Chapter 13
The flight home from Mexico was in sharp contrast to the start of the vacation. Abbey had stayed in the hospital for a couple of days before the doctors would release her. She was brought aboard Air Force One in a wheelchair. The surgeon had placed a plate on the tibia and used screws to put her fibula back together. It wasn't going to an easy recovery for Abbey. It wasn't going to be easy for anybody.
Jed was very anxious to get Liz and her family back home as soon as possible. Ron was very anxious to get the President back into a more secure location. The only way the doctors would agree was for Abbey to promise to take it easy on the trip home. She promised to stay in the bedroom for the entire trip. Pain pills were issued for her use. Ellie promised to take good care of her. Liz and Annie had to get home and bury their family.
It was a sad time for the family, and the world, as they watched two coffins loaded into the cargo bay. One big one and a little one. Side-by-side. Liz and Annie stood by the plane with tears running down their faces. Liz had agreed to this one photo op on the understanding that the funeral would be private. Somehow CJ had gotten the press to agree.
Nobody said much on the plane. It was going directly to Manchester where Doug and Gus would be buried. Liz stayed with Annie, who cried most all the way home. Annie's aunts would relieve Liz and just hold Annie in their arms. Jed stayed with Abbey in the bedroom, trying to understand the how and why of what had just occurred. They worried about Liz and Annie, and only hoped that eventually they would be okay.
"They're both tough, Abbey. They'll be okay." Jed said what he thought Abbey needed to hear.
Abbey dropped her head back onto her pillow with a watery sigh. "God, Jed. So much heartache. I don't know if I can survive another loss like this."
"Abbey. You know that we'll never know why those two were chosen. But they are together and we must take strength in that knowledge."
"I know that we must rely on our faith. But it's so hard." With that, Abbey broke down into more tears. Tears that just kept on coming.
He stayed with her until she fell asleep. They were still 3 hours from home.
Jed moved to the office, and found only sadness there as well. Liz was holding Annie on one couch and the other two girls were sitting on the opposite sofa just holding hands and softly crying.
It was going to take a long time to recover from this trip.