What Will People Say

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Original Airdate: 11/11/96

Annie, Lucy, Simon and Ruthie pull up to pick Matt and Mary up from school. On their way home, they spot Eric at the Glen Oak Lodge, going inside with a strange woman they don't recognize. Annie reassures everyone that it must have something to do with the church. Eric checks the woman into the hotel and then tells her, Abby, that it isn't her fault that her husband hits her. Abby asks Eric not to tell anyone about what she is going through or where she is.

At the house, Mary and Lucy try to figure out what is going on with their dad. Matt comes in and tells Mary not to be talking about this with any of the younger kids because it is an adult conversation. He also tells her that her new boyfriend, Richard, has been with a lot of girls and he warns her to be careful.

Happy tries everything she can to get Simon's attention but Simon only has one thing on his mind - Gabrielle. Annie asks if Simon wants to talk about what is on his mind, and Simon asks if Eric is dating another woman. Annie once again tells Simon she trusts Eric completely. When Eric walks in, Simon asks him if anything interesting happened today and he replies that nothing out of the ordinary happened.

That night over dinner, everybody is talking about the big football game coming up and Simon blurts out Gabrielle's name. Embarrasses, Simon says Gabrielle is no one. Ruthie says Simon will tell who Gabrielle is if Eric tells everyone who the woman at the hotel was. A silence falls over the table and Eric makes sure everyone knows why he can't say.

At Roosevelt Elementary School, Simon is all ga-ga over Gabrielle and has exactly what she is having for lunch. At recess, Simon tries to give Gabrielle a love note, but it is stolen and read aloud by the school buly, Mark. Gabrielle runs away.

Eric has lunch with Abby and finds out her husband Jake is very angry about her being gone. She tells Eric that Jake said that if she divorces him, that she will go to hell. Eric reassures her that is not the case, and points out that God knows the real Jake Morris while she is just finding out who he is.

Annie and Ruthie take off in the afternoon to go for a walk with Happy when they meet up with Mrs. Beaker who mentions how hard it must be for her with Eric working so hard. Mrs. Beaker tells Annie the latest gossip about a member of the church, Abby, is rumored to be having an affair.

That night, Matt goes to talk to Eric about a rumor at school about his father. Eric remains adamant about his vow of confidentiality - saying the town can continue to gossip all it wants. That night, Matt follows Eric to the hotel where Eric finds Jake trying to get to Abby.

Wanting to end the rumors, Eric tells Annie about Abby. The next day, Abby comes over to the house and Jake finds her there, wanting to take her back with him. Abby tells Jake she is leaving him and Eric has to strong arm Jake to keep him in line. When Jake turns to leave, he is surprised to find a police car waiting to take him in for spousal abuse. Eric and Annie comfort Abby.

Credits | Previous Episode | Next Episode

Original Airdate: 11/11/96