(no subject)
Lily playing happily in her crib, Lee makes his way downstairs to start a pot of coffee for himself and to get the family pets their morning meals. As he’s shaking food into Dizzy’s bowl the cat comes running into the kitchen and twines himself betweens the surgeon’s feet, eager to get at the kibble.
“Morning, cat.” He absently pats the animal’s head as he looks around for Munch. The dog’s nowhere to be seen which strikes him as odd. Usually they have to fight the larger animal off as he tries to eat not only his food but the cat’s too. He shrugs it off and goes about filling Munch’s bowl too, figuring the dog is somewhere in the house destroying something and will come eat later.
It’s not until later in the morning, after he’s fed Lily, that he starts to worry about the dog’s whereabouts. He’s cleaning up breakfast dishes while Lily plays on the kitchen floor. Once the little girl manages to scoot her way across the floor to the kitchen table, Lee joins her, sitting on the floor beside her.
“Hey baby girl…” He trails off as he finally locates the family’s dog. Munch is lying under the table, head on paws, sleeping. Or not. The animal is oddly still and Lee places a reluctant hand on his side, a heavy feeling settling into his gut as he does. “Oh, no Munch.”
Lily, thinking that Daddy is playing with the dog as he feels for a pulse, any sign of life, reaches for the lab’s ear and tugs on it. Lee gently uncurls her tiny fingers and scolds her for the act even though he knows the dog isn’t going to feel it. “Come on, Lilybug, leave the doggy alone.”
After settling Lily in the den with some toys, Lee forces himself to go back to the kitchen to deal with the dog he’s spent fourteen years alternately cursing and praising. As he picks the body up from the floor he’s somewhat shocked to realize how much wait the dog had lost. “I’m sorry, pooch.” He means the quiet apology as he places Munch in his dog bed, knowing he needs to call the veterinarian about bringing the body in for disposal.
He sighs. That’s not the only call he’ll need to make. He has to tell Sophia first. He decides he won’t tell Abby until she calls to say good night, not wanting to add to her worries while she’s so far from home.