As Jed was in the middle of his first afternoon of meetings in Lima, Abbey was nervous. She had given many speeches before. The speech was not the problem. It was before 2000 attendees in the Los Angeles Convention Center. And it wasn't the size of the crowd. But she wasn't feeling the best. During the night, her stomach had been acting up. She had been unable to keep anything down and had vomited several times. She had treated herself with some over the counter medications, and this morning seemed to feel better. She had kept her morning coffee down, but had no appetite for breakfast.
"Lilli, what time did you say I needed to leave?"
"Not until 11:30, Ma'am. I've already sent your slides, and everything else is ready to go. If you want to lie down and rest until then, I think it will be fine."
"I think I will."
Abbey hung up the room phone and laid back down on the bed. This was so unlike her. Although this was one of the largest crowds she had ever spoken to, she was at ease speaking to any audience. As a physician, as an associate professor, or as an experienced First Lady, she never got nervous about speaking in front of an audience. So where were these nerves coming from? She just didn't know.
She tried meditating, but that didn't seem to work. So she got up from the bed and grabbed her copy of the speech to review it. As she was reading, she noticed an ache in her right side. But knowing the stretching and exercising she had been doing all week, she choose to ignore it.
Finally, it was time to get dressed and go downstairs. She put on a bright red, three piece fitted suit with black heels. Jed called it her power suit. Conservative earrings completed the outfit. This outfit would also be appropriate for the dinner later in the evening and be comfortable for the next twelve hours as she stayed on her feet greeting hundreds of people who wanted to meet her. Just part of her role as First Lady.
Arriving at the car, she met Dr. Lang, Lilli, and the rest of her agents.
"Dr. Bartlet, you look nice."
"Thank you, Eric. Are you ready for this crowd?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Dr. Lang replied. "I'm excited to be able to share all of our knowledge with the world and for them to know how we can help them in treating their citizens who have cancer."
"I agree, Eric." Abbey got in the limousine first, followed by Lilli and then by Dr. Lang. One of her agents got in the front seat and the rest of them got in the black SUV that followed the First Lady's car.
They group chatted during the ten-minute ride to the convention center. Abbey's stomach had started doing flips again, but she was able to manage not vomiting. Actually, there was nothing to come up, but it acted like something sure did.
Upon arrival at the Center, she excused herself and went to the Ladies room. The female agent accompanying the First Lady ran ahead and quickly scouted the bathroom. But Abbey couldn't wait for the all clear. Lilli followed when she saw her boss's face. As the First Lady went into a stall and leaned down, Lilli asked her "Mrs. Bartlet, are you okay? Can I get you anything?"
It took Abbey a minute to reply. "Maybe a wet towel, please."
Lilli got a paper towel and wet it for Abbey. "Here."
Abbey took it and wiped her lips. "I don't know what's wrong. If it's nerves, I've never had them like this before."
"You'll do fine."
"I hope so. I'm ready. Let's go."
Eric and the agent contingent was waiting for them as they exited the bathroom.
"Are you okay, Mrs. Bartlet?"
"Thanks for asking, Eric. Yes, just a little stomach bug. It'll pass. Let's go."
The group continued to walk toward the meeting hall. When they finally got to the speaker waiting area, the convention organizers stepped up and introduced themselves.
"Dr. Bartlet, we are so thrilled you are here. I am Dr. Yin Wo, and this is my co-chair, Dr, Frances Achebe. We are looking forward to your presentation."
"Thank you. I'm glad to be here and to meet both of you. My husband sends his regards. Let me introduce Dr. Eric Lang, the head of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, who will be chairing the panel presentation being held immediately after my speech."
"Dr, Lang, your reputation precedes you. So glad you could come."
"Thank you, Dr. Wo. Glad to meet you as well, Dr. Achebe."
Both organizers nodded their heads while they shook hands.
"Now," Abbey spoke up. "Is there somewhere I can sit and review my presentation? "
"Yes, Ma'am. We have set aside a private room down the hall just for you and your group. I'll have my assistant guide you there. You will have about an hour before you go on stage. Dr. Lang, if I could bend your ear for a little while, I have many questions I would like to ask you."
"No problem."
Abbey smiled. She was so glad that Eric could fit this trip into his busy schedule. Her small group followed Dr. Wo's assistant down the hall and waited while the agents checked the room out. Given the all clear, Abbey and Lilli entered. There was a small tray of cheese and crackers with bottled water on a small table next to some overstuffed chairs. Nearby was a table with a folding chair. On the far side, an open door led to small bathroom.
Abbey sat down in an overstuffed chair and kicked off her heels. She closed her eyes, trying to calm down the dizziness that had swept over her during the short walk down the hall.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" Lilli was worried. She had accompanied the First Lady on many of these presentations, but this was the first one that Abbey had gotten sick on.
"I'll be fine in a few minutes, Lilli. Will you bring me a bottle of that water, please?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
She kept her eyes closed as the dizziness finally faded.
She opened her eyes as Lilli put a cold bottle of water in her hands, and opened it. Taking a sip, it felt great as the cool liquid slid down her throat.
"Okay, I hope this stays down. Where's my speech?"
"Right here." Lilli handed the pages to her and Abbey began reviewing it. She took her pen and started to make notes on the edges. Any good speaker would always edit their speech until the last minute, just tweaking it to make sure it said what the speaker wanted it to say.
Abbey finished the water and waited for her stomach to decide if it was going to accept the fluid. When there was no immediate rejection, she felt it was okay to nibble on some of the crackers in the room.
By this time, the hour was up and it was time to go on stage. She put her shoes back on and smoothed her dress.
"Come on, Lilli. Time for the show."
They exited the room and went back down the hall. The aide that had escorted them to the private room was waiting for them.
"Ma'am, let me show you to the stage." She led the First Lady and her agent through a corridor, and then behind some thick curtains. "Wait here. You will be introduced, and then you will walk out. The speaker's stand is in the middle of the stage, and the microphone and slide buttons are on top. Have a good speech, Ma'am." The aide turned, and left the First Lady and agent alone.
Abbey stood and listened to her introduction, as she had done hundreds of times before.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce, Dr. Abigail Bartlet, First Lady of the United States!"
The crowd stood, applauding intensely, waiting to see the First Lady come from behind the curtain.
However, the First Lady was not coming. Instead, she had collapsed, unconscious, with her agent screaming into her mic, "Regina down, Repeat Regina down."