Chapter 1
Sitting on the sofa, in front of a roaring fire, citizens Jed and Abbey Bartlet gazed into the flames, cuddled against each other. His arm captured the softness, the gentleness of the woman next to him. The only thing he had ever desired.
"Jed, are you hungry?"
"Not yet. I just want to sit here and enjoy your presence and our home. You know, home has meant so many things these past eight years. But I'm never quite satisfied unless I'm sitting here. Here, a place with so many good memories."
Abbey continued to lay her head in the crook of his neck. "I know what you mean. The White House was just that…a house. This is our home. Home is the farm. Always has been. Always will be."
"It's so silent Abbey. So strange after phones and talking almost twenty-four seven."
"Does it bother you?"
"No. It's just so strange after so much noise for the past eight years."
"Really the past ten years, Jed. Ever since you decided to run for the Presidency 'to give a few speeches and keep John Hoynes honest'.
Jed smiled into the darkness. "You had to bring that up didn't you?"
Abbey broke their embrace and looked at her husband, his eyes reflecting the fire. "Jed, I don't regret what we've done. Not at all. Well, at first I thought you were kind of crazy but I came around. And I was a bit upset when you decided to run a second time."
"A BIT upset? Oh come now Abigail, you were more that a 'bit' upset."
"Okay. I was pissed. But it's worked out okay. But now it's our turn. Our turn to enjoy each other. To love each other. To reacquaint ourselves with each other."
Jed laughed. "Abbey, I think we reacquainted ourselves quite a bit last night."
"Jed! That's not what I'm talking about. I mean to get know each other again through our thoughts and hopes and fears. And time to discuss it without interruptions. Constant interruptions I might add."
"Well, those things are past. Now it's just the two of us and maybe a few agents but nothing like it has been. You can even run naked through the fields if you choose to do so."
Both laughed heartily. "I don't think the agents would appreciate it very much. A sixty-year old woman running naked through the fields. I think I'll spare them that picture."
"I would like to see that picture."
"Well, you can dream about it because you aren't going to see the real thing. Now are you hungry?"
"Yes, a grilled cheese sandwich sounds marvelous. Are you cooking?"
"Damn straight I am. Come on."
