Chapter 4
Knock! Knock!
Abbey sighed. She was just getting relaxed after a busy day and waiting for Jed to come back from his Town Hall meeting so they could have dinner.
She was tired. Two years of this rat race was beginning to take its toll. Long trips separated them for days. Crazy schedules for the both of them. Interrupted sleep with a trip to the Situation Room. If this stress didn't bring on an MS attack, then nothing would.
MS. Multiple Sclerosis.
So far, they had been able to keep it from the public. Leo had to be told after Jed's little incident in the Oval Office. Thank God that only turned out to be the flu. But the next timeā¦
Abbey refused to dwell on the next time. Day by day. That's all she could deal with realistically. He had remained healthy for the most part since then. And she prayed that he would stay that way until his term was over.
One term. That was the deal. The deal they had made many years ago when Leo had first approached him for running for the Presidency. Many an argument later they had compromised. Abbey would give her permission for his candidacy and if elected, then he would only stay one term. And she was going to hold him to it.
Knock! Knock!
Abbey got up and went to the door. Opening it, she saw the head of her detail obviously anxious about something.
"Yes?"
"It's the President, ma'am."
Abbey's heart stopped. "What about the President?"
"There was a shooting at the Newseum and we have a report from Agent Butterfield that he is being taken to the hospital."
Abbey's hand flew to her heart. "How bad? And my daughter?"
"We don't know, ma'am. We have orders to take you directly to GW."
Abbey's feet hesitated for a fleeting second before taking flight down the stairs.
"Hang on, Jed. Please God, watch over him. I love him too much to lose him now."
She ran through the halls, her heels clicking on the floor, her mind racing with medical knowledge and her heart beating with hope. "I love you, Jed. I love you."
