“These are your last few hours here!” my dad says. He pats my leg, makes a strange sound in his throat.

Goldy puts her hand on his shoulder, and I can watch her do it without wanting to punch anything.

“Me neither,” I say.

“I’m so happy you’re okay, Flora,” Goldy says. I’m surprised she didn’t say we.

But I bite my tongue and say, “Thank you. Thank you for coming to visit me. Both of you.”

My dad is nodding, and he makes that throat sound again. It’s the same sound he made when he told me about him and Mom divorcing.

“I think you guys should come to New York,” I say. “Maybe see Randy. See my friends.”

My dad says, “We’d love that.”

He looks at Goldy, and she’s nodding too. “I haven’t been to New York since high school.”

My first thought is that was only a few years ago, but I say, “Have you ever been to Brooklyn?”

“Fuhgeddaboudit!” she says, in a really bad, loud Brooklyn accent that makes my eyeballs itch.

I try to smile, but my dad says, “Goldy, that was awful.”

They both laugh, and I laugh too.

“So, that’s a no?” And we all laugh again.

“You have everything you need for your flight? Your mother has your flight info?” my dad says, looking around my room.

“Yep.”

“You’re checked in? You have your seat?”

“Kenneth, she’s been on an airplane before.”

“I know, but this time is different.”

“How?” I ask.

“After everything you’ve gone through,” my dad says, waving his hand. I look at him, waiting for him to go on, and he says, “Oh, who am I kidding? You could handle a flight around the world and back and still be cool as a cucumber.”

Goldy says, “Cool as a cucumber?”

My dad waves his hand again. “You know, unfazed. Relaxed. Cooool.”

Goldy and I look at each other and laugh. “You are such a dweeb,” I tease.

We watch The Price Is Right, like we have for all their morning visits, and then it’s time for them to go.

My dad gives me a big hug, and it feels so comfortable and familiar. Last time I hugged him good-bye at the airport in the Dominican Republic, I was so mad at him and Goldy for ruining my spring break. For taking me away from Becca and Jenna. For taking me away from my mom. But now I couldn’t be more grateful to them for giving me a chance to meet Oliver. Even if he’s grossed out by me and hates me.

I hug Goldy, and this time I let myself relax into her hug.

I don’t feel angry anymore, but I don’t feel 100 percent happy about everything either. I know that’s okay, though. It took time for me to recover from mono, and it’s going to take time for me to recover from all the changes my family has been through. That I’ve been through.

“I love you, Flora Cracker. I don’t think any of us will forget this spring break anytime soon.”

“I love you, Dad.” I look him in the eyes when I say it, and he hugs me again.

He makes the throat noise one more time, and Goldy puts her arm around him as they walk out the door together. They take off their hazmat suits, then stand at the window outside my room blowing kisses at me, my dad dabbing his eyes.

They turn around and walk down the hallway together, holding hands.