Alison Strobel - The Heart of Memory

Marisa hung up a few minutes later. “We’re booked for an 8:35.”

Savannah glanced at the clock. “We’d better hustle then.”

“Right-you ready to go?”

Savannah looked around the room for stray items. “I think so.”

She hugged each of the other presenters she’d traveled with for most of the last three months, sad to miss out on the celebration dinner, and then left with Marisa for the hotel to pack.

Savannah felt like she was moving in slow motion as she folded pajamas and reclaimed her personal items from the nightstand. “I just know I’m going to forget something.”

“That’s why I’m here, silly.” Marisa chuckled. “I know we’re good friends and all, but this is my job, remember? So don’t worry; I’ve got your back.”

Savannah flashed her a weary smile. “Thanks, girl.” Savannah zipped her bag closed and lay back on the bed. “When do we leave for the airport?”

“About half an hour.”

“I can’t wait to be on the plane so I can sleep.”

“Unfortunately we’re not flying direct to Colorado Springs. We’ll go into Denver, and then drive down from there. Connecting to the Springs would have taken about the same amount of time, but at least this way you don’t have to race through the airport to make a connecting flight.”

“Good thinking. I’m sorry you’ll have to do all that driving. And at night too.” She groaned. “I hate being sick.”

“Knowing you, you’ll be back on your feet in a few days. Me, I get sick and I’m wiped out for a week, minimum. Oh – do you want to call Shaun or do you want me to?”

Savannah rolled over and sat up, rubbing a hand across her face. “I will.” She pulled her cell from her purse and dialed, then flopped back onto the bed. She gave him the update when he answered, and he didn’t like the thought of Marisa having to drive that far at night.

“Give me your flight info and I’ll pick you up.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Might as well save the expense, since I’m sure the budget was blown with the rescheduled flight.”

“I’m sorry-”

“No, don’t be. She was right, you need to come home tonight in case you’re too sick tomorrow. That’s life. Besides, it just means I get to see you that much sooner.”

Savannah smiled. “Thank you, Shaun. I’ll tell her.”

“Take care. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“Okay, babe. Bye.”

Savannah hung up and tossed her phone back into her purse. “Shaun will pick us up in Denver. Let’s go now, before I fall asleep.”

It was another two hours before she was settled into her seat on the plane, but she was asleep before takeoff. Marisa woke her just before they landed in Denver, and by then Savannah felt far worse. A fever had kicked in. Her teeth chattered and her skin prickled beneath her clothes. She groaned as she climbed into the car.

Shaun laid a quilt over her, the one she kept on the back of their couch at home. “Brilliant,” she said to him as he kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

The next thing she knew, they were pulling into the parking lot at Marisa’s apartment complex. “Are your expense receipts easily accessible?” she heard Shaun ask Marisa.

“Right here in my purse. Why?”

“If you want, I’ll take those in tomorrow and file your expense report for you. You’re not going to want to come in this week just to do paperwork.”

“Thanks, Shaun. I appreciate that.”

“Thanks again, Marisa,” Savannah mumbled, eyes still shut against the pain in her head.

“Of course. I’ll give you a call in a couple days, see how you’re doing. Let me know if I can do anything.”

Shaun walked Marisa to her apartment, then drove them home. “Have you eaten? Do you want me to make you some soup, or tea?”

“No, love. I just want to go to bed.”

“You’ve got it.”

He followed her into the house, carrying her bag and purse, and she made a beeline for the bedroom. Not bothering to change from her traveling clothes, she pulled the covers up to her chin and prayed she’d feel better in the morning.

SHAUN WAS READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK BY THE TIME SAVANnah finally awoke on her second day at home. “How are you – oh.” Looking closely gave him his answer. “Still that bad, huh?” She nodded silently as she shuffled into the kitchen. “Can I get you something to eat before I leave?”

She gingerly eased herself onto a barstool. “Some tea?” Her voice was raspy and weak, no different from when she’d awoken yesterday. After spending the day on the couch, mostly sleeping, he’d have thought she’d be doing at least a little better.

He filled the kettle. “Did you sleep alright?”

“Mostly. Up for water once, but that was it.”

“Are you going to be okay today? Do you want me to stay home? Jessie is working today, I think.”

Her hand gave a small wave. “No, go to work. I’ll probably just sleep all day anyway.”

He pulled out a can of chicken noodle soup and set it on the stove beside a pot. “In case you get hungry later.”

“Thanks.”

He made the tea, then kissed her on the forehead. “I’m sorry you’re miserable.”

“Thanks. Me too. Hopefully it won’t last long.”

“You’ll kick it quick, I’m sure.” He pocketed his wallet and grabbed his keys and cell. “Call me if you need me to come home, okay? I can work from here if I need to.”

“Thanks. Say hi to everyone.”

Five minutes out, the gas light lit on the dash. He groaned, having forgotten about Saturday night’s jaunt up to Denver that ruined his fuel budget, and backtracked to the gas station a block from home. The lost time was worth the money he’d save filling up there versus the station closer to the ministry office.

Shaun opened his wallet and considered his array of credit cards. He chose one toward the back, figuring it was time to add it into the rotation, just to be safe. He tried not to think too much about the price of the gas as he swiped his card and punched in his zip code. Highway robbery. Every tick of the price on the pump display made him want to wince. Picking up Savannah and Marisa had been cheaper than a rental, but it still meant taking money from somewhere else. He’d have to forgo lunch the rest of the month to make up for it.

A few minutes later he was parking in his usual spot in front of Abide & Abound’s office. A banner announcing their tenth anniversary hung in the front window, and a little rush of pride made him smile as he pulled his briefcase from the front seat. This humble endeavor of theirs had grown so much in the last decade. Once upon a time it had been him and Savannah cooped up in his home den, but now they boasted six employees on the payroll and a proper, though nondescript, industrial park office just outside of downtown Colorado Springs. He had an office here, the only one amidst the maze of cubicles, and Savannah would pop in once a week to “greet the troops” before heading out to a coffee shop to work and have meetings.

It’s a heck of an accomplishment, he thought as he locked the car. Though not without its trials. He tried not to think about the trials currently dogging him as he entered through the smoky glass door.

“Good morning, Shaun,” said Brenda, their receptionist and customer service representative. “Savannah get home alright last night? How did the last stop on the tour go?”

“It went well-but Savannah’s got the flu. She and Marisa actually came back Saturday night because she could feel herself getting worse and she didn’t want to get stuck unable to fly.”

Brenda’s face fell. “Oh no! Can I pick anything up for her, or you? I can stop at Vitamin Cottage over lunch, get her some of that immune booster tea she likes.”