A Huge Difference

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the brilliant Aaron Sorkin

A/N: This story goes deeper into what we learned about the man not seen – Ron Erlich.

Present Day:

Jed POV

As I put my arm around Abbey, I know how lucky I am. We start making our way to the next function that requires our presence. I wish it didn't. I wish we could stay right in that oval room and properly make up. That would be a first. We never have done anything inappropriate in the Oval Office. There are way too many variables. Although the thought completely excites me, and my mind starts to wander. I realize I must focus.

As we turn the corner, I feel Abbey eyeing me up and down. I can tell she wants to say something, but I stop her with my own words. "I think Millie is going to be here. You can tell her all about our little fight."

"Millie is sick and tired of hearing about this particular fight. Plus, I am sure she already knows it happened."

I always knew Millie and Abbey tell each other most things. It was no secret between us that when Abbey needs to confide in someone other than me, she always goes to Millie. "I'm sure the press tipped her off."

"And Leo?"

I tell her the truth. "He thinks I'm being a baby, but his past dalliances with multiple women gives him no understanding of how I feel."

"Well, he's right. You are being a baby."

I hate when she dismisses my feelings about this. We turn the corner and enter the reception space. I see her spot Millie at the bar, and as they make eye contact, I feel Abbey start to move away from me. I reach out for her arm and tug gently. "We are going to finish this later." I meant talking about it. I meant making her understand where I'm coming from to validate my feelings.

She raises her eyebrow and lowers her eyes right to my groin. It was for a split second, but she knew I would notice it. "I certainly hope so."

I watched her walk away from me and as she approached Millie. I could tell their immediate words were about me.

Mid 1960s:

Abbey POV

I see Jed talking with three girls by the river. I'm not sure if he realizes it, but they are mercilessly flirting with him. He is either being too nice, pretending not to notice or gets a thrill out of knowing his good looks can take him a long way with the ladies. He catches me staring and I want to die. He doesn't need me feeding his ego. I'm sitting on a bench nearby, reading something that is not holding my interest.

I can admit it to myself that I am intrigued by him. I hadn't stopped thinking about what he said. I can tell he doesn't think much of Ron. I think he notices the things about Ron that I don't like. He had meaningful, respectful relationships, or so he says. I wonder why he cares so much to compare those to mine and Ron's.

He surprises me when I hear his voice up close. I didn't see him approach. "Hello, Abigail."

I immediately put up my guard for no other reason than to start whatever competition we were about to engage in. "You know they are flirting with you, right?"

I see him look back to where he was standing with the girls and then turns back, and he just shrugs his shoulders. He takes a seat next to me, which makes me surprisingly happy.

For some reason I need more. I turned my body toward him, square my shoulders and say what is has been bothering me. "I can't stop thinking about what you said the other day."

"Go on." He squares his body to me, looking into my eyes. I know he is listening.

"You mention that you have all these meaningful relationships, but that doesn't make you an expert on mine." I know I sound defensive, but he doesn't know me. He doesn't know the first thing about me, Ron, our families and how everything on fits neatly together.

"Fair."

I hate one-word answers. They just aren't enough, so I start to dig deeper. "What about your father?"

I notice the immediate change in his behavior. "Excuse me?"

"You mentioned your mother, your brother, your friends. You didn't mention your father?"

"Not as meaningful, I guess." As I try and get a read on what he means, he throws me off balance again. "And your relationship with Ron? Is it serious?"

"What?"

"Are you getting everything you want out of that relationship?"

I thought that was a weird question. No one has ever asked me that before. I think, mainly out of fear for the truthful answer, I never even ask myself that question. I decide the best thing to do is dodge it. "You know, you have a lot of interest in my relationship with Ron."

I watch him struggle with his words. "Don't you have doubts?"

I can't believe the audacity of this guy. "Don't you?"

"Doubts?"

"Yeah, Doubts. Don't you ever question what it will mean to become a priest? You won't ever know what it is like to connect on a whole other level with someone. You won't know what it will be like to be a husband or a father. Doesn't that worry you? Doesn't that bother you?" I can't help but bring it to his attention. I know he must know. He is a smart guy. I guess I just want him to say something out loud that helps me understand. I'm not even sure I know exactly what I want him to say.

"Not really. I mean, it certainly is a sacrifice. I don't think it is anything I can't overcome, though. My love for the church comes from my mother. My mother has done everything for me, and I know how happy this will make her. "

"And you? Is it going to make you happy?" It doesn't hit me until I ask it, but I see it in his eyes. There is uncertainty.

"You know, you have a lot of interest in my relationship with God."

I can't help but laugh as he uses my own words against me. "And your father? It wouldn't make him happy?" That was the first moment I knew the subject of his father was sensitive. His whole demeanor changed and his confidence, as well as his ego, vanished into thin air.

"Not much does."

"He doesn't make your mom happy?"

"That's a bold assumption."

"A correct one though?"

"Why do you think you know so much about me?"

I felt like I was starting to get somewhere with him, and if I push hard enough, maybe he will open up. I feel curiosity building inside wanting to understand him a bit more. "I don't. But maybe I can read you better than you read yourself."

"I don't ever want to be the man he is. I can't imagine committing to a woman and treating her so poorly. It's easier to love and serve God without the worry of constant disappointment."

It was a raw admittance, but in that moment, I realized I was attracted to him. Sure, he was gorgeous, but I was attracted to so much more than the physical. He was a good person whose intentions were good. He didn't want to let anyone down. "Hmmm." My thoughts were getting away from me. I wanted to say more, but I couldn't.

"What?"

"Nothing." It was best to say nothing. How can I say what I am feeling? I'm with Ron. Jed is going to be a priest.

"It's something." He challenges me.

"Maybe you just haven't met anyone that has been worth taking that chance." There! I said it. I cracked the door open a bit, but I doubt he will ever push through.

Present Day:

Abbey POV

As I grab my vodka soda, I lean over and whisper to Millie, "Jed and I had our first Oval Office fight. It wasn't pretty." I trust Millie and can tell her anything. It's been like that for as long as I can remember.

Millie's eyes wander over to the President as she takes a sip of her own cocktail. "Well, you publicly supporting Ron was bound to piss him off." Millie smiles knowingly at me.

"Thirty years later, and he still holds it over me."

"Well, when a man like Jed makes a mistake, he doesn't let go so easily."

I see Millie and Jed make eye contact and Jed knows we are discussing him. I look back at Millie. "I chose him. I married him. We built this crazy life together, and yet, he hangs on to one stupid night I had with Ron."

"One night you claim was not worth any of this."

I can't help but laugh. Millie knew the details. "Definitely not." Thoughts of a midday tryst, on a dorm room bed, rush through my head.

"And how did you explain this little lapse in judgement? You knew it was going to piss him off. You knew giving Ron any attention, let alone support, was going to start something."

"At some point, it has to be nothing. At some point in our lives, he will have to get over it."

"Not likely, but I sure like the entertainment."

"Yeah, well, I like the making up." I wink at Millie and she knows what I mean. Her ears have probably heard more than they should have over the years between Jed and me.

I clink Millie's glass when she raises it toward me and we have a good chuckle over it. It's when my eyes meet Jed's across the room that the night ahead of us won't be all fun and games.

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