The Birthday -- part 3
At home, David finds Joannie still awake. "Anything good on?"
Joannie shuts off the TV. "No, not really."
He sits down beside her. "You're usually out like a light by now, is everything
ok?"
"Thinking about Tommy."
"And the present from mom?"
Joannie nods.
"Yeah I've been thinking about that too." He admits.
"And?"
"It kind of makes me wish that I would find something like that."
"Makes you want to go over there and rip the house apart looking, doesn't
it?"
"Oh yeah, who knows how many other presents from her are hidden."
"So, when do you want to do it?"
"As soon as possible."
"We still have keys. We could go right now."
He nods. "Ok."
Joannie heads for the door.
As does David, they're soon in his van, heading for the house.
"We'd better be quiet. I don't want everyone joining us."
"No problem." He says as they arrive at the house. He parks and soon
they're inside.
"Where do you want to start?"
"How bout the basement?"
"And work our way up? Good idea."
They head into the basement. Meanwhile in Nancy and Elizabeth's bedroom
Sam's ears perk up. He hops out of bed, goes downstairs. Let's
out a bark to say hi to David and Joannie at the basement door and then starts
whining and scratching.
Abby and Tom are talking in their bedroom. Tom hears something downstairs.
"Did you hear that?"
"No..." There's another noise. "Yes. One of the kids?"
Tom sighs. "I better go check it out."
"I'm coming with you."
"No you stay here and rest. "I'll be back soon."
"I'm not going to rest if I'm worried about some burglar."
"It's probably Tommy sneaking out." he lies. "Just relax."
Abby starts to get up anyway, then realizes she'll just slow Tom down. 'OK.
Yell at him and then hurry back."
Tom laughs and goes downstairs. He notices Sam at the basement door.
He grabs the first heavy object and proceeds downstairs. He sees David
and Joannie. "What the hell are you two doing?"
"Dad.." Joannie stammers. "We were just looking for something."
"Dad hi."
"What could you possibly need at this hour?"
"Um... David, you tell him."
"Tools of course." David says like it should have been obvious to Tom.
"David, the tools are in the Garsge. Now whats really going on?"
David sighs trying to think of another explanation.
Sam whines and goes over to Joannie and David.
"Well?" Tom asks.
"Why are we being treated like we're three years old?"
"David, not one person I know of would be down here at this hour unless somethings
up. Why won't you two trust me?"
"I'm looking around for some old clothes. Stuff Mom used to leave down here
from when we were little," Joannie says, partly speaking the truth.
"And it couldn't wait til the morning....Wait a second does this have anything
to with finding Tommy's gift?" he says as he sits on the steps.
David gives Joannie a should we tell him the truth look.
Joannie shrugs.
"It has a little to do with it dad."
"I see, do me a favor ok? If you find something from mom for me. Let
me know?"
He nods.
"Of course we will, Dad."
"Joannie I was going to talk to you tomorrow but since you are here. I am
sorry about earlier."
"You are?"
Tom nods. "It's no excuse, I was just caught off-guard."
"It's OK, Dad."
"Now if you'll excuse me I am going back to bed." Tom says as he gets up.
"Goodnight." David says.
"Night, Dad."
"Goodnight." he tells them and shakes his head.
"Hi Honey." Tom says to Nancy before entering his room. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah, just wanted to remind you that I have an appointment the day after
tomorrow."
"Sure, I'll take you."
"Thanks it's at 2pm."
"No problem." he says. "Anything I can get you?"
"Um no, I'm going to bed, goodnight."
"Nancy, I love you." Tom says
She gives him a hug. "I love you too Dad."
"See you in the morning."
"See ya then." She says and goes to her room.
After talking to Nancy, Tom enters. Abby is half asleep, half sitting up
in bed. He quietly covers her up.
"Tom?" Abby says. "How's Tommy?"
"It wasn't Tommy and tells her what was going on."
"Think they'll find anything?"
"Well if they do or don't, let them get it out of their system, once and
for all."
"Do you think it really will be out of their system, no matter what they
find?"
"I hope so."
"And what about you?"
"Honestly? Its hard having that door open and close al the time."
"You know it will keep on doing that. If it weren't this, it'd be the next
graduation, or the first wedding, or the first grandchild..."
"I know." he sighs. "But it can't be easy for you either."
"Maybe a little easier than for you. I always knew Joan would be a part of
our lives."
"Yeah." he says quietly.
"What is it?" Abby asks gently.
"Just wondering how far this search thing is going to go."
"Just think of it as getting the house cleaned, top to bottom, without having
to ask for it."
Tom laughs."Do you really think any cleaning is going to get done?"
"Well, OK, they'll make the mess and then I'll have the incentive to clean."
"Uh uh..they make the mess..they clean it up."
"Are you planning to tell them that?"
"If I have to yes."
"I'll make sure Max is on call."
"Funny....." he says. "Oh gee, I am glad you are home."
Abby rolls over and hugs him. "Not half as glad as I am to be home."
He holds her and nearly falls asleep. "Wait a minute, I just remembered."
"What?" Abby says, nearly asleep herself.
"Joan wrote in a little notebook about where everything was hidden. Its in
my desk."
"You should check it in the morning and then tell the kids. It'll save them
some searching."
"And save us from cleaning bills."
"Exactly."
Tom sighs in relief. "Thank goodness that is settled."
"For now."
Tom shakes his head.
"We'll worry about it in the morning."
"OK." he sighs.
Abby gives him a kiss, punctuated by a yawn. "Try to sleep."
"You too."
"Love you."
Tom smiles. "I love you too."
Meanwhile in the basement.
"I hope we handled that ok."
"We're still alive and we have permission to search."
He smiles. "Very good point." They go back to searching while Sam falls
asleep nearby.
They make a mess of the basement.
And after cleaning it the best they can tolerate, they do want to get to
other rooms after all, they move on to the study and when they're finished
with the downstairs they move upstairs.
"Too bad we can't look in people's rooms."
"Yeah really, but we can save that for when no one's home."
"And why would you be searching my room when I'm not home?" Mary asks from
behind them.
"Well...David, you tell her," Joannie tries again.
"But Joannie she scares me." David says.
"I'll scare you even more if you don't tell me."
He sighs and tells her.
"Do you two need another person?" Mary asks.
"It can't hurt. We'll start with your room."
"Ok," they go and search Mary's room.
"Find anything?" Joannie asks her siblings.
"No not yet." Mary says.
"Shall we move on, then?"
"Where to, everyone else is asleep in their rooms." David says.
"I didn't look everywhere in the attic."
"Then it's time to cover the whole attic." Mary says. "Let's go."
Joannie and David follow her.
They search the entire attic and don't find anything.
"The garage?" Joannie suggests.
"Sure." David says.
Joannie leads them out.
They search the garage and don't find anything.
"Maybe there isn't any others." Mary says.
"There's got to be."
"Yeah we just have to keep on looking." David says.
"Where else?"
"Looks we'll have to wait till everyone is out of their rooms tomorrow."
"Who's going to get Abby out of her room?"
"Not me." David says.
"I don't think I'd manage," Joannie says.
"I'll take care of it." Mary says.
"OK."
Mary starts plotting.
Upstairs some are still waiting for the bathroom. Some very impatiently
waiting.
Mary pounds on the door one more time. "Susan come on I'm going to be late!!"
At the breakfast table. Nancy pours herself a cup of coffee and sits down.
"Good morning Nicky."
"Hi.' he says.
"Did Sam go to your room last night?"
"No, I thought he went to yours."
"He did but he wasn't there when Liz and I woke up."
"Maybe he went to Mary's room."
"Yeah, he's been keeping her company sometimes while she studies late at
night." She says as she gets something to eat.
Nicholas eats his cereal.
"Are you doing ok?"
"Why?"
"Just checking, want to be sure."
"I saw Tommy's book."
"Did it make you think of mom?"
He nods.
"It made me think of her too." Nancy confesses.
"Why didn't mom get me a present?"
Nancy explains to him about what their mother did throughout the year.
"She didn't buy them all at once, she kept her eye out all year for special
gifts and then she hid them till it was time to give them to the child she
bought for. She hid them." Nancy has an idea.
"She mustn't had found anything for me."
"Nicholas, no I don't want to give you false hopes if we don't find anything."
Nancy considers and waits for his reply.
"What do you mean?"
"Nicholas, if mom hid Tommy's present there might be a chance that she had
time to hide others. But there's also a chance she didn't. Now
if we decide to persue this we might not find what we're hoping to."
"Oh...."
"You have to do what you want to do. No one can make this decision
for you, but we can be there for you no matter what you decide." She says.
"I think I'll pass." he says not wanting to be hurt one way or the other."I'll
be in my playhouse."
"Ok," She says hoping she didn't make him feel worse.
Nicholas runs out of the house.
Tom walks in. "Where is he going?"
"Dad I'm an idiot, I was trying to help but I think I made it worse."
"What are you talking about?"
She tells him.
"Oh man, this whole thing is getting way out of hand."
"Huh?" She asks not knowing about David, Joannie, and Mary. "Dad I
am sorry I just didn't want him to feel like I wasn't being honest with him."
~Geez I'm always screwing things up. Some big sister I am.~ "I'm going to
school."
"Yeah you do that before you cause more damage." David says as he walks in
having heard most of it. "Why did you have to wreck everything?"
"David." She says near tears.
"Save the apologies because I don't want to hear it."
She grabs her purse, her books, and then leaves the house and drives away.
Mary walks in after finally haven gotten her shower, she heard some of it
to. She slaps David across the face so hard that his head turns.
"I can not believe what you just drove me to." She says to him and then says
to her Dad before leaving the room. "I only did what Nancy should have to
him." She then leaves the house.
"I think I'll check on Nicholas." David says and starts to leave the room.
"David, lets talk first." Tom says
"Ok," David concedes.
"Are you OK?" he says noticing the red mark
"I'm fine, just a little angry at a couple of sisters right now."
"This whole thing has gotten way out of hand." Tom states.
"It wouldn't have if a certain sister wouldn't have brought it up with Nicholas.
What was she thinking?"
"David this whole family has gone nuts with trying to tear this house apart
for something that might not even exist."
He sighs.
"So tell me, has anyone found anything yet?"
"No, do we have to call it off?"
Tom unlocks a secret compartment from his desk. "Your mother used to
write things down where she hid gifts. How do you think she remember where
she put everything. I remember about it early this morning." He shows
it to David. "Unless she forgot to write something down, Tommy's gift
was the last entry."
David sighs. "Oh."
"I'm sorry son, I know how much everybody wanted to find something." Tom
sighs."Including me." he admits.
"Yeah." David says.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"Stop looking." He says.
"And Nancy?"
"What about Nancy?"
"Don't you think you owe her an apology? I know Mary does to you."
"No I don't think I owe her one."
"Now David....."
"Can I go now?"
Tom sighs. "Yeah, go."
David leaves and knocks on the playhouse door.
Tom comes out of his study and finds Abby in the kitchen picking up the dishes
Nicholas left on the table.
"Hi," she says and starts pouring him coffee.
"Hi." he says sitting down
"What's up?"
He tells her about Nicholas, Nancy, David and Mary.
"What a disaster. Want me to go talk to Nicholas?"
"Could you?" he says."I have to talk to Tommy and Mary."
Abby nods. "He's in his playhouse?"
"That's what they tell me."
Abby gives him a kiss. "Good luck with Tommy and Mary," she says and heads
out to the playhouse. "Nicholas?"
"Come in." he says as he wipes the tears from his face.
Abby sits down next to him. "Hi, Nicholas."
"Hi." he says nervously playing with his baseball.
"How are you doing?"
"Not good, you?"
"Worried about you."
"I'll be ok if everyone would stop acting nuts."
"You mean about Tommy's present?"
Nicholas nods.
"Well, if you want to talk to me I'll try not to act nuts."
He half way smiles. "Doesn't it bother you the way they are acting?
I mean doesn't it hurt your feelings?"
"Nicholas, she was your mom. Of course they're going to react if something
like this happens. If I let that hurt my feelings, I wouldn't be very fair."
"So I shouldn't let it bother me."
"Not on my account, no."
He sighs. "I'm goingto be late for school."
"You'll be OK?"
"Yeah, I'll see you later." he says as he gets up.
"Nicholas?"
"Yeah?" he says as he looks at her.
"Thanks for worrying about me."
He hugs and runs off to school.
Abby heads back inside.
Tom is getting another cup of coffee. "Well?"
"He's off to school."
"And, is he ok?"
"Getting there, I think. Part of what had him worried was me."
"The gift?"
Abby nods. "He thought everyone's reaction would hurt me."
"And has it?"
"Didn't we talk about this last night?"
He nods. "Just checking, because if doesn't bother you, than why in the hell
does it bother me?"
"Because I didn't know her or love her?"
Tom sighs. "You are right."
Abby hugs him.
Tom holds her. "Have you seen Elizabeth this morning?'
"Not yet."
"Wonder if shes going to school today."
"She might want to wait a day or two until everything dies down."
"I don't think it'll break her heart." he laughs.
"Want me to go see if she's awake?"
"No let her sleep if she can, speaking of sleep. Why don't you go back to
bed?"
"You're sure you don't need me down here?"
"I'll always need you, but no I can handle things."
"OK, then, I'll be a good girl and go upstairs."
"Don't be too good." he winks at her.
"How about I'll be good until you join me there tonight?"
"It's a date."
Abby kisses him.
Tom sighs and kisses her back.
"Save it for tonight or I'll never get upstairs."
"You started it." he jokes.
"A girl can hope, can't she?"
Later, in the school cafeteria:
"Are you all right?" Mary asks Nancy.
She doesn't say anything she just pretends like she's studying.
"Nancy I heard about what happened and what David said to you."
"Then why are you being nice to me?" She says guilt ridden.
"Because you didn't do anything wrong. You had the best of intentions
with Nicholas. Maybe it wasn't right to mention it to him but we all
mess up sometimes."
"David has a different opinion." She points out.
"David is only thinking about himself." Mary tells her everything.
But it doesn't have the effect that she hoped it would.
"Now Joannie's going to be mad at me." Tears well in her eyes.
"No she's not." Mary says gently.
"Yes she is, and she has every right to be."
Mary observes her and makes a decision. "I'm taking you home, I don't
think you should be here today."
"Why don't you go and check on Nicholas." She says.
"Nicholas is being taken care of right now. I'm not leaving you here
by yourself, now did you take your meds today?"
"Yes."
"Your insulin?"
"Yeah you gave it to me earlier. It's not depression ok." She
says in denial. "It's guilt that's all."
"Are you sure? Maybe you need a change of meds again."
"No I don't, no one is putting me back in a hospital ever again." She insists.
They talk a bit longer and Mary finally gets her calmed down enough to go
home.
Once there Nancy retreats to her bedroom. Still berating herself on
the inside for letting her siblings down.
Elizabeth walks in. "Hi."
"Hi," She says.
"I heard what happen, want to talk?"
"Is anyone talking to Nicholas about it?" She asks in a guilty tone.
"I think Abby did, but I'm not sure."
"Is David still mad? Is anyone else mad at me?"
"I think he's cooled off and no."
"I'm mad at me." She says.
"Why?" she asks sitting on her bed.
"I don't even know how to help my little brother get through anything without
making it worse."
"That's not true. You didn't know what the others were up to."
"What difference does that make?"
"How can you help Nicholas if you didn't know all the facts?"
"I didn't have to voice it allowed to him, I could've just gone searching
on my own."
"We all make mistakes Nancy, its not the end of the world."
"No it's not, but it sure feels like it."
Elizabeth hugs her. "We'll get thru it."
~I won't.~ Nancy hugs her back. "I know."
"Dinner is ready, you need to eat."
"What are we having?"
"I made stew."
"I'll be down in a minute I was supposed to finish a talk with Abby today."
"OK."
"Elizabeth, thank you for talking to me." Nancy says.
"Why wouldn't I talk to you."
Nancy manages a smile, "good point." She says and goes and knocks on her
parents door.
Abby is reading in bed. "Come in."
She walks in. "Hey."
Abby closes her book and puts it on the nightstand. "Hi."
Nancy sits down on the bed. "What were you reading?"
Abby picks up the book to show her. "Developmental psych. I'm way behind
in my classes."
"Does it say in there how to better handle things with eight year olds?"
"Eight year olds yes, Nicholas, no."
"I really blew it with him Abby."
"Not on purpose."
"Yeah but I still did."
"Did you talk to him since?"
She shakes her head. "Not yet, I just got home a little while ago."
"Before you beat yourself up, maybe you should."
"Is he in his room?"
"I'm not sure. I think so."
"I'll go talk to him then, you'll be here when I get back?"
"Just me and my Developmental Psych..."
She smiles. "Ok, I'll be back soon." She says and goes to knock on Tommy
and Nicholas' door.
"come in."
She walks in. "Hi."
"Hi." he says coloring in his book.
"I'm sorry about earlier if the things I said hurt you."
"You didn't hurt me, I ran out cause everyone is acting so crazy about the
book."
"Oh," she sighs in relief and then sits down. "And it was getting to you,
the craziness I mean."
He nods. "I miss Mom...but."
"But what?" She says gently.
"Everytime something like this happens,its like she died all over again."
"And you start feeling bad again and missing her. I know because that
happens to me too."
He nods.
"When that happens you can come hang out with me in my room, you don't even
have to talk if you don't want to."
"Really? Thanks." he hugs her.
She smiles and hugs him also. "Anytime kiddo."
Nicholas goes back to his coloring.
"See you at dinner." Nancy goes back to Abby.
Abby once again puts down her book when Nancy walks in.
"You were right." She says and sits down again.
"About Nicholas?"
"He was hurting but not because of what I said. You know it's hard enough
when you hurt someone you love, but when it's Nicholas it's almost unbearable.
He's just so little."
"I know."
After a moment of silence. "What did we have left to talk about from last
night?"
Abby thinks for a moment. "You know, I'm not sure."
"Maybe we covered everything." Nancy says.
"If you think we did, then I guess we did."
"Well almost, I have an appointment tomorrow so they can see how I've really
been doing in controlling it."
"That's good. But I'll bet they'll see you've been doing really well."
"I hope so, we're also going to get them to check my meds."
~Good idea.~ "Can't hurt."
"True, well I'd better let you get back to studying."
"You'll make sure to tell me what the doctor says?"
She nods. "And we'll call if it starts to take awhile."
"I'd appreciate that."
"No problem." She smiles and leaves the room.
"Hi Dad, you wanted to talk to me?" Tommy asks his father as he walks in
the study.
"Come in. Sit down," Tom says.
Tommy sits down.
Tom gets up and starts pacing. "About that car..." he begins.
"You're not going to send it back are you? It was a gift..." Tommy
starts on the defensive.
"A gift you had no right asking for."
"Auntie V insited I tell her what I wanted."
"And you took advantage of her generosity."
"I did not, ask the rest of them."
"Tommy, you know you can't keep that car."
"So you are taking it away, Dad thats not fair!!"
"Tommy, how do you plan to pay for the upkeep, registration, not to mention
the insurance?"
"I'll get a job."
"Do you know what kind of a bill you're talking about on a car like that?"
"Auntie V could help."
"V has helped enough already."
"Terrific, there goes my car." he pouts.
"At least for now," Tom relents.
"I don't want to be here when you send it back." he starts to leave.
"All right. Tommy, can I make a suggestion?"
"What?"
"If you get that job you can start saving now. When you're older, maybe you
can ask V again."
Tommy pouts and leaves the room.
Tom rolls his eyes and calls Mary into her study.
"Yeah?" Mary asks knowing full well what he wants to talk about but trying
to avoid it.
"Mary about this morning."
"Dad he had no right to hurt her like that." She says.
"And you had no right to slap him, Bradfords dont hit each other. You know
that."
She sighs. "I know, but sometimes words hurt a lot more." She says
worried about the look in Nancy's eyes at school and on the way home.
"So by slapping him, you solved the problem between him and Nancy?"
She sighs, "no."
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll apologise." She says
Tom smiles at her. "Good."
"Can you do me a favor?"
He nods. "Yes."
"Go talk to Nancy, dad I'm worried about her."
He nods. "I will, oh and if you see your Aunt. I'd like to have a word with
her."
Mary nods, and before Elizabeth goes to talk to Nancy. Tom goes up
to see her.
Tom knocks on Nancy's door
"Come in." Nancy says.
"Hi, how was school?"
"Ok." She says quietly.
Tom sits on her bed. "Want to talk about this morning?"
"I really messed things up didn't I?" She says.
Tom shakes his head. "No, honey you didn't.'
"But I hurt Nicholas and David's mad at me."
"David will cool off and come to his senses. As for Nicholas, Abby talked
to him and he's fine."
She sighs in relief about Nicholas.
"Now what about you, are you going to be alright?"
"If they agree not to hospitalize me can we get my meds checked on tomorrow
also at the appointment."
Tom nods. "Honey, I am sorry I haven't notice."
"It's ok Dad, I didn't even let myself see it till Mary mentioned something
today and I started thinking it over."
"Then its a good thing you are going tomorrow."
"That's for sure."
Tom gives her legs a squeeze. "I'll let you study, unless you want
to talk some more."
"No but I need a hug." She says.
Tom happily complies.
"Thanks Dad."
"You are welcome." he says. "Now hit those books." he jokes.
"Yes sir." She jokes back.
Tom smiles and leaves ~Three down, one to go.~
After calling to apologise to David, Mary runs into V. "Dad wants to
talk to you after he's done talking with Nancy."
"Do you know why?" V asks.
Mary shrugs.
"That's what I'm afraid of." V jokes and waits for Tom.
Tom goes back to his study after talking to Nancy
V slowly goes in there. "You wanted to talk to me?"
Tom hands her the keys to the car. "Abby and I talked and I decided
Tommy can not accept the car."
"Well, give the circumstances maybe it's best if I leave."
"V, you don't have to leave." Tom states.
"Tommy I obviously went too far this time we both know that."
"Yes, but who doesn't in this family goes too far every once in awhile."
Tom says.
"I suppose you're right." She sighs. "Was Tommy very disappointed."
"With me yes, you no."
"I'm sorry." She says to him. "You know even before this I was planning
on heading home to Horst."
Tom nods. "But remember you don't have to go." he states. "I do love
you Vivian and I do appreciate you wanting to give the kids every wish they
desire, but life doesn't work like that."
"I'm beginning to figure that out, and I'm not leaving just yet, I have a
promise I made to keep."
"A Promise?" he asks.
"Yes, I promised to be there for a member of this family but then Horst had
his heart attack and I had to go. Is she upstairs in your room?"
"As far as I know she is."
"Thank you." She goes upstairs.
Tommy sees V upstairs and turns around
Before V knocks on Abby's door she sees Tommy. "I'm sorry." She says
to him.
"It's not your fault. I guess you couldn't change Dad's mind."
"No I couldn't, but maybe I shouldn't have done it in the first place."
Tommy shrugs. "I shouldn't have asked to begin with."
"What normal 16 year old wouldn't ask."
Tommy tries to smile. "I'll just have to save up for one."
"Hey it's not the end of the world. Once you have the money saved...."
"Yeah, well thanks anyway." Tommy says as he kisses her on the cheek. He
then goes downstairs.
V then knocks on Abby's door.
Abby again has her nose deep in a book. "Come in."
V walks in. "I don't think I've seen you since you got home."
"I've been trying to be a good girl and rest in between putting out fires.
Come on, sit down and talk to me."
She sits down. "I'm sorry that I had to leave like I did last time."
"I understand. When we thought Tom had a heart attack I dropped everything
and everyone. How is Horst?"
"He's doing much better, how bout you?"
"I'll be OK."
"Really?"
"As long as I make sure I get some rest I'll be fine. I'm already much better.
I just let myself get too run down."
"How much longer did the doctor say you need to rest?"
"Well...." Abby hesitates, "I didn't actually ask the doctor. As far as he
knows, I'm still in Pasadena."
"Oh..... have you seen a doctor here yet?"
"Too much has been going on. I'll call Max tomorrow."
"Good, and how are you emotionally?"
"Very glad to be home."
"That's good."
"I missed all the noise around here."
"That's why I keep coming back."
"And we're glad to have you here."
"Why thank you, seriously though you're all right, because if you're not,
I have a shoulder, I have an ear."
"Thanks, but one of the nice things about being home is that I don't have
time to think."
"Not a problem." She says. "Can I get you anything?"
"Got any good gossip?"
"No not really, how bout you?"
"Seems like all I've been dealing with lately is Tommy, so no gossip."
"Oh."
"Between the car and Joan's gift, it's been some birthday for him."
"Yeah."
"Hey, you OK?"
"I don't get it, first Tom says Tommy can keep the car and then he says no."
"I think Tom just didn't know how to say no at first."
"Oh, well I admit that I come on pretty strong at times. I fight too
hard when it comes to the kids."
"That's only because you love them."
"Very true."
"Tom knows that, too."
"I know, he told me."
"Good."
"Well I'd better go back, I'm heading home tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"I want to get back to Horst, unless you need me to stay longer."
"No,, but I do hope you come back soon. Bring Horst with you."
"Are you sure? He'll spoil the kids worse than I do."
"That I'd like to see."
"Then I'll bring him next time."
"Good."
"Anything else you want to talk about? Were the kids ok while I was
gone today?"
"Perfect. It was a little strange."
"Oh no they must be coming down with something."
"That might be it."
"Yep."
"Maybe I'll ask Max to look at them when he come to check on me."
"How is Max? Still a flirt?"
"I should hope he doesn't."
Abby laughs.
So does Vivian
"I really need to go and pack." She says as she gets up.
"V? Is something wrong?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"You just seem a little abrupt."
She sighs. "I'm sorry I don't mean to be."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Horst's brother, he's using Horst, and Horst can't see it."
"Using him how?"
"He keeps showing up to borrow money and to borrow cars and that's it.
He never stays to talk to him, to see how he's doing, nothing."
"That's terrible. But siblings can be a real blind spot to people."
"I know but I wish Horst would tell him to go someplace else."
"Do you want Tom to have a talk with him?"
"Yes I do, but I don't want Horst to know I've told you. He'd be embarrased."
"Tom will find a way."
"He always does, doesn't he?"
"Guess that's why he's so good at his job. He has a way with words," Abby
smiles.
"So that's how he did it."
"Did what?"
"Got you to marry him."
"Ah. Well, that was part of it..."
"Am I too young to know what the rest was?"
Abby leans close and whispers, "He's got cute knees."
"Oh..... Those."
"Yes," Abby smiles. "Those."
"If only more men could have his knees."
"Oh, I'll bet Horst does."
"Well......."
Abby smiles at her.
V smiles also. "Ok yes he does."
Part 4