Page 28 of Truly, Madly, Deeply
And somewhere in the middle of that he wanted to marry her.
So she couldn’t be sick with… whatever the doctor said. She was tired, that’s all. A little rest and she’d be fine.
Her mother opened the door and stepped into her room. “Annalee…”
“Don’t. Please, Mom.” She rolled over and stared at her. “Don’t tell me anything bad.”
“Honey.” Her mother’s voice cracked. “I’m so… so sorry.”
And in that moment Annalee felt her world begin to collapse around her. Not because she fully believed the things the doctor had told her mother, and not because she really thought she was sick. But because her mom was white as a sheet. She looked like she might pass out.
Suddenly Annalee knew. The doctor’s words must have made sense to her mother. Because her mother clearly believed the news.
She crossed the room and sat on the edge of Annalee’s bed. Her mom wasn’t crying now. She looked too scared for tears. “Come here, sweetheart. Please.”
All Annalee wanted was to run. Leave the house and get in her car and drive to the airport, maybe. She would take the next flight to Thailand. And Tommy would meet her there and they would get married at the little church in Phuket and no one… no one would ever mention her being sick again.
Instead she sat up and slid her legs over the edge of the mattress. As she did her mother wrapped her arms around her. For a long time they stayed there, her mom hugging her the way she used to when Annalee was little. A minute or so into the hug, Annalee understood why her mother wasn’t saying anything.
She was crying again.
Her mom finally released her. Then she stood and pulled three tissues from the box on the dresser. With her back to Annalee, her mother dried her eyes. She might’ve thought she looked more composed when she turned around, but she didn’t. Annalee had never seen her mom look so upset.
“What else?” Annalee wanted to know everything now. If it was real and it was serious, she needed answers. “Tell me.”
And then in words and ways Annalee understood, her mother told her. How her cancer was serious and she’d have more tests tomorrow, and how treatment had to begin right away. Wednesday. Two days from now.
When it was all said and when Annalee and her mother had held on to each other again, and when her mom had begged God for perfect healing… Annalee had one question.
“Please… can I see Tommy?”
“Yes. Of course.” Her mother dried her eyes again. “You’re going to beat this, honey. We’ll pray. Everyone will pray.”
Annalee’s eyes were still dry. She was too shocked to cry. A strange calm came over her. If she was sick, then it was time to get better. “God won’t leave me.”
“Never. Not ever.” Her mother kissed her forehead. “I need to call your father. He’ll be home in a few days but… he needs to know.”
“Okay.” When her mom left, Annalee walked to thewindow and pulled her phone from her sweater pocket. Tommy’s practice was over by now. Normally she would text him but today demanded more than that.
He answered on the first ring. “Annalee. I just got to my car.”
She couldn’t find her voice, couldn’t make herself say the words.
“You got your results?” Tommy knew. He always knew.
“Can… can you come here, Tommy?” She didn’t want to cry. Not now. “Please… hurry.”
“I’m on my way.”
Annalee waited for him on the front porch. In happier times, she and Tommy would sit out here and talk about politics or Bible stories or funny conversations they’d had that week. She slipped into her jacket and pulled it tight around her. The air was cooler, autumn barely holding its line against the coming winter.
It didn’t matter how thick the jacket was, Annalee couldn’t get warm.
Not until she was in Tommy’s arms again.
ANNALEE WAITED TILLthey were at their bench, the one at White River Park with the best view of Indianapolis. It sat at the foot of the prettiest tree in the city. She used to say time stood still here.
Tommy sat close to her and took her hands. “Are you cold?”
