Chapter 9

The next big occasion was her birthday. Cards arrived from the Liz and Zoey, but not from Ellie. Toby and CJ sent a card as well as Josh and Donna. Donna sent a picture of Leo Thomas Lyman. They had had a boy, and just as Josh promised, he had named the baby after his mentor and friend. Leo looked just like his daddy, if you ignored his blond curls.

Abbey lay on her bunk that night and thought about all the fancy birthdays she had experienced while in the White House. The gala parties, the intimate dinners, the official visits to foreign countries. Especially that night where she had gotten drunk with CJ, Donna and Amy in the Residence. She had paid for it the next day, but they had had a great time that night.

The fancy dresses, the gourmet food, the champagne and wine that flowed freely for all those special occasions. That was such a long time ago. A lifetime ago. And she would never know that life again.

She had given up her medical license on one of those birthdays. Gave up her identity to help her husband. He had said that they would fight it, but Abbey knew what the ending would be. Just like this ending. She had stood by her principles on that night as well. She had given it up voluntarily and then had never gotten around to filing the paperwork to retrieve it after they left Washington. Jed's illness had taken all of her time. She had made him her priority.

But that was ages ago. That was a completely different life from the one she was living now. And that life had no place in her mind. She had to deal only with the present. And surviving the future.

She turned on her side and cried herself to sleep. There would be no fancy dress tonight, no fancy food. No hugs and kisses from her family. For the next ten years she would celebrate her birthday in the same way. Alone and separated from those she loved.