Page 586 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

The doctor looks at Maria first.

“Everything cleared,” he says.

“Labs, imaging, anesthesia.

“The transplant team accepted the liver.

“We’re moving forward.”

For one second, nobody moves.

Then Paola’s first to break into a cry,

collapsing over Maria.

Maria catches her with both arms.

“Grazie a Dio,” Paola sobs. “Grazie a Dio, grazie a Dio.”

Andrew stands frozen,

and Maria’s reaching for him next.

“Figlio mio,” she cries. “Come here.”

That snaps him out of it.

He crosses the room and Maria grabs his face with both hands, and the sight of it makes my throat close up.

“No,” Maria says, crying harder, waving me in. “Allison, amore mio. Come. Come.”

But I don’t know how to move.

Andrew snatches my hand and tugs me close, hand coming around my waist.

It’s the first time since Mom died, since Dad died, that I’ve stood in a hospital room, and it feels like life and not death, like pure happiness and not grief.

Andrew pulls me into him,

pressing my face against his chest.

His chin drops to my hair.

Paola jumps up and down,

“We’re getting the liver.

“We’re getting the fuckin’ liver.

“I’m calling everyone.”

Andrew tips his head back with a laugh.

“Knock yourself out.”

Behind us, the doctor taps his palm against the doorframe, telling Maria he’ll see her soon, then a quick wave before he heads out.

“We’re going to move quickly from here,” the coordinator says right behind him. “Ten minutes with family, then we’ll take her upstairs.”