Page 77 of Truly, Madly, Deeply
“Wait… Love, tell me.” He started to shake. Even his fingers trembled. “What did the doctor say?”
“The cancer is gone, Tommy.” A quiet laugh took her by surprise. As if the joy inside her had a life of its own. “No Evidence of Disease. NED.”
“What?” He leaned his head back and shouted. “Annalee are you serious?” Tommy searched her eyes. Desperate to know for sure. “Tell me it’s true!”
“It’s true.” She laughed louder this time. Yes, she would have follow-up appointments—probably for the rest of her life. And she still had to take it easy until her strength fully returned. But she was healed. That’s all that mattered. She put her hands on his shoulders. “Can you believe it, Tommy? God did it. He healed me.” She raised both hands. “I beat cancer!”
Tommy stepped back and dropped to his knees. Right there on the frozen ground. “God, thank You. I’ll never have enough words. Thank You for this.” He scrambled back to his feet, then he pulled her close and picked her up. “Annalee Miller!” He shouted her name across the empty park. “You’re cancer-free!”
As he set her down something happened that took Annalee’s breath.
It began to snow.
Big chunky white snowflakes drifted down around them, landing in their hair and on their eyelashes. Annalee had worn her wig with the blond hair down today. It kept her neck warmer. Already a bit of fuzz had grown back on her head. But it would be a while before she had actual hair.
The snow was sticking to Tommy’s cheeks and eyebrows. He had never looked more handsome. She framed his face with her hands. “I missed the winter dance.” Shewas so close she could feel his breath against her skin. “You know that, right?”
He pressed the side of his face against hers. “Yes…” His voice was soft and marked by the miracle of the moment. “I seem to remember missing that.”
She looked at him. “Would you dance with me now, Tommy? Could you?”
The smile on his face had never wavered, not since she told him the news. “Why yes, my princess.” He stepped back and twirled her, just once slow and steady. As if he knew not to push the limits. Then he linked his hands at the back of her waist and swayed with her. “Do you hear the music?”
Her senses filled with the presence of him. “Yes.” She blinked the snowflakes from her eyelashes. Mixed in the melody of the slight wind in the evergreen branches was a song of hope and praise and love… because they were here and she was whole and it was snowing. And Tommy Baxter was dancing with her. She looped her arms around his neck and moved just a little closer.
Tommy’s eyes locked on hers and the world fell away. “Is it okay”—his voice was a whisper—“if I kiss you?”
Another quiet laugh came from deep in her heart. “That’s all I want. In all the world.”
And as the snow fell harder, as they danced on the basketball court at White River Park, Tommy kissed her. “Mmm, love. You’re healed.”
“And I’m going to make that app, Tommy.” She looked deep at him. “I’m going to help those kids.”
“I know. You will.”
His body was warm against hers and Annalee savored the feeling. Everything about him, his kiss and his presence, his kindness… all of it was intoxicating. Tommy was whole and strong and he was hers. That alone gave her hope. “I’ve dreamed of this day.” She drew her head back and smiled at him. “I can’t believe it.”
“Not me.” He chuckled, and his eyes saw straight through her. “I believed the whole time.” They both knew that wasn’t true. But she appreciated his positivity. Always showing her his bravest face throughout her fight.
“I love you, Annie.” With a feather-soft touch, he worked his fingers along the sides of her neck to the back of her head and he kissed her again. A kiss that told Annalee the depth of his feelings.
And how important this hour was in the story of their lives.
Annalee closed her eyes as they kissed once more. “I love you, Frank.” Neither of them knew what tomorrow held. Not for Tommy after he got his badge or for her at those future scans. But they had this beautiful day, shining like a diamond. So she would thank God for every minute. For the answers this morning and the hope the news would breathe into her every tomorrow.
And she would ask God that one day in the not toodistant future, the dance might be indoors in front of everyone they loved. And she wouldn’t be wearing a winter coat.
But a wedding dress.
