"Leo! This is a surprise, it's been so long! Come over here and give me a kiss!" Abbey cried as she saw Leo arriving at the farm house with her husband.
"Abbey, you look completely radiant. Pregnancy obviously agrees with you!" He replied, moving over to warmly greet his old friend.
"What are you doing in town Leo and where are you staying?" Abbey questioned him as they moved into the house.
"Work has brought me into town to have some talks with the governor. I just happened to run into your husband at the education reform summit. He asked me the same questions you just did and then told me in no uncertain terms that I had to check out of my hotel and stay here. I tried to talk him out of it, or at least give him time to talk to you first, but he wouldn't hear of it." Leo responded looking simultaneously delighted and apologetic.
"Jed knew what my response would have been and this time he did the right thing. Come on, lets go in. My back is killing me and you can tell me all about how Mallory and Jenny are going over a cuppa." Abbey looked over her shoulder towards her husband and called out "Jed, can you bring in Leo's bags?"
…
The night went well for all the inhabitants and guests of the farm. The Bartlett's enjoyed spending time with Leo, who even managed to find some small presents for the two younger Bartlett girls tucked away in his bags. After Ellie and Zoe were safely tucked up in bed, the adults started talking.
"So what's this I hear about you returning to teaching?" Leo asked Jed as the three of them sat at the kitchen table.
"Well, with a fourth child on the way and a Granddaughter on the way, I thought it was time to be closer to home. Working away in DC so much means that I have missed so much of my children growing up and the chance to do it again from the start… It made me really stop and think about what was most important."
"So I'm not a part of that decision, just an incubator?" Abbey asked raising her eyebrow in jest.
"You are the icing, the cherry and the middle of the cake, Sweet Knees. Everything is always about you" Jed replied leaning over to give his wife a kiss.
"From where I'm sitting though, you have been doing such amazing work in The House. Your idealism is only matched by your enthusiasm, intelligence and charm. You believe that the world can be a better place and do your best to ensure that the level of debate in this country rises to match what we should be, not remain content with riding what we may have achieved in the past. You are a born leader Jed, and your stepping down from politics would be a loss not only to New Hampshire but to the whole country." Leo stated
"Oh stop it Leo, I'm just one middle of the road Congressman who just happens to have a PhD. I'm not the first and I won't be the last. Through teaching I can still make a difference, reaching the minds of tomorrow and ensuring that the next generation won't be content to leave the status quo as it is. It might be different means, but still the same end." Jed replied earnestly. "What's more, I love teaching. Working with young people who have not become jaded and still see the world as full of opportunity; there is no higher privilege in the world than to be a teacher."
"It's not the same thing and you know it. Put your idealism away for a minute and think about this. What if you could have your cake and eat it too?"
"Leo, there is no way that I can return to The House and spend more time here, it's just not possible."
"So don't return to The House then, there are other offices." Leo interjected.
"I don't imagine The Senate would be any easier" Jed stated.
"I didn't mean The Senate either" Leo said with a mischievous look in his eye.
"The Leo, I've go to admit that I have no idea what you're talking about here" Jed replied, becoming more curious about where Leo."
"I'm up here for work, helping bring the company in alignment with state contracting requirement. Some of it needed to be signed off on by the governor and as we served together it was decided that I would be the right man for the job." Leo grimaced and took a swig out of his scotch on the rocks. "Governor Thomas said some interesting things the other night when we went out for drinks after our business meetings. He isn't getting any younger and his wife is pressuring him to stand down at the next election. His concerns are that there isn't anyone he feels up to the job to take over from him. After talking to you here, I'm wondering if you wouldn't be interested in the job."
"Wow, hadn't even thought of that. What do you think Abbey?" Jed said to his wife, silently weighing the consideration in his mind.
"It is certainly an interesting idea. Concord is slightly closer to Hanover and still not that far from here. We could split our time between the Governor's mansion and the farm. I could keep working at the hospital here in Manchester and commute when we weren't at home. Ellie's school is almost halfway between the two and it wouldn't matter about moving Zoe to another school, she would make new friends well enough. But I don't want to be uprooting our lives like this with 2 new babies in the house. It's not that it's a bad idea, just I'm not sure that it's the right time for it." Abbey prattled, obviously still thinking things though in her own mind.
"He might be convinced to stay on another term, giving you more time here at home in the meantime Jed. Would you consider coming in for a meeting. I know you would still have to run and it wouldn't really be up to George, but he would want to know that someone he trusts is willing to step up to the job before he steps down."
"It can't hurt to just meet with the man, can it Abbey?" Jed asked
"Not in the slightest, could be interesting. And give you a chance to check the place out, just in case." Abbey said, smiling lightly as she stood up and kneaded out a knot from her back. "However, gentlemen, the hour has fast approached for me to take my leave. I'm going to bed." Abbey leaned in to kiss her husband goodnight and give Leo a peck on the cheek. "Don't stay up all night, you both have the symposium to go back to tomorrow."
…
The next evening Jed was giving Abbey a back massage as they were both getting ready for bed and discussing the meeting that he and Leo had had that afternoon with Governor George Thomas.
"He was completely sympathetic, having lived through a similar career to mine. He is looking forward to spending more time with his own grandchildren but didn't envy us the middle of the night feedings again." Jed told Abbey.
"Can't say that I'm thrilled at the prospect of them either but I think it's too late to have second thoughts about it now. There are good things though, do you remember that new baby smell?"
"Or when they first learn to smile, and your insides melt just a little bit?"
"Or the way they look at you as if you are the best person in the whole world to them"
"You are always the best person in the whole world to me Abbey." Jed replied, leaning in to kiss her on the lips.
"Smooth talker" She responded, smiling and returning the kiss.
"So" Jed continued as he moved into his side of the bed and gathered Abbey into his arms "What would you think of me teaching for a little bit and then running for governor?"
"If it were just up to me I think you would have a plan on your hands, but I think we need to put it to the girls too. This time it won't just mean seeing less of you, it will mean a partial move for them and a much higher profile of their own. I don't think we should do that to them without at least discussing it with them first. I don't think that Liz or Zoe would care; Liz will be far to busy with school and her daughter to have much else to think about and I'm not sure that she would want to move with us. Zoe is too young to really understand what it would all mean, and she is so outgoing she would just fit in wherever we end up. I do worry about Ellie though."
"She's so quiet, I never know what she's thinking. Did you ever end up finding out what has been wrong with her recently?"
"She's afraid of being forgotten. I think we both need to make more of an effort to show her how much we love her. When Zoe was born she wasn't old enough to really help much and just had to get out of the way a bit. Now you and I are usually home even less, and she is scared that the same thing will happen again."
"I wish I knew what to say to her, she just looks at me with those eyes of hers and I just feel that I am letting her down, but I don't know what I've done wrong."
"She just wants to make you happy but thinks that because she isn't loud like Liz or Zoe that she isn't enough for you."
"I try, really I do, but whatever I do it is never enough."
"You just need patience. Sometimes even just sitting quietly with her and not doing anything else can be enough for her."
"Abagail you know I have never been one for sitting anywhere and doing nothing."
"Well, for Ellie's sake I hope you try."
"I'd do anything for any of our girls."
"I know, it's one of the many reasons I love you. Goodnight sweetheart."
"Good night babe. I love you"
…
The next day was an exciting one for all the Bartlett's. Liz had finished her first semester at Dartmouth and was moving home. Abbey, Jed and the girls were going up to Hanover to help her move back home. With only 2 months left in their pregnancies, Abbey and Liz were starting to get noticeably slower. Her parents were all too aware of how much help she would need to pack and move her belongings back to the house.
"I didn't remember you bringing this much with you when you left for college a few months ago" Jed said, grunting as he bent at the knees to pick up one of Liz's boxes.
"I might have remembered one or two things that I left at the farm and have subsequently collected them on visits. Not much, really." Liz said, with a look of false sincerity on her face as she continued to pack things up.
Zoe was helping Abbey to pack up Liz's clothing and Ellie was making good headway on the bookcase. Every time Jed got back from one trip to the car, one of the girls had another load ready for him.
"I think we're nearly finished here. What do you say when we're done we all go and get some ice cream before heading home?"
"Ice cream Jed? It's the end of November and freezing outside, you are no better than the girls when it comes to sugar!" Abbey chastised good humouredly.
"We don't care if it's cold outside mummy, we want ice cream!" cried Zoe.
"I wouldn't turn down a hot chocolate" said Ellie absentmindedly as she read the blurb of the book in her hands "Can I read this when we get home too Liz?"
"Now I know the read reason that you wanted to do my books. Aren't you a little young for Jane Eyre though?" Liz replied to her sister.
"Only one way to find out, it looks like a good book to be." Ellie countered.
"Don't get me wrong, it's one of my favourites, but I didn't read it till I was a few years older than you are now."
Ellie shrugged her shoulders "I've always been mature for my age."
"Well, I think that's us done ZoZo, what do you think about helping dad to carry Lizzie's pillows and blankets to the car?"
"Sure mummy" Zoe replied enthusiastically, filling her arms with pillows before moving out of the room.
"I think I'm just going to sit down here on the bed for a few moments, my back is starting to ache a bit" Abbey said quietly to no one in particular as she tried to ease her aching muscles. Pregnancy was one thing that did not get easier as you get older she thought to herself.
Ellie looked over to her mother and noticed her stomach moving in strange patterns.
"What's wrong with your stomach mum?" Ellie asked pointing.
"The inmates are getting restless and trying to fight for larger living quarters' she laughed. "Come over here Ellie." As Ellie moved over, Abbey picked up her hand and placed it on her stomach, so her daughter could feel the child within her moving and squirming about. Ellie's eyes widened as her mouth turned up into a broad smile.
"Wow" Ellie muttered.
"You used to love feeling Zoe kick when I was pregnant with her as Liz did when I was pregnant with you Ellie-bellie" Abbey said, casting a look filled with love toward her similarly very pregnant daughter who was sitting on the floor by her feet. "How are you feeling these days Lizzie?"
"Like an exhausted punching bag. I have loved being here at college and I will miss it when I am back home, but between the three of us, I am looking forward to going home. Things are starting to get a little harder to manage. I'm getting tired quicker than I used to and I'm not moving about as fast as I used to either. Definitely won't miss the stress of finals. I am soooo glad that is behind me for a while." Liz laughed out.
"That's mostly par for the course at this stage baby doll. We've got a less than 2 months to go and Christmas in between. These children will be here before we know it." Abbey raised her eyebrows as she made this last statement and saw the terror flick before Liz's eyes. Not a moment too soon for her unprepared daughter to come home and prepare herself as much as one can for the coming of their first baby.
"Do you know what you and dad are having yet mum?" Ellie asked, breaking the hazy tension that had somehow crept into the room.
"Not the foggiest idea. We already have 3 perfect daughters and anything more than that is icing on the cake for us. Technology wasn't able to tell the sex of a baby before it was born when we were pregnant with Liz or you Ellie and your father and I love the surprise." Abbey said, tucking some of Ellie's hair behind her ear.
"As long as it has ten fingers and ten toes that's ok by me either way. Even then, as long as both the baby and your mother are healthy that's all that really matters." Jed contributed as he and Zoe walked back into the room. "What do you think. I'll take the box of books, Ellie takes the duffle bag, Zoe grabs the doona and sheets and you two ladies do a final sweep and we can get on the road?"
"Sounds like a plan to me. Come on, move it you three" Abbey stated as she got off the bed and started doing a final check of the wardrobe as Liz started checking the chest of drawers.
The first three Bartlett family members took their various objects with them down to the car that Jed was driving home, while Abbey and Liz took one final look around what was now a very sad and empty looking dorm room.
"You'll be back, this isn't goodbye for ever" Abbey soothed as she wiped a tear from Liz's face.
"It won't ever be like this again though. I will have so many responsibilities when I come back, and I will never live on campus again. Yes, it was a huge drag when they were having massive dorm parties and I just wanted to sleep but, on the whole, I loved the experience. I will never be able to tell you and dad how grateful I am that you have helped me to have this little bit of 'normal' college life."
"It won't ever be the same, no. There are some incredible experiences coming your way right now, just focus on that. We can never go back, but we can embrace the future willingly or go through it kicking and screaming. Personally, I think that willingly is a lot more fun."
"Either way, here I come, right?"
"Absolutely.' Abbey agreed, putting her arm around Liz as the two of them walked towards the second Bartlett car.