Shaggy Dog Story
Part 3
"Come on, Tom, let's get you upstairs," Abby suggests when they get home.
"I'll give you a hand." Tommy states.
"Thanks."
Tommy helps Tom upstairs to his bedroom. "Anything else?" Tommy asks.
"I don't think so," Abby says. "But thanks."
"Thanks Son." Tom says nearly half asleep.
"No Problem Dad." Tommy says and leaves.
Abby tucks the covers around Tom and pulls up a chair next to the bed.
"You don't have to sit there. You can lie down."
"I thought you might want the bed to yourself," Abby says, but joins him.
"The more the merrier." he says.
"Oh?" Abby says, snuggling up to him. "If that's what you think, I could
call in the kids."
"Don't you dare."
"That's what I'd hoped you'd say," Abby laughs.
Tom is soon asleep.
Abby slips out of bed, out of the room, and goes to look for Nicholas. He's
late from coming home from school.
Elizabeth hands Nancy the vial.
"Thank you." After the injection. "Do you think they suspected
anything?"
"Dad? No way, he didn't know what day it was and Abby was too busy looking
after Dad." Liz says. "You feeling better?"
She nods. "Good thing it waited til we got home or I could have killed
all of us. We'd better get inside we have some siblings to tell about
Dad."
"Yeah."
They go inside and find some of their siblings and tell them what's going
on.
"I'm surprised all of us don't have one." Mary says.
"Be careful what you speak about it might come true." Nancy replies.
"Is Joannie home?"
"I don't know." Mary says.
"You OK Mary?" Elizabeth asks.
"Yeah I'm ok." Mary lies.
Elizabeth takes it that Mary is worried about their Dad and drops the subject.
Mary leaves the house and goes over to David's.
Abby heads downstairs. "Have any of you seen Nicholas?"
"I haven't seen him." Tommy states
"Neither have I." Nancy says.
Abby checks her watch. "He should have been home by now, shouldn't he have?"
"Yeah I suppose, I can go look for him."
"I'll go with you." Nancy says.
"Thanks."
Just then Nicholas comes in running pass everyone. "If anyone calls, I'm
not home."
Abby catches him as he rushes past. "Whoa. What's going on, Nicholas?"
"Andrea Cuddelsworth." he says.
"Andrea Cuddlesworth?" Abby repeats.
"A girl in my class, she won't leave me alone."
Abby tries not to smile. ~How cute.~ "Well, you're safe in here. Nicholas,
could you come with me into your dad's study? We need to talk."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, not at all. Come on, let's go talk."
"OK."
Abby leads him into the study and closes the doors. "Your dad is upstairs
resting. He wasn't feeling well today, so Dr. Max sent him for some tests,
and..." she tries to explain as simply as she can what an ulcer is, why people
get them, and what will have to be done now.
"Is he going to be OK?"
"Yes, he'll be fine. It's just like a scrape--it doesn't heal if you pick
at the scab, right? Only in Dad's case, the equivalent of picking at the
scab is getting all riled up about things, so we have to make sure he stays
calm."
"Dad? Calm?"
"If we all do our best, I hope so. So if you have any problems, come to me,
or to David or Mary, and we'll try to help you, OK?"
Nicholas nods. "Can I see him?"
"He's asleep right now, but when he wakes up of course you can."
"OK, when's dinner?"
"As soon as I make it," Abby says, relieved at how resilient kids are.
"Can I go now?"
"Yes, you can go now."
"I'll be upstairs, now remember I'm not home."
"Not home for anyone, or just for young Miss Cuddelsworth?"
"Ugh…don't mention that name."
"Sorry."
"That's ok, I'll be upstairs."
"I'll call you down when dinner's ready."
"Thanks."
After Mary's told David what's going on: "And the one person I really want
to talk to about this I can't." Mary says to him.
"Dad?"
She nods.
"I know, but you can talk to me." He says.
"I know that's why I came here." She says.
They talk a little while longer and then she comes home goes upstairs and
retreats to her bedroom.
An hour or so later, Nancy is waiting for Joannie to get home so she can
tell her about Tom.
Joannie walks into the house, singing.
"Joannie we need to talk." Nancy says.
"What's up?"
"I hate to tell you when you're in such a good mood but if I wait on this
you'll probably beat me up." She begins. "Dad has an ulcer." She tells
her the rest.
Joannie sits down. "You know, Dad used to be the healthiest person I know."
"Yeah I know, but lately."
"Exactly."
"Joannie he's going to be all right he just needs to learn how to relax."
She tells her what else Abby had told them.
"Like that's ever going to happen."
"Yeah well it has to happen. We just have to face the fact that we
can't go to him anymore." She says trying the keep the sadness about
it out of her tone.
"So now we're supposed to go to Abby. How convenient for her."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know what that means."
"No, I don't."
"Well, just think about this: when did Dad start getting sick so much?"
"What exactly are you implying?"
"You wouldn't believe what I say, so just do me a favor. Think about it.
You're smart--you'll figure it out on your own."
Nancy glares at her as she realizes what she's saying. "Look I know
you miss mom, I miss mom too, every day, but Abby doesn't deserve your accusations
or your shoddy treatment of her."
"And Dad doesn't deserve almost having a heart attack or getting ulcers.
I was the one who was pushing for Dad to date Abby, but you have to admit
that things haven't exactly worked out the way we'd all hoped."
"Nothing ever works out the way you think it will, but you can't blame Abby
for his near heart attack and ulcer. If you're going to do that you
might as well blame Elizabeth and I also. Might as well blame all of
us."
"I do. I blame all of us, including myself. But Mom knew how to handle everything
so Dad was OK. Abby doesn't have a clue."
"Mom had 25 years of training Dad. Dad and Abby have barely been married
a year yet. Now what do you tell me when I get mad at her?"
"OK, OK, so I'm wrong. Maybe you have every right to get mad at Abby when
you do."
"No you weren't wrong about that, you made me see through my paranoia
and realize that I was just wasting my time being angry at her. However,
you're wrong about your suspicions of her."
"Am I? Tell me you think she's good for Dad."
"She is good for Dad, she makes him happy. It's not her fault that
he got sick."
"If all that fighting and pouting is what he's like when he's happy, I'd
hate to see what he'd be like unhappy."
"It's not like that all the time."
"But it is like that an awful lot of the time."
Nancy's worn down from arguing by now. "Maybe you should talk to Abby."
"Sure. Just what I plan to do," Joannie says.
Nancy sighs and also wonders why she's using all this energy to defend Abby
when Abby can't wait to get away from her half the time. "Do what you
want, I'm going out we need a few things." She grabs her purse.
"Want some company?"
Nancy nods. "I'm sorry I argued with you."
"Hey, what are sisters for?"
"Exactly, without sisters we'd be all alone in this world and this house."
Nancy says.
"Speaking of sisters, we never did talk to Mary."
"Hmm, maybe we can get her to come along with us?"
"We can certainly try."
Mary finds Elizabeth and tells her. "I'm sorry I was so abrupt with
you earlier."
"Whats wrong?" she asks
"I went out with the King of jerks." Mary says to her.
"Well I do know what that is like, he didn't hurt you did he?"
Mary doesn't say anything at first but decides to. "He tried, and he
now has a black eye for his efforts."
"Good job." she says. "Have you told Dad and Abby?"
Mary shakes her head. "There's no need I took care of it, and I don't
think it's a good idea to tell Dad."
"Yeah, but you can talk to Abby."
"I don't need to talk I'm all right, really."
"Well, I'm here." Liz says.
Mary smiles. "Yes you are, and how bout you? How are you handling everything
that's going on?"
"I'm ok, Just worried about Dad."
"Yeah we all are."
"I guess we just need to lay low for awhile."
Mary nods in agreement
Elizabeth hugs Mary.
Mary hugs her back
Joannie heads to the staircase. "Mary! Hey, Mary!"
Mary comes out of her room. "Yeah?"
"We're heading out to shop. Want to come along?"
"No not really."
"Come on Mare, please."
"Well ok." She leaves with them.
"I'll drive," Joannie offers. "Sit with her and don't let her jump out when
we grill her," she whispers to Nancy.
"I'm right on it." Nancy whispers back and then they get in the car.
Joannie pulls out of the driveway. "So what's up, Mary?"
"Not a whole lot, you?"
"I've been real distracted with this charity show. Now what's had you so
distracted?"
"My date didn't go very well last Friday night."
"Define 'not well'."
"He was pretty aggressive."
"Mary did he...?" Nancy worries.
"No, I was able to fight him off, so he's the one that got physically hurt."
"You bopped him one?" Joannie asks with admiration.
"I sure did." Mary says with pride.
"Good for you. Wish I could have seen it."
Mary smiles but still seems distracted.
"So if you took care of him, why are you still looking like that?"
"Because I'm having a hard time getting it out of my mind even though it's
over." Mary admits.
"Want me to beat him up for you, too?"
"No I want you to stay clear of him." Mary says in her big sister tone.
"But Joannie likes pounding on jerks like that." Nancy protests.
"It's my favorite hobby."
"Well all right." Mary smiles.
"Just give me details and I'll make sure that jerk is dust."
"What kind of details do you want?"
"Name, address, and just how damaged you want him."
"Wait a minute your serious about this?"
"Very. No one messes with my sister."
"Joannie I rather that you didn't."
"Why not? If he's got you this down..."
"Joannie I know you mean well, but you going after him isn't going to make
this go away."
"Well, what will?"
"I don't know, time maybe."
"But time takes so long."
"I second that." Nancy says.
"I know, but shopping should lessen the time it will take." Mary says.
"Yes, shopping is very good for the soul." Nancy adds.
"But not so great for the wallet."
"It's cool I got money." Nancy says.
"Always helps," Joannie says as she parks the car.
"That's for sure." Mary says as they get out of the car.
"So, which store first?" Joannie asks.
"Hmm, what do you two need?" Nancy asks.
"Distraction."
"And where do they sell that?" She kids.
"In finer stores everywhere," Joannie answers.
"Ok, how bout that one first?" Nancy points.
"Works for me. How about you, Mary?"
"I'm game."
Joannie grabs her sisters' arms and leads them towards the store.
"In a hurry Joannie?" Nancy asks as they proceed to shop.
"Um, yeah. You can never be too quick to find distraction," Joannie says
as she leads them towards the back of the store.
"Ok, so what are we doing here?" Mary asks Joannie.
"Shopping," Joannie says innocently.
"And hiding from who?" Mary pries.
"No one important," Joannie sighs.
Nancy glances at her. "What's up Joannie?"
"Nothing important, really. Just a nuisance I'd rather not deal with today."
"Ahh."
A little shopping later.
"So what's his name?" Mary asks.
"I told you, I don't want to even think about that person today, OK?" Joannie
says.
Nancy and Mary exchange a look but say, "ok."
Joannie turns her attention back to shopping.
While her sisters still wonder who she's avoiding.
"So, Nancy, what were these few things you said you needed?"
"Actually what the whole family needs; milk, bread. But since we're
here I do need a new blouse."
"How about this one?"
She looks it over. "Too much pink."
"But you look good in pink," Joannie protests. "And I look great in it. Buy
it; I want to borrow it from you."
Nancy laughs. "If you insist."
"Well, I won't twist your arm."
Nancy buys the blouse and looks for another one.
Joannie, meanwhile, checks to see if the coast is clear yet.
"Hey Nancy this one would look good." Mary tries what Joannie tried.
Joannie smiles as she watches the person she's been avoiding get into a car
and drive away.
Nancy laughs inwardly as she buys the blouse Mary suggested. ~Why don't
they just ask me to buy the blouses for them?~ She doesn't realize
it's funner to borrow them.
Mary glances at Joannie. "Did they leave?"
"Yep. Coast is clear."
"Good." Mary says wondering who it was.
"Nancy, you said we needed groceries?"
"Yeah hold on." She purchases a blouse for herself and also ones that Elizabeth
and Susan might want to borrow.
"The Nancy Bradford Clothing Bank."
Mary laughs, Nancy tries to pretend to be angry but winds up laughing also.
"Come on, I'll buy you both an ice cream before we go food shopping," Joannie
offers.
"Thanks Joannie." Mary says.
"Works for me thanks Joannie." Nancy says.
"I figured you deserve a cheat day."
"I don't know about deserve but I sure do need one."
"Well, I say deserve. Now stop arguing."
"Yeah." Mary says as they go to the ice cream place.
Joannie places her order.
As do Mary and Nancy
Afterwards they go grocery shopping.
And pick up what they need. "Do either of you need anything else?"
Nancy asks.
"I don't," Joannie says.
"Not me." Mary says.
"Then I guess we go home."
"Yeah, it is getting late." They head for the checkout.
"You sure we have everything?" Joannie asks Nancy.
"No I'm not, I'll be right back." She returns with a toy for Sam.
"You really spoil him."
"That's right I do."
"Good. He deserves it."
"Yeah." They go through checkout and then head home.
Afterwards, in the kitchen, Nancy glances at the calendar and sees her flu
shot is tomorrow. ~Way to go Nance, you take today off before bothering to
check the calendar. I was right at the hospital I could've gotten it
then. Oh well I'll just go after classes.~ She calls Max to change
the time and waits for Abby to get back from
talking with Nick to see if she needs help with dinner.
Abby walks into the kitchen, thinking more about Tom than about dinner.
Nancy picks up on this. "I can cook or we can order out."
"We've been ordering out a lot lately; your father will start to worry why.
I'll cook."
"Do you need any help?"
"Um, yeah, I guess so."
Nancy starts helping.
"Thanks." They get dinner up and cooking. "I think I'll go check on Tom,"
Abby says. "Can you keep an eye on things?"
"Sure."
"Thanks again." Abby gives her a quick head and heads upstairs.
Tom is getting out of bed when Abby walks in.
"Good morning," Abby says.
Tom half way laughs. "Yeah the same to you." he says as he gets on his robe.
"Hey, I get to share my sick leave with you--you bet it's a good morning.
Or evening. Or any time of day."
"What do you mean share?"
"Well, Max hasn't told me I can go back to work yet, and you need to rest
up, so..."
"Oh......" he says. "Yeah, two invalids."
"Invalid? From an ulcer?" Abby scoffs. "Personally, I think this is all just
Max's anniversary gift to us."
"Some gift." he says holding his stomach.
"You'll get better," Abby says and gives him a hug. "You'll rest, take your
medicine, take it easy. You'll see."
"I better get some work done on my column."
"Not tonight," Abby urges. "You're on sick leave. You can take a day off."
"I have no back up columns." he says.
"That's Elliot Randolph's problem, isn't it? He'll put something else in
your spot, readers will complain, and when you go back to work he'll have
to give you a raise."
"Yeah right." he sighs. "Do I dare ask what I am getting for dinner?"
"Same as everyone else. I decided Mexican wasn't on the menu tonight."
"Good plan."
"I'd hoped you'd like it."
"How are the kids?"
"Fine." She tells him of her conversation with Nicholas. "His only real concern
was when dinner would be. They know you'll recuperate."
"One less thing to worry about." Tom says. "What time is dinner?"
"It should be ready in about an hour, but if you're hungry now, I can fix
you a snack."
"Thanks but I can wait." Tom says. "I better get dressed."
"Mind if I stay up here and rest a little while you do?"
"Sure, You feeling all right?" Tom worries.
"I'm fine. Really. I'm just looking for an excuse to stay here with you,"
Abby says.
"You don't need an excuse." He smiles at her.
"In that case, I'll just stay up here with you because I want to."
"I love you." Tom states.
"I know. How did I get to be so lucky?"
"We both got lucky."
"We sure did."
Tom kisses her.
"I thought you wanted to get dressed," Abby reminds him.
"How long do we have 'til dinner?"
"Long enough," Abby says, smiling.
Tom locks the door.
Abby hugs him. "I'm sure your doctor would approve."
"You think?" he says as he takes her in his arms.
"Oh, I know. Max is worse than you when it comes to one-track minds."
"Hmmm." he says kissing her.
Abby returns the kisses. "Why are we talking about Max?"
"You brought him up." he states.
"Sometimes you've just got to shut me up."
"Easy to do." he says and then kisses her long.
Meanwhile the doorbell rings.
"Let the kids get it," Abby tells him.
"I didn't hear anything." he jokes
"Let's just hope the kids did."
Nancy tends to dinner her mind on Cassie, Mary, and her father when one of
her siblings ventures in.
"Hey? What's cooking?" Elizabeth asks.
"Ulcer friendly, diabetic friendly, and family friendly food." Nancy jokes.
"Great."
"Great what?"
"Great food." ~in other words tasteless.~ Liz smiles. "Need some help?"
"Can you help me set the table?"
"Sure." she states.
As they're setting the table. "Remember ketchup works wonders." Nancy
hints.
Elizabeth laughs. "I'm sorry."
Nancy laughs. "Don't be, once it's under control I can start working in good
foods in moderation. I feel bad for the rest of you."
The doorbell rings. "Tommy answer the door would ya?"
"I'm busy." he says.
Meanwhile Dr. Max is standing outside.
"I'll be right back." Nancy says to Elizabeth and goes to answer the door.
"But my flu shot isn't till tomorrow." She jokes.
"Just making sure you'll be there." he states.
"I'll be there, do you have time to stay for dinner after you check
on Dad?"
"Thanks but no, Daisy is waiting for me at home."
"Ok, well he's upstairs, but I would knock first."
"Thanks." Max goes upstairs and knocks on the door.
~I told them not to bother Tom~ Abby thinks. "I'd better go see who that
is," she tells Tom.
Tom sighs. "Ok."
Abby opens the bedroom door just a crack to see who'd have the temerity to
bother Tom.
"Hi, am I interrupting?"
"Well... You're here to check on Tom, or is there a crisis downstairs?"
"Tom." he states smiling.
"Oh, OK," Abby sighs. She opens the door farther to let Max in. "So much
for Max approving," she whispers to Tom as she passes him.
Max takes one look at the two of them. "Looks like I am interrupting your
cardio exercise." he jokes.
"Ha Ha Max." Tom says.
"Very funny," Abby adds. "Do you want me to leave?" she offers.
"No No, I just came by to see how Tom is and to dropped of his new medication."
"OK." ~Just make it quick.~
"I see you look better." he smiles.
"Are we through?' Tom asks.
"Yes, I think you are in good hands. Remember rest and relaxation."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure he gets them," Abby says.
"I am sure you will." he teases. "No work Tom until I see you next week."
"But...." he protests.
"And I'm still on sick leave too, right Max?"
"Uh yeah, right." he says knowing where she is going with that.
"Then we'll see you for check-ups next week."
Tom sighs. "OK."
Abby ushers Max towards the door. "Thanks for coming by."
"Not a problem." he says. "You know where to find me if you need me."
"I do," Abby agrees. "I think we have a direct hotline to your office."
Max laughs as he leaves.
Abby closes the door behind Max. "I thought he'd never go."
"Nice to know he approves the way you are taking care of me."
"Of course he does," Abby says and hugs Tom. "I'm just what the doctor ordered."
"You can say that again."
"I'd rather say this," Abby says and begins to kiss Tom.
"Wow, could you repeat that? I didn't quite hear you." he jokes.
"You might hear me better if you closed your eyes," Abby says, and kisses
him again.
"Loud and Clear."
"No response?" Abby teases.
Tom gives her a dip and kiss.
~This is much better than him worried and in pain~ Abby thinks as she responds.
"Well?" he asks about his response
"Wow."
"Thank You." he says.
"Thank you?" Abby questions.
"For being here."
"Nowhere else I'd rather be," Abby says.
Tom smiles and kisses her again.
Nancy returns to Liz. "It's Max."
"Good, do I set another place at the table?"
"No, he has to get home to Daisy."
"OK."
They finish setting the table and then check to see if dinner is ready.
"Hmm, it smells good."
"Maybe we won't need the ketchup after all."
"Yep." she smiles.
Nancy checks dinner again. "I do believe it's ready."
"Do you think I should get Dad and Abby for dinner?" Elizabeth asks Nancy
"Would you please?"
"OK," Liz goes upstairs and knocks on their door.
"OK, I take it back," Abby sighs. "I can think of somewhere I'd rather be."
Tom sighs as well. "Me too."
"Come in." Tom replies.
"Hi." Liz says. "Dinner is ready, do you want me to bring you two a tray?"
"Tom, do you feel up to going downstairs, or just staying up here?"
"So Nicholas won't worry, I better go downstairs," he says; but feels otherwise.
"I could ask Nicholas to come in here before dinner, if you'd rather," Abby
offers.
"Would you mind?" he asks.
"Of course not. I'll be right back," Abby says, and ushers Elizabeth out
with her. "I guess we'll take trays, then," Abby tells her. "And thanks."
"No problem. I'll be right back." she says going downstairs to tell the others.
Nancy gets the trays out and starts setting them up.
"I'll give you a hand." she says
"Thanks kid." Nancy says.
"Who are you calling a kid?" she jokes as she starts filling the plates.
"That would be you kid." Nancy grins.
"I give up."
"No, never give up without a fight."
"But this isnt worth fighting over."
"If you insist."
"We've been through worse, don't you think?"
Nancy nods. "Yes I do, I think often in fact. Seriously, each time
I think this is it. Fate will leave us alone, something else happens."
"Well with this many people in the family, something's bound to happen."
"Yeah."
"Have you talk to Mary lately?"
"Yes." Nancy says in a worried tone.
"What do you think is wrong?"
"I don't know but I think Phillip has something to do with it."
"Hmmm."
They finish making the trays.
Abby goes looking for Nicholas. He's in his room trying to work on a math
problem. Abby walks in and sits down next to him. "Watcha doing?"
"Homework." he sighs.
"I'll help you after dinner if you want, but in the meantime your dad is
looking for you."
"Is he ok?"
"Getting there. Why don't you go ask him yourself?"
"I can see him?" he says excitedly
"Of course you can, now that he's awake."
"Cool." he says running to his door but knocking first.
Tom sits down in one of the chairs. "Come in."
"Hi dad." he says halfway between the door and the room.
"Hi, son. Come on in."
He slowly walks in. "You ok?"
"Yes, I'll be OK."
"Good, I was scared."
"I'm sorry you were scared. Really, it'll all be OK."
"I'm glad." he goes and hugs him.
Tom hugs him back. ~I'll have to make sure I'm OK, for Abby and for the kids.~
"I better go so you can rest."
"It's almost dinnertime, anyway. But if you want to come back before bedtime,
you could tell me a good night story," Tom offers.
Nicholas laughs. "OK."
"Good." He motions Nicholas closer.
"What?"
"If you tuck me in, could you do me a favor and not tell anyone? I have an
image to maintain."
He whispers. "OK."
Tom gives his son another hug. "You'd better get downstairs before your sisters
eat all the best stuff."
Nicholas laughs. "OK."
He then turns to Abby "Are you still going to help me with my math?"
Abby nods. "I'm going to stay up here with Dad. When you finish your dinner,
come get me, OK?"
"OK." he says and leaves.
"That went well." Tom states.
"He just needed to see you were basically OK."
"Yeah, he's had to go through loss at an early age." he says sadly.
Abby sits down on the arm of Tom's chair. "You've all had to."
"You did too." he says.
"Yes, but..."
"Ready?" Elizabeth asks Nancy when the trays are done.
"Yep." They go upstairs with the trays.
They knock on the door.
"Maybe we should just put in a revolving door," Abby tells Tom.
"It would be more convenient for them." he sighs.
"Come in."
"Room service." Liz jokes.
"Thanks," Abby says and gets up to help the girls with the trays.
"Just call us when you are done and we will be back to pick up the trays."
"We will. It looks good," Abby says, trying to remember if they have any
ketchup in the house.
"Nancy cooked it." Liz states
"Thanks Nancy." Tom says
"Yes--thanks." ~If I have to eat like this for the long haul...~
"You're welcome. Abby got it started."
"Thanks to both of you." Tom says
Nancy smiles.
"Thanks," Abby also says. "I guess you'd better get to your own dinners or
they'll get cold."
"Yeah, you're right." She goes downstairs.
When they leave Tom looks at Abby.
"Looks good," Abby says, plastering a smile on her face.
"Uh…yeah." he tries and smiles back. He gets up and goes to his nightstand
and pulls out packets of ketchup. "Is this on my diet?"
"OK," Abby says, "You want to explain just why you keep packets of ketchup
in your nightstand?"
"Uhhhh.....When you were in Pasadena I had a lot of late take outs."
"Well, I guess that's better than the alternative."
"Abby, you don't have to worry. There is no way I'd put our marriage in jeopardy
like that."
"What I meant was what else you might be planning to do with that ketchup,
based on what else you keep in that nightstand," Abby clarifies.
"Oh...ha ha. Guess I'm a little dense tonight."
"There is a certain charm to that."
"How's that?"
Abby kisses him. "Just think of all the ways I can educate you."
"Sounds enticing."
"Better than ketchup?"
"Much better."
"Then let's do without it, at least until we ask Max, OK?" Abby says and
throws the packets back into Tom's drawer.
"Ok." he says.
Abby serves him his dinner.
Tom tries to eat it, but it was nearly tasteless.
Abby makes a show of trying to pretend to enjoy the food.
"I'm finished." he sighs.
"Finished? It doesn't look like you started."
"I guess I'm not hungry." he lies.
"Did you know you get this little tic by your eye when you lie?"
"No I don't.....do I?"
Abby nods.
"Terrific."
"It's been a very useful thing for me to know."
"Oh?"
"Of course now I've lost my secret advantage."
"I've never lied to you before...well nothing major anyway."
"And now you never will."
"Hmmmm."
"Hmmm?" Abby repeats.
"This isn't fair."
"What's not fair?"
"How am I going to hide anniversary or holidays gifts from you?"
"You've never had a problem surprising me before."
Tom sighs still hungry.
"Why don't you eat something. It's not that bad. Really. It is better than
hospital food."
Tom takes a few more bites.
Abby smiles at him encouragingly.
"OK, that's it…no more."
"You're not hungry any more?" Abby asks.
"No."
Abby tries to maintain a reasonable tone. "If we all can get used to this
food, you can, too."
"You guys don't have too."
"Of course we do," Abby says, giving him a kiss. "What affects one Bradford
affects us all."
"My own words come back to haunt me."
"Every single time," Abby laughs.
"Funny."
"Well, I thought so," Abby apologizes.
"How are you feeling?"
"With my fingers?" Abby tries for another joke.
Tom laughs. "Not what I meant."
"I'll be fine once you eat some more dinner."
"Couldn't I get a sandwich or something?"
"I suppose...depends on what you want in it."
"Grilled cheese...peanut butter, I don't care." Tom states and then adds
"No not on the same sandwich." Beating her to the punch line.
"Well, I guess grilled cheese would be all right. I think."
"Thank You."
"I'll be right back," Abby says and heads to the door.
"Abby...I love you." he replies sincerely.
"I love you, too."
Tom goes back to bed and starts reading a book.
Abby heads down to the kitchen.
"Hi, Abby." Liz says. "I could have brought the trays down.
"I know," Abby says as she pulls out the makings of grilled cheese. "but
that's not it. Our meal wasn't a great hit upstairs."
"Dad?"
Abby nods. "Couldn't get more than a few bites into him before he refused
any more."
"He's going to have a hard time adjusting." Elizabeth says. "Food has kind
of been an emotional crutch for him."
"All that pie ala mode," Abby agrees.
Elizabeth nods. "Would you like me to fix it?" seeing how she looks.
"No, that's all right. I'm just sorry you all had to suffer through that
meal."
"Ketchup does wonders."
"I wasn't sure if your father is allowed."
"Oh..."
"It was....edible...without the ketchup."
"Oh I know...its just...." Elizabeth tries to get her foot out of her mouth.
Tommy and Nicholas laugh.
"Maybe we should let the boys cook tomorrow night," Abby suggests.
They stop laughing.
"Does it every time," Abby smiles at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth gives her a high five,
Abby goes back to making Tom's second dinner.
Elizabeth clears the dishes.
"Tomorrow we're going to have to decide what we're doing about meals," Abby
announces. "No fair us having to eat this way if your father won't."
"We could shop for a dietary cookbook." Liz suggests.
"You think there's a way to make this kind of food taste decent?" Abby whispers
to her.
"No offence, but could it get worse?"
"Your father could get a hold of the cookbook and try making us dinner."
"It could get worse." she sighs.
"Much worse," Abby agrees.
"So, have any ideas?"
"Well, first I'm going to ask Max exactly what he is and isn't allowed to
eat."
"Good idea."
"And you can pick up that cookbook so we can figure out how to make it edible.
But hide it, OK?"
"Sure, you didn't want to come with me?" hinting.
"Well, if we can find a time I can sneak out without Tom knowing..." Abby
wavers.
"I understand."
"Good. We'll see what we can do. In the meantime, though, I'd better get
this sandwich upstairs to him before he comes down looking for it."
"OK."
"Oh, and if you see Nicholas, tell him I'm upstairs waiting for him, OK?"
"He's probably watching wonder frog, I'll send him up when its over."
"Thanks." Abby finishes loading the tray and takes it upstairs.
"Hi." Tom says as she walks in with his sandwich.
"Hi." She puts the tray down in front of him. "Sorry I took so long."
"I was fine." he tells her. "What's up downstairs?"
"Dishes are being washed, Wonder Frog is being watched--just the usual."
"Another dreary night at the Bradfords." Tom jokes as he nearly inhales his
sandwich.
"Dreary can be good."
"Definitely." he says. 'Thanks for the sandwich."
"You're welcome. I'm just sorry dinner wasn't better."
"Honey, it was fine. I just got to get used to it." he sighs.
"I'll get better at cooking what you can eat. It'll just take time, but I
can learn, like I did with baking."
"Of course you will."
"And until I do, there's always grilled cheese."
Tom laughs. "It won't take you that long."
"I hope not--for everyone's sake."
"You're doing fine." Tom assures her. "It could be worse for them."
Abby nods. "You could have gone on some weird diet like Mary's friends."
"That or I could be cooking for them." he states. "Yes, I know how they feel
about my culinary expertise."
"Oh, they just like to tease. Your cooking's not that bad."
Tom is shocked. "What?"
"You heard me."
"Amazing."
"Yes, you are."
"So are you."
"Well, they do say love is blind."
"My eyes are wide open."
"So are mine."
Tom smiles at her.
Downstairs: "I thought you were going to dry the dishes?" Liz hands
her a towel.
"Hmmm, oh sorry." Nancy takes the towel.
"It's OK, want to go to a movie later?" Liz asks.
"Sure I'd love to. Grease is out I think."
"Great, John Travolta is so cute."
"He sure is, but don't tell Noah I said so."
Elizabeth laughs. "OK." she says. "Looks like Wonder Frog is over. Can you
go tell Nicholas Abby is waiting for him?"
"Sure." She goes to the tv room. "Hey bud Abby is waiting for you."
Nicholas sighs. "Ok."
"What's wrong?"
"Math." he says as he shuts the TV off.
Ouch."
"Yeah." he says. "See ya later."
"Bye."
"Bye."
He then goes upstairs and knocks on his parents door.
"Come in."
"Hi Dad, Hi Abby."
"Hi Son." Tom says.
"Hi, Nicholas. Ready to get to work?" Abby asks.
Meanwhile Tommy and his band start their band practice in the garage very
loudly.
Tom nearly jumps to the ceiling. "What the he**" he says.
"I'll go tell him to tone it down," Abby sighs.
"Thanks." he rubs his head.
"Nicholas, why don't you come with me, and then we'll head to your room to
work?" Abby suggests.
"Ok." he says.
"Let's go." Abby leans down and gives Tom a kiss. "I'll be back soon."
Tom smiles. "Have fun." he jokes.
"Gee, thanks. Come on, Nicholas."
Nicholas follows Abby.
Tom feels guilty and starts to follow her.
Abby is heading downstairs and doesn't notice.
Nicholas turns around "Dad..."
"Shhh." he says.
Part 4