Episode 3: Shaky Ground

Later that night. Tom's mind is in a turmoil trying to think of ways to win Abby back and eating his pie ala mode when he hears screaming from upstairs. He rushes up there and into Nancy and Elizabeth's room.

Elizabeth is trying to wake Nancy from a nightmare. They finally get her awake and she cries in Tom's arms.

"He's going to kill me!! He's coming after me!!" Nancy screams, not realizing that it was a dream yet.

"No, he isn't honey, it was just a bad dream, and he's in jail. He can't get to you now." Tom says as she tries to calm her. ~And if he tries to get out he'll have to deal with me.~

Tom had been very angry when the police told him what Rick had planned for Nancy and himself. He remembered the scene at the police station very clearly. After the police had told him everything, a couple of police officers brought Rick through the same area Tom was in on the way to escorting Rick to his cell. Tom had lunged at him, ready to strangle the boy. The police had stopped Tom and got Rick out of there. ~I know it's wrong to take the law into my own hands, and she's going to be all right, but still...~

Nancy finally realizes that it was a dream and calms down a bit. "I'm sorry."

Elizabeth laughs lightly. "For what?" She hugs her and after awhile goes back to sleep.

"Let's go downstairs. You look like you can use some pie ala mode yourself." Tom says.

"Actually hot cocoa would be better," Nancy says. ~Why is he eating pie ala mode? What happened with Mrs. Abbot today?~

They go downstairs to the kitchen.

A little while later:
"Honey, do you want to talk about what happened? When Rick was holding you against your will?" Tom asks.

"What do you want to know?" Nancy asks, wishing that they didn't have to have this conversation.

"Sure," Tom says, not wanting to put pressure on her. ~She'll talk more when she's ready.~

"Did you and Mrs. Abbot have a fight?" Nancy asks.

"Yes, and I've been thinking of ways to make up with her for most of the day. She's very happy that you've been found. She helped me search for you most of last night and passed out fliers."

"That was very nice of her, and I'll stop by and thank her as soon as I no longer have to rest, but the important thing is what are you going to do?"

"I don't know, sweetheart."

"Well, Dad, you have to figure it out. I know you miss Mom, I do, too, but you can't be alone for the rest of your life. I know how much you like Mrs. Abbot, we all do. Don't let her slip out of your life."

The next morning at Abby's apartment there's a knock on the door. She opens it to find a delivery man with candy and roses.

~Candy and flowers? That is so corny.~ Abby smiles as she gives the delivery man a tip and brings the parcels into her apartment. ~What is it with me and men given to corny romantic gestures?~

There's a note with the flowers.

Abby,

Please meet me at the park. We really need to talk. And I promise not to act like an idiot.

Love, Tom.

~Love. He's going to keep pushing it, isn't he? Wednesday he's all overcome with guilt, and he thinks I'll buy that he's gotten over that between yesterday and today? But I can't just leave him in the park, waiting. I at least owe it to him to tell him that it's too soon. Oh, wonderful--he didn't say when. Oh, well, I'll take some books along if I have to kill time.~

Abby puts the flowers in water, pops one of the chocolates in her mouth, shoves a few books in her bag and heads out to the park.

"I see you got the flowers and the candy," Tom says. "Abby, you were right yesterday. I still have a lot of things to work out. I don't know how long it will take me but I hope it's not very long and when I do have them worked out I want to be with you."

"And when you do have them worked out, I've told you, let me know," Abby answers. "But I can't promise to be waiting around. I've done that once, waiting for a man to come back to me. Who knows how long it will be--a month, a year, never? If you're ready and I'm ready, great. And if not�" Abby shrugs.

"Fair enough," Tom says. "I don't want to lose you, but I understand about the waiting."

"Good." Abby looks like she wants to say something more, but instead she quickly stands and walks away. Just before she walks out of the area she turns around, looks at Tom, and then turns away again.

Tom watches her leave, wondering what it was she was trying to say but couldn't get the words out. He stays there for awhile and then goes home. He goes into the kitchen to get something to drink and finds Joannie in there. ~I sure hope Nancy didn't tell the others.~

"Hey, Dad," Joannie says. "Where've you been?"

"I just went to the park for a little while. Is everything ok here? How are you doing? I haven't had much time to talk to you lately. Is everything ok in your life?"

Joannie looks at her father, concerned. "Why this sudden interest, Dad?"

"What, I can't inquire about my daughter's life anymore? I know you're an adult now but you're still my kid."

Tom tells her what's going on. "And I'm afraid that by the time I ready to move on she won't be there anymore. I mean these things can't be rushed. I feel like I'm being penalized and I know she doesn't mean to do that but that's how I feel, shot down."

Joannie shakes her head sympathetically. ~I can't tell him what I really think. I may be an adult, but he's still my dad.~

Nancy comes in and pours herself a cup of coffee. Tom goes to his study to work on his column and pout. "What do you think, Joannie? Does the makeup cover up the shiner?" She looks at her more closely. "What's going on?"

"Mrs. Abbot shot Dad down," Joannie says. "And you need to use more cover-up, or some pancake makeup."

"I can't see her doing that. There has to be more to it. What all did Dad say? He said last night they were fighting and he was trying to make up with her." She brings out her makeup supply and applies some more to her eye.

Joannie takes the cosmetics from Nancy. "Let me do that. I'm the one who takes classes in this. Dad said that Mrs. Abbot doesn't want to see him until he's got his head on straight about Mom. He's really down about it, but I can see her point, too. I mean, what we were watching last weekend from the windows--imagine wondering if the guy you're kissing is thinking about you or about someone else."

"Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"I can rest anywhere. He just doesn't want me to do a lot of walking around."

"What're we going to say--oh, never mind that, we'll make it up on the way over. OK, I'm in," Joannie decides.

"Cool." Nancy glances in her compact mirror. "Sis, you work miracles, thank you." They head over to Abby's apartment and knock on the door.

Abby undoes the latch. "Nancy! I'm so glad you're all right. Come in," she says and moves out of the doorway.

"Not majorly, and makeup does wonders." Nancy tells her. "How have you been?"

~Ok how do I approach this? I don't want to seem too obvious.~ "Nice plants," Nancy finally says after several moments and glances at Joannie for help.

"And those flowers are really lovely," Joannie adds, and goes over to the side table to look at them. ~She left the card in the bouquet. Can I get it out and read it without anyone noticing?~

"Thanks," Abby says, and leaves them to squirm a little more. ~So that's it. They're being pretty obvious, aren't they? It's kind of cute.~

"Do they require watering every day?" Nancy inquires.

"All right, cards on the table, girls. You're not here to discuss what I do with my leisure time. Or, actually, you are, aren't you?" Abby accuses.

Nancy sighs and exchanges a look with Joannie. "Well, er um, please don't tell Dad we were here. We would never hear the end of it. The truth is that--ok I'll come straight out and say it. You two are so good for each other. I see the way you look at each other. You guys
should be together."

Abby takes a deep breath. "First of all, see, it's really none of your business. Second of all, if you want to talk to anyone about this, well, maybe you should talk to your father. And third of all, I thought you of all people would understand, Nancy, that when a woman tells a man it's over, it's over."

"Dad is nothing like that lunatic." Nancy tries to control her temper. "Never mind, you're right. It is none of our business. I'm sorry if I upset you or anything. It's just that I was worried about my dad and when I get worried about people I love I do silly things--ask Joannie."

Now it's Abby who rises to Tom's defense. "What your father is doing is far from silly, Nancy. It's very mature and very sweet, but it's nothing I can help him with, so that's that. Is there anything else you girls wanted? 'Cause I really do need to get back to my studying."

"Not really," Nancy says, and she and Joannie get up to leave.

"Well, I'm glad you're home and safe, Nancy," Abby says, walking them to the door.

"Thanks, and hey, don't be a stranger, ok? Just because you and Dad aren't seeing each other right now doesn't mean that we have to stop being friends, right?"

Abby considers telling Nancy the convenient lie, but the girls will have to learn to deal with the consequences of Tom's love life sometime, won't they? "Look, Nancy, I think that might make things uncomfortable for your father, and that's the last thing any of us want, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess so. See ya, Mrs. Abbot." She and Joannie leave.

In the car on the way home:
"Joannie, the next time I have a stupid idea do me a favor and talk me out of it," Nancy grumbles.

For a minute Joannie doesn't say anything; she's too busy thinking it all over. "No, I don't think it was a stupid idea, Nancy. It was actually a pretty good one. I mean, look at everything we found out."

"Which was?"

"Well, she looked pretty miserable," Joannie says. "And she had a box of tissues on the table by her books, but she wasn't sniffling or sneezing, so I'd say crying, not a cold. And even though I couldn't read the card, the flowers are Dad's favorite--one guess who sent them, and we know who's kept them. And she practically begged us to go talk some sense into Dad. Cheer up--she's waited a long time since her husband died. Somehow I think she'll be waiting there for Dad."

Nancy smiles. "You are very observant. No wonder you were being so quiet when we were over there. So what next? We work on Dad?" she asks.

"What did you think I was doing over there, sleeping? Sheesh. Give a girl some credit. And of course we work on Dad. Only problem is how? I mean, we can't just come up to him and say, 'We know you're miserable without Mom, but you'll be even more miserable without Mom and without Mrs. Abbot.' Besides, I think he knows that already."

"Well you saw how lousy I did with Mrs. Abbot, I'm surprised she didn't shoot me."

"Yeah, but right now Dad would listen to you recite the phone book. When you've got that kind of power, use it, I say," Joannie suggests.

"I guess I really scared Dad this time. That stupid Rick." Her face clouds over.

"It wasn't your fault. You didn't scare Dad, Rick did. But that doesn't mean you can't use it to our advantage," Joannie says.

Nancy laughs. "Good point."

"Good," Joannie says, pulling into the driveway. "So you go talk to him. I'll be hiding in my room."

"Oh gee, thanks," Nancy decides to test her using her bad experience to her advantage. "Don't you want to help the little sister who could've been killed yesterday?"

"Nope, I'm more interested in helping your big sister who could get killed today if she helps you," Joannie teases.

"Yeah, I see how it is," Nancy teases back as they head inside. She sees Tom sitting in his study pretending to be working on a column. "Time to go and hide," she whispers to Joannie.

"Really. If you need me--don't holler," Joannie says as she rushes up the stairs to safety.

Nancy shakes her head and goes into Tom's study. "Hi Dad. What are you doing?"

She sits down and thinks carefully before asking what she wants to ask him. "Dad, why are you and Abby not seeing each other again?"

"Nancy, that's between Mrs. Abbot and I. You need to concentrate on your own life. You went through a lot this weekend. Concentrate on yourself right now."

"I can't concentrate on myself when I'm worried about you," Nancy counters.

When she gets to the top of the steps Joannie reconsiders. It's not fair to send Nancy in alone; they're all worried about Dad. She goes back down the stairs to join Nancy in Tom's study.

"Then don't worry about me. Honey, I'm a grown man. I just have some things to work through. Don't worry. I'll be all right."

"Is it Mom?"

"Yes, and it's something I have to work through on my own. If it's meant to be between Mrs. Abbot and I then we'll get back together without any manipulating from others," he says.

"What do you mean by that, Dad?"

"You know what I mean. Now if you'll excuse me I have a column to work on. Now go upstairs and get some rest."

"Dad, you're not being fair to Nancy," Joannie pipes up. "It is our business. If you get involved with someone, well, we're a family. A package deal. You keep telling us we have to accept

"But you're miserable like this," Joannie argues. "And she's miserable, too."

"She is?" Tom asks, feeling a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, Dad, she is," Nancy says.

"But I can't rush this. Things like this can't be rushed," he says.

"But while you're working it out, why can't you...be friends or something? You didn't avoid her when she couldn't date you because of Tommy, so why should she avoid you when you're getting your head on straight about Mom?" Joannie asks.

"Because I don't think Abby could handle that right now."

"I don't think she's handling this too well, either. By the way, the flowers were really nice," Joannie guesses, trying to force her father's hand.

Tom ponders her words. "Girls, can I have some time to myself to think this over, please?"

Joannie looks at Nancy and motions that they should leave the room. "Sure, Dad. Just remember--we just want you to be happy, OK?"

"I know you do, and I love you for it." Tom smiles at his daughters. Nancy and Joannie then leave the room.

"Think he got the message?" Joannie asks her sister.

"I sure hope so. I still believe those two are meant to be together."

"This still feels strange, though, us match-making for Dad," Joannie says.

"Yeah I know."

They go upstairs and Joannie pulls Nancy into her room. "But you know, if they do work it out--if they end up getting married, well. It'll be strange, won't it? She'd live here, she'd sleep in Mom's bed..."

"It'll be very strange." Nancy finally realizes what it will mean if their dad winds up marrying again. "But we won't be here much longer anyway and I'd rather Dad marry Mrs. Abbot than someone we don't know at all that might be a barracuda. Even though I'm ticked at her for what she said to me I still like her; she's a good lady."

"Don't be angry with her, Nancy. I'm sure she didn't mean it the way it came out, and she's upset about what happened with Dad, I guess," Joannie says. "Dad and a barracuda? She'd eat him alive. I don't think Dad would bring us home a barracuda--I hope."

"I know, but it still hurt and I'll get over it." She sits down on Susan's bed. "I sure hope he wouldn't. Mary would probably wind up having to beat her up and kick her out of the house, she is the oldest sister you know."

"Poor Mary. We could always ask David to come over and do the job," Joannie jokes. "But in the meantime, it looks like Mrs. Abbot's the leading contender. Maybe you should talk to her, straighten this out--but not until she forgives us for going over there in the first place."

"Yeah I will I just hope it doesn't take several years for her to forgive me. That would make for a very long talk."

Joannie laughs. "Any talk with you is a long talk, little sister."

"Ha ha." Nancy winds up laughing also.

Later Tommy stops by Abby's place and knocks on the door. He can't wait to tell her about his test scores.

Abby opens the door. ~Should have ignored the knocking. The Bradford family on parade.~ "Look, Tommy, I already told your sisters. It's none of your business, in the first place, and in the second place, why don't you talk to your father instead of to me?"

"Excuse me?" Tommy acts confused.

"I'm not interested in discussing what happened between your father and me, and I don't want to spend the next week afraid to open my door because one of you kids took it into your head to pump me for gossip," Abby says bluntly.

"Boy, for one who tells me not to jump to conclusions, you need to take your own advice," Tommy says angrily as he heads for the door.

Abby puts out a hand to stop him. "Wait! That wasn't what you came here to talk about?"

"No," Tommy replies. "I came to tell you about my test results from Friday."

"Oh. I'm sorry. You're right, I did jump to conclusions," Abby apologizes. "Sit down; tell me how it went."

"Well, I took the test; Phillips watched me like a hawk; but I kept my composure and finished it and handed it to him. He graded it and his face turned white and he apologized to me and gave me an A-."

Abby claps her hands together in delight. "I wish I could have seen that," she laughs. "But you do understand why the retest was better for you, in the long run, than my leaning on him to just accept the last test, don't you? The rest of the year he'll remember that you aced this test on your own."

"Yeah, but now I have this big problem," Tommy states.

"What?" Abby asks, concerned.

"Now its going to be expected every time," Tommy teases.

Abby pretends to think about this. "You're right. Teachers might realize that you've got a good head on your shoulders. And girls might realize that you're more than just a handsome face. It's a real problem."

"You aren't feeling sorry for me are you?" Tommy says.

Abby smiles. "Nope, not at all."

Tommy pretends to be hurt and then sighs. "Well on that sad note, I guess I'll be going." Tommy then notices the flowers and starts to kid her. "I guess I don't have to ask who those are from."

"Don't go there, Tommy," Abby warns. "I'm serious."

"OK...OK," Tommy says. "I didn't realize it was a taboo subject."

"Very taboo," Abby answers. "Do me a favor and pass that message on to your sisters, OK?"

"Uh oh; they were here, huh?" Tommy asks.

Abby nods. "They most definitely were here. That's why I assumed, when I saw you, that you were coming to back them up."

Tommy laughs. "Well, at least now I know why you were a little upset. Look, my sisters do tend to meddle in other people's lives. But they only do it out of concern for the people involved. If they didn't care about you or Dad they wouldn't have done it."

"Well, you can tell them I appreciate their concern," Abby says. "And I'd appreciate it a lot more if they'd be concerned for someone else."

"I'll tell them," Tommy says and heads for the door. "I'll see ya later."

"Yeah, I'll be seeing you," Abby repeats. ~Not until this is settled with Tom, though. I'm not going to drag it out.~ "And congratulations on the test. Next time, though, without the minus, OK?" she kids.

"Tsk tsk...You are never satisfied," Tommy kids back and leaves.

Tommy goes home and finds Joannie and Nancy in Nancy's room. Tommy goes in and tells them "What are you guys trying to do? Scare Abby off for good?" Tommy says.

"No, we were trying to help," Nancy says.

"What do you mean?" Joannie asks at the same time, trying to look innocent. ~'Abby'? Hey, if he gets to call her Abby, so do I. Besides, you shouldn't have to call anyone you've watched necking with your father by her last name.~

"Don't act so innocent; I know you guys were there. I went over there to give her the good news about my geometry test and she practically bites my head off thinking I was there to back you two up."

"And I suppose you didn't say anything to her about breaking up with Dad?" Joannie accuses.

"No, I didn't say anything to her about her breaking up with Dad." Tommy says mimicking Joannie's voice. "It's their business. I would like to see them together too, but if we push all we will do is push them further apart. Let them work it out." Tommy says.

"You mean you went over there and you didn't say one word to her about it? You are such a liar, Tommy Bradford. And you're not even convincing."

"After I told her about Phillips, I did mention the flowers but she told me in no uncertain terms that the subject was off-limits and she did have a message for you two. *Don't meddle*" Tommy replies.

"Hmm, looks like Tommy, sounds like Dad," Nancy jokes.

"Real funny," Tommy says.

Nancy smiles at him. "Tommy, you know hard it is for us not to meddle. I'll try not to but I don't know if I can pull it off. I'm an addicted meddler."

"How I know, but if you have to meddle just do it cautiously," Tommy asks of his sisters.

"Ok," Nancy says to him.

"Cautious is my middle name," Joannie promises. "So--how are we going to *cautiously* meddle next?"

Tommy laughs. "You guys are hopeless."

"I prefer to think of it as hopeful, Tommy."

Tommy just shakes his head and leaves the room.

A while later Mary comes home from a day out and stops at her dad's study. "Hi Dad, how are things going with you?"

"They're going fine," Tom lies. "How are things going with you?"

"Okay, I guess. Just went out with a new guy from school. He seems like a nice guy. Maybe we could double date sometime," Mary teases him.

"You know I never did get the chance to thank you and David for rescuing your sister yesterday," Tom says, changing the subject real quick. "I'm very proud of you honey, but next time get the cops instead of putting yourself in danger."

"Well, I just glad she's okay. Are you sure you're okay though?" Mary asks.

"I'm fine, honey, why do you ask?"

"You just look down. Are you feeling OK?" Mary says as she goes to feel his forehead.

"Yeah I'm sure," Tom tries lying again and sees that his daughter isn't believing him. "No, I'm not ok." He tells her what happened.

"Dad, I'm sorry. but you know you have to deal with the grief in your own time. I'm sure Mrs. Abbot will be there when you're ready, in the mean time if you need to talk I'm here for you," Mary says and gives him a hug.

Tom hugs her. "Thank you, Mary, that means a lot to me," he says.

"I love you Dad, see ya later then," she says as she goes to her room.

Tuesday at the cemetery. Tom comes to visit Joan's grave. He arranges the flowers and just stands there silently for awhile.

"Joan, you know I'll always love you, and I won't forget what we had, but I can't keep feeling guilty anytime I want to see other women. I know you wouldn't want that and I don't want it either, and don't worry, Abby is a wonderful person. I think you would like her." Tom stays there for a little while longer before heading to Abby's place. He knocks on the door knowing that she's home--he saw the MG out front.

Abby opens the door and smiles when she sees who it is. "Tom!" Then her brain catches up to her emotions and she turns cautious. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm ready to move on," he tells her. "Are you still willing to have me?"

Abby turns away from him, clearing the doorway. "You'd better come in then and sit down." When he does, she sits facing him and says, "That was very sudden, wasn't it? A week ago you run away from me like I'm your worst nightmare, and now you're ready to move on."

"Abby, I know it seems that way, but things aren't always what they seem. Joan has been gone for months and I've been trying to move on much longer than a week, and now I finally have. Trust me, if there was just the slightest doubt I wouldn't be here right now," Tom assures her.

Abby sits for a minute, playing with one of her rings, not meeting Tom's glance. "I want to believe you. Before last week I didn't even think it was an issue. Maybe you even believe yourself. But how can you know? I don't want to be afraid, every time you touch me, that you'll run off like that."

"And you don't have to be afraid of that anymore. Abby, if I wasn't ready to move on I wouldn't risk it. The last thing in the world I want to do is hurt you anymore than I have already."

Abby gets up from her chair and sits next to him on the couch. "Are you sure?" she asks again.

"Very sure," Tom says to her.

Abby looks at him for what seems forever, trying to decide if he really is so sure. "I hope so, because, well, I think I may be in love with you. And if you break my heart, Tom Bradford..."

Tom smiles. "I will never break your heart. I love you too much," he says as he turns his head slightly to kiss her.

Abby returns his kiss, then pulls away a little. "Slowly this time, all right? There's no rush. Maybe if we'd have taken it slower..."

"All right," Tom agrees.

"Um, Tom, I hate to make up and run, but I have a meeting I was supposed to be at five minutes ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll go now so you can go, but can I call you later?"

"I'd probably be upset if you didn't," Abby admits.

"I'll call you later then," Tom says.

Abby gets up, grabs her bag, and walks with Tom to the door. "I'm glad you came back. I missed you."

"I've missed you too." He wants to kiss her but doesn't want to seem like he's rushing her.

They step outside. Abby pulls the door to and locks it, then stands awkwardly, wanting to kiss Tom goodbye, but not wanting him to think she's contradicting herself.

"Would it be rushing things if I kissed you right now?" Tom asks.

Abby smiles and instead of answering kisses Tom.

Tom returns the kiss and is left with a smile on his face after he leaves and for the rest of the day.

When Joannie comes home, she finds her father in the kitchen eating melon. "What? No pie a la mode?" she asks hopefully.

"Nope," he smiles.

Joannie waits patiently for an explanation--all of three or four seconds--and then asks, "Well, Dad?"

"Ok, Mrs. Abbot and I made up," he continues to smile.

"All right!" Joannie thinks about the conversation she'd had with Nancy after they went to see Abby. "Um, Dad, some of us were, well, you know, kinda wondering..."

"Only kind of?"

"Dad!" Joannie whines. "This is serious."

Tom laughs. "I know it is, dear. I'm sorry."

"Well, some of us were, you know, if you and...well..." Joannie hems and haws a little more before coming right out and asking, "What are your intentions, Dad?"

"Right now to take things slowly."

"And then?" Joannie pushes.

"And then we'll see what happens," Tom tells her.

Joannie tries to find another way around the question. "Dad, have you ever thought about--you now, getting married again? Not Mrs. Abbot, necessarily. Just in general."

"Yes I have. In fact I've been thinking about it a lot lately."

"Abby or just in general?" Joannie asks.

"When did you start calling her Abby? And yes she's the one I've been thinking of marrying."

"If Tommy can call her Abby, I can call her Abby," Joannie insists, not saying anything about the second half of her father's statement.

"Did she say it was ok for you kids to call her Abby?"

"Umm," Joannie hesitates, "I think she told Tommy it's OK..."

"Ok then," Tom replies.

"And you know, Dad, if you do marry her--or anyone else, I guess, we'll have to call her something, and it isn't going to be 'Mom'."

"I know," Tom smiles understandingly.

"As long as she does," Joannie says, warming to her subject. "I mean, I like Abby, and I like the way you're so happy when you're around her, but she has to understand that she can't just come in here and replace Mom."

"Joannie I haven't even proposed marriage yet and besides she won't try to replace your mom. No one can ever do that."

"No, not yet. The prospect of marriage has never come up, and we're taking things slowly."

"But if you're thinking of asking her at some point, don't you think you ought to at least know if she's at all interested in the idea? I don't want to see you hurt, Dad."

"Thanks for the concern honey, but I'll be all right," Tom replies. "And besides we're taking it slowly."

"Dad, you're not teenagers, you know. No matter what that cop may have thought." Joannie stands, ready to run for her life.

"You were spying on us?!"

"Well, not spying. Come on, Dad, you have to admit you weren't exactly being discreet."

Tom shakes his head and smiles. "And it's not like we were at the front doorway either."

"It would have been a lot easier for us to see if you had been," Joannie jokes.

"Was Nicholas peeking also?"

"What kind of sisters do you think we are? Mary got him upstairs before he could see anything," Joannie assures him.

Nancy comes into the kitchen still half asleep. "What's going on in here?"

"Confession time." Tom says. "Nancy, I thought you grew out of the spying on people and their dates phase. I thought both of you have."

"Dad, that's not fair. You park right outside the living room windows, you've got to expect to be noticed." Joannie decides to pay her father tit for tat. "Besides, there's more at stake here than with one of our dates. Nancy, Dad's thinking of asking Abby to marry him."

"That's nice," Nancy says having not heard her clearly and then as she wakes up a little she realizes what Joannie said. ~Marriage already? They haven't even known each other that long.~ "Dad as far as I'm concerned Abby is wonderful, but don't you think you're rushing this a little?"

Tom looks at both of his daughters and just shakes his head. "If you'll excuse me I'm going to get some sleep. I suggest both of you do the same soon."

"Dad," Joannie tries to reason, "Nancy's got a point. And I know you don't want to discuss this, but it's our lives, too."

"No, it's your business if Abby and I become engaged, right now it's not." He kisses both of them and then goes upstairs to bed.

Nancy shakes her head. "It's like talking to a brick wall sometimes."

"It's not like I wanted details," Joannie justifies herself. "But he's got to realize that as a father, he isn't entitled to a personal life--whatever he does affects us all."

"Come on Joannie isn't that a little harsh. He's a person too you know."

"OK, maybe it's a little harsh, but you know how old fashioned Dad is. If he gets married again, who's going to be in charge of the house and all of us? She'd be, so I think we ought to have a say in it, too. I know Dad needs someone and that we won't always be here, but right now
we are."

"Yeah but four of us are adults. Tommy and Elizabeth are very self sufficient which leaves Nicholas." Nancy's face clouds over. "Who hasn't taken to Abby at all."

"See what I mean? If she has to discipline him, and she will, it isn't going to be pretty."

"Joannie I'm not going to interfere anymore. I'm sure Dad will take all of this into consideration before he pops the question." She makes a cup of hot cocoa and offers Joannie some.

"Thanks," Joannie says. "No use borrowing trouble, huh? I can't help it, though. I worry about the people I love."

"No problem, and you wouldn't be a Bradford if you didn't."

"Oh, now wouldn't that be a lovely thing. I might actually get a room to myself, and not have to stand on line for the bathroom."

"You'd miss us admit it."

"Only after I'd gotten to take a long hot shower without anyone banging on the door," Joannie laughs.

Nancy laughs. "Hey I'm going to stay up for another hour or so to get the latest nightmare out of my head. Want to check out what's on the late show with me?"

"If it's that loony bin movie, you're on your own," Joanie warns as they move into the living room.

"Are you tired of that movie already?"

"I was tired of it before I saw it the first time," Joannie teases. "Now, what's this about a 'latest nightmare'? How many have you had?"

"One every night since David and Mary rescued me. There'll all the same. He's about to kill me and then I wake up."

"Have you talked to anyone about it?"

"No, not really." Nancy replies.

"You ought to think about it," Joannie says. "Nowadays everyone goes to a head shrinker."

"Not this kid." Nancy protests. "Not after what happened to Lisa."

"Well, maybe she wouldn't have gotten so messed up if she'd had a reason to go to therapy in the first place. The trauma of your parents having tacky taste doesn't count, I don't think."

"It counted to her."

"Well, she started out fluffy minded and got worse. But you've got a real reason for therapy, so I'll bet you come out even better."

"I'll think about it, but I still don't know if it's a good thing."

"If it can stop the nightmares, how can it be bad?"

Nancy smiles. "True, and I promise I'll think about it."

"Good enough. Hey, you want me to make some popcorn for us to throw at the TV?"

"Sure."

Joannie makes some popcorn and brings it back to the living room, The sisters watch the late show together and Joannie falls asleep on the couch. Nancy falls asleep in one of the big chairs.