Truly, Madly, Deeply (The Baxters #31) - Karen Kingsbury Page 0,15

give you a few minutes.”

While Annalee did what the woman asked, nausea formed a pit in her stomach. Why am I worried? This couldn’t be anything serious. Her mom’s sister had died on the mission field in Kenya last year. A family could only take so much heartache.

It has to be mono.

The woman returned and helped Annalee onto the flat table. Then she handed her a pair of earplugs. “You’ll want these. The test is loud… it can last as long as an hour depending on what we see.”

She’d never worn earplugs. She took a minute to figure out how to make them work and then Annalee lay flat on her back. Her heart picked up speed and raced against the wall of her chest. The earplugs made the sound louder. Peace, she prayed. Please give me peace, God. Calm me down.

As the table slid into the tube and the test began, Annalee remembered something her father had told her. If you’re stuck in a difficult situation take yourself somewhere else. Remember a happy time or relive some meaningful moment.

With her eyes squeezed shut, Annalee did just that. So she was no longer in a cold tube with loud scary sounds happening around her. She was on her parents’ back porch a week ago telling them about a decision she’d made. A decision about her life.

Her parents had made hot cider. Austin was at football practice so it was just the three of them. Like it was happening again, Annalee could smell the cinnamon from her warm mug and see the looks of anticipation in the faces of her parents.

“God has spoken to you?” Her dad sat opposite her, all of them in rocking chairs.

“He has.” Annalee had never been more sure about a career path. “I know what I want to do.” And then she’d told them. “I want to help trafficked children here in Indianapolis.” Annalee’s heart soared at the possibility. “I’m thinking of developing an app.”

The idea was straightforward. Hotel workers would download the app, which would connect with local law enforcement agencies. If a front desk employee suspected a trafficker was bringing a child into a hotel room, the worker could notify authorities anonymously through the app. If the tip turned into an arrest or a rescue, the hotel worker would receive a reward.

Her mom’s eyes had lit up. “I like it.” She looked at Annalee’s father and then back at Annalee. “Who funds the reward?”

“It would be a charity.” Annalee had tried to think of everything. “People would donate knowing that the reward money would only be given out if police were able to take action.”

They had talked for another half hour about how an app like that could start in Indianapolis and spread to the entire nation or even the world. Her parents agreed that hotel workers were often the last line of defense for trafficked kids. In the United States and even in places like Thailand.

Annalee blinked and the memory disappeared. Shrill beeps and whirring sounds filled the tube—which was four inches from her face. Maybe closer. She tried to take a deep breath but her lungs wouldn’t fill, wouldn’t expand correctly. Were the walls of the cylinder closing in?

Another memory. That’s what she needed. Again she squeezed her eyes shut and this time a different face filled her mind. The handsome face of Tommy Baxter. He had taken her on a date two weeks ago, before her mom had made today’s doctor appointment. Back when her fatigue wasn’t so draining and she was still sure her tiredness had something to do with the trip overseas. Not this dreaded mono.

She pressed her back against the hard platform. Once more, Annalee could hear Tommy’s voice as they set off that day. He had looked at her from behind the wheel. “You ready for your Super Surprise Saturday?”

A smile had filled her heart. “Super Surprise Saturday?” She’d laughed. “What does that even mean?”

“It means you deserve the world. So this isn’t our average movie night.” Tommy had grinned at her. Then he’d handed her a pink envelope. She could still smell his cologne like he was here with her again. “Open it.”

She had known immediately this was going to be a forever memory with Tommy. Inside the card was a poem.

School has started, senior year.

Summer’s gone no beaches here.

Still I thought I’d take a chance

Take you out and find romance.

First stop on our night of fun

The chicken place, a 2.1.

I love you always, Annalee

P.S.—We don’t