Chapter 29

Later that evening, Abbey was playing with her grandson, knowing that he would be much older before she had the chance to do this again. She was listening to the television when the news came on.

"Former First Lady found guilty of President's Murder! Details right after this message."

"Zoey, come get CJ will you?"

"What do you need Mom?" She had been in the kitchen finishing the dishes.

"Come take CJ and put him to bed. I need to turn the TV off so I don't hear all this crap."

Zoey bent down and took her son from his grandmother's arms. "Okay. I'll be back soon."

As soon as Abbey had given the baby to Zoey, she jumped up and slammed the off button on the TV. "I don't need to hear this crap right now. I know what's happened."

Knock!

Abbey went to the door and looked to see who it was. She knew it had to be somebody familiar to her for the Service to let them through the tightened security around the house.

Bill Sanderson stood at the door.

"Abbey, hi. Can I come in?"

"Sure Bill. Come on in and have a seat. Would you like a drink? I'm going to fix me one."

"Sure. I'll take a gin and tonic."

"Great. I'll be right back."

Bill looked around at the comfortable and familiar surroundings. Surroundings that would radically change over the next seven days.

"Here you go." Abbey handed the glass to Bill and took a seat across from him. "Why are you here?"

"I think we need to talk about your personal affairs. I don't know how long you'll be away but there are some things that need to be taken care of quickly. Seven days isn't much time."

Abbey stared at her friend. "Bill, answer me, how long do you think I'll be away?" Neither one of them could say the 'p' word.

"I don't know, Abbey. But however long, you need to designate someone with your personal power of attorney and someone to look after Jed's estate. Your will needs to be brought up to date and health power of attorney designated."

Abbey shuddered slightly as she wondered just how much danger she was facing in prison.

Bill continued. "As you know Jed didn't carry much life insurance but his personal wealth is more than sufficient to see you through."

Abbey gave a small laugh. "In prison, you don't need money." There, it was finally said.

Bill couldn't bring himself to respond. He still thought that she would have been found not guilty, that her emotional appeal to the jury would work. But facts are facts. And the jury had chosen to believe the DA's side of the story.

"Well, you'll need money when you get out and someone needs to oversee it while you're away."

"Bill, just say it. I'm not going on a vacation. I'm going to prison. Maybe for the rest of my life. Pat told me earlier she plans to appeal, but she doesn't think the judge will allow my bail to continue during the appeal. According to the law, I killed my husband. I killed my husband as if I pulled out a gun and pulled the trigger." Quiet tears flowed down Abbey's cheeks.

"Yeah, and I gave the DA help in doing it."

"Bill, please don't feel guilty. I already feel bad about Millie probably losing her license and Robert also had to testify against me. You were subpoenaed and had to answer the questions as truthfully as you could."

"But Abbey, I've known you and Jed for years. It's been so hard to see you dragged through this mud. And knowing I had a part in it."

"Bill, I'll say this only once. I'm the one that put you in this place. I'm the one that you should be blaming. And the girls will need your guidance over the next few years. I have to know that you'll give it to them."

Bill stood up and walked over to Abbey's chair. He leaned down and gave her a brief kiss on her cheek. "Abbey, no matter what happens I'll be there for the girls. We'll manage and when you return I'll…."

"No. Bill. It's not when I return. It's IF I return."

Sadly, both people knew that Abbey's statement was more likely than Bill's. Bill took her hands and squeezed them, looking down into her eyes.

"No matter what, Abbey, I promise I'll be there for your family. And you. Whenever you need me."

"Thanks, Bill. That helps more than you know. Now, let's get busy. Seven days isn't a long period of time."