“Oh, Leo.”
I turn to find Shae in the kitchen doorway. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Can you please go to the school today with Yasmine and the kids?”
That confuses me. “Yes, ma’am. But—”
“Chris and I would feel better if you’re there. Then, once they’re home, you can go home and get what you need for tonight before going to the hospital.”
When POTUS asks you to do something, it’s not a suggestion, unless she specifically tells you it’s just a suggestion.
Even then, it’s usually an order.
“Yes, ma’am. Of course.”
She offers me a tired smile, then steps into the kitchen, gives me a quick hug, and leaves again.
I have my orders, I suppose. It also means I won’t get to spend any time with Elliot today.
My earlier conversation with Jordan flashes through my mind.
Maybe it’s better I don’t spend time with Elliot today until I’ve had a chance to talk to Kev.
Why does this feel…bad?
Why does it feel like there’s something I’m missing? Some vital piece of the puzzle that’s going to bring my world down around me?
Why do I have this horrible sensation that everything I love is slipping through my fingers?
* * * *
Today is blissfully hiccup-free. There’s a larger than usual agent presence at the school, but they’re dressed in regular street clothes, like they’re parents or teachers, so that they don’t freak out the other kids and their parents.
Yasmine sits in the girls’ classroom while I stay with Hudson. I love the kids but Hudson’s my little buddy, and while I wish I could sit down and talk to Elliot today, this is important.
I have a job to do, and people counting on me.
Jordan’s busy, too, helping with the tsunami of media requests inundating Comms today. So even after I escort the kids home after school, I don’t get to see Jordan. He’s not in his office when I stop by.
I leave a little sticky note on his desk with a smiley-faced heart on it.
I’m almost home when he texts me a heart in reply.
Jordan’s going to be at work late, but he promises to take a car from the White House to the hospital. He can get me dinner from the White House Mess and bring it. I finally arrive at the hospital to find Chris looking like absolute shit, but at least Kev is awake.
“Go home, Chris,” I tell him. “I’ll stay with him all night.”
Although I totallygetit. Kev belongs to him. If that were Elliot or Jordan lying in that hospital bed, it’d take an act of Congress to pry me out of that room.
Kev turns his head to look at Chris. “Chris, go home and sleep.Please. Make Shae eat. Tell her I said so.” Come to think of it, she didn’t eat more than a bite or two of her breakfast. She had a similar incident after Lauren’s murder, where it took several days, and Kevin’s help, to get her to eat.
Another reason Chris is protective is due to Kev’s father, an asshole congressman with an agenda. He’s already been banned from the hospital after an appearance yesterday.
“I’ll keep his father out,” I assure Chris. “Don’t worry. And Kev’s been issued full protection by the Director. He has his own detail now. They’ll be here, too. They’re on the way.”
“Please, Chris?” Kev asks. “I’m worried about Shae.”
Chris scowls. “Uh, she’s not the one in the bed.”
