Chapter 12: Another Day Over

Carl arrived at the house first and came in the back door quietly. He could hear the piano and Nancy singing tentatively and stopped in the kitchen doorway watching her practice. She hadn't heard him come in since she had the headphones on. He could tell she was working on a new song and watched in fascination for several minutes. It was interesting to hear the words without the accompaniment, and watch Nancy develop a sound for the song that suited her. She worked on the song passage by passage, playing intermittently on the piano, and rewinding frequently to review. She had taken one headphone off so she could hear herself as well as the tape. She finally seemed satisfied that she had it down, and rewound the entire song, going through the whole thing: 

I feel stupid – but I know it won't last for long
I've been guessing - I coulda been guessin' wrong
you don't know me now
I kinda thought that you should somehow
does that whole mad season got ya down

I feel stupid but it's something that comes and goes
I've been changin' - think it's funny how no one knows
we don't talk about - the little things that we do without
when that whole mad season comes around

so why ya gotta stand there
looking like the answer now
it seems to me - you'd come around
I need you now
do you think you can cope
you figured me out, that- I'm lost and I'm hopeless
I'm bleeding and broken - though I've never spoken
I come undone in this mad season

I feel stupid - but I think I been catchin' on
and I feel ugly - but I know I still turn you on
you seem colder now, torn apart, angry, turned around
will that whole mad season knock you down

so are you gonna stand there
are you gonna help me out
we need to be together now - I need you now
do you think you can cope
you figured me out, that- I'm lost and I'm hopeless
I'm bleeding and broken - though I've never spoken
I come undone in this mad season


now I'm cryin' - isn't that what you want
and I'm tryin' to live my life on my own
but I won't
at times - I do believe I am strong
so someone tell me why, why, why
do I, I, I

 feel stupid

and I come undone

I come undone

I need you now
do you think you can cope
you figured me out - I'm lost and I'm hopeless
I'm bleeding and broken

though I've never spoken , , ,

Well, I need you now
do you think you can cope
you figured me out - I'm a child and I'm hopeless
I'm bleeding and broken - though I've never spoken
I come undone - in this mad season

in this mad season.

it's been a mad season

When she finished, Carl clapped finally alerting her to his presence. She slipped the headphones off as she turned, "How long have you been standing there?" she asked self-consciously.

"Not long," he said vaguely, "I like that song. It seems to suit you." 

Nancy chuckled, "Yea, well, I guess in this family it's always a bit of a Mad Season."

Carl laughed, "Well, it's definitely never dull!"

When Murdock got home, Nancy and her father were sitting in the living room talking. Carl stood up and excused himself, "You two probably want to have some time alone," he said, and headed upstairs to bed.

Murdock dropped onto the couch next to his wife, leaned his head back and closed his eyes wearily.

Nancy moved next to him, dropped her head on his shoulder and he shifted, pulling her closer, "Went that well, huh?" she said regretfully.

He sighed, "Your Uncle has lost his mind."

Nancy sat up and looked at him, "What did he do now?"

"He wants to groom me to take over Stockwell Enterprises when he retires."

Nancy looked at Murdock appraisingly, "So that's why he's been dragging you to all those meetings . . ."

"Yea, Hannibal thinks it's been his intention for some time. Apparently, ever since we got married," he said shaking his head in disbelief, "What makes him think I can handle Stockwell Enterprises, anyway?"

Nancy looked at him sharply, "Why do you say that? I think you'd do a great job . . ."

Murdock looked at her in surprise, "Come on, Nan, I'm no manager."

She sat back on her knees, looking at him seriously, "What do you think you're gonna have to do with the airfield?" she asked leadingly, "It's no different and you're more than capable."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Short Cake," he said, "But there's more to it than that . . . it's really not what I want.  Running the airfield interests me. Running Stockwell Enterprises, well, frankly, the thought doesn't thrill me."

Nancy smiled, "So, you are keeping your promise . . ."

He smiled back, "Of course I am!"

Nancy stretched and yawned, and Murdock commented, "We should head to bed - it's been a long day."

Nancy stood up, "I am pretty tired, "she agreed, "And besides, you didn't get any sleep last night.'

He stood as well, and caught her in an embrace, "You know, I'll be glad when your Dad gets his own place," he said ruefully, "It's not that I mind him visiting, but . . ."

Nancy put her arms up around his neck, "Don't tell me you're feeling bashful, Captain," she said teasingly.

"Not bashful," he said reflectively, "Just kinda puts a cramp in my style."

Nancy took his hand and led him to the stairs, flipping the living room lights off on the way, "So, you'll just have to be a little more quiet than usual," she said, smiling, "It'll be good practice for after the babies come."

"You mean I gotta be quiet after the babies come," he said incredulously, "let's send 'em back!"

"It's too late for that, honey," she said, quietly laughing.