There’s still a strained element to his smile, but with what we’re walking into, it’s the best I can hope for.

I take the lead, tugging Ben along after me. It’s not long before we’re walking through the sliding glass doors into the hospital, and some helpful nurses direct us to the proper waiting area.

Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard are already seated. His mom jumps out of her chair when she sees us, and the older Benjamin follows close behind. My family, on the other hand, takes a more relaxed approach. Pops and Marcus stay sitting and simply wave at me, knowing I’ll make it over to them in a moment.

“Holly! How are you? Thank you so much for the flowers, but you didn’t have to do that. I’m the one who needs to apologize.” Mrs. Gerhard wrings her hands as she stands in front of me.

After my freak-out-fest at Ben’s parents’ house, the guilt of having shouted curses at them was giving me heartburn. So, I sent them a bouquet of daisies with a note telling them how mortified I was.

“It was a bad moment. I think we can just forget it and move on.”

“Still, I’m very sorry. And how are you feeling today? Both of you doing all right?” Mrs. Gerhard runs her eyes over us, probably ready to have a conniption if there’s even a paper cut visible.

“We’re fine, Mom. You’re going to need to calm down. You can’t keep up this level of frantic for the next however many hours.”

We both told our family members that they didn’t have to show up at the appointment time. There’s checking in, then surgery prep, and then the actual surgery, which normally takes a few hours. So, they could easily be sitting here for close to an entire workday. Showing up in time for the recovery process would’ve been fine.

All of them chose to ignore us.

After checking in, I make sure to introduce Pops to Ben’s parents. When they start telling my dad how he raised a “miracle for a daughter,” I hide my blushing face in Ben’s chest. His hand cups the back of my head, and I enjoy the rumble of his laughter at my embarrassment. The familiar, spicy pine scent of Ben’s soap helps to ease some of my nerves. If only I could stay here forever.

But, a short ten minutes later, Ben and I are called back. I try to ignore the fact that Mrs. Gerhard is crying as I give my brother and father quick hugs.

“Next time you see me, I’ll be anesthetized, so it’s your job to make sure I don’t say anything crazy.”

They both smile with affection, and Marcus musses my hair.

“See you soon, sis.”

“You ready, Holly?” Ben stands beside me, reaching out his hand.

I know, when I walk through those doors, I’ll be putting myself in a dangerous situation. There are the needles that terrify me, but more than that, there’s the surgery. It isn’t an uncommon procedure, and the newer laparoscopic technique means I’ll only be getting three small incisions instead of one large one. But it’s still surgery. I’ll be under anesthesia for the first time, trusting these people to keep me alive as they remove one of my organs.