To my followers who have read and enjoyed the Clairemont Series, I now present "The Next Lap". Set in the fictional town of Stephens Point, a remote area of far upstate New York, this story will introduce you to a very special family and those close to them. You will be shaken as they are faced with a life-threatening medical emergency, and you'll hold your breath and hope for the best as the days unfold. The love and support of family members, as well as new friendships will inspire you, and the lessons learned about the value of each day are ones you can always hold onto. Sunday, August 19, 2018 was clearly the definition of a bad day. Todd Henderson was traveling back home from his best friend's wedding - a three-hour car drive, and he was still an hour out when his cell phone rang. That's how he learned that his father, a man who had always been active and loved to ride his bike, had been rushed to the hospital, then into emergency surgery to address a ruptured cerebral aneurysm, and that the odds of his survival seemed slim to none. The nightmare continues as Todd gets pulled over for speeding. The female New York State trooper and her partner, after learning the circumstances, give Todd a police escort to the hospital. As it happens, the trooper can relate to what Todd is experiencing. What is her story? Does Todd's father survive? What happens to our perspective, and that of family and friends, as to what is truly important in life? I hope that you will enjoy "The Next Lap" as much as I did writing it, and will be inspired to hug your loved ones at every opportunity.