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FORD

“Spurlock?”

I stood up so fast that my head spun. “That’s us.”

The nurse smiled and said, “Your son made it through surgery just perfectly. He’s in recovery now and waking up as we speak. Follow me, and I’ll take you back to him.”

I grabbed my wife’s hand and tugged her along in my wake, my long legs nearly doubling hers.

“Ford,” Ashe growled. “Slow down!”

I did, but only because if I didn’t, I’d be outpacing the nurse that was showing us back to our son, and I had no clue where to go.

I’d never felt this kind of fear before.

Sure, I was scared when they were born, but I hadn’t ever experienced anything like the fear of my child dying before.

Yet, that was exactly what had happened last week when we were informed that our son had a problem.

Which led us to now.

In Dallas, hours away from home, we were on our way to our son who’d just had lifesaving surgery.

The doctor—anesthesiologist— met us in the hall right outside Chevy’s room.

The one from earlier that’d given our son the assurance he needed, even though he didn’t have to.

He held out his hand and shook mine before handing my wife my son’s favorite stuffed animal.

“Wrapped him up just like your kiddo,” he said as he tapped the bear’s belly. “Everything went exactly right. You got a great kid.”

“I know.” I smiled. “He’s pretty fuckin’ special, isn’t he?”

Chevy clapped me on the back and headed out, going to an auburn-haired bombshell that was waiting for him farther down the hallway.

Ashe pushed past me and headed to our boy’s side, her hands going to his face as she whispered, “Chevy, baby. It’s me.”

Chevy’s bright blue eyes peeled open, and he smiled. “Hi, Mama.”

“Hi, baby,” she replied. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.” He smiled. “Sleepy.”

A throat cleared behind us, and I glanced back to see my dad there, waiting for me to give him the green light to come in.

I jerked my chin and said, “He’s good.”

Dad, the man that I’d once thought invincible, cleared his throat.

His voice was a little watery as he said, “Scared the shit out of me.”

“Same.” I threw my arm around him. “Thanks for coming.”

“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”