They wait for Joannie to get into the other car and pull away before discreetly tailing her. Joannie stops in front of a house and Abby jots down the address; she's about to investigate further when Joannie and a man come out of the house and drive away.

Tom wonders who the man is. He's never seen him before and Joannie hasn't mentioned any boyfriends, in fact Nancy was supposed to be setting Joannie up with someone when Nancy gets back to school. He continues to ponder while they follow Joannie and the mystery man.

They stop at another house where the same procedure is followed, and then a third--but this time Joannie also comes out dressed in a man's suit, her hair tucked up under her fedora.

"Maybe it is some play after all," Abby says, hopeful.

"Yeah but where?"

"We just keep following the trail, I guess."

Both Bradford cars drive off to a shady part of town. "You know, maybe you know enough now. We should just go home and you can talk to Joannie in the morning," Abby suggests, afraid Tom won't be able to handle whatever his daughter is doing down here.

"No Abby I have to know everything. Although I'd rather take you home first this isn't exactly the best part of town."

"Oh, no. This part of town is safer for Joannie than being around you when you're upset. If you're staying, I'm staying," Abby says. "Besides, if you take me home, you may lose her."

"You're right." They keep tailing her.

Joannie parks the car on a shady street and she and her group get out.

"The auto theft policies are all in force, aren't they?" Abby asks as Tom parks their car, too.

"Yes they are." Tom says.

"Then maybe the kids' prayers will be answered and they'll stop having to worry about crashing the sedan," Abby says as she gets out of the car and double checks that she locked her door.

They go inside and Tom is shocked at what he sees.

"You know, maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Abby whispers. "It doesn't look like women are particularly welcome."

Some guy comes over. "Do you want to dance?" he asks Tom.

"Er no." Tom says and considers dragging Joannie out of there.

"If I'd have known, I would have dressed like a boy," Abby whispers. "I can be pretty convincing. I just hope Joannie doesn't see me; I'm kind of obvious." Abby thinks for a minute. "I saw a second-hand clothes shop down the street; I could go get something to make myself a little less--unique."

"Abby I think we should get out of here and take Joannie with us." He whispers back.

"You don't even know what she's doing here. I don't see her around yet," Abby answers him. "I'll be right back. Don't let anyone buy you any drinks while I'm gone."

"Trust me I won't."

As soon as Abby leaves, a man slides into her seat. "Thought she'd never leave. You don't need a cover in a place like this," he says, placing a hand on top of Tom's.

"Mister, if you don't get away from me I'll mop the floor with you."

"I've eaten tougher guys than you for breakfast," the man tells Tom. "You here to play, or you get your thrills from just watching?"

"Go away." Tom says.

The man stands up. "You might want to reconsider your attitude. You're not such a prize that playing hard to get is really a viable option for you."

"Good!!"

The man walks away and the noise level in the bar rises a little as fresh meat--a dandified young man in an almost Victorian suit--walks in and straight towards Tom.

Tom starts to panic but then relaxes when he realizes who it is.

"Looking for some company, mister?"

"I sure am."

Abby sits down next to Tom and is about to start flirting with him when the MC gets up on stage and announces that the floor show is about to begin.

Tom turns his attention to the show hoping he'll find out why Joannie is here.

A group of male dancers gets on stage and starts to do their act. Abby pulls Tom very close to her and begins to kiss him.

Tom returns the kisses.

~This is much better than have him go crazy about what's going on on that stage....~

Tom hears a familiar voice in the act and turns his head toward the stage.

The men, dressed in somewhat less than they were when they started, are leaving the stage, and Joannie and her group are going on.

"Well, at least we know Joannie won't be doing a nude scene for this crowd," Abby tries to joke.

Tom laughs. "Good point."

"Or maybe not," Abby corrects herself as Joannie's male friends finish their Judy Garland parody and help Joannie change costumes on stage.

Tom almost storms the stage but Abby stops him.

"You can yell at her afterwards if you need to, but I'm not sure why you would."

On stage, Joannie begins doing the world's worst (or perhaps the world's best parody) "People Who Need People."

"She is very good," Tom says.

Abby relaxa little and allows herself to enjoy the act.

After it's over:

"Abby let's get out of here before she sees us." Tom says.

"You don't think she'd buy that I brought you here?" Abby teases.

"Not by a long shot."

Before Tom and Abby can leave, though, one of Joannie's friends tells her, "Look, Bradford, you aren't the only woman here tonight." He points out Abby in the audience. "At least she has better taste in suits than you do--what is that shmateh you're wearing, anyway? Your father's old suit?"

"Abby are you ready to go?" Tom asks.

"Sure." Abby stands up.

Another of Joannie's friends looks at the woman-dressed-as-a-man and her companion. "Bradford, isn't that your father?"

"Dad!!!" Joannie half screams, half-moans.

"Hi honey, nice play." Tom says.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Joannie hisses.

"I was in the neighborhood."

Joannie gives her father a disappointed look. If he's going to lie, he could do better than that...

"Well, your father said I could pick where we'd go out tonight," Abby tries.

"And Dad agreed to come here?" Joannie says. "How did you find out about this?" she asks her father.

"Joannie you left me no choice. You were being so secretive and I was worried. I had to find out what was going on."

"Come on, Dad, I'm a grown up. I shouldn't have to report to you about every minute of my life. If you didn't ask so many questions, I wouldn't have to be secretive."

"Well I'm sorry but when my daughter acts like something is wrong but doesn't tell me I tend to worry and ask a lot of questions."

"Nothing is wrong, Dad!"

"Yeah I know that now. Too bad I had to sneak around as well to discover that. Let's go, Abby," Tom says becoming a little angry himself.

Abby is upset that her plan backfired so. "Tom..."

The club manager comes up to Joannie. "Bradford, the guys want..." He sees Abby, and in the dim light of the corner where they are talking doesn't realize her gender. "Well, hello there, handsome."

"Back off, he's mine!!" Tom says.

Abby smiles and gives Tom as public a display of affection as she can in front of Joannie.

"Bad enough you don't share, you don't have to flaunt it," the club owner says. "And save the dark corners for people who're willing to share their toys!"

"He's not a toy!! He's my wife!!" Tom shouts.

"Oh, how domestic," the club owner says. "Then take him home, mister, and stop being a tease."

"Honey, let's go," Tom pleads with Abby.

Abby smiles in Joannie's direction, waves, and leads Tom out of the club. "*He's* my wife?" she laughs.

Tom laughs also. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."

"Very domestic of you. Wonder what else you can't resist?" Abby teases.

"Oh you know very well what else I can't resist," Tom teases back.

Abby smiles. "Why don't you tell me all about it over dinner? I heard about this new place at work today--don't worry, no loud music or anything."

"Ok, but let me call home first and make sure everything is ok there." Tom says.

Abby considers saying no--when isn't there a crisis at the Bradford house?--but knows that Tom will call one way or the other, so she just nods.

When Tom calls home Nancy answers the phone and assures him that everything is fine and they'll be able to fend for themselves for dinner. Tom hangs up and relays this information to Abby.

~There must be something they are hiding. Nothing's ever all right in that house.~ Abby thinks, but wisely keeps her opinion to herself. She tells Tom how to get to the restaurant.

They get in the car and Tom drives to the restaurant Abby recommended.

The place is perfect for Abby's purposes--intimate, romantic, a small dance floor and soft, slow music. "Well, Lisa's taste in restaurants is a lot better than her taste in men."

"I'll say." Tom says. "May I have this dance?"

"I'd love to."

They head for the dance floor, not noticing anyone else in the place.

Sometime during the second dance Abby begins to kiss Tom.

Tom gladly returns the kiss.

From his table, Elliot Randolph stares at the couple on the dance floor. ~Looks like Tom Bradford. But is that a man he's with? Hard to tell in this light, but it certainly looks it from here...~

"What is it, dear?" Elliot's wife Lillian asks him.

"That's one of my columnists dancing there," he points to the couple. "He used to be such a nice conservative family man."

"Oh my," Lillian exclaims. "Just goes to show that you never know."

"There are places in this town he could go to flaunt his preferences. He doesn't need to display them in place like this. I mean, what if one of his readers saw him? And to think I was considering submitting his name for the California Press Club awards."

"Elliot, don't let it get to you. We came here to relax."

"You're right, dear. But I will have to have a talk with him. I don't need him damaging the paper's reputation."

"Exactly." She kisses him.

On the dance floor, Tom and Abby are still kissing, and once in a while moving so they can pretend they're still actually dancing. "You know, if I'd known you'd respond like this, I'd have dressed like a boy sooner," Abby teases.

Tom is taken aback by this statement but soon recovers. "It's not because you're dressed like a boy, trust me."

"I don't know--public displays of affection twice in one evening. Don't remember getting those when I was in a dress," Abby continues to tease.

"Well if you don't remember then I'm going to have to show you affection more often."

"That sounds promising. But maybe you'd better show me a menu first."

"Good idea, I'm getting hungry myself."

"Food, Tom. I meant food." She gives him another kiss then takes his hand and leads him back to their table.

"I meant food," Tom says.

"So much for those public displays of affection..."

Tom kisses her again. "You were saying?"

Abby returns the kiss. "Don't remember."

Elliot Randolph is getting sick of watching his employee. "Dear, are you ready to go?" he asks his wife. "I've lost my appetite."

"I sure am," Lillian says.

As Elliot leaves, he sneaks another look at Tom and shakes his head.

Currently at home:

"Hey you guys, why does it look like the kitchen window glass is new?" Elizabeth inquires.

"I don't know," Nancy says as she pets Sam.

Elizabeth observes this. "Nancy, you're going to turn him into a lap dog. A year from now he'll be much bigger and wanting to sit on your lap."

"Oh lighten up Elizabeth. He's just a puppy," Nancy says.

Around 2 o'clock Joannie comes dragging in and goes straight to her room. "Suze?" she shakes her sister awake. "Hey, Susan, I want to ask you something."

"Whaaat"

"Susan, this is important!" Joannie chides. "Now wake up or I'll dump cold water in your bed.

"Okay, Okay I'm awake" Susan replies sitting up.

"Has Dad been very strange lately, or is it me?" Joannie asks.

"You noticed it too, huh?"

"Yeah." Joannie explains about Tom and Abby showing up at the bath house, and then leaving without her. "It's like he's on drugs or something. He's seriously out of it; it's got me a little worried. I mean, what if he does something stupid?"

"I know. It's got me worried too. What do you suppose is making Dad act like this?" asks Susan

"Male menopause," Joannie says. "Maybe he's trying to keep up with Abby. Can't be easy, being married to someone almost the same age as your kids. She's like us, and Dad--well, he sure isn't. Remember how crazy Dr. Max got when he and Daisy split up?"

"Yeah, I remember Dr. Max moved in. Then he and Dad hit the town and tried dating again."

"Dad's not acting much better now. I thought marriage settled people down," Joannie says, shaking her head.

"I thought it did too."

"So what do we do about him?" Joannie asks.

"I don't know Joannie. I don't think there's much we can do," replies Susan

"If he thought one of us was acting...different...he'd do something," Joannie insists.

"Do you think we ought to confront him or should we talk to Abby and see if she knows why dad is acting so weird."

"Dad," Joannie decides. "I think we all know why Dad's acting so weird, and Abby's the reason."

"I realize that. I don't know... maybe they just need to go on their honeymoon."

"Maybe. But if they do ever go and he comes back acting st, you'll come with me to talk to him?"

"Yeah, I'll go with you."

"Thanks. Now what are you doing up at this time of night?" Joannie asks, almost forgetting that she's the reason.

Susan hits Joannie with a pillow "Hello...did you forget? You woke me up" she says hitting her sister again with the pillow

"Hey, you want a fight? I'll give you a fight!" Joannie says, and hits her sister with a pillow.

Susan returns the hit. "Goodnight, Joannie," she says before slipping back under the covers.

The next morning, Donna comes rushing into Tom's office. "Mr. Bradford, what did you do recently?"

"Donna, what in the world are you talking about?"

"Mr. Randolph called. Not his secretary, either--the big Kahuna himself. And he sounds mad. And he wants to see you up in the executive suite. Now--or sooner. Want me to notify your next of kin?"

"I don't think that would be necessary," Tom goes upstairs to Elliot's office.

Elliot meets Tom at the doorway--his secretary is nowhere in sight--and tells Tom to sit down. Then he takes a seat behind his desk.

"Tom, I make it a habit not to inquire into my employees' personal lives. In fact, I try to know as little about them as I can," Elliot starts, with no preliminary pleasantries. "But sometimes I can't help finding out, and at those times...I have always pointed you out as an example of exemplary

Elliot pauses for breath, but not long enough to let Tom get a word in edgewise. "I understand that sometimes a new marriage can be stressful, that a man needs to find...outlets...for frustration, particularly when he marries someone who isn't exactly like him--much younger, say, or of a

Tom begins to protest, but Elliot waves him silent and pulls out Tom's personnel file.

"I had one of our reporters look into your wife's background when I met the two of you at the governor's ball. Discreetly, you understand. There wasn't much on her, but quite a bit about her father. You have to understand, Tom, that she's undoubtedly used to better than what you did to her last night. I see you never took the vacation you put in for after your wedding. Take the

Elliot stands and looks at Tom, expecting him to get up and leave.

"Elliot, I'll take the time off gladly, but know one thing. My personal life and what I choose to do with it are none of your business. By the way, I was with Abby at the restaurant last night." Tom walks out of the offices and goes to call Abby.

When Abby answers the phone and hears her husband's voice the first thing she asks is "What's wrong now?"

Tom tells her what Elliot had said.

Abby starts laughing. "He thought you were..." she laughs so hard she can't talk. When she regains control of her voice she sympathizes. "Poor Tom."

Tom grumbles. "The nerve of him assuming what he assumed without checking the facts."

"He's a publisher, Tom. He keeps all you journalists around to check the facts out for him."

"Yeah, but still. But he did give me a few days off."

"Now that sounds promising. Winter breaks' coming up, so I can get time off, too," Abby says.

Tom smiles. "Yes that sounds very promising." But then frowns when he remembers what winter break means. "Abby, is your winter break in February?"

"No, it's on either side of Christmas," Abby says, puzzled. "Isn't it only the colleges that get winter break in February?"

"That's a relief," Tom says.

"Want to share the relief? Is this another one of those Bradford traditions I'm learning to be wary of?"

"Abby, ever since Mary started college, every February during winter break my college attending daughters take complete leave of their senses, find the weirdest men they can find, and proceed to drive the whole household crazy. And this year Nancy will be joining them."

"You ought to ask my father for advice. He always managed well with the strange men I brought home. Though I have to admit, you were a little early to be considered a winter break guy."

Tom laughs. "What are you doing for lunch?"

"Well, I was just going to grab a sandwich," Abby says. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your boss."

"Actually my boss suggested that I take you out to lunch. Which I was planning to ask you anyway."

"In that case, I accept," Abby says. "Where should I meet you?"

He tells her and a little while later they meet there.

"Looking for some company, mister?" Abby repeats the come-on line she'd used the night before at the bar.

Tom smiles and kisses her. "I sure am."

"Good. I mean, I thought you might be waiting for your cute boyfriend or something."

"Not funny." They get a table.

"Sorry," Abby apologizes, but not really.

"It's ok, I'm just so mad at Elliot for talking to me that way," Tom says. "And hey did you notice that we have a new kitchen window? I wonder why?"

"Well, Joannie didn't get in until after we were home, so that probably rules her out. However it got broken, I'd bet David fixed it, so you could ask him. And don't let your stuck-up publisher steal your sense of humor."

"I'll ask him later. I'm not too worried about it since everyone is still in one piece. I'll try not to let him steal my sense of humor, but it's not easy."

"Anything I could do to make it easier?"

"Yeah. Can you beat him up?" Tom jokes.

Abby thinks about it. "If you don't mind my fighting dirty. I've wrestled a man or two to his knees before."

"Would you like to demonstrate later on tonight?"

"When is this time off you've been ordered to take supposed to start?" Abby answers.

"Immediately, but I can always change it to match your time off."

"I'm almost afraid to wait," Abby confesses. "Right now there don't seem to be any crises at home. My time off doesn't start for another week, and who knows what will happen before then?"

"Yeah, and if I take time off I have no schedule and we will be able to have more time together even though you won't be off yet."

"Maybe you could work part time this week, so our schedules match and you don't use up all your time off before mine even starts?" Abby suggest.

"Sounds good to me," Tom says.

"Wouldn't it be nice if we could actually take that honeymoon, if we're both going to have some time off?" Abby asks wistfully.

"It would be very nice, and I say we do it."

"Two questions: when and where?"

"When we have time off together during your winter break, and where do you want to go?"

"Well, you mentioned Tahoe. Or we could go to Carmel, though it might be a little cold there this time of year."

"Tahoe would be good," Tom says, not wanting to go where she and Frank had gone. Carmel is Abby and Frank's place and should stay their place.

"All right," Abby agrees, realizing from the look on Tom's face that she probably shouldn't have said anything about Carmel--though she knows they won't spend a lifetime avoiding places he went with Joan--after all, they live in her house, don't they?

Tom observes her expression. "Abby, I just don't want to bring back any painful memories for you."

Abby begins to say that Carmel isn't where the painful memories are, but decides it's not worth a fight. "It's all right. Besides, we should start making our own specplaces, shouldn't we?"

"Yes we should. And Tahoe sounds like a great place to start."

Abby smiles at him, but then begins to think of the practicalities. "Who will you leave in charge of the house?"

"I guess I can ask David to stay over and supervise, you know, keep an eye on things."

"I'd feel better about that after we find out if he knew about the new window and if so, why he didn't tell us about it."

"He was most likely protecting one of his siblings, and if one of them were in any real danger he wouldn't keep it from us."

Abby considers this. "You know, your sister offered to stay and watch the kids."

"David would be more reliable than her any day of the week."

"Is that a little sibling rivalry I hear?"

"Nope, it's the truth."

"You know her better than I," Abby says, trying to be non-committal. "Oh, and speaking of families, my parents wanted to know what our plans are for Christmas."

"I was thinking of staying home. Can they come up for Christmas?"

"I'll ask, but I don't know if my father could handle having to leave Pasadena twice in one year."

"Why not?"

"Pasadena is the only island of sanity in the state of California," Abby imitates her father.

Tom laughs.

"I'll try to get them to come up, though," Abby says. "It'd be nice for the kids to have at least one set of grandparents around for the holiday."

"Yeah, it sure would." Tom's face clouds over when he thinks of how Joan's parents have abandoned the kids. He has kept them informed of what's been going on, or at least tried to.

"Hey, I'm sorry," Abby says, realizing she's hit a sore spot.

He attempts a smile. "It's ok, Abby. It's just that Joan's parents make me so mad."

Abby has a momentary feeling of triumph--at least one way she's better than Joan--then feels guilty about that thought. "Some people I just don't understand."

"Neither do I," Tom sighs.

Abby silently entertains fantasies of calling Tom's in-laws and giving them a piece of her mind.

"What are you thinking?"

Abby shrugs, embarrassed at the vengeful turn her thoughts have taken--but how dare that couple throw away family like this?

Their desert comes and they eat it.

"Want to go home for awhile?" he asks provocatively.

Abby pretends to consider it. "Nancy's home, you know. What would she think, you and I come home in the middle of the day and go straight upstairs?"

"She would think that now isn't the time for her to interrupt us."

"In that case, what are we waiting for? Your boss did say you should be nice to me."

Nancy grins. "Come on, Sam, let's go outside." She takes him outside to play.

Joannie comes home from school to change clothes and meets Nancy outside. She stops to say hello and scratch Sam on the head. "What're you doing outside? You're not planning to run away, are you?"

"Of course not. I'm loved here," Nancy says. She had tried calling her grandparents earlier.

"What's wrong?" Joannie says, not in so much of a hurry she can't listen to her sister. "It can't be school, you're not back yet."

Nancy starts crying. She had called them earlier to let them know she's fine that it wasn't cancer, not knowing that Tom already did that. She tells Joannie this and adds, "And then Grandpa said, 'And I care because...' and hung up on me."

"I think Mom was adopted. I mean, no way she was really their kid. She would never have stopped loving us."

"Yeah I know." She cries harder. Sam climbs into her lap and rests his head on her lap.

"Did you tell Dad?" Joannie asks.

"Not yet, he and Abby are kind of busy right now."

"Again? She's going to give him a heart attack yet."

Nancy manages a laugh. "Joannie, that's not funny."

"Sorry, sorry," Joannie apologizes. "But at least he'd have fun getting it..."

"Most definitely."

"Maybe if they ever went on a honeymoon they'd get it out of their systems."

"Yeah maybe."

"Speaking of which, remember that pool I wanted to start before the wedding? I think Abby's earned the money," Joannie says. "You won't believe what happened last night."

"Try me." ~Anything to get my mind off that phone call.~

"Take a wild guess where they went out to last night," Joannie teases.

"Mars, Jupiter maybe?"

"A little further out than that," Joannie smirks.

"Oh tell me already or I'll start crying again." Nancy teases back.

"Sheesh, talk about blackmail...Well, remember yesterday when I came home to get my costume? A bunch of the guys and I worked up this program and we started to do an act at the front room of one of the bathhouses downtown. And guess who came to see it last night?"

Nancy eyes grow wide. "You're kidding me?! Dad and Abby?"

"Yep--and Abby was dressed up like a guy, hair slicked back and all. And she looked pretty good. Even the bar owner thought so. And Dad didn't blink an eye about my being there."

"I never would have thought."

"I was hoping Abby would drag him into this century, but I never thought she'd get that far," Joannie admits. "You know, it makes me kind of worried."

"I know what you mean, but maybe there was another reason for them being there."

"Well, Dad said that he came to check up on me, and I can buy that. What I can't believe is that he and Abby left after the first set and didn't drag me out with them. And Dad wasn't waiting up for me last night, and he didn't corner me this morning, and he's not waiting for me to come home from school--it's like it's OK with him. I tell you, something is seriously up with him."

"Maybe he's growing up?"

"Dad????"

"It's possible. Either that or he's waiting to yell at you at a different time."

"I didn't think about that," Joannie says. "You sure he and Abby are still busy upstairs? Maybe I should just forget about going inside..."

"Well they were, I don't know if they still are. I can distract them by telling them what happened on the phone."

"Thanks. I'll be in and out--just have to grab a tie from Dad's closet. Someone spilled beer on mine last night."

"No problem." They go inside and find Tom and Abby kissing in the kitchen. Joannie heads upstairs. "Hey, are you two still busy?" she asks.

Abby breaks off the kiss, but keeps her arms around Tom. "Not if you need us."

Nancy tells them about the phone call. "I just don't understand why they hate me so much."

Tom hugs her. "They don't hate you, honey. They're just being idiots."

~OK, that's it. They can insult Tom--that's normal in-law behavior. But the kids?~ "Tom? I just remembered--I have to make a call. I'm going to use your study, OK?"

"Ok," Tom replies and tries to comfort Nancy.

Abby goes into Tom's study, shuts and locks the doors, and digs through the desk until she finds Tom's address book. She dials Joan's parents and waits for someone to pick up.

Paul Wells soon answers the phone. "Hello?"

"Mr. Wells? This is Abby Bradford. I'm your grandchildren's stepmother," Abby introduces herself, her tone already strident.

"Mrs. Bradford, leave us alone. We've made our choice."

"And it's a rotten one. From everything I've heard about your daughter, she wouldn't have wanted you to hurt her children, no matter how much you may be hurting."

"Children are resilient; they'll bounce back and forget us in time. I never told my daughter to marry that man and have eight children, anyway. If Joan had listened to me..."

"She wouldn't have had 25 years of happiness with a man she loved. You're really something, Mr. Wells. I just can't figure why the kids love you so much."

"I didn't ask for that, either. If they don't stop calling here I'm having the number changed."

"You really are a pathetic, bitter old man, aren't you? How Joan grew up the way she did around you...Don't worry about the kids. My parents will be more than glad to give them the love you obvious don't have to spare," Abby says.

~I can't see them; it hurts too much. I see Joan in all of them.~ "Mrs. Bradford, please don't call here again."

"I won't, don't worry. But if you ever wake up enough to see what you're doing to your own grandchildren, you know the number here. They need you, you know, and you're being awfully selfish."

Paul hangs up the phone and starts crying. "I'm sorry, Joan. I can't talk to them or see them, it's way too soon."

Abby stares at the phone for a minute, not really believing she's been hung up on, and then calls her own parents to cry on their shoulders.

"Sandra Sue, what's the matter?" Katherine asks.

"How can people be so selfish, Mom?" Abby asks. "I just spoke to Joan's father--you know, they didn't even want to hear that Nancy's all right? They haven't spoken to Tommy since the funeral, and they won't talk much to Tom, either. Don't they care about their own grandchildren?"

"Oh dear." Her face clouds over. "Honey, there are some people in this world who no matter how much you try you can't make them have hearts." ~How dare they turn their backs on those children.~ She remembers how she and Harry had waited by the phone for Nancy's biopsy results. "And they're the ones who are going to lose. Children remember who was there for them and who wasn't."

"I know, Mom," Abby dries her eyes. "I just hate to see Tom and the kids hurting over this. Oh, by the way--Tom wanted to know if the two of you wanted to come up here for Christmas."

"We'd love to." ~We're definitely coming now, if I have to drag Harry kicking and screaming to Sacramento.~ She decides to have a talk with him when he gets home from playing golf. "And just let them know that we love them very much. You know I've always wanted a grandchild, and having eight of them is wonderful."

"I love you, Mom," Abby says, grateful that she has her parents and didn't have to grow up with the Wellses.

"I love you too, honey," Katherine says. Harry comes home. "Your father just walked in. Do you want to talk to him?"

"You'd probably get further with him than I would," Abby says. "He's not going to like leaving Pasadena for Christmas."

"Doesn't matter; he's going to anyway. Give the kids and Tom a hug for me. I love you."

They say their good-byes and hang up.

"What was that about?" Harry asks his wife.

"Harry, we are going to spend Christmas in Sacramento with our daughter and grandchildren," Katherine tells him.

"That squirrel cage? Why can't they just spend the holiday here where it's civilized?"

"Because they need us there." She tells him why Abby had called in the first place. "Can you imagine what a blow that is to a child? No matter what age they are."

"Even poor Thomas--no wonder he puts up with you fussing over the children."

"So you'll come to Sacramento with me willingly, then."

"If I agree to come, does it have to be willingly?" Harry tries to bargain.

"No, but you have to act like it is and not let on," she says.

"All right. But I reserve the right to pick on my son-in-law. It's my duty as Sandra Sue's father."

Katherine smiles. "Ok."

Abby unlocks the study doors and goes back to the kitchen to check on Nancy and Tom, just missing Joannie, who's snuck down the steps and out of the house.

"As hard as I try to understand why they're acting that way I never can make heads or tails of it," Nancy says as Abby walks in.

Abby sits down next to her. "Some things you just can never understand; maybe your grandparents are one of them."

"Yeah, but they used to be so nice."

"Some people don't handle loss well," Abby tries to excuse them, even though she's still fuming from her conversation with Joan's father.

"Handling loss well is one thing. Turning your back on family is another."

Abby shrugs, knowing it's not her place to criticize Joan's family, and hugs Nancy.

Nancy returns the hug. Which gets a small whimper from Sam. He's still on her lap and wants attention from both her and Abby. Tom laughs.

"Now you laugh," Abby says. "Nancy, you and I were supposed to go shopping for dresses --remember?" She looks at Tom to see if he's cringing yet.

Tom is cringing but trying to hide it.

"Oh yeah, when do you want to go? I don't have to go back to school til next Wednesday."

"Tom, what's your schedule for this week? Unless you want to come with us."

"Um that's ok, I'm working tomorrow from 10am to 3pm."

"And I get off at 1:30," Abby says. "Nancy, think you'll be up to a shopping spree tomorrow?"

"Yeah I'll be up to it." She says.

"Good," Abby says while looking at Tom with a very wicked gleam in her eye.

Tom returns the look. Nancy observes both of them.

"Hey, do you think Dr. Max would object if I took Sam to the park?" Nancy says.

"Think you could be careful enough with your shoulder?" Abby asks, hoping the answer is yes.

"Yeah and when we're playing Sam avoids that shoulder."

"Tom?" Abby asks his opinion.

"Ok, but if your shoulder starts bothering you come home, and if you can't make it home call."

"Ok," Nancy takes Sam to the park.

Once Nancy leaves, Abby puts her arms around Tom. "That was terrible of us."

"Nancy understands, don't worry. Why do you think she offered to take Sam to the park?" He kisses her.

"You do realize they'll expect reciprocity some day," Abby warns.

"And they'll get it, but only when they're married."

"Hmmm. I seem to remember some kids being expected to understand locked doors and women upstairs, and fathers coming home late at night..." Abby teases.

"So do I." He kisses her. "Want to go upstairs?"

"Thought you'd never offer," Abby says and kisses him.

He smiles and takes her upstairs.

About ten minutes later the phone rings.

Tom picks it up. "Hello and make it quick."

"Is this Joannie Bradford's father?"

"Yes it is." Tom says frantically. ~Oh no something must have happened.~ "Why, is she all right?"

"Actually, no. She asked me to call and tell you she isn't feeling well, that she'd like someone to come and pick her up. I can't believe this--talk about rotten timing. You wouldn't happen to have a singer you could spare?" the man says.

~Tom considers but decides against it, bad enough Joannie performs there. He doesn't want his wife performing there. "Sorry no I don't. Tell her I'll be right there."

Abby, who has been waiting patiently through the interruption, gets up and starts to dress.

�

Tom eventually hangs up the phone. "Joannie's sick, will you come with me to get her?"

"Of course. Where is she?"

"The same place we went yesterday." Tom tells her on their way out.

"Now I know you're bucking for the father of the year award," Abby says as she writes a quick note letting Nancy know they had to go out and would be back soon.

Tom laughs and then they leave. Later at the place they went to yesterday. Tom approaches Joannie. Feels her forehead and checks her over. "Honey what's wrong? Does anything hurt?"

"Everything hurts. Don't tell my boss, but I don't think the food here is so good." Joannie puts a hand over her mouth and rushes off towards the bathroom.

The bar owner comes up to Tom and Abby. "And here you said you didn't switch partners and dance," he accuses.

"Oh, honey," Abby teases, "you were out with *him* again?"

"Well you said you didn't mind."

"You never take me anywhere," Abby pretends to pout while the bar owner stares at them.

"You never want to go anywhere. You always want to stay home." He counters.

"That's only because..." Abby stops suddenly as she gets a look at what's happening in the corner nearest her. "I didn't know two people could *do* that," she whispers.

Tom also looks and cringes.

"Remind me why we didn't drag Joannie out of here yesterday?" Abby asks, looking around at the other dark corners.

"Because she wasn't doing anything wrong she was just performing."

"OK," Abby says, dubious. "Remind me never to feel guilty if Joannie catches us kissing in the kitchen. Or just about anything else..."

Joannie comes out of the bathroom, wiping her mouth, when there's a sharp whistle and couples (and other groupings) rush apart.

"Oh my." Tom says. "Come on let's get out of here." He says to Joannie and Abby.

Joannie leans down to grab her bag, and by the time she's straightened up, the cops are in the doorway. "All right, everyone, you knowthe procedure. Someone turn on the lights in this joint," the lead officer says.

One of the officers turns on the light. Tom is almost out the door with Joannie and Abby when they're stopped.

"And where do you think you're going? Get back with the rest," he pushes them a little. "Jeez, you'd think you guys could do a better job if you insist on dressing like women. Borrow something from Flip Wilson, all right?"

"Don't push them!!" Tom goes into protective mode.

"Officer, there's been a misunderstanding..." Abby tries to say.

Joannie just throws up all over the cop.

His partner laughs. "Looks like this one has had too much to drink."

"No she hasn't. She's ill and you can't take her to jail in her condition." Tom says.

*She's* just going to have to go into the tank like everyone else. Come on, outside, mister."

The cops drag them outside and cuff them and put them in the Paddy Wagon.

Abby and Joannie sit very quietly, looking at Tom, waiting for the explosion.

"This is an outrage let us out of here!! We have a sick child!!"

"If you had a kid in there with you, mister, you are in serious trouble," the cop tells him.

"She's an adult!! But she'll always be my child!!"

"Great." Tom grumbles.

Abby leans over to check on Joannie. "How are you doing?"

"If I have to smell those donuts..."

"It won't be long. We'll get this all straightened out at the station house. Right, Tom?"

"That's right, we'll have you home in no time honey." Tom says.

Abby has an awful thought. "Tom, does the _Register_ have someone working the police beat?"

"Yes why?" It dawns on him. "Oh."

"Your publisher's gonna love this one..."

Tom sighs and closes his eyes hoping that none of this is really happening.