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She met Josh’s eyes. “He approves.”
Josh lifted Poirot onto the exam table for the vet to examine his paw.
Chloe wouldn’t stop fussing over Poirot. She kept petting him, adjusting his collar, scratching his ear.
Josh resisted the urge to pull her hand away. She was just being like any mother would be when they brought their child to his office because they’d been hurt.
The vet examined Poirot’s paw. “It’s not too bad. You did a good job bandaging it up, but I’m going to take him back to the procedure room and clean it up a little further and give him just two stitches. Be back in a few.”
“Okay.” Chloe’s voice shook. And so did her hands.
The vet scooped Poirot up and left the little room. As soon as the door shut, Josh reached out and placed his hand on Chloe’s back.
She collapsed against his shoulder.
He eased her down on the bench and sat with his arms around her. He felt awful for her, but at the same time he wanted to rejoice at her closeness.
He didn’t know what to say. She was probably the one who needed to process. “Talk to me.”
She pushed up off his chest and wiped her face. “This is so stupid. He’s fine. Just a little cut. He’ll be fine. I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m really not a blubbering fool.”
“You’re tired. I’m sure running into Peter’s family didn’t help.”
“Straight to it, huh?”
He almost wanted to laugh at the flatness with which she said it. He lifted one shoulder.
“Definitely didn’t help. Then I was so afraid that we wouldn’t find those two.”
“But we did—or rather, Poirot did.”
She nodded.
Josh ran his hand up and down her arm. His sister was right, he was madly in love with this woman. And it was killing him to see her hurting but keeping so much of it still tucked inside. He could tell there was more going on, but this was a highly inappropriate place to pursue that line. Could she trust him with the darkest places of her mind? He’d take care of her; he was a safe place for her. But how did he help her see that?
Pursue her. Love her as Christ loved the church. Pray for her.
He knew the answer.Lord, help Chloe. Help me help her.
She leaned back into his embrace.
They sat quietly until the vet came back about eight minutes later. They stood.
The vet laid Poirot on the table. “He’ll be just fine. Three stitches did the trick.” He gave care instructions and said, “He’ll need to stay off his paw as much as possible. I know it’ll be hard for him to lay around, but he needs to not go on any searches or long walks for at least a week.”
Chloe chuckled. “Yeah, that’ll be interesting. He likes to do his two miles every day.”
“That may be, but he can’t do that until it’s healed up some more.”
“Yes, sir.”
“He can walk some, but keep it limited.”
They left the vet’s office, and once they were back at Chloe’s Pilot, with Poirot in the back, Josh couldn’t bring himself to step away from this intriguing enigma.
“Coffee?” She poked his chest.
Fireworks ignited. Somehow he managed to squeak out a “yes.” He swallowed and glanced at his watch. “How ’bout dinner?”
