Chapter 3
"Abbey, come with me to Florida. You don't have any plans for the weekend and this will be chance for us to be together. I know work has kept me from you these past few weeks, and this will be a great chance to make up for that."
Jed was trying to persuade Abbey to come with him on the spur of the moment. It was early Friday morning, just minutes before he was scheduled to depart.
"It'll be great."
"No thanks. You'll be giving two speeches and attending three fundraisers. I don't think you'll have that much time for me. I'm going to stay here with the peace and quiet. It's time I just sat back and relaxed. You go on. I'll be fine. Besides, if I get lonely, then all I have to do is pick up the phone, right? That's one perk that comes with this office. You can't run away and hide, now can you?"
Abbey hoped he wouldn't see through her lies.
She walked over to him, put her arms around him, and gathered him in for a hug. "But I will miss you." Her lips found his and they joined for just a brief instant.
"Mr. President, you need to leave." Damn Charlie.
"Okay. I'll be right there. Abbey, you're looking tired. Please get some rest while I'm gone. I'll be home Sunday night." They kissed one more time. "Gotta go, hon. Love you."
"Love you too."
Jed turned and left.
He knew something was wrong. He made up his mind to force her Sunday night to tell him what it was.
But Sunday night would be too late.