“You warm enough, baby?” I ask Corinna.

It’s not even 5:00 a.m. and we’re already down in the pre-op area. Corinna’s been scrubbed tip to toe with surgical soap, wiped down with sanitization wipes, backup IVs are in, and she has a surgical cap on over her short hair that will be removed once she’s in the operating room.

Anesthesiologists, members of her neurosurgery team, and nurses have all been by. She’s said her legal name and date of birth so many times, I’m beginning to recite it with her when people come into the curtained area.

We’re waiting on two things before she’s wheeled back in for the estimated eight-hour procedure: a quick visit by her immediate family, and Bryan’s orders to move.

“Knock, knock,” a familiar voice says suddenly. Ali peeks her head around. “We have to come back two at a time. I drew the short straw and have Phil with me.”

Corinna laughs. “That’s because Holly is too emotional, Em would just yell at him, and Cassidy’s going to be asking questions of all the doctors.” It’s incredible how she has her sisters pegged.

“That might be true, Cori, but I’ll bet their knives don’t cost as much as yours do,” Phil drawls.

Am I really hearing this?

“But I’ll bet they get more vicious when they’re not handled properly,” Corinna retorts.

Yep. Definitely happening.

“She’s got you there, Phil. Hospitals tend to get sued over stuff like that,” Ali chimes in. I look at my friend and wonder if she’s lost her mind as she turns her back and discreetly wipes her eyes.

And it’s in that moment that I understand their gallows humor. By not dwelling on the real reason for standing by Corinna’s bedside, they won’t completely lose it in front of her. Adding to the levity, I ask, “I wonder if Bryan makes custom adjustments. We could make Keene forget the combo to my safe, permanently.”

Phil snorts. Ali grins, and Corinna laughs.

“Listen, I’m still bitter about my brownies being eaten. Don’t kid yourself.”

“You’re practically living with the master baker of the universe. Can’t you figure out a way to earn some more?” Ali rolls her bright blue eyes.

Corinna laughs. “Can you imagine how bad this is going to be during recovery? He’s going to have to eat”—her voice lowers to a whisper—“store-bought cookies.”

“Hold on. You haven’t been baking stuff and freezing it? What type of sister are you?” Phil says indignantly.

“The kind with a sex life,” Corinna replies dryly.

We all laugh before quiet settles over us. Ali’s holding Corinna’s hand so tightly, it’s got to hurt her IV. Phil’s squeezing her shoulder. They don’t want to let go.

I know the feeling all too well.

“I hate to break this up…” I begin when the curtain whooshes open.

“But Corinna’s doctor is on his way up,” a sympathetic nurse finishes for me. “I understand you have a few more siblings who need to come back?”

Phil and Ali lean over to kiss Corinna, murmuring words of encouragement. Soon, they’re being whisked away. “This is harder for them now,” Corinna muses quietly. “Promise me, no matter what happens today, you won’t ignore anything unusual that happens.”

Her words don’t quite make sense, which worries me. Her fucking tumor needs to come out so I know I have my Corinna safely back by my side. I lean over and kiss her before murmuring, “I promise,” just to appease her.

The nurse guides Holly, Em, and Cassidy back, making an exception on the two-person visitor rule because of the time. The girls are trying to joke with Corinna in much the same manner Phil and Ali did when the curtain flies open again.

Only this time, it isn’t just the nurse coming to escort the girls out.

It’s Bryan.

This isn’t the friendly doctor whose visited the farm several times in the last few weeks. This is the surgeon barking out orders left and right to his team. My faith and confidence skyrocket as I see the man behind the mask of geniality come out. It’s like Clark Kent has stripped off his suit and his alter ego is flying around with his cape now. Superman is in the house.

Thank God.

Bryan sits down at the computer at Corinna’s station, clicking through screens before he even says a word to any of us.

The clock on the wall reads a few minutes before six.

“Corinna.” Sharp hazel eyes snap to her. “Are you ready?”

She barks out a laugh. “Sure. I guess that’s what you call it.”

“Are you sure?”

She nods.

He abruptly stands. “Okay. Then there are too many people here. Family, it’s time for you to go. Say your ‘see you laters’ so we can go to work.”

Em comes forward and kisses Corinna on the forehead. I don’t know if the noise in the pre-op has dimmed or if I’ve suddenly clued in, but this time I hear the murmured “This one’s for happiness.”

Cassidy comes forward and kisses her on her cheek and says quietly, “For whatever bravery you need, take it.”

Holly is the final Freeman to kiss her sister. Unlike the others, she can’t control her tears. “Use all my strength. All of our strength. Just get through this. We need you.” She kisses her other cheek, and then the three sisters are rushed out.

Corinna wipes her eyes using the sheet draped over her. “Hey, that’s my job.” I reach forward and swipe my thumb beneath them, forgetting about the hustle and bustle around us. “You have to let me do my job.”

She lets out a watery laugh. “Okay. Think you can manage a tissue?”

I kiss her lips softened by the tears. “Sure, princess.” When I stand, I bump into Bryan.

“I hate to break this up, but it’s just about time. The sooner we get started, the sooner we’ll be done.” In his scrubs, he’s ready to run through a final check with his team.

They’re ready to take Corinna back to the operating room.

Another choked sob escapes her, and I reach over and take her hand. “Can you give us one minute alone, Doc?”

“Just that, Colby. Then we need to do the final check. Until we start wheeling her, you can remain with her.” He steps outside the curtain and pulls it closed to give us an illusion of privacy, even though there’s none.

I’m grateful for whatever we’ve got.

“Corinna, look at me. Baby, see me.” I cup her jaw. “Please?”

Wet eyes stare into mine. I know I’m crying too. I feel the hot salt burn tracks down my cheeks.

“You have every right to be scared, but know this: I love you. Forever. And that isn’t going to change.” I trace around her temple where in a few hours an incision will soon be. “Not because of a scar, or what you can or can’t do other than love me. Do you love me?”

“For always,” her strangled whisper comes out.

“Then know I’ll be with you in that dark to pull you out. I love you so damn much.” I lean down and kiss her with every intent on giving her my own breath for her to come back to me. When the curtain is whooshed from behind me, I murmur, “For love.” Standing, I move back but don’t release her hand as the surgical team quickly checks her.

All too soon, they’re unlocking her bed. I hold her hand until we get to the final doorway where I can’t pass. “You have to say goodbye her here, sir,” one says politely.

I lean over and kiss her one last time. “Never forget.”

She reaches up with an IV in her hand. “I never will.”

And within seconds, she’s pushed through the doors for the fight of her life.