Thursday
Even with two cups of strong coffee between them, Jed and Abbey yawned all the way to the hospital. It was one thing to stay up all night but quite another to sleep for three and half hours then try and get up. But they had to be there for Leo and for Mallory. And whatever urgent thing Leo wanted to tell them, they knew he wouldn't go to surgery until he said whatever was on his mind.
Ron had been nice about the sudden change in plans. At least they thought so. He personally met them in the car and was riding in the front seat of the SUV. He didn't seem sleepy, but then his job was to be alert at all times, watching for anything that might bring harm to the First Couple.
Abbey noticed that Jed was unusually quiet on the trip to the hospital. She turned to him and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I wonder what Leo wants to talk to us about. And Abbey, I'm scared. You keep saying that this surgery is tricky. Leo could die."
"Yes. But you have to believe that the doctors wouldn't go ahead with it unless they thought he was stable enough to make it though."
"But still…"
"Jed, this is the time we have to have faith in the doctors."
"I do, but I'm still scared."
"Well, when we see him, you have to show him strength. You have to believe it yourself so you can provide it to him."
"I don't know if I can. What if I start to tear up? You know he can read me like a book. He's known me too long not to see right through me, especially if I'm trying to fake something."
Abbey reached over and took his free hand and squeezed it. "I do, Babe. But you can't fake it today. You have to believe it so he will believe it."
Jed took another sip of coffee, pausing so he could gather his thoughts.
"Well, if I start, you have to promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't draw attention to me. Maybe he won't notice. Maybe he'll be so focused on his surgery that he won't notice me."
"I promise. But you know only too well how observant he is, Jed. Like you said, he can read you like a book. So please try and hold yourself together. Not for me or for Mallory. But for Leo. At least until he leaves for surgery. Like I said, what he needs most is our strength, not our worry or tears. We can cry later."
"I can only try." Jed sighed as he looked out the window. "We're here."
The motorcade pulled up to the deserted front entrance of the hospital and discharged the Presidential couple. Only a scattering of staff was coming or going and were startled to see the activity of the motorcade at this time of day. But they too were in a fog and probably thought it was just a dream.
Making their way to the Surgical ICU floor, Mallory met them at the elevator.
"I'm so sorry you had to come so early."
"Don't worry, Mal. It's been a while since I was up this early, but it's okay." Abbey saw a tinge of fear in her eyes and knew that she knew that this surgery was going to be tricky. "Did you get any sleep?"
"Not really. Dad and I did a lot of talking in between his naps. But he really didn't want to sleep much. He said he would sleep during the surgery."
"Yeah. I can understand his perspective."
"Go on in. He's waiting on you."
"Okay. Jed, are you coming?'
"Yes. Let's go."
They pushed the door open and saw Leo propped up on several pillows. That crooked grin was in place, just waiting for his two best friends to enter.
"Hi you two. Sorry about the time. I couldn't influence the schedule this time."
A quiet laughter spread through the room.
Jed and Abbey split and held Leo's hands on each side of the bed. Looking down at him, they did think he had better color and his skin was much warmer than it had been the first time they had seen him.
"I want to say something and I don't want you to interrupt. It's very important to me. Do you understand?" He looked back and forth to each one of them, waiting on a response.
Jed and Abbey nodded.
"Okay. Two things. First, I need you to promise that both of you will take care of Mallory should I not come out of this surgery. I know this will be dangerous and tricky. I'm not a fool. That's why I signed the consent myself, so she wouldn't have guilt if something went wrong. There won't be a problem with money but money can't buy everything. If she gets married, I want you, Jed, to walk her down the aisle. You're her godfather and I think at times you have been more of a father to her than I have."
Jed opened his mouth to speak but Leo raised his finger to stop him.
"I'm not finished. If she has children, you will be the children's grandfather. I want you to tell the children stories of me and you but raise them in the love of your house and the warmth of your religion. Mallory will allow that. She remembers the love in your household as a child and the warmth of attending mass with your girls. Jenny and I probably failed her in both areas. So please make sure any of her children experiences such love and warmth."
"Second, I want you and Abbey to know that I have only incredible memories of both of you. Since the time I first met you when we were much younger and through the years, I have never, ever regretted knowing you. Some times were rockier than others but there have never been any regrets. Remember when you wrote me from Notre Dame and told me you had met the girl you were going to marry? You were going to be a priest for God's sake, Jed. What did you want me to say? All I could say was that I hoped you had made the right choice. Obviously, you did. In Vietnam I lived for your letters. Literally lived for them. And then after I married Jenny and Mallory came along, we had a few good years as a family. But then I blew it. I drank it away. I popped pills. But you were always there. You didn't preach. Neither one of you. You probably didn't like it. You probably talked about it behind my back but you didn't preach. When I finally admitted myself to Sierra-Tucson, you both were there. Jenny tried but our history with each other was sometimes too much. But not you two. Even with your young family, your professional lives, you were there and I knew it. When I came to New Hampshire to persuade you to run for President, you didn't laugh me back to Washington. You listened carefully to me. You both listened to my arguments, made a choice and then committed. I know it was hard on family life. And as President it's been hard. But I wouldn't change a thing."
A knock on the door stopped the conversation. The nurse stuck her head in the door. "Mr. McGarry, we're ready to take you."
"Give me just a minute please."
"Just a minute. That's all."
The door shut and Leo looked at his friends. "I've said what I need to say. If I don't come back, I've said my piece. I've also made my peace with God. Whatever happens will happen. I love you both more than you'll ever know. If you remember nothing else, always remember that."
He paused. "Now you can tell the nurse to come back in. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
The OR team moved Leo to the stretcher and pushed it out to the hall where Mallory and the First Couple were waiting. Mallory kissed her father and said, "Daddy, I love you."
Leo looked at his only child and replied, "I love you with all my heart, Mallory. Never forget it."
The trio watched as the stretcher, accompanied by an agent, made its way onto the elevator and the doors closed. Now, they would have to wait for a call from the operating room or a visit from one of the doctors themselves
Mallory turned around, tears cascading down her face, and the President pulled her into a tight hug. "He's tough, Mal. He's going to be fine." Jed wanted desperately to believe those words himself.