "And I thought our sisters loved me." She jokes to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth laughs. "Thats one thing I dont have to worry about right now."
"Be careful they might try to read you your homework." Nancy says assuming
that her vision is still blurry is the reason.
"Bite your tongue."
Nancy laughs
Tom pulls in the driveway as Max drives up. "Right on time."
"I always said you have good timing."
Max gets out of his car and approaches them.
Tom laughs and gets out of the car. "Hi Max."
"Hi Tom, Abby."
"Hi, Max. So who's the first victim?"
"You are, then Nicholas, then Elizabeth, then Nancy."
"OK, let's get this over with," Abby sighs.
"It won't be too bad I promise." He says on the way inside.
"That's what you men always say."
"And we never lie about that."
"We'll see."
They go inside and then he checks her over.
"So what's the verdict?"
"Do you want my honest opinion?"
"Of course."
"It's going to take longer for you to feel better again if you don't find
some time to rest."
"I know, but what can I do?"
"Delegate responsibility."
"And here I thought you were a doctor, not a stand-up comedian."
"I'm both, hasn't Tom told you?"
"No, I think he was saving that for our 5th anniversary."
He chuckles
"But aside from the rest thing and taking those pills you gave me, I'm fine,
right?"
He nods. "Yes, which means I should get to checking on the kids."
He nods. "Yes, which means I should get to checking on the kids."
Max laughs and goes to check on Nick first. "Hey big guy how are you feeling?"
"Bored."
Max checks him over. "Well guess what, tomorrow you can go to school."
"Thanks......I think."
"In the meantime are you too young for all day suckers?"
Nicholas smiles."Never."
Max gives him one and goes to check on Elizabeth next.
"Hi Dr. Max."
"Hi sweetheart, how are you feeling?"
She Shrugs."I'm Ok."
"Let me be the judge of that." He examines her. "Your healing nicely,
but how's your vision?"
"I try to read but it's all blurry."
"That should clear up soon." He says.
"So what do I do now?"
"Wear your glasses."
"Uh..Dr.Max. I don't have glasses."
"Then we'd better get you some."
"Terrific." she sighs.
"At least you'll be able to see."
"Yeah and be a geek."
"You won't be a geek."
"Right."
He sighs.
"Elizabeth do you want to be able to see?" Dr. Max finally asks.
"Yes." she concedes.
"Then you're going to need the glasses for a bit."
"Fine."
Nancy ignores him while he examines her upset at how he came down hard on
her and upset that he's being insensitive to Elizabeth.
Downstairs:
Noah is in the kitchen getting Nancy something to drink when Mary walks in.
"That's not for Nancy is it?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"I just got her something to drink a little while ago." She says.
"Well I guess she's very thirsty." He says.
"Uh huh, and what have you two been doing when my Dad isn't looking?" Mary
teases him.
"Oh get your mind out of the sewer." He teases back.
"No it likes it there. You might want to wait. Dr. Max is up there
examining them."
"Ok,"
He waits till the doc leaves and then he goes upstairs with the drink.
"Finally," Nancy says and drinks most of what he brought.
"You got me beat." He says. "Now what have you been doing that has
you so thirsty today?"
"Nothing." She says and then yawns.
"Am I that boring?"
"Yes dear you are." She teases him.
"Ouch."
"Come on you know I'm kidding." She kisses him before nodding off.
"Elizabeth do you want anything?" He asks.
"Thanks, but no."
"No problem." He soon goes home.
Max approaches Tom and Abby. "Nicholas can go outside for longer today
and can go back to school tomorrow. Elizabeth will need glasses until
her vision clears up. And Nancy will still be able to get out of bed
Saturday."
"That's great," Abby says. ~Saturday I plan to stay in bed all day.~
"Yeah." He says wondering if Nancy will ever forgive him for ratting her
out.
"And Abby?" Tom asks not knowing what they talked about.
Max looks at Abby
"I'm fine, Tom."
"I'd better get back to the hospital." Greg says.
Tom looks at Max. "Uh huh."
Max then leaves.
"And I've got to get back to work," Abby says. "Will you drive me," she asks
Tom, "or are we taking separate cars?"
"No, I'll drive you."
"Thanks."
"My pleasure, are you ready?"
"Any time you are."
Tom drives her back to work.
"Thanks," Abby says as she gets out. "I'll call a cab to get home, unless
you want me to wait until you get off from work."
"It's a light day, I'll get off early."
"Really?"
Tom nods. "Why are you surprised?"
"You've been taking off so much time lately; I thought you'd have to make
it up."
"I do, I work from home."
"OK. Then I'll see you about three?"
Tom kisses her. "I'll be here."
"I'll be waiting," Abby says, and then goes inside to work.
Tom drives to the office.
"Do I know you?" Donna asks when he walks in.
"Funny." Tom says.
"Oh, right. You're my boss, the mystery man."
"Stop the jokes. Anything pressing?"
"Nope. I think everyone's forgotten you work here."
Tom picks up the paper."Nope,my name is still on my column."
"And that picture of you they took in 1963."
"Ha ha."
"Want me to go drum up some work for you?"
"I think I can handle it."
Donna starts digging through the files on Tom's desk. "Leftover tuna sandwich,
half a danish....I know, you're trying out for food critic."
"Tell me something, did I hire you as a secretary or comedian."
"Can I get back to you on that?"
Tom rolls his eyes.
Donna continues to dig. "Here--you never did finish this column."
Nancy awakens from a nap and after using the bathroom cringes from her mouth
feeling like cobwebs. She picks up a glass from earlier and discovers
it's empty. "Hey is anyone up here!!" She looks at Elizabeth.
"Sorry didn't mean to shout."
"Thats Ok."
She laughs. "He's not a St. Bernard."
"I know, but it worked before. I sent Sam out and he came back with Susan."
She says and then tries again. "I'm dying of thirst in here!!" She sighs
in frustration. "And I'm not allowed downstairs, I'm SOL." She gives up and
gets water from the bathroom sink.
About 3, Joannie walks in the house and heads for the kitchen.
Nancy hears the front door open from upstairs. She gets out of bed
and goes to the upstairs stair railing. "If you're the bringer of soda
then I'll love you for life!!"
"You already do," Joannie calls back.
"Hey Joannie, you're right on that, but can I still trouble you for a soda.
The water from the bathroom tap leaves a lot to be desired."
"I'm already on my way up," Joannie says, soda in hand.
"Good," she says and waits for her.
"Here you go," Joannie says when she gets upstairs. "Now, will you love me
forever?"
"Like you said I already do." She drinks most of it. "Thanks Joannie."
"Whoa--slow down on that stuff. Do you know how much sugar's in there?"
"So I'll get a sugar high." She jokes.
"When you go back to working, Brad's going to kill you."
"No he won't, his bark is worse than his bite."
"But even he won't like that you've gained 400 pounds."
"Actually I've been losing." She says on the way back to her and Elizabeth's
room.
"You have?" Joannie follows her. "I guess hospital food will do that to you."
Nancy gets in bed. "That's for sure, that stuff shouldn't be allowed to exist."
"But there's got to be something better to put on the weight than soda pop."
"Like what?"
"Ice cream?"
"Now you're talking."
"I'll go down and see what we have."
"Thank you."
Joannie goes downstairs and roots around in the freezer.
Nancy hurries to the bathroom and answers natures call and afterwards returns
to bed and starts yawning.
Joannie returns with a bowl of vanilla ice cream.
"We're out of the good stuff again I see."
"Someone's been having a good time, I guess."
"Yeah they have. How was your day?"
"Pretty good. How was yours?"
"It was all right, today there was a fly on one of the walls."
"Real or human?"
She laughs. "I think it was real."
"Are you sure you could handle the excitement?"
"I managed."
"Must have exhausted you."
"Yeah it did, it exhausted me very much as a matter of fact." She jokes.
"So you spent the day sleeping?"
"Most of it." Her eyes start getting droopy.
"And there you go again," Joannie says, taking the ice cream bowl from her.
"Probably a drawback from recuperating." She says as she nods off.
"Probably helps you recuperate."
"Yeah, night." She falls asleep.
Joannie smiles and tucks her in.
Tommy walks into his bedroom and sees Nicholas. "Hey Nicholas, Can we talk?"
Tommy ask Nicholas.
"Yeah."
" How come you ran away to David's?" Tommy asked.
He shrugs. "I was lonely."
"Nicholas, I am sorry for yelling at you like I did,and I am sorry if I have
been such a lousy big brother lately. Maybe we can spend a saturday together
doing guys stuff. How would you like that squirt.?" Tommy says
"Cool."
Tommy smiles at Nicholas. " What do you want to do?" Tommy asked.
"Miniature golf?"
"That sounds fun,and after that, We can go get hamburgers and shakes. You
do know that I love you Nicholas,and if you ever start feeling lonely, you
can always come to me."
"Thanks Tommy."
" No problem. We need each oth,We are kind of outnumbered in this house."
Tommy laughs.
"I know."
" I go tell Dad and Abby ours for saturday,if you are feeling better by then,
ok." Tommy says.
"He nods."
Tommy leaves to go find Abby,or Tom, so he knocks on their bedroom door.
"Come in," Abby says.
Tommy walks in the room. "Hi Abby." Tommy says
" I got two questions. first one, If Nicholas is feeling better by saturday,
Will it ok for me to take him out to do some guys stuff?. I feel bad for
taking things out on him when I was angry with Dad."
"If Dr. Max says he's better and he wants to, it should be fine. What's the
second question?"
" Do you know where Dad is? With my birthday coming up, I am ready to try
and get his permission to sign up for drivers ed. Is he in a good or bad
mood?" Tommy asks.
"I guess he's in a good mood, or at least until you talk to him. Can't I
sign the papers?"
" You would! I thought you might want to wait till he knew too." Tommy says.
"I'll talk to him about it, but I'll sign it, too. Can't stop progress."
" Thanks Abby.I am glad that you are here for all us.This big house would
had a big void if you were not here." Tommy smiles.
"You say that now when I'm doing what you want. Let's see what happens next
time I have to push you to do your homework," Abby jokes.
" I gues I will have to keep telling myself its only two more years of being
nagged to do my homework." Tommy jokes right back.
"More than that--there's homework in college, too."
Tommy gets a serious look on his face. " I don't know if I will go to college."
"You're kidding."
" No I am not. Right now, My plans is to take a year off from school after
I graduate from high school,so I can give my music a chance to work out."
"Does your father know about this?"
" I am still breathing, What do you think." Tommy says trying to joke.
"I think you'd really better discuss this with him."
" I will. I just need to find the right way to break it to him without him
going nuts. any advice."
"If you're old enough to make a decision like that, you're old enough to
figure out how to tell your father about it, aren't you?"
" Do you know where he is right now?"
"No. He said he was going out today, but didn't say where."
" Ok. I hope Nicholas is well enough by saturday. It kind of my fault for
him running away to Davids." Tommy says with a tone of regret in his voice.
"It's no one's fault. From what I understand, it's a family habit."
" I should had been a better big brother to him than I have been. I should
know how he feels since the age difference between me and him is around the
same as Davids and mine."
"Tommy, you're a very good big brother. Running away is something every kid
has to do. At least he has somewhere safe to run to."
Thursday afternoon before leaving work Abby calls a florist and has a dozen
roses sent to Tom's office 'from an admirer.'
Tom is in shock. "Flowers, for me?"
"That's what the delivery boy said," Donna tells him. She picks up the card
and reads it. "Ooh, mysterious."
"An admirer?" Tom reads. "Hmmm." Then he smiles knowing what day it is.
"Donna, I'm taking the rest of the day off."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." he says as he puts on his jacket and takes the flowers.
"My column is on the desk. Toodle de doo." he wave at her.
"Someone's in a good mood," Donna says to herself as she scoops up Tom's
column.
Tom stops by a wine shop on his way home and picks up a bottle of champagne.
He walks in the house. "Anyone home?"
"I'm up here," Abby says, hoping she catches him before one of the kids does.
Tom smiles and goes upstairs. "Hi."
"Hi," Abby smiles back at him. "Nice flowers."
"Yeah its a funny thing. 'From an Admirer' I wonder who that could be." he
smiles at her.
"I can't imagine."
"Are you the admirer?"
"Of you? Always."
"The feeling is mutual." He pulls out a bottle of champagne. "I think this
is your favorite."
"No, you're my favorite," Abby says. "What exactly did you have in mind for
tonight?"
"If it was up to me, a candlelit dinner followed by some dancing and then..."
he whispers in her ear.
"Think we could throw everyone else out of the house for the night?" Abby
groans.
Tom sighs...."No, but we do have our Do not disturb sign."
Abby looks around the room. "I guess it's do-able. If you think the kids
will respect the sign."
"We can only hope."
"Or we can go out."
"Hotel? What a good idea."
"Remember what happened the last time we tried that?"
He nods. "It'll be different this time."
"Oh, who cares where we are or how many kids come knocking, as long as I've
got you?"
"I care." he says as he goes to the phone.
Abby starts kissing him while he's on the phone.
~She's driving me insane~ he says as he books a hotel suite in town.
"We have a room."
"Good," Abby says, continuing to kiss him.
"The sooner we get there."
"You're right," Abby says, but doesn't stop.
"I think I married a wild woman." he says as he kisses her back
"Just a very, very deprived one."
"Then lets get out of here."
"OK," Abby says, but keeps on keeping on.
Tom laughs as he tries to pack a overnight bag.
"You're not going to need much," Abby sing-songs.
"You think?'
"I know."
"Fine, lets go then."
"I'm more than ready," Abby says, getting in a few last kisses.
Tom writes a note for the kids and they drive to the hotel.
"Think they'll ever find that note?" Abby says as they're driving.
"Not really, until its dinner time."
"They won't miss us at all," Abby says and leans over. She starts kissing
him again.
"What are you trying to do, get us in an accident?" Tom asks as he pulls
in the hotel valet area.
"No accidents tonight, dear. I've come prepared."
Tom laughs and checks in at the front desk. He returns to Abby. "Room 543."
"Does your wife know you're sneaking around like this?"
"Of course, she's with your husband on another floor." Tom bounces back.The
hotel clerk mouths drops and he looks at the guest register. The elevator
door closes on them.
"You are so bad," Abby laughs.
"You started it." he laughs.
"You want me to start something? I'll start something."
"Lets wait til we get in the room, shall we? I hate to be arrested
for indecency." Tom saya."Then I am all yours."
"To do with as I please?"
"Yup, just don't hurt me." he jokes.
"I wouldn't hurt you, Tom. Not unless you asked very nicely."
Tom opens the door to their suite.
Abby whistles. "Pretty fancy."
"Nothings too good for my bride."
"Bride? We're an old married couple already."
"Not according to the official rules of TheNewlywed Game, Married less than
two years. Therefore you are still a bride."
"Most brides don't have 8 kids at home."
"Shh, tonight we don't have kids. Its just you and me."
"Mmm. I like the sound of that."
Tom kisses her.
"This is the part where I get to do what I like with you?"
He nods.
"So no candlelit dinner or dancing?"
"Of course, if thats what you want."
"Room service works really late in this hotel, from what I hear. Maybe we
could do all that later."
He smiles. "Then I am all yours."
Abby loosens his tie and begins kissing him.
"I'm going to like this." he says between kisses.
"You're going to love it," Abby corrects.
"I know I will."
Abby pours the champagne.
"What shall we drink to?"
"Quiet, privacy, Hilda Krauss?" Abby ticks off a few possibilities.
"Hmm..How about us? We made it through again."
"The Bradfords make it through another close call."
Tom nods.
"Then to the Bradfords," Abby toasts. ~So much for no kids tonight.~
"When I meant we...I meant the two of us. We made it through."
Abby briefly considers her own medical problems and the small pharmacy stashed
in her purse. "Yeah, we're making it through."
Tom takes a drink.
As does Abby. "And here's to the next crisis."
Tom doesn't drink to that. "Abby, can I ask you a question? Knowing
what you know now, would you still have married me?"
Abby hesitates. "I don't suppose an extended affair with separate apartments
would have been an option?"
"Not hardly."
"I figured you'd say that," Abby sighs.
"Then you do have regrets."
"You've got none?" Abby goes on attack mode.
"No, not one." he goes on the defensive.
"Really?" Abby says suspiciously.
"Yes really." he says sincerely. "We may have our differences, but I wouldn't
change a thing."
"What about kids running away, Joannie still not liking me, Nancy and Elizabeth
who keep getting hurt..."
"Abby, kids were running away, getting hurt and not talking long before I
met you."
"Well, that explains why you have no regrets, then."
"But, you do."
"Like you said, you're a package deal. I can't pick and choose."
"You are zig-zagging the question, but thats Ok, you don't have to answer
it" Tom replies.
"I don't mean to. It's just--I know I was unrealistic, thinking our marriage
would be a never-ending honeymoon. Especially when there are all the kids."
"I know and I am doing the best I can. I want you to be happy and if that
means...."
"If that means?" Abby waits for him to finish his sentence.
"Well....Ever hear a poem that says if you love someone set it free, if it
comes back to you its yours if it doesn't it never was." Tom explains. "And
I do love you with all of my heart."
"Tom, I'm not planning to go anywhere. But do you think that maybe...No,
I guess not."
"Maybe what?"he asks gently.
"Maybe you could stop discouraging the kids from getting married young?"
Tom laughs and holds her. "Sorry,I put my foot down with Nicholas. He's not
gettimg married until he's at least 16." he jokes.
"Guess I'll have to tell Andrea Cuddlesworth to bide her time, then."
"Can you imagine Nicholas married?"
"Can you imagine us babysitting a different set of grandchildren every night?"
"Then we still wont get any privacy."
"Probably even less."
"Then why are we even discussing it?"
"I don't know," Abby sighs. "The kids always manage to come into it, don't
they?"
"Kids? What Kids? I don't know of any kids." he says as he puts the
Do not disturb sign on the door.
Abby laughs. "It's a good thing you didn't have to date much before we met."
"Oh don't remind me, I hated the dating scene." he says, "Present Company
Excluded."
"At least you never had to fight off your dates at the front door," Abby
says. "Present company excluded."
He laughs.
"Wanna pretend we're on a date?" Abby says and pretends to leer at him.
"OK, My name's Tom."
"Hi, I'm Abby, and has anyone ever told you how handsome you are?"
"Not recently, but you are gorgeous yourself."
"So, Tom, how do you feel about women who know what they want and go out
and
get it?"
"I find them interesting and attractive."
"That's good to know," Abby says, and then grabs him and kisses him.
Tom responds in kind. "So tell me Abby, how do you feel about men who are
old-fashioned and still stuck in the 1950's?"
"I love them. As long as they do everything I say."
"Everything? That's a pretty big order."
"I've got a feeling you can fill it."
"What's your first order?"
"Kiss me again."
"Easy enough." He kisses her long.
"You're so good at that. All the women must love you."
"I don't know about all..but I am hoping one does."
"You only hope? By now I figured you'd know."
"It's always nice to hear."
Abby obliges him. "I love you, Tom."
"And I love you."
"You do? Plan to do anything about it?"
He nods and leads her to the bed.
Meanwhile at the house, Tommy finds the note. he is reading the note when
another family member walks in.
"What's up?" Liz asks.
Tommy gives Liz the note. "Looks like Dad is going to be in a good when he
gets home." Tommy smirks.
Elizabeth smiles. "It's about time."
"I guess I be cooking dinner tonight." Tommy jokes.
"Uh uh..no way, I want to live. What you can do is go get a bunch of tacos."
"How can I improve my cooking without people allowing me to practice on them."
"Tommy, look at all the time Dad has practice."
"But I am still young enough to improve my cooking ability." Tommy grins.
On Saturday:
Nancy awakens, showers, gets dressed, and immediately goes downstairs. "Has
the living room gotten bigger?"
"No you've gotten smaller." Mary quips.
"Ha ha." She gets some coffee.
Other family members start to wander in.
Tommy walks in the kitchen and sees Nancy. "Nancy,can we talk in private?"
"Sure," they go to the sunporch. "What's up?"
"I heard your talk with Noah. Pleas dont do anything that foolish again.
Its ok if you think about yourself once in awhile. You been through alot
,and I just don't want you to over do it." Tommy says as eyes start to well
up.
~Did anyone not hear us?~ "Don't worry I won't."
Tommy looks at her and smiles. "Oh by the way, I am glad that you have Noah
back. It must still be a little bit of a shock."
"Thank you."
"Hey Tommy I'm going to see if breakfast is ready." She says starting to
feel queezy and light headed.
"I have to go, me and the guys have another gig coming up in a couple weeks
and we need to have all the practice we can get in in." Tommy says.
"Have fun." She says. She then goes back to the kitchen and sees that no
one has started it yet. "Nicky can I have a bowl of your happy zappies."
"Sure." he pushes the box over.
"Thank you." She pours herself a bowl, adds milk and starts eating it, a
little while later the light headiness and queesiness goes away.
Mary goes to check the fridge to get some juice and notices something else.
"Hey Dad we're out of soda again." She says. ~I didn't even get any.~
"What? I just bought some two days ago." he then looks at Nicholas sternly.
"Nicholas????'
"I swear Dad, I only had one."
"Um Dad." Nancy starts in a guilty tone.
"Yes?" Tom asks.
"It might have been me, I'm sorry, I'll pay for more."
"Oh..well thats ok..I think." Tom says. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah just been thirsty lately, probably from being cooped up in the hospital
room and then the bedroom."
"Oh...." Tom says. "I'll get some more this afternoon."
"Thanks, let me know when you need the money." She says and gets some juice.
"No money is necessary." ~Better put juice on the list too.~
"Thanks Dad." She grabs a couple of cookies from the cookie jar, her juice,
and then goes to watch tv.
Part 5