Story: A Wedding Diary (sequel to Getting To Know You)
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this story belong to NBC, WB, and Aaron Sorkin. We're just borrowing them for some fun :)
Story summary: As their wedding gets closer, Jed and Abbey are in for a few surprises!
May 19, 1967
The wedding of Josiah Bartlet and Abigail Barrington was only two months away and Abbey desperately tried to get everything completed. From picking out her dress to designing the cake to choosing floral arrangements and bridesmaids gowns to attending couple's counseling sessions with Jed, the frantic preparations had practically overwhelmed her. The wedding planner took care of many items, but it was up to Abbey to guide her towards the wedding of her dreams.
She and Jed had just graduated from college and though she was relieved to have more time to spend on creating the perfect fairytale event, she was also suffering from the powerful intrusion of dueling in-laws.
Traditionally, it was the bride's parents who would be burdened with the bill, but in this case, John and Diane Bartlet had insisted on financing at least a portion of the wedding. The generous offer was met with skepticism from Jed, who suspected manipulation was the driving force behind his father's motives and begged Abbey to refuse the gift. As a show of good faith towards her future father-in-law, Abbey dismissed Jed's objection and accepted the offer.
It wasn't long before Mary and Diane began bickering over the most basic of things, generally pulling Abbey into the middle of the fray where she'd have to think of a compromise to make both women happy and sacrifice her own wants in process.
For Jed's part, he wasn't faring much better acting as the go-between with his father and James Barrington. The two men spent most of the past five months arguing over the budget and eliminating what they felt were unimportant items from the planner's recommendations.
The strife took its toll on the newly engaged couple, Abbey was the one who really felt the heat. It was the night he found her sitting alone in her father's garden that Jed realized just how troubled she was.
"Abbey? They're asking for you, Hon," he told her.
Abbey remained sitting on a bench with her back to him. "I just need a minute."
Jed walked to the front of the bench and sat down next to her. "What's the matter?"
"I really don't want to go back in there. I can't stand listening to them fighting for another second."
"Sweetheart, this dinner was our idea. We told them it was a good way to lay everything out on the table and move ahead with the plans once and for all."
Abbey moved her body to face his, though he continued gazing out straight in front him. "But that's not what we're doing. We're not working anything out, Jed. All they do is argue and I just can't take it any more. I almost feel like it's too much trouble to get married."
Jed looked at her for the first time since he sat down. He saw her emotions etched on her face, the sadness lingering in her pretty green eyes, the disappointment peeking through the little frown lines that defined her beautiful lips. All he wanted to do was gather her into his arms and take the uncertainty away.
But her words frightened him and he found himself wondering if she was ready to back out. "What are you saying?"
"I love you and you know that. And I know that you love me. Do we really need a big ceremony? I mean, let's just run off and do it ourselves and get it over with."
Though her declaration of love put his mind at ease, her words bothered him. "Get it over with? Abbey, you told me you've been planning your wedding day since you were six years old. Now you want to just run into a chapel in some strip mall and exchange vows?"
Abbey ignored his gaze, choosing to look down at her neatly folded hands resting on her lap instead. Jed lowered his own head, hoping to get a glimpse of her eyes. It was the only way he could tell if she was crying silent tears that she didn't want him to see. Unable to get a good look, he cupped her chin and raised her head. She hadn't been crying, but that was only because she no longer had the energy. He saw the dark circles under her eyes. The bright smile that usually lit up her face was now completely gone.
The wedding she had always dreamt of had now become nothing more than a nuisance that she wanted to end. She was no longer in charge. All the plans were being made by the four adults who didn't take much of Jed and Abbey's thoughts into consideration. It didn't bother him. After all, he didn't know the first thing about wedding preparations, but having all her suggestions and plans overlooked was tearing Abbey apart.
Jed stood up and headed back inside.
"Jed?" Abbey called after him, but he continued.
"Stay here," he yelled back to her as he opened the sliding glass door and stormed inside.
"Could I have your attention?" he asked the foursome who was now arguing over the wedding colors.
"There's no need to be so formal, Jed," John replied.
"I have something to say and you're not going to want to hear it, but you're going to have to. The wedding ceremony is going to be held on July 22nd. That's the day Abbey's grandmother got married and it's the day Abbey originally wanted and I couldn't care less that some of the guests won't fly in on a Thursday. I guess they'll just have to miss it."
"Honey, you can't change the date of the ceremony this late," Mary reminded him.
"Oh yes I can and if I have to pay the caterer, the wedding planner, the florist, or anyone else extra, then I'll do it with the money I've been saving. As for the colors, there's no use in continuing your argument because they will be red and white, the flowers will be roses, just like Abbey wanted.
"Red and white isn't what we decided on, Son. Our colors will look much better," Diane interrupted.
"Red and white is what Abbey wants and I think it's going to look gorgeous. Bridesmaids will be in red velvet, which I believe, is what she originally picked out and I couldn't care less that this is now a summer wedding. We'll use velour, or whatever that material is that Abbey assures me isn't as warm as velvet, but still has the same look and feel. The cake will be white with a chocolate filling. I'm going to let Abbey pick out the exact flavor. The music will play at the tempo she wants. The reception will be held in the hall she had already reserved months ago, and the band will be the one she chose before all of you got involved."
James approached Jed. "Then why are we even here?"
"To help us, not to run the whole show. Your daughter is sitting out there crushed because she hasn't been part of the decision-making process for months."
"No one meant to upset Abbey," John replied.
"We appreciate your help, but this is our wedding and we want to do it our way. If it becomes a problem financially, then I'll find a way to pay for it myself. I've saved quite a bit of money and I don't mind spending it on giving Abbey her dream wedding. I'll take care of it. I'll take care of her. It's what I promised her when I asked her to marry me."
"He's right," Mary conceded, turning to her husband. "It's their wedding, James. Not ours."
Diane nodded in agreement. "Jed, tell Abbey that whatever she wants, we'll make it happen."
"And her mother and I will take care of the cost," James added.
Jed turned back towards the sliding door and saw Abbey standing in the frame with a warm smile on her face. "I think there are going to be some changes," he told her, his own grin now matching hers.
"I heard. I heard every word." She had witnessed the way he stood up to everyone and took control - for her. Everything he said, everything he did, it was all for her. The Jed she had known this whole time seemed terrified to stand up to his parents, but his lover for her forced him to fight for what she wanted.
Abbey gripped the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss so passionate that Jed's arms flailed out to the side.
Though his tenacity was admired by Abbey, it was always detested by John Bartlet. With one look in his father's direction, Jed realized before the night was over, he and his dad would probably exchange some heated words.
TBC