Abby doesn't even look up from her book at the sound of another Bradford
entering the kitchen. "It's after 2 o'clock in the morning.
Doesn't anyone in this house ever sleep?"
"Abby I'm sorry I yelled at you." Tom says.
Abby looks up and smiles at Tom. "I'm sorry you didn't get my message--but
I couldn't have known you wouldn't, could I? I mean, what else
did you want me to do, besides call and let you know I'd be in late?"
"No I guess not. I promise to give you the benefit of the doubt for now on." He smiles also.
"Good," Abby says. "Now would you please go get some sleep? You probably haven't got much if any tonight."
He kisses her. "Well neither have you."
"That's true." She yawns again. "But I have to study," she says, though her tone of voice fairly shouts 'convince me otherwise.'
"Yeah but wouldn't you rather do other things." He asks as he continues to kiss her.
"Ummmm. Maybe you're right," Abby concedes. "Does this mean the fight's over?"
"Yes, it is isn't it?" He asks hoping she'll say yes also.
"I hope so," Abby says as she gathers her books. "I didn't understand what we were fighting about in the first place."
"Abby I'm sorry it's just when I didn't know where you were a million
thoughts went through my mind. None of them pleasant. I love you so
much I couldn't handle it if anything ever happened to you."
"You're my husband, not my keeper. I can't check in with every second
of every day. And nothing's going to happen to me, so don't let your
imagination get too wild--at least not as far as that's concerned,"
she says, putting an arm around Tom.
"I'll try not too, but what if you'd been in my position. How would you react?" He asks.
"That's not a fair question," Abby says. "You're never out at night,
but I have classes. If you were out late I'd be worried, but you know
I'm out late a few nights a week."
"Good point." Tom agrees.
"Let me just go put my books away," Abby says, happy that it seems Tom
understands, "and then you can show me what that imagination of
yours is good for."
"Ok," Tom Grins.
Tuesday, towards the end of dinner Abby announces that she'll be heading
off to the campus library after dinner and asks if any of the
kids could handle clearing the table and washing the dishes.
"Not me. I have to go...out. Abby, are you going past East Broadway?"
"I can be," Abby answers.
"Then can you give me a lift?"
"No problem."
Mary replies "I have to go finish my essays for the applications."
"I can help with the dishes." Nancy says.
"Oh no you can't." David lectures. "Not for two more days. Just because you can move it now doesn't mean you're completely healed."
"Oh yeah well if I have to go to classes I should be allowed to help
out around here!!" Nancy yells having had it up to here with feeling
useless around the house. She shakes her head, mutters something, and
then leaves the kitchen.
"Sheesh what a grouch." Elizabeth says.
"She's probably just really, really bored," Abby tries to tone Elizabeth
down. "Tom, I'm not sure what time I'll be home tonight--
late. I'll probably close the library down again."
"Do you want me to wait up for you?" he asks.
"I don't want you to have to wait up that late," Abby answers.
"Ok, we'll compromise. If I'm asleep when you get back wake me." He grins provocatively.
Abby smiles at him, but then looks at the kids to see how they're taking this public flirting.
David and Elizabeth laugh. Tom then whispers in Abby's ear. "I'm going
out myself for a little while. I have a bored kid who can
probably use a trip out somewhere."
"Good idea," Abby whispers back. "But don't let her tire you out too much--that's my job."
"Don't worry I won't." He kisses her.
"I'll hold you to that," Abby says, and then turns back to the rest of the family. "Joannie, you ready?"
"Just let me run upstairs and get my cost--I mean, my stuff."
Tommy says "I'll volunteer to do the dishes but someone owes me big."
"Slave driver," Abby grumbles.
Elizabeth looks at him strangely. "Tommy what are you talking about?"
"I am talking bout mowing the lawn this weekend." Tommy says
"Er no." Elizabeth says. Thinking he's talking about her, completely confused as to what and who he is talking to.
"Meaning if I do dishes tonight, someone has to mow the lawn this weekend." Tommy explains better
"Nancy can do that she'll be healed by then." Elizabeth volunteers her older sister.
David glances her. "You are brave if Nancy finds out you said that she'll mop the floor with you."
"I'm not scared of her." Elizabeth says.
Joannie runs upstairs and comes back with a small bag. "I'm ready."
"Joannie do you have a ride home?" Tom asks.
"Well, I'm sure I'll get one," Joannie says. "Don't worry about it, Dad."
"If you don't call me if I'm not home one of your sisters or brother can come and get you."
"Sure, no problem, Dad," Joannie says, not meaning a word of it.
"Good." He kisses both of them before they leave.
After Joannie and Abby leave. Tom finds Nancy sulking in her bedroom and smiles.
"Come on let's go out are you ready?" He asks her.
"Always." She smiles and then they leave.
Later at the local ice cream parlor.
"You know I haven't had a chance to talk to you much the past few days with Nicholas being sick and I apologize for that." Tom says.
"Dad it's ok, Nicholas is a little boy I'm an adult."
"You're still my child and that will never change." He says. "And I
know you've been through a lot lately. I'm sorry I couldn't protect
you from that guy."
"Dad it's ok, how could you have known?"
"That's not much comfort and it would have been no comfort at all if..." He lets the thought hang.
"Dad I didn't die I'm still here."
"I know, and I'm very grateful for that, but I need to ask you something and please don't take it the wrong way."
"Ok,"
"Are you still craving it?" He asks. "And be honest with me I won't get mad."
"Sometimes but it's not worth it." She replies.
"Then will you consider NA?"
"Dad I don't need NA I'm doing good staying away from it on my own." She protests.
"Honey I know you are, but what if you get to the point again where
you can't stay away from it, and you don't survive it." Tom stands
his ground. "The last thing I want to do is bury one of my children."
"Ok, I'll go to a meeting just to see what it's like." She promises.
"Good," He gives her a hug and a kiss on the forehead.
After awhile they return home.
At midnight, Joannie comes home and tries to sneak up to her bedroom.
"Why is it that when you, your brothers, and sisters get home at this
time do you try to sneak past me? It's not even past your curfew."
Tom smiles at Joannie.
"Oh, well, you know, just have to stay in practice for when it is," Joannie tries to joke.
Tom laughs. "Are you hungry? I thought I'd have a sandwich, do you want to join me?"
"No, Dad, I'm really bushed," Joannie fakes a yawn. "Besides, I'll bet Abby will be home any minute. The library closes at midnight."
"Ok, well you sleep good. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night, Dad."
"Goodnight honey." Tom goes downstairs for a midnight snack. Nicholas is down there already eating a sandwich. "Nicholas what are you doing up this late?"
"I was hungry."
"Well what are you eating?"
"Peanut Butter and Jelly Bean Sandwich." Nicholas says between bites
"Hmm, sounds good but I don't think your old Dad's stomach can handle that." Tom says as he makes a ham and cheese sandwich.
Nicholas laughs
So does Tom. "How was school today?"
"Boring. How was work today?"
"Boring, you and I need some fun in our life."
Nicholas laughs "What can we do?"
"Hmm, well what do you want to do this Saturday? I know I haven't spent
enough time with you lately with Nancy getting hurt and all and
I'm sorry for that."
"Thats OK; I know you have been busy." Nicholas replies understandably
"No it's not ok. You're my little guy, and you and I are going to spend
Saturday afternoon together. But it's not going to be like last
time when I planned all kinds of activities. We're going to do what
you want to do."
"How about a movie and pizza?"
"Ok, a Disney movie? Or something else."
"Star Wars."
Tom smiles. "Star Wars it is. You know Luke Skywalker looks very familiar."
"Yeah he does." Nicholas laughs
Tom laughs also.
A little after 1:30 Abby comes home and stops off in Tom's study to put down her books before going to the kitchen to get a drink.
Tom is still there. Nicholas went back up to bed about an hour ago. "Hi there."
"Hi," Abby says. "I thought you weren't going to wait up."
"Well I had a talk with Nicholas and I was trying to find a good NA meeting for Nancy to go to, and the time slipped away from me."
Abby turns on the water and starts to wash the dishes in the sink. "It never ends around here, does it?"
"Not with 8 of them. I gave up waiting several years ago." Tom jokes.
"Forget about a retirement plan," Abby says, "just reserve us a room at the Home for the Aged and Insane."
"As long as we're together."
"Sweet talker." Abby finishes washing the dishes and dries her hands
on the towel. "Well, I'm going up to bed. You coming, or are you
going to wait down here for the next kid to make an entrance?"
Tom smiles and follows her upstairs. Soon Nancy comes down because she can't sleep, sees the NA brochures, and the notes her father took trying to find a good time for her to go and smiles. "I love you too Dad."
"Hi" Mary says
"Hi Mary, you couldn't sleep either huh?" Nancy asks.
"No.." Mary says
"What's your reason?"
The next day on his way to work. Tom is driving and thinking about Abby
when he accidentally runs a stop sign and is side swiped by
another vehicle.
"Oh no not again." He says out loud as he gets out and observes the
damage to the sedan. At that point he's hit by a wave of dizziness
and nausea and is about to sit down but winds up passing out instead.
Twenty minutes later the phone rings at the university and soon after that one of the office assistants approaches Abby.
Abby sees the woman's expression. ~I'm in trouble. What did I do? I
know I turned off the photocopy machine last time I used it. I
think...~ "Something wrong?"
The assistant sighs and sits down next to her. "It's your husband he
was in accident a little while ago they took him to Sacramento
General."
"What?" Abby doesn't even think to ask how Tom's doing; she runs off
and drives like a madwoman to the hospital, running a few red lights,
breaking several traffic laws, and maybe causing an accident or two
behind her.
She parks, taking up two spaces because she doesn't want to take the
time to be careful, and runs into the emergency room. "My husband.
Tom Bradford. I was told he was in an accident," she gasps out to the
person at the triage desk.
"Maam calm down, your family doctor is with him right now it's not as bad as we initially thought." The nurse says.
Abby takes a deep breath. "Can I see him? Please--I promise I won't get in the way or be a bother."
"Sure," She takes Abby to the examining room. Tom is conscious by now and Dr. Max is waiting on the head xrays.
"Abby I'm ok." Tom says. "All of this is my best friend being overprotective."
Abby doesn't answer Tom. She sits down next to him, takes his hand and asks Max, "How is he, really?"
"We have to wait for the head xrays but the worst case scenario is a
mild concussion. The least is shock which he's over right now. That's
probably what caused the dizziness and nausea." Greg tells her.
"I think we're going to have to apply for that family discount," Abby says.
She keeps hold of Tom's hand, tightly, and asks him, "So you really are OK? What happened, anyway?"
"I accidentally ran a stop sign." He says quietly.
"I don't believe it. Mr. Responsibility ran a stop sign? Didn't you see it?" Abby asks.
"Well my mind was elsewhere."
Meanwhile Mary is taking a tour of the hospital when she sees Abby's car in the Emergency room parking lot ~What and Who now?~ Mary says as she runs into the hospital and says "My name Is Mary Bradford and I saw my stepmother Abby Bradford's car out in the emergency parking lot. Is she OK?"
The nurse looks through her papers. "No Abby Bradford here...we do have a Tom Bradford, though; Dr. Maxwell's looking him over."
"That's my father; Is he OK?" Mary says nearly in tears.
"I think so. Dr. Maxwell usually calls for backup if he needs it, and he's been awfully quiet."
"Can I see him or least talk to Abby?" Mary asks
"Well, I shouldn't, but I'll take you back there. If Dr. Maxwell doesn't object, you can see him."
The nurse walks Mary along the corridor to the room where Tom, Abby,
and Greg are waiting for the X rays. She goes in, speaks to the
doctor, and tells Mary she can go in.
"Thanks." Mary says. She goes into the examination room. "Hi, What happened?"
"Your father was driving the sedan. That should explain everything," Abby says.
"That Sedan is cursed." Mary says
"Really. I think we ought to give up on the idea of another bathroom and try to get your father to get another car instead."
~She's making jokes; maybe it isn't too serious then.~ Mary laughs "Let's not go that far."
"I think I might," Abby says, letting some of the fear she'd felt out from under the joking.
Mary sees the worried look on Abby's face. She takes her hand "He's going to be OK."
"Oh, I know that. He'll be fine until I get him alone and try to find
out how he got into this accident," Abby says. "Come on, let's go in
to see him."
"OK" Mary replies.
"Hi Dad."
"Hi honey." Tom smiles at Mary. "Don't worry I am ok."
"I don't know what I would have done....well you know." Mary says with tears
"Oh Mary, come here." Tom says.
Mary goes over "We need to get rid of that sedan." she jokes
Tom laughs and hugs her and also gazes at Abby.
Mary wipes her eyes and says "Has the rest of the family been notified yet?"
They hear Nancy's voice in the hall shouting for her Dad. Shrugging off any hospital staff who tries to stop her.
"Well that answers that question." Mary says "I better go talk to her
before they arrest her." Mary goes out of the room and sees
Nancy "Nancy calm down, Dad is fine."
Nancy sighs in relief and tries to calm down. "Mary is he hurt at all?"
"At the worse maybe a concussion."
Once Mary is out of the room Abby asks Tom, "Now do you want to tell me what you meant, 'your mind was elsewhere'? You could have gotten really hurt!"
"I couldn't help it. I was thinking about you." He kisses her.
Greg overhears the conversation and says, "You're married, Tom. You don't have to think of her every second any more."
"Ha ha Greg. So can I go home now?"
"I'll go see what's keeping those x rays. Maybe they're just shocked that the pictures are blank--I did warn them, though."
Tom laughs and pretends to glare at him. Nancy and Mary return, and Nancy hugs her dad.
"Don't ever scare me like that again."
"Sure, just never scare me by winding up in here again ok."
"Ok."
"Does the rest of the family know?''' Mary asks Nancy
"I don't know I high tailed it over here as soon as I heard."
"Oh"
Greg comes back. "Tom, you have got to start driving more carefully. You've got a minor concussion, and you're lucky it isn't worse."
"Thanks Greg." Tom says.
"Aren't concussions dangerous?" Nancy asks worriedly.
"Not really. There's more aggravation than they are danger," Greg reassures
her. "Tom, you may get headaches for the next few days, be
a little more irritable than usual, and Abby, I want you to try waking
him every few hours. If you can't, call me--whatever time it is."
"Nancy it's just a mild one." Tom assures her. "Now let's go home."
"I'll bring my car around," Abby says. "Nancy, how did you get here? Don't tell me you drove."
"Ok I won't tell you that, but the station wagon is here." She says.
"Well, I can't take you home, so Mary will have to. You are not to drive," Abby says. "Right, Max?"
"Right. Nancy, I know you were worried about your father, but you could
have had an accident, too. You don't have full mobility yet.
And then all of you would be begging lifts from Abby," Greg says.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." She says.
"Come on Sis, lets go home." Mary says
"Ok," She hands Mary the keys and then they get in the station wagon and head home.
"How did you know Dad was in an accident?" Mary asks
"The police came to the house." She replies. "I know I should have been at school but my shoulder started hurting."
"And you drove with your shoulder hurting?" Mary asks.
"Yes, but I only used my good arm." Nancy says.
Mary rolls her eyes "Nancy....."
"I was worried about Dad ok."
"I know you don't want to hear any lectures and I feel like giving you one, but I won't"
"Thanks Mary, I really am sorry. I just wasn't thinking clearly. The police usually only come to the door when...."
"I Know." Mary says and pulls into the driveway
They get out of the car and go inside.
Abby goes to bring her car around to the back into the ER for Tom. "All
right, let's get you home. And before you even ask--no, you
can't drive."
"I wasn't going to ask believe me." He says as he gets into the passengers seat.
"You know, when I said I wanted to get you into bed for a day or two, this isn't what I had in mind," Abby says.
Tom laughs and then winces in pain.
Abby puts the car into gear and starts to drive home. "You know, you
really scared me," she tells him. "When they told me you'd been in an
accident..."
"I'm sorry Abby." He gazes at her.
Abby stops at the red light at looks at Tom, noticing the repentant
way he's looking at her. "Don't look at me like that. I'm trying to
yell at you."
Tom laughs and kisses her.
Abby shakes her head and then, as the light changes, gets into gear and continues driving. "What am I going to do with you, Tom Bradford?"
"You can always trade me in but I hope you don't do that." He jokes.
Abby pretends to consider this. "Well, it's been less than a month, so I guess you're still under warranty."
"Ouch that hurt." Tom comments.
Abby laughs. "Of course, once we're sure you're OK, you could try to
convince me otherwise." She pulls into the driveway. "Come on, let's
get you upstairs and into bed."
"Will you be joining me?"
"Depends on how you mean that," Abby says, and gets out of the car, coming around to help Tom out.
"What do you mean?" Tom asks as Abby helps him out of the car and into the house.
"Joining you in bed. If you mean keeping an eye on you and waking you
every few hours, yes, I'll be joining you. If you mean anything else,
I don't think Max would approve."
"Well I tried." He says.
"You're obsessed. I'd say that one day it'll get you into trouble, but
it already has," Abby says as she helps Tom into the house and up
the stairs.
"I'm not obsessed I'm focused."
Nicholas and Tommy run downstairs. "Dad are you OK?"
"I'm fine guys don't worry." Tom says.
"Did you really run a stop sign?" Tommy asks.
Tom doesn't answer he feigns confusion.
"Dad?" Tommy asks waiting for an answer.
"You know," Abby rescues him, "Dr. Max said your father should rest. Maybe you should wait until later to get all the details, ok?"
Tom gives her a very grateful glance and kiss.
"Some on, let's get you upstairs." Abby then says to the boys, "Could
you let everyone know that your father is home and all right, and
that he's resting?"
"OK." Nicholas says
"OK" Tommy replies but makes a mental note to ask later.
Nancy motions for Tommy to come into her bedroom.
"What is it?" Tommy asks in her room
"Tommy, what were you doing out there?"
"Just asking Dad a simple question. Why?"
"Tommy, he's hurt right now and needs a few days to recover. And longer
to recover from a bruised ego after running a stop sign which
he has always told us not to do. How bout showing him a little understanding.
That man loves us more than anyone ever will." She
musses his hair. "Please for me."
"Would you stop with the hair?" Tommy demands "I was just joking with him."
"I know but what seems funny to you might not seem funny to him."
"Ok; I'll lay off...maybe I can use it for leverage when I learn to drive," Tommy says planning in advance.
Nancy laughs. "There you go." After she's done laughing. "Seriously Tommy, thank you."
"No sweat; and what was it I heard that you drove to the hospital?" Tommy says
"Hey it is possible to drive with one arm you know." Nancy defends herself.
"Sure. I'll tell that to Dad." Tommy says
"Look I wasn't thinking ok." Her eyes well with tears. "When I saw the
police officers at the door I thought Dad was gone. I didn't give
them a chance to say anything besides Dad was in an accident I just
bolted out of there figuring they took him to General."
"I probably would have done the same thing and I don't even have a license." Tommy replies with understanding.
She laughs through her tears. "Thanks little brother." She hugs him.
''You are welcome." Tommy says
Nancy smiles and musses his hair again.
"OK, that's it" and starts hitting her with a pillow gently.
Nancy laughs and attacks him with Elizabeth's pillow she accidentally moves her bad arm too much and grits her teeth to keep from screaming out. "Ok you win."
"Sorry Nancy, are you OK?"
"Yeah and it was my fault I know better than to use this arm too much yet."
Tom and Abby go upstairs to their bedroom.
"You do know that they're just going to keep asking," Abby says as she
shut the door. "The thought that their father might actually have
broken a rule is too tempting for them to just drop."
Tom lies down in bed. "Yeah I know." He sighs.
"Well, whatever you plan on telling them, let me know first so we have the story straight," Abby says. "Anything you want?"
"Yeah you." He grins.
"Definitely obsessed," Abby smiles back at him, then settles down in a chair to read.
Tom pouts and soon falls asleep.
Joannie knocks on the door, and Abby goes to answer it.
"Your father's resting," Abby says.
"I heard. He's ok?"
"Yes, he's fine, or will be. He just needs to rest."
"OK. There was mail for you." Joannie hands her an envelope.
"Thanks." Abby takes it and goes back to her chair. She opens the envelope
and reads the note inside. "I don't believe it. Now I really
do feel old," she tells Tom.
Tom awakens. "What do you mean?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, though I suppose I should, now and
then," Abby says. She holds up the envelope. "This is from one of the
first students I taught when I moved to Sacramento. He was really having
a hard time, but he had a lot of writing talent, and by the
time I'd finished with him, he knew it. Now he's graduated from college
and the Rep is putting on aplay he wrote, and he's invited me. It's next
week--do you think you'll be well enough to go?"
"Sure." Tom says.
"I can't believe that I've been doing this so long my students have started working," Abby sighs.
"Abby you are not old, believe me."
"You know, one day you're going to get tired of paying me compliments,
but I'll be so used to them I'll have to start demanding
them."
Currently in the hallway.
"Hey Joannie how's it going?" Nancy asks her.
"OK. I wish Dad weren't going to be home for the next few days, but
other than that... How are you doing? I heard about you driving. That
was a stupid stunt."
"I know, but I was scared I thought..." Doesn't want to say it out loud.
"You still could have asked one of us," Joannie says. "That's all we would have needed, you in an accident, too."
"None of you were home." Nancy gets upset and turns to go to her room.
"Nancy, don't go off and pout. I'm allowed to worry about you, aren't I?" Joannie tries to reason with her sister.
Nancy smiles and returns. "Yes you're allowed to worry about me."
"Then you won't do anything that stupid again? Cabs do exist, you know."
"I won't do anything that stupid again." She promises.
"Good, because there are all sorts of new stupid mistakes waiting for us to make," Joannie jokes.
Nancy laughs. "Very true."
"Speaking of which, I should get ready for rehearsal."
"Are you and I still the only ones that know about this?"
"Yes, and I don't plan to put it out through the Bradford Information Service," Joannie says.
"Know about what?" Mary asks
"I was thinking about getting a sex change operation." Nancy says trying to keep Mary from finding out before Joannie wants her to know.
"Cute, ok guys what really is going on?"
"Mary, it's nothing really," Joannie says.
"Joannie when you say its nothing; it is usually something. Come on, what's up?" Mary asks
"Mary come on." Nancy tries to put an end to it.
Susan sees her sisters in the hall "Hey guys what's going on? Are we
having a Bradford family gathering or something in the hall?"
inquires Susan.
"Er nothing, did you hear about the accident?" Nancy asks her.
"Oh, geez, it's just a guy, OK? I like a guy at school and I'm trying
to figure out how to get him, because he's oblivious! You can't keep
a secret around here!" Joannie says and storms off to her room, hoping
her sisters bought her performance.
"So what's for dinner?" Nancy asks.
"Accident? What accident?" asks Susan.
Nancy gently tells her about their Dad's accident, adding that he's ok. "It's just a mild concussion."
"Just a concussion. Are you sure he's going to be alright?"
"Yes I'm sure, at least he'd better be."
"I don't buy it." Mary says and goes in Joannie room. "Come on, I won't say anything."
"I'm not selling anything! Just drop it, Mary."
"Why don't you want to tell me?" Mary says.
"There's nothing to tell!"
"Fine." Mary says and storms out of the room slamming the door.
"Mary are you ok?" Nancy asks.
"No, but I'll get over it."
Nancy gives her a hug and then goes downstairs.
About an hour and a half after he fell asleep, Abby wakes him to check on him. "You OK? Need anything? Want anything? And don't even think of starting with me, Tom."
He smiles and then winces in pain. "A aspirin."
"Max said you shouldn't have aspirin for a few days--not safe. But I'll
get you something else for the pain," Abby says, and brings him
some acetaminophen and a glass of water.
He gratefully takes it, swallows the medication, and some of the water. "How are the kids?"
"I don't know. I've been sitting here, watching you sleep," Abby admits.
"Joannie came by, but other than that, they've let you rest,
so I guess they're OK. Are you up to going down to dinner, or should
I send your regrets and bring you up a tray?"
"I don't feel like braving the stairs so just send my regrets." He says groggily.
Abby kisses him and smoothes the covers around him. "Go back to sleep.
I'll bring you something the next time I wake you." She waits
until he falls asleep again and the goes downstairs, hoping someone
has started dinner.
Elizabeth is downstairs cooking dinner. Nicholas is helping.
"Thanks for starting dinner. What can I do?" Abby asks.
"Can you start the vegetables and ground Nancy for being an idiot?" Elizabeth says in one breath.
"Paying me back, huh?" Abby says as she takes out the cutting board. "And if I thought Nancy would listen, I'd ground her."
Elizabeth laughs. "That's right, and yeah she never listens to anyone she just goes her own way."
"If your father were feeling better..." Abby says, "then again, if he
were feeling better there would be no reason to ground Nancy. I can't
believe Tom did something so stupid!"
"Did he say why he ran the stop sign?"
Abby starts to blurt out the truth, but catches herself in time. "He said he wasn't paying attention."
Elizabeth shakes her head at this. "You're right that was stupid."
"I mean, what would have happened if..." Abby says. "I don't even want to think about it."
"Neither do I."
Abby concentrates on her chopping, trying not to think what might have
been, her a widow again, and this time with eight children to
raise.
"I set the table...now what?" Nicholas asks
"I don't know, why don't you go watch tv, we have everything else covered."
Nicholas goes over to Abby "Abby is Dad really going to be OK?"
"Of course he will be," Abby assures him. "He'll be better by Saturday, so you'll still get to go to that movie."
"Really?" he asks
"Really. He's got a pretty hard head," Abby laughs.
Nicholas laughs and goes to watch TV.
Nancy enters the kitchen. "Do you need any help?"
"Shouldn't you be in bed, resting that shoulder?" Abby asks.
"My bed kicked me out it got tired of me." She jokes.
"Well, you go give it a stern talking to and get back in it," Abby says.
"But Dr. Max said I didn't have to stay in bed anymore."
"Nance that was before your shoulder started to act up again, maybe
you should go and see him tomorrow." Elizabeth says. "Now listen to
Abby and get out of here already."
Nancy grumbles and goes upstairs to her bedroom.
"That was easier than I thought it would be--thanks for the backup," Abby says.
"Not a problem." Elizabeth says.
Tommy comes in and asks "What are we having?"
"Hamburgers, carrots, and French Fries."
"Good, I am starving."
"You're always starving," Abby points out.
Tommy just smiles a grabs a piece of vegetable.
Meanwhile instead of getting into bed. Nancy glances out the window
at the outside world. "It sure would be nice to be outside right
now." She says out loud. ~Hmm, maybe, naah they might find out and
they have enough to worry about right now.~
After awhile she starts feeling tired and drained so she gets into bed and falls asleep.
Just before dinner is ready, Abby goes upstairs to check on Tom and
Nancy--they're both asleep, and she decides not to wake them. She
goes back downstairs, a little apprehensive at being the only adult
at the table.
"So he ran a stop sign eh?" David asks.
"Yes," Abby says, "but don't say anything to him about. He's embarrassed enough as is."
Tommy breaks out laughing.
"Ok," David looks around the table. "Is Nancy on a date or something?"
"She's asleep, her shoulder is acting up again." Elizabeth says.
"That's bound to happen with an injury like that. Is she getting cabin fever yet?"
"I think we have to tie her to her bed soon," Abby says. "But at least
that means she can keep an eye on your father tomorrow while
I'm at work."
"I'll come by at lunch to check on him." David says.
"Thanks. I'll stop by between students, but I have...oh, no," Abby moans.
"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asks.
"I have class in 40 minutes. A big test, and the professor's already
down enough on me for missing classes. I was so worried about your
father I forgot all about it," Abby says, frustrated.
"Go ahead and go we'll take care of things here." David says.
"Thanks." Abby takes another quick bite of dinner and rushes to gather
her books. She comes back into the dining room to remind
everyone that Tom needs to be woken in an hour and needs a tray brought
to him, and that they should make sure Nancy eats something,
and then she hurries off to school.
One hour later David and Joannie go to check on their Dad and wake him.
Elizabeth goes to her room to see if Nancy is hungry and finds
that she's still asleep so she lets her be. Currently in the Master
Bedroom.
"Dad, Dad," David gently shakes him.
Tom awakens and smiles at his children. "David, Joannie, hi."
"You hungry, Dad?" Joannie asks.
"Yeah." He says.
Joannie brings him the tray and helps him sit up. "Abby will be back in an hour or two," she tells her father.
Tom eats his dinner. "Where did she go?"
"She had to go to class. She can't miss it any more; her professor is being a dork." David tells him.
"And tomorrow we'll take turns checking in on you when Abby goes to work," Joannie adds.
"Work she's going to work tomorrow?"
"That's what she said," Joannie reports. "She did say she'd try to squeeze you in between students, though."
Tom's face clouds over. David glares at Joannie. "That's not how she meant it Joannie."
"David, let's not argue in front of Dad. He's not feeling well," Joannie says sweetly.
"Why don't you go check on Nancy. I'll look after Dad." He whispers angrily.
"I was just trying to help," Joannie says, and leaves the room.
~Yeah, help Dad and Abby into a big argument or divorce court.~ "Dad, you know Abby would rather be here with you right?"
Tom starts getting irritable. "Then why isn't she here?"
"She'll be here. She can't miss this class Dad."