Peter nodded.“Poor, poor arm.Poor poor poor.”
She sniffled and sighed.“I falled.Next time I will not.”
JP loved that she wasn’t saying she’d never climb the monkey bars again, just that she wouldn’t fall again.“That’s my girl.”
She nodded to him.“I am, Dad.I am yours.”
“You so are.”He gave her a careful hug.She was such a stud.
“Okay.I’m going to put this soft cast on, then the hard stuff after.You’ll need to stay still.Is everyone comfortable where they’re at?”
“You ready, sweetie?”JP asked Tori who was sitting next to him on the bed, clinging to his hand with her good one.
“I be brave, Dad,” she declared.“Hold my hand.”
Ian’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’ve got it, and I won’t let go,” he promised.
She nodded and squeezed his hand, staring into him, eyes burning.He didn’t break that gaze, letting her use him to help her be strong.
“This shouldn’t hurt at all.Are you ready?”
“Uh-huh.I gotted this.”
“My so very brave girl.”He squeezed her hand.
“After, we’ll order a pizza at home if you want to.”Ian smiled at her.
“Do you want pizza, Dad?”
“I want whatever you want, sweetie.”
“I want a hug and to go home.”She was beginning to panic, he could see it in her face.
“We’re almost there.The doctor just needs to finish that cast.And then me and Daddy will take you and Petey home, and we can sit and watch a movie together and maybe have ice cream before we have pizza?”
The tears were starting.“I wanna go home now.Please Dad.Daddy.Please.”
He wanted to just get up and carry her home, but he knew she needed the cast.“Soon, sweetie.The doctors won’t be much longer.”
“Please don’t cry, sister.Please.Daddy, make it better.”
Ian smiled, the expression watery.“That’s what we’re doing.Making it better.”
JP nodded and squeezed Tori’s hand.“You’ve got this.I promise you do.And once the cast is on, Daddy is going to drive us home, and you can just be you, only with a cast.”She could melt down, or cry, or be not brave as much as she wanted.She just needed to muscle through for a little bit longer.
“Forever?”
“No, baby.”Ian shook his head.“Six weeks.It will be off before you start school.”
Her little body relaxed.“And hockeying?”
“And hockey classes, yes.”Ian sighed.
JP bit back his chuckle, because he didn’t think that Ian would appreciate it right now.
“There we go.You’re all set now.”The doctor looked her right in the eye.“No running for at least three weeks now, okay?You have to let it heal.”
