in God.”
Other girls her age obsessed over makeup and Instagram and who was liking who. They were addicted to Snapchat and Twitter. Annalee didn’t care about any of that. She wasn’t on social media and the only time she used her phone was to make plans with Tommy or her family and choir friends.
“What could Instagram teach me, that I can’t learn in a book?” she would say.
The fact that she wasn’t like every other girl at school only made Tommy fall harder. At the end of their junior year, he started talking about forever. Especially one night when he had brought her home from a coffee date.
They had stood facing each other on her front porch, and Tommy had put his hand on her shoulder. “Annalee, I want to marry you one day,” he’d said. He wasn’t kidding.
She must’ve seen that in his face because she brought her fingers to his cheek. “Isn’t that the way the story ends, Frank?”
“Yes, it is, Annie.” And the two of them had moved closer, their hearts beating hard, until finally—for the first time—they kissed.
Tommy still wasn’t sure how he pulled away from Annalee that night when she had to go inside. He could remember smiling even after he got home.
And so life had gone with them. His parents loved Annalee and her parents loved him. One night a year or so ago, his dad said it best. “Some people just find the right thing early.”
The fact that they were young didn’t bother Tommy. He had no interest in dating other girls. There were no other girls, not ever. Only Annalee. His Annie.
As if on cue, the door opened and Annalee walked into the waiting room. She looked more tired than before. Weaker. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Hi.”
Like Ernie twenty minutes ago, Tommy was on his feet and at her side. He put his arm around her. “How was it?”
“Fine. I’ll know next week.” She leaned into him. “I want to go home, Tommy. Please.”
They didn’t talk on their way to his Jeep, didn’t sing on the drive back to her house. Neither of them brought up the plan to get coffee. Instead, Tommy helped her inside and visited with her brother for a few minutes. Before he left, he pulled Annalee aside and stared straight into her eyes. “This is just a virus.”
She nodded, but she looked away.
“Annalee… I mean it.” She had to agree with him. If she didn’t believe she was okay, then his certainty would crumble and everything would fall apart. He hugged her for a long while and when she was settled on the sofa, he headed home.
The whole drive he prayed and believed. The test was just a precaution. Tommy gripped the steering wheel and his eyes lifted to the blue sky. No clouds in sight. Not for Indianapolis. Not for days.
And definitely not for him and Annalee.
As the night played out, a single silent prayer stayed with Tommy. As he ate dinner with his family and played Scrabble with Malin, and as he did his homework and headed upstairs for bed. The words consumed him every few minutes.
Please, God, don’t let her be sick.
God, please heal her.
Please, God.
Until finally he fell asleep.
7
No one else knew about Landon’s doctor appointment.
So when the five of them arrived at LaGuardia Airport that Thursday, the day before the anniversary of 9/11, Ashley had to remind herself to act normal. Of course, the reason they were here was somber. Which meant no one asked questions when she wasn’t her usual talkative self.
The group took an Uber to the Ritz-Carlton near Central Park. Luke’s law firm had connections with the hotel management, so both rooms were comped. But it was just after eleven and the rooms weren’t ready.
Ashley spoke up first. “Landon and I have a few spots we want to visit.” She smiled at her brother and his family. “Let’s meet up at the museum at two. Would that work?”
“Definitely.” Reagan put her arm around Luke’s waist. “I want to show Tommy where his grandpa worked.”
They left their bags with the bellhop and Landon grabbed another Uber for the ride to the doctor’s office, near New York University Medical Center, a few miles from Ground Zero. A decision had been made to continue federal assistance for people sick with 9/11 illnesses. So if Landon had something seriously wrong, he would be entitled to compensation. Of course, Ashley cared much more about getting Landon help than a settlement.
Dr.