Story: On My Honor
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: Abbey was faced with a dilemma when Dr. Allen's nurse suggested a link between Dr. Allen and his patient, Megan's, illness
Summary: It's Ellie's birthday and Jed and Abbey have surprises for both Ellie and Lizzie; Jed is surprised that John is eager to spend time with his granddaughters; Jed's colleague prepares to submit his work for international recognition
Author's Note: Thanks to Daphy for her suggestion regarding Jed's economic research!
There were certain traditions in the Bartlet house that were as expected and predictable as the sun rising every morning. The consummate family man, Jed reveled in any opportunity to bond with his wife and daughters, so when the holidays rolled around, so did the carefully outlined rituals that were designed to bring them all closer together.
At Christmas, a night of tree trimming would usually end with Jed, Abbey, and the girls gathering around a roaring fire. Jed always had visions of everyone in their slippers holding a steamy cup of hot cranberry punch and a plate of almond baklava and apple squares, but unfortunately, almost every year, the idyllic Currier and Ives image that was firmly planted in his mind was disrupted before it ever began as Abbey was inevitably called away to begin a grueling hospital shift.
The bickering that ensued between husband and wife had become as much a part of the Bartlet Christmas tradition as the passionate make-up sex afterwards. And by Christmas morning each year, their bond was stronger than ever as they united the family for a day of presents, movies, and a large holiday dinner.
On the Fourth of July, everyone came to the table ready to share patriotic stories of the Founding Fathers. Statesmen like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the topic of conversation over an appetizing breakfast of banana cream pancakes and pineapple waffles. After the Independence Day Parade but before the colorful spectacle of fireworks, the Bartlets would adjourn to the family room to watch the annual broadcast of the Broadway musical 1776 on Channel 9.
In the days before Thanksgiving, they would donate food to the New Hampshire Food Bank, but on the actual holiday, it was the plight of the pilgrims the girls enjoyed hearing while Jed carved the turkey with his family's authentic Paul Revere carving knife. Some years, they were just returning from an afternoon at the local soup kitchen. Other years, their Thanksgiving Day preparations were so grand that it was the Friday after that they would dedicate their time to those less fortunate.
Halloween was about spooky tales of ghosts and goblins as Ellie and Lizzie tried desperately to scare their parents with original stories and creative gags. Jed and Abbey feigned their fear while they helped their daughters get ready for a night of trick-or-treating. And later, when they were all alone, they would snuggle up under the covers, entangled in each other's arms as they searched the television for a replay of frightening Halloween movies.
Of all the fun family customs, though, nothing quite compared to the production surrounding a birthday.
Just as she had done for Lizzie in the past and just as she would someday do for Zoey, Abbey stood against the countertop, crushing red and pink candies atop the two dozen vanilla-frosted peppermint cupcakes Ellie would be taking with her to school. Baking the sweet treat was just one of the official birthday tasks that lured her out of bed at 5 a.m.
Around the corner, Jed tugged on the ends of the large pink bow precariously wrapped around the handlebars of the bicycle he had finally finished assembling. Abbey wiped her hands on a dishtowel and poked her head into the adjoining room.
"Are you almost done?"
"Doesn't it look like it?" He stood back and proudly admired his work. "I think we're good to go."
At his side, Lizzie held the satin ribbon in her hand. "Dad, I don't think this is going to reach all the way upstairs."
"It'll reach, don't worry."
"But it looks short." The birthday ribbon always lined the path from the birthday girl's room to the big gift downstairs.
"Lizzie, Sweetie, your father isn't going into this blind. He measured it before he bought the ribbon," Abbey assured her daughter before turning to her husband. "Didn't you?"
Jed scanned the bike, then looked up the long stairway that led to Ellie's room. "What's that?"
"I said, you measured the distance between here and Ellie's room before you bought the ribbon, just like I did for Lizzie's birthday last year." He didn't respond. "Didn't you?"
"Yeah."
The careless dismissal in his tone answered her question. "You didn't, did you?"
"It's 6:30 in the morning and I've already assembled the bike. Isn't that enough?" He took the ribbon from Lizzie's hands and traced it to the end. "Not to mention I'm still upset over the telescope, so give me a pass on this one. We'll figure it out."
Upset didn't really come close to describing Jed's disappointment when he found out the black and silver Orion AstroView telescope he had picked out for his daughter was on back-order. His plans for a spectacular night of stargazing were dashed and, instead, the bike Abbey chose was slated as Ellie's biggest gift.
"You'll get the telescope eventually. You can give it to her in a few weeks."
"In a few weeks, it's not her birthday. I wanted it for this morning or at least for Saturday's party."
"It's not going to reach, Dad," Lizzie repeated, grabbing the end of the ribbon. "It's too short."
"We'll make it reach." He gripped the bow tightly around the handlebars as he directed Liz. "Take the end you're holding and go upstairs."
With a smile, Lizzie swaggered past him and sprinted up the steps. "Okay, I'm at the top with a little bit of ribbon to spare. Now what?"
"See that?" He flashed Abbey a smug grin. "I told you."
Never taking her eyes off her husband, Abbey prodded Liz to move further. "Lizzie, see if you can get it to Ellie's door."
Jed waved his hand with confidence. "That won't be a problem. I really wish you'd have a little more faith in me, Sweet Knees. I don't need tape measures. I can tell just by looking at something that it'll reach."
"Dad, it won't reach!" Lizzie called down. "I'm standing by Ellie's door and it won't reach."
"You're not doing it right. Just pull on it."
One yank from Lizzie caused the bike to fall to the side and the pretty pink bow that adorned the violet and pink-trimmed handlebars curled against the wall before Jed could buffer the smashed tassels with his hands.
"Lizzie stop pulling!" Abbey rushed to her husband's aid to help him untangle the threaded mess. "Would it have killed you to measure it?"
"I forgot. Anyway, there's no rule that says the ribbon has to reach her room. We'll just bring her downstairs." He followed Abbey up the stairs to join Liz on the top landing, their voices brought to a low whisper as they embarked down the hallway towards Ellie's room.
"Ellie?" Softly, Abbey knocked on her door then opened it slightly.
Wide awake and sitting at her desk dressed in her baby blue pajamas, Ellie pointed her twinkling aqua eyes at her mother. "Hi."
Abbey let go of the door and allowed it to open fully. "What in the world are you doing up?"
"I wanted to work on my project for the star show." She held up the large cylinder-shaped oatmeal container she was designing. "Daddy's going to carve out the pattern tonight."
Clearly impressed, Jed twirled the container to closely examine her artwork. "Wow, you've done a really good job with this."
"I can't wait till we get to show everybody!"
"That's going to be a lot of fun. But today..." he set it aside and lifted Ellie up into his arms. "we're going to concentrate on other things, Birthday Girl." He stepped out of the way to make room for Abbey. "After you."
Abbey admired his sweet, boyish expression, the energy that seemed to launch him from the bedroom and help him bound down the stairs so fast that she had to turn around to remind him not to wake Zoey.
Ellie gasped in delight when Jed turned sharply at the bottom step and raised her above his head only to bring her down and sit her on the bike. "It's so pretty! Can I ride it right now?"
"Not in here." Abbey intervened before Jed allowed his daughter's girlish excitement to manipulate him into letting her take a stroll around the hardwood floors of the farmhouse. "But lets see how long it takes to finish breakfast. If we get right to it, you may have time to ride it around the driveway before school."
"Did you bake cupcakes for school?"
"You bet I did!" Abbey tweaked her nose and pulled her into a hug. "Happy Birthday, Goldilocks."
"And that isn't all," Jed added from behind mother and daughter. "There's one more present you get to open this morning." He pulled out an envelope and handed it to her.
"What is it?" She pulled out the tickets snuggled inside.
"Read it."
"The planetarium? Where we can learn even more about stars?" Ellie shouted the question as she leapt into her father's embrace.
"That's for all five of us. They even have a children's room for Zoey to play in."
"When?"
"They're good for a year so we'll have to set a day." Jed approached his oldest daughter with another envelope in his hand. "And we haven't forgotten about you, Miss Elizabeth."
Thought it wasn't her birthday, Liz eagerly tore open paper and retrieved the colorfully decorated Cinderella card inside. "I don't get it."
"You have to open it." Jed looked on over her shoulder as she did. "This entitles the bearer...you...to one beautiful Cinderella dress for the school dance. Your mom's taking you to Boston this weekend."
"Really?" she asked Abbey.
"Really," Abbey answered. "I want you to pick out something fabulous for this date."
"Are you serious? You're letting me go?" Liz bounced around them, her clear blue eyes brimming with happiness.
"Can we stop calling a date please?" Jed pleaded to Abbey as he turned away from his daughters. "You know how I feel about that word."
Abbey patted his arm and continued. "But there is a catch. Your Dad and I are going to take you and Jeff to the dance, we're going to bring you home from the dance, and..."
Jed popped his head out from behind his wife and addressed Elizabeth. "You're going to love this."
"We're going to chaperone the dance," Abbey finished.
"Really?" It was a more subdued question this time. Liz's beaming smile faded as her brows arched in that cryptic teenage code for complete and utter disbelief.
"It won't be so bad. Think of it as a double date," Jed said as he rested his arm on Abbey's shoulder.
"You'll be there the whole time?"
"The whole time," Abbey confirmed.
"And there will be no kissing or touching between you and Jeff, or else you'll turn into a pumpkin. Your mother and I will be standing 10...no, five feet away the entire night."
"If I can't touch him then how are we supposed to dance?"
"Standing several inches apart like we are right now."
"Dad! There's going to be music...slow music and I'm going to want to hold his hand and stuff."
"And stuff? What kind of stuff? You're 13 years old."
"What's the point of even going to this thing? I might as well not even bother."
"Now you're talking."
"Jed!" Abbey smacked his arm then stepped in front of him. "Lizzie, we're not trying to spoil your fun, but you're only 13 and you know you're not allowed to start dating for another three years. We're making an exception just this once because it's a school-sponsored event and we can be there to keep an eye on things. There's no way your dad and I would feel comfortable letting you go by yourself. Your dad's not even comfortable doing it together."
Liz pursed her lips to one side. Her eyes locked with her mother's, pleading for a compromise she could live with, but she was greeted with the stare of unwavering determination. Her father's expression was no different. It was this or nothing. She inhaled and lowered her head before reluctantly agreeing.
"Okay."
"Can I go too, Mommy?" Ellie looked up from her bicycle seat.
"No way," Lizzie answered.
"I didn't ask you."
"It's not a dance for little kids, El."
"But I'm seven now. I'm not a little kid anymore." She looked to Jed for support. "Right, Daddy?"
Abbey knew her husband hated getting in the middle of his daughters' squabbles, so it was no empty gesture that she approached him with a silent grin and waited by his side. He tensed up as his mind searched for an appropriately diplomatic response guaranteed to make both girls happy, and just when he opened his mouth, his words were trampled by the ringing phone.
"I bet that's your Aunt Millie calling to wish you a happy birthday," he said instead.
Ellie jumped off her bike and ran to the phone. "Hello?"
"Invite her to the planetarium," Jed whispered across the room as he made his way to the television to turn on CNN.
"...in other news this morning, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat will be attending the military parade in Cairo next week despite security concerns ..."
Not yet jaded by the aggressively intrusive nature of the American and foreign press, Jed was quite smitten with the 24-hour news channel. So smitten, in fact, that he usually left it on all morning despite his daily dissection of the New York Times over breakfast. He leaned against the arm of the loveseat and listened attentively until several minutes later when Ellie interrupted.
"He can come!"
"Wasn't that Aunt Millie?" Abbey asked.
"Uh uh. It was Grandpa Bartlet! And he's going to come to my party on Saturday and to the planetarium with us and to the Girl Scout star show."
"My father?" The family had seen John Bartlet several times since Zoey's Christening, but Jed was genuinely surprised that he had committed to all three of the invitations Ellie had just offered him.
"He was very nice." Completely oblivious to the rocky relationship between her father and grandfather, she gave her parents a sweet smile and tried to hop back on her bike, an attempt that was sabotaged by Abbey.
"Girls, why don't you go wash up and I'll start breakfast. Banana pancakes for the birthday girl!" Abbey watched her daughters disappear up the stairs before she turned her attention to Jed. "He's just trying to bond with them. You and I will be there the whole time, so it's going to be okay, right?"
"Yeah," Jed replied. "I don't have a problem with him wanting to see the girls, as long as he's respectful of you and me."
"And he has been this time. I think he's trying to make it work. Ellie and Liz really seem to like him and thankfully, he seems to like them too."
Jed had known that for a while. In the past year, he saw his chilly relationship with his father beginning to warm and he was grateful that regardless of any lingering bitterness between them, it was obvious John adored his granddaughters. "The girls...they're the three things I did right."
Abbey cupped her hand around the back of Jed's neck and pulled him close. "That's not even close to being true. You do lots of things right and don't you ever forget it," she told him with a kiss. "I'm going to start breakfast."
"I'll join you in a minute." He rested against the sofa again, his eyes burning into the television as he fought to focus on something other than his father.
"The world now knows the identities of those distinguished scholars selected as this year's Nobel Prize winners," the anchor began. "The names of the new laureates was released during a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday. Among them, six Americans, including Yale University Professor James Tobin, who is the recipient of the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economics. Tobin first made headlines two years ago..."
Jed was familiar with James Tobin's remarkable analysis on financial markets and their relation to expenditure decisions, employment, production, and prices. It didn't shock him that Tobin's extensive research had been rewarded in such a magnificently public way, but it probably would have shocked him to learn that his own work would soon be scrutinized as well.
He had no idea that at that very moment, Dr. Adam Housley was sitting at his desk at Dartmouth College, flipping the pages of the Washington Post. With a blue marker, Dr. Housley circled the headline that read 'Nobel Laureates Announced,' then picked up a pen to write a note in the margin.
He clipped the story and placed it next to a large mailing envelope that sheltered a stack of journal articles advocating the adoption of policies that would eventually lead to political freedom as a result of economic growth among several Asian countries. The Stockholm-bound envelope had already been addressed.
Dr. Housley carefully placed several stamps on the top right corner and flattened the creases. He was ready to submit the articles, certain that once the Nobel committee received them, the author would be guaranteed the same recognition afforded to James Tobin. Next year, the 1982 prize would give Jed Bartlet - and Dartmouth - a taste of the international spotlight.
TBC