the thing about Mae

Ben wasn't sure he knew what to do, when they took Mae into surgery on the night of her Ugly Sweater Party. There were complications. Honestly, he wasn't sure he could get past all the agony she was in. It looked like he was staying calm, but he must have paced up and down the corridor for what seemed hours on the night before the night of Christmas eve.

And then he heard his dad talking to Caden in the waiting room. Ben felt faint.

"Well, that's your Mama in there, you know." Ben's dad tousled Caden's curls. "See, your real Mama was doing her sister a favor, cause she couldn't have kids. But she didn't know then, how sick your dad was..after awhile, it was too late and well, we didn't even know about you. Then your Mama found your Daddy at the library."

"Oh." Caden nodded. "So that's why they work there?"

"Of course." Caden's grandfather smiled at him.

"And they love each other, very much." His grandfather went on to say.

Caden nodded in agreement.

Ben hugged himself then, thinking they should have decided this together. Then again, Mae was indecisive.

He nursed his bottom lip now, hoping she would be OK. It would be rather unlikely that Mae could have any children, naturally.

All he wanted to do was hug her, but the tears came, and he cried until he thought he might be sick. Yet, he would be here for her, no matter what.