Episode 44: Risky Behavior
Part 3
Tom pulls up at Noah's workplace.
"Oh great." Noah mutters.
"Have a minute?" Tom asks.
"Sure." Noah says.
"I heard what happened."
"So you're here to kill me?"
"I'll admit that was my first reaction."
"I never wanted to hurt her."
"I know, but you did. Not only her but yourself as well."
Noah sighs. "There's somethings that no one can do no matter how much they
love a person."
"My question to you is why???"
"Because Nancy isn't ok with it. If she was we'd still be together,
I respect her decision but if it were up to me the break up wouldn't have
happened."
"No, I mean why did you do it in the first place? Because you didn't get
married?"
"No, because I can't wait three years. I'm sorry but I can't. I tried
and it didn't work."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Not half as sorry as I am. I lost the only woman who will ever love
me. I'll never find that again."
"Knowing what you know now, would you do it again?"
"I want to say no, but I can't honestly say that."
Tom sighs. "Then maybe the breakup was for the best."
"Yeah whatever." Noah says still thinking he was right about the situation.
Tom just shakes his head ~What a waste.~ and drives home.
A little while later at the college between classes. Nancy sits in
the cafeteria trying to concentrate on her studies but can't get the breakup
out of her mind. She decides to skip out and go over to Charles Street to
see if there's anything she can do there.
"Hello, Nancy," Father Trinelli greets her. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by and see if the kids
needed anything. I would have brought Sam but this wasn't planned."
"We can always use a helping hand."
"Good, what do you need me to do?"
"The kids are due back from school any minute now. Could you go to the cafeteria
and help hand out their snacks?"
"Sure." She heads there.
Soon a bunch of kids mob her.
She laughs. "Ok, one at a time." She says as she distributes snacks to each
child.
"We want seconds," some of the kids demand.
Nancy gets them seconds, spends most of the day there helping out where she
can and then heads home. Once she gets there she peeks over at Noah's house,
shakes her head, and then goes inside.
Joannie is in the living room.
Nancy goes in there. "Hey."
"Hi."
"How are things?"
"OK. How are you?"
"I'm not sure." She says honestly.
"I heard about Noah."
"Does everyone know?"
"I don't think the boys do yet."
"Let's keep it that way for as long as possible. You know I should
be crying and lashing out at something. That's normally how someone
would react right?"
"Since when have you been normal?" Joannie jokes.
Nancy sighs. "Yeah really." She says but wonders why she's still just feeling
numb about what happened.
"Remember when Mom died?"
"Yeah, I didn't talk for three days."
"Numb, right?"
She nods. "Very."
"You're mourning."
"So the anger and tears will come?"
"I suppose so."
"Yeah, hey this changes nothing. I'll still be at rehearsal and the
show."
"Good. Tommy said he'd try to make the act a little longer, to make up for
losing Elizabeth."
"Good, how's she doing? They won't let me see her."
"All you need now is to get sick before you go to LA."
"I don't care." She thinks it over. "Actually um yes I do care."
"She's doing fine, and you will be, too, as long as you stay away from her."
"I know." She concedes.
"Good girl."
"If I'm such a good person why did Noah feel like he had to do what he did?"
"Just because you're a good person doesn't mean he is."
"He's not a bad person either. He just did a bad thing. Right
now I kind of wished he would have been rotten to me all along so I could
just hate him and get over it quicker."
"But if he'd have been rotten all along you wouldn't have loved him and there'd
be nothing to get over."
"Very good point." Her stomach growls at her. "Hmm, I guess I should
have eaten some of the snacks I passed out today."
"Come on, let's go feed you."
"Ok." They go to the kitchen.
"What can I make you?"
"A sandwich would be fine."
Joannie digs in the fridge. "One sandwich, coming up."
"Thanks Joannie." She sits down in case she starts getting dizzy.
Joannie slaps together a sandwich and brings it to her.
Nancy resists the urge to eat fast so she doesn't choke and eats slowly.
While Joannie and Nancy are in the kitchen, Mary comes home and checks to
see if her Dad is in the study.
Tom is working late in the study.
"Dad I didn't see her at school."
"Nancy?" he worries.
Mary nods. Just as worried, neither knowing she was at Charles Street
and is home now.
"Great." he says. "Let's see if shes here."
Mary nods and they check the house.
Tom checks the kitchen. "There you are."
Nancy doesn't answer just yet, not sure if he's talking about her or Joannie.
"Here we are," Joannie says.
"Hi Dad, Mary." Nancy says.
"Nancy, where were you? Mary says you werent at school?"
"I couldn't concentrate on school so I went to Charles Street."
"Why there?"
"Why not there?"
"I don't know." he says. "Are you OK?"
"The verdict is still out on that one."
"I'm sorry." he says.
"Thanks Dad."
"If you need anything."
"Just a hug for now."
"Sure," he hugs her.
Nancy hugs him back.
"No problem."
"I guess everything that's going on isn't good for your ulcer."
"Don't worry about that, I'm fine."
"That's a relief."
"Why don't you try and get some sleep."
"I'm not tired."
"Oh..ok."
She continues to eat.
Mary pulls Joannie aside. "Is she still doing the show?"
"From what she told me a few minutes ago she is. Why?"
"Just making sure."
"Don't worry. She's in."
"Good."
"Maybe we can all watch tv or something?" Mary suggests.
"Sure."
"Joannie?"
"Sounds good."
"As long as it's a comedy." Nancy adds.
Joannie looks at her sister and hastens to agree.
"Works for me." Mary says.
"So what are we waiting for?"
"My thoughts exactly." Nancy says as she heads for the tv room.
As does Mary.
Joannie follows her.
Thursday morning Joannie wakes up, eager for the day to end so she can see
her latest and greatest stage show on its feet. She hurries down to the kitchen.
"Good morning." Mary says.
"Good morning. 5 o'clock. Be there."
"I know, I know."
"Sorry. I'm a little nervous."
"Understandable, have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
"What do you want the fridge and my cooking is the limit."
"I'm too nervous to eat."
"Ok, want some coffee?"
"I'd love some."
Mary gets her some as Nancy ventures in. "Morning." She says.
Joannie greet Nancy, too.
"What time are you all leaving for school?" Nancy asks.
"About half an hour."
"You can drive my car if I can ride with you."
"I can do that."
"Thanks." She gets some coffee.
"What do you want for breakfast?"
"I'll just have toast I'm not very hungry yet." She says and starts making
it.
"Don't forget the rehearsal tonight."
"I'll be there."
"Good."
"Do you have money to eat at school when your hunger hits?"
"Yes." Nancy says and then turns to Joannie. "You nervous?"
"Very."
"Don't worry everything will be fine."
"No, that would be terrible!"
"Oh, will someone please help me take my foot out of my mouth." Nancy
realizes her error. "Everything won't be fine."
Joannie lets out the breath she's been holding. "That's better."
"Good." Nancy says.
Tommy comes in with the Paper. "Hi."
"Hi. You ready for dress rehearsal tonight?"
He nods.
"Good. You've got a lot of stage time, remember."
"I know, don't remind me."
"You nervous, too?"
"Yeah." he states. The doorbell rings. "I'll get it." he says.
Tommy goes to the door and finds a manila envelope on the ground. He thinks
it says Tommy on it and it is his music for the show. He opens the envelope
and is shock what he sees. "I am going to be ill." he runs upstairs
and knocks on his parents door.
"Tom, someone's knocking," Abby says, shaking her husband awake before saying
"Come in."
Tommy comes in and throws the envelope on the bed with the pictures flying
out.
Abby is too busy looking at Tommy to notice the pictures.
"Looks like you two were busy the other day."
"Huh?" Tom says still half asleep.
"Something wrong, Tommy?" Abby asks, and starts to gather the pictures. "Oh."
"Yeah Oh."
Abby passes the pictures to Tom. "Tommy, where did you get these?"
"They were just delivered."
Tom takes a quick glance and closes his eyes. He then sits straight up. "What
the he**"
Abby takes the envelope and looks to see if there's any return address.
"Who took these?" Tom says enraged.
"I don't remember anyone being there..." Abby says.
"Terrific." Tommy says and leaves.
Once Tommy leaves Abby picks up the pictures. "Well, at least they got your
good side," she tries to joke.
"Abby, this isn't a laughing matter." he seethes.
"I know, but yelling isn't going to make this go away--or help what Tommy
must be feeling right now."
"Any idea where the pictures came from?"
"Not unless you slipped a camera into my picnic basket, no."
"No note or anything?"
Abby turns the envelope over and shakes it, but nothing falls out. "Unless
Tommy dropped it, not that I see."
"This is just great."
"You're going to have to talk to Tommy."
"Me? Why not you?"
Abby sighs and gets out of bed. "All right. I'll talk to him. You figure
out who sent these, and whether these are the only copies around."
"I have a photographer friend at the register." he states
"You think he took these?"
"No, but maybe the type of photos and paper. He can point out something unique."
he says. "Please no smart aleck comments."
"You're going to show these off? Maybe just print up a calendar and mail
it to every garage in town."
"I'll take one of the more discreet ones." he says as he pulls one from the
pile.
Abby looks at the picture he's chosen. "Discreet is a relative term." She
puts on her robe. "I'm going to go find Tommy," she says, and leaves the
bedroom to do so.
Downstairs, Nancy finishes eating. "You about ready to go?"
"Whenever you are," Joannie says.
"I'm ready, Mary you coming with us?"
"I'll be there in an hour or so."
"Ok." Nancy hands Joannie her keys.
"I guess you won't allow me to drag race, right?"
"Only if I was feeling self destructive instead of just bummed. But
I'm not so no."
"OK."
"So um don't speed too much." Nancy says as they get in the car.
"I'll be a perfect gentleman."
"Thank you." Nancy quips.
Joannie drives them to school.
"Hey Joannie, thanks for not giving in to me the other night and standing
your ground."
"About what?"
"Following Noah."
"He wasn't worth our time."
"No, I guess he wasn't."
"We'll find someone better for you."
"After my heart has time to heal right?"
"Whenever you're ready."
"I'll definitely let you know."
"I'll be waiting."
"Cool." The arrive at the school.
"When's your last class?"
"At one, when's yours?"
"Noon. I'll wait for you in the library."
"Ok, see ya then."
"Try to stay awake in classes, OK?" Joannie teases her.
Nancy manages a smile. "Ok." She says and heads off to her first class.
Joannie heads off to her own.
Abby finds Tommy in his room sighing. Abby knocks on the door frame and then
walks in and sits down on Nicholas's bed. "Want to talk about it?"
"I would have never opened it if I could have read that damn envelope."
"Dyslexia has nothing to do with the difference between 'Tom' and 'Tommy.'
Anyone can make a mistake like that with a quick glance -- you think I've
never opened something meant for Mary and vice-versa? But you did open it,
and you did see those pictures."
"Don't remind me."
"Why not? You'll be reminding yourself of it. I would have if I'd seen pictures
like that of my parents."
"So its ok if I feel repulse?"
"Well, gee, thanks," Abby tries to joke.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do," Abby concedes. "It's weird, right?"
"What if it was Harry and Katherine in those shots?"
"I think I'd be trying to scrub my eyeballs," Abby laughs. "But...well, my
mom is my mother."
"And you are my stepmother and former teacher."
"I am allowed a private life."
"I know..."
"So?"
"You know its going to be quite awhile before I can forget this every time
I
see you two."
"Tommy, you knew your father and I were more than just friends."
"Yes I did, but actually seeing it. You know the saying a picture is worth
a 1000 words."
"Might have been easier to forget if it were just words you'd overheard."
"Exactly my point."
"So where do we go from here? I don't want to have to start tiptoeing around
here, wondering what you're thinking anytime you see me give Tom a kiss or
anything."
"Just give me time ok?"
"As long as you promise not to get all strange on us. If you start to, you'll
tell me, OK?"
He nods. "I'm going back to bed."
"No school?"
"No."
"You were supposed to have your first tutoring session today."
"I'll go tomorrow."
"Your tutoring's not scheduled for tomorrow," Abby reminds him.
"Then the next session."
"Tommy..."
"Abby, please." he says curtly.
Abby shakes her head. ~I'll get Tom to make him go to school.~
Tommy puts on his headphones.
Abby looks around for Tom.
He's in his study.
"Tommy's refusing to go to school," Abby tells him.
"Let him."
"But he was supposed to start his tutoring today."
"Could you concentrate if you were him?"
"So instead he's going to stay in his room all day and think about those
pictures?"
He shrugs. "Just give him some time Abby."
"And in the meanwhile?"
"In the meantime, I have to get to the bottom of these."
"How? Your friend at the paper?"
"Unless you have a better idea."
Abby shrugs. "I just can't believe this is happening."
"Well it is."
"From now on, you are not touching me unless it's behind locked doors, under
covers, and we're both fully dressed."
"I agree." he says knowing its coming from anger.
"What if there are more copies somewhere?"
"Believe me these aren't the only set."
"Why would someone do this? It's not like we're celebrities or something."
"That's what I intend to find out."
Abby starts pacing the study. "What are we going to do about Tommy?"
"Give him some space and time; he'll sort it through in his mind.'
"Oh, sure. A decade or two might be a nice start."
"It wont take that long."
"You don't remember any traumatic experiences from your teens?" Abby challenges
him.
"OF course I do, but I am in one piece."
"But you never saw explicit photos of your mother and some man, did you?"
"Worse I walked in on them, they were naked."
"Your mother had a lover?" Abby smiles, temporarily diverted from her own
troubles.
"Yes." he sighs. "What's worse it was in the living room."
"Well, now I know you come by your exhibitionist tendencies honestly."
"But I didn't take pictures." he states.
"Neither did Tommy. He just got to see them, in full color."
"Better than in real life."
"I don't know about that. In real life you're also embarrassed because you
were somewhere you shouldn't have been, or you can convince yourself you
didn't really see what you thought you saw--like Nicholas thinking you and
I were wrestling. But pictures--pictures don't lie."
He nods. "I better get going."
Abby steps closer to give him a kiss goodbye, but then thinks better of it.
Tom senses her reluctance and gives her a passionate kiss. "I love you Mrs.
Bradford."
"Tom," Abby protests, "someone could be watching."
"So, how much worse could it get? I'm not gong to stop kissing my wife
no matter what."
"How much worse could it get?" Abby scoffs. "Want to see your picture on
the cover of some supermarket tabloid?"
"So what, we remain celibate for the rest of our lives?"
"No, I told you. In a locked room, in the dark, under covers and clothed
you might be OK."
Tom rolls his eyes.
"I'm going upstairs."
"Ok, I'll be back soon."
Abby nods and hurries out of the room.
He sighs.
Abby rushes up to her room and shuts and locks the door before anyone can
see her, and then starts to cry.
Before Tom can leave for the office, David stops by the house to return a
tool of Tom's.
"Hi David." Tom sulks in the study.
"Hi Dad, what's wrong?" He asks.
"Nothing."
"Yes there is."
Tom shows him the pictures.
"Um Dad uh." ~Why is he showing me these?~ David thinks not knowing
that it wasn't his Dad or Abby that took the pictures.
"They arrived this morning in a envelope which Tommy received."
"Wait a minute, Tommy saw these?"
He nods.
"Where is he?"
"Upstairs. He was too upset to go to school and I wasn't going to push the
issue."
David nods. "I'll try and talk to him."
"Thanks David for not judging."
"Dad you know me, and how I choose to live my life and you keep your mouth
shut most of the time, so why would I judge especially when you two are married."
He nods. "Still, thanks."
David smiles and then goes upstairs and knocks on Tommy and Nicholas' bedroom
door.
Tommy has his headsets on and doesn't hear the knock.
David opens the door. "Tommy!! Hey Tommy!!"
"Oh David." he says turning off the stereo.
"Hey, I heard what happened."
"And?"
"And, do you want to talk about it?"
"You saw them, what did you think?"
"That whoever took them needs their lights punched out, but what I think
isn't the issue here. You're the one that was affected."
"I was physically ill David."
"I can imagine. I wouldn't have wanted to see something like that when
I was your age."
"So what do I do?"
David thinks it over and finally comes up with something and shares it with
Tommy.
Tommy smiles. "That might work."
"And if it doesn't we'll just think of something else."
He nods.
"So I'll see you tonight?"
'"Sure"
David leaves for work.
Tommy goes back to his headphones.
Nancy finds Noah waiting at the door to her first class, inwardly groans,
and walks right past him.
"Nancy please listen to me."
"Noah it's over." She whispers hoping no one else shows up and sees this.
"Now please go."
"Don't say that."
"Are you going to stop sleeping around?"
He sighs.
"I didn't think so, now would you get out of here?"
"Fine." He leaves.
She shakes her head and gets herself calm before others start coming in.
Thankfully Noah doesn't show up at anymore of her classes that day and after
her last class is over she goes to meet Joannie in the library. Joannie is
at a table, immersed in a script.
"Hey." Nancy whispers.
"Hi. Ready to go?"
"Yeah, you ready?"
Joannie nods. She gathers her script and stands.
They head for the parking lot where Noah is waiting by his car. He
doesn't see the sisters yet but Nancy sees him.
"Why do men insist on the groveling part after a breakup." She whispers to
her sister.
"It's not only after breakups," Joannie reminds her.
"You're right, let's just get out of here."
While Nancy hopes Noah doesn't notice so they can avoid a scene. While Nancy
hopes Noah doesn't notice so they can avoid a scene.
Joannie drives away. ~You'd think he could have at least tried to grovel
again. She's better off without him.~
~Good he didn't see us.~
Meanwhile where Noah is. ~Oh no I missed her.~
Back to the car.
"I hope he doesn't make a habit out of this."
"He probably will, for a while. Men are hopeless."
"That they are."
"But you know what you really have to watch out for?"
"What?"
"Him sending Holly over."
"I've been preparing for that. I don't want her hurt by this.
She loves Sam."
"I know. Problem is, so does Noah."
"Well if he uses Holly, he's even a bigger jerk than we thought."
"Hey, when Dad and Abby had cooled things, we went to Abby, and Dad didn't
exactly try to stop us."
"Yeah but he didn't beg us to go over there and talk to Abby either."
"But he knew the situation with Abby wasn't hopeless. Noah knows it is."
Nancy sighs. "What am I supposed to do turn the kid away?"
"Depends. Think she could persuade you to give Noah another chance?"
"I don't think so."
"Then you don't have to avoid Holly."
"Yeah, hey do we have time to make a stop?"
"Sure, if it's a quick stop. Where to?"
"The place we go to cry and scream. It's hitting me."
"One scream special, coming up," Joannie says, and changes directions.
"Thank you."
Soon they arrive at the screaming spot.
Where Nancy screams, calls Noah every name in the book, and in the end the
tears finally come.
Joannie hugs her.
A little while later while she's drying her tears. "How's your hearing?"
She asks.
"What?" Joannie asks loudly.
Nancy laughs and says just as loudly. "That's what I thought."
"Why are we whispering?"
"We're not, give it a half hour and our hearing will be fine."
"OK."
They soon arrive home.
"I think my hearing is coming back."
"Yeah mine too, thanks for driving today."
"You're welcome."
She gets out of the car and waits for Joannie before going inside.
Joannie joins her. "We leave here about 4:30?"
"Works for me." She says and cringes when she finds Noah at their front
door step. "Oh your brave. My Dad still does live here you know."
"Please take me back."
"Please get out of our way."
"Joannie can I have a few minutes alone with her please?" Noah asks.
"Nope."
"Leave." Nancy says to Noah.
"I'm sorry I hurt you. We don't have to break up like this."
Nancy sighs. "Leave."
"Fine!!" He says and goes home.
"You need to go back to scream?" Joannie asks her sister.
"No, I'm ok. He'll give up eventually."
"Just don't weaken."
"Believe me I won't." She says as they go inside.
"Good."
"Are you hungry?"
"Starved. Let's go raid the fridge."
"Let's." They head for the kitchen.
Joannie starts rooting around in the fridge. "There are leftover from last
night."
"That'll work." She helps her get the food out.
"Yeah, it was actually edible."
"That's because Dad didn't cook." Nancy whispers in case he's home.
"And he left it to me to finish what Abby started."
"Yeah, you and Abby are good cooks."
Joannie buffs her nails against her shirt. "It's a gift."
Nancy smiles and finishes making their plates. "Lunch is served."
"Looks pretty good for leftovers."
"That's for sure." She says and starts eating.
"Maybe I just have to take over the cooking every night."
Nancy's about to answer when a family member walks in. "Hello." David says
and opens the fridge.
"Ah, the star of the show," Joannie says.
"Who me?" He says as he makes a sandwich.
"Yes, you. I'd say it was Tommy, since he's got an act with Nancy and one
with Abby, but he's not here right now."
"I thought he was up in his room." David says.
"Up in his room?" Joannie asks. "Didn't he go to school today?"
David shakes his head. "I guess he's not feeling too well. She
doesn't look like she is either, what's wrong Nance?"
"Nothing." She continues to eat. "What's wrong with Tommy?" She changes
the subject right back.
"A little bug." ~That's not a lie whoever took those pictures is a
bug all right.~
"Oh, no, he's not going to get sick on me too, is he? Maybe I should learn
how to do his magic tricks, and David, you can practice with Abby. If we
lose Tommy without a replacement, we don't have much of a show."
"Joannie I don't think we're going to lose him. From what I hear he's
starting to feel better already."
"That's good. Wait until you hear how good he and Abby sound together."
"I hear they're very good."
"So do I." Nancy says. "I'm going to go study before we go."
She cleans up her plate and goes upstairs.
"I guess she doesn't want me to know yet." David says in a matter of fact
tone having run into Noah earlier.
"He's being a real pest. David, can I ask you a question, as a man, I mean?"
David nods. "I wanted to break his legs but I controlled myself, and
sure ask away."
"What makes men so crazy over sex they'll do anything, no matter how inappropriate,
to get it?"
"Joannie it's not all men, just most men, and are you sure you really want
to know?"
"I think every woman should know."
"Well I hear it calms down when men get into their 30's or 40s but before
then they want to well you know a lot. But that in no way excuses what
Noah did."
"You mean we should all be like Abby and go after older men," Joannie sighs.
"No, men do have choices and there's such thing as loyalty and self control."
"Yeah, but has any man of a normal age ever heard of those things?"
"Yeah, it's a rarity but they're out there, don't give up yet."
"Easy for you to say--you're a man."
"I'm also a big brother, and I don't like seeing my siblings hurt."
"So how about beating up every man in the world for us--well, all except
you, Tommy, Nicholas, and Dad."
He laughs. "Because every time I try my loved ones talk me out of it.
It was all your voices I heard that restrained me today."
"I wasn't shouting no, I was shouting yes."
"Then Noah is doomed." He says in an ominous tone. "And so is every
man that hurts my sisters."
"Go get 'em, David."
"Who's David getting today?" Abby asks as she walks in.
"Noah." ~And whoever took those pictures.~
"You know violence isn't an answer," Abby chides ~Except for whoever it was
who took those pictures.~
"Come on he broke her heart Abby, and all she did was love him."
"I think, when someone does something wrong, sometimes the regret is punishment
enough."
He sighs. "Ok, I'll take that into consideration." He says not giving
in but going to think about further.
"I think we should focus on Nancy, not Noah."
"I will focus on her." He says.
"OK."
"She still going to LA?"
"Yes. I'll bet she can't wait to get away from here."
"I'll bet." He finishes eating. "I'll see all of you tonight."
"That's right. I've got to talk to Tom about what time we're leaving," Abby
says.
"Didn't he tell you?" Joannie asks. "He said he was going to the Register
this afternoon."
"Oh, yes, that's right."
"He had something urgent to discuss with Mr. Randolph."
Abby nearly spits out her coffee. "Mr. Randolph? He's going to talk to Mr.
Randolph?" she sputters, thinking that Tom's publisher might be the "photographer
friend" he spoke about. ~He can't show those pictures to his boss, no matter
how 'discreet' they are.~
Mary walks in. "Hello you two, Abby you ok?"
"Um, yeah. It's just been a rough day."
"What happened?" She asks.
Abby's at a loss about how to put it, so she just shrugs.
"Abby can I talk to you a minute?" David asks.
"Sure," Abby says, happy to get out of the awkward situation. "I'll walk
you out."
"Ok." He says.
Abby gets up. "I'll be right back," she tells the girls, and walks out of
the kitchen with David. "What's up?"
"I talked to Tommy earlier." He starts.
"About?"
"The pictures, I'm sorry that had to happen."
"The pictures," Abby says. "You know about the pictures?"
He nods
"Tommy told you?"
"Actually Dad did, so I went to talk to Tommy."
"Your father told you about the pictures?" Abby repeats.
"Yes, for Tommy's sake I guess. I don't know you'll have to ask him
the reason he told me. By the way the girls think Tommy's under the
weather but he'll be fine by rehearsal."
"Will he be? I don't know if he'll want to rehearse with me."
"He will, I think he's going to be all right."
"That's not what he told me. I can understand him, I guess."
"If he does back out I'm pretty good on the guitar myself. Yeah it
is hard for a teenage boy to see something like that."
"Not just a teenager. Trust me, David, if you'd have seen them..."
David goes quiet not knowing what to say.
"David?" Abby asks, recognizing the awkward silence of someone who doesn't
know what to say.
"Look what you and Dad do is your own business. I'm not going to judge."
"David, there's something you're not telling me here." Suddenly Abby realizes
what it must be. "You didn't...You saw them, didn't you? Did Tommy still
have some of them?"
"Tommy's not the one who showed them to me."
"You know who took them?" Abby asks, reaching the only logical conclusion.
"No I don't, Dad showed me the pictures but I don't think he was thinking
clearly when he did so. He looked like he was still in shock."
"Tom," Abby says slowly, "showed...you...the...pictures. Wonderful. And now
he's taken them in to work. What's next? Maybe tonight he'll show them to
Max. And then there's tomorrow night's poker game. Maybe he'll consider selling
rights to Man's Man Monthly."
"Abby calm down, if he had it to do over again I'm sure he wouldn't have
showed me."
"But he did. OK, let's hear it..." she sighs.
"Hear what?"
"Whatever you have to say."
"That it's unfortunate that Tommy found them. That you and Dad are
entitled to your privacy, and that photographer never wants to meet me."
"And?" waiting for David to break out in accusations like Tommy.
"And that's about it."
"Really?"
"Abby I'm no one to judge believe me, not with the life I lead."
"What do you mean, the life you lead? At least you're discreet."
"Do you want me to be angry at you and Dad?"
"If that's what you're feeling. Better than letting it fester."
"But I'm not angry at you and Dad."
"Why not? In retrospect, we were pretty stupid."
He sighs. ~Ok maybe if I pretend to be angry she'll be satisfied, naah.~
"Abby, I'm not Tommy."
"You're still Tom's son."
"Well I'm not thrilled about it."
"It just sort of--happened," Abby tries to explain.
"And I understand but a part of me doesn't."
"the part that thinks of Tom as a dad and not a man, right?"
He nods.
"I wish I could do something to help you understand."
"It's just one of those things that are going to take time."
"And in the meantime? Tommy's been threatening flashbacks. You, too?"
He shakes his head. "No, but I think it would be a good idea to make
sure that the rest of the kids never find them."
"I hadn't exactly planned to repaper the kitchen with them."
"I know, but things tend to get found in that house when you don't want them
to speaking from personal experience."
"I'm sure your father will be destroying them--at least the copies we have."
"Good."
"So--what do you mean, speaking from experience."
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"You saw those pictures--how much worse could it be?"
"One time Nancy and Elizabeth found some magazines of mine and used it as
blackmail for months."
Abby laughs. "Hey, at least you weren't the featured model."
"True, but little sisters can be monsters."
"I'll bet they can. Maybe I should just look on the bright side of all this."
"You don't have little sisters?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Ok, what do you mean?"
"I'm out of a job. Anyone hassles me about those pictures, I could threaten
to make them into my new career."
David laughs. "I like the way you think."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"I know I haven't been around much to talk lately."
"You're here for the important things."
He smiles and then says. "I think I'll take Nancy out for coffee tonight
get her out of the house for awhile."
"After the rehearsal? Good idea."
"Yes after the rehearsal, and thank you."
"We'll see you later, then."
"Yeah I better get back to work, see you then." He says and gets in his van.
Abby thinks about rejoining the girls, but instead heads to the study to
brood.
Part 4