At their follow-up visit, the vet smiled as Grace bounded onto the scale. “She’s gained weight,” she said. “Strong heart, clear lungs.” Lucky yawned dramatically as if to agree.
Thomas scratched behind Grace’s ears, pride warming his voice. “You hear that? Gold star.” Lucky head-butted the stethoscope and sneezed, earning a laugh from the whole room.
“You saved them,” the vet told Thomas later, quietly. He shook his head. “She saved him. I just gave them a ride.”
On the drive home, Grace rested her chin on the console, eyes soft and steady, as if she understood every word.
