Page 32 of Truly, Madly, Deeply
Tommy really did have to go. He kissed Annalee’s cheek and then hugged her mother. “Thanks for letting me be here.”
Her mother’s smile did nothing to hide the worry inher eyes. “It means the world to Annalee that you’re here. To me, too.”
Annalee’s parents truly were two of Tommy’s favorite people. He looked deep into her mom’s eyes. “Please. Call me if anything changes.” He grabbed his backpack. “I’ll be here tomorrow after school.”
Not until Tommy pulled in the driveway twenty minutes later did he remember about the conversation he needed to have with his parents. He had researched the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. They had a ride-along program Tommy wanted to take part in as soon as possible.
The talk couldn’t wait.
Especially when his parents were asking every other day about his acceptance to a handful of top schools. Which was he going to attend and when was he going to make his decision. “Registration happens early spring,” his mom had told him last night. “The sooner you let the school know, the better.”
Tommy parked his car in the garage and cut the engine. Yes, he was interested in a number of universities. The plan had always been that if Tommy didn’t become a doctor, he’d be a lawyer, like his father. Everything about his high school courses, his ACT and SAT test scores suggested one of those careers was the logical path.
He stepped out of his Jeep, took his backpack from the passenger seat and headed inside. At the top of the stairs from the garage into the house, Tommy heard his parents in the kitchen with Malin and Johnny. They werelaughing about some YouTube clip. A dancing dog, from what Tommy could see on the computer.
“Hey.” His dad motioned for Malin to turn the volume down. A hush fell over the room. “How’s Annalee?”
Tommy set his backpack down against the wall and slipped his hands in his jeans pockets. “She’s tired, that’s all I can tell for now. Otherwise… she’s so positive.” He shrugged. “You wouldn’t know she was getting chemo at all.”
Malin walked up and gave Tommy a side hug. “I prayed for her.”
“Me, too.” Johnny was eight years old, but he had a wisdom that made him seem much older. He joined Tommy and Malin. “She’s going to get better. Right?”
Tommy shared a look with his parents, who stood a few feet away. “Yes.” Tommy patted the top of his little brother’s blond head. “She is, Johnny. I believe that.”
Later, after Malin and Johnny went to bed, Tommy asked his parents to join him in the living room. His mom and dad took the sofa and Tommy sat in the chair opposite them. His mother frowned. “Is… she worse than what you said?” She leaned forward, studying Tommy. “Tell us.”
“It’s not that.” He shook his head. “The worst side effects don’t happen until a few days from now.”
“And they get worse with each treatment.” His dad took his mother’s hand. “I researched it.”
Tommy held his breath.Give me the words, Lord. Let them understand what I’m about to tell them. Please.
His dad’s smile was easy. “So… you want to talk about something else?” He sat back and crossed his legs. “Have you decided which school?”
“Every day my friends at the gym ask me.” His mom’s eyes lit up. “We all have graduating seniors and their kids have all decided.”
Tommy slid to the edge of his chair and planted his elbows on his knees. “Actually… that is what I want to talk about.” He hesitated. “My plans for next year.”
“The best thing about Duke is it’s closer than Harvard. Not even a ten-hour drive.” His dad grinned. “But who’s counting?”
“I… didn’t pick Duke, Dad.” He looked to his mom and back to his father. “I didn’t choose any of them.” He straightened. “Actually… I’ve decided to skip school—for now, anyway.” He watched the shock begin to hit. “Because I want to be a police officer. That’s what I want to do…. I figured we needed to talk about it.”
The disbelief on his parents’ faces began to morph. His father stayed quiet, calm. But his mom… Her brows formed a V and lines appeared across her forehead. She stood and put her hands to her face. Then she lowered them and sat down again. “Are you kidding?” The question was rhetorical. “You must be.”
“I’m not.”Oh, boy.Tommy felt his heart begin to race. “Why… would I joke about something like this?”
“Reagan.” His father’s tone was suddenly sharp. “Please. Let’s listen to him.”
“Listen?” His mother uttered a sound that was morecry than laugh. “Tommy… you’re the A student, the one who always wantedeightyears of college. Remember?”
“She has a point.” Tommy’s dad looked confused.
“Of course, Mom has a point.” Tommy stood and paced a few feet toward the window. When he turned back he worked to keep his voice level. “I was supposed to do big things at school, I know that. Be a doctor like Papa or a lawyer.” He looked at his father. “Like you, Dad. That’s all we’ve ever talked about.” He didn’t want to sound rude. “But I changed my mind. I don’t know how else to say it.”
His mother crossed her arms. “You can’t just… change your mind. You can’t—” She seemed to hear her harsh tone for the first time. She looked away and when she turned to Tommy again, her eyes were damp. “A police officer? Tommy… do you know how dangerous that is? With how things are?”
“Yes.” Tommy felt an angry chill run down his spine. “That’s the price of defending the streets, Mom. So that you and Dad and Malin and Johnny can be safe.”
