it’s just her and Dawson. She has no idea.”
The doorbell rang and Annalee looked over her shoulder. Tommy’s black Jeep was out front. Right on time. The group was supposed to meet at the zoo entrance at noon and then walk together to the lion exhibit at 12:30. Annalee saw the handle of her wheelchair sticking out from his back window. He still had it from their time together yesterday.
Another sun break in this stormy season.
“Time to go.” Annalee and her mother both stood. Annalee kissed her mom’s cheek and hugged her. It couldn’t be easy for her mother to watch Annalee go to the zoo again. Not quite two weeks after she had come down with pneumonia her last time there. “Thanks.” She smiled. “For always looking out for me.”
Her mother nodded toward the door. “Tommy does a pretty good job, too.”
“He does.” Annalee’s cheeks suddenly felt warmer than before. Because she adored Tommy. She couldn’t wait to spend the day with him. She grabbed her gloves and scarf and a knit winter beanie from the end table.
“Annalee…” Her mom walked with her to the door. “You got so sick last time.”
“You heard the doctor, Mom.” She kept her tone kind, full of respect. “It would’ve happened if I’d been home. I had to have contracted the bacteria days earlier.”
Her mother nodded. “True.” She waited while her daughter opened the door for Tommy.
“Annalee.” Tommy’s eyes stayed on hers. “You look… breathtaking.”
She hugged him. “Thank you.” She turned and faced her mother. “Tell my mom you’ll keep me warm.”
Tommy laughed, but he looked nervous. Just like her mother. “I’ll keep her warm. The whole time.”
“There.” She gave her mom one last hug. “See you in a few hours.”
When they pulled away Annalee turned to him. “I can’t imagine Maddie right now.” She leaned her head back and stared at the sky. “She thinks it’s a date at the zoo.”
“Which”—Tommy chuckled—“shows you how much she loves the place. She works there, after all.”
“I think it’s beautiful.” Annalee hadn’t felt this carefree since September, before treatment began. “Maddie loves animals. I got that from our date last time. I really like her, Tommy. I mean… I’ve met her before, of course. But I know her so much better now. Her heart… her amazing story.”
Tommy’s eyes shone. “I mean… only God could’ve brought those two together.”
Like other times since her cancer, they didn’t spend the conversation talking about treatment and nausea and how many rounds remained. They both knew the answer. Just one. One more round of chemo and she’d be finished—for good, she believed. With every breath she trusted God for that.
Instead they talked about his classes and the finals he was studying for. Annalee had enough credits that the school had arranged for her to take the semester off. That way—if she was well enough—she could finish in the spring. Even if she had to take a few classes online over the summer, she would still graduate in May with Tommy and her class.
Typically the zoo was crowded on Saturday. Annalee and Tommy had been before. But today—with the clouds and the threat of snow, and with temperatures in the mid-thirties, the parking lot was practically empty. Tommy found a spot. “Looks like the perfect day for an engagement.”
“They’ll have the place to themselves. Amazing.” Annalee waited until he helped her from the passenger side. She was still weak. Still unable to walk far without the wheelchair. But she was getting stronger every day. She could feel that, too.
Tommy had brought a thick blanket for the outing. So in addition to Annalee’s coat and gloves, scarf and hat, once she was in the wheelchair Tommy tucked the heaviest, softest blanket around her. She giggled. “We could have a blizzard and I’d be warm.”
“All right then.” He sounded strong, confident. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
They reached the front entrance and met up with Tommy’s uncle Dayne and aunt Katy and their kids. Annalee hadn’t met them yet, so Tommy made the introductions. Of course, she knew who Dayne Matthews was, the famous actor who in the past ten years had been making movies.
Tommy’s aunt Katy put her hand on Annalee’s shoulder. “We’ve been praying for you.” Her voice filled with empathy. “You look wonderful, by the way.”
“Thanks.” Annalee stared up at Tommy and then back to Katy. “I’m getting better. Definitely. And I have a lot of love around me.”
Tommy moved to her side and took her hand. “She’s easy