A Fresh Start
Part 3
"Morning, Dad," Joannie says.
"So soon." he states.
"Huh?" Joannie asks.
"Morning, its comes so soon." he explains. "Is the coffee on?"
"Yeah--help yourself. Why are you tired? You were in your room before I came
home last night."
"Not for me, Abby. I am still on Tea."
"Abby may be having coffee, but you're the one complaining about the morning.
Come on, Dad, what's up? You feeling OK?" Joannie frets.
"Just a little tired."
"Why?"
"Just worried." Tom says. "I can't tell you why or who."
"Why not?"
"Because, it'll be up to that person to say not mine." Tom thinks about Tommy.
"You're really not supposed to get worried, Dad."
"Force of habit. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine."
"Really?"
"Well, OK, I will be once this charity show is over."
"Getting stressed?"
"A little. Can I ask you a question, Dad?"
"Sure."
"Are you going to do that routine with Nicholas?"
"Uh well, I think so."
"Oh, OK."
Abby stumbles into the kitchen. "Coffee."
Tom gets her a cup.
Abby takes a long slug. "Mmmm." She takes another, and then a third, and
finally is coherent enough to say "Good morning."
Tom yawns. "You too."
Joannie looks at one and then at the other. "OK, what's going on?"
"Nothing." Tom states.
"Sure..."
"I better go shower." Tom says.
"I'd better get ready, too."
"See ya later Joannie." Tom states.
Joannie watches her parents' retreating backs and wonders what's going on.
The next day: Nancy quietly enters the house, checks and makes sure that
no one is
at home, and then proceeds to go upstairs and pack a bag. Replaying
the conversation with Noah the night before. At first they had argued
and she had almost broke up with him when she heard his complaints about
waiting till the wedding night until she realized that she had been having
some of the same feelings that he was having and then they hashed it out
and came to the conclusion that they couldn't wait any longer. She
finishes packing and then leaves a note apologizing to her family, saying
that this is what she really wants and to please not try to go after them
and stop them and that she'll call as soon as she can. She then leaves
to meet Noah and they head for Vegas.
Elizabeth finds the note. "ABBY!!"
Abby puts down the groceries she's been putting away and rushes over to Elizabeth.
"What?"
"We have an elopement on our hands." she hands her the note.
"Oh, great. I wonder if I have time to head them off."
Elizabeth shrugs. "Maybe if you flew."
"The other question is whether I should."
"Abby, you know how Nancy is. I don't think she really thought this through."
Tom comes in. "What's going on?"
~Ulcer or no ulcer, I can't hide this from him.~ "Nancy and Noah eloped.
I'm going to go try to stop them."
"What?!? Are they insane?" he says as he reads the note.
"Elizabeth, will you call the airport and get me a ticket?" Abby asks, ignoring
Tom's outburst.
"Make that two Elizabeth." Tom demands.
"Are you up to it?" Abby asks him.
Tom nods. "Are you?"
"Of course. I'll go pack us a bag."
"I'll call David."
"It will be all right," Abby assures him, and then heads upstairs.
Once Elizabeth makes the reservations; Tom calls David.
David answers the phone. "Hello."
"David, its Dad. I need a favor."
"Sure what is it?"
"Abby and I need a ride to the airport." he explains the rest.
"I'll be right there."
"Thanks David."
"No problem Dad." David leaves and heads for the house.
Abby throws some things in a suitcase and brings it back downstairs. "Ready
whenever you are."
"David will take us to the airport." Tom says,
Abby nods. "While we're waiting, I'll be in your study. I need to make a
few calls."
"Huh? Ok." he sighs.
"I won't be long."
He nods pacing.
Abby goes into the study and closes the doors behind her. She calls work
and tells them she won't be in that day, perhaps not the next, either. "Uh
huh," she says to the person on the other end of the line. "No, I understand.
You don't have much choice; I should have expected...I'll have to think it
over. I'll let you know when I get back." She hangs up, but stays at Tom's
desk for a few moments longer, brooding.
When Abby doesn't come out. Tom knocks on the door. 'Abby? Are you OK?"
Abby takes a deep breath, tries to look happy (or only as unhappy as a parent
whose kid has eloped would look) and then says, "Sure, I'm fine, just fine.
Is David here yet?"
"Not yet."
"Oh. I'll be right out."
"Ok." he says and starts pacing again.
Abby takes another few minutes to pull herself together, then emerges from
the study.
"Get your calls done?"
"Yes. All done."
"Good." he says looking at his watch.
"I'm sure David will be here any minute," Abby calms him.
"I hope we aren't too late."
"It'll be all right, Tom."
"Does Noah's family know?"
"I'm not sure. This isn't the kind of thing I'd want to tell them on the
phone, and we don't have time to stop over there."
Tom nods.
"We'll talk to them later."
"Sure." he says. "Did you pack my pills?"
"Of course I did."
"May I have one please?"
Abby gets him a pill out of her purse.
Tom takes it and dries swallow it.
"If you had waited a minute, I was going to get you a glass of water," Abby
sighs.
"I'm not thinking straight."
"So I see."
"What's taking him so long?"
"He'll be here--isn't that his van now?" Abby says.
"About time." he mutters.
Abby puts an arm around Tom. "Relax. We'll do everything we can, but you've
got to stay calm."
"Sure....Calm." he states.
Abby is pacing the entry when David arrives.
"Let's go." David says seeing they are very ready to leave. "I'll get your
luggage."
"Thanks," Abby tells him.
He nods hoping his parents aren't too late and if they are hoping that Nancy
and Noah come to their senses before it's too late.
They get into David's van.
Once they're at the airport. "Go easy on her ok."
"First we have to find her," Abby reminds him. "Do us a favor while we're
in the air? Call around some hotels in Vegas and see if you can find where
she and Noah are staying?"
"I will."
"Thanks. We'll call home once we land."
"No problem, who all knows about this besides Elizabeth and us?"
"That's it so far."
"Should I keep it that way?"
"Do you really think you can?"
David thinks it over and shakes his head. "No not really."
"That's what I thought," Abby sighs.
David sighs also and gives her a sympathetic smile.
"We'd better board," Abby says.
"Thanks David." Tom says
David nods.
Tom and Abby board the plane. "It'll be all right," Abby tries to reassure
Tom.
"I know,"
~That makes one of us.~ "Are you doing OK?"
"No." he says. "Why would Nancy do this?"
"I vaguely remember you extolling the virtues of eloping," Abby reminds him.
Tom sighs. "That was different."
"Was it?"
"Well if it wasn't why are we flying to Vegas to try and stop them?"
"Because I'm not sure she's really thought this through. We did, which is
why we didn't elope. All I'm saying is that I can understand her side of
it, even though I don't agree. If we aren't in time--well, there are worse
things in life than eloping with someone she loves."
"I know.;' he states.
"So, one way or the other you'll be OK with what happens?"
"I'll have no choice."
"You always have a choice."
"I suppose, but I wont be able to change it."
"We just have to be whatever help to them we can."
"Yeah." he says as he takes her hand.
"You won't be able to help them if you don't keep calm and take care of yourself."
"I know, but part of me wants to yell."
"I could yell for you," Abby offers.
"Oh yeah right, at them?"
"It would certainly surprise them."
"That it would." he laughs at the thought.
"And if it would help you keep calm..."
"Be my guest." ~She'll never be able to do it.~
"All right. If need be, I will."
They soon arrive at the airport. "You call David and I'll get our bags."
Tom says.
"OK." Abby heads to a pay phone and calls David.
"Hello." David answers the phone.
"Hi, David. Any luck?" Abby asks.
"Yeah, they're at the Anytime Chapel it's near the Flamingo Casino."
"Thanks. I'll call you when we know anything more."
"You're welcome and I'll be waiting."
Nancy and Noah are sitting in the waiting room of the chapel waiting for
their turn.
Noah glances over at Nancy who looks very nervous almost frightened.
"What's wrong honey?" He whispers to her.
"Nothing I'm ok." She says in a shaky tone.
"No you're not, now what's up?"
She sighs, takes a deep breath, and lets it out. "Noah are we doing
the right thing here?"
"Of course we are. You're not having second thoughts are you?"
"No, well I don't think so. I just wish our families were here it doesn't
feel right without them."
"Are you sure that's all it is?"
"Yeah." She tries to convince him and herself.
Abby finds Tom. "Come on. David told me where to find them, at a local chapel.
We'd better hurry."
"I got a cab waiting."
"Then let's get going." They get into the cab and Abby tells the driver where
to go.
Tom starts to worry. ~What if we are too late?~
Abby takes his hand and gives it a squeeze.
"Can you go a little faster?"
"Tom, us getting into an accident won't help matters," Abby says.
Tom sighs.
The cab driver speeds up a little and soon they're at the chapel.
A lady approaches Noah and Nancy. "It's your turn." She says.
Noah smiles. "Let's go honey."
"Uh uh." She stalls.
"Come on honey let's go." Noah says.
Nancy hesitates and checks her makeup.
Tom escorts Abby out of the cab and pays the cab driver.
Abby hurries him inside.
"There they are." he points at the altar.
Abby grabs his hand and they rush over to the couple.
Nancy secretly breathes a sigh of relief when she sees her parents.
Noah inwardly groans. "We want to do this." He tells Tom and Abby.
"We'd like to talk to our daughter alone." Tom says.
"But..." Noah starts.
Nancy stops him. "Noah it's ok."
Tom escorts her out of the room.
Abby gives Noah a wan smile and follows Tom and Nancy.
"You don't have to run away to get married," Abby says.
"What church would have been ready for us in Sacramento today?"
Tom is about to yell but remembers his promise. "Nancy is this what you really
want?"
"Dad I'm honestly not sure, I was a few hours ago, but when we got here,
and our families weren't here. Things are happening a little too fast."
"Then don't do it."
"But Noah..."
"If Noah really loves you he'll wait until you are both sure."
Nancy ponders his words.
"Abby convince her."
"I'm trying," Abby whispers.
Tom sighs.
"Forget about Noah. Do you really want to be married today, all alone?"
Nancy thinks it over. "No I don't."
"So come home--you and Noah. We can sit down, plan things out. Do it right,"
Abby urges.
Nancy nods feeling like a great weight has been lifted off her shoulders.
"Ok."
Abby smiles at Nancy and then at Tom.
Nancy gives them both a hug. "Don't tell the young adult club I said this
but thanks for coming after me."
Tom smiles. "Anytime. I'll go tell Noah."
Nancy stops him. "No Dad I should tell him."
Tom sighs. "Ok."
"You up to it?"
She nods. "Besides it's better that he hear it from me." She goes and
tells Noah.
He gives her a pained look. "No I don't want to wait and if you really loved
me you wouldn't make me wait."
"Noah that's silly you know I love you."
"No you don't." He walks out and she shakes her head. She returns to
her parents. "Houston we have a problem."
"Noah didn't take it well?"
"He thinks it's the end of the world and I don't love him anymore."
"I'll go get him." Tom states. "Why don't you two go to the hotel."
"Thanks Dad."
"Come on, Nancy, If anyone can talk sense to Noah right now, it's your dad."
Nancy nods. "Ok."
Abby leads Nancy out.
Tom sighs and goes after Noah.
He finds him in a diner.
"May I join you?" Tom asks. ~At least its not a bar.~
"Go ahead." Noah says in a sad and angry tone.
"I guess you are pretty angry at Abby and I right now."
"Why? In the end it's all up to Nancy right?"
"Yes, but you'd be married now if we hadn't come."
"Maybe not she kept hesitating."
"Doesn't mean she doesn't love you."
"Then why didn't she marry me?"
"Not the right time or place." Tom states. "You have a sister right?"
"What do you mean? And yes I do."
"Well would you have wanted her to have a wedding like this if she wasn't
ready?"
"No."
"Look I know you love Nancy or you wouldn't be here." Tom says. "and I know
she loves you."
Noah sighs. "I do love her and I shouldn't have rushed her."
"So what do you say we go back to the hotel then?"
"I don't think she'll want to see me right now."
Tom half way smiles. "Trust me, she'll want to see you."
"Are you sure?"
Tom nods.
"I'm ready whenever you are."
Tom smiles. "Lets go then."
They leave for the hotel room.
"Normally I would be angry at him for what he said but he just looked so
sad and cute," Nancy says to Abby.
"It can't be easy on him. He thought he'd be married to you by now."
"Yeah I know." Her stomach growls. "Room service?"
"Sounds good to me."
Nancy checks for a menu, finds one, makes her selection, and hands it to
Abby.
Abby makes her selection and calls down the order.
Soon the food comes and they eat. "Does everyone else know?"
"No, only David and Elizabeth. There wasn't time to tell anyone else, and,
well, I was hoping that by the end of the day there wouldn't be anything
to tell."
"I'm sorry if I scared you and Dad."
"It's all right, now--your father actually took it pretty calmly. What made
you think about eloping?"
"Three years started to feel like a very long wait to get married."
"Are you sure it's marriage you're anxious to start? Or is it only one part
of marriage?"
"I'd like to say it's marriage since it feels silly to say it's only a part
of it."
"It would be even sillier to make the kind of commitment marriage is just
for the sex."
"That's one of the reasons I started thinking twice about getting married
today."
"I'm glad. It's not much of a basis for marriage."
"No it's not."
"It's good you realized it before the wedding. But the question now is--what
next?"
"That depends on whether Dad gets through to Noah or not."
"Assuming he does. How are you and Noah going to handle the wait?"
"That I don't have an answer for yet."
"It's something you're going to have to think about."
"I know, do you have any ideas?"
"I'm not sure what you really want."
"A way to get through this long engagement."
"Long engagements aren't exactly my specialty."
"Have you ever known anyone that went through a long engagement?"
"My parents courted for four years before they got married."
"And they were never tempted?"
"Nancy, these are my parents. If they were, I don't think I want to know."
Nancy smiles. "Sorry about that."
"That's OK. And just for the record--nah, you don't want to hear this."
"When you put it that way you know I'm going to want to hear it since my
curiosity has just been piqued."
Abby laughs. "Let's just say that there's plenty of opportunity for temptation
in a short engagement, too."
"Oh," it dawns on her. "Oh......."
"You can learn to live with temptation if you're determined not to give in
to it."
"Yeah but that's easier said than done."
"I know."
"But I'll do the best I can."
"And you can always come talk to me."
"I'll be doing that, a lot." She smiles.
"Good."
Nancy finishes eating.
"We are back." Tom says as they enter the room.
"Tom, why don't you and I get something to eat and let Nancy and Noah talk
things through?"
"Good idea."
"If you need us," Abby tells the young couple, "we'll be downstairs. You
can have us paged."
"Thanks Abby."
"You're welcome. Come on, Tom."
Tom follows her out.
"Are you ok?" Nancy asks Noah after she hugs him.
"Yeah, I'm sorry honey." He kisses her.
"How did your talk with Noah go?" Abby asks Tom.
"Ok I guess. Nancy?" Tom asks the same.
"She's a little worried, but glad she didn't go through with it."
Tom sighs. "She's not the only one."
"Just because we managed this hurdle doesn't mean it'll be smooth sailing
from now on. The problems are still there."
"I know, but at least for now we are safe."
"For the next few minutes, at least. I don't know if they can hold out three
years, Tom."
"Terrific." he says. "I guess I better start saving our money for the wedding."
"It's never too soon."
Tom sighs.
"I thought you'd think a wedding better than the alternative."
"Oh it is."
"You never would have been able to hold out three years."
Tom laughs. "No you are right about that." and then he kisses her.
~Let's just hope Nancy's got more willpower than her father.~
Tom gets down on one knee. "Mrs. Bradford will you marry me again?"
"Tom," Abby laughs, "you're going to set a bad example for your kids."
"So their father goes crazy every now and then, it's because he's in love."
"And what does he expect his daughter to do if she's in love?"
Tom gets up, "So does this mean you wont marry me."
"I'm not sure my husband would approve."
"No?" he asks,
"I mean, what are you talking about? Eloping?"
"No, we are in Vegas. Our anniversary is coming up. Nancy could stand up
for you and Noah for me."
"You're not serious, are you?"
"I'm very serious."
"I don't know. Asking Nancy and Noah to be involved--they came here thinking
they'd be the ones getting married..."
"Well we could go alone just the two of us and it'll be our little secret.
I mean we aren't doing anything wrong, we are married anyway."
"So you are talking about eloping. All right," Abby says, "but only if we
really do elope--no letting the secret out."
"Deal."
Abby kisses him.
"Does that mean yes?"
"You're a nut, you know that? Of course I'll marry you."
Tom kisses her. "Lets go then."
"Should we really be leaving Noah and Nancy up to their own devices?" Abby
checks one last time.
"We can go see how they are and then slip away later."
"We could suggest they go out on a date. Pity to come to Vegas and see nothing,
right?"
"Right." he says.
"Then let's go see how they're doing."
They go back to the room.
"We'd better knock before we go in, just in case," Abby cautions and then
knocks.
Noah opens the door and lets them in.
"Are you two OK?" Abby asks.
"Yeah we're ok. Are you two ok?"
"As long as you two are. You've settled things, then?"
He nods.
"Good. You know, I hear Las Vegas is something you have to see to believe,"
Abby hints.
"Hmm, so you two wouldn't mind if Nancy and I didn't go home right away?"
"Define what you mean by 'not right away'."
"Tonight or in the morning if that's ok with you."
Abby takes a quick look at Tom. "Tonight would probably be better, but we'll
trust the two of you to make your own decision."
"Thank you." Noah smiles.
Nancy returns from the powder room.
"Hi, Nancy."
"Hi Abby, hi Dad."
"Do you really want to go right home?" Abby asks her.
"Actually I'd love to see the city if you two don't mind."
"No, I think that'll be all right. Maybe your father and I will look around
a little, too."
"Cool, thanks Abby."
"Don't mention it," Abby says to Nancy, but smiles at Tom.
Nancy and Noah go to get ready.
"You guys have enough money?" Tom asks.
Noah nods.
"I'll be glad to pitch in if you want to go see a show or two." Tom pulls
out some money. "My pleasure."
Nancy hugs him and Abby
"Have a good time."
"You too."
After getting ready, Nancy and Noah leave.
Abby throws her arms around Tom. "Did I do that well?"
"Like a Pro." he then kisses her.
"Maybe I ought to try giving Joannie a run for her money in the acting department."
Tom laughs. "Oh that'll go over well."
"I can't get into worse trouble with her than I'm already in."
"Want to bet?"
"If I wanted to, we're sure in the right place."
"Very true."
"So -- what next?"
"How about dinner and then a 'walk'" he says in case Noah and Nancy overhears.
"That sounds good," Abby says.
"Sounds good to me too."
"We're nuts," Abby says, leading him out of the suite.
"Yes, but isn't it fun?"
"That's what I'm hoping."
"How does Italian sound?"
Abby toys with the lapels of Tom's jacket. "How does skipping supper sound?"
"The chapel?"
"We're goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married..." Abby sings.
Tom laughs. They pick a different place than Noah and Nancy's.
Tom is shocked to see who will perform the ceremony "Is that supposed to
be Elvis?" he whispers to Abby.
"Very later period," Abby whispers back.
Tom smiles on the outside but cringes on the inside.
"Hey, what's important here?" Abby asks. "The weirdo performing the ceremony
or the weirdoes getting married?"
"Us of course." he says.
"Then I wouldn't care if we were being married by Bozo the Clown."
Tom kisses her. "Let's go do it then."
"Exactly what 'it' are you referring to?" Abby asks with a smile.
Tom laughs. "Marriage first."
"Oh, that's right--you're an old fashioned man."
"Old fashioned yes, but up to new ideas."
"Such as?"
"You tell me."
"I'm not sure. I'll have to test it out later."
Tom smiles and walks her up the aisle. He repeats the vows he repeated almost
a year ago.
As does Abby. ~This is nice, but I'm glad we didn't do it this way the first
time.~
The Elvis impersonator pronounce them married and Tom kisses the bride. ~I'm
so glad we didn't do this the first time.~
"I keep waiting for a crowd to form," Abby admits.
"I know, me too." he says. "I'm so glad we got here in time to stop Nancy."
"Some day she'll be ready, but not today."
Tom nods.
"I wonder if we didn't contribute to the problem," Abby sighs.
"How so?"
"We weren't the world's best example of taking things slowly."
"But we've been around the block or two. We knew it was love."
"No one who's in love wants to hear they might be mistaken. And that's not
the only thing," Abby says, not looking at Tom.
"What..what is it?"
"We got married so fast we didn't have time to work out our differences--we
waited until after the wedding to do that. We're still doing that. Do you
think we might have taught the kids to do that?"
"Abby, we are two different people. if we had waited until we worked out
our differences. we would still not be married and I'd be miserable and so
would you."
"I know, and I know that we both knew what marriage was about and that we
were mature enough to make that leap and trust we'd be able to sort things
out later. But do the kids know that?"
"I doubt it, did you at that age?"
"Nope," Abby shakes her head, "and it got me into a lot of trouble."
"Well we are just going to have to keep our eyes and ears open and deal with
situations as they come up, like today for instance."
"Looks like I'd better stock up on the Bromo seltzer."
"and keep a bag pack at all times." he half-jokes. "Look at us, we just had
our second ceremony and we are talking about the kids."
"One of those compromises maturity demands," Abby sighs.
"Well for the next few hours maturity doesn't exist. So where do you want
to go?"
"Hmm--I don't know. What are you in the mood for?"
"Well our room has a nice view."
"You have a one-track mind," Abby smiles.
"Or we could go over to Circus-Circus and watch the acrobats."
"What, you're looking for ideas?"
Tom laughs. "No, I was just giving you a choice."
"You are terrible."
Tom laughs again and leads her back to the hotel. "I know, but I hope you
love me anyway."
"I think I love you because of it."
Tom smiles and kisses her under the many neon lights.
Nancy calls home and waits for someone to answer.
Elizabeth answers. "Hello?"
"Hey Sis."
"Nancy...are you..." Elizabeth cant get the words out.
"No, we didn't go through with it."
Elizabeth sighs in relief. "I'm glad."
"Yeah so am I."
"Are you and Noah ok?"
"He had a hard time at first but we're both ok."
"Good, you know I was looking forward to be your maid of honor."
~Isn't that the bride's decision? How do I handle this?~ Nancy struggles
to come up with a reply.
"Nancy, you still there?"
"Yeah, if I tell you something will you promise not to get mad?"
"OK."
"I haven't decided who I'm going to ask yet."
"Oh...I just assumed that when we were kids we promised to be each other's
maid or matron of honor. I guess kids promises don't matter much now that
we've grown. Look I have to go get Nicholas ready for bed. We'll talk when
you get home Ok?" Elizabeth hangs up before she can answer and wipes a tear
away. She then tends to Nicholas.
"I never made a promise like that." Nancy says staring at the receiver.
She soon hangs it up.
"What's wrong?" Noah asks.
She tells him what happened. "No matter who I choose someone will wind
up being all upset."
He hugs her. "It'll be ok, you can talk to her when you get home."
Part 4