Dirty Dealings
Part 8
"So our people close to the situation think there could be some movement within the next couple of days?" The President waited intently for the response, taking in every bit of information as he did in all his security briefings.
General Thornmeyer nodded his head. "Yes, sir. We have reports detailing specific routes and transportation options that they may make use of."
"Does it look like what we expected?" Leo always liked to see how good their predictions were.
"Yeah, Leo, looks like we nailed it this time." The general allowed a brief smile.
"Are we close to coming up with the best method of response should we be faced with having to be come involved?"
"We have people working round the clock on it. We've gone back over all the collected data looking for the most straightforward way to get their attention."
"Wouldn't that be simply telling them to stop?" Leo looked confused.
The general looked thoughtful. "Unfortunately this time the straightforward approach has to be something we're sure they'll listen to. I'm not so sure that all sides aren't all talked out."
"I'd appreciate being apprised as soon as you and your people have reached any conclusions. I know it may be a while before we actually have to put a plan in motion, but I'd like as much time as possible to consider my options.
"Yes, sir. Will that be all, sir?"
"Yes, unless you have something else to add."
"No, sir, I believe we have covered everything." The general stood.
Jed and Leo stood also. "Hey, stay a minute." Jed patted Leo on the elbow as he moved passed him to escort the general out. "I'll expect a surveillance report on my desk sometime tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." The general shook hands. "I'll see to it personally, sir."
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Mr. President. Leo." The general made his way out of The Oval Office.
Jed turned back to Leo. "Hey, you want a bagel or something? I didn't have a chance to eat yet."
"I'm fine, sir, but please go ahead."
"You sure?" When Leo nodded, Jed stepped to the door and asked Nancy to get him a Cinnamon Raisin bagel with cream cheese and a coffee. Then he turned back to Leo. "So...?"
Leo looked at him, sensing what he wanted, but uncomfortable just the same.
"So..." Jed repeated himself, moving closer to Leo.
"So last night after we left the hospital we picked up hamburgers and videos. Lane stayed for about four hours and then went wherever it is he goes. He plans to come back today though. He told me that he would be staying a few nights as he wants to reconnect with the girls."
"How did the evening go? Any problems?"
"Leah made it seem like he had never been gone. She sat on his lap through most of the movie and he doted on her. Laurie, on the other hand, stayed in the room, but that's about it. She sat on the couch next to Jenny and kept her nose buried in a book. She said she was studying for a test, but Jenny keeps a pretty close watch on their studies and there is no test this week."
"Smart girl, not just going to forget all she's seen. Her memories of your brother seem to involve yelling and him shoving Abbey into the car."
"Lane wants to take them roller-skating. He used to do that with Laurie."
"He goes nowhere alone with them. But I guess I don't have to remind you of that."
"No, sir. I believe I remember it." Leo snapped a bit.
"Hey..." Jed paused until Leo looked up at him. "I didn't mean anything by that. I just...Leo, if anything happened...Abbey would...it would..."
"Are you implying my brother might hurt his children?" Leo had no idea why this had struck such a cord with him.
"Leo, no...I can't imagine that your brother is such a monster that he would harm his own children...but I..." Jed stopped and studied Leo's face. "I don't have to do this, do I? You of all people know the violence your brother is capable of and you don't need to be reminded that he hurts the ones he loves."
"He would not hurt Leah and Laurie. He couldn't do that."
"Leo..."
"But I know...I know not to leave them alone with him...okay?"
"Okay." Jed paused as Nancy came in with his food. "Thank you."
Nancy nodded and left.
Jed busied himself spreading the cream cheese on the bagel. "Abbey and I had some time to talk last night. She shared some very private stuff with me."
"She's been through a lot with Lane."
"She's not the only one." Jed put the bagel down and looked at Leo. "Why didn't you tell me the truth about why you didn't come to the ceremony when I got that award from the Foundation for the Preservation of Nature?"
Leo tensed. "I was sick. Jenny called you."
"Don't protect him, Leo." Jed spoke a little louder and more viciously than he had intended. "Your brother smacked you in the face with a wooden rolling pin. It busted your lip and about broke your jaw."
"Abbey shouldn't have told you that."
"And why is that, Leo?"
"Because it's private and it doesn't need to be talked about!"
Jed sighed and his shoulders slumped. "Leo..." Jed spoke with sincerity. "I can imagine a little of what you're feeling, you know that; my father loved me and you know that story." He waited for what he was saying to sink in. "It doesn't make it any easier to keep it locked down deep inside and away from everyone else. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You and Abbey have been Lane's victims for too long."
"It's not that simple."
"No, I'm sure it's not. Everyone's feelings are their own and each person has to find their own way to deal with what happens to them." Jed looked knowingly at Leo. "Look, Leo, I just want you to know that it helps to explore those feelings so you can make peace with them and move on. From how this has gone I know that you've seen some pretty scary times that maybe I'm just beginning to understand. But we're the same people we've always been and I'm right here if you want help or if you just need to speak your thoughts out loud to someone. I know I got angry when you kept Lane's return from me, but I want you to know that you can come to me without fear of judgment or anger."
"I might like to talk some." Leo sounded uncertain.
"Okay." Jed sat down, gesturing for Leo to do the same. "Why don't you tell me a little of what you're feeling...whatever you're comfortable with." He took a bite of his bagel so the mood would appear casual.
"Lane did a lot of talking last night. Even when the girls went to bed, he was still there." Leo struggled with what he was going to say. "He brought up a lot of stuff...he talked about growing up...he talked about Dad."
"Was he close to your Dad?" Jed didn't know why, but he felt this question might clear up a lot.
Leo shook his head. "By the time we were old enough to be anything but kids, Dad was drinking so heavily that the alcohol was all that mattered to him. It does that, you know, becomes all consuming, becomes the thing you look to, no matter what your mood. And, to answer the question I know you're asking, no, I don't think my father's drinking made Lane the way he is."
"You knew I was thinking that, huh?"
"I'd like to think it," Leo answered. "I'd like to think that his unhappy childhood made him so angry with the world that he was forced to do the things he's done, but that's just not the case. I'm sure Lane remembers the bad times with Dad, but that's not what he focuses on. He talks about how in those rare sober moments, Dad would take us to ballgames, not how he would scare..." He stopped speaking and let the moment hang there.
"Does Lane drink, Leo? I mean I've never heard even a whisper that he does." Jed hated to continue. "But you and your father had such problems with it, I..."
"NO! Okay, he doesn't drink."
The force of Leo's answer surprised Jed. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean anything, Leo. I just want to try to understand."
"He doesn't drink, okay? He's not worthless..." Leo's mouth snapped shut.
"Worthless?" Jed let the word hang in the air.
"I didn't mean it to happen." Leo started into an explanation. "I didn't mean to let myself become an alcoholic." He looked to Jed for understanding.
"Of course you didn't mean for that to happen. There are so many factors there, Leo. Your father and I remember your grandfather were alcoholics. You had such a predisposition to..."
"I just wanted to forget..."
Jed held his breath, wanting Leo to explain, but knowing better than to ask for an explanation.
"Dad always forgot when he drank. He never remembered what he did or what anyone did to him." Leo looked down to avoid his best friend's eyes. "I just wanted to forget for a while the things my brother was doing to my sisters and to my mother and to..."
"And to you?" Jed spoke very softly.
"I just thought a little alcohol couldn't hurt. I would keep it under control. I wouldn't let it do to me what it did to Dad. I would just use it to forget being bullied and hit and locked in the closet by a brother who wouldn't tell me why, wouldn't tell me why he hated our family, why he hated me..." Leo had trouble getting the last words out. "And Lane told me I was worthless because I was just like Dad."
Jed wondered which question or comment should come out of his mouth first. Assuring Leo he was not worthless seemed to be the right direction, but wanting to know just how long Leo had suffered came out of his mouth first. "You started drinking that young?" He couldn't believe what he was about to hear.
Leo waited thirty seconds before he whispered. "Twelve."
Jed felt the air fighting to get in his lungs as he held his breath. "Oh, Leo."
"It's just...it's..." Leo turned away slightly. "I can't...it's so..."
Jed could see that Leo had said all he could about himself. He was becoming uncomfortable again and in danger of just shutting down his feelings and as much as the President wanted to understand what had happened, he would not risk that. "It's okay, Leo. I'm glad you felt you could share with me. I hope I was able to help you. You and Abbey have gone a long way to help me understand and I want to thank you for that."
"It was hard on Abbey." Leo shifted against the arm of his chair; almost in tears he was so happy to change the subject. "Lane pretty much controlled everything they did." Leo's voice grew softer. "I don't know where he learned to hurt a woman. I always thought that was something learned. I thought men love just like women do and it only became something ugly and sick if they had seen that...you know growing up or something. But my Dad, for all his faults, he never did...did anything like that...and I..." Leo looked intently at Jed. "I would die before I ever did anything like that to Jenny."
Jed raised his head and studied Leo carefully. What was being said here? "I'm sure life with Lane was hard on Abbey. I'm sure she was hurt a great deal."
Leo nodded. "Sometimes he'd just force himself inside her too quickly...she wouldn't be prepared...Jenny..." He looked down. "Jenny told me how painful that can be..." Leo's voice got even softer. "He never had any reason to be rough..."
Jed couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Leo!" He realized the force of his voice when Leo almost jumped out of the chair. "Are you saying that your brother...that he would...get aroused and demand sex right then without any thought to being sure..." Jed had gotten to his feet and was losing control.
"Huh?" Leo tried to understand Jed's shift in temperament, why he was reacting so violently now.
"Huh! Leo, is that all you can say?" Jed looked disbelieving, his eyes popping out of their sockets. "You drop that on me and all you can do is sit there looking at me stupidly!"
"Drop it on you..." Leo inched forward in the chair.
"Yes, Leo, what's wrong with you? You tell me something like that happened to Abbey and you just comment on it calmly like it's an everyday occurrence, like you're saying 'Mr. President, we need to discuss that report now'. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You said you talked to Abbey..." Leo's voice rose as he jumped up also. "You said she told you private things!"
Jed's mind raced back through the conversation. He put his hands out toward Leo, palms down, and bounced them a little. "Calm down. I did say that, Leo, and I meant it. Abbey and I did have a long talk. She told me a lot about Lane, but...Leo...it was mostly stuff he's done to you...Abbey was pretty quiet about herself."
Anger and distress fought for control on Leo's face. "You let me tell you...why didn't you stop me? You knew I thought you already knew!"
"Leo, I just...you told me before I had any chance to think...we both didn't understand this conversation...you didn't do anything wrong."
"Abbey trusted me..."
"Leo, you didn't break that trust. You weren't telling me anything you didn't think I already knew..." Jed searched for what to say. "I never meant to mislead you. But I have to tell you that I'm glad you gave me something to go on in reference to what Abbey's been through. I want to help her, you know that, and the first step is knowing everything...knowing the truth about what she's been through. And she's not going to be forthcoming; you know that, Leo."
Leo stood his ground. "I can't tell you anymore...I won't!"
Jed struggled with appeasement. "Leo, I'm not asking you to." He shook his head. "I know you won't tell me anything else. I'm just saying I need to know how to help Abbey."
"If she doesn't want you to know..."
"This situation, Leo, it's making both of us crazy. Let's cut each other some slack and focus on where we go from here."
Leo contemplated Jed's words, wanting to relax, but still concerned that he had let anything out about Lane.
Once he thought Leo had begun to understand, the anger inside Jed began to build. His mind shifted from the uncertainty still on Leo's face. He could focus on Lane. That man had hurt Abbey, hurt her in ways Jed didn't even know, hurt her while making love to her, what should have been the most gentle thing in their lives. Jed clenched his fist and slung his arm through the air, swinging with force to make his point. "I tell you, Leo, when I get my hands on..." He stopped his words mid sentence when he saw Leo flinch. He frowned for a moment as his arm froze. "Oh, God, Leo..." Jed looked horrified. "Did you think I was going to hit you?"
"No." Leo shook his head frantically and released the breath he was holding, trying to show that he was relaxed.
Jed watched him. "Yes, you did! You may not have thought I would hit you, but you reacted nonetheless, because you're used to being hit when someone raises their fist." Jed sighed. "I'm sorry." Jed took a few steps so that he was close to his best friend. "I would never hurt you. And I'm never going to let anyone else hurt you again."
Leo looked down, studying his watch. "I have to go. Lane is cooking dinner for the kids. He makes this pizza with pineapple and ham. I told Jenny I'd be there." Leo closed the subject and slipped on his coat. "What are you going to do?"
Jed realized the discussion was over. "I'm going to see Abbey. We have a lot to...discuss."
"Good evening, sir." Leo nodded and picked up his briefcase, leaving the President alone with his thoughts.
TBC....
Part 8
"So our people close to the situation think there could be some movement within the next couple of days?" The President waited intently for the response, taking in every bit of information as he did in all his security briefings.
General Thornmeyer nodded his head. "Yes, sir. We have reports detailing specific routes and transportation options that they may make use of."
"Does it look like what we expected?" Leo always liked to see how good their predictions were.
"Yeah, Leo, looks like we nailed it this time." The general allowed a brief smile.
"Are we close to coming up with the best method of response should we be faced with having to be come involved?"
"We have people working round the clock on it. We've gone back over all the collected data looking for the most straightforward way to get their attention."
"Wouldn't that be simply telling them to stop?" Leo looked confused.
The general looked thoughtful. "Unfortunately this time the straightforward approach has to be something we're sure they'll listen to. I'm not so sure that all sides aren't all talked out."
"I'd appreciate being apprised as soon as you and your people have reached any conclusions. I know it may be a while before we actually have to put a plan in motion, but I'd like as much time as possible to consider my options.
"Yes, sir. Will that be all, sir?"
"Yes, unless you have something else to add."
"No, sir, I believe we have covered everything." The general stood.
Jed and Leo stood also. "Hey, stay a minute." Jed patted Leo on the elbow as he moved passed him to escort the general out. "I'll expect a surveillance report on my desk sometime tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." The general shook hands. "I'll see to it personally, sir."
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Mr. President. Leo." The general made his way out of The Oval Office.
Jed turned back to Leo. "Hey, you want a bagel or something? I didn't have a chance to eat yet."
"I'm fine, sir, but please go ahead."
"You sure?" When Leo nodded, Jed stepped to the door and asked Nancy to get him a Cinnamon Raisin bagel with cream cheese and a coffee. Then he turned back to Leo. "So...?"
Leo looked at him, sensing what he wanted, but uncomfortable just the same.
"So..." Jed repeated himself, moving closer to Leo.
"So last night after we left the hospital we picked up hamburgers and videos. Lane stayed for about four hours and then went wherever it is he goes. He plans to come back today though. He told me that he would be staying a few nights as he wants to reconnect with the girls."
"How did the evening go? Any problems?"
"Leah made it seem like he had never been gone. She sat on his lap through most of the movie and he doted on her. Laurie, on the other hand, stayed in the room, but that's about it. She sat on the couch next to Jenny and kept her nose buried in a book. She said she was studying for a test, but Jenny keeps a pretty close watch on their studies and there is no test this week."
"Smart girl, not just going to forget all she's seen. Her memories of your brother seem to involve yelling and him shoving Abbey into the car."
"Lane wants to take them roller-skating. He used to do that with Laurie."
"He goes nowhere alone with them. But I guess I don't have to remind you of that."
"No, sir. I believe I remember it." Leo snapped a bit.
"Hey..." Jed paused until Leo looked up at him. "I didn't mean anything by that. I just...Leo, if anything happened...Abbey would...it would..."
"Are you implying my brother might hurt his children?" Leo had no idea why this had struck such a cord with him.
"Leo, no...I can't imagine that your brother is such a monster that he would harm his own children...but I..." Jed stopped and studied Leo's face. "I don't have to do this, do I? You of all people know the violence your brother is capable of and you don't need to be reminded that he hurts the ones he loves."
"He would not hurt Leah and Laurie. He couldn't do that."
"Leo..."
"But I know...I know not to leave them alone with him...okay?"
"Okay." Jed paused as Nancy came in with his food. "Thank you."
Nancy nodded and left.
Jed busied himself spreading the cream cheese on the bagel. "Abbey and I had some time to talk last night. She shared some very private stuff with me."
"She's been through a lot with Lane."
"She's not the only one." Jed put the bagel down and looked at Leo. "Why didn't you tell me the truth about why you didn't come to the ceremony when I got that award from the Foundation for the Preservation of Nature?"
Leo tensed. "I was sick. Jenny called you."
"Don't protect him, Leo." Jed spoke a little louder and more viciously than he had intended. "Your brother smacked you in the face with a wooden rolling pin. It busted your lip and about broke your jaw."
"Abbey shouldn't have told you that."
"And why is that, Leo?"
"Because it's private and it doesn't need to be talked about!"
Jed sighed and his shoulders slumped. "Leo..." Jed spoke with sincerity. "I can imagine a little of what you're feeling, you know that; my father loved me and you know that story." He waited for what he was saying to sink in. "It doesn't make it any easier to keep it locked down deep inside and away from everyone else. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You and Abbey have been Lane's victims for too long."
"It's not that simple."
"No, I'm sure it's not. Everyone's feelings are their own and each person has to find their own way to deal with what happens to them." Jed looked knowingly at Leo. "Look, Leo, I just want you to know that it helps to explore those feelings so you can make peace with them and move on. From how this has gone I know that you've seen some pretty scary times that maybe I'm just beginning to understand. But we're the same people we've always been and I'm right here if you want help or if you just need to speak your thoughts out loud to someone. I know I got angry when you kept Lane's return from me, but I want you to know that you can come to me without fear of judgment or anger."
"I might like to talk some." Leo sounded uncertain.
"Okay." Jed sat down, gesturing for Leo to do the same. "Why don't you tell me a little of what you're feeling...whatever you're comfortable with." He took a bite of his bagel so the mood would appear casual.
"Lane did a lot of talking last night. Even when the girls went to bed, he was still there." Leo struggled with what he was going to say. "He brought up a lot of stuff...he talked about growing up...he talked about Dad."
"Was he close to your Dad?" Jed didn't know why, but he felt this question might clear up a lot.
Leo shook his head. "By the time we were old enough to be anything but kids, Dad was drinking so heavily that the alcohol was all that mattered to him. It does that, you know, becomes all consuming, becomes the thing you look to, no matter what your mood. And, to answer the question I know you're asking, no, I don't think my father's drinking made Lane the way he is."
"You knew I was thinking that, huh?"
"I'd like to think it," Leo answered. "I'd like to think that his unhappy childhood made him so angry with the world that he was forced to do the things he's done, but that's just not the case. I'm sure Lane remembers the bad times with Dad, but that's not what he focuses on. He talks about how in those rare sober moments, Dad would take us to ballgames, not how he would scare..." He stopped speaking and let the moment hang there.
"Does Lane drink, Leo? I mean I've never heard even a whisper that he does." Jed hated to continue. "But you and your father had such problems with it, I..."
"NO! Okay, he doesn't drink."
The force of Leo's answer surprised Jed. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean anything, Leo. I just want to try to understand."
"He doesn't drink, okay? He's not worthless..." Leo's mouth snapped shut.
"Worthless?" Jed let the word hang in the air.
"I didn't mean it to happen." Leo started into an explanation. "I didn't mean to let myself become an alcoholic." He looked to Jed for understanding.
"Of course you didn't mean for that to happen. There are so many factors there, Leo. Your father and I remember your grandfather were alcoholics. You had such a predisposition to..."
"I just wanted to forget..."
Jed held his breath, wanting Leo to explain, but knowing better than to ask for an explanation.
"Dad always forgot when he drank. He never remembered what he did or what anyone did to him." Leo looked down to avoid his best friend's eyes. "I just wanted to forget for a while the things my brother was doing to my sisters and to my mother and to..."
"And to you?" Jed spoke very softly.
"I just thought a little alcohol couldn't hurt. I would keep it under control. I wouldn't let it do to me what it did to Dad. I would just use it to forget being bullied and hit and locked in the closet by a brother who wouldn't tell me why, wouldn't tell me why he hated our family, why he hated me..." Leo had trouble getting the last words out. "And Lane told me I was worthless because I was just like Dad."
Jed wondered which question or comment should come out of his mouth first. Assuring Leo he was not worthless seemed to be the right direction, but wanting to know just how long Leo had suffered came out of his mouth first. "You started drinking that young?" He couldn't believe what he was about to hear.
Leo waited thirty seconds before he whispered. "Twelve."
Jed felt the air fighting to get in his lungs as he held his breath. "Oh, Leo."
"It's just...it's..." Leo turned away slightly. "I can't...it's so..."
Jed could see that Leo had said all he could about himself. He was becoming uncomfortable again and in danger of just shutting down his feelings and as much as the President wanted to understand what had happened, he would not risk that. "It's okay, Leo. I'm glad you felt you could share with me. I hope I was able to help you. You and Abbey have gone a long way to help me understand and I want to thank you for that."
"It was hard on Abbey." Leo shifted against the arm of his chair; almost in tears he was so happy to change the subject. "Lane pretty much controlled everything they did." Leo's voice grew softer. "I don't know where he learned to hurt a woman. I always thought that was something learned. I thought men love just like women do and it only became something ugly and sick if they had seen that...you know growing up or something. But my Dad, for all his faults, he never did...did anything like that...and I..." Leo looked intently at Jed. "I would die before I ever did anything like that to Jenny."
Jed raised his head and studied Leo carefully. What was being said here? "I'm sure life with Lane was hard on Abbey. I'm sure she was hurt a great deal."
Leo nodded. "Sometimes he'd just force himself inside her too quickly...she wouldn't be prepared...Jenny..." He looked down. "Jenny told me how painful that can be..." Leo's voice got even softer. "He never had any reason to be rough..."
Jed couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Leo!" He realized the force of his voice when Leo almost jumped out of the chair. "Are you saying that your brother...that he would...get aroused and demand sex right then without any thought to being sure..." Jed had gotten to his feet and was losing control.
"Huh?" Leo tried to understand Jed's shift in temperament, why he was reacting so violently now.
"Huh! Leo, is that all you can say?" Jed looked disbelieving, his eyes popping out of their sockets. "You drop that on me and all you can do is sit there looking at me stupidly!"
"Drop it on you..." Leo inched forward in the chair.
"Yes, Leo, what's wrong with you? You tell me something like that happened to Abbey and you just comment on it calmly like it's an everyday occurrence, like you're saying 'Mr. President, we need to discuss that report now'. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You said you talked to Abbey..." Leo's voice rose as he jumped up also. "You said she told you private things!"
Jed's mind raced back through the conversation. He put his hands out toward Leo, palms down, and bounced them a little. "Calm down. I did say that, Leo, and I meant it. Abbey and I did have a long talk. She told me a lot about Lane, but...Leo...it was mostly stuff he's done to you...Abbey was pretty quiet about herself."
Anger and distress fought for control on Leo's face. "You let me tell you...why didn't you stop me? You knew I thought you already knew!"
"Leo, I just...you told me before I had any chance to think...we both didn't understand this conversation...you didn't do anything wrong."
"Abbey trusted me..."
"Leo, you didn't break that trust. You weren't telling me anything you didn't think I already knew..." Jed searched for what to say. "I never meant to mislead you. But I have to tell you that I'm glad you gave me something to go on in reference to what Abbey's been through. I want to help her, you know that, and the first step is knowing everything...knowing the truth about what she's been through. And she's not going to be forthcoming; you know that, Leo."
Leo stood his ground. "I can't tell you anymore...I won't!"
Jed struggled with appeasement. "Leo, I'm not asking you to." He shook his head. "I know you won't tell me anything else. I'm just saying I need to know how to help Abbey."
"If she doesn't want you to know..."
"This situation, Leo, it's making both of us crazy. Let's cut each other some slack and focus on where we go from here."
Leo contemplated Jed's words, wanting to relax, but still concerned that he had let anything out about Lane.
Once he thought Leo had begun to understand, the anger inside Jed began to build. His mind shifted from the uncertainty still on Leo's face. He could focus on Lane. That man had hurt Abbey, hurt her in ways Jed didn't even know, hurt her while making love to her, what should have been the most gentle thing in their lives. Jed clenched his fist and slung his arm through the air, swinging with force to make his point. "I tell you, Leo, when I get my hands on..." He stopped his words mid sentence when he saw Leo flinch. He frowned for a moment as his arm froze. "Oh, God, Leo..." Jed looked horrified. "Did you think I was going to hit you?"
"No." Leo shook his head frantically and released the breath he was holding, trying to show that he was relaxed.
Jed watched him. "Yes, you did! You may not have thought I would hit you, but you reacted nonetheless, because you're used to being hit when someone raises their fist." Jed sighed. "I'm sorry." Jed took a few steps so that he was close to his best friend. "I would never hurt you. And I'm never going to let anyone else hurt you again."
Leo looked down, studying his watch. "I have to go. Lane is cooking dinner for the kids. He makes this pizza with pineapple and ham. I told Jenny I'd be there." Leo closed the subject and slipped on his coat. "What are you going to do?"
Jed realized the discussion was over. "I'm going to see Abbey. We have a lot to...discuss."
"Good evening, sir." Leo nodded and picked up his briefcase, leaving the President alone with his thoughts.
TBC....