Page 59 of Almost Ours
The paramedics worked quickly–securing Connor to the stretcher, slipping an oxygen mask over his face.
One of them turned to Ryan. “You should get checked out too.”
Ryan barely glanced at them. “I’m fine.”
But he wasn’t. His lips were still tinged blue. His hands still trembled. Water dripped from his clothes, clinging to his body, his breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts. He looked like he was barely holding himself together.
I didn’t have the strength to argue.
All that mattered was getting Connor to the hospital.
I stood, never letting go of my son as I followed the paramedics to the ambulance.
Ryan was right behind me.
At the open doors, he hesitated–just for a second–before meeting my eyes. “I’ll be right behind you.”
The doors shut, sealing us inside.
And then we were moving–sirens splitting through the frozen night as we raced toward the hospital.
Connor was goingto be okay.
The doctor’s words echoed in my head, over and over, as if my brain refused to believe them.
Completely fine.
I gripped the side of Connor’s hospital bed, my knuckles white, staring at him like I might blink and he’d disappear.
He was here. Warm. Safe. Alive.
His tired eyes met mine, a slow, lopsided smile pulling at his lips.
“Mom, you’re staring.” His voice was scratchy but teasing. “Kinda creepy.”
I let out a breathless laugh, my vision blurring with tears. “Get used to it, kid. You’re not getting rid of me.”
The doctor smiled. “He’s doing really well. No signs of hypothermia or lung damage. It’s normal that he doesn’t remember being in the water–that’s just the brain protecting itself. His memory is sharp, and his vitals are strong. We’ll keep him overnight for observation and IV fluids, but I have no doubt he’ll be running around again in no time.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I nodded, my chest tightening. Too much emotion. Too much relief. I felt like I might burst from it.
Connor reached for my hand. “Hey, Mom?”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, baby?”
His lips twitched. “Does this mean I get out of chores for a week?”
A laugh broke free, shaking my whole body as the tears slipped down my cheeks. I leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to his forehead. “We’ll discuss your payment plan later.”
His soft chuckle filled the room, the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.
I needed to tell everyone.
I stepped out of the hospital room and into the waiting area–and stopped dead in my tracks.
It was packed.
Benny, Mrs. Knox, Ryan, Nina, Shane, and Liam were all there, along with the entirety of Connor’s hockey team. The parents, the kids, even Patti.
