A New Beginning in Family

A few days had passed since that conversation with my father. Although I hadn't spoken much with him again, I felt that something inside me had changed. I no longer hated him. I couldn't say that I fully understood him, nor that our relationship was fixed, but there was a new space for understanding. Instead of staying trapped in my thoughts, I decided to spend most of my time at Lindsay's house. It was easier to be there, surrounded by her warmth and the always unpredictable energy of Olivia when she called via video chat to plan our trip to her house.

Now, we were about to leave. The plan was clear: we would spend a week at our respective homes to take care of some matters, then spend the rest of the vacation at the Hart mansion, where we would formally meet Olivia's parents. It was an exciting prospect, though also intimidating. I knew the Harts were an influential family, and although I usually wasn't impressed by titles or wealth, I wanted to make a good first impression.

"So, what do you think we should bring them?" I asked as we had breakfast in Lindsay's kitchen.

She looked up from her coffee cup and smiled faintly.

"Gifts? Well, I thought maybe flowers would be appropriate. Or perhaps a bonsai. Something elegant but not too ostentatious."

I nodded, considering the idea. A bonsai had a certain charm. It was a detail that reflected care and patience, qualities that Olivia's parents would likely appreciate.

"I like the idea of the bonsai," I said finally. "It's different, but not too extravagant. For my part, I think I'll bring a bottle of wine from my father's collection. Something classic and refined."

Lindsay looked at me curiously.

"Are you really going to give a bottle of wine? How special is it?"

I smiled, knowing she would understand the magnitude of my choice.

"Not just any wine. I'm thinking of a Château Lafite-Rothschild. It's one of the best in the world, and my father has several bottles in his cellar. I know it's a big gesture, but I also want to show respect. Besides, if Olivia's parents are as sophisticated as she is, I'm sure they'll appreciate the detail."

Lindsay nodded, impressed.

"Well, if we're bringing a bonsai and a wine of that caliber, we'll definitely make a good impression."

After breakfast, we went to a specialized ornamental plant store. As we searched for the perfect bonsai, I couldn't help but make a comment.

"You know, this reminds me of The Karate Kid ," I said, pointing to a small twisted plant in a white ceramic pot. "Remember the scene where Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel-san how to prune a bonsai?"

Lindsay laughed, leaning down to examine the plant.

"Of course I do. Though I doubt we'll have to learn karate to take care of this one. Then again… who knows, maybe Olivia has some secret ritual to keep it alive."

We picked out a beautiful bonsai, with delicately shaped branches and an air of tranquility that seemed perfect for the occasion. Then, I returned home to select the wine. I entered my father's wine cellar, a place that had always seemed almost sacred to me. The shelves were filled with bottles labeled with years and names that resonated in the world of wine. Finally, I found what I was looking for: a bottle of Château Lafite-Rothschild from 1996. It was a liquid masterpiece, and I knew it would be an unforgettable gift.

When I returned to Lindsay's house, she was finishing packing her bags. I offered to help her, though I quickly discovered that Lindsay had a meticulous system for everything.

"No, no, that shirt goes in the carry-on," she told me when I tried to fold a garment to put it in the main suitcase.

I raised my hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright. I was just trying to help."

She gave me an amused look.

"Sack, I know you mean well, but if I let you help without supervision, I'll probably end up with all my things wrinkled or poorly organized."

I laughed, admitting she was probably right. After a few minutes of teamwork (and some jokes about how Olivia would react if we arrived with messy suitcases), we finally finished.

The trip to the airport was calm. We sat together on the plane, and although we were both excited about what awaited us, we also took the opportunity to rest.

"Do you think Olivia's parents will be as intense as she is?" I asked quietly as I adjusted my seat to get more comfortable.

Lindsay smiled, closing her eyes briefly before responding.

"Probably. But I also think they have a warm side. Olivia can be extravagant and direct, but she's also incredibly loyal and affectionate. That has to come from somewhere."

I nodded thoughtfully.

"You're right. Besides, if we've managed to live with Olivia organizing every detail of our lives at Stanford, I'm sure we can handle anything her parents throw at us."

We chuckled softly, sharing that moment of complicity before closing our eyes and letting ourselves drift off into the exhaustion of the journey.

When we landed, the vibrant atmosphere of the airport woke us from our drowsiness. We collected our luggage and headed toward the exit, where Olivia was supposedly waiting for us. And sure enough, there she was. With a huge sign that read "WELCOME, FUTURE SPOUSES" in bright letters and loud colors, Olivia stood out among the crowd. It looked like the sign had been designed to promote a car wash rather than welcome friends.

"There you are! My two favorites!" Olivia shouted, running toward us with open arms. She hugged us enthusiastically, nearly knocking us over with her excitement.

"Olivia, did you really have to bring a sign like that?" Lindsay asked, trying to contain her laughter.

"Of course," Olivia replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I wanted to make sure you'd see me among all these ordinary people. Besides, the chauffeur told me I couldn't use a drone with a floating message because it might violate some safety rule. So I went with the next best thing."

I shook my head, smiling.

"Only you could turn a simple welcome into a Hollywood-worthy spectacle."

As we talked, Olivia's chauffeur, a tall and elegant man dressed in an impeccable suit, approached to help us with our luggage. Without saying a word, he began loading them into the trunk of a shiny black car that looked like it had stepped out of a luxury magazine.

"Hop in, hop in," Olivia said, gesturing toward the car. "My parents are eager to meet you. Well, actually, I told them that you two are basically medical geniuses in training, so now they have very high expectations."

Lindsay and I exchanged a nervous glance.

"What did you tell them?" I asked incredulously. "Olivia, we're undergrads; we're not even in medical school yet."

"Relax," Olivia responded, winking at me. "I just exaggerated a little. I told them that Lindsay could save lives with her eyes closed and that you're like a surgical superhero."

Lindsay covered her face with her hands, muttering something about how we'd never survive this visit.

During the ride to the mansion, Olivia didn't stop talking for a second. She told us stories about her childhood, described her parents in such detail that it felt like we already knew them, and even mentioned that she had planned a welcome dinner with a specially designed menu to impress us.

"I hope you like lobster," Olivia said, looking at us with a mischievous smile. "Because if not, we'll have to improvise. Though, honestly, who doesn't like lobster?"

Lindsay and I laughed, though part of me still wondered what we had gotten ourselves into.