After the third ring, Jed reached for the phone. "Abbey?"

"Jed?"

A little stiffness in each other's tone, but at least they were talking.

"What time is it there? It's ten here."

"It's four in the afternoon here. We leave in a couple of hours."

"How are you? How's your trip going?"

"I'm tired. The conference was good, but the jumping from city to city on an almost daily basis is very tiresome. Reminds me of the campaign."

"Well, you only have a week to go."

"And I will be so glad to be back. How are you doing?

"Okay. Same old stuff. Working late. Nothing new."

The chitchat continued for a few minutes, with each knowing there was something more important that needed to be said.

Finally, Jed took the plunge. "Abbey, will you please tell me what happened the night before you left? I really have no clue why you left mad. I really don't."

There was no sound from the other end of the phone for a few minutes. "Abbey, are you still there?"

"Yes."

"Can you please tell me? I need to know. I want to know. I can't do anything about it unless I know what's going on."

"Okay. Just a minute. Let me shut the door."

After a brief pause, Abbey returned. "Okay." She took a deep breath and continued. "You know my passion for the National Children's Health Insurance Program?"

"Yes?"

"And you promised to completely fund it in this year's budget?"

"Yes…and I did."

"Well, according to Haffley, you took it out in exchange for additional defense spending. He told me so at the dinner that night. And I was upset that you hadn't even bothered to tell me. You had promised me for three years, Jed. THREE YEARS! And then you pulled it out without even telling me. I was hurt. And I still am. How could you?" At this point, she broke into tears, sobbing into the phone.

Jed didn't know what to say. He hadn't known about the change in plans. He guessed Josh and Leo had decided to do the switching in order to maintain the status quo of the budget request. But he doubted Abbey would believe him. He knew how much that program meant to her.

"Abbey, honey. Please stop crying. I didn't know about the switch. I promise you I didn't know." He waited until the crying eased.

"You didn't?"

"No honey. I promise. I swear I didn't." But he didn't want to throw his staff under the bus either. "Tell you what. I'll look into it this week, and by the time you get home, I'll try and see if I have an alternative for you. I know how passionate you are to have that money and how much good that program will do for the children. Okay? Will that work for you? I'm so sorry, Abbey. I had no idea. I really didn't."

"I understand that now, Jed. I'm sorry too. I love you, Jed. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to talk. It's just…it's just…"

"It's okay, Abbey. I understand. I have to share the blame too. I love you, babe. And I miss you so much. Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"Call me every day from Australia. I don't care what time, day or night. I just have to hear your voice every day. Will you promise me that?"

"I promise you. I love you. Bye."

"I love you too. Bye." Jed sat quietly for a few minutes, digesting what Abbey had just told him. He still didn't understand why she hadn't told him about it the night of the State Dinner, but he guessed her feelings had been hurt so badly that she didn't know how to bring it to his attention. Now, how was he going to find the money for it as the budget had already been funded for the next fiscal year? And how was he going to talk about it to Leo and Josh? That was a thorny question. They were just following his instructions to keep the budget evenly funded, but Abbey's programs always seemed to get short shrift when it came to final funding. He would have to give it some thought before bringing up the subject with the two men. But today he was just glad he and Abbey were talking again. He would leave the funding issue to a later discussion. And ask Debbie to schedule a meeting with the two men on Monday to discuss the issue. It was Friday and he wouldn't let a budget issue spoil his weekend.

The study doors opened and Leo noticed a different man than the one he had left an hour ago. Leo thought the problem was solved and was glad things could get back to normal.