Series: Snapshots of the Past

Story: Endings and Beginnings

Chapter 16

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Previously: Abbey was accepted for residency in New Hampshire; Jed got a job at Dartmouth

Summary: After a run-in with John, Jed takes Abbey and the girls to their New Hampshire farmhouse

With thoughts of a new start looming in the background, the Bartlets geared up for their big move. Countless hours of house hunting finally resulted in the purchase of a charming, yet affordable Cape Cod-style three bedroom home, complete with a white picket fence and spacious backyard.

In the months before leaving Boston, Abbey prepared for commencement while reflecting on the four long years it took to earn her medical degree. She looked forward to beginning the first chapter of her professional career and struggled with the knowledge that it was going to be an arduous period of adjustment, not only for her, but for the entire family.

Jed's attention was otherwise occupied. For days, he had been fighting his conscious in a battle his intuition should have won. He eventually succumbed to the tortured realization that he couldn't leave Boston without taking care of one more thing.

John Bartlet was a lousy father. There was little disagreement on that. But to Jed, he was still the only father he'd ever have. Since childhood, he held on to the hope of a normal, functional father/son relationship. He buried that hope somewhere deep inside, but he always nurtured it, causing it to grow throughout the years until there came a time when it finally overwhelmed him.

That time was now.

He sat in his car in front of John's house for what seemed like hours. Every few minutes, his hand reached for the door handle, but he resisted, convincing himself he wasn't ready to make a move.

Little did he know the decision would soon be out of his hands.

He rested his head against the steering wheel, snapping his neck back when he heard a knock on the window.

"Jed?" John stood with creased brows, presumably wanting an explanation.

Jed opened the door and stood slowly, mentally kicking himself for being seen. "Hi."

"What are you doing?"

"I...I wanted to personally thank you for the flowers when Lizzie and I were in the hospital." No matter how old he was, his nerves were uncontrollable when in the presence of John.

"You're welcome." Jed wasn't the only one with wandering eyes. The seemingly awkward silence was just as difficult for John. "Come on inside. It's a little chilly out here."

The two men headed up the sidewalk and into the townhouse, but nothing could alleviate the tension that was now caged in the confines of the room - the same room which set the stage for the physical confrontation that ended their last meeting.

His level of discomfort quickly rising, Jed began speaking. "We're moving to New Hampshire." Probably not the best conversation-starter, but he was at a loss. He noted the lack of surprised in John's reaction.

"I still talk to Jack. I hear things."

"I wasn't sure you had. I just wanted you to know."

"I appreciate the thought." Scorn and disdain can sometimes hide behind the guise of pleasant words, but usually, it doesn't go unnoticed.

"Well, I guess that's all." With no response, he walked towards the door.

"What will you be doing in New Hampshire?" John asked just before Jed turned the knob.

He turned to face him, cautiously reminding himself that lengthy conversations rarely resulted in anything more than heartache. "Teaching at Dartmouth."

No congratulations or well wishes. Just another nod of the head and, of course, the reveal of what was really eating away at him. "I hear the state democrats are trying to recruit you to run for office."

"It was mentioned in passing," Jed replied dismissively.

"You're a Bartlet, Jed. You better be sure you can win. You'll shame the entire family if you don't." Was it jealousy or just an incessant need to be cruel that motivated John, Jed wondered. Truth was, John didn't really know either.

"I haven't decided yet."

"If the votes aren't there, let it go."

"I said I haven't decided yet." He was more forceful this time. But an effort to squash his irritation had failed miserably. "Why do you do this?"

"Do what?"

"You try to discourage me before I even make up my mind."

"I'm not discouraging you. I'm trying to save you and this family from any more embarrassment."

If only he could go back in time, he would have pointed out that that it was just as chilly inside as it was outside. "Any more embarrassment? What the hell does that mean?"

"Look, it was one thing for you go off half-cocked in Boston, but now you'll be living in New Hampshire. It's a different ballgame."

"Half-cocked? The university plan was a success!"

"Eventually. But how much did it take to get there? You nearly got yourself KILLED when you could have easily just transferred Elizabeth to private school!"

Jed's heart warmed to the possibility that the reason John was so angry was because he would have given a damn if his son actually had gotten himself killed. He resisted the urge to ask for fear that he was wrong. "She would have lost a year. We didn't want that."

"Of course you didn't. Because you found a way to fight government, once again, and reap the public benefits at the same time. And isn't that really what it's all about? The attention?"

With a nod of acknowledgment, Jed turned his back to John. "This was a mistake."

"It always is."

"I came here to thank you. I've done that. Goodbye." The door was open, but his first step outside was interrupted.

"There's something else." John pulled out a keyring and held it in his hand until Jed turned back around. He gently threw the keys across the room. "Those are the keys to the farm."

"We're not staying at the farm."

"It's yours now."

"What do you mean it's mine? Your father left you that farm."

"No, he didn't. He left it to your mother. The sanctimonious old bat didn't think I was up to the task of handling his pride and joy." He probably should have recognized the loathsome tone, for it was the same one he was using with his son. "Anyway, before she died, she wanted you to have it."

"She's been dead over a year. Why are you just telling me about this now?"

"You were never going to New Hampshire until now."

One excuse after another wears thin after nearly 30 years. "What else?"

"What else what?"

"Is there anything you're keeping from me? Anything else Mom wanted me to have?"

"You were at the reading of the will, Jed. Like I said, I kept the farm to myself because you had no use for it."

"Whatever you say," Jed muttered under his breath as he moved swiftly towards the open door.

"I wouldn't mind a picture of Eleanor when..." His statement cut off from the harsh slam, John simply shrugged in response.

It took several days for Jed to muster up the courage to tell Abbey about the farm. He feared a line of I told you so's since she had warned against contacting his father. But he didn't get that. Instead, he was greeted with a sympathetic ear as she listened for hours to the anger and hurt that spilled from within him.

Another few weeks passed before the family piled into the car and drove to New Hampshire. They had originally planned to visit their new home in Hanover, but the day-long excursion turned into a weekend getaway when the detour to the newly acquired farmhouse piqued Lizzie's interest.

Spanning a country roadway a few miles outside of Manchester, the property had an open field accentuated by purple lilacs and a large variety of pink and red roses that had outgrown the previously small garden. They now lined the rocky brook that extended through the land and out into the woodlands.

The house itself was a custom colonial home with oak floors and a spacious floorplan, complete with six bedrooms, a downstairs den, a sunroom, and a hottub out back.

But none of that intrigued the little girl. Lizzie's attention was captivated almost immediately by the animals. Having never owned a pet, she was overwhelmed. Her eyes glazed over the cows, sheep, and goats that ran around somewhat freely when she noticed a horse barn in the distance. Suddenly, all her reservations about the move vanished and she envisioned the long overdue fantasies of pony rides coming to fruition.

"Daddy! Daddy! Do they have horses?"

"I don't know," Jed answered skeptically as he nudged Abbey. "We should probably check on that."

"Don't ask me, it's your farm."

"Can't we live here? Please?"

Abbey found it difficult to maintain composure when Jed seemed to be just as excited as Lizzie. "Sweetie, it's too far from where Mommy and Daddy work."

"So?"

"So we can't live here. I'm sorry," she replied while swinging Ellie around in her arms. "But we can visit and one day, this place is going to belong to both you and Ellie."

"We'll have to share?"

"You bet you will," Jed interrupted. "But think about how much fun you'll have here with your families."

"Can we at least spend the night tonight?" Clearly, she was more interested in the present than in the future.

"Tonight?" Abbey was a bit more apprehensive.

"Yeah!"

"I think that's a wonderful idea!" Jed agreed. "Lizzie, run up to the house and pick out a bedroom."

"Jed, I don't have enough diapers, we don't have any food."

"We'll go shopping."

"Not to mention we're out in the middle of nowhere."

He began walking towards the house, opening his arms to take in the fresh country air. "Awasiwi Odanak, Sweet Knees. Far from the things of man. When I was kid, I used to love coming here, walking alongside the creek, playing soccer with Jack, feeding the animals. We didn't have a horse barn back then."

"Good thing or you would have been quite the injured little boy."

"I'll have you know I could have been a world-famous equestrian if I had wante to."

5"I believe it." Her smile was cut short by Jed's somber expression. "Honey, you understand why we can't live here, right?"

"You mean besides the fact that we already bought a house?"

"Once I start my residency, I'm going to be at work around the clock. I need to be close to the hospital."

"Yeah, I know."

"But once that's over, it's nice to know we'll have a place waiting for us." They walked up the steps to the front porch, Jed pointing the way to a swing just around the side of the house. "And speaking of which, how much is it going to cost to run this farm?"

"Nothing right now. Everything's paid for through the next five years."

"So it's really ours?" she asked as she took her seat.

"Yeah. We can come here whenever we want. Long weekends, school vacation, a few day trips even."

"Sounds nice."

Lizzie ran outside, immediately sprinting into her father's arms. Jed lifted her up onto the swing, placing an arm around her waist so she could lean back against him. Abbey held Ellie close in a similar position as the wind gingerly swayed them back and forth.

For the first time in their married lives, the Bartlets were free to enjoy the calm serenity of the country, far away from the noisy sounds of the bustling city. It was a peaceful oasis, far removed from the problems of the world, where, just for a moment, life seemed simple and uncomplicated.

This part of their lives was just beginning.

The End

To be continued in The Anniversary Waltz