Story: A Wedding Diary
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Jed stood up to his parents, as well as Abbey's, so Abbey could plan her dream wedding without interference.
Summary: Jed finally opens up.
Later that evening, Jed walked his parents out of the Barrington home. It had been a tense night and though the families finally agreed to work together, there was a bit of unfinished business between Jed and John. Never had he gotten away with speaking to his father the way he had. Never had he been given permission to take control.
Never had John Bartlet been a forgiving man.
Jed would have to explain his actions before all was said and done.
"When will you be home?" Diane asked Jed.
Jed opened the car door for his mother. "Soon. I just want to spend some time with Abbey, then I'll be on my way." Once Diane sat down, Jed closed the door and approached his father who was still standing on the porch. "Dad?"
"You were quite the star tonight. I'm sure Abbey's eternally grateful for the display in there."
And here it was. The confrontation Jed expected, yet feared. "It was important to Abbey."
"You may be able to get away with talking to her parents that way, but I'm still your father and I deserve your respect."
Nearly twenty-two years old and John was still belittling him. Jed took a deep breath and whispered, "You haven't earned it."
"What did you say?"
"Respect is earned, not deserved. You haven't earned mine."
Jed realized he went too far before he was even finished speaking the words, and when John picked up his hand to take a swing, he knew he was right. His instincts took over. He grabbed John's wrist before contact and in the few strained moments that followed, father and son stood perfectly still, their eyes burning into one another.
Abbey suddenly opened the front door, catching the end of the scene.
"Jed, is everything okay?"
"Fine," Jed answered, his gaze never leaving his father's.
John turned to take Abbey's hand. "Abbey, thank your parents again for me." He threw his son a warning glance as he walked past him towards his car. "Jed, come home soon."
Abbey watched suspiciously while John drove away. "What was that about?"
"What?" Jed asked.
"I obviously interrupted something."
He shook his head. "No, you didn't."
"Jed." Abbey followed him inside.
"Where are your parents?"
"They went to bed. Jed, I want to talk about what happened out there."
"Nothing happened."
This was going to difficult, Abbey realized, but she had been wondering for long enough. It may not have been any of her business, but she felt she needed to know. "Was he about to hit you?"
Jed whirled around to face her. "What?"
"You were holding his arm. Was he about to hit you?"
His brows arched slightly, he dismissed her question with a stern, unyielding tone. "No."
It didn't sway Abbey. "You can tell me anything, you know."
"Why the hell are we talking about this?"
"Because I want to know. I've seen him insult you. He's been cruel and I know there's more to it than just verbal arguing. When we were in Martha's Vineyard last year, I saw that mark on your face. I knew you were lying about how it got there. Your father did that to you, didn't he? That's why you assumed my Dad had hit me that night you found me crying."
Jed was losing his patience. He didn't like to discuss his father - not even with her. "Back off, Abbey."
She could see the agitation and the little voice inside her head told her to do as he said, but she ignored it. "Does he hit you often?"
She had hit a nerve still raw from the confrontation, a nerve that had been poked and prodded many times by many different people over the years. Jed took a deep breath, his chest puffing as he took a step back before answering.
"Yeah, he does," he snapped. "Are you satisfied?"
Abbey narrowed her eyes, not out of anger, but out of sympathy for the pain she could in his face. His blue orbs sparkled with unshed tears.
"Abbey?" Mary called from upstairs.
"Yeah, Mom," she answered as she held Jed's gaze. "Everything's okay. I'm sorry we woke you."
Jed shook his head and stormed out the door. Abbey clenched her eyes tightly as she let out a troubled sigh. Deep down, she suspected that her theory was correct, but having Jed confirm it surprised her. She hoped she had been wrong, for Jed's sake. But now that she knew she wasn't, she had another problem. Jed's wrath wouldn't be easy to deal with, especially combined with the emotional turmoil that raged through his head.
She opened the door, hoping he hadn't taken off yet. With one step outside, she found him sitting on the stoop with his face buried in his hands. She sat down next to him, pulling him in to kiss his temple before she rested her chin on the arm that was lovingly draped over his shoulder.
"I didn't mean to snap at you," he said softly, lifting his head.
"I shouldn't have pushed you."
His eyes met hers as he turned his head slightly and put his arm around her. "I just don't like talking about my father."
"I can see that."
"Yeah, he was about to hit me," he admitted. "And yes, he used to hit me a lot."
"And now?"
"He still does. But I've been away for most of the past four years."
Abbey fumbled with his hair and stroked his forehead with her fingers. "He gave you that bruise I saw in Martha's Vineyard?"
"Yeah. The first night you met him, when he put on that act and I called him on it...well, after I took you home, he waited up for me to confront me for embarrassing him in front of you."
Abbey was mortified. "Oh, Jed. That was because of me."
"No, it wasn't."
"Yes, it was. I remember that night. You wanted me to see the real John Bartlet. That's why you said the things you did. And after you dropped me off, he beat the hell out of you?"
"He smacked me, that's all."
"What do you mean that's all?"
"I'm used to worse."
Abbey's heart was breaking in two. A cold chill ran up her spine as she imagined the private hell Jed must have been gone through all his life. "I'm so sorry."
"Hey," Jed pulled away when she buried her face in his chest. "I didn't tell you this to make you cry."
"I know. I'm just so sorry for everything you went through and I'm especially sorry that I didn't listen to you that first night. I'm sorry that for even a second, I actually wondered if it was your fault you and your father don't get along."
"You didn't know, Abbey."
"Why?"
"Why what?" he asked.
"Why didn't I know? Why didn't you tell me?"
Jed released her from his hold and stood up. He walked a few steps in front of where she sat. "I guess I was embarrassed."
"Of what, Jed? The fact that you have an abusive father?" The expression on his face when he turned towards her made her immediately regret the question. "I shouldn't have said that."
"It's okay. You just caught me off-guard. He is abusive. You're allowed to say it. And yes, to answer your question. I was afraid of what you'd think of me."
"I'd think exactly what I thought from the first night I met you - that I'm incredibly lucky to have attracted the attention of such a strong, kind, generous, caring, handsome man." Abbey rose to her feet to join him. "I'm serious, Jed. I'm so thankful that you didn't grow up with the same kind of hatred in your heart that he has in his."
Jed smiled at her. "Can we stop talking about it now? I mean, maybe some other time, we can revisit the subject and delve into all the details, but right now, I just want to forget it."
Abbey rested her head against his chest and conceded. "Of course we can." She kissed him softly on the lips, letting her tongue find his for a brief moment, before pulling back. "I love you."
TBC