Alison Strobel - The Heart of Memory

Nothing like when I moved in. Savannah had spent more time talking to people who recognized her from her books and speaking tours than she had with helping Jessie move in. Granted she was less than an hour from home and they all knew they’d see each other often, but not even the milestone of beginning college had created a soft spot in Savannah’s heart. After her boxes had been moved in they’d gone to dinner, where Savannah had dominated the conversation with unsolicited advice about time management and not-so-subtle hints at the kinds of classes she thought Jessie should take.

When the time had come for her parents to leave, she’d gotten a giant hug from Shaun-who also pressed a wad of cash into her hand – and a peck on the cheek from Savannah when she took a break from the list she’d been dictating of activities she thought Jessie should check into. It would have been different if Jessie could have written off the behavior as her mother’s attempt to control her emotions over the thought of her baby girl growing up and moving on in life, but she’d known Savannah too well to even pretend that was the reason. It had been just another example of Savannah wanting to steer Jessie the way she thought she should go, and not taking into account the fact that Jessie had no interest in writing for the school newspaper or trying to join the honor society.

Jessie turned her back on the family whose experience highlighted the deficiencies of her own and swiped her card to unlock the door. She kept her head down and avoided making eye contact with the people who swarmed through the hall as she pushed her way through to her room. Once there, she grabbed the folder of freshman dinner info from her desk and looked up the number for The Sweet Shoppe. She called and asked the employee who answered to confirm the ice cream and toppings delivery for that evening.

“Gosh… I’m sorry. I don’t see that order in our computer. When did you say this event was?”

“Know what? Never mind.” Jessie hung up the phone, flopped to her bed, and cried.

SAVANNAH AWOKE TO FAMILIAR VOICES. It took a moment for her to get her eyes open, but by the time she did she was already smiling. “Hey,” she croaked.

“Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakens!” Mary gave Savannah a gentle hug, then frowned. “Okay, so, I had no idea you weren’t eating anything anymore. The nurse just told me. That really sucks – I brought brownies.”

Savannah smiled. “Make more… when I’m better… and I’ll forgive you.”

Colleen held up a stack of DVD cases. “Shaun said you were sleeping a lot, but we brought these just in case you find yourself awake and bored. All the good ones are here-Sleepless in Seattle, Shakespeare in Love, When Harry Met Sally, and Dirty Dancing.“

“Just don’t, you know, get any ideas,” said Bethany, waving a hand to the machines beside the bed. “All those cords and tubes would really get in the way.”

Andi took Savannah’s hand. “Listen, just let us know if you need peace and quiet. Or just take a nap when you want to and we can stick around until you’re awake again. We don’t want to impose, we just wanted to see you and pray with you and make sure you knew we were all here for you.”

“Love you all… you’re angels.”

“Let’s pray now-get the important stuff out of the way,” Mary said with a grin.

Savannah didn’t dare close her eyes, for fear she’d fall asleep. She stared instead at each of the women holding hands around her bed, their eyes closed and heads bowed as they interceded for her and Shaun. She was moved beyond words by their faithful friendship and sacrifice – she knew how long that drive was from the Springs – and as they spoke over her she thanked God for them and prayed that this ordeal would end in a way that encouraged everyone in their faith.

When they finished, Colleen began straightening the stack of cards and letters from fans that Shaun had brought a few days ago and now cluttered the bedside table. “So, are you really okay with visitors right now? Or do you want to sleep?”

“No sleeping,” she said. “Later. Tell me… what’s up.”

“What’s up, let’s see…” She began to regale Savannah with a dramatic retelling of the senior lunch she and Mary had helped host at church for the retirees. “I swear, I will get Alfred Collins and Helen Grable together by Christmas.”

“Girl, there’s got to be a better way to spend your time than playing matchmaker with senior citizens,” Bethany said with a laugh.

“They’d be… cute together,” Savannah said.

“See? Savannah agrees with me.”

“Savannah is not operating on all cylinders.”

Savannah gave a minute shrug. “She’s right.”

“Any news on when those cylinders might all be up and running?”

She shook her head. “When God’s… good and ready.”

Mary pulled a knitting project from a bag at her feet and began to unwind purple yarn. “Alex has been trying to get ahold of Shaun to go out for breakfast or something, but Shaun hasn’t returned his calls. How is he doing?”

Shaun hadn’t mentioned this to her, though she wasn’t surprised. “Not well. It’s hard on him… all the driving… me like this. I think he’s scared.”

“I would be too, if it were me. I just wish he’d get together with Alex so he could go vent, or play golf, or whatever it is men do to feel better.”

“I’ll tell him… to call… but you know Shaun… he’s private.”

“Yeah, I know. But still. He needs someone to talk to through all of this, someone that isn’t you.”

“I wanted to organize some meals for him and Jessie,” said Bethany. “Or is Jessie back at school now?”

“Left yesterday… Shaun’s always here. Not many… meals at home.”

“Well, he’s got to eat sometime. Maybe I’ll just hunt him down at A &A and bring him some sandwiches or something.”

Savannah smiled. “You’re sweet.”

“How about you?” Andi asked. “How are you doing? Like, really doing.”

She nodded slowly. “I know… God will… heal me… but… still scary. Pain scares me.”

Andi squeezed her hand. “Oh, Van. It breaks my heart that you have to go through this.”

Savannah shook her head. “No… it’s good… God… renewed me through this… broken body but… mountaintop faith.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Lots of prayer time… listen to worship music… I needed to… slow down.”

Colleen snorted. “He couldn’t have just broken your leg?”

The others laughed as Savannah smiled. “Guess that wouldn’t… have done the trick.”

“Is there anything you need, Van?” Mary asked. “Besides the obvious, which I would gladly donate to you myself if it were possible.”

“Prayer for us… and the donor’s family.”

Mary’s face fell. “Oh, gosh. Yeah.”

“Will you know who they are?” asked Bethany. “Do they tell you that kind of thing?”

“You can… correspond… anonymously… of course I will.”

Andi chuckled. “That’s a heck of a thank-you card to write.”

Savannah’s head nodded a fraction. “You’re telling me.”

Suddenly exhaustion hit her like a fist. “Gotta sleep. But stay… if you want… watch a movie.”

“We don’t want to keep you up.”

“You won’t.” She smiled. “Hopefully I can… chat more… before you leave. Shaun comes… around one. Hound him then, Mary.”

She grinned. “Perfect.”

Savannah closed her eyes, worn out from the effort of conversation, and fell asleep to a soundtrack starting in the background.

SHAUN JUMPED AS A CLAP of thunder took him by surprise. He hadn’t noticed the lightning with the kitchen light on. He moved the pancakes to his plate and poured two more onto the griddle, then checked the salmon in the countertop grill. He’d managed to feed himself without a single trip to the grocery store since Savannah’s hospitalization, but this was definitely scraping the bottom of the barrel. He conceded he’d need to go shopping tomorrow.