20. From I'm Nova - Toby knows.
After a chase through the streets of London that ended at 2 am, Toby the dog was led into my parlor. It was too late to return him to his kennel, and Holmes had made some excuse as to why I should keep him for the night. I made him a nest of blankets close to fire, poured some water into a saucer, and went to bed myself, satisfied by exhausted by the day's labors. I slipped into bed beside Mary, who had been battling an illness; she was pale and tired and easily nauseated. She stirred but a little, then quieted.
Mary adored Toby, and pet him endlessly. I had to smile at the sight of him flipped on his stomach, tongue lolling in bliss, as she scratched his chest and cooed to him. I doubted the dog had ever been spoiled so. Mary gave him ham and gravy for meals and wouldn't stop fussing over him. For his part, Toby seemed equally infatuated. He trotted after Mary everywhere she went, and would crawl into her lap when she sat and nose at her stomach, tail thumping.
"Oh, I am sorry to see him go," she said wistfully when Holmes came to collect him the following night. Toby whined in agreement.
"Perhaps we ought to get a puppy and make three," I suggested. Mary's expression changed minutely, but I couldn't place it.
"I do think an expansion is coming," she said. Toby looked at me like he knew something I didn't.
Holmes smiled and made his leave, and I turned to my wife, who informed me I was going to be a father.