Erica Yang

When the college health clinic discovers Bonnie Deluca was born with a hole in the wall of her heart, she finds herself suddenly facing surgery -- and the family she's been estranged from since leaving home. They don't accept her girlfriend, don't respect her needs, and aren't the people she wants making her medical decisions if anything goes wrong. A friendly nurse points out that a new option has become available in their state: thanks to marriage equality, Bonnie can make Tina her next of kin.<br><br>Tina Harper never thought she'd be getting married at nineteen. In spite of her fear, she wants to be there for Bonnie as best she can. Tina agrees to marry Bonnie so she can protect her.<br><br>As she faces off with Bonnie's family, Tina can only hope Bonnie will come out of surgery wholehearted and ready to live with the decision they've made.

Wholehearted

Still, her conscience tugged at her. “Do you want me to keep them informed, though? Or maybe try to send a message to your brothers?”


Bonnie sighed. “I don’t want to shut them out, but I don’t want you to get hurt.” She squeezed Tina’s hand. “Promise you’ll take care of yourself.”


Tina nodded. She wasn’t sure what she was actually going to do, but she knew she would do her best. “Anything else you want?”


Bonnie’s hand shook in hers. “They’re saying the odds are good. Probably, a lot of this is for nothing.”


“But if I’m not here, don’t let them keep me. Okay?”


Tina nodded. “Okay.” She didn’t feel nearly as strong as she sounded, but she knew that what really mattered right now was to help Bonnie feel safe. She leaned forward and kissed her wife’s temple. “Come back wholehearted. I’ll be waiting for you.”


Chapter 18