Love, weddings and babys

The last days with Toby

Christmas was over and the new year had just begun. Toby was almost 16 years old and had many problems the last time. "I'm afraid of Toby, Shane. Do you remember what the man in the home for animals said?" "Yes, he said it could be his last christmas.  Now he had another christmas with us.", Shane stroked him. "I feel that he is to old for life Shane.", Charlotte cried. "He has pain when he is walking.  Maybe we should go to the animal doctor." "Yes, let's do this Shane." They drove to the animal doctor with Toby.  He gave him medicine. "Mr. and Ms. Filan, I don't want lie.", the doctor begun. "Toby is old and you should put up with it that this are Tobys last weeks, maybe only a few days. But when his pain are getting more please come to me." Charlotte had tears in her eyes. Shane and Charlotte couldn't believe it, but they knew that it was time to say goodbye very soon. From now they made short walks with him, and let him sleep the whole day at the fireside. The medicine made it easier for him and Toby recovered over the next four weeks.
Charlottes pregancy was in the end. At the 14th February,  it was early in the morning she got her contractions. "Shane.", she said. Shane,  wake up." "Baby,  it's five in the morning", he murmured. "Shane, I have contractions. The baby comes." "The baby? Oh my god. The baby? , he said. "Yes Shane, we should go to the hospital." Shane jumped up, changed his clothes,  helped Charlotte with the dress, jumped down, drunk a cup of coffee and called his mum because of Toby. "Shane, keep calm. Please call my parents and my sister." "Ok, baby. Come let's go. My mum will come to look for Toby." They drove to the Sligo hospital and five hours later Marie was born. "She is so beautiful. She looks like you. I'm so proud of you. The best valentines day.  ", Shane said. "She has your eyes Shane, she is your little girl. Happy valentines day." After they were alone to enjoy the first moments with Marie, all came to congratulate both.  Emely with Kian, Mark with Sarah, Shanes parents,  Charlottes parents and Nico with Maria. "Where is Toby?", Shane asked his mum. "Toby is ok, your neighbour is looking for him. Your daughter looks like you Shane,  when you were a baby.", Shanes mum said and cried. Shane stayed in the hospital for three nights. Toby was ok. The neighbour would look after him. Shanes brothers snd sisters came with the families the next days to welcome Marie.
Then Shane could proudly bring his family home. "Welcome home Marie.", he said holding his daughter. "That's your room, I hope you like it and here is the bedroom of your mummy and daddy. The most important room is our kitchen." "Shane she is three days old.", Charlotte laughed. "Marie, you're my little girl and if you are 16 I will have a look at the boys you'll bring home.", he kissed her softly. Shane sat down on the sofa. "Toby,  come here boy. Look, this is Marie." The dog walked very slowly snuffled at Marie and wagged his tail. "Good boy, Toby.", Shane stroked him. "Shane,  I want to make a photo with us four before Toby will...., she couldn't say the whole sentence. "Yes, we can do it. Please hold Marie." Shane stood up and came back with the camera and put it on the tripod. Then all sat on the sofa.  Shane took his arms around Charlotte.  She was holding the baby and Toby sat next to Shane. "Please smile now.",? Shane said.  One, two, three, click. And again.  One, two, three, click. "Shane took the camera and showed the pictures Charlotte. "It's perfect Shane. Our little family.", she stroked Toby and cried. Charlotte put Marie in her baby bed and Toby tried to walk the steps. Shane helped him. Toby layed beside the baby bed the whole night. Before Shane and Charlotte went to bed they stroked him. "We love you Toby. You are our boy in the family." Both kissed him softly on his head and he looked at them.
When Charlotte woke up on the next morning,  Toby still lyed there. "Toby, my boy.", she whispered and stroked him. But there was no breath. Toby was dead. She cried and cried. Shane woke up and saw Charlotte crying and sitting down next to Toby. "Charlotte,  is he....", Shane asked. "Yes." Both hugged each other. At midday Shane buried him in the garden. Charlotte and Shane stood long at his grave and cried.