Chapter 36
Jenny looked at the sleeping First Lady. The only sound in the room was the rhythmic whooshing of the ventilator. She knew that if it was the MS returning, it would have enormous implications for the country as well as for the person lying in the bed in front of her.
Her cell phone rang once again and Jenny quickly opened it. "Leo?"
"No, Aunt Jenny. It's Liz. I wanted to know how Mom was doing. Is she awake so I can speak with her?"
Neither Liz nor the other two girls had been told about the changes in their mother's condition. Jenny was going to leave that up to the President but now she had to make a quick decision. She made the only one possible. Liz deserved to know what was happening to her mother.
"Liz, honey. I have some sad news to tell you. Your mom can't speak right now. Last night, she threw a clot that lodged in her lungs and they had to hook her back up to the breathing machine. She's still on it. But her vital signs are stronger. That's a good sign."
"Oh God no!"
Jenny could tell that the news had hit Liz hard. "Honey, she's as well as can be expected. The doctor said that it is not uncommon for a clot to form when your mom has had the injuries she has."
"I know all about them. Dad told us all about the possible complications."
"The doctor wants to keep her asleep for at least another day. Said that it would help her to heal."
"Does Dad know all this? I haven't heard from him this morning."
"Well, I really don't know if he does." Jenny was telling the truth about that.
"Do I need to come out there?"
"Maybe you should talk to your dad about that."
"I will, but I think Mom needs family out there. I'll call Dad and then call the other two. One of us will be out there as soon as possible."
"That's fine." Jenny thought 'What else can I say? I don't know what's going on in Washington right now. I'll let Leo tell the girls whatever they need to know about their father.'
"Okay. Give Mom a kiss for us and tell her one of us will be out shortly."
"All right. Love you. Bye."
"Bye, too."
The line went dead and Jenny sighed. "What else can go wrong?"