Chapter Five Full Of Surprises

"Happy Thanksgiving dad! Where is everybody?" Ephram asked when he and Adam arrived at his parents' house for dinner and he noticed how empty it was.

"They went to pick Sammy up in Denver. He spent the week with his dad. Hi Adam."

"Hi!" Adam said very softly.

"He's as shy as you were."

"Which means he'll grow out of it." Ephram replied giving his dad a 'you know what I mean' look. " Actually he's just tired he'll perk up." Ephram added helping Adam out of his coat.

Full Of Surprises

"I have something to tell you." Ephram said when Delia, Nina, and Sammy got back. "I might be graduating in the spring."

"That's two years early, isn't?" Nina asked looking at Andy to see his expression.

"Well, yeah it is. I started taking online classes so I could study around work and taking care of this little guy." Ephram replied as Adam ran into his lap. "If I pass my next three exams I'll graduate two years early."

Full Of Surprises

"That's great, right Andy?" Nina asked at the same moment Andy stood up and asked Ephram to follow him.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Of course not, I'm so, proud of you. I know I've said this a lot, but I'm going to say it again. You're growing up so fast."

"Why does that upset you?"

"It doesn't, I just mean look at how much you've changed in the last few years."

"I haven't changed that much."

Full Of Surprises

"Okay not so much changed as accomplished. You're a dad, you're married, you've graduated not only from high school, but you're close to graduating from college too." Ephram didn't know how to respond to that and luckily his dad continued and he didn't have to. "My job as a father is pretty much over."

"You're not a father, you're a dad."

"What's the difference?"

"A dad is always there. He's there when you're sick." Ephram said as a wave of nausea hit him. Luckily a moment later it passed.

Full Of Surprises

"A dad's there when your girlfriend breaks up with you, like with Madison and Amy. A father, however, doesn't give a damn about his kids. I promise dad no matter how old I get I'll always be your little boy."

"I love you!"

"I love you too!"

When Ephram and Adam pulled into the Abbott's driveway later that night Adam was fast asleep, which was surprising because he was awake a minute before hand.

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Ephram didn't know how Adam could fall asleep so fast, but decided that it didn't matter because Everwood was a quiet town. Because of this fact Ephram saw no harm in letting Adam sleep. "Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Amy are you ready?" Ephram asked as he entered the room with Bright to find the entire Abbott family.

"You know Ephram, you're more than welcome to join us."

"Thanks Mrs. Abbott, but Adam's asleep in the car, so I have to go."

"You can put Adam upstairs, I'm sure it's a lot warmer than the car." Bright sniggered.

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"The heat's on Bright and I would stay, but going to my dad's is already starting to take it's toll on me. Amy, I can come back and pick you up if you're not ready."

"We still haven't eaten, see compared to your family we don't eat at five. I'll bring her home." Bright teased.

"Thanks, I'll see you guys later." Ephram said as he left.

"What did that mean, 'going to my dad's is already starting to take it's toll on me'?" Harold asked Amy as the door shut.

Full Of Surprises

"Ephram has Timely disease, so one day he can feel great and the next he can feel like crap."

"That's a really fast progressing cancer I hope he knows how serious that is." Harold said showing concern for his son in-law for the first time.