* * *
Sometimes when shefirst stirred in the morning, in that place between sleep and wakefulness, she forgot all the drama that swirled around her. Forgot the pressures, the numerous medical appointments, the worries. It was just her, and God, and peace.
Then she woke fully, and the pressures crowded in, and she was forced to fight to stand still, to know that God was in control. To rest in the knowledge of His faithfulness and grace.
Often an encouraging text message would come in, from her parents or Bek, or her friends like Jackie, or Serena, Bree, or Holly. Words to lift her soul just when she needed it, as if God had prompted people to do so right then. Other times she’d feel a sudden calm, like somebody else had just prayed for her.
Sometimes, if Dan wasn’t there, she’d even sing aloud, declaring to the atmosphere and her heart that Jesus was in control, and that God loved her.Your love is beautiful. Your love so undeserved. Your love stretches out forever to me.As she sang, it was like her worries rolled off her back and were placed at God’s feet.
There was a lot to be thankful for.Thank You God for Your mercies. Thank You God for Dan. Thank You for my family. Thank You God for friends. Thank You for this child. Thank You for the last scans showing improvement.So much to be thankful for. So much.
Such as this new year being quieter than the last. Last year had been filled with busyness: attending games and team functions, Heartsong, her podcasts, travel, and Zoom meetings and catch ups. This year, however, while she still attended the occasional game of Dan’s, she was more selective about which ones. Such as games when she might talk and encourage a wife or girlfriend of one of Dan’s teammates. Or see one of his Original Six friends, or their wives. Heartsong was shelved, as far as her involvement was concerned anyway. The podcast was too. Her energy levels varied, but when she had energy, she wanted to spend it on writing the love songs for the album she’d agreed to do. Not that she’d told Dan yet.
When he was training or playing away games proved the best time to fine-tune them. She had to send a sample to the record label in a few weeks, and had decided to give Dan a special birthday surprise, not dissimilar to something else she’d once done. He might be the better of the two of them at surprising with a special dinner location, but she suspected he valued her efforts just as much, if not more, judging from the worn-out CD she’d once made him that she’d discovered in a drawer.
She hoped he liked this birthday surprise.
* * *
Dan spenthis birthday in Dallas. The lengthy road trip had taken in games in Florida and Texas over the past few days, so he was itching to get home. At least their early hours flight after the game meant they’d get a much needed couple of days rest before the next game.
He made his weary way to his apartment and unlocked the door, noting the darkened room, before noticing some balloons and a little handmade sign with “Happy Birthday Daniel!” inscribed on it. He gently placed the keys on the side entry table, then slowly, quietly made his way to bed.
Sarah’s sleeping form stirred. “Hey there, you. Happy birthday.”
He shifted closer to her, wrapping an arm around her satin clad middle, before kissing her on the cheek. “Thanks.”
“Good result tonight,” she mumbled, eyes closed.
Yeah, it had been, as they’d won, and he’d finally scored a goal, the first one since preseason. That was a nice monkey to have off his back. “Good result today.”
Today’s scan had showed signs that the hydrocephalus markers were improving, so Sarah had reported.
“It’s so good to have you home,” she murmured.
“It’s good to be home.”
She opened her sleepy eyes then, moving so she could place her arms around him. “Back where you belong.”
Exactly.
The next day,a day off, meant he could celebrate his birthday in a more relaxed manner than yesterday. Which meant sleeping in, spending ‘quality time’ with his wife, then sleeping some more, then eating a very late brunch.
The plan was to have dinner with his folks and Sam and Alexa and maybe talk wedding things, or so Sarah had said.
But right now she was eyeing him with that expression that said she was up to something. “Why do I get the impression you’re planning something?”
She instantly tried to blank her face, scraping her hands down her cheeks as if that could help. It couldn’t. He could still read her like a book.
“I might just have a birthday present for you.”
He caressed her middle. “This is the best present a man could have.”
“Well, I hope you might like this one too.” She held out her hand.
“Fine. Where are we going?”
A few minutes later he was seated in her studio, while she sat at the keyboard. “Am I getting a private concert?”
