“Bethany, the car is here. Are you and Peanut ready to go?” Today, I get to meet Peanut’s cardiologist to go over the plans for his surgery. Frankly, I’d rather be anywhere other than here discussing the one thing that could wreck my world. Mom stayed with Caroline’s kids, so she could join us for moral support.

“Really, Lincoln, a limo just to get us to the cardiologist’s office?” Caroline shakes her head at me. She’s the only one in the family who has an issue with my lifestyle. “I don’t understand why you couldn’t just drive us.”

“Because the last thing I want to do after this appointment is to drive a car while Bethany needs me to comfort her.” I look at my baby sister and see the compassion in her eyes for my comment. When I look at Caroline, her face is pale, indicating that she now understands why I’ve called for a driver today. I reach over and squeeze Bethany’s hand. “You know it’s all going to be alright, don’t you?” Bethany ignores me as she leans into the limo to strap Peanut into his car seat. I smile as I watch her, wondering how many limos have a built-in car seat. Another purchase I made for Bethany after Peanut was born.

“What’s be alright, Uncle Wuv?” Peanut questions and tilts his head down, looking at the clamp that holds him tightly in his car seat. He fiddles with the clasp but isn’t strong enough to push it down. “I no need tis, Mommy. I big. Tis for babies.” Peanut fusses the whole ride to the doctor's office about having to sit in his car seat. Bethany tries to placate him while I get lost in my own head about what I’ll do if the news isn’t good.

The car rolls to a stop in front of a single-story office building made of black glass and steel. The sign on the building reads Little Hearts Center. I lean across the seat and release Peanut from his car seat. “So, tell me a bit about this doctor, Bethany.”

Bethany reaches for Peanut, but I beat her to him and pull him into my arms as I exit the car. Bethany joins me at my side. “Her name is Dr. Lillian Vicci. She’s from Houston, Texas. She was the chief surgeon at Texas Children's Hospital for six years before she moved here to start her own practice. You know, Love, TCH is ranked as the number-one hospital in the nation for children's cardiology. That’s why I picked her.”

I shake my head at the fact that she called me Love AGAIN. “You know, Bethany, at some point in time, you’ve got to stop calling me Love.”

Bethany shakes her head. “Never; I’ll never stop calling you that, so you might as well give it up. You’d think after twenty-six years you’d get the hint that I’m never going to stop.”

Caroline, Peanut, and I take a seat in the waiting room while Bethany checks Peanut in. The office is amazing. Old-world mahogany covers the walls, oak plank flooring blends nicely, and the black leather furniture gives off a feel of a Wallstreet law office, not a Norfolk doctor’s office. I’m pulled from my thoughts when I hear someone call out, “Jefferson Eastwick.” I stand with Peanut in my arms and follow Caroline and Bethany through the door as we’re led to another room and instructed that the doctor will be with us shortly. I set Peanut on the floor, and he runs to his mom. The door quickly opens, and in steps a heavenly angel. Mahogany long curls are whisped up in a messy bun on her head. Piercing green eyes settle on Peanut as her lean, tall body kneels in front of him.

“You must be Jefferson?” Her voice is gentle and soothing.

“Peanut,” I call out in correction.

Her eyes glaze in my direction. “Excuse me?”

“We call him Peanut,” I tell her. She stands, her hand reaching out to mine. I don’t extend my hand, which causes her to pull back and turn toward Bethany.

Bethany quickly speaks up, introducing Caroline, and then me. “And this, Dr. Vicci, is my brother, Love.”

I watch as the good doctor raises her eyebrows and looks in my direction. My hand finally reaches out to her. “My name is Lincoln, Lincoln Oliver Vincent Eastwick, but my baby sister seems to find it necessary to call me Love.”

I watch as Dr. Vicci’s cheeks blush slightly as she extends her hand, clasping mine. “Dr. Lillian Olivia Vicci,” she states matter-of-factly, “so, I’d say we have something in common, don’t we?”

I shake her hand and smile while I run her statement through my mind trying to figure out what it is that we have in common, and then it hits me. Her initials spell love minus the e. Dr. Vicci explains the whole procedure, outlining the risks involved but insisting that it’s the best option available at this time. I hold Bethany’s hand and feel her squeeze it every time the good doctor lists a risk that scares her. I’m scared, too, but I’ll never show it. Peanut sits in my lap playing with his Batman and Superman figurines, oblivious to what the adults are discussing. Unconscientiously, I lower my head and kiss the top of his head when Dr. Lov tells us the sooner we do the operation, the better it will be for Peanut.

“Stop, Uncle Wuv, dis a fight zone. No kisses.” Peanut clashes his two superheroes together as if they are fighting. “See? Baman kill Supman.”

Bethany and Dr. Vicci discuss potential dates for the surgery. When the doctor suggests next Thursday, I speak up knowing that I’ve already committed to doing the charity auction. “No, that’s not good for me. Is there another day that would work?” She fingers through the screens on her iPad, then confirms she does have availability the following Monday. I gesture toward Caroline and Bethany to confirm it works for them before I commit to the good doctor to schedule us in before sending a text to my assistant to empty all my appointments for that day and the following week. I do not want any interruptions during those days, so that I can focus solely on what Peanut and Bethany need.