Lucy spots the bandage on my arm instantly. “You got a shot?”
“Team shot day,” I tell her seriously. “Everyone had to get one.”
She studies my face. “Did you cry?”
“No.”
“Did it hurt?”
“A little pinch is all. We need it to stay healthy.”
She nods solemnly, absorbing that.
Dr. Kaplan smiles gently. “Lucy just needs one booster today. The fourth DTaP. Once she gets that, she meets New York preschool requirements.”
“One,” Lucy repeats.
“One,” Hildy confirms, sitting beside her. Lucy slides into Hildy’s lap.
I step close, and Lucy reaches for my hand without looking.
“Ready?” Dr. Kaplan asks softly.
Lucy squeezes tighter.
“One breath,” Hildy whispers.
The needle goes in quickly.
A sharp gasp. A startled cry.
Then it’s over.
“All done,” Dr. Kaplan says.
Lucy blinks through tears. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
She buries her face into Hildy’s shoulder for a few seconds, then pulls back, visibly proud. “I did it.”
“You did,” I say, looking at Dr. Kaplan. “Now, if Lucy brings Axel to school, does he need one, too?”
She smirks and then looks at Lucy, “Is Axel going to be?—”
“Yes,” she grins.
With everything done and another visit for Lucy scheduled, we head into the hallway.
“Well,” I say lightly, “since we’re all here and everyone was so brave…”
She eyes me. “What?”
“Dinner,” I say. “Just the three of us. And maybe we look at backpacks for school after.”
Lucy freezes mid-step.
“For school?”
