Page 96 of Fierce-Dane

He wondered if there was an accident and didn’t know how to broach it.

He pulled his phone out and texted Sloane if everything was okay in the bathroom.

She grabbed her phone and replied back that someone had a bellyache and must have been holding it for a week with the way she was grunting.

He held back his laugh, then typed back to get used to it. She’ll have to monitor those things as kids hold it.

He put his phone away. “Does anything hurt on you?” he asked Shiloh. “I noticed you had a little limp when you walked back.”

It was the first time he’d had a chance to see her walking.

“My toes hurt.”

“All of them or just one?” he asked. “I’m a doctor, remember. I only see kids. They are my specialty.”

He was smiling when he said it.

“All my toes.”

“Switch seats with her,” he told Sloane.

Shiloh was on the end now and he had her put her foot on his leg. He pulled her shoes off and noticed her toes were all red with marks on them, then turned the shoe around and held the soles of the cheap sneakers to her foot. She wasn’t even wearing socks but not all sneakers required them now.

“What’s wrong?” Sloane asked.

“At leasta size too small,” he said, letting out a sigh. Kid's feet grew fast and it was hard to monitor if someone wasn’t watching or if a child didn’t say.

“Do you want to go shopping when we are done eating?” she asked her sister.

“For what?” Shiloh asked.

“New sneakers,” he said. “We’ll make sure your feet don’t hurt anymore. Do you have any other shoes or sandals?”

“No,” Shiloh said.

“Then we’ll have some fun shopping and get you sneakers right away,” he said. “Your sister loves to shop, right, Sloane?”

He was only guessing but trying to be encouraging. “That’s right,” she said. “I love it. We are going to have some fun at the mall.”

“What’s a mall?” Shiloh asked.

“It’s a place with a lot of stores,” Sloane said. “I’m sure Mom takes you to other places for clothing and shoes.”

He could guess it was second-hand shops.

Their food came out right after and Shiloh wasn’t shy at all eating.

She cleaned her plate fast and he started to wonder how hungry she might be for a kid who said she didn’t eat much.

“Do you want some more?” he asked. “Or maybe a dessert? They’ve got ice cream.”

“I like ice cream. I’ve had it at birthday parties at daycare.”

“I love ice cream,” he said. “I could go for a big bowl of it. How about you, Sloane?”

“Ice cream happens to be one of my favorite treats.”

Hours later they opened the door to the hotel room.