What Mattered Most
by Rhiannon and AJ A.K.A. The Diabolically Machiavellian Sisters
The next morning, Jed sat in the Oval Office staring out the window...
Abbey's news last night had affected him more than he had let on. He knew she
was doing good things out on her trips ... he knew she was helping people.
He always felt as if he were missing something very important when Abbey was
away. He felt the distance between them very much. They never seemed to be in
the same place for longer than a couple of days.
Either one of them was leaving on a trip, or he was working late, or she was
attending some function in Washington.
And, even though he hated it when she was gone... He knew he had to support
her, just like she had always supported him when his job had taken him away
from her ... as it had done many times in the past.
However, that didn't mean he couldn't pout when he was alone...
Jed swung around in his chair when he heard a door opening, "What's up, Leo?"
His best friend walked into the room, "I was going to ask you the same
question... You don't look very good, are you feeling well?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Leo pressed. "Cause you didn't have much to say at the staff
meeting this morning and you don't look fine, sir."
"I'm fine, Leo." Jed replied. Then he sighed, "I just miss Abbey ... that's
all."
"I know..." Leo said. "Lilli called me with a question this morning. She
complained that Abbey had extended the trip again. Lilli about had a
conniption fit about it over the phone with me and she..." Leo trailed off
when he saw the confused expression on his friend's face. "What?"
"Lilli told you that Abbey extended the trip?"
"Yeah ... why?"
Jed looked away from him, "Abbey told me that Lilli extended the trip...
Something about visiting another place and having to wait two days..."
Leo froze in place...
Jed looked over at him, "What?"
Leo remained silent.
"What Leo?" Jed pressed. "What do you not want to say?"
"Lilli told me that the main reason it bothered her to extend the trip was
that it was for no apparent reason..." Leo trailed off. "She said they
weren't going anywhere and she really didn't see any reason for it at all..."
"They aren't going anywhere?"
"No ... at least that's what Lilli told me this morning."
Jed nodded his head, "Okay... You need anything else?"
"No, Mr. President." Leo walked towards the door, knowing that was the other
man's way of telling him to leave.
"Okay," Jed said softly as he watched Leo walk out the door.
TBC...