Page 91 of State of the Union (First Family 3)

A female doctor entered the room. Sam recognized her from before but couldn’t recall her name.

“Thurston,” Nick whispered.

“How do you do that?”

“Samantha superpower.”

Sam tightened her grip on his hand. “How’d it go, Doc?”

“Very well. It was a routine surgery.”

“For you, maybe.”

The doctor laughed. “You’re young and strong, and I expect you’ll bounce back very quickly from this, unlike our older patients who sometimes never regain complete mobility. The most important thing is to follow the directions I’ll give you and those of the PT, who’ll be in to see you tomorrow. That’s when the fun really begins.”

“Can’t wait. Can I sit up a little?”

“Sure.” She raised the bed slightly, enough to keep Sam from being flat on her back.

“What are the things squeezing my legs?”

“Compression stockings to keep you from developing blood clots.”

Blood clots! Did the fun ever end in this place? “Well, that’s good, I guess. Am I allowed to eat? I’m starving.”

“We ordered dinner for you, and it should arrive as soon as we get you up to your room.”

“That’s good. Thanks. When can I go home? We have an elevator at our place, so that’s good, right?”

“That’s very good.” She smiled at how Sam referred to the White House. “Let’s see how you are in a day or two. It’s going to depend on how quickly PT can get you mobile on crutches or a walker.”

“A walker… Jeez, this just gets even better.”

“Most of my patients hate the crutches and love the walker.”

“And how old are they? Thirty-six or seventy-six?”

“Mostly the latter,” the doctor said, smiling.

“I rest my case.”

“We’ll send you home with a raised toilet seat, too,” Thurston said, grinning.

“My husband will leave me if you turn me into an old lady.”

“He’s not going anywhere, and you know it,” Nick said.

“You two are as lovely as you seem in the media.”

“I’m lovely.” Nick grinned at Sam. “She’s a bear.”

“That’s true,” Sam said. “I’m a bear on a good day, and this is most definitely not a good day.”

“It can always be worse, as you certainly know, as well as I do,” Thurston said.

“Don’t make me feel guilty for wallowing in self-pity.”

The doctor laughed. “I’ll check on you in the morning. In the meantime, you’re in the hands of my very capable residents, who’ll be by to see you. I’ve instructed them not to be starstruck by the two of you.”