Chapter 2
After a restless night the lights and horn blared at six. Because she was still under evaluation, Abbey was not allowed to mix with the general population. Breakfast was shoved through an opening in her cell door. Powdered eggs, burnt bacon, and a small paper cup of bitter coffee were to keep her satisfied until the next meal.
Later in the morning, her box of personal belongings was brought to her cell. All items had been opened and examined. 'What did they think she was going to slip on a knife or something in the deodorant?' Abbey gave a sarcastic laugh at that thought.
Looking through the jumbled mess, she realized that the three photographs she had chosen had been taken out of their frames and the frames discarded.
Her favorite one was the family picture taken the month before they left Washington. A smiling Bartlet clan looked back at the official White House photographer. Abbey remembered the occasion quite well. They had just returned from the December taping of "Christmas in Washington" and they were all feeling happy and contented. Charlie was in the picture, smiling at Zoey. It was a week before they were to get married.
The second picture was a causal shot of her and Jed in the barn on the farm in Manchester. He looked so healthy, so virile. That's the way she wanted to remember him. Strong and healthy. Not like he looked the last three or so years, from the China trip until he died. No. She was determined to remember the good times.
The third picture was one of the farm. So many good memories there. Children growing up. Jed and her relaxing there through eight hectic years in Washington. It had been their sanctuary. Truly the one place that was their home.
Now, it had been closed up for God knows how long. She knew Bill, the family lawyer, would see to its upkeep, but without her and the family, it was just a shell of what it had been. Liz had promised to watch over it while she was gone. Liz was also given responsibility over the trust and Abbey's financial issues, although she doubted there would be much need for money in prison. The other two girls were not living nearby, so the main responsibility would fall to Liz to do a lot. 'But Liz is tough. She's a Bartlet.'
'Hell', she thought. 'So am I. And I will get through this.'
And Abbey would need every bit of strength over the next years.
