Chapter 3

That evening he finally talked to Abbey. They had had a quiet dinner in the Residence and were cuddling on the sofa in front of the fire.

"Abbey, I want to ask you something."

"Sure babe. What is it?"

"Are you trying to run my life?"

These words caught Abbey off guard. She jerked out of his arms and looked into those blue eyes she loved so much.

"What are you talking about?"

Jed expected this reaction from her, but hoped it wouldn't escalate into something bigger. They both had a tendency to show their tempers, especially when something is said that the other one just doesn't like.

"I don't want you to tell Charlie not to wake me. I almost missed my first meeting today and didn't have any time to eat breakfast. So please don't do that again. I can manage my life myself. I don't need your help."

Jed took another look at Abbey and saw fire.

"What do you mean? Stay out of your life? You've been working hard lately and the dark circles under your eyes told me that you needed some rest."

Before Jed thought, he said, "I'm not a little child! I'm a grown man and President of the United States and I do not need my wife acting as my mother and telling me when to go to bed and when to get up!"

By now, the feelings on both sides were out of control.

"I am not your mother, but I am your wife and your doctor! I care deeply for you and don't want you to get into any trouble." Abbey was not speaking softly.

The words "Multiple Sclerosis" hung like an invisible curtain between then.

"Abbey! I love you, but stay out of my life! All I want is for you to butt out! And you certainly should not bring Charlie into the middle of this. I felt sorry for the young man this morning. He got caught in an argument between a husband and his wife and that should never happen!"

The volume of the argument just got louder and louder.

Abbey got up and went into the bathroom. She knew when Jed got this way there was no possible ending that would bode well. The best thing to do was to let him cool down and then talk to him. She had been his wife for over thirty-five years and knew no fight was ever complete until he cooled down.

When she came out, she noticed that Jed had left.

"Good riddance! Maybe he'll calm down." Abbey said to no one in particular.

Abbey got into bed and immediately turned off the light. She was definitely not going to wait up for him tonight. In fact, maybe he'll take the hint and sleep in one of the guest bedrooms. That would certainly suit her just fine!

With a big sigh, she nestled into the pillow and almost immediately fell asleep. She certainly did not have a guilty conscience.