“Oh, come on princess, don’t leave me hanging like that.”
For the first time in hours she laughed. Giggled more like it, and then hooked her finger around Dr. Eric’s and they shook. Then she took Tundra in her lap, much like she was sitting on Jethro, and held her left front leg.
“Your left arm hurts?”
“No.” She moved her hand up to where Tundra’s leg joined her body.
“Your shoulder, okay. Did you fall down or did he pull on it?”
She turned Tundra around and folded the leg behind her back.
Dr. Eric winced. “I bet that hurt a lot.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to do my best not to hurt you but I need to see how far you can move your arm so I can figure out whether you should go to the hospital. Can you sit Tundra up so I can show you?”
She did and Dr. Eric moved the leopard’s leg slowly and gently but it still looked scary. Like it would hurt. Her shoulder already hurt.
“That’s how I’m going to check out your arm, okay? If it hurts, you tell me to stop. And I bet Tundra won’t mind if you squeeze her super hard if you’re worried. And your—”
Dr. Eric’s gaze flickered to Jethro behind her. She had a sudden pulse of embarrassment that she’d called him Daddy. They hadn’t discussed that, hadn’t played together or even talked about having a scene, never mind her hoisting that weight on him. And she’d yelled at him and been mean after he’d been kind to her. Mess, mess, she was a hot mess.
“Daddy. I’m her daddy.”
Jethro’s even but firm response made her so grateful she had to blink back tears. Dr. Eric didn’t pause even though she noticed Hudson’s brows rise.
“I bet your daddy won’t mind if you squeeze his hand either.”
Jethro laid a hand near her knee and squeezed gently. “You do whatever you need to do, baby. I’m right here, no matter what.”