"When you asked if you could call this week I assumed I'd have to wait at least 24 hours."
Her words were sarcastic but her tone was warmer than it had been the previous evening.
"Can't blame me for being impatient to hear your voice."
"After 4 months?"
Jed took in a sharp breath but ignored the comment, "Well, something has come up."
"What is it?"
"CJ's being hounded to greenlight a sit down interview with Zo."
"Who?" The question was quiet.
"I don't know. Diane Mathers I guess was most recent."
"Zoey was angry about that article with Jean Paul's interview."
"I know. I figured she might jump on this, but I didn't want to tell her until you had a chance to think about it."
"I appreciate it...You think she should do it?"
"CJ made some valid points."
"So then you do?"
He took a deep breath. "I agree on the merit and I think she should do something along these lines eventually but I'm not there. I haven't seen her since you left and I'm not going to make a decision about what I think my daughter should do based on 20 minute phone calls."
"Jed. You agreed." Abbey's voice had turned sharp and defensive.
"I did. And I'm not making an accusation. I still agree that it was best to go up there and I'm not complaining that I… I'm just saying this can't be my call."
"Okay. Okay." Abbey relaxed, breathing into the phone, "She's been good. Dr. Francis has been pretty pleased and the positive attitude she's been calling with isn't a put on. I don't think she's hiding anything when she talks with you. I think it may be okay. I'll talk to her."
"Okay. Thank you."
After a beat of silence Abbey spoke, "You want me to tell you about my day again?"
A smile moved across Jed's face. He pushed his agenda aside and turned his chair away from his desk. "Yeah, that would be nice."
"You don't have things to do?"
"I do. But I'd rather listen to you."
"Jed." Her voice held that tone of disapproval.
"Okay."
"Do your work. I'll talk to Zoey and call you tomorrow night."
"Okay. You know I was thinking; if she ends up doing it...I assume it would be there…I was thinking, maybe I could come up, you know, be there for her?"
A sigh. "I don't know if that's a good idea Jed. Not yet anyway."
"Yeah."
"I'm just..."
"You don't need to explain yourself."
"Thank you."
"What about the holidays? Thanksgiving? Christmas?"
There was a longer pause and Jed thought he may have heard a muffled sniffle through the phone. Abbey's response was sad and quiet. "We'll keep talking. Go back to work. I'll call you tonight."
"You said tomorrow night."
"I changed my mind."
"Okay."