Part 4
"Sir, here is the report I promised you."
Jed saw Leo put the report on his desk and then do a fast retreat. This had to stop! Jed got up and walked after Leo into the Chief of Staff's office, closing the door behind him.
Leo hadn't noticed that he was being followed until he heard the door close. "Sir?"
"For the last three days you've been avoiding me like the plague."
Jed didn't get a chance to continue as Leo spoke. He had seen less of Jed in the last three days than normal, but he wasn't avoiding him, was he? "That's not true."
Jed sighed. Leo was not a good liar. "Sure you've been there at the meetings, but that's it. Ever since I was over at Abbey's for dinner, you've been different." Jed walked over to Leo who was standing behind his desk. "I told you I love her and am not going to hurt her."
Leo knew Jed was serious, but it all wasn't cut and dry like that, nothing in life ever was. "I know; I said if you weren't really sure to just leave it alone and since you haven't, I know you are sure about what you want."
"It's only been one dinner, Leo. Not a date! God, if this is how you are after one "innocent" dinner, then how will you act if we do start dating?" Leo used to be able to talk to him about anything. Why couldn't he do that now? Why did Jed feel like Leo was pulling away from him, not as a Chief of Staff, but as a friend?
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll behave from now on." Leo seated himself and hoped Jed would leave the matter alone.
"Damn it, Leo! I don't want you to apologize. I want you to talk to me. You are my best friend and right now, I feel like I know you as well as the new cleaning lady." Jed was frustrated and he didn't hide it.
Jed's words and anger made Leo look up. He didn't want to feel this way and Jed was right. It's not like things had gotten serious between Jed and Abbey. But he knew, he knew one thing Jed didn't know. Abbey had feelings for Jed. She had had them for a while, although Leo had never talked to her about it. She would never act upon them like Jed did.
The fact that Leo didn't say anything made things worse. "Leo, do you want me to stop? To quit pursuing Abbey?"
Leo was taken aback. He had not expected that.
"I would do anything for you; I hope you know that. But, I'm not sure I could stop pursuing Abbey even if you wanted me to." Jed turned and walked over to the door. He opened it slightly before turning back to Leo, who he could see had gone a little pale. "I don't want to lose our friendship, Leo, so I can only hope that you'll come to me and we can talk about whatever is bothering you. I can't understand what could be upsetting you so much that you can't share it with me. You can tell me anything and it will be okay. Silence is the only thing I can't fix. I really hope that you can make peace with me and my feelings for Abbey." He opened the door and walked out, hoping he made Leo understand, not just how he felt for Abbey, but how important Leo was to him as well.
Leo was touched by Jed's words. He didn't want to be this way. He wanted Jed to be happy. He wanted Abbey to be happy. Maybe it was time to talk to Abbey and ask her just how she felt about Jed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mom, it's Uncle Leo."
Leo caught Leah as she literally jumped into his arms. "Hi, sunshine." He kissed her forehead as the 5-year-old beamed at him.
Abbey leaned against the door frame as Leo approached her with Leah in his arms. "Leo, what brings you by?"
Leo put Leah down and she ran back into the house. "I was hoping I could talk to you."
He had that look that showed he was all business and he had come to her for a special reason. "Sounds serious."
Leo simply walked passed her into the hall. He took off his coat and as Abbey took it, walked into the living room. He seated himself as he heard the phone ring and Abbey telling him she would be right there. He seated himself on the couch and saw several photos on the table. They featured Laurie and Leah. they looked new so he picked them up and started looking them over, knowing Abbey wouldn't mind. He stopped when he saw a certain picture. It was of Jed with Leah laying on his knee. Laurie was on the other side of him and Jed had his arm around her. It looked liked...yes, they were sleeping. It looked like a typical family picture and suddenly Leo's fears grew.
Abbey smiled as she seated herself next to Leo. "Nice picture, don't you think?"
He looked up at her and found that he had to agree with her. It was a nice picture. "Yes."
"Leo?" Abbey knew Leo very well and she could tell when something was bothering him.
He put the photos back on the table. "I need to ask you something and I want you to be absolutely honest with me, OK?"
She wasn't sure where he was going with this but it was Leo. She had no reason to lie to him. "Of course."
He locked eyes with her. "Do you have romantic feelings for The President?"
She didn't blink. "Why?"
"I've seen the way you look at him when you thought no one was looking and well, thought you might have developed feelings for him."
Abbey knew that it was clear by the expression on her face when he had asked her that he was right. There was no point in denying it to him. She had tried denying it to herself but it didn't work. "You're right, I...I do have some feelings for him, but I told you, no more men for me."
"Oh, Abbey." Leo got up and walked over to the window.
"Look, Leo, I love the way you care about me and not wanting me to get hurt, but..."
"It's more then that." He interrupted her. "I shouldn't say this, but The President is in love with you."
Abbey stared at him. She had suspected it. When Leo said it, it shouldn't shock her, but still it did. "He is?"
Leo turned away from the window. "Yeah."
It suddenly dawned on Abbey what was eating him. "This is not just about me getting hurt, is it?"
"No." He really could not lie to her.
Abbey got up and walked over to him. She took both of his hands in hers. "Leo, Leo...You are making too much out of this. Even if The President and I have feelings for each other...."
"He is not going to give up, Abbey." He shouldn't say something like that to her. "I mean he will do whatever you want, he'll go slow, he'll go fast and he'll let you decide what you want and if you want him to leave you alone, he will. However, until he knows for sure, he won't give up on you."
This was a tough situation for Leo. Abbey knew how much he was struggling with his feelings. "Lane will always be a part of this family, Leo. Nothing, nothing will ever change that."
Leo smiled at her. She knew him all to well. "I do want you to be happy. You are like the sister I never had and I love you."
Abbey smiled back at him. "I love you, too."
They embraced before Leo took his leave. Things had not always been easy for him, but he always did his best and was always there when Abbey needed a shoulder to cry on. She walked over to the phone and picked up the receiver, dialed and waited. Soon the familiar voice of Dolores Landingham greeted her. After talking to her for a bit, Abbey asked for The President.
Jed was reading through a proposal when Mrs. Landingham opened the door. "Sir, Abbey McGarry is on the phone."
Jed immediately quit reading his papers, nodded his head to Mrs. Landingham and happily picked up the receiver. "Abbey."
Oh, the way that man said her name made it clear he was more than happy to hear from her. "Hello, sir. I know this is short notice, but was wondering if you had time to see me today?"
Normally Jed would be more than happy to see her, but she sounded very serious. Then again, no matter what the reason, it was always good to see Abbey. "Of course. If you can come right away, I have a few minutes to spare."
"Thanks for squeezing me in."
Jed bit his lower lip at her words. "I'll see you soon then."
"Right. Bye."
He heard Abbey hang up the phone before he could say anything more. Why was it that he did not have a good feeling about this?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jed had been pondering why Abbey had requested to see him when Mrs. Landingham informed him that she had arrived. He nodded and waited.
Abbey steeled herself as Mrs. Landingham indicated for her to go in. She walked in and felt her heartbeat quicken when she saw him. God, he was handsome.
Was it possible for this woman to get more gorgeous everytime he saw her? "Abbey, what brings you by?" He rounded his desk.
Oh yes, it was there. Why hadn't she seen it before? The way his whole face lit up when he saw her and how his eyes seemed to dance. Abbey met him half way and steeled herself even more. "This."
Jed was more than surprised when Abbey leaned in and kissed him, but he didn't pull back. He gladly responded.
She had no control over herself. Her arms went around his neck, so she could feel his body against hers.
When he felt her arms around his neck, he wrapped his arms around her body, drawing her closer. This had been what he had dreamt about, but the reality was so much better.
Soon their mouths were open and their tongues met in a wonderful, ecstatic dance.
Suddenly he felt Abbey pull back. Still with her arms around him, she patted his shoulder, smiled quickly and backed away from him. He was confused but deliriously happy. "Abbey?" He managed to croak out.
"I just needed to know, to know if you had feelings for me and it seems you do." She backed away more.
"I....I didn't want to tell you because...well, not yet, since....." She didn't give him a chance to finish.
"I know, but it can never be. You and I." She waited for him to react.
He felt like a devastating blow had just been thrust upon him. "But the kiss? You seemed...."
Abbey sighed. "I won't deny I have some feelings for you, but my feelings are not important here." She walked up to him, brought a hand up and caressed his left cheek. "I'm sorry, but you and I are not meant to be. You are a wonderful man and someday some lucky woman will make your life complete." She took a deep breath as she continued. This was so much harder than she had thought it would be. "But that woman is not me." She kissed him on the cheek and left, walking at a quickened pace so he couldn't see the tears that started to form.
Jed wanted to stop her, to scream at her that she was wrong, but he was numb. Dejected, he walked out onto the portico. He needed fresh air. He slumped down on a bench. What was the point of doing anything now when his whole life had been crushed? His heart felt like it had been ripped out. Some woman would make his life complete? If that woman wasn't Abbey, then he didn't give a damn. For him, she was the only one. His elbows were on his knees as he looked at the ground. He knew he should focus on the upcoming meetings, on today's events, but he couldn't. All he could think about was Abbey.
TBC..........
"Sir, here is the report I promised you."
Jed saw Leo put the report on his desk and then do a fast retreat. This had to stop! Jed got up and walked after Leo into the Chief of Staff's office, closing the door behind him.
Leo hadn't noticed that he was being followed until he heard the door close. "Sir?"
"For the last three days you've been avoiding me like the plague."
Jed didn't get a chance to continue as Leo spoke. He had seen less of Jed in the last three days than normal, but he wasn't avoiding him, was he? "That's not true."
Jed sighed. Leo was not a good liar. "Sure you've been there at the meetings, but that's it. Ever since I was over at Abbey's for dinner, you've been different." Jed walked over to Leo who was standing behind his desk. "I told you I love her and am not going to hurt her."
Leo knew Jed was serious, but it all wasn't cut and dry like that, nothing in life ever was. "I know; I said if you weren't really sure to just leave it alone and since you haven't, I know you are sure about what you want."
"It's only been one dinner, Leo. Not a date! God, if this is how you are after one "innocent" dinner, then how will you act if we do start dating?" Leo used to be able to talk to him about anything. Why couldn't he do that now? Why did Jed feel like Leo was pulling away from him, not as a Chief of Staff, but as a friend?
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll behave from now on." Leo seated himself and hoped Jed would leave the matter alone.
"Damn it, Leo! I don't want you to apologize. I want you to talk to me. You are my best friend and right now, I feel like I know you as well as the new cleaning lady." Jed was frustrated and he didn't hide it.
Jed's words and anger made Leo look up. He didn't want to feel this way and Jed was right. It's not like things had gotten serious between Jed and Abbey. But he knew, he knew one thing Jed didn't know. Abbey had feelings for Jed. She had had them for a while, although Leo had never talked to her about it. She would never act upon them like Jed did.
The fact that Leo didn't say anything made things worse. "Leo, do you want me to stop? To quit pursuing Abbey?"
Leo was taken aback. He had not expected that.
"I would do anything for you; I hope you know that. But, I'm not sure I could stop pursuing Abbey even if you wanted me to." Jed turned and walked over to the door. He opened it slightly before turning back to Leo, who he could see had gone a little pale. "I don't want to lose our friendship, Leo, so I can only hope that you'll come to me and we can talk about whatever is bothering you. I can't understand what could be upsetting you so much that you can't share it with me. You can tell me anything and it will be okay. Silence is the only thing I can't fix. I really hope that you can make peace with me and my feelings for Abbey." He opened the door and walked out, hoping he made Leo understand, not just how he felt for Abbey, but how important Leo was to him as well.
Leo was touched by Jed's words. He didn't want to be this way. He wanted Jed to be happy. He wanted Abbey to be happy. Maybe it was time to talk to Abbey and ask her just how she felt about Jed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mom, it's Uncle Leo."
Leo caught Leah as she literally jumped into his arms. "Hi, sunshine." He kissed her forehead as the 5-year-old beamed at him.
Abbey leaned against the door frame as Leo approached her with Leah in his arms. "Leo, what brings you by?"
Leo put Leah down and she ran back into the house. "I was hoping I could talk to you."
He had that look that showed he was all business and he had come to her for a special reason. "Sounds serious."
Leo simply walked passed her into the hall. He took off his coat and as Abbey took it, walked into the living room. He seated himself as he heard the phone ring and Abbey telling him she would be right there. He seated himself on the couch and saw several photos on the table. They featured Laurie and Leah. they looked new so he picked them up and started looking them over, knowing Abbey wouldn't mind. He stopped when he saw a certain picture. It was of Jed with Leah laying on his knee. Laurie was on the other side of him and Jed had his arm around her. It looked liked...yes, they were sleeping. It looked like a typical family picture and suddenly Leo's fears grew.
Abbey smiled as she seated herself next to Leo. "Nice picture, don't you think?"
He looked up at her and found that he had to agree with her. It was a nice picture. "Yes."
"Leo?" Abbey knew Leo very well and she could tell when something was bothering him.
He put the photos back on the table. "I need to ask you something and I want you to be absolutely honest with me, OK?"
She wasn't sure where he was going with this but it was Leo. She had no reason to lie to him. "Of course."
He locked eyes with her. "Do you have romantic feelings for The President?"
She didn't blink. "Why?"
"I've seen the way you look at him when you thought no one was looking and well, thought you might have developed feelings for him."
Abbey knew that it was clear by the expression on her face when he had asked her that he was right. There was no point in denying it to him. She had tried denying it to herself but it didn't work. "You're right, I...I do have some feelings for him, but I told you, no more men for me."
"Oh, Abbey." Leo got up and walked over to the window.
"Look, Leo, I love the way you care about me and not wanting me to get hurt, but..."
"It's more then that." He interrupted her. "I shouldn't say this, but The President is in love with you."
Abbey stared at him. She had suspected it. When Leo said it, it shouldn't shock her, but still it did. "He is?"
Leo turned away from the window. "Yeah."
It suddenly dawned on Abbey what was eating him. "This is not just about me getting hurt, is it?"
"No." He really could not lie to her.
Abbey got up and walked over to him. She took both of his hands in hers. "Leo, Leo...You are making too much out of this. Even if The President and I have feelings for each other...."
"He is not going to give up, Abbey." He shouldn't say something like that to her. "I mean he will do whatever you want, he'll go slow, he'll go fast and he'll let you decide what you want and if you want him to leave you alone, he will. However, until he knows for sure, he won't give up on you."
This was a tough situation for Leo. Abbey knew how much he was struggling with his feelings. "Lane will always be a part of this family, Leo. Nothing, nothing will ever change that."
Leo smiled at her. She knew him all to well. "I do want you to be happy. You are like the sister I never had and I love you."
Abbey smiled back at him. "I love you, too."
They embraced before Leo took his leave. Things had not always been easy for him, but he always did his best and was always there when Abbey needed a shoulder to cry on. She walked over to the phone and picked up the receiver, dialed and waited. Soon the familiar voice of Dolores Landingham greeted her. After talking to her for a bit, Abbey asked for The President.
Jed was reading through a proposal when Mrs. Landingham opened the door. "Sir, Abbey McGarry is on the phone."
Jed immediately quit reading his papers, nodded his head to Mrs. Landingham and happily picked up the receiver. "Abbey."
Oh, the way that man said her name made it clear he was more than happy to hear from her. "Hello, sir. I know this is short notice, but was wondering if you had time to see me today?"
Normally Jed would be more than happy to see her, but she sounded very serious. Then again, no matter what the reason, it was always good to see Abbey. "Of course. If you can come right away, I have a few minutes to spare."
"Thanks for squeezing me in."
Jed bit his lower lip at her words. "I'll see you soon then."
"Right. Bye."
He heard Abbey hang up the phone before he could say anything more. Why was it that he did not have a good feeling about this?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jed had been pondering why Abbey had requested to see him when Mrs. Landingham informed him that she had arrived. He nodded and waited.
Abbey steeled herself as Mrs. Landingham indicated for her to go in. She walked in and felt her heartbeat quicken when she saw him. God, he was handsome.
Was it possible for this woman to get more gorgeous everytime he saw her? "Abbey, what brings you by?" He rounded his desk.
Oh yes, it was there. Why hadn't she seen it before? The way his whole face lit up when he saw her and how his eyes seemed to dance. Abbey met him half way and steeled herself even more. "This."
Jed was more than surprised when Abbey leaned in and kissed him, but he didn't pull back. He gladly responded.
She had no control over herself. Her arms went around his neck, so she could feel his body against hers.
When he felt her arms around his neck, he wrapped his arms around her body, drawing her closer. This had been what he had dreamt about, but the reality was so much better.
Soon their mouths were open and their tongues met in a wonderful, ecstatic dance.
Suddenly he felt Abbey pull back. Still with her arms around him, she patted his shoulder, smiled quickly and backed away from him. He was confused but deliriously happy. "Abbey?" He managed to croak out.
"I just needed to know, to know if you had feelings for me and it seems you do." She backed away more.
"I....I didn't want to tell you because...well, not yet, since....." She didn't give him a chance to finish.
"I know, but it can never be. You and I." She waited for him to react.
He felt like a devastating blow had just been thrust upon him. "But the kiss? You seemed...."
Abbey sighed. "I won't deny I have some feelings for you, but my feelings are not important here." She walked up to him, brought a hand up and caressed his left cheek. "I'm sorry, but you and I are not meant to be. You are a wonderful man and someday some lucky woman will make your life complete." She took a deep breath as she continued. This was so much harder than she had thought it would be. "But that woman is not me." She kissed him on the cheek and left, walking at a quickened pace so he couldn't see the tears that started to form.
Jed wanted to stop her, to scream at her that she was wrong, but he was numb. Dejected, he walked out onto the portico. He needed fresh air. He slumped down on a bench. What was the point of doing anything now when his whole life had been crushed? His heart felt like it had been ripped out. Some woman would make his life complete? If that woman wasn't Abbey, then he didn't give a damn. For him, she was the only one. His elbows were on his knees as he looked at the ground. He knew he should focus on the upcoming meetings, on today's events, but he couldn't. All he could think about was Abbey.
TBC..........