Chapter 15

Three long hours later, an exhausted Dr. Cox came to report on Abbey's status.

The girls had been consoling Jed, who just knew Abbey had died and nobody would tell him.

He had made quite a scene with the nurse demanding to know something, anything from ICU. The nurse had called and each time was the same answer—nothing to report. But that did nothing to ease his mind.

Finally, Liz and Ellie had each grabbed a shoulder and forced him back into the suite and pushed him into a chair. He had been ordered to stay there until they said get up. He followed their directions. Somebody else was in charge this time.

"Mr. President, your wife is alive. She lost a great deal of blood until we could reverse the condition, but now I think we've passed a critical stage. I've had two hematology experts working with me and we are confident that she'll be fine. But I still want her in ICU at least through tomorrow just to be on the safe side."

"Is she awake?"

"No, sir. She's so weak that sleep is the best thing for her right now. But she continues to breathe on her own and does respond to stimuli. Those are the good signs."

"Can we see her?"

"Give me another hour or so and I'll call. I just want to make sure she's stable."

Sitting by her bed in ICU Jed's thoughts were racing.

She might live. She might not. Quit that thinking. Of course she's going to live. And I love her very much.

She's been through so much without me. She didn't want to bother me with her problems. Hell, that's what people who love each other do. They share their problems. They share their victories and share their defeats. God knows how much I've burdened her with all this MS crap.

She's been there for me always. And she'll be there for me and the children forever more. Got to have faith. She'll be by my side forever. That has been known as long as we have been together. God sent me a special woman. She had to be special to Him because I decided not to serve Him after I met Abigail.

But now I have to support her. Now I have to love her with all my heart. That won't be hard. I couldn't love her any more than I do right now. The next few months are going to be rough for her. But I'll be there. I'll be by her side forever. That's the only thing I will accept.

He leaned forward and gently kissed her hand. She was going to be fine. He wouldn't accept anything less.