Page 52 of Truly, Madly, Deeply
Annalee wasn’t sure how to ask the next question. But she hadn’t watched the news and she wanted to know. “How did it happen, Tommy?”
“It was back at the same area, the place where Raul helped that kid. Remember? Wallace?”
“The guy on heroin.”
“Right.” Tommy took a deep breath and told her how Officer Garcia had come upon another drug deal going down in the same spot. Only this one involved the main dealer.
Annalee tried not to imagine Tommy answering that call. Pulling up to a drug deal, his life on the line.
“So Raul approached the guys and one of them turned around and shot him. Six times.” Tommy shook his head, clearly disgusted. “The bullets are the kind that go through police protective vests. Four of them hit Raul in the chest.”
Annalee looked toward the window.God, help that man. Please.“That… should never happen.”
“I know. Raul shouldn’t be alive.”
“Exactly.” Annalee found his eyes again. “But God…”
Tommy took a deep breath. “His mother… she prays constantly. She said she knew Raul would come off life support today.” He looked straight at her. “One of the guys told me she was thanking God for that early this morning. An hour before it happened.”
“Incredible.” Annalee rolled onto her side so she could see Tommy better. “I want us to have that kind of faith.”
“I did. At the beginning.” Tommy looked at the tubes and machinery surrounding her. “So why aren’t you feeling better?”
“I’m getting better. The process is tough, but He’s healing me, Tommy.” Her voice fell to little more than a whisper. “Remember? At the beginning… you believed that, too.”
“I want to believe.” He leaned over the bed and put his hands on either side of her face. “Your faith that all this is just a passing storm… it’s beautiful, Annalee.”
“Thank you.” The feel of his breath against her face was intoxicating. “What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“Okay.” She searched his eyes. “You know what I want?”
“What?” He came closer and brushed his cheek against hers. “Anything, love. Just tell me.”
The moment was sweet, pure. She and Tommy so close that the hospital bed and tubes and wires all faded away. “Pretend with me… please, Tommy.”
“Pretend?” It took just a few seconds for understanding to fill his eyes. “Okay. Where are we, Annalee? Take me there.”
“Hear it?” She spoke soft against his cheek. “The ocean… just behind us?”
“Mmm.” He paused. “Yes. I hear it. It’s calm today. The waves are… gentle.”
“They are.” The soft breeze against her face was so real she was sure they were at the beach. “Smell the ocean? Feel the sand… beneath our feet?”
“It’s wonderful.” He didn’t kiss her, but his lips were that close. “No hospital gray… no sickness. You’rehealthy and whole… and you’re here. In my arms.” He stayed there, his breath mingled with hers. “The sun’s setting… do you see it?”
“I do.” She closed her eyes. “A hundred beautiful colors. Painted across the sky… just for us.”
“It’s not as beautiful as you, love.” His eyes locked on hers again. “You’re all I want, Annalee. And you are getting better. I want to believe that.”
She nodded. “I… think I’ll sleep… for a bit.”
“Okay.” He kissed her cheek, slow and tender. “Fun being at the beach with you, love.”
“Fun being with you.”
There was the sound of Tommy taking his hospital chair again and the feel of his fingers intertwined with hers. Then the sounds of the machines began to fade and a different noise surrounded her. The slow lap of ocean waves against the white pristine shore of Karon Beach, the occasional seagull calling out as it swooped over the water.
