"Pretty good, I'm getting immunity however they want me for a stakeout." Tells her about that and wonders if she should tell her about the
lawyer. "How bout you do you want to talk about it?"

"What's there to say? Mary states "I wasn't accepted to medical school."

"What?! You got to be kidding me, are they stupid or something? You're the smartest student I know."

"Well apparently they didn't think so." Mary says as a tear trickles down her face.

Nancy reaches over and hugs her.

"Well, I guess you won't have to worry about me leaving Sacramento anytime soon."

"Yeah but I don't want that at the price of your happiness."

"Thanks." Mary says "I just don't know what I am going to do now."

"What you are going to do is apply to some more medical schools. I'm not going to let you give up your dreams about becoming a doctor."

"Nancy, I appreciate your help I really do but I just need time to think."

"Ok," She leaves the room and goes up to the attic to sort through some things.

In Joannie's room: "Joannie I'm sorry you feel that way and I will make and effort not to do that anymore. Now what is really bothering you?"

"Exactly what I said. Whenever Abby's in the area it's like your brain turns off. You weren't like that with Mom."

"Joannie you weren't around yet when your mom and I were newlyweds. So how can you know?" Tom says.

"I don't need to know. I know how you were with Mom my whole life. You're worse than Tommy; at least he doesn't bring it home. You're
acting like you've completely forgotten about Mom, now that you've replaced her."

This shocks Tom. "Joannie I haven't forgotten about your mom. This isn't easy for me either trying to sort everything out in my mind. And Abby
isn't a replacement, she's my wife and I love her very much. I still love your mom very much and I always will."

"We're happy for you that you've found someone new to love, Dad. Really, we are. You have a new wife, but don't try making her into our new
mother; you promised us you wouldn't."

"How am I doing that? By her sitting in your mother's old chair at dinner. Joannie I'm not doing that to replace your mom. It's the way
it's always been done. The husband sits at one end and the wife at the other end."

"Says who? Tom Bradford, family patriarch! This is a new marriage, you don't have to follow the same old rules. If you really cared about the
whole family, you'd see that!" Joannie gets up and starts to leave the room before she realizes that she's got nowhere to go, since they are in
her room.

"Joannie I love you more than you'll probably ever know and I'll do my best to make it easier on all of you. If I didn't care I wouldn't do a
thing about this. I wouldn't be here talking to you right now."

"Talk's cheap, Dad."

Tom's face clouds over he's about to say something but leaves the room instead and goes to pout in his study.

After that Nancy goes downstairs sees Abby in the kitchen with her back turned and is afraid to approach her just yet. What would she say.
Elizabeth glances up from what she's doing.

"Hey Nance come on in we can use some help with dinner." She says.

She cringes inside and comes in to help with dinner.

David is there by now he goes upstairs and knocks on Mary's door.

"Who is it?" Mary asks

"It's the hall monitor!! Young lady do you have a man in that room?" David says.

Mary laughs and opens the door and replies "Darn you just missed him."

He pretends to check the room. "Yep I just did, so how are you doing?" He asks.

"Fine." Mary says with a crack in her voice.

He glances at her. "Little sis you're not a very good liar, now what's wrong?"

Mary can't tell the story again so she goes in-between her mattress and pulls out a letter and hands it to him.

He reads it, sighs, and hugs her. "Mary it's their loss. There are other schools. I know you really wanted to go this one though."

"There aren't other schools; this is the only one I applied to." Mary says

"So you'll apply to some more." David suggests.

"David like I told Nancy earlier; I just want to be alone to think," Mary says as she opens her bedroom door.

"Yeah I'll be talking to Nancy soon to see how it went today, but right now I'm not going anywhere. Not when you're so upset."

"David......" Mary says "I'll be fine really. I just need some time to figure what I am going to do next."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure." Mary replies "Tell everyone I am not hungry and I'll eat later."

"Ok," he hugs her again and leaves the room. He goes to the kitchen. "Hey how did it go today?" He relays the information about Mary not
coming down for dinner.

Nancy tells him everything and David goes pale.

"And you and Dad are ok with this?" He says to Abby.

"David it's the only way. Dad went ballistic at first but we convinced him," Nancy says.

Abby hasn't said much of anything not directly related to dinner preparation since her outburst to Elizabeth, but David is the one
Bradford kid who hasn't been on her case. "Without Nancy they can't put him away, and if they don't put him away, he'll just keep coming back
around."

"Good point but I still don't like it."

"You don't have to like it just wish me luck," Nancy says.

David smiles. "Ok, good luck."

When dinner is cooking Abby asks Elizabeth's help in setting the table, she deliberately sets a place at the foot of the table, opposite Tom.

Elizabeth smiles at this glad Abby isn't giving in to whoever opened their big mouth.

Abby sees Elizabeth's smile and smiles back, glad to know that at least some of the kids aren't hassling her.

"I'm not very hungry," Nancy whispers to Elizabeth. "I think I'll eat later, save me some ok?" She goes back upstairs and slams her bedroom
door. ~I should have never said anything. That's the last time I listen to Joannie.~

After the table is set Abby goes to tell Tom dinner is almost ready.

"Ok," Tom fakes a smile and goes with her to eat dinner.

Joannie comes downstairs and sees the place set in front of her mother's seat. "I'm going out to dinner," she announces to anyone in hearing
range. "Sorry I forgot to say anything before."

Abby brings in the food and sits down. She debates mentioning the absence of the three girls and looks to Tom for guidance.

"Joannie had to go out to dinner. Mary has other things on her mind and isn't hungry. Now why isn't Nancy here?"

"She's not hungry." Elizabeth says. "She said she'll eat later. She had her guilty look."

"Must have had advance warning about my cooking," Abby tries to joke to cover her hurt.

Elizabeth laughs. "No she likes your cooking." A thought occurs to her and her face clouds over with anger. "I'll be right back."

"Well, that's four down," Abby says, looking at the two boys and  Susan. "A few minutes more and I might empty the whole place out."

"The food is good Abby," Tommy says, trying to ease the tension.

Nicholas nods in agreement.

Susan also nods in agreement. "This is real good meal Abby."

Elizabeth goes upstairs to her and Nancy's bedroom. "So it was you!!"

Nancy glances at her like she's grown a second head. "What are you talking about?"

"You hurt Abby's feelings. You... you." She's about to hit her but Nancy stops her. "A Bradford never hits another Bradford remember. I think
you'd better calm down."

A few minutes later Elizabeth returns with Nancy.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to dinner on time Abby." Nancy says as she sits down.

"Yeah she had a problem but she's over it now." Elizabeth says.

"I'm glad to hear that," Abby says, though she doesn't really believe it.

"All right that's it, I think we need to talk about what has happened today," Tom begins.

"We're short a few people for a family meeting," Abby notes.

"Nancy's the one who talked to you today not them, and Nancy I think you owe Abby an apology. After that we can talk it out."

"Dad can't we do this later. Just the three of us."

"Nancy, I thought you were speaking for your siblings, not just for yourself, so if there's anything to be said, I think they ought to get a
chance to say it for themselves," Abby says.

"They're not here right now at least I don't think." Nancy looks to her other siblings that are at the table to see their opinion on things.

Tommy just shrugs and Nicholas doesn't have a clue what is going on.

"Don't drag me into it." Elizabeth says. "You're the one who was a complete idiot."

"I was an idiot!! What am I supposed to do go through my life never talking about things that are bothering me!! Give me a break Elizabeth!!
Stop passing judgement on me!! Abby I'm sorry if I hurt you today." Nancy says.

"I told you this wouldn't work," Abby says to Tom. She grabs some of the empty serving dishes and takes them back into the kitchen.

"That's the last time I confide in anyone," Nancy says under her breath, leaves the room, and goes outside.

"That's the last time I confide in anyone," Elizabeth imitates Nancy and laughs. Tom glares at her and he stops then he goes after Abby.

Abby is busy refilling the plates. She turns around at the noise of someone entering the kitchen and then turns back to what she's doing. "I
don't think I can do this. I thought we'd talked this all through, that everything was settled, that they'd give me some time, but all I'm doing
is tearing your family apart."

"Abby you're not tearing them apart. Elizabeth and Nancy have been fighting for years, but they always make up. But Nancy did try to
apologize to you. She does feel bad about. Probably wishes she never said anything."

"Oh, I'm sure she wishes she'd never said anything. But that's a long way from not being upset that I'm here. Elizabeth had to drag her down
to the dinner table because I'm sitting at it. Mary didn't even bother to come down and Joannie walked out. I'd call that tearing your family
apart."

"Joannie walked out because she's ticked at me. I don't know why Mary is upstairs and I don't know why Nancy wouldn't come down at first but I do
know that she did come down."

"I suppose you're right; maybe I am overreacting. I shouldn't have thought having a wedding would make everyone one big happy family. It'll
take time, right?" Abby says.

Tom nods and takes her in his arms. "Yes it'll take time."

"Hey, remember? We're not supposed to show affection in public," Abby says, and then whispers in Tom's ear, "I'll meet you upstairs after
dinner."

Tom smiles.

Tommy yells into the kitchen, "Is there dessert?"

"I guess this means we skip seconds, huh?" Abby says.

"Yep," Tom looks around. "Did Nancy go back to her bedroom?"

Elizabeth looks at him strangely. "Didn't you hear the front door open and close when she left again?"

"No I didn't. I'd better go and get her." He starts to leave.

"No," Abby says. "You serve dessert--it's in the oven. I'll go get her." She doesn't wait for an answer; she goes to the door and outside and
calls Nancy's name.

"I'm over here!!" Nancy says from the front retaining wall where she's sitting.

"Hey there," Abby says, and sits down next to her. "I think we need to talk."

"I thought you didn't want to," Nancy answers.

"I guess I was wrong," Abby admits. "I don't want the fight that was brewing back there, that's for sure."

"I guess I really made a mess of things." Nancy throws a rock onto the dirt road.

"Maybe we both did."

"Why, what did you do? I'm the one that felt the need to be honest no matter who got hurt."

"And I'm the one who got hurt, even though you were just trying to tell me how you feel. I know you didn't mean to hurt me; I guess I just
overreacted."

"You had every right to overreact. I really am sorry, you know."

"And I'm sorry I made you feel like you shouldn't have said anything. It surprised me is all. These past two days I've been thinking about your
father, I suppose, and not really about the rest of the family. Although I do have to admit this is not what I thought the first week of marriage
would be like."

Nancy manages a smile. "Yeah really, you two should be on your honeymoon."

"Oh, that's OK. This is certainly a more realistic introduction into family life," Abby laughs.

Nancy laughs. "Sure is."

"So. You have any suggestions for how we deal with this? Because I don't want you, and Joannie and Mary I presume, feeling uncomfortable, but I
don't want to look over my shoulder all the time, wondering who might take offense."

"I can't think of anything that would be fair to everyone around. Maybe I just need to not freak out every time something happens that shocks
me. I just need to calm down and not take it to heart. I don't want anyone feeling uncomfortable or you to have to look over your shoulder
either."

"But you can't help the way you feel, and just saying you shouldn't freak out doesn't mean you won't," Abby says. "I will try to be a little
more discreet, but it isn't going to be easy."

"I know I won't be and I'll try not to freak out anyway."

"OK. Look, can I be real honest with you?"

"Sure."

"I'm not going to try to replace your mother. I couldn't do that. But I am as much your father's wife as your mother was, and whatever your
father expects of a wife is what I'll try to do, whether it's cooking meals or sitting across from him at the table or greeting him when he
comes home."

"Fair enough, but where does that leave us?"

"With a father who loves you and a stepmother who'd like to make things as easy as she can for everyone and a family that's going through some
growing pains," Abby says.

"In other words an average day in the life of the Bradford family," Nancy says.

"Yep." Abby stands. "You ready to come inside? If we don't go in soon, your father won't leave any pie for us."

"Yeah I'm starving, and I'm not missing the pie either," Nancy says as she also gets up and returns inside with Abby.

Later that night, while everyone else is sleeping, Tom goes down to the kitchen after hearing a noise and finds his oldest daughter sitting at
the kitchen table staring off into space with a very sad look on her face. He frowns with worry and sits down beside her.

"Mary what's wrong?" He asks.

"What makes you think something is wrong?" Mary says hiding her fears.

"Honey I can tell that something is bothering you. Now what is it?"

"Dad, your daughter failed." Mary says as she starts to cry

Tom hugs her. "What do you mean?" He gently asks.

"I wasn't accepted into medical school." Mary replies with her head on his shoulder.

"What? They couldn't have all turned you down." He says stunned.

"Look for yourself." Mary says as she pulls the letter out of her robe pocket

Tom reads it. "Honey I am so sorry. I know you really wanted to go there. Do you want me to call them and talk to them. Tell them they're
making a big mistake."

"No Dad, please. I am just going to have to face the fact I am not smart enough to be a doctor."

"Mary don't say that. You are smart enough to be anything you want to be."

"Not according to them." Mary says

"Oh the heck with them. They must have been drunk when they looked over your application. They need to look at it again, sober."

Mary laughs and says "Thanks Dad; but the letter speaks for itself. I am going back to bed and I bet you that someone is waiting for you also."

"Mary will you please give me time to see if I can do something and if that doesn't pan out will you apply at the other schools?"

"Dad, don't do anything. It's over. I wasn't good enough for them."

Tom sighs in frustration as Mary goes back to bed. He then returns to Abby. "Abby are you awake? Hey, Abby," Tom gently nudges her.

Abby wakes up and stretches. "I'm awake now."

"Abby we have a problem, a very serious one." He tells her about Mary and shows her the letter.

Abby sits up and reads the letter. "It says she's been put on a waiting list, although it does look like she's pretty far down."

"Yeah, too far down for her tastes and mine."

Abby reads the rest of the letter and starts to laugh. "I do not believe this. Ted Kellogg. Who would have ever thought?"

"You know him?"

"Well, I did. We were, um," Abby searches for a polite euphemism, "close friends."

"Exactly how close were you?"

"Close," Abby repeats.

"Oh."

"I could call Ted up and talk to him about Mary..." Tom's reaction registers. "Tom, you're my only 'close friend' now."

Tom smiles. "I know, but your old close friends keep popping up."

Abby frowns. "You're right, they do seem to, don't they? I guess that's what comes of going out with the sort of men my parents approved of.
They turn into lawyers and medical school admissions deans. Ted Kellogg, Dean of Admissions--that's a tough one to believe..."

"Abby, he's not like Andrew is he?"

Abby starts to chew on her thumbnail. "Ted was a long time ago, Tom. Before I even started dating Frank. I'm sure he's grown up. And Andrew
was never a friend of mine--we went out on one date. I threw him over for you, if you'll recall."

"Does he know you're married yet?"

"Andrew? I told him Nancy is my step-daughter. I assume he's intelligent enough to realize that means I'm married to you. You heard that. Why are
you acting this way?"

"No not Andrew, Ted," Tom says. "I just want to know if he knows that we are married."

"Why would Ted Kellogg know that you and I are married?" Abby asks, confused. "I'm not even sure if he knows that Frank and I got married.
We sort of lost touch the last year of college; I haven't thought about him in years, not until I saw his name at the bottom of Mary's letter."

"Oh ok, I was just wondering. And I do think it's a good idea to call him. Maybe he can do something about this."

"I'll call him first thing Monday morning," Abby promises. "And were you just wondering? Sounded more like you were being jealous."

"I'm not jealous, I don't even know the guy," Tom says.

"I didn't mean of Ted specifically, or even Andrew Merriam. I meant about any man who isn't you," Abby says.

"Do I really act that way?"

"Not much," Abby teases. "I can hardly tell, except for the green around your gills."

"I'm sorry, but I can't help it."

"What do you mean, you can't help it?"

"Well, you're so beautiful," Tom says trying to get himself out of the dog house.

"And?" Abby asks, enjoying watching Tom try to squirm out of trouble.

"Well, don't you get jealous sometimes?"

"No!" Abby says. "I trust you. Wasn't I the one who encouraged you to go to your stag party? If I were the jealous type I wouldn't have done
that."

"Abby you're not the one I don't trust. It's them."

"It takes two to do anything for you to be jealous of, Tom."

"You're right Abby, I'm being an idiot."

"Yes, you are," Abby agrees. "Almost half the world is male; if you get like this anytime I mention a man, we're going to have a serious
problem."

"Yeah I know, I'll work on that. But in the meantime, making up will be good."

Abby laughs. "You're incorrigible."

Tom laughs and just kisses her.

Monday, November 14:

Abby calls her old friend Ted Kellogg.

"Whom may I say is calling?" the secretary asks.

~Everyone else has a secretary. One day I'll have one--besides Elizabeth answering the phones, that is.~ "Sandra Sue Mitchell," Abby says, using
the name by which Ted might remember her. ~Maybe I'm schizo. Sandra Sue Mitchell, Abby Abbott, Abby Bradford--some days I forget who I'm
supposed to be.~

"One minute, please."

Soon Ted answers the phone. "Lady it's been too long how are you?" he smiles.

"I'm good," Abby says. "And how about you? Dean of admissions to a medical school? When did you join the establishment?"

"A long time ago. To what do I owe the pleasure of hearing your voice again?"

"Actually, I have a favor to ask you," Abby admits.

"Sure what is it?" he asks.

"My stepdaughter, Mary Bradford, applied to your school, and was wait-listed."

~Ouch.~ "Stepdaughter eh? Who's the lucky guy?"

"Tom Bradford. I don't think you'd know him," Abby says. "Speaking of spouses, though--how's Evelyn?"

"We're divorced, what happened with you and Frank?"

"We got married--for one year. Then I was a widow for nine."

"Abby I'm sorry." He says sincerely.

Abby takes a deep breath. "Thanks. But I'm remarried now, with all the middle class trappings we all swore we'd never sink to--a house, a
mortgage, a house full of kids..."

"And speaking of one of those kids. You want me to look over her application, right?"

"Yeah," Abby says. "She's been through so much lately--her mother died, suddenly, less than a year ago, and now her father's remarried...She
really is very bright, and she certainly is dedicated to being a doctor, and she had her heart set on your school. She didn't even apply anywhere
else, she was so sure she'd get in."

"I see, well consider it done, on one condition. I have a new lady in my life now and I'd like you and Tom to join us for dinner the next time
your in Frisco or the next time we're in Sacramento. I'll do it anyway, but it would be nice to get together and to meet your husband."

"I'd like that," Abby says, and they exchange home numbers so they can keep in touch.

"Good, so is Mary to know that you called me?"

"I don't think it's a secret," Abby says. "Tom and I discussed it; I assume he discussed it with her, and even if not, the kids all know
their father would do anything to help them. I suppose that applies to me, too, by extension."

"By extension?"

"I mean, now that I'm married to Tom, they'll have to expect I'll do anything I can to help them, too. Although with eight kids, that could
turn into a full time job."

"I can only imagine. It's been real nice talking to you again but I have to get back to work."

"Sure. Ted--thank you." They say their goodbyes and hang up.

Afterwards, Abby goes upstairs and knocks on Mary's door.

"Come In." Mary says sitting on her bed staring out her window.

"Mary," Abby says. "I have great news. There's an excellent chance that you might get to go to that medical school you wanted next fall."

"What?" Mary says not understanding what Abby just said.

"See, the dean of admissions is an old and dear friend of mine, and I just spoke to him. He said that he'd review your application."

"You didn't" Mary says getting angry.

"Yes, I did," Abby says, not hearing the tone of Mary's voice. "And he said he would have your application reconsidered."

"I can't believe what I am hearing." Mary says starting to pace back and forth. "You had no right to do that."

"I had no right?" Abby says. "What do you mean, I had no right?"

"You had no right going behind my back and interfering." Mary replies nearly screaming.

"Oh, I see. Before I do something for you, I have to beg your permission, is that it?" Abby replies in the same tone.

"Yes and you don't have my permission." Mary says screaming

Tom enters upon hearing the shouting. "What's going on in here?"

"Did you know about this?" Mary asks

"Did I know about what?"

"I was just telling Mary my good news about Ted Kellogg..." Abby starts, bewildered by her step-daughter's reaction.

"It is not good news." Mary states

Abby turns to Tom. "You told me she was upset. You said she hadn't applied anywhere else." She turns back to Mary, "So how is finding out
that you probably can get in not good news?"

"Mary I thought you'd be happy about this."

"Happy?...didn't I tell you the other night not to do anything?"

"Mary I couldn't just stand by and not do anything and neither could Abby, we wanted to help."

" I didn't get in on my own merits." Mary replies and grabs her coat and says "You obviously don't understand." she then runs out of the house.

Tom sighs and hugs Abby.

"I thought I was helping," Abby says, bewildered. "Speaking of which--when is Nancy meeting with Alan, and are you going along?"

"She's going to call him in a little while to set it up." He says in a worried tone. "If anything happens to her..."

"Mary's upset with us, Nancy may be in trouble, Nicholas is going to have surgery. Just an ordinary week in the life of the Bradford family,
huh?" Abby says and lays her head on Tom's shoulder.

He wraps his arms around her. "Yep," He sighs.

Nancy calls Alan and tells him that she can't take anymore she needs another fix. He agrees to meet her at the usual meeting place in four
hours. After awhile she hangs up.

"Did you get that?" She asks the detectives.

"Yes we did and we'll have everything set up in time for your meeting." He tells her.

The police get everything ready for the sting and then twenty minutes before the meeting Nancy leaves in the sedan with the police van
following at a safe distance with a very nervous Tom inside.

Alan arrives a few minutes after Nancy does.

"I'd knew you'd call me again sooner or later. No one ever stays away for long." Alan says with a smug look on his face.

~Oh what a jerk.~ "Enough with the formalities. I'm dying here let's just get this over with."

"Ok already relax." He takes out a bottle of pills and she pays them and takes the pills.

Seconds later the police move in and Alan is busted. While they're cuffing him he glares at Nancy.

"You're are so dead now. If I get out I'm going to kill you. No one does this to me!!" He tries to lunge at her but the police pull him back,
read the Miranda, and take him in.

Nancy is trembling by the time Tom approaches her and puts an arm around her.

"Did you hear what he said?" She asks quietly.

"Yes I did." Tom says unnerved by the threat. "But don't you worry I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He hugs her.

Mary comes home after calming down considerably and goes back to her room.

Joannie knocks on her door. "Hey, Mary, could I borrow your black...well, don't you look cheerful. What's wrong?"

"You mean weren't here this morning when the house shook?"

"Nope. I had an early class," Joannie says. "Who did what to whom, and were ambulances required?"

Mary explains to Joannie about the conversations that took place earlier.

"This is getting ridiculous. They had no right to do that."

"That's what I said only I yelled." Mary says

Joannie laughs. "So what did they say? What are they going to do about it?"

"I don't know. I haven't gotten the courage to talk to them yet." Mary says "I said some pretty awful things."

The front door opens and closes and Abby calls out, "Anyone home?"

"Now's your chance," Joannie tells Mary.

Mary takes a deep breath and goes down the stairs. "Hi, can we talk?"

"Sure," Abby says, a bit hesitantly.

They go into Tom's study "I am sorry the way I acted this morning. But I ask of you to tell your old and dear friend to back off; OK?"

"OK. But just let me explain why I did what I did."

"OK" Mary says

"When I heard how heart-broken you were," Abby explains, "and I saw that Tom couldn't do anything, I wanted to help both of you out. And, I
suppose, I wanted to prove myself to you..."

"That's very nice of you but you and Dad aren't always going to be around to patch things up for me."

"I know, but I thought getting into this school was really important to you."

"It is but not that way. Don't you see if I let you and Dad pull strings. I will never know if I could have made it on my own."

"Is that more important to you than getting into a particular school?" Abby asks.

"Very Much and if I can't get into Med school I'll just have to find something else to do." Mary states

Abby nods. "I guess I'll just have to learn how to stand back, you know, and handle things on your own, then."

"Well, don't stand too far back. I might need your help someday and Abby you don't have to prove yourself. You are dong fine."

"Well, when you want help, just ask. Like I'm asking now. See, I have to give this speech in two weeks and I need someone to listen to it and
tell me if it's as bad as I'm afraid it is, and your father's heard it so many times he's got it memorized..."

"Sure, no problem." Mary sits in a chair.

Abby pulls her speech out of her bag and proceeds to bore Mary to tears.

"It sounds good Abby, if I knew what the heck you are talking about."

Abby leans in towards Mary. "My thoughts exactly."

"Just because I don't understand it doesn't mean the people you will be speaking to won't." Mary tries to reassure her.

"I suppose..." Abby says. "It gets the point across, anyway."

"So, are we invited to this speech you are given?"

Abby is surprised by the question. "If you want to come, I guess. But why? It can't be of any interest."

"It can't be any worse than sitting thru one of Dad's events. Besides that is what family support is for. That is if you want us there." Mary
replies

"Yeah, I think I'd like that," Abby smiles. "As long as you all promise me not to snore too loudly."

"Well I can't promise for the guys. But the rest of us will be awake." Mary states and gets up.

"Thanks. Mary? You will apply to other med schools, won't you?"

"I went down to the Med School at UCD and got an application."

"Good. But apply to a few this time, OK? This way you can pick from the ones that accept you instead of worrying."

"I will, I got a list of the Med Schools in the country. So if you'll excuse me I have some letters to write and phone calls to make."

Mary leaves and Abby works at Tom's desk, waiting to hear the door open. When it does, she joins them in the entryway. "How'd it go?" she asks.

"Alan's on his way to jail." Nancy says. "But he did get very angry. He threatened to kill me if he gets out."

"And how are you?" Abby asks her.

"I'll be fine as long as my bodyguards do their job." Nancy says nervously.

"They will," Abby assures her.

"I sure hope so." She goes into the kitchen.

"She's pretty scared right now." Tom tells her. "Come to think of it so am I."

Abby gives him a kiss because she's scared, too, and feels responsible, since she's the one who suggested going to the police in the first
place.

Tom returns the kiss and gets a better look at her. "What are you thinking?"

~It'll be all right. They have the dealer in custody, Nancy will have an escort.~ "Nothing. Look, can I use your desk for a while? I have all my
books spread out and I really don't want to have to haul them all upstairs."

"Sure." Tom says.

"You're such a good husband," Abby says as she heads back to Tom's study. "I love you."

"I love you too, Abby."

"Shh," Abby says, "Not where the kids can hear you. Wouldn't want to upset them, would we?"

"They wouldn't get upset about that. And if they do I'll shout it from the roof tops."

Nancy finds Nicholas in the kitchen. "Hey kid are you hungry?" Nancy says it clear and loud enough for him to hear."

"Yeah," he replies.

"How bout a peanut butter and jelly bean sandwich?"

"That sounds good."

Nancy smiles and makes it for him.

A little while later Nancy goes to the den to turn on the tv when suddenly there's the sound of glass breaking she dodges the rock that
nearly collides with her head. Seconds later there's the sound of a car speeding away. With trembling hands she takes the note that is attached
to the rock off and reads it.

It reads in cryptic writing with no indication of who the sender is:

Watch your back

Mary and Tommy run in from the kitchen. They see the broken glass and Mary asks Nancy "Are you alright?"

Nancy nods but she is still trembling. The note falls out of her hands.

Tommy picks up the note and shows it to Mary. Mary reads the note. "Tommy go get Dad."

"Nancy did that rock hit you?" Mary asks

"No, I ducked just in the nick of time." She finally manages to talk.

"Thank goodness." Mary says holding Nancy

Nancy starts crying and lets her big sister comfort her.

Tommy goes and knocks on his Dad's study.

Tom comes downstairs. "Tommy don't do that, Abby is working in there what do you need?"

"A rock was thrown thru the window with this note attached to it. It nearly hit Nancy in the head." Tommy explains

"What?! Where is she?" Tom asks frantically. ~Where are the police they should have been here by now to guard the house.~

"In the den, Mary is with her now."

Tom goes in there and checks Nancy over. "Honey are you all right?"

She nods. He hugs her very relieved about that and then goes to call the police demanding that they send the police guards over now and tells
them what happened.

Tommy goes upstairs to tell Elizabeth what happened but remains out of the earshot of Nicholas.

"Elizabeth?"

She looks up from studying. "Hey what's up?"

Tommy shuts the door and tells Elizabeth what happened.

Elizabeth eyes go wide with shock. "Oh no." She runs downstairs to the den and hugs her sister. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Nancy says in a trembling voice.

Meanwhile Tom goes in the study.

"What?" Abby says at the interruption. "I'm working."

Tom tells her what happened and that the police are on their way.

"You need my help," Abby asks, "or do you have things under control?"

"Well I have the situation under control but we can't seem to get Nancy calmed down."

Abby sighs and gets up. "Let me see what I can do," she says, reluctantly. She goes into the den and sits next to Nancy, not saying
anything, not wanting to usurp Mary's place.

Mary says "Nancy, I need to go make a phone call." she then gets up and gives Abby a smile.

Nancy glances at her. "Hi Abby, I guess you heard what happened."

Abby gives Mary a smile and once Mary leaves, answers Nancy. "Yep, I heard. You OK?"

"Yes," She lies with a trembling voice.

"You're right--I asked a stupid question. Nancy, do you want to talk about it?" Abby tries again.

"I'm not safe in my own house anymore. Why weren't the police outside guarding the place yet? This shouldn't have been allowed to happen." Her
eyes well with tears again

"You're no less safe than you were before," Abby points out, "and I'm sure they'll be here any minute. Did anyone call them and tell them
about the rock?"

"Dad called them." Elizabeth says.

"Good," Abby says. "See, Nancy? They'll be here any minute and you can ask them why they weren't here already. And in the meantime, they can
try to scare you with rocks, but you know we won't let anything happen to you."

"I know." Nancy calms down some.

Tommy finally blows a fuse "You can't promise her that."

Abby glares at Tommy, but says to Nancy, "We'll try our best to make sure nothing happens to you."

Tommy just fumes and leaves the room.

"Thanks Abby," ~Tommy's right they can't guarantee anything. Maybe I should go and stay with Auntie V until all of this blows over. That rock
could've hit one of them.~

Abby makes a mental note to talk to Tommy later. "Nancy, I know this all is scary, but you've got to see it through. The police will come and
protect you, you'll testify, Alan will get put away, and that will be that."

"I hope you're right Abby." Nancy says wanting to believe what Abby is saying.

"I hope so, too," Abby says under her breathe.

There's a knock on the door--the police have come to respond to Tom's call.

Tom opens the door and lets them in.

"I want this place guarded day and night." He tells them. "I don't want this to happen again."

"Mr. Bradford, how do you know this is even connected? Probably just some kids' idea of fun. C'mon, the guy you were worried about is in jail
right now waiting for his prelim," one of the police officers says.

"I'm sure Alan has friends that would be more than willing to do his dirty work for him." Tom counters. "And even if it's not connected
that's notthe point. The point is to make sure Nancy is protected."

"She will be Mr. Bradford." The other police officers assures him.

"We've got a schedule drawn up of who's to stay with your daughter each day when she goes out," the first officer says, "but we can't put 24/7
protection on your house. Tell you what; we'll increase patrols in the neighbor. I'll bet we can get an OK on that."

Tom frowns, "well can we have a patrol car outside the house just for tonight at least." Tom motions to his frightened daughter.

The police officer consults with his colleagues. "Yeah, I guess so--as long as we don't have to respond to another call. You have any cake or
doughnuts around here? We didn't come prepared for a stakeout."

"I can go get some for you." Elizabeth says and stands there waiting for the police officer to give her money to go and get it.

The cops fumbles around in their pockets and collect enough change for a dozen doughnuts.

"I knew I shouldn't have let you finish off the pie last night," Abby whispers to Tom.

Tom just smiles. "Yes, you did, dear."

"Thank you," Elizabeth smiles at the cute one.

Abby gives Elizabeth some more money; as long as she's getting doughnuts, she might as well get some for the family.

Elizabeth grabs the keys to the station wagon and then goes to get the doughnuts.

Nancy glances up and finally notices the police men. "Where were you when this happened? I thought the DA was going to send some officers
over much earlier."

"Sarge figured you would stay close to home today; we were planning to start the escort tomorrow."

Nancy observes the officer. ~There's something not quite right about him.~

Nicholas comes down the stairs and sees cops and asks, "Hey, what's going on?"

"Well um uh." Nancy stammers.

The doughnut loving cop speaks up. "Community patrol, young man. Just checking the neighborhood, making sure everyone's safe, introducing
ourselves around. I'm Officer Valentine. What's your name?"

Nicholas just stands there not hearing him.

Tom kneels down beside him. "It's ok Nicholas a neighborhood kid broke one of our windows and they're just here to take statements."

~Strange family. A drug addict, and there's something wrong with that little kid...~ the cop thinks.

"OK..." Nicholas says. "I hope it wasn't Kenny P."

~I wish it were only Kenny P. "I hope so too Nicholas."

Tommy comes back downstairs and goes into the kitchen not saying a word to anyone on his way.

Abby follows him into the kitchen. "Well, hello to you, too."

Tommy turns to Abby "Why am I the only one is this family who is willing to tell Nancy the truth about this situation?"

"What would it help if she knew just how dangerous this whole situation is?" Abby asks.

"Because it's the truth and she can be aware of how dangerous it is." Tommy emphasizes.

"Truth at any price?" Abby asks. "It's not like she's going to go out and do anything dangerous because she thinks she's home free. She'll
have a police escort, patrol cars will be cruising by the house. She's knows she's in danger. Does she have to know how much? Will it make her
safer, or will it just frighten her more than she's already frightened?"

Tommy just shrugs "I don't know anything anymore. If Alan wasn't in jail......"

"If he weren't?"

"I should have went after him the night you talked me out of it."

"You were talking about shooting him," Abby reminds Tommy. "Wasn't one night in jail enough for you?"

"At least Nancy would be safe."

"What makes you think that? Alan's in jail and one of his buddies got to us tonight, you think they'd just let it go if you shot him?" Abby says,
her voice rising.

Tommy shakes his head "I am sorry Abby, I just wish there was something I could do."

"We all do," Abby agrees, "but I don't think there's much we can do aside from making Nancy feel safer."

Tommy nods.

"So what are we standing around the kitchen for?"

"Waiting for the donuts?" Tommy says

"There are cops at the door and your father in the living room," Abby says. "You think any of the doughnuts will survive long enough to make
it into the kitchen?"

"Well there better be...or there will be real trouble." Tommy jokes.

"Maybe we'd be better off waiting with everyone else. Or better yet, ambushing Elizabeth outside."

"I'd say we wait outside for Elizabeth or all the good ones will be gone before Elizabeth has a chance to get into the kitchen."

Abby laughs and leads Tommy out of the kitchen.

Tommy jumps out at Elizabeth as she gets out of the car.

"Aiee!!" Elizabeth screams and drops the doughnuts. "Tommy don't do that to me!!" She starts laughing.

"Sorry, Liz."

"It's OK."

"Just hand over the doughnuts and no one will get hurt," Abby says.

One of the police officers walks over. "Is there a problem?" he asks Elizabeth.

She gazes at him. ~It's the cute one.~ "No problem these two crazies are part of my family." She smiles at him.

"Crazies?" Tommy turns to Abby "I do believe she has insulted us."

"Well, you'd certainly recognize it," Abby says.

"Ouch" Tommy says.

The police officer says to Elizabeth. "Maybe I should escort you inside. You are carrying valuable property, after all."

"I'd like that." She says to him.

The officer helps her retrieve the doughnuts, then escorts her into the house.

Nancy retreats to her bedroom and considers leaving town till it all blows over. ~Maybe I don't have to be at the trial to testify. Maybe
there's another way.~ She's pondering all of this when Joannie walks in.

She flops down on Elizabeth's bed. "There are some extra doughnuts down there, if you want."

"No thanks I'm not very hungry. Joannie that rock could've hit any one of us. I put this family in danger."

"So does Dad when he cooks, but we still let him," Joannie says.

Nancy laughs, "Joannie I'm serious, maybe I can just give a deposition and go and live with Auntie V until it all blows over."

"We don't know where Auntie V is, first of all, second of all Dad wouldn't let you go, and third of all Abby would think you were running
away from her and not Alan."

"Abby wouldn't think that if I assure her that that's not the reason, and it's not up to Dad I'm an adult now. Auntie V was in the Caribbean
last I heard."

"You know, if you run off they may just come around here to try to find out where you went."

This changes Nancy's mind real quick. "I think I'll stick around."

"Good. Elizabeth would miss your snoring."

Nancy laughs. "No she wouldn't."

"Ask her," Joannie suggest. "But give her a fair head start to run."

Nancy laughs even harder. "You know I guess I'm hungry after all. What kind of doughnuts are left?"

"Probably nothing good," Joannie sighs. "Dad's been down there with them at least two minutes already."

"We'd better get down there then." They go downstairs and rescue their favorite doughnuts.

Saturday, November 19:

While Alan is on bail:

"Hey Joannie, I'll be back in a little while. I have to run a few errands." Nancy says.

"You want some company?" Joannie asks. "Oh, no, I can't go. I'm waiting to hear about a part, and if I go, Elizabeth will tie up the phone
lines."

"Thanks anyway, and it's ok, I have police protection remember?" She says before she leaves.

"Is today's escort at least cute?" Joannie asks.

Nancy frowns, "no."

He comes in and says it's time to go.

"I'll be back in a bit, I hope you get the part," Nancy says.

Later, Nancy is out shopping with a police officer keeping an eye on her. He's acting a little fidgety.

"Are you ready to leave yet?" He asks.

"No I'm not, it'll just be another minute." She says.

"Ok," ~damn nothing is going as planned here. I hope Alan can wait a little longer.~

Meanwhile at the Bradfords, Cassie bangs on the door and waits for someone to answer. She's finally let in by Joannie.

"Joannie, the cop who is keeping an eye on Nancy today works for Alan. Jason saw them talking earlier and he thinks they were plotting
something." Cassie says frantically. "We already called the police. Do you know where she is?"

"She went shopping. She didn't say where. Maybe Elizabeth knows." Joannie runs upstairs, yelling for her sister.

Elizabeth comes out of her bedroom. "Joannie calm down before the neighbors start complaining. What's up?"

"Where did Nancy go shopping, do you know?" Joannie asks frantically.

"Yeah she went to that new clothes store on the corner of 7th and 10th." Elizabeth tells her. "Why?"

Joannie decides not to worry her sister; maybe it isn't true, after all. "I want her advice on wardrobe for a part, but I need an answer
now--thanks," Joannie says and rushes out of the house with Cassie hot on her heels.

"I'll drive, " Cassie says to Joannie. They get in her car and then rush to the new clothes store after Joannie tells her where they are going.

Moments later at the shop. While her bodyguard isn't looking. Nancy slips away and makes a run for it. He goes looking for her and doesn't
find her. He then goes to make a phone call and she listens from her hiding place.

"She got away." The bad cop says. "What? How the heck am I supposed to do that? Tell Alan to find her himself."

~I knew it, I knew something wasn't right, that bastard.~ Nancy waits for the bad cop to get in his car and drive away before she comes out of
hiding.

"You know I don't like snitches." Alan says from behind her.

Part 3