Page 164 of Incisive

CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR

No,I don’t propose on Sunday. Are you new here?

Casey-Marie makes the mistake of stopping by to check in with me while I’m downstairs during my morning PDB, which is when I get an idea and ask her to make it happen.

Immediately.

As in, right then, today, this Sunday morning.

She gives me “the look” but nods. “Yes,sir, Mister President.” Her tone screams,Oh, my god, you procrastinating idiot.

The name of the woman who was shot is Leanna Schultz. An hour later, I head over to the hospital to visit her in person.

No press, either. I’m not doing this for a photo opp. I know it pisses off Casey-Marie and Angie both for not announcing and allowing the pool to tag along but this isn’t about PR.

It’s about doing the right thing.

I leave Jordan and Leo behind at the residence because Jordan still needs some downtime and this won’t take that long.

At the hospital the administrator herself meets me as I step out of the Beast. My detail’s cleared a path through a back entrance and up a service elevator so any press who might’ve been tipped off by hospital staff can’t get any shots of me or shout questions. I opt to wear jeans and a plain button-up, not one of the ones emblazoned with the presidential seal.

I stop at the nurse’s station, where they’re all staring, slack-jawed, as I take a moment to say hello and shake hands. Then the hospital administrator leads me down the hall to the woman’s room.

It’s only two of my agents and the woman and her two adult children in the hospital room as I close the door behind me.

Leanna and her kids look stunned to see me. “P-president Woodley! I-I thought they were kidding when they asked if you could visit!”

I introduce myself and hug her two kids, Brad and Shelly, before leaning in to hug her and then take a seat next to her bed. “No, I wanted to make sure you were all right. I know the situation yesterday was traumatic for all of you, especially with the press being all over it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Has victim services been in touch with you already?”

“Yes, sir. They stopped by earlier today…”

I chat with them for a while, not wanting to rush this visit.

Unfortunately, even with all the power I wield there literally isn’t anything I can tangiblydofor this family except sit here and talk with them. Listen to them. Hug them.

“Thoughts and prayers” them.

I can’t “fix” this for them. They were terrorized for years by a man who should have loved and protected them and whose literal parting shot nearly destroyed Leanna and her children.

After forty minutes I know I’m overstaying my welcome. The longer I’m here the longer it impacts the hospital’s normal operations, as well as everyone else wanting to visit their family members.

“I should probably get going,” I say as I stand, leaning in to give Leanna another hug.

Brad speaks up. “Mister President, can we take some pictures with you?” He holds up his cell phone.

“Absolutely.” I wave one of the agents over and both kids hand him their phones so we can get some group shots. Plus I take selfies with Brad and Shelly. A thought hits me. “Do you have any plans yet for Thanksgiving?” I ask when we finish.

The kids look to their mom, who shakes her head. “No. I hadn’t got that far when…everything happened. Patrick and Shauna are flying back for the break on Wednesday.”

“My parents are flying in for Thanksgiving.” I hope Jordan and Leo will forgive me for this. “Please come to the White House. Nothing fancy, seriously, just a turkey dinner. Dress casually. Jean or sweats is fine. We’ll be eating up in the residence in the private family dining room and then watching football. Can I send a car for you?”

The two kids, who are twenty and twenty-two, both silently beg their mom to accept and let out cheerful whoops when she does.

Yes, I’m deflecting, or distracting, or whatever it’s called.