"So. A strange old lady is responsible for the thirty-five year marriage of the President and First Lady. If only Danny Concannon were here," Sam said, almost in disbelief.
"What a story he could write about this," Toby agreed.
"Let's leave Danny Concannon out of this, shall we?" CJ asked.
"Mrs. Bartlet, this is a beautiful story," Donna said. "I had no idea."
"Oh, there's much more to the story, Donna," Said Leo.
"You mean it gets better?" CJ questioned, incredulously.
"Oh yeah."
"I gotta say, I'm impressed," Josh said. "One thing though. I always knew you were a nerd, Mr. President, but I never had you pegged as a passive pansy."
"Jesus, Josh. Just because he wasn't trying to get into her pants every five seconds, like say, you would be, doesn't make him a passive pansy," CJ exclaimed, defensively.
"The President is a gentleman," Donna agreed, turning her nose to the air.
"A gentleman, indeed," Abbey said. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen."
Jed laughed.
"A gentleman still!" Jed insisted.
"Yes, sir!" the staff agreed heartily, all of them wanting to keep their jobs intact.
Then Leo said, "What happens next, though, might surprise you."
Abigail stood abruptly when Jed emerged from the house with a slight, thoughtful smile on his face. Laurel Patton stood at the doorway.
"I hope you'll come visit me again," Laurel said.
"Oh, yes, ma'am. Next vacation to the Vineyard," Jed replied.
"Thanks so much for having us," Abbey said.
"Pleasure was mine, honey. Now go on. It's late and I don't want you walking around out there longer than you have to. Get back to to that canoe of yours."
Jed laughed.
"It's a yaht, Mrs. Patton."
"Same thing."
"No, actually you could fit about a couple hundred canoes inside it."
"Go."
"Right."
Jed smiled at Mrs. Patton, then turned to face Abbey. She looked confused and oddly worried. And she wasn't too keen on the fact that Mrs. Patton had taken Jed aside and spoken to him without her. She couldn't even imagine what they'd been talking about.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Patton," Abbey said.
"Night, honey."
Jed reached out and took Abbey's hand. A chill ran down her spine and she was certain her whole body had shaken at his touch. Not only that, but she was beyond astonished that he had made a move like that. She knew the gesture wasn't exactly a declaration of love, but it was a start.
Once she regained her composure, she smiled cordially, he lead her off the porch, and they began their walk toward the docks.
"Nice old lady," Jed said.
"Yeah."
He was still holding her hand, and she couldn't concentrate on anything else.
"Very insightful."
"You think so?" She replied, distracted.
"Mmm hmm."
Then she decided to take the plunge.
"So. What were you two talking about?" Abbey asked.
"Us? Nothing."
"Come on, you were gone for like five minutes. You couldn't have been talking about the weather."
"What I meant was nothing of importance," Jed answered.
"I want to know."
"Well, that's just too bad, kid. It's top secret information." He squeezed her hand and she smiled, even though she was distraught.
When they arrived at the docks, it had just turned 3am. They expected Leo, Ron, Jenny, and Amanda to return within the next few hours or so. Junky's Bar was open all night and they didn't doubt that their friends would take advantage of that.
They reached the boat, Jed still holding her hand in his, and turned to face each other.
"It's been quite a night!" Abbey commented.
"It has indeed," he replied.
"Met some interesting characters."
"That we did."
"Shared some fascinating conversational exchanges."
"Without question."
"Probably learned a thing or two about life along the way." She was being borderline mocking now, and his debonair, nonchalant responses only egged her on.
"I doubt it not."
"And, of course, watched our friends, and significant others, intoxicate themselves into oblivion whilst we but shifted uncomfortably in our chairs and practiced our best interpretation of the Jackie Kennedy smile and nod effect."
"Naturally so."
"Parting is such sweet sorrow," Abbey said sarcastically, with a cynical laugh.
"That we must say goodbye till it be morrow," Jed replied.
"Very nice, Romeo."
"Yes, I believe it goes something like that," he stated, although it was said with great confidence.
Abbey laughed, titled her head, and looked up like she was considering this.
"Ehh…something like that."
"So. Shall we embark?"
She let go of his hand so she could walk in front of him onto the boat, and he spotted her. Once on the boat, they walked over to the front deck, laughing about something or other. But they stopped short, jaws dropped, at the sight that awaited them on the deck.