LATER THAT DAY

Gabby couldn't decide whether she actually wanted to invite Sam to go with her to New York to meet her father. Who knew what her dad had planned or how he would act. Deciding that at the very least she and Sam could sneak off for a while and enjoy New York by themselves, she signed online to talk to Sam.

PhatGabby127: Hey Sam

HitchHikerSam42: Hiya Gabs how's it going?

PhatGabby127: Eh can't complain too much. Got a question for you though.

HitchHikerSam42: And I'm sure I have an answer

PhatGabby127: Want to go with me to NYC to meet my dad and his wife?

HitchHikerSam42: When?

PhatGabby127: Um this weekend

HitchHikerSam42: When this weekend?

PhatGabby127: Like Friday through Sunday or Monday

HitchHikerSam42: How about Thursday night through Sunday afternoon? I have to be back for an eight a.m. class on Monday.

PhatGabby127: That sounds great. Let me call my dad and tell him to make the plane reservations.

HitchHikerSam42: Wait, one thing…doesn't your dad have a dog?

PhatGabby127: Oh shit. Yeah he does. Well, we can stay at a hotel. It's no problem.

HitchHikerSam42: Ok cool.

PhatGabby127: K I'll IM you back in a few

Gabby quickly dialed her dad's office number. Peter answered on the first ring, saying, "Brady Smith's office. This is Peter speaking. How may I help you?"

"Hey Peter. It's Gabby…can I talk to my dad please?"

"One minute Gabrielle." The annoying hold music began playing as Peter put her on hold. A few minutes later the music switched off and Brady came onto the line.

"Hello Miss Gabby, how are you my dear?"

"I'm fine Dad. I talked to Sam. We'd like to fly in on Thursday night and back home on Sunday afternoon. Is that manageable?"

"Of course it is. I will book your flights and send you the information. What's Sam's full name?"

"Samuel G. Stein."

"Great. I'll e-mail you your e-tickets in a few minutes. Anything else you need?"

"Well, Sam and I are both allergic to dogs, so we're going to have to stay at a hotel because of Molly."

"That's fine. Will you be able to come to the house for dinner, if we put Molly in her kennel in our bedroom?"

"Yes, just make sure to vacuum and dust before we get there. That's very important. Oh and make sure the hotel rooms are non-smoking. That's very important as well."

"No problem honey. I'll take care of it. In fact, call me later when you get the e-tickets and we'll go over what the itinerary for your trip."

"Sure, no problem. How about I call you tomorrow morning, at about 8 a.m.?"

"That's fine. I'll be at work, so go ahead and call here."

"K Dad. Bye." Gabby hung up the phone and went back to her IM.

PhatGabby127: OK I talked to my dad.

HitchHikerSam42: And?

PhatGabby127: He's going to book the flight and e-mail me the information

HitchHikerSam42: And the hotel?

PhatGabby127: Will be taken care of

HitchHikerSam42: K

PhatGabby127: What we'll probably do is get there Thursday night, have dinner with Susan and my dad and then go to the hotel and then who knows what we'll be doing Friday, Saturday and Sunday lol I'll find out when I call him. Is there anything you'd like to do in NYC?

HitchHikerSam42: Um, I'd love to check out the Empire State Building and that kind of thing

PhatGabby127: Sure. What about a show on Broadway? My dad can probably get tickets for something like Phantom of the Opera, or Fiddler on the Roof.

HitchHikerSam42: Sure sounds good.

PhatGabby127: Alright. Well I'm gonna go. I've got stuff to do. I'll call you tomorrow. Bye.

Gabby signed off quickly and got up from her computer, debating on what to do next. After thinking for a while, she decided to call her friend Kim and see if she wanted to go to the mall. When Kim answered, they quickly made plans and agreed to meet at the mall in an hour. After hanging up with Kim, Gabby went downstairs to talk to her Mom.

"Hey Mom. Kim and I are going to the mall, we're meeting in an hour. Is that ok?"

"You're supposed to ask first then make plans but sure. It's no problem. Do you need money?"

"No…I'm going to use the credit card Dad gave me. I need stuff for the trip."

"What do you need?"

"I was going to get a pair of nice black pants, a little cocktail dress in case Susan has a dinner party and a couple of new tops. Just some basic stuff."

"You should call Sam and make sure he knows to bring a dinner jacket. And if he doesn't have one…just put it on your father's charge. He won't mind."

"OK. I'll call him now."

So a few minutes later, Gabby called Sam. Sam already had a dinner jacket so no need for Gabby to buy one for him. Gabby said good bye to Sam and went to change. She decided to wear khakis and a pink fitted polo to the mall. "I really need to get some new clothes for my wardrobe. More variety. I wear the same kind of stuff all the time. Guess Dad will be funding it." Gabby thought with a smile.

Gabby drove to the mall and found a place to park and then went in to meet up with Kim and do her shopping. After several hours, Gabby left the mall with not one but two pairs of black pants (she liked them so much she couldn't just pick one!), several cute tops and a "little black dress" for any dinner parties her dad and Susan might have planned.

It was near seven p.m. when Gabby got home and her mother had dinner ready. After eating, Gabby went upstairs and did her homework before calling it an early night. Recently she had found herself exhausted by the simplest things, like going up a flight of steps or walking around the mall. She could only assume it was a side effect of her worsening Cystic Fibrosis. She hoped that in time, it would all get better. But she feared that it would be a long time before that time came.

A/N: Sorry for the long space between updates and the short chapters. My muses are not co-operating. I'd really appreciate more reviews too with people's opinions on things. PS, I'll try and move the pace along 