Doug hugged Annie and Liz had her arms around Gus as they left Abbey's room. They had managed to not cry while they were in there, but broke down the minute they left. Each parent was comforting a child as they walked down the hall. Annie, as the older grandchild, understood what was happening, but Gus was having a harder time understanding that Grandma Abbey was not ever coming home again. But both parents knew they had to have this time with Abbey and she with them.

Millie arrived from Boston and was the next person in the room. Abbey had requested time alone with her. After about fifteen minutes, Millie came out, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Millie, what did she say?" Jed asked.

Looking at the President, she tried to get her words out. "Jed, she wants the family…and…the…priest to come…in. I think she said...good..." She couldn't finish the sentence but Jed knew exactly what Millie was trying to say. Abbey had told her best friend goodbye. Abbey knew the end was near.

He motioned Leo over to him and whispered "I think this is it. She's saying goodbye. Sometimes people know. Abbey said that many times."

Leo just hugged his friend and said, "Have strength."

Ellie walked up to her father and he reached out to hug her. "Let's go."

She nodded. And they walked in and closed the door.

The five people gathered around the bed. Jed stood by Abbey's head. He noticed she was frowning. "What's the matter Abbey?"

"I'm hurting pretty bad."

Jed nodded to Ellie who was standing by the morphine pump. She picked up the controller and squeezed the button. They all waited until she seemed more comfortable. But before they could get started, the door opened and Bob Nolan came in and motioned to Jed to come over to him.

"I'll be right back," Jed said to the gathered family and Father Mike.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you," Bob whispered to the President. "But I wanted to let you know that her heart rhythm has started to become abnormal. As you know, we are not going to intervene medically, so this may be her body's way of telling us that she's in the final stage of dying. I know it's hard to hear, but I wanted to give you and your family every chance to say your goodbyes."

Jed nodded his head. "What about all the pain she's experiencing?"

Bob looked directly into the President's eyes. "It means the aneurysm is expanding and could rupture at any minute. She doesn't have long." Bob put his hand on Jed's shoulder and then left.

Jed caught his breath. The end of Abbey's life was closer than even he thought. The President walked slowly back to the bed amid the quizzical expressions of his daughters, but he didn't have the heart to tell them what Bob had just told him. It was just too hard for him to break that kind of news to his children.

"Let's proceed,' as he nodded to Father Mike.

Father Mike put on his stole and got out his crucifix, the bottle of holy oil and the Eucharist.

Abbey opened her eyes and smiled. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course."

"Let us Pray."

Five people made the sign of the cross. Abbey tried, but didn't have the strength to raise her arms. She closed her eyes and just listened to the words.

Father Mike leaned over and made the sign of the cross on Abbey's forehead with the oil.

O my God, I am heartly sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Father Mike splashed some of the holy oil on his fingers and made the sign of the cross on Abbey's hand.

Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.

Abbey opened her eyes briefly but then closed them again. "Can someone push that button again?"

Ellie looked at the monitor and noticed it had been only three minutes since the last dose. She glanced at her father and shook her head. He nodded, and then told Father Mike to go ahead.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Father Mike tore off a small piece of the bread and placed it between Abbey's lips. She opened her mouth, but couldn't quite swallow it. Jed reached down and raised her head a little bit so she was then able to use her tongue to move it into her mouth. Using her mouth juices, she waited until it was very moist and then swallowed it.Her watching family held their breath until it was safely down her throat. Father Mike then placed the cup next to her lips and tipped it slightly. A tiny amount of wine slipped between her lips and again, Jed raised her head until she was able to swallow it. A sense of relief again swept through those watching her.

Go forth, O Christian soul, out of this world, in the Name of God the Father almighty, Who created you; in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, Who suffered for you; in the Name of the Holy Ghost, Who sanctified you, in the name of the holy and glorious Mary, Virgin and Mother of God; in the name of the angels, archangels, thrones and dominions, cherubim and seraphim; in the name of the patriarchs and prophets, of the holy apostles and evangelists, of the holy martyrs, confessors, monks and hermits, of the holy virgins, and of all the saints of God; may your place be this day in peace, and your abode in Holy Sion. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father Mike looked up at the family gathered around Abbey's bed. "Allow me to add one additional reading please."

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,
He leadeth me beside the still waters,
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

After a few minutes of silence, Jed thanked him. "I appreciate this."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. I wish you peace."

As he was shaking Father Mike's hand, he noticed Dr. Scott and Dr, Nolan standing at the back of the room. He quickly turned around to look at his wife and noted how peaceful she looked. And how quiet. He turned back to the doctors.

"Is she…?" He couldn't finish. He didn't allow his brain to dare finish the sentence.

They both nodded.

The girls had been watching their interaction and with those nods, they broke down and fled the room.

Jed just turned and stared at Abbey. Or what used to be Abbey. What was there now did not have her spirit. Or the essence of who she had been. It was just an empty vessel.

It was over. His love of almost forty years was gone. But she was no longer in pain. He had reason to be thankful, but was having difficulty feeling that thankfulness.

The doctors turned and left the room.

Father Mike spoke his final prayer:

Grant, O God, that while we lament the departure of this Thy handmaid, we may always remember that we are most certainly to follow her. And give us grace to prepare for that last hour by a good life, that we may not be surprised by a sudden and unprovided death, but be ever watching, that, when Thou callest, we may, with the Bridegroom, enter into eternal glory: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jed nodded, unable to find his voice at that moment.

Father Mike came over to him and asked, "Is there anything I can do for you or her?" glancing toward Abbey.

Jed's eyes were pooling with tears that he didn't want to shed with anybody in the room, even with his priest. He shook his head, but then thought of something. He looked up at Father Mike and replied, "Can you find my daughters and pray with them? This is so hard to lose their mother like this."

"Of course. And I'll pray for you too."

"Thank you, Father."

Father Mike turned and left the room, leaving Jed alone with his grief.

He didn't know what to do. All he knew was that he felt empty. A huge chunk of his soul had been taken from him.

In a haze. he lowered the bed rails and laid down next to what remained of his wife. He hugged her, and kept saying over and over again. "I love you, Abbey. I love you, Abbey."