Episode 5: You are cordially invited
Part 3

At 3:30 Joannie parks in front of the high school, first making sure that there are no trees in the immediate vicinity, and goes looking for Elizabeth.

She finds Elizabeth talking to some guy. "Hi Joannie, this is Billy, Billy this is my sister Joannie."

"Hey how's it going?" Billy asks.

"Fine. Elizabeth, you about ready to go?" Joannie asks.

"Yeah see you tomorrow, Billy." They get in the car and leave.

"OK, where do you need to go first, Madame?" Joannie says in a very fake British accent.

"The party accessories store, by the way we need to talk," Elizabeth says.

"About?" Joannie asks as she starts the engine.

"How did you get Nancy straightened out?" Elizabeth asks and notices Joannie's look. "Oh come on. How could I not know? I share a room with her."

"Then why didn't you say something?" Joannie asks. "If David hadn't noticed..."

"It's just drugs and alcohol, it's not like she was out there selling her body or anything," she says, not really knowing what happened years ago.

"There's nothing 'just' about drugs and alcohol, Elizabeth," Joannie says, shocked at her sister's casual attitude.

"I'm sure she knew what she was doing. It's not like it could kill her or anything," Elizabeth flaunts her ignorance some more.

"No? What about that drunk driver that hit her a while back? That could have been her. And you never heard of anyone overdosing?"

Elizabeth's face clouds over. "You're right. I am such an idiot sometimes. So do we kick her butt if she does it again?"

"At the least," Joannie says. "If you think she is again, will you tell me or David?"

"Yes I will, I promise," Elizabeth says. "I don't want anything to happen to her either, who would I yell at for snoring all of the time?"

"I could loan you Susan," Joannie offers as she pulls into a parking space in front of the accessories store. "OK, let's do some damage. What sort of stuff are we looking for, anyway?"

"Not funny," Elizabeth says. "Napkins, plates, decorations."

"You're telling me," Joannie says. "You don't have to sleep with her. I'll trade you for Nancy's snores any day. Any specific pattern or theme you looking for, or just something pretty?"

"Pink and blue," Elizabeth says.

"Pink and blue? I thought we already determined that this isn't a shotgun wedding. Believe me, if it were, her father would not be quiet about it."

"Well I was thinking instead of a bridal shower we'd have a baby shower. I mean she is getting eight babies at once."

Joannie thinks this over. "Yeah, I kind of like it. And it'd show her we were through giving her a hard time over her not being Mom. Can we get all sorts of stork stuff, too?"

"Sure," Elizabeth says.

A guy from college sees them enter and comes in and approaches Joannie and Elizabeth.

"Aren't you Nancy's sisters?" he asks.

"Yes," Joannie says, cautiously, wondering if this has anything to do with Nancy's problems this past week.

He gives them a slip of paper with his name and number on it. "Can you ask her to call me? She's been avoiding me all day."

"She's been real busy," Joannie looks at the paper, "Alan. Maybe if you tell me what this is about I can make sure she calls you instead of just passing the message along."

"She'll know what it's about," he says and leaves the store.

"You know who that guy was?" Joannie asks Elizabeth.

"No," Elizabeth watches him walk away.

Later at the Bradfords'. Nancy is doing her homework when Elizabeth and Joannie arrive home. She looks up at them as they enter. "Did you get the stuff for the shower?"

"Uh yeah," Elizabeth says. "We also so a guy who was asking about you. It was kind of strange."

"Strange how? Who was it?"

"Some guy named Alan," Joannie says. "Here's his number. He was creepy."

"Yeah," Nancy says as she tears the paper with his number on it to shreds. "Some drug dealers are a little creepy."

Joannie gives her sister a hug, proud that she tore up the paper. "You don't owe him money or anything yet, do you?"

Nancy hugs her back. "No, he's already been paid."

Elizabeth sighs in relief.

"You be careful though, OK? He didn't look happy, and I doubt he'll like losing a customer. If you want, I'm sure we could get some of Susan's jock friends to keep you company for a while."

"Only if it's that sweet one," Nancy says referring to the one who helped with Rick when he was bothering her. Also her face clouds over. "What you mean he didn't look very happy?" she asks, becoming frightened.

"He just snarled," Joannie says. "And I'll ask Susan which is the sweet one. I don't want you wandering around alone until we're sure this Alan will stay away from you."

"I won't be, believe me," Nancy says, having had enough danger for a lifetime.

"OK. Hey, Elizabeth, should we show her what we got for the shower? Wait till you hear the theme she thought up, Nancy I think she might give me a run in the creativity department."

"Yes," Elizabeth shows Nancy what they got and also tells her the theme.

Nancy laughs, "That is so cute."

"We just better make sure to explain to everyone who comes," Joannie warns, "or someone will get the idea we're throwing a two for one deal here."

Elizabeth laughs. "Yeah really."

"Abby's going to love the idea," Nancy says.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Joannie asks. "Abby and I straightened everything out about that little trick I had Elizabeth pull. I apologized for it."

"It means that Abby is really going to love the idea. Really, I think she'll like it," Nancy says.

"OK," Joannie calms down and returns to her former enthusiasm. "I think she'll like it, too. She's got a sense of humor. Maybe she'll even drag Dad kicking and screaming into the 20th century."

"Now that I would like to see," Nancy laughs.

"Stick around," Joannie says. "I'm starting a betting pool about it. You in?"

"Are you serious?"

"Yep. I figure if Abby actually does it, we'll give her the money to take Dad on vacation--she'll deserve it. And if she doesn't it'll help us pay for her bills at the loony bin, because she'll drive herself crazy trying."

"I'm betting she can do it," Nancy pulls out a twenty and hands it to Joannie.

"Nancy, don't give her your money. She's just trying to get money out of us so she can spend it," Elizabeth teases and then sees the look Joannie gives her. "It was a joke, Joannie, a joke. Now don't kill me."

"Hmph. Just to show you--Nancy, I'll put you down for twenty. You'll pay when we know how it goes. Elizabeth--how much should I put you down for?" Joannie asks, far too sweetly.

"A million dollars," Elizabeth laughs at her tone. "Naah ten." She hands Joannie a ten.

"Keep yer money, shista," Joannie says in an imitation Humphrey Bogart voice, "I'll make ya pay it with interest when you lose."

Elizabeth makes a face at her. Nancy laughs at both of them.

An hour before she'd due to set out for the Bradfords' Abby calls her family. Katherine and Fealty assure her they have the address, have called for a cab, and will get there on their own. Katherine also asks if she can tuck Nicholas in when it's time for him to go to bed, and Abby says that's something she'll have to take up with Nicholas himself.

Abby hangs up and fusses around her almost empty apartment, packing a few more things and then changing her mind, until she gives up in frustration and drives over to the house. She's only 15 minutes early--they must be ready for her by now...

She parks her car and rings the doorbell.

Elizabeth answers the door. "Abby, come on in." She leads her inside and exchanges a smile with Nancy.

Abby looks around the room dumbstruck. If it weren't for the girls, she'd swear she came to the wrong place--pink and blue and storks?

Tom looks at Abby from where he's hanging up a stork. "Hi Abby, how do you like it?" he asks.

Abby can't reach high enough to give Tom a kiss so she just touches him on the back of the knees. "What's with all these storks?" she asks, laughing, knowing that if Tom's involved in the decorating, there isn't any hidden meaning behind the theme.

"Well, the girls figured that since you were getting eight babies at once..." He motions toward the scenery. "But don't worry, they told everyone to bring bridal gifts."

Abby wanders around the room, looking at the decorations, and is led to the cake. "There's a little baby on the cake," she laughs. "Girls--this is--well, I don't know what this is, but I love it. Thank you."

"No problem Abby, it was originally Elizabeth's idea," Nancy says.

Abby hugs Elizabeth. By now Tom's hung his stork and climbed down from the stepladder, and Abby whispers to him, "Did you talk to them yet about Elizabeth being the maid of honor? They haven't said anything to me about it."

"Yes I did, and they're OK with Elizabeth being the maid of honor. Although I haven't mentioned it to her yet," Tom whispers back.

"All right..." Abby's about to say more, but the doorbell rings and Daisy and Greg Maxwell walk in. "Looks like you're going to get dragged away. Try not to enjoy it too much," she teases Tom.

"I'll be the perfect gentleman, enjoy the shower." He kisses her and goes to talk to Greg. At this point Tommy comes downstairs dressed to go, camera in tow. "And where do you think you're going, young man?"

"I am going to our party," Tommy says.

"Uh, no you're not," Tom says. "You are too young to go to a party like that."

"But I planned it," Tommy replies.

"And I appreciate it Tommy, really I do, but you can't go. I'm sorry," his father says.

"But I got a new roll of film and new cologne."

Greg takes the camera. "Don't worry, I'll take plenty of pictures for you," he smiles. And then he and Tom leave.

Tommy just stands there dumbfounded and says, "What happened?"

The phone rings in David's apartment.

David answers the phone. "Hello?"

"David, my boy," Harry Mitchell says. "Sandra Sue tells me you're having a little get together for your father tonight. I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to give me a lift."

"Sure, I'll be right over, what room are you in?"

"Room 323. I'll be waiting."

"OK," they hang up and then David heads there.

When David arrives Harry is waiting for him, done up in Pasadena's finest leisure wear. "I didn't think I'd be going to something like a bachelor party if Sandra Sue remarried."

"Don't worry, you'll have fun. I guarantee it, so are you ready?"

"Fun? I'm giving my little girl away--again--tomorrow. I just want to make sure your father doesn't do anything she wouldn't approve of."

David stifles back a laugh and then they leave in his van.

Abby turns back to the girls, a little apprehensive at what they may have planned, but game.

Before they get started Nancy motions Abby aside. "Have you asked her yet?"

"About?"

"Elizabeth about her being your maid of honor," Nancy says.

"Your father said he would," Abby explains. "I didn't want it to look like I was playing favorites."

"Then he didn't get a chance to discuss it with you again yet. After Dad told us we all talked it over and we thought it would mean more to Elizabeth if you asked her. If you don't want to do it that way Dad can always ask when he gets home."

"If it's all right with you girls, I'd love to ask her. When things settle down a little I'll talk to her."

"It's more than all right, now come on let's go enjoy your baby/bridal shower," Nancy says as she leads her back to the living room and den.

"All right. But let's enjoy the bridal shower and hold off on babies except for the ones already here, OK?"

Nancy laughs, "OK."

Dr. Max greets the men when they arrive and pulls David aside. "Who's the old man?"

"He's Abby's father," David tells him. "Wow, this is quite a turnout."

"People like your father," Max says. "And they love the idea of a girl in a cake."

"Well, don't you like the idea of a girl in a cake?" David teases him.

"Just who do you think interviewed the lovely lady? Couldn't let Tommy handle it--too big a job for a boy his age."

"Actually, I think he did."

"He did, too? Well, that would explain why your brother's been acting strange lately," Max says. "Come on, let's go inside before all the fun starts without us."

They go inside to join the party. David approaches Tom. "So how do you like it, Dad?"

Harry wanders over to join them, a drink in hand. "This reminds me of the '52 convention. Or was it the '64?"

"Maybe it was both," Tom suggests.

Harry shakes his head and goes off in search of another drink.

"Did I say something wrong?" Tom wonders.

"He's your father-in-law," Max says. "Anything you say beside 'yes, sir' is the wrong thing. Here, let me get you another drink."

Tom nods and accepts the drink.

After he refills Tom's glass, Max seeks out David. "I think it's time for the main attraction, don't you?"

David smiles. "Yes, I do." He gets everyone's attention. "Dad, we have a surprise for you. Drum roll please." The drummer from the band does a drum roll and the lady comes out of the cake and kisses Tom on the cheek. Tom just smiles.

"Music, gentlemen, please," Max says, and then he suggests to Tom that he dance with the lovely young lady.

Tom dances with the lady, wishing she were Abby.

Once the shower guests all are drinking and chatting in small groups, Abby pulls Elizabeth aside. "Could I talk to you a minute? In private?"

"Sure." They go out on the screen porch.

"Elizabeth, I want to ask you a big favor."

"Sure, what is it?"

"I'd like you to be my maid of honor tomorrow."

Elizabeth is stunned for a moment or so. "Me? Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. It means a lot to me that you're willing to give me a chance, you know."

"Abby, thank you. I won't let you down." She hugs her.

"I don't think you could let me down," Abby says. "Maybe we should get back in there and tell your sisters they don't have to keep secrets from you anymore. I think they were ready to burst."

Elizabeth laughs, "You're right, I'm sure they are." They find her sisters and she tells them. Nancy hugs her and congratulates her.

At the stag party:
After a while Max cuts in and Harry corners Tom. "You. You'd better be good to my little girl..."

"Oh, I will be, don't worry," Tom says.

"You'd better be. She was such a pretty little thing."

"She still is pretty."

"And what has it gotten her? Poor Sandra Sue. I need another drink," Harry says and wanders off.

"I don't think he likes me," Tom says to Greg.

"D'ya like him?" Greg overarticulates, having had a few too many already.

"Can't stand him," Tom slurs.

"Well, then, what's the problem? Sounds like a perfectly normal in-law relationship to me. Never could stand Daisy's father, you know, and he hated me."

"Well I guess there is no problem and I'll drink to that." He finishes his drink and starts on another.

Greg lifts his glass to join the toast and then grabs Tommy's camera to take pictures of Harry dancing with the cake girl. "And a little blackmail material never hurt a son-in-law."

Tom laughs.

At the shower:
As the girls are ferrying drinks from the kitchen to the guests, Joannie pulls Nancy aside. "How are you doing?" she asks.

"I'm doing good, the stuff is a little tempting but I'm fighting it off," she tells her. "And you?"

"I'm fine," Joannie says. "If you need to talk, I'm here. And I'll bet Abby's mom would help, too--it looks like she's working at keeping Aunt Fealty away from the liquor, too."

"Thanks Joannie, and I don't want them knowing."

"You don't have to tell her anything--she's on automatic pilot. Look--she just snatched a glass out of Donna's hand. You take anything to drink, just stand next to Abby's mom and I'll bet your drink disappears."

Nancy laughs.

Later, after the bachelor party, Tom comes stumbling in the front door escorted by the lady who jumped out of the cake.

"I believe this one belongs here," the lady says.

Abby smiles and helps keep Tom upright. "Yes, he does. Although I don't think he's quite in the condition we sent him out."

"Oh, you're the bride, right?" she asks.

"Yes, I am," Abby says, but refrains from adding, "and you're the girl in the cake, right?"

"Then you're very lucky; he was the perfect gentleman," she gets ready to leave. "And all he talked about all night was you." She leaves after she gets paid by the women because the men forgot to pay her.

The girls have already gotten their father upstairs, but Abby goes up to check on him.

"Abby!!" Tom reaches for her and pulls her to him.

"Enjoy your party?" she asks.

"Without you? Are you kidding me?" Tom says. "Why don't you join me? We'll be married tomorrow anyway," he grins.

Abby ignores his suggestion and goes to pull off Tom's shoes. "Yes, we are going to be, and there's no way you'll be able to sleep like this."

"Are you sure you don't want to join me?"

"I've got to tell you, Tom, I've had more subtle propositions than that."

Tom ponders a little and tries to think of something better through his drunken stupor. "Excuse me lady, but would you like to help me warm these sheets?"

Abby laughs and then helps Tom sit up. "Come on, let's get you out of this jacket. I see you've already lost the tie somewhere along the way."

"Abby, do you love me, I mean do you really love me?"

"Of course I do."

"Good, because I don't feel so good." She rushes him to the bathroom where he is violently and messily ill. Afterwards Abby helps him clean up and goes in search of nightclothes for him; she helps him undress as much is decently possible and then leaves him to finish changing while she closes herself in the bathroom, trying to clean it up. Only after Tom's finished fumbling around in the bedroom and the bathroom is back to some semblance of order does Abby notice how stained her own clothing has become.

Tom has passed out in his bed by now.

Abby kisses him and tucks him in. ~At least I have clothes here~ she thinks, looking at her blouse, and changes into something clean before going back downstairs.

"How is he?" Mary asks.

Nancy notices that when Abby returns that she's wearing different clothes. She smiles at Abby. ~Way to go, Abby.~

Elizabeth also notices. ~So much for waiting for the wedding night.~

"I think he's fine, Mary," Nancy says and then retreats to the kitchen.

Mary looks confused until she realizes Abby's different blouse. "Yeah, I do believe he is fine."

Abby watches Nancy retreating, wondering why the girl is acting so strange, and then turns back to Mary. "Yes, your father is fine. He's sleeping now; I thought he'd just keep going all night."

Joannie steps out of the kitchen, sees Abby, and retreats back into the kitchen. "Is it my imagination," she asks Nancy, "or was Abby not wearing that when she went upstairs 'to check on' Dad?"

"It's not your imagination," Nancy laughs. "I guess they decided not to wait after all."

"But Dad's blitzed!" Joannie protests. "And there are all these people here."

Mary comes in and says, "Joannie, now you are sounding like Dad."

"Yeah I know," Nancy continues to laugh as she goes to bring some trash outside. "I'll be right back," she says and goes outside to put the trash in the trash can. She then returns, unaware that she was being watched the whole time. "Maybe Dad has more stamina than we give him credit for."

"For Abby's sake I sure hope he does," Joannie says.

Abby walks into the kitchen with a tray full of glasses. "For my sake you hope who does what?"

Joannie starts giggling so hard she can't answer.

"Nancy?" Abby asks.

"You tell her, Mary."

"Yeah--I wouldn't want to sound like Dad," Joannie says.

"The only way your father has sounded tonight is loud," Abby says, and is confused why this sets Joannie to giggling again. "Mary, what is going on?"

"Why me?" Mary says giving both Joannie and Nancy dirty looks and then turns to Abby. "Nice blouse," and she hurries and opens the refrigerator door.

"Thanks," Abby says automatically. "Good thing I put some clothes in your father's..." It suddenly dawns on Abby what the girls must think, "Hey, wait a minute, you don't think..."

"Abby, it is none of our business," Mary says.

"But there's nothing for it not to be your business about," Abby says. "Your father..." she stops, not wanting to disillusion the girls by telling them how drunk their father was.

"My father what?" Mary asks.

"Was drunk?" Nancy says and then goes to take out more trash.

"Passed drunk a few hours ago," Abby says to the girls who are still in the kitchen. "Which explains the change of clothes. But as for what you girls thought--you know your father does not approve of that," ~We can just forget tonight's suggestions. He was drunk, after all.~ "and he doesn't break his own rules."

"That must have been fun," Mary says with compassion.

"I've seen worse," Abby says, thinking of Frank and his Marine buddies and what they thought was appropriate for a stag party.

"Well, take heart. Dad doesn't do that often. In fact I don't think I ever seen him do that," Mary says. "I hope he doesn't have a hangover in the morning."

"Oh, he will," Abby predicts. "Just don't let him cure it with a hair of the dog, OK?"

Mary laughs "I'll do my best."

Outside: "Alan has been trying to contact you."

Nancy jumps at the sudden voice in the night. "Has he?"

"Yes, he has your stuff and you already paid for it," Alan's partner says.

"Tell him he can keep it. I'm clean now and I plan to stay that way," Nancy says. "And have you ever heard of knocking on the door?" ~Sheesh, how did they find out where I live?~ "You can go now, but first how did you get my address?"

"I have my ways and I'll tell him." He leaves and Nancy stays there for a few minutes trying to figure out how they found out where she lives and then she goes back inside.

"You OK, Nancy?" Joannie asks. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Joannie, I have to talk to you alone," Nancy says.

"Come upstairs to my office," Joannie says. The two of them go upstairs, and as they pass their father's door, they hear the sound of his snores. "Abby's right--Dad is loud tonight."

"Yeah," Nancy laughs nervously. When they're in Susan and Joannie's room Nancy tells her what happened outside.

"I don't want you going outside alone, or even being here at home alone, until we know that guy will leave you alone," Joannie says. "And maybe you should tell David--he could wipe the floor with that Alan."

"No, if I tell David and he goes after him, what if Alan has a weapon? I don't want David to get hurt. And what if he never leaves me alone? I don't want to live in fear."

"You could report him to the police," Joannie suggests.

"But he hasn't done anything, and I don't have any proof that he's dealing. Even if I did that would probably make the situation worse."

"But if you don't do anything you're going to be afraid of him for a long time."

Nancy sighs in frustration. "I don't know what to do about this."

Joannie hugs her since she doesn't have any answers either.

After awhile. "I think I'll tell Dad after the honeymoon; he'll know what to do. I just hope he doesn't try to ground me 'til eternity."

Katherine and Fealty step into the kitchen. "Sandra Sue, we're going to be going now. You should too; you'll want to get into bed early tonight." She hesitates a minute and pulls her daughter aside, though she misjudges the girls' eavesdropping range; they hear everything. "Unless you already have. You weren't wearing that earlier, were you? I told you to make up the quarrel before you got married, Sandra Sue, not before you went to bed."

"Mom!" Abby protests, but she doesn't explain--she's not sure what would shock her mother more, what she's thinking now or what really did happen.

Abby turns to the girls. "I guess my mother's right and I should get going. Where are Joannie and Nancy? I want to say goodbye and thank them, too."

"OK, see ya tomorrow," Mary says.

Abby gives Mary a hug. "Thank you for all this," she says. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"OK, sleep well," Mary says.

"They're probably upstairs. I'll go and get them." Elizabeth offers. She then goes upstairs and hears all of the conversation. She's about to go downstairs and tell Abby when Nancy opens the door; she and Joannie were on their way out.

"Elizabeth, how much did you hear?" Nancy asks.

"Enough, I'm telling Abby. Dad's too drunk to do anything," Elizabeth says.

"No, you will not tell Abby, tomorrow is her wedding day," Nancy says firmly.

Abby's halfway up the stairs, following Elizabeth, when she hears her name being mentioned. She hurries to the girls' rooms. "You won't tell me what?" she asks.

"Nancy's in trouble." Elizabeth tells her about Alan.

"Elizabeth!!" Nancy closes her eyes and sighs deeply. ~I can not believe she did that.~

"You could tell the police," Abby says. "After all, you did give him money. Even if he didn't deliver, that either makes him a dealer or a fraud, and either one is a crime." ~OK, take deep breaths. Your soon-to-be-step-daughter is an addict. Tom had no idea how bad it is, and I'm not going to tell him. I can handle this.~

"If I tell the police they might lock me up also and even if they don't, if Alan beats the rap he'll be really mad," Nancy says. "Look, I don't want to drag you three into this any further. It's my problem and I'll think of a way to handle it." Nancy starts to retreat to her bedroom.

Abby follows her. "It's all our problem, Nancy. That's what a family is. Look, I'm sure my father knows a lawyer who could set it up with the police that you'd be given immunity. And if you still don't want to do that, at least let me ask David to stay here when your father and I go away--or we could postpone it. I don't want you left alone here, and I don't think Tommy is much protection."

"I am not much protection for what?" Tommy asks.

"Anything," Abby hedges. "You know how old fashioned your father is; he'll never accept that women can take care of themselves. He'll want a man on the premises--one over 18."

Elizabeth tells him what's going on. Nancy glares at her for it. ~Great, tell everyone, now he'll go after him and get hurt. Nice going, Liz.~

"Where does this guy live?" Tommy asks, on the warpath.

"Oh don't even think about it," Nancy says sternly.

"Nancy, I can take care of him with one shot," Tommy replies.

"Tommy no." She looks to Abby and Joannie for assistance.

"No, you won't, Tommy," Abby says in her most authoritative voice.

"But it would be so simple," Tommy says.

"It never is simple," Abby says. "And if you meant 'one shot' literally, I won't have it. If you meant it as a joke, it was a pretty stupid thing to say."

"OK, I lost my head. But what are we going to do about it?"

Nancy ponders this. "Do you think the police would provide protection from Alan?"

"I could ask Dad to find out. Just hypothetically, see, and if the answer is no, no harm done. But if the answer is yes, wouldn't that be better than being afraid?"

"Yeah, I suppose you're right, thanks Abby." She hugs her. "And I'm sorry you had to find out tonight of all nights."

"Better tonight than tomorrow night," Abby says. "You mind if I wait until tomorrow to talk to my father? I doubt he's in any better of a state than your father is right now."

Nancy smiles, "I don't mind."

"And you don't mind that I told her now, do you?" Elizabeth brags.

Nancy looks at Joannie. "What was it we do to snitches around here?" she jokes.

"Death by tickling. Or middle of the night cold water dumping," Joannie suggests.

"Hey I saved her life practically," Elizabeth protests.

Nancy laughs. "OK, kid, we'll let it go this time," Nancy says as she hugs her.

"Sandra Sue?" Katherine's voice drifts up the stairwell.

"I hate that name," Abby mutters. "Wish she'd call me what I want to be called..."

"I thought you said you were going," Katherine continues, oblivious to her daughter's griping.

"I'll be right down," Abby tells her. "Girls--keep a close eye on Nancy, OK?"

"Count on it," Elizabeth says in a protective tone.

Abby hugs the girls. "Thank you for the shower. It was a lot of fun. Though not as much fun as some of you thought it was for me," she teases them. "And Elizabeth--thank you. I'll see you all tomorrow."

"You're very welcome," Nancy says. "See you tomorrow."

"No problem at all," Elizabeth says as she returns the hug.

After Abby leaves Joannie asks her sisters, "So, you buy all that stuff about Dad being such a gentleman tonight, or do you think there's more to this story?"

"I think there's more to the story," Nancy says.

"Which we'll probably never hear," Elizabeth adds.

"You know, I'm not sure I want to hear the details of Dad's sex life, now that I think of it," Joannie says.

"Yeah, that is kind of gross," Nancy adds. "What we should do is go finish cleaning up and get to bed. We have a long day tomorrow. The wedding, the reception, and the coffee house."

"Hmm, that has its possibilities," Elizabeth smiles.

"Before you start planning anything, remember that you're still underage," Joannie warns her.

Nancy laughs.

"Well you can't do anything either, you quit, remember?"

"Little sis, there are other ways to have fun," Nancy says.

"Considering that I won't let you be alone with any guy I don't know, it looks like you won't be having much fun either, little sis," Joannie tells Nancy.

"It's cool," she smiles at Joannie. "You're only doing that because you love me and I welcome the protection this time." She hugs her older sister.

Elizabeth feels Nancy's forehead. "Nope no fever."

"Maybe they implanted something when they took out her appendix," Joannie suggests.

"Well what do you guys want me to say? I'm a big girl and stop trying to protect me? Because I wouldn't mean it. Give me a week. I'll start to crack and want my privacy."

"I give her three days," Joannie says to Elizabeth.

"I give her two," Elizabeth says to Joannie.

"Well fine, don't have faith in me. In fact, I don't need protection. I can take care of myself," Nancy teases them back.

"We have faith in you, Nancy," Joannie says. "That's why we're willing to go as far as two days."

"Ha ha," Nancy says as she finishes up her part of the cleaning.

The next morning in the Bradford house all of the children are up and around fighting for bathroom time while Tom awakes and stumbles out of bed. ~Oh why is my head pounding, why?~ He makes it to the bathroom and sees Abby's clothes. ~Hmm, well apparently the headache is worth it.~ A smile spreads on his face which quickly turns to a frown. ~Oh no, she must think I don't respect her now.~

Joannie pounds on her father's door. "Dad, you've got to share your bathroom. None of us are gonna be ready if we have to fight for turns."

"You can use it after I'm done getting ready!!" Tom shouts.

Elizabeth joins Joannie. "But Dad, Nancy is in the other bathroom right now!!"

"Well then tell her to behave and not hog the bathroom like she usually does!!" he shouts.

"You know, you're gonna give yourself a headache shouting like that," Joannie says. "And tonight's one night you don't want to have to say you have a headache."

Tom opens the door. "Dear, I already have a headache, which will disappear after I take my mother's hangover remedy. Can one of you make it?" He tells them how.

"You had your fun," Joannie says, "I think you should pay for it." She takes a look at her father's face and quickly adds, "But if you let me into your bathroom, I'll make you your hangover remedy."

"OK, but don't take too long." Tom lets her in and leaves to give her privacy.

Abby's morning starts off hectic with a frantic phone call from the tutor who's substituting for her the next few days, and rapidly goes downhill. Her mother and Aunt Fealty have insisted she go with them to the hairdresser and he and Abby argue over how she wants her hair done until Katherine steps in and settles the dispute. Back at her apartment, as she lays out her clothing, Abby has to deal with the two older women turning weepy and reminiscent. "But Aunt Fealty, you never got married," Abby tries to get her aunt to pipe down.

"Doesn't mean I didn't leave a man or two at the altar," her aunt replies. "There's still time for you to do that, you know."

"After last night, I think she has to marry him," Katherine says. "You could have been a bit more discreet, Sandra Sue."

Abby sighs.

"Is this what you're wearing?" Fealty asks. "I can't tell if it's a wedding gown or sackcloth."

Abby throws on a robe. "I know you're just trying to help, but you know what? I need to be alone for a little bit. No, actually, I need to talk to Daddy. Is he here yet?"

"Pacing your living room," Katherine says. "And what do you need from him?"

"Can't a girl just want to talk to her father on her wedding day?"

"Last time you didn't," Fealty notes.

"You only call him 'Daddy' when you want something."

"All right, all right, but all I want is advice," Abby admits.

"I'll give you some advice," Fealty says. "You handle the contraception."

Meanwhile back at the house, Mary has a great idea but doesn't want to tell the others. She goes downstairs and calls Abby's apartment.

"Mitchell residence," Fealty answers the phone.

"Aunt Fealty," Abby shouts from the bedroom, "my last name is Abbot. Well, for the next few hours, at least."

"You were born a Mitchell and a Mitchell you'll stay," Aunt Fealty retorts.

"Hi, can I speak with Abby?"

"One minute, please." Aunt Fealty covers the mouthpiece. "Sandra Sue, it's one of those girls, for you."

Abby picks up the phone, "Hi, am I speaking to The Bradford House of Chaos?"

"Hi Abby, it's Mary. I was going to ask if I could come over and get ready but it sounds like you have a full house there as well."

"Actually, if you don't mind the peanut gallery, it's pretty quiet here--and there is an available bathroom. But don't tell anyone else or you'll have to wait on line here, too."

"I am on my way," Mary says.

"Smart choice," Abby says

After hanging up the phone, Mary grabs the keys to the sedan and leaves the house.

Nancy finally comes out of the bathroom to be met by glares from Elizabeth, Susan, Mary, and Tommy.

"I tried to hurry, leave me alone." She retreats to her bedroom to finish getting ready.

When Tom comes back Joannie is made up and her hair is dry, but she has Abby's clothing in her hand. "Care to explain this, Dad?"

"No I don't," Tom says.

"Just be glad I'm the one who saw it, Dad, and not Nicholas," Joannie says, paying her father back for years of hastily-drawn conclusions and misplaced (and many not-so-misplaced) punishments.

Tom shakes his head. "Joannie, the hangover remedy? Remember you promised."

"Yes, Dad," Joannie says. She goes downstairs and mixes up the potion, then brings it upstairs. "I don't know, Dad," she says as she hands it to her father, "I think the hangover might be better."

"I know it looks awful but it works, thanks, honey." Tom takes it and drinks it. He makes a face at the taste and then goes to finish getting ready, only to find his bathroom door shut. He pounds on the door.

"Dad, I'm getting ready; you'll have to wait," Elizabeth says.

He groans and leaves the room. ~No sense kicking her out now, she might not be decent right now.~

"Sorry, Dad, but you know the rules--you give up your place in line, you lose it," Joannie says.

"I see."

Katherine shepherds Fealty out of Sandra Sue's room and tells Harry that he's wanted.

"My little girl is getting married again," Harry says.

"So they tell me," Abby answers.

"You waited this long, you could wait and see if you could do better," Harry tells her.

"Dad, I love Tom, and that's that. I wish you'd at least pretend to like him."

"I can pretend. For a little," Harry promises.

"Who knows? Maybe someday you actually will like him."

"He'd have to lose five children, ten years, and fifteen pounds for that to happen."

"I'll see about getting his birth certificate changed," Abby says. "Dad, could I ask you a question?"

"Yes, of course I'll have 'The Talk' with Thomas. Someone ought to have a few children ago."

"Daddy! This is serious. I need some legal advice."

"More questions about being their guardian?" Harry asks. "We went over all that, I thought."

"We did. This is a hypothetical case. Criminal."

"I see. For one of them?"

Abby decides lying is the better part of valor. "No. Well, hypothetically, let's say it's one of my students. Maybe."

"Criminal law isn't my specialty," Harry says.

"But you know enough." Abby explains Nancy's situation with the drug dealer.

Harry thinks it over. "Yes, I suppose she could get protection. They'll want her testimony against the man, of course, but right now the war on drugs is a high enough priority that the police should be willing to cooperate. I can't work out a deal unless I know who it is."

"Wouldn't it be better to get a local lawyer?" Abby asks.

Harry scoffs at the supposed skill of any Sacramento lawyer, but in the end does agree that it might be best--but that if Sandra Sue wants, he'll coach the man from the sidelines.

"Thank you, Daddy," Abby kisses him. "Now out of here. I have to make myself pretty for Tom," she says to egg him on.

"You're already prettier than he deserves," Harry grumbles. "Shall I send your mother and Fealty in?"

"No, don't. Let me have a little quiet."

"Wishful thinking." Harry leaves and closes the door behind himself.

Abby picks up her phone and dials the Bradfords'.

Nancy answers the phone. "Hello?"

"Nancy," Abby says, "just the person I wanted to talk to. I just spoke to my father and he says what we discussed last night is possible."

Nancy sighs in relief. "Abby, that's great, but when do we go down there? There's no time today."

"We could make time, but your father would wonder why," Abby corrects her. "Besides, it'll take a day or two for my father to decide which lawyer will handle it right and for that lawyer to talk to the police, because I don't want you making any statements until a deal's been worked out. So figure nothing will happen until Friday anyway. In the meantime, you stay close to your sisters."

"I will, and thanks again, Abby."

"No problem," Abby says. "How's your father--hung over?"

"Probably. I haven't seen him yet, how are you doing? Are you nervous?"

"Yeah. I keep wondering what disaster is going to strike. It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Abby, it'll be all right, you and Dad are meant for each other. It's not very often that people find true love twice in a lifetime."

"If you're lucky, once in a lifetime is enough," Abby says, "but since it wasn't, I'm glad I didn't walk right out of your house that first day."

"I'm glad too, and believe me so is Dad."

"He'd better be," Abby laughs.

Nancy laughs also. "What would you do to him if he wasn't?"

"Nancy, there are still some things you are too young to know."

"Such as? Just kidding. I'd better let you go so we can both finish getting ready. See ya at the church, Abby."

"I'll see you then. And do me a favor, Nancy--make sure your father gets there, on time and sober, OK?"

Nancy laughs again. "Will do, see ya, Abby." They both hang up and Nancy goes to see if her dad is ready. "Hey Joannie, is Dad ready yet?"

"Ha. Elizabeth grabbed the bathroom before he could. We'll be lucky if he isn't late to his own wedding."

Nancy groans and then starts laughing. "Do you think Abby would hurt us too badly if we made Dad go as is?"

"Do you think you really want an answer to that?" Joannie asks.

"Not particularly."