Friday morning on the way to school Kenny asks, "Nicholas let's skip school today. Okay?"

"What would we do?" Nicholas asks

"Let's skip school and go fishing," Kenny says.

"I'd like to go bowling, but I guess we'd get caught by the manager and the manger will tell the school police and we'd be in a lot of trouble. Have you got any ideas?" Kenny says.

"We could go down to the train tracks and watch the trains come in." Nicholas responds.

"Yeah, let's go!" Kenny says.

"OK, but let me stash my books in my fort," Nicholas replies.

"Ok meet me at the street," Kenny says.

Nicholas puts his books in the fort and meets Kenny in the street. They walk to the trains tracks and see a train car and they go in and start to play.

As they are playing on the train...it starts to move.

"Uh oh!" Kenny says. "We're moving. What we gonna do, Nicholas?"

Nicholas starts to panic..."Let''s get out of here." They start for the door but the train starts to pick up speed.

"We're in big trouble with our parents and our school," Kenny says. "Have you got any ideas on how to get out of this mess?"

"It's moving too fast, we might get hurt let's wait until it slows down some. Ok?" Kenny replies.

"OK, I wonder where this train goes to?"

"I don't know where it goes. Why did you ask?" Kenny snaps at Nicholas.

"I hope I get home before dinner." Nicholas says.

The train starts to slow and Nicholas tells Kenny "Come on, Let's jump."

"Let's go then," Kenny says as he jumps off the train. He hits a stump and hurts his arm when he lands.

After Nicholas sees Kenny jump off and gets hurt, he decides not to jump. "Kenny," he yells. "Are you all right?"

Kenny gets up, "I'm ok, just jump! I'll catch you," he says.

The train starts to speed up. "I can't, I'll have to wait until it slows down again. See ya later."

"I'm going home. See ya," Kenny says as he heads home.

"Bye," Nicholas waves.

Nicholas cowers in the corner of the boxcar and after an hour it finally stops. Nicholas looks out and sees no one is there and he jumps off. He runs from the train tracks into the Amtrak station and sees a sign saying *Stockton, CA* ~Stockton? Nicholas thinks to himself, where is that?
Nicholas finds a phone and dials the operator to call his home...there is no answer. Nicholas starts to get upset and then decides to call the only person he knows--Abby.

He calls the operator and asks for a listing in Sacramento and calls collect.

Abby hurries to the phone. She's got a million appointments today, if she doesn't get out of here soon...

"I have a collect call from a Nicholas Bradford," the operator says.

~Nicholas? Why's he calling me? And collect?~ "I'll accept the charges."

The operator completes the call.

"Nicholas? What's wrong?" Abby asks.

"Well, it's hard to explain, the thing is I am in Stockton, do you know where that is?"

"Of course I do," Abby answers. "What are you doing there? Who's with you?"

"That's the thing that's hard to explain. I tried calling David and Dad is in a meeting and I tried calling home but there is no answer. I was with Kenny P but he jump off the train before I could."

Abby's got lots of questions, but realizes now isn't the time to ask them. "All right. Inside the station there is a ticket booth. You go there--just stay there, don't wander around. It'll take me a while to get there, longer than it took you on the train, but I'll come get you."

"OK, bye," Nicholas says and goes inside and waits. He knows he is in a lot of trouble; but at this point he doesn't care. All he wants to do is go home.

Abby makes a few quick phone calls--to Lisa with a list of everything she was supposed to do today, begging her friend to cancel it all. To Tom, at work and at home, but he's not in at either place, and she decides this isn't something for a message. She'll call from Stockton.

An hour or so later Nicholas sees a familiar face and says, "Hi."

"Hey, Nicholas. You OK?" Abby asks.

"I've been better," Nicholas replies.

"I'll bet," Abby says. She looks around. "There's a cafeteria over there. You must be hungry by now--why don't I get you some food and we can talk while you're eating?"

"OK." They go over to the cafeteria and order some food and sit down at a table.

"Eat now, Nicholas," Abby says. "I'm going to try reaching your father and let him know that you're safe and with me, OK?" Nicholas nods and Abby goes over to the pay phone, dials the Register.

"Mr. Bradford's office."

"Hi, could I please speak to Mr. Bradford?"

"Who's calling, please?"

"Abby Abbot."

"The Abby Abbot?" Tom's secretary says. "Just a minute. He went down the hall, but you I'm sure he'll want to talk to."

Donna puts the phone on hold and rushes down to where Tom's talking to a reporter. "Mr. Bradford, I know you told me to hold all calls, but Abby Abbot's on the line. Want to talk to her?"

"Of course I want to talk to her." Tom excuses himself and goes to take the call. "Hi Abby, what's up?"

"I'm in Stockton. With Nicholas. Seems he cut school today--adventurous son you've got there."

"He's where? My son is where?" Tom says in a stunned tone. "How did he get there?"

"Someone named Kenny P started out with him, apparently," Abby says. "Look, I haven't gotten the whole story from him, and I don't want to leave him alone for too long. I'll bring him home in one piece; I just didn't want you to worry if he didn't get home from school at the right time."

"Kenny P. I might have known," Tom says in an angry tone. "Abby, I can come and meet you two there."

"Then we'd have to wait here for you, and in any case we couldn't go back together because we'd have two cars. I'll bring him straight home--promise."

"Ok, thanks Abby. You know a part of me feels like laughing, but another part wants to yell at him and ask him why he did such a stupid and dangerous thing."

"You can ask him when I get him home. But calmly, OK? I think he scared even himself."

"I will," Tom says. "But don't tell him that."

"I'll see you later, then. Love you."

"I love you, too," Tom says.

Abby hangs up the phone and goes back to Nicholas. "Well, your father knows you're with me, so he won't worry."

"Is he mad?" Nicholas asks.

"Nicholas, your father wouldn't be mad with you. He was worried, but not mad," Abby tries to reassure him, but she sees that Nicholas isn't going to let her get away with such a blatant lie. "OK, he was a little upset. But not much, considering. You know, you really could have been in
trouble, or hurt, like your friend was."

"I know...we didn't mean for it to happen."

"But you didn't mean to go to school, either," Abby points out, "and when you're off on an adventure, anything can happen."

"I am sorry I bothered you today," Nicholas says with tears in his eyes.

"Oh, Nicholas, you're not a bother. But you are too big to be playing games without knowing what you can expect might happen, right? I mean, you're not a little kid anymore."

"I guess it was pretty stupid of me," Nicholas concurs.

"You're the one who said that, not me. You got room for an ice cream before we head back?" Abby asks.

"I always have room for ice cream," Nicholas smiles.

"Man after my own heart." They order their ice creams, and after eating them, Abby leads Nicholas out to her car. "Ready to head back home?"

Nicholas sighs. "I guess so."

"It won't be that bad, I promise." As they begin driving to Sacramento, Abby asks, "Why'd you decide to cut today, anyway? You have a test, or you just wanted a break?"

"I had every intention of going but Kenny had this idea to cut school so we decided to go look at the trains," Nicholas explains.

"No wonder your father had that tone of voice when he spoke of him," Abby says. "Kenny gets into a lot of trouble?"

"Yeah," Nicholas admits.

"Must be kind of fun," Abby says. "At least until you get caught, or get off the train far from home."

Nicholas nods and then says, "I'm sorry if I haven't been nice to you."

"Tommy told me you weren't too thrilled about the idea of me seeing your dad," Abby answers non-commitally.

"It just seems weird," Nicholas replies.

"Sometimes for me, too," Abby confides. "But weird how?"

"When I saw that picture in the paper with you and Dad, I guess it was the first time I really realized Mom wasn't coming back so I took it out on you. I'm sorry."

"It's OK," Abby tells him. "Sometimes when the bad stuff sinks in you've just got to get mad at someone, and who was there, really, to get mad at? So I was as good as anyone else, and better you should get angry at me than at your father."

"Thanks," Nicholas replies.

"But next time you get angry at me, how 'bout telling me why, OK? I don't know you well enough yet to read your mind," Abby teases.

Nicholas laughs. "OK."

Abby points out the road sign showing the distance to Sacramento. "We'll be home soon. Have you figured out how you're going to handle your dad?"

"Just tell him I am sorry and I won't do anything that dumb again."

"Well he is my friend so I guess I'll try to discourage him."

"I'm sure your father would appreciate that." Abby parks her car in the Bradfords' driveway. "Well, ready to brave it?" she asks Nicholas.

Nicholas sighs. "Yeah."

Abby leads the way inside. She almost knocks on the front door as she usually would, but this time she's escorting Nicholas. When they get inside she calls out, "Anyone home?"

Tommy comes out of the kitchen and starts to laugh "Hey little guy, I heard you had quite an adventure today."

Nancy comes out of the kitchen. "Nicholas, Dad is in his study and he wants to talk to you."

"OK." Nicholas knocks on the door.

"Nicholas, do you want me to go in with you?" Abby offers.

"Could you?" Nicholas asks.

Abby puts a hand on his shoulder. "Of course." She stands with Nicholas, waiting for Tom to give them permission to enter.

"Come in!!" Tom shouts from inside the study.

"Well, here goes," Abby whispers as she leads Nicholas in--hopefully not to the slaughter. Nicholas just gulps and opens the door.

"One son, delivered safe and sound as promised," Abby jokes to Tom by way of hello.

Tom smiles at her.

"Hi, Dad."

Tom tries to keep himself from smiling at the boy and manages to keep a straight face. "Well hello there son. I heard you had quite an adventure today. Come on in and sit down." He then looks at Abby. "Thanks for bringing him home for me."

"No problem," she assures Tom. "You should be proud of him, how he kept his cool and found my number, and found me when he couldn't reach you or David."

"Oh I am proud about that, but I'm not proud of what he did. Nicholas, do you have any idea how dangerous it is to get on a train when you don't know where it's going?"

"Yes, Sir."

"So I trust that you won't be doing it again, and you'll have plenty of time to think about it while you're grounded for three days."

"No, I won't do it again," Nicholas replies.

"Good," Tom smiles. "Now come here."

Nicholas goes to his dad.

Tom hugs him. "I'm really glad you're ok big guy, and please never do that again."

"OK."

Abby smiles at Tom over Nicholas's head.

Tom returns the smile. "Now you go upstairs to your room and clean it and if any of your siblings ask tell them I was very tough with you, ok? And when they inquire about it don't tell them anything. If they're going to keep things from you, now you have something to keep from them," he jokes.

Nicholas laughs and leaves the room.

"Thank you," Abby tells Tom. "I think he was afraid you'd be much harder on him."

"No problem, and I still remember what it's like to be his age."

Abby stares at him in disbelief.

"What?" Tom inquires.

"You remember being Nicholas's age? Nice try," Abby laughs.

Tom laughs also. "Hey, I remember it, I remember it very well."

Abby walks around to Tom's side of the desk. "And what else do you remember?"

"Well, what do you want to know?"

Abby smiles. "Oh, everything."

"That will take a while, Abby," Tom smiles.

"I've got plenty of time," Abby teases. "After all, I cancelled everything for today because I didn't know how long it would take with Nicholas."

"Well, in that case�" Tom tells her all about his childhood. "And then this one time we all skipped school to go swim in the lake..."

"Now I see where Nicholas gets it from," Abby laughs.

Tom laughs also. "So, did you ever skip school?"

"Me? I was the soul of perfection. I never skipped. I was just--creatively absent."

"How so?" Tom pries.

"Hey, can't a lady keep her secrets?" Abby asks, realizing that maybe hearing the exploits of her gang's frolicking-without-leave at the country club wouldn't exactly suit Tom's image of her.

"No," Tom replies.

Abby turns almost serious. "Tom, if you don't want to know the answer, don't ask the question."

Tom looks at her in confusion.

"Remember that man I was trying to avoid at the museum? I grew up with him, and he was always like that. Only I didn't always object to that," Abby confesses.

"And that was the past. Right now is what counts."

"And I'd much rather skip school to be with you than with Biff Stevenson," Abby agrees.

Tom smiles and kisses her.

Abby pushes away slightly and laughs. "Tom, your kids could walk right in here."

"Yeah, you're right they could, but they do know that we're seeing each other, but if it's too soon..."

"I think they can handle it," Tom says.

"In that case�" Abby puts her arms around Tom and gives him a kiss.

Tom returns the kiss and they stay like that for a while, just kissing.

Tommy opens the study door and smiles. "Uh...you guys coming up for air?"

"Doesn't anyone knock around here?" Tom asks, flustered.

Abby backs away from Tom a little and groans. "Told you," she whispers to Tom.

"I did knock," Tommy says. "I guess you two didn't hear me."

"No we didn't."

"That's ok, Dad; I know you were busy," Tommy tries to keep a straight face.

"Tommy what do you want?" Tom asks impatiently.

"Oh. Dinner is ready," Tommy says. "We have plenty if you want to join us, Abby."

Tom looks at her. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"How can I resist an invitation from two such handsome men?" Abby laughs.

"I'll go tell them to set an extra plate," Tommy says and then adds, "You two can continue what you were doing," and shuts the door.

Tom smiles, kisses Abby again, and then the two of them retreat to the dining room for dinner.

Friday evening after dinner Tommy knocks on Mary's door.

"Come in," Mary answers.

"You were kind of quiet at dinner tonight; everything OK?" Tommy asks

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just tired I guess," Mary replies.

"How do you feel about Dad dating Abby?" Tommy asks.

"Oh I think it's fine. What ever makes him happy is fine with me," Mary answers.

"Yeah, it just seems strange." Tommy replies.

"Yes, it sure does, but she seems like a nice lady. You should know more about her more that anyone other that Dad, since you spent so much time with her studying. What do you think of her?" Mary asks.

"She's sharp," Tommy says and goes on to explain, "If you ever have a problem, you would definitely want her on your side instead of the other side." Tommy laughs.

Mary smiles, "I guess so. You know, Dad dating again sure makes me think a lot about Mom. How about you?"

"Yeah, but its funny, I feel at peace," Tommy says "You know what I mean?"

"Yes Tommy I think I do," Mary replies.

"I feel like I am being distrustful to Mom's memory but at the same time I think she would be happy to see Dad happy again," Tommy says. "I just hope if they do get married; Nicholas will find some happiness."

"Nicholas sure needs someone to help Dad raise him. We'll all be married and moved out long before Nicholas. No one will ever replace Mom, but Abby seems to be a nice lady and she just might be good for him," Mary answers.

"Well she sure proved that today when she went to Stockton to pick him up," Tommy replies.

"Yep, she sure did. I hope Kenny doesn't get Nicholas in any more trouble," Mary says.

Tommy laughs. "I wouldn't count on it."

"Well, maybe his family will decide to move," Mary teases.

"Yeah," Tommy laughs.

The next morning Nancy knocks on Susan and Joannie's door. Joannie is at an acting class and Susan is in her bedroom studying.

"Come in," Susan says.

Nancy comes in and sits down beside her. "You said I can talk to you when I'm ready. Are you busy?"

"No, I'm never too busy for you. What's up?" replies Susan.

She tells Susan what happened while Rick was holding her captive and also about the nightmares she's been having.

"Do you think the nightmares will go away?" she asks.

"I don't know Nancy. Maybe you need to talk to a counselor or someone," replies Susan.

"Naah, I'd rather work through it on my own. Sometimes counselors can screw you up more than you are already."

"You've got a point there. Is there anything that I can do to help?" asks Susan.

"Just be there when I need a shoulder to cry on," Nancy replies.

"You know I will always be here for you whenever you need me." Susan replies.

"Thanks Suzy." Nancy smiles and hugs her.

A few hours later Nancy stops by Abby's apartment and knocks on the door.

Abby opens her door. "Nancy! Come in." ~This time she can't be here to read me the riot act about her dad, can she?~

Nancy comes in and sits down. "Look, I wanted to apologize for last Sunday.
I had no right to say the things I said."

Abby tries to remember why Nancy should apologize, aside from butting in where she had no cause other than being a Bradford. "There's nothing to apologize for. I'm beginning to learn that that's just the way your family is. You care about each other a lot."

"Yes we do but I also know that my family and I can be a little overwhelming at times, but we mean well."

"Overwhelming is an understatement," Abby says. "I'm sorry if I snapped at you last weekend, but going from this," she gestures around her empty apartment, "to the full force of Bradford concern can be kind of unnerving."

"It's ok I probably had it coming," Nancy replies. "Yeah I can imagine."

"So, did you want something specific," Abby asks, "or would you just like to chat? Either is fine."

"I wanted to apologize and talk."

"There's no need to apologize, but talk is always good."

"Susan thinks I should see a counselor, but I don't know. A friend of mine went to one and they came out of therapy more screwed up than they were in the first place."

"I suppose therapy's like a lifeline," Abby says. "If it's good and sturdy, it can save you, but if it's in the least bit frayed, you're worse off than before. If you could find the name of someone good, that would be the easiest, wouldn't it? Maybe Dr. Maxwell could give you a name."

"I suppose he could, but I don't think I need one. I mean everyone has nightmares when something traumatic happens and they go away with time."

"I suppose he could, but I don't think I need one. I mean everyone has nightmares when something traumatic happens and they go away with time."

"But that's the problem--in time. Some people it takes years. Do you want to live like that?"

"No not really."

"Then get some help. It's tempting to keep it all to yourself, I know, but it just makes things harder in the long run," Abby advises.

"Ok, I'll try it and Susan will be happy about that, but if it doesn't work out..."

"If it doesn't work out, you can always go it on your own," Abby says.

"Exactly," Nancy replies.

"If you need someone to talk to...Well, sometimes it's good to talk to someone who's not family... You can always talk to me about anything, you know that, don't you?"

Nancy smiles. "Yeah I know that, and thanks Abby. And it works both ways you can always talk to me too."

"Thanks, but I'm pretty together, lately, at least," Abby says. ~The only thing that's got me confused is someone I really couldn't discuss with you, anyway.~

"Ok, but the offer stands. Well I have to get going now, thanks for listening."

"Any time, Nancy. And I'm really sorry that I snapped at you last weekend. You had just gone through something awful and I didn't help any with what I said."

"It's all right really," Nancy tells her.

"I hope so," Abby says. "And remember that you can always talk to me, OK?"

"Ok, take care of yourself." Nancy says as she leaves.

Monday night:

Abby stares at her papers, frustrated. Her proposal is going nowhere fast, no matter what she does, she can't seem to find the proper words to get the school board to fund the new remedial program. ~Even I wouldn't increase the budget for this. Who came up with the bright idea of having me write this? I'm a teacher, not a proposal writer.~

She decides she needs a break to clear her head. She thinks about calling Tom, but she's brushed him off since Friday, claiming work--how can she tell him that while work was sufficient excuse before, now it's boring her to tears? Instead, she decides to go to the coffee house down by the college where the young talent sings.

David is there sitting with a bunch of his buddies and notices Abby walking in. She takes a corner table. David walks over to her and says "Hi. Fancy meeting you here."

"Hi. Small world, huh?" Abby says nervously.

"Yeah, mind if I join you?"

"No, of course not. I'm not sure how long I'll be here, though, I just came to take a break from some work I was doing." ~Why am I justifying myself?~

David sits down. "It's a great place to take a break. ~Why is she so nervous?~

"Yeah, it is. When I first came to Sacramento, I used to sing here, from time to time," Abby says.

"Really, you sing? That's great. Maybe I have seen you here but don't remember," David replies and says, "I didn't mean the way that sounded."

Abby laughs. "It's OK. I just did it to justify all those singing lessons my mother made me take. I doubt your father even let you come here in the days I sang. This doesn't seem to be the sort of place he'd like."

David laughs. "No; it isn't. But that shouldn't stop you from coming here."

"In my copious spare time. So, what brings you here?"

"My buddies and I come here quite often."

"Then maybe I ought to be the one apologizing for not remembering seeing you here--you'd think I'd notice a group of handsome young men," Abby jokes.

David laughs and says "I better get back to them or they will think I am hitting on you."

Abby joins in his laughter. "We couldn't have that, now could we?" ~That's all I'd need, Tom to hear I'd not only been here, I'd been here with some man.~

David gets up and tells her, "Take care, Abby."

"You, too," Abby says. She stays a while longer before getting ready to go home; when she looks around to say goodbye to David she doesn't see his group.

The next morning David comes in and gets some breakfast. "Morning, family."

Joannie looks up from the newspaper. "Morning, David. What brings you by?"

"Well I am short on food, I was hoping I could get one beautiful sister to make me some breakfast?"

"Good thing I'm the ugly duckling," Joannie jokes as she gets up to take some eggs out of the fridge for David.

"Aw thank you. Anything new going on around here?"

"Let's see--when's the last time you bummed a meal? Don't want to tell you old news."

"I think it was the day Nicholas skipped school."

"Then nothing much new. Nancy's still having her nightmares, I think Dad's still dithering about talking to Abby about marriage.."

"Really? That's good if it is what Dad wants," David says as he eats breakfast and casually mentions to Joannie, "Speaking of which, I ran into Abby at the coffee house last night."

"What?" Joannie sounds surprised. "Dad's been upset because Abby didn't have time to see him all weekend and she's going to the coffee house?"

"She said she was taking a break from work."

"Yeah, I'll bet. She was alone, wasn't she?" Joannie asks.

David acts surprised "Of course she was alone until I sat with her."

"So, you're hitting on Dad's girlfriend, huh? Didn't know you went for older women," Joannie teases.

"I wasn't hitting on Dad's girlfriend; I just saw her and said hi. What's with you anyway?"

"Nothing's wrong. Really. Things are just a little weird lately, know what I mean?"

"You mean Dad dating?"

"That, too. I mean Nancy, and Nicholas, and--well, yeah, Dad dating. No, that's not it--I mean Dad thinking about getting married again. It's so soon, you know?"

"I know, but I have read about people like Dad. Widower after being married 25 years. If he can find love again, let him. It doesn't mean he loved Mom less."

"I know, but you've got to admit it will be strange to think of someone else sleeping in Mom's bed, sitting at her place at the table. I know Dad needs to have someone, and I guess some of us do, too, especially Nicholas, but..."

"I am not saying I have fully accepted the idea either. But let Dad do what he wants. He won't bring anyone in this family that will hurt any of us, especially Nicholas."

Joannie shakes her head. "I guess I'm just being silly. Forget it."

"OK, forgotten," David smiles. "Thanks for breakfast, I have to go do some work at the construction site today. I'll try and come by later."

"OK, I'll see you then. And don't think I'm going to cook for you every morning. Next time you come by, you cook for me."

"Ah, but isn't that women are for?" David kids.

"I'll show you what women are for," Joannie says as she punches him lightly.

"Ouch," David laughs and leaves.

After she east Joannie heads upstairs. As she passes her father's study she sees Tom, looking upset, hanging up the phone. "Bad news?" she asks.

"No, no news which sometimes is worse than bad news. I hate answering machines. That's why we don't have one in this house," Tom rages.

"Abby again, huh?" Joannie says. "Guess going out last night must have tired her out."

"What do you mean going out last night tired her out? She was studying last night." Tom inquires.

"David was just by for some breakfast. He said he saw her at the coffee house last night," Joannie said. "You'd think she'd call you if she wanted to go out."

"Joannie, maybe she just needed a study break and didn't have time to call me because she probably didn't want to stay long." Tom lectures. ~Why didn't she call me, and why did she go out without me?~

"Yeah. That's probably it, Dad. Still it's a pity. I mean, you're getting the message machine while she's out doing who knows what." Joannie goes up the stairs, leaving Tom to brood.

Tom calls Abby's apartment again, and gets the answering machine again. "Abby we need to talk, call me as soon as you get this message. This is Tom." He says and hangs up. ~How can she do that to me, how?~

That day Abby has four students, a meeting at the district offices, a meeting about the proposal, and class at night. By the time she gets home, it's after 10, and she almost doesn't even listen to her messages. In the end she does, hoping that Tom might have called, but when she hears his voice, she begins to worry. ~He sounds upset. I wonder what's wrong.~ Is it too late to call? He did say "as soon as you get this message." She dials the Bradfords' number.

Elizabeth answers the phone. "John, stop calling me. I told you that I'm going to the dance with Brad. Why don't you take Kelly? She's crazy about you."

"I'm flattered, Elizabeth, but somehow I don't think Kelly's my type," Abby says. "It's Abby. Is your father around?"

Elizabeth laughs. "Sorry about that Abby, yes he's here I'll get him." She covers the mouth piece. "Dad!! Phone!!"

Tom gets the phone in his room and Elizabeth hangs up as soon as he gets on. "Hello."

"Hi, Tom. I hope it's not too late, but you did say 'as soon as'."

"Hello Abby, did you have fun last night?" he says, using his condescending tone.

"Oh. David told you?"

"No, Joannie told me, but never mind that. You couldn't have called me and asked me to meet you there? Or was there a reason you couldn't call me?"

"Don't be like that. I wasn't out for very long, I just wanted to take a break. I've been working really hard lately. And besides, you don't like that coffee house. You would have wanted to go to that morgue, and the whole evening would have been shot."

"Morgue, that place isn't a morgue!!"

"No, in a morgue at least the attendants are alive."

"Well it's better than that loud place we went to before. You couldn't even hear yourself think in there!!"

"You weren't supposed to be thinking, you were supposed to be dancing."

"You call that dancing? That's not dancing. If you're free tomorrow night I'll show you real dancing."

"Tom, you know I'd love to, but if I don't get this proposal finished the special projects budget for next year is in danger of not getting renewed. And with all this talk of not increasing the school budget..."

"How long do you think it will take?"

"It feels like the rest of my natural life."

"I can come over for a little while if you feel like taking a break."

"Tom, I just got home..." ~And he could have gotten really upset about last night, but he didn't...~ "Sure. Come on over. But just for a little, OK? We both have to go to work in the morning."

Tom smiles. "I'll be right there. I love you." He hangs up and grabs the keys to the sedan, and then he heads over to her apartment. A second later he knocks on her door.

Abby opens the door. "That was quick," she laughs.

"Yeah and thankfully the cops didn't catch me speeding, but please don't tell my children what I just told you. I'd never hear the end of it," he says as he kisses her.

"Mmmm. Yeah, I could see some of them throwing that back in your face. Especially Joannie, if she knew you were on your way here. As soon as I think I've gotten everything straight with your kids, another one starts acting strange."

"Joannie tends to be a little on the dramatic side."

"A little? Sounds like you tend to understatement." Abby picks a load of papers off the couch and dumps them on the coffee table. "Just ignore the mess. I keep thinking if I'd just get everything neat I'd be able to think straight, but so far no luck in either."

"Abby, all she did was tell me what David told her."

"Since when did I become such a hot topic of conversation around your house?" Abby says, a little annoyed.

"Now just hold on a minute. The kids have a right to be curious about the lady their father is seeing," Tom says, becoming defensive of his children.

"Curious is one thing. David doesn't live at home anymore, but he runs home first thing he can to tell someone he saw Dad's girlfriend out in public alone? That's more than curiosity."

"You don't know for sure that it happened that way!! Your name probably came up and he mentioned it matter of factly!! Give my kids a little credit before you start passing judgement!!" Tom rages.

"Why? Did you give me any credit, or did you spend the day upset because I'd actually dared go out of my apartment for a break and didn't call you up?"

"That's different!!" Tom says, not being able to come up with anything else to say in his defense.

"Why?"

"Because I'm not dating my children. I don't want to marry my children, I want to marry...!!" Tom stops himself before he can go any further. ~No, not now. Not during a fight.~

"What?" Abby says, shocked at what she thinks she heard.

Tom sighs. "I want to marry you, but oh this is so wrong. This isn't the proper way to propose."

Abby starts laughing, but though she tries to get some words out, can't stop the laughter.

"What's so funny?" Tom wonders.

Abby shrugs and takes a few moments to stop laughing. "This is like some bad Harlequin romance. We fight, and you tell me you love me. We fight and you say you want to marry me. What would you do if we never fought?"

Tom starts laughing also. "I don't know." After they've both calmed down: "I didn't want you to find out this way. I wanted to propose over a romantic dinner and I still plan to do that."

"Well, then, I won't give you an answer until I get a proper proposal," Abby teases.

"Fair enough," Tom says. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"Are you really?" Abby wonders. "You seem to yell a lot--at me, and your kids..."

He sighs. "I know, and yes I really am sorry."

"Until the next time. Tom, I do love you, but you and your kids have to understand that we're not attached at the hip. Sometimes I may actually want to go out alone."

"I know, but it's going to take me time to accept that. I'm not used to women going out alone when they're seeing me. I guess I'm old fashioned."

"More like fossilized," Abby laughs.

"Fossilized? Hey, I'm still in my prime here."

Abby laughs even harder.

"Come to the next Bradford/Maxwell football game and you'll see."

"You may play football like Tommy, but your attitudes about women sound just like my father's."

"Well then maybe your father isn't such a bad guy after all."

"I never said my father was a 'bad guy'," Abby snaps. "An old-fashioned pig-headed stubborn fossilized guy, maybe, but not 'bad'. If you got that impression, I wonder if you've ever really listened to anything I've said."

"Abby it was a figure of speech, not an insult."

"When I used a 'figure of speech' about your kids I got the full force of a Tom Bradford tirade, didn't I?"

"I didn't know it was a figure of speech."

"You're a writer. You could have figured it out," Abby says, exasperated.

Tom sighs in frustration. "Abby, I have to go now. In the future I won't say anything like that about your father."

"Fine. And yeah, go. I told you I didn't have much time tonight, and now I'll probably be up half the night working," Abby answers.

"Um, do you need any help?"

"You know how to make the school board cough up funding for a study of a new method of teaching remedial reading?"

"Yes, I can snarl and growl at them until they agree to fund it."

Abby laughs. "I've been reading your column. You always snarl and growl at the school board, and so far it hasn't seemed to help much."

"They haven't seen me do that in person yet."

Abby laughs even harder. "So, do I get a preview performance? Gotta know if it'll be more effective than all these studies and statistics," she says, waving her hand at all the scattered papers.

Tom does his best snarl and growl for her.

Abby starts out laughing with him and ends up kissing him to get him quiet.

Tom starts kissing her back.

After a while, Abby comes up for air. "I think we're doing really bad at that whole 'slowly' thing, you know?"

"Yeah I know, maybe we're not strong enough for that?"

"Oh, I think you're as strong as you want to be."

"Well what about you? You kissed me first."

"Well, I'm not the one who claimed to be old-fashioned. You certainly don't act old-fashioned."

"What's wrong with kissing?"

"Nothing," Abby concedes. "It's what it leads to that we've had trouble with."

"What does it lead to?" Tom asks feigning innocence.

Abby's about to answer "You sure those kids are really yours?" but at the last second thinks better of it. "Why, dancing, of course."

"Oh, is that all," Tom jokes.

"There are all sorts of ways to dance, Tom."

Tom smiles. "Hmm, such as?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Abby teases before kissing him again.

~That I would.~ Tom kisses her again.

"Hey, I thought you said you had to leave."

"Oh yeah, can we continue this another night?"

"Depends on what you mean by 'this'."

"The kissing. We can argue also if you want to."

"I like the arguing," Abby says, giving Tom another kiss.

"So do I," Tom says as he returns the kiss and then heads home.

Once he leaves Abby tries to get back to work, but her mind keeps drifting off to the realization that she has to make some serious decisions about her relationship with Tom.