Chapter 6Present Time
Abbey arrived outside the Oval Office. "Charlie, make sure we're not disturbed, okay?"
Charlie looked at Abbey's face and saw her jaw squared off. He knew she wasn't bringing good news.
"Yes, ma'am."
Abbey walked in and closed the door behind her. "Hi, hon." The light words did not match the serious tone of her voice.
Jed looked up over his glasses and broke into a smile. "Hi, yourself. What brings you over here?"
"Jed, I need to tell you something. Why don't you come over to the sofa and sit with me?"
Jed realized from her tone and her facial expressions that something had happened. He pushed back from the desk and walked over to where she was standing. "Is something wrong? Has something happened to one of the girls?"
By this time he had walked to the sofa and sat down, facing Abbey. "Abbey, you're scaring me. What's wrong?"
Abbey took his hands into hers and looked into those beautiful blue eyes. She dreaded what she had to do next. "Jed, I have some bad news."
"Abbey, please tell me what has happened. Is it one of the girls?"
"No, hon. Jon just called and said that your mother had a massive heart attack this morning and died. Jed, your mother is dead. I'm so sorry to be the one to tell…"
She stopped in mid sentence as the sobs escaped from her husband's throat. She pulled his head to rest on her shoulder as his body shook with the news. Stroking his head let him know that she was there. By his side. Staying that way for a few moments, she just let him know that somebody was there with him. "Shhh. Just cry it out, Jed. Just cry it out."
Facing Leo's door, she saw it open. When Leo saw what was going on, he quickly closed the door. He knew something tragic had just happened and this was not the time to interrupt. The country's business could wait for a few minutes.
Jed raised his head, tears still running down his face. "How? When? Where? Was she alone? Please tell me she wasn't alone."
Abbey continued to look into her husband's eyes, even as tears rolled down her face as well.
"No, Jed, she wasn't alone. From what Jon said, she had stayed overnight at his house because she hadn't felt well for a few days. Then, this morning, she asked Jon to take her to the Emergency Room. But the heart attack was so massive that even the doctors there couldn't save her. She died around ten, an hour ago."
"Why did Jon call you? Why couldn't he call me? I'm her son."
"Jed, don't be angry at Jon. He knew how this would affect you and felt that I should be the one to tell you. And Jed, you know he's right. I'm need to be here with you."
"I guess I understand. What are the arrangements?"
"We're going to call him back later tonight when the arrangements have been made."
"I need to tell Leo and CJ and the staff. I need to…."
"Jed, calm down. Everything will get done. First, we need to talk. And then notify the girls. Then you can bring the staff up to date."
Jed withdrew from her embrace and stood up. "Abbey, there are things that need to be done right away. I agree with calling the girls. We both need to tell them together. Let's go to the Residence. At least it'll be more private. But I need to let Leo know right now. Plans have to be made and schedules changed. There are so many things to get done."