Chap 8

Meanwhile, Leo walked about the plane, unsure where he was going. Eventually he saw Jenny sitting in the area usually reserved for the White House staff.

"My I sit?"

Jenny looked up from her magazine and nodded. "Certainly," and returned to her reading.

Leo sat and waited for Jenny to speak. When she didn't, Leo broke the silence. "The President really appreciates you coming out here to be with Abbey."

"I really liked being out here. Thanks for calling me."

Both paused as an uneasy silence passed between them.

"I appreciated it too. As you know, I had my hands full with the President and it helped me to know Abbey had family with her."

"Again, Leo, I'm glad you thought of me."

"Jenny, how are you doing?"

"Okay."

Leo grimaced but kept speaking. "What are you doing these days?"

Jenny sighed and looked at Leo. "I keep myself busy."

"What type of things?"

"Leo, do you really want to know or are you just making conversation?"

It was Leo's turn to sigh. "Jenny, I know that the last few years haven't been the best for either of us. But it's over. We both have moved on."

"Leo, you moved on a long time ago."

"Well, it took time to get Jed elected and…"

"Leo, our marriage was over before you and Jed decided to run for the Presidency. In fact, ever since you were the Labor Secretary."

"Well, you know, these jobs take time and …"

Jenny put her up hand to stop her ex-husband. "Leo, you made a choice that your career came first. Although it took me longer, I finally realized that I couldn't compete with that career. Your actions made it perfectly clear what your priority was going to be and it certainly wasn't your wife or daughter."

"I'm sorry, Jenny. We did have a pretty good relationship at first, didn't we?"

"I thought so. But I didn't realize how distant we had become until our anniversary. The divorce was better for both of us, don't you think?"

"Well,.."

"Leo, just be honest with yourself. I couldn't begin to compete with your other mistress. It took me awhile to come to terms with that but I have and I only wish you well."

"I still love you."

"But not enough, Leo. Not enough."

Before Leo could reply, commotion in the hallway took their attention away from their conversation.

"What's wrong?" Leo asked a passing agent.

"Something's wrong with the First Lady."

Leo stood and turned back to his ex-wife. "I gotta go. I'll be right back." Not waiting for a reply, Leo took off at a fast clip down the hall, toward the Presidential bedroom.

Jenny looked at the back of her retreating ex-husband. "Leo, you always had to go. That was the problem."