The Single Dad (The Dalton Family #3)(94)

Without any hesitation, I pushed myself off the wall, continuing to hold Sydney’s hand. We walked out of the room and followed the nurse down the hallway.

I needed Sydney with me.

I didn’t know what we would be walking into, how banged up Everly would be.

But I needed Sydney’s strength.

She held my fingers with both of her hands, keeping up with my pace as we passed several corridors, finally arriving at post-op.

Once we got to Everly’s bed, my chest ached.

There were pads stuck to her chest, machines beeping as they monitored her, a needle taped to the crease of her elbow, which was attached to a full IV stand.

My baby.

She was so tiny in the bed, her head so small as it sank into the pillow.

I looked at the nurse as she said, “She’s going to be a bit out of it from the anesthesia. Don’t worry; we’ve got all eyes on her, and we’ll be handling her pain.”

I thanked her and moved to Everly’s side, sitting on the bed next to her. I pressed my lips against her forehead, my eyes closing as I breathed her in. “My princess. I love you so much.”

As I pulled my mouth away, her eyes fluttered open.

And as she stared at me, I saw the recognition in her eyes.

“Daddy … where am I?”

I held back the emotion—she didn’t need to see that—and kissed her cheek. “We were in a car accident, and the doctors had to fix you up, but you’re going to be okay, baby girl.” I held her hand and brought it up to my face. Her skin, usually so warm, was cold, the scent nothing like I was used to. “You’ve been such a big girl, my Eve. You fought so hard today and did so well.”

There was movement on the other side of Everly as Sydney took a seat next to her.

Everly’s lips were so dry as they parted. “Hi, Syd.”

“Eve,” Sydney whispered, “my little muffin.” She rubbed Everly’s leg over the blanket. “You’re the strongest girl I know.”

Everly’s eyes got heavy, and they closed.

I didn’t panic.

I knew she would go in and out until the anesthesia wore off.

But just because she was sleeping didn’t mean I was going to leave her side.

I wasn’t going anywhere.

I’d continue listening to the beep of the machines. I’d watch her chest rise and fall.

And I’d think about how grateful I was that her injuries were treatable, that she would make a full recovery.

I rubbed my hand over her forehead, sinking my fingers into her curls, my thumb reaching down to brush her cheeks. “My ever and ever, my little Everly.”

“Ford …”

My eyes shifted to Sydney.

“Is that how you came up with her name?”

I was sure she had other questions.

I was sure the conversation I’d had in the waiting room was far from over.

But I nodded and replied, “When Rebecca placed her in my arms and I finally made my way inside my house and it all hit me”—I swallowed and tried to take a breath, the emotion returning—“I knew only one thing. Ever and ever—that was how long she’d be mine.”





Twenty-Four





Sydney





“How are the patients doing today?” Gabby asked as I set my phone on speaker mode, placing it on the counter in my bathroom.

Even though Ford had told me to take all the time I needed, I’d given myself thirty minutes to shower and get dressed and return to his side of the house.

I didn’t want to take a second longer.

Because even though he didn’t want to put any pressure on me, he needed me.

Everly did too.

And in my heart, there was no better feeling.

“Eve is much better,” I told her as I rubbed lotion over my skin. “But her ribs are still so sore. Every time she moves, she winces.”

“Oh God, can’t they give her something to make this go away? That poor little girl has been through enough. This pain needs to stop already.”

“You’re telling me.” I put the lotion away and applied some deodorant along with adding serum and moisturizer to my face before I took a seat on the bench in the back of the bathroom, waiting for the slickness on my skin to dry. “It’s just going to take time. But we’re icing and giving her Motrin—that’s really all we can do.”

“And Ford? How’s he doing after surgery?”

My pillar of strength, who hadn’t even acknowledged anything was wrong with his arm until I forced him to get it looked at. Of course, that was after Everly got out of surgery and was in her hospital room and I promised him, along with his mom, that we wouldn’t leave her side while he was gone.

The way his arm had broken wouldn’t heal with just a cast. He’d needed a three-hour surgery and the insertion of several screws and a plate. He’d be wearing a cast for up to twelve weeks.

“I can see the pain all over his face even though he won’t admit it.” I sighed. “He’s far too worried about Everly to give himself any thought. At least he’s somewhat following the surgeon’s orders and taking it easy.”

“You’ve got your hands full, woman.”

I looked at myself in the mirror above the sinks. My wet hair was wrapped in a towel, pulling my forehead high. My skin dewy, giving me that perfect glow.