Bartlet Farm - A few weeks later
The early morning dew sparkled in the sunlight. Leo had easily kept up with his old pace this morning, as Scout ran ahead on the trail.
"So, what exactly did you say to that young man? I thought he couldn't get out to the parking lot soon enough?" Abbey chuckled, recalling the library soft opening.
The evening had gone well. Luminaries from government, business and education sectors had come to wish them well. Feedback had been overwhelmingly positive, as the work accomplished so far debuted, and the library conference center was booked solid twelve months ahead. Rumor had it the upcoming Democratic New Hampshire primary debates would move to the presidential library. Given the team had coalesced under Donna and Josh's leadership, confidence was high the library could easily accommodate it. However, several members of the Russell administration had dropped by, including a particularly annoying aide. Abbey had heard he was a "Pierce". Josh spent the night avoiding him. The young man had insisted on speaking with Leo privately, obviously tasked to insert himself into prepping the library for full opening on behalf of the Russell administration.
"Kid's name is Ryan. Great great grandson of President Franklin Pierce," Leo replied, stopping to throw a tennis ball for Scout.
"And?"
"He's working for Russell"
"I assumed so. And?"
"It was a thing. I handled it."
"It looks like you struck the fear of God in Franklin Pierce's great grandson?"
"We came to an understanding."
"You do know the Pierce's are kind of big a deal here in New Hampshire? There's even a university named after him…" She chided him.
As they reached the porch, Leo easily leaped up the stairs, dramatically opening and holding the door for Abbey.
"I think you're kind of a big deal." Leo deftly changed the subject and kissed her on the cheek, as she passed the threshold into the farmhouse foyer. He continued to hold the door as Scout ran inside, following Abbey. "After you…"
They took off their coats. After Leo hung them up, Abbey pulled him into a hug, listening to his heart beat.
"I'd say someone is feeling more like himself. You're not winded."
"Naw…" Leo shrugged his shoulders.
"I'd say you didn't even break a sweat…" Abbey regarded him with a twinkle in her eye.
He shook his head, "Guess not."
"That's very interesting…" Abbey waggled her eyebrows at him.
It had been six long weeks since Leo left for Qumar. He'd been steadily gaining his strength back. On their walk together this morning, as she watched him easily negotiate the trails, Abbey began to consider the empty farmhouse, a morning blissfully free of meetings and the remaining step in things getting back to normal.
She held his gaze, but then Leo's phone began to ring.
"Yeah, Donna…" Abbey heard the one-sided conversation and watched as Leo listened intently. "…You're kidding me… that woman…"
Leo only referred to one person nowadays as "that woman". Marion Coatsworth Hay had to be kicking up her heels again. While the Marblehead blueblood hadn't quite reached the stature of British Ambassador Lord John Marbury in getting under Leo's skin, she was coming awfully close. Well, for this morning, Abbey had a way of distracting him.
She stood in front of him and began to loosen a few buttons on her blouse.
If Leo had been a bit clueless as to her intent a few minutes ago while asking him about his heart rate, realization dawned on him. And, as Abbey began to move towards the stairs, she watched with amusement as he quickly tried to wrap up the conversation, his eyes following her with a laser focus.
Abbey had to admit, she'd never quite seen him look so frustrated in this particular way before. After another minute or so of settling Donna down, Leo was finally to sign off and Abbey was halfway up the stairs. Based on the look he was giving her, she was sure he was getting ready to take them two at a tme to follow him.
"I'll call her later today, Donna… Got it… Thanks…"
As the call ended, Leo favored her with one of his patented crooked grins as he grabbed hold of the banister.
Only, the front door burst open…
"Hey Leo, I'm glad I caught you!" Josh's voice interrupted what was sure to be a sweet and welcome reunion.
If Abbey thought Leo looked frustrated seconds before, he was positively exasperated now. His hooded expression belied he'd quite obviously missed her too. However, with Josh's arrival, the pause button had to be pressed. She discreetly re-buttoned the top buttons of her blouse, while Leo attempted to shake himself out of a single minded daze.
"Donna's really spiralling." Josh continued, oblivious to the electricity between the couple.
"Uh… yeah…. I heard…." Leo said slowly, painfully turning himself from Abbey to face the younger man.
"Did she tell you Marion Coatsworth Haye wants to speak at the full opening?"
"I'll talk with her, Josh" Leo assured, apparently hoping he could quickly shut it down and send Josh back to the library. But, as Josh continued to dive into the details, Abbey realized the younger man was going nowhere fast. Resigned, she came down the stairs, receiving a regretful gaze from Leo and led them out to the kitchen for coffee.
"I can ask Donna to come over here."
"No, it's ok," Both Leo and Abbey said in unison, settling onto the kitchen stools.
Josh's words washed over them both, as Abbey took Leo's hand at the table. She wasn't sure how much of it he was truly listening to. But, she had to give Leo credit, while clearly trying to compress an hour-long meeting into fifteen minutes. And, in the midst of it all, Leo's phone rang again. When Leo sighed, got up and moved to take the call in another room, Josh looked at Abbey quizzically.
"Is he okay?"
"Oh, he's very okay, Josh."
"You sure?"
"His heart rate and blood pressure are excellent. He took a walk with me this morning and didn't break a sweat. He can probably get back to a normal schedule soon."
"He seems a little agitated."
"He's really doing much better now."
"I thought things were pretty quiet here this morning…"
Abbey gave Josh a pointed look, "Exactly…"
Josh opened his mouth and then closed it again. A few seconds later, "Well, ummm, Abbey. I need to get back to the Library. Just tell Leo it's fine. We'll take care of this later."
In the meantime, Leo walked into the kitchen.
"You good?" He asked Josh hopefully.
Clearly, Abbey figured Leo was more than ready to tell Marion Coatsworth Haye exactly what she could do with her millions at the moment.
"Yeah, all good, Leo," Josh answered, backing out of the kitchen and grabbing his coat. "Donna and I will see you guys tonight."
Abbey and Leo watched the front door close. Smiling, they both took a step toward the stairs when Leo's phone rang again.
"Heaven help me," Leo groaned as he stared at screen. Abbey read clearly the caller ID, Marion Coatsworth Haye. However, a mischievous grin overtook Leo's features as he turned off the phone and tossed it onto the couch.
Pulling her into a hug, Leo looked Abbey in the eyes, "Do you have anything that can ring, beep or walk in that front door right now?"
Abbey shook her head.
"Thank the Lord," he responded, taking her hand and leading her up the stairs.
Later, as they laid together dozing in the mid-morning light, Leo brushed Abbey's hair back and nuzzled her neck.
"Hmmm… I missed this." Leo whispered in her ear.
Abbey chuckled, "I could tell … And, so did I." She began to kiss his chest. "You've done enough to save humanity, Leo. How about we stay home for a while?"
"Yes, ma'am," Leo readily agreed. "I love you."
And then, Leo decided to remind Abbey again just how much he'd missed being with her this way - just in case she had any question.