sickening possibilities. Lord, let it be nothing. Landon is everything to our family… to me. She could see him as clearly as if he were standing in front of her.
Tall, still dark hair. As fit as he’d been in his firefighting days.
Landon was the Bloomington fire chief now. He spent his days at a desk—managing his department and being the liaison for community relations. But back in the day he had been involved in a number of deadly fires—one where he saved the life of a little boy and wound up in the hospital fighting for his own life.
But all that had been only kindling to the toxins he was exposed to at Ground Zero, working fourteen-hour days until he helped find the body of his best friend, Jalen. Ashley tightened her jaw. Let it be a cold, Lord. Heal Landon, please. All day she had silently talked to God, begging him for peace. Remembering words from the Bible to soothe her anxious soul.
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…. And the God of peace will be with you.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…
Over and over and over.
Traffic back to Bloomington was light so Ashley pulled into the Baxter house driveway sooner than she’d expected. Tomorrow at this time not only would they be in New York City, remembering the events of nearly two decades ago. They would have answers about Landon’s health. And as much as Ashley wanted to know, she wasn’t relieved at the thought.
She was scared to death.
5
Annalee sat on a cold metal chair a few feet from an enormous donut-shaped machine. The scan would take place in a few minutes. Until then, the tech had told her to wait. Already she’d been here longer than that. She looked at the flat surface extending into the donut and the panel of instruments beside it and she had just one thought.
She wished Tommy were with her.
Why did he have to wait in the other room? Didn’t the medical people understand how nervous she was, how frightened she felt even doing this? A shiver ran down her arms. She pulled her phone from her purse and texted her mom.
The doctor ordered a scan for me. It was in the same building, so Tommy brought me here. I’m waiting now for the tech so we can get it over with. Do they use a scan to diagnose mono? Honestly, Mom, I’m afraid. Please pray.
Almost as soon as she sent the text, her phone rang. Annalee wasn’t sure if she could be on the phone in this place, but she didn’t care. “Hello?”
“Honey, why didn’t you call me earlier?” Her mother sounded frantic. “I had no idea they’d order a test the same day.”
Annalee closed her eyes. “Me, either.” She sucked in a quick breath and blinked. Don’t panic, she told herself. Stay calm. “The doctor said… it could be mono. He took blood.”
“Okay. Yes…” Her mom released a long breath. “That’s what we’ve been thinking. I had mono when I was in high school. It’s terrible.” She hesitated. “So that must be why they’re doing the scan.” She sounded relieved. “You just need more rest. Like we’ve been saying.”
The doctor had agreed Annalee had all the symptoms of mono. An occasional fever, zero energy and most mornings she woke up with sheets wet from sweating. Night sweats, the doctor called it. Whatever she was dealing with, the tests today would tell the story, and then she could move on to getting better. She cleared her throat. “You’ve heard of that, right? Scans for mono?”
“Yes. I think so.” Her mother’s answer was a little too quick. “They’re probably looking to see if your spleen is enlarged. That’s something they would see on a scan.”
A woman wearing a white coat walked into the room.
“I have to go.” Annalee dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay, honey. Your dad and I… we’re coming home tomorrow.”
Annalee set the phone in her purse and lifted her eyes to the woman. “Is it time?”
“Yes. I need you to remove your clothing and jewelry.” She handed Annalee a hospital gown. “And change into this.” The woman smiled, but it didn’t change her serious expression. “I’ll