After the party, Abby goes home, picks up her mail and checks her machine. Only work messages--what else did she expect? All her private life these past few weeks has centered on the house she's just left. Idly she flips through her mail, throwing all the junk out unopened. She opens a very expensive looking envelope, takes a look at the contents and storms over to her phone.
When someone picks up on the other end she demands, "Let me speak to him."
"Hello, Sandra Sue," her mother says. "If you mean your father, he's not home now. What's wrong?"
"I think you know exactly what's wrong, Mother. I just got an invitation in the mail--or is it a command performance? I may like the governor, but I know I've never contributed enough to get two tickets to a ritzy fund-raising ball at the Crocker Art Museum."
"But we have, dear," her mother says. "Several times over. And your father's not going to come up to Sacramento just for a party, so he figured you could use them. Nothing for you to get upset over."
"Nothing? Just whom did you think I'd take along?"
"Whomever you like," Katherine Mitchell says, and then seems to change topics. "So how is work going? That boy with the broken leg--are you still teaching him?"
"He just got the cast off today, so I'm finished with him."
"And with his father?"
"Oh, I get it. I thought you didn't like the idea of my going out with Tom. Now you're telling me to ask him to escort me?" Abby asks, suspicious.
"You're going to do as you please anyway, Sandra Sue. You always have. But if you insist on getting involved with a man nearly old enough to be your father," Abby starts to interrupt, but Katherine raises her voice to drown out her daughter, "who's looking for a wife, he should at least know a little about your background."
"I'll tell him anything I think he ought to know. And I don't see how this party is going to tell him any…Wait. I hope you're not implying what I think you're implying."
"Which is?"
"Mom, he makes a perfectly good living. He'd have to, to support that family of his," Abby says.
"He's a glorified reporter, Sandra Sue. You can do better than a middle aged reporter with an oversized brood."
"Let me be the judge of what the best I can do is!"
"Sandra Sue, there is no need to get upset."
"No? You're treating me like a 12 year old."
"Oh, no, I'm treating you like you're at least 14," Katherine jokes, and manages to get Abby to laugh a little. "What's the harm of taking him? Who knows--maybe he'll get a story out of it; he might even thank you for the invitation."
Abby sighs. "Fine, fine, I'll ask him. But I don't want you ever to do anything like this again, OK? And if he turns me down, I'm not going to let you fix me up with some local politician or lawyer, understand?"
"Fair enough," Katherine concedes. "Do you want to leave a message for your father?"
"Just tell Daddy that I appreciate his concern. And that Tom and I are going dancing this Friday night, so he really didn't have to play matchmaker. Bye." She hangs up before her mother has a chance to respond.
Friday night:
Abby had given Tommy the day off to organize whatever he needed for school on Monday. They were ahead of his class, anyway, so one day less of learning would make no difference, and when she came to pick Tom up there would be none of the awkward transition from Tommy's tutor to Tom's date.
At 8 o'clock sharp Abby drives up to the Bradford home and rings the doorbell.
Nancy had told her brothers and sisters earlier in the week about the date tonight so
she had co-conspirators to assist her. Elizabeth opens the door and lets Mrs. Abbot in.
"Come on in. Dad is still getting ready. You can wait in the living room if you'd like," Elizabeth says.
"Thanks. How's everyone been? It was strange, not driving over here this afternoon," Mrs. Abbot says.
"We've been all right." Elizabeth tells her. "How have you been? Would you like something to drink while you wait?"
"No, thanks. I'm fine," Mrs. Abbot says and sits down to wait.
"So where are you taking him?"
~This is just too strange. I think I remember my father having this conversation with boys.~ "Dancing," she says, not sure just how much she should tell Tom's kids.
"And what time will you have him home?" Elizabeth pries.
"Before your high school graduation," Mrs. Abbot assures her.
Currently upstairs in Tom's bedroom. Tom puts on the fifth tie of his choosing and Nancy just shakes her head in disapproval again.
"Nancy, look, there is nothing wrong with this tie!! And I'm going to wear it!!" Tom puts it on. ~What is wrong with her? She's been doing nothing but slowing me down ever since I started getting ready for my date.~
"Ok, Dad, if you insist, but you should really put on a different pair of socks."
Joannie enters the room. "Dad, your date is here."
"Oh good." Tom smiles, puts on his jacket, and begins to head downstairs when Joannie stops him.
"Dad you're not going to wear that shirt are you?" Joannie says in a disapproving tone.
Twenty minutes later Tom finally makes it downstairs and finds Abby in the living room being asked questions by Elizabeth and Mary. Tom hears some of the questions and almost blows his top.
"Girls, Mrs. Abbot is not a teenage boy and I'm not a teenage girl, that will do," he says to them.
"Don't worry," Mrs. Abbot assures the Bradford kids. "I'll get him home by curfew, I won't drive drunk, and I won't do anything that will make me respect him less in the morning."
"Er why not?" Nancy asks in confusion. ~They are adults after all. Wait, I couldn't imagine my father...~
Joannie lightly nudges her.
"What?" Nancy whispers to her.
"You know what," Joannie whispers back.
"Nancy, it's none of your business," Tom tells her as he and Abby leave for
their date.
"I can't believe you said that," Elizabeth laughs.
"Hey it slipped out, ok? Do you think they'll kiss good night this time?"
"I sure hope so," Joannie replies.
When they get outside, Abby apologizes. "I hope I didn't embarrass you in there. It's just that they were so cute, sort of all over-protective of you."
"No, I wasn't embarrassed." He glances at the MG. "May I drive?"
"Um, sure," Abby says, handing him the keys. "Just remember, it's a flipped over H."
Tom gets in the drivers seat while Abby gets in the passenger seat. He has some trouble starting the car so Abby assists him with that. He finally gets the car out of the driveway and heads on down the road, but not without difficulty.
Abby's torn between laughter and fear for her beloved car. When they reach the end of the Bradfords' neighborhood she gives up waiting for Tom to ask where he's supposed to actually be driving, so she tells him she's made reservations at the Marimba Lounge.
"The Marimba Lounge?" Tom tries to hide his disappointment.
"Why? You don't like it? It's a little noisy, but the dancing's great," Abby says.
"I didn't say that," Tom replies. "It'll be something new."
"Somehow I can't believe you never cha-chaed in your wild youth," Abby says. ~Oops--I just practically called him an old man, didn't I? I have got to stop talking to Mom about my dates.~
"Well actually I did, but not since I've been in my calm youth," Tom says.
"You, calm? I don't believe it. Um, Tom, that's fourth gear; you'd probably be better off in second right now."
Tom shifts into second gear. "Well, I didn't say completely calm."
Abby waits a minute, then says, "Well, aren't you going to elaborate? Don't just tease like that."
"You'll find out soon enough," Tom says getting a little revenge from that day at lunch when she teased him.
~Cute, cute.~ "I'm sure I will," she says. "Nothing like dancing with a man to get him to reveal all his secrets."
Tom blushes slightly and just smiles.
After Abby and Tom leave the doorbell rings so Joannie goes to answer it and slams the door in the person's face. He opens it again.
"What are you doing here? She doesn't want to see you. Get a clue," Joannie glares at him.
"Well I want to see her," Rick says. "She won't answer my phone calls. She sends the flowers and boxes of candy back. How else am I supposed to apologize?"
"Maybe she doesn't want to hear your apology. Rick I think you've done enough. You don't leave your date stranded to walk home by herself. She could've been attacked or murdered," Joannie rages. "You are not allowed to see her anymore."
The other sisters come over to see what's going on.
"Rick get out of here. It's over. The sooner you realize that the better off you'll be," Nancy tells him.
"Yeah and you're lucky our father isn't here," Elizabeth glares at him.
"I'm not leaving till you hear me out," Rick stands his ground.
"David!!" Nancy calls.
David and Tommy come out of the kitchen.
"Who's he?" David asks his sisters.
"It's Rick," Elizabeth tells him.
"Let me at him," Tommy says.
Nancy holds Tommy back. "David will handle it. Rick is a lot bigger than
you are." She whispers to Tommy.
Tommy doesn't like it but he holds his cool.
David goes up to Rick, locks him into a stare, and glares at him. "You have five seconds to get out of here."
"Go David," says Susan.
Rick considers taking him on but changes his mind when he realizes he wouldn't win and then leaves.
Tom and Abby reach the Lounge and a valet takes Abby's car. She tries not to breathe too audible a sigh of relief. Inside, the maitre d' tells them it will be a few minutes before their table is ready and suggests they retire to the bar.
"Shall we?" Abby asks.
They go to the bar and take their seats. "What would you like?" Tom asks her.
"Hey, I'm supposed to be asking you that," Abby laughs.
"Hey, go easy on me. It's been a while since I've been taken out by such a
beautiful woman," Tom says.
"A while? And here I thought I could be your first," Abby teases. "So, what will you have?"
"I'll have Sex on the Beach," Tom tells her.
Abby coughs and looks at him for the minute it takes her to realize he's talking about the drink. She calls over a bartender and orders Tom's drink and a glass of white wine for herself.
~Give this place a chance. Yes, it's loud, but it could be fun.~ Tom thinks to himself and then glances at Abby. "Do you come here often?"
"Not that often," Abby answers. "The only place I hang out is at work or school. And where is it you go for fun?"
"The Pelican Club and usually a Disney movie," Tom confesses.
Abby shakes her head at this overwhelming display of stodginess. "Why don't we dance while we wait?" she suggests.
"OK," They go dance and Tom does his best to hide the fact that he's very uncomfortable and hopes that he's not failing miserably.
Abby sighs. ~Either he's the world's worst dancer or this is turning into the date from hell.~ "It's hot in here, isn't it? Would you mind if we walked outside a little?" she asks.
"I wouldn't mind at all," Tom says, very relieved.
When they get outside, Abby takes Tom's arm. "That wasn't your speed at all, was it?" she says.
"Was I that obvious?" Tom laughs.
"Given the way you were dancing, either you're not interested in me at all or you were being that obvious."
"Rest assured I am very interested in you," Tom says. "It was definitely the latter."
Abby considers for a minute. "Tell you what--I have a favor to ask you. So why don't you choose somewhere for dinner, and then I'll take you to the Orpheum--they're showing some Disney movie or another--and then, after I've wined you and dined you, I'll ask."
"Ok, there's a nice restaurant, not too quiet, not too loud, on the corner of Forest and Vine," he tells her. ~Hmm, I wonder what the favor is.~ "It's called Flannigan's."
"OK." She reaches into her bag and pulls out keys. "You want to drive, or have you had enough terror for one night?"
"You can drive," Tom says.
~Thank G-d.~ She drives them to the restaurant and once they're inside tells Tom, "You're right. As much as I'd like to dance, this is nicer. I can actually hear myself think."
"I'm glad you like it here, and it's not so quiet that it'll put you to sleep," he says.
"Oh, I don't think I'd fall asleep with you," Abby answers.
"Are you sure about that?" Tom asks.
Abby smiles, "Pretty sure about it," she teases.
Their food comes and they start eating. They laugh and talk and have a good time.
Half way through the meal:
"So which movie are they showing?" Tom asks.
Abby shrugs. "Is there a difference? Disney's Disney, isn't it?"
"My lady, there is a big difference. Each movie is unique." He goes on to list differences between some of the films.
Abby smiles at him indulgently. ~Now I see what you've been doing with your free time these last 40 years or so...~
Tom continues to argue the differences and after dinner they go and see Snow White. After the movie they're walking back to her car when Tom asks, "So what was that favor you were talking about earlier?"
"Oh," Abby takes a deep breath. "Look, feel free to say no. I mean, I didn't even want to do this, but you have no idea what they're like, especially when they think they're doing me a favor. It's not like I really want to go. If I had, I would have. But no, they have to take care of everything for me. It's really pretty ridiculous..."
"What is?" Tom starts to worry. "What's wrong, Abby?"
"It's not wrong, exactly. There's this big ball to kick off the governor's campaign next Wednesday. My parents always contribute to his campaigns--I mean, Dad is a friend of the old governor, so of course they help out Jerry when they can. Anyway, my parents aren't going to come up to Sacramento just to go to a party, so they asked me to go instead of them, and they suggested I ask you to escort me. If it'd put
you in an awkward situation, I mean because of work and all, or if you'd just rather not go, though..."
"No, I'll go with you." Tom says. ~I'd do anything for you.~
"Are you sure?" Tom nods. "All right, then. It's at the Crocker Art Museum, Wednesday at 9. Black tie. And oh, will I owe you after that," Abby says.
"No you won't," Tom says being optimistic as she drives him home. "But next time I drive. If I can get the car away from Nancy. Ever since she got back in the driver's seat it's been a struggle with us to get her out," he jokes.
"Things could be worse, you know," Abby reminds him. "Elizabeth is obsessed with the telephone, not the car. I'm glad you'll go with me to that shindig--you can keep me awake through the speeches. And there's just something about a man in a tuxedo..." Abby stops as she turns onto the Bradfords' street. "So, how many of your children do you think are sitting by the front windows?"
"Well Nicholas is usually in bed by now, David is probably home entertaining his own date, and for some odd reason none of the other children had dates tonight," Tom says. "Hmm I wonder why," he says as he makes his suspicious but not really serious face.
Abby laughs. "So then the question is, do we satisfy their curiosity or frustrate it?"
"That's completely up to you. You are the one dropping me off," Tom says.
"Is that all it takes? One car ride and you're mine?" Abby teases.
"Oh, it took more than that," Tom says as he smiles at her.
Abby stares at him. ~Is he saying...? Maybe Mom was right.~ "They're your kids, Tom. You're the one who's going to have to live with the pestering, whatever they see or don't see." ~I can't believe this. Usually I have to fight the guys off. Is this how it's going to be every date, a civilized discussion of what we should do on his front steps?~
"It took your smile, your mind, your..." Tom falls silent as he bends over to kiss her.
~Good compromise. The kids probably can't see us from here~ Abby thinks, before she decides she has better things to think about than Tom's kids.