Chapter 84

“Huh? Hold? Who?”

“Her. She wants you.”

“Why?”

“Ask her.” Tucker handed Olivia over to an obviously-uncertain Chad. “And hold on tight, but gently, like you’re holding a baby.”

“I’ve never held a baby.”

Tucker headed toward the opening. “No nieces and nephews yet?”

“Three. But I don’t hold them until they’re bigger.”

Tucker stepped outside with the raingear, then sat against the wall, under the awning, rather than coming back in to the front section of the barn area. “You’re doing fine.”

Chad joined him, Olivia in tow, carefully lowering himself to a seated position, at which point, Olivia climbed up onto his shoulder. “You trust me.”

“She does.”

“Her claws tickle,” Chad commented.

Tucker smiled.

The koala climbed down. Tucker thought it was to come sit on him. Instead, she moved down to Chad’s feet and started tugging on his pant leg.

“Livvie!”

The admonishment went ignored.

“What’s she doing?” Chad asked.