Author's Note: Recently, Andrea (iloveromance) suggested that I try to do more longer stories (i.e., non-one-shots). So I decided to see what I could do about that, and this resulted. I don't have the last chapter written yet, but I'll try to get it up ASAP. :)
"Grandpa's no fun anymore." Daphne was surprised to hear her four-year-old son make this announcement just as she'd picked him up from his grandfather and step-grandmother's house. She'd left him there for a few hours so that she could run errands.
When Daphne recovered from her shock, she kneeled down to David's height. "Why do you say that?"
"Because he doesn't want to play with me. He's sad all the time."
Daphne felt her heart break. She and Niles had noticed the change in Martin's behavior, but they'd convinced themselves it would go away on its own. Apparently that wasn't the case, if a little boy could see the signs. "Well, your grandfather hasn't been himself lately. Not since Eddie passed away." Martin's faithful companion had finally succumbed to old age a couple of months ago.
David merely looked at her, not understanding what she was talking about.
"You know how you sometimes miss Daddy while he's at work? That's how Grandpa feels about Eddie. Only Eddie's never coming back." Daphne did her best to put death into terms her son could understand.
"Ever?" David asked. He sometimes got upset when one of his parents left, but he knew they'd always come back eventually.
"No," Daphne replied, shaking her head sadly. "That's not how death works, sweetheart."
For a moment, David didn't say anything. Daphne thought maybe that was the end of the conversation. David often didn't stay on one topic for long. It would only be a matter of minutes before he would become excited over almost anything he happened to notice. But, to her surprise, he finally did speak again. "Well, why doesn't he get a new dog?"
Daphne didn't know how to answer his question. It seemed that she and Niles had overlooked the painfully obvious answer. They'd discussed the possibility of recommending a therapist who might be able to help with his grief. But they both knew Martin would never agree to see a professional, not even one recommended by his own sons. Getting a new dog had seemed wrong somehow, as if Eddie were replaceable. He'd been by Martin's side for so long, he became a member of the family. But Daphne thought about her father-in-law. He was definitely lost without Eddie, and no amount of encouragement from either Daphne or Ronee could help him. A new dog, however, might just be the healing he needed. "I'll talk it over with your father tonight. Maybe we'll go to a shelter and pick one out as a surprise for your grandfather. How about that?"
Suddenly, all of the sadness in David's expression melted away. His smile warmed Daphne, and she had a feeling his suggestion might just do the same for Martin.