Chapter 3
Her reply stopped in her throat. Here was her husband, suffering through the sudden loss of his best friend, watching his political life slowly ebb away and he was apologizing? She realized that this was all wrong.
Abbey crossed the distance between them and sat down beside him. "No, Jed. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did. We both know the amount of stress you've been under and we should have expected something like this. I'm so sorry." She leaned over and pulled his face closer. "I'm so sorry." She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm here for you babe. All the time."
Abbey then realized that Dr. Hasbert was still there. "Sorry Doctor. What do you think?"
Jed looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Tell us this isn't what I think it is."
"Sir, I don't know for sure. I need to do a more thorough exam and an MRI. I need for you to go to Bethesda for them. Some of the tests are quite sophisticated and they have to be done there."
"Can you give me your professional opinion? Just tell me." Jed was pleading with the doctor to have good news. He needed it very badly. He looked at Abbey and then looked back at the doctor.
"Sir, I don't want to guess until I get some more information. I need you at Bethesda."
"Jed," Abbey looked at him, trying to stop the expected negative answer. The fight that normally would ensue. So the answer he gave surprised both of them.
"Yes, I'll go. Just make the arrangements."
Abbey's heart broke. Jed had finally been defeated. For eight long years, through crises that would make lesser men bend, Jed had slugged his way through them. But finally, he had given up.
And she had to do everything to bring him back. She refused to be defeated. She would bring him back. Without Leo here for help, the task fell to her. But she was up to it. It was on her shoulders now.
