The weekend went on without a hitch. They party at preschool the following friday for Mrs Lia went great - All the parents even showed up, along with the 15 preschoolers Ms Kelley had for school even showed up. Hershel sat with Beth and smiled rubbing her back as she got done hugging Mrs Lia. She was really upset, about Mrs Lia leaving. But she really happy about Ms Kelley taking over next Monday.
Mrs Lia stood up and smiled softly. "Thank you all for the lovely party and for taking time to come join us today." She looked at Ms Kelley. "Thank you Meredith for surprising me with this and for being so willing to take over as the preschool teacher in a short amount of time."
Ms Kelley nodded, and smiled. "It's been a pleasure knowing you and all the kids."
Mrs Lia smiled slightly, "I will miss you all, and will try to come visit in a few weeks when things settle down with Ms Kelley.." She looked at the kids. "Thank you for being such wonderful kids and really understanding about everything." She smiled at Ms Kelley again. "Thank you for being a good god-daughter and taking over for me."
"You're welcome, Nina." She smiled slightly, looking at her. Pastor came into the classroom.
"Ms Kelley. Phone for you in the office." He smiled holding the door open.
"Oh, excuse me." Ms Kelley smiled, and got up. She walked down the hall to the office.
Mrs Lia smiled and looked at the parents. "What do you think of Ms Kelley?"
Tony's dad smiled slightly. "She seems really nice and good with the kids."
"What made her want to leave Chicago to move all the way down here? Besides you retiring that is. She's too pretty to be alone or working down here in this small town." One of the grandmothers to one of the girls.
Mrs Lia laughed and tried really hard to not roll her eyes. "She won't steal your man, Gertie."
The older woman remained quiet.
Ms Kelley came back, she had been gone for a half hour. Mrs Lia looked up at her.
"Are you okay dear?" Mrs Lia was studying Ms Kelley's eyes.
Ms Kelley nodded, not wanting to talk about it right now. "We can talk later at dinner." She smiled slightly. She had been crying also, but tried to hide it by redoing her makeup along with putting eye drops in her eyes to hide the redness.
Mrs Lia nodded, still not convinced.
Beth ran over and hugged Ms Kelley. "You look sad." She said hugging tightly.
"I'm okay Beth." Ms Kelley smiled softly. "Just been a long day." She sat down in a chair and let Beth crawl into her lap and hug her tightly. Ms Kelley smiled and hugged her back. "Thank you sweetie."
Beth nodded and smiled. "Daddie says my hugs are magical, they remind me of my mommy - She gives me angel hugs all the time."
Hershel smiled hearing her. He looked down at his hands and wiped some pizza grease off on a napkin.
"Angel's are a blessing, they give the best hugs when we need them." She smiled slightly. "You're hugs are magic - I feel 100 percent better." She tickled Beth under her chin..
Beth giggled and hugged her again. "Can me goes home with you?"
"Oh honey, I'm still getting settled." Ms Kelley smiled slightly. "Ms Persistent."
Beth smiled and giggled again. "Yeah me is!"
Mrs Lia laughed softly. "She admits it."
"Oh yes she does." Hershel smiled watching Beth interact with Ms Kelley.
Ms Kelley and Mrs Lia cleaned up after the party. Ms Kelley took Mrs Lia out for dinner, and took her home to watch a movie. Then Meredith left to get to bed. The next morning. Meredith was out on a morning run, she left her dog home alone locked in the fenced yard. She huffed as she made her way back to her place, and turned to go into the backyard and saw her dog laying in the road. She saw a car take off, she didn't get the license plate number. She ran over and picked up her dog, and carried him to the car. She called the vet and told them what happened, and drove to the clinic and was praying her dog would be okay. She got out and carried the dog inside. One of the vet techs was asking her questions and rushed the dog back. Meredith sat in the waiting room and prayed.
Time seemed to slow down at the vet clinic. Meredith was still praying, she didn't hear Hershel come out. "Ms Kelley?" he asked unaware who it was at first.
Meredith nodded and stood up. "Yes." She said wiping her eyes. She loved her boxer, "Is Cash okay?"
Hershel moved aside and put a hand gently on her shoulder. "We can talk in back. "He said softly walking with her to the back. He shut the door and leaned against the counter. "Ms..Kelley." He paused for a second. "Cash broke his back twice." He hated this part of the job. "I'm so sorry. There is nothing we can do." He watched Ms Kelley.
She nodded listening, and letting the tears fall from her eyes.
"I'll take you back to be with him." Hershel said. "We have him hooked up to Iv's and pain meds right now…" He said walking with her. "The best thing for him would be to put him to sleep." He handed her a few tissues.
Meredith nodded and took them. "T..Thank you." She said softly. She inhaled and exhaled softly. "Okay." She walked in with him and saw her fur baby laying on the table. Hershel pulled a chair over for her, and helped her sit down.
"Spend some time with him and I'll get the things around." He said gently, looking at Cash.
."Alright." Meredith leaned forward and stroked Cash's face and head. "My poor baby."
Hershel left the room and closed the door, he hated putting animals down. It about killed him everytime he had to do it. He spoke with his tech's and had them turn on the blue light in the waiting room and outside of the room were Cash was. He got the things around.
Meredith stayed with Cash and talked to him, told him what a good dog he was, and how she loved him so much. She thanked him for helping her through all her bad times and even the good. She had him for 5 years and loved him to pieces.
Hershel came into the room and nodded listening to her letting her continue to talk to him. He sat down in a chair and checked on the Iv tubes and spoke with her before injecting the medication. "It'll be quick, but very painless." He said explaining more with her.
Meredith nodded and kept petting Cash. "Alright." She didn't say much else.
Hershel injected the medication and stayed with her while it started working. He sat down and watched Cash.
Meredith held Cash close talking to him and kissing his head. "I love you, Thank you for being a great companion." She kept talking to him and held him close.
Hershel rubbed her back and kept silent watching. He was praying inside, that it would be painless, and quick and that Meredith would be okay. He saw the dog wasn't breathing anymore and had to check it over after a few minutes. "He's passed." He said sadly, and softly.
Meredith didn't say anything and just cried holding Cash close. Hershel stayed for a few more seconds and brought over some tissues, and let himself out to give her some privacy for a while. Meredith stayed back there forever. She somehow managed to gather herself after a while and kissed him one last time, then threw her tissues away, and got up. The vet tech opened the door for her, and gave her some water. "Thank you." She said softly, and drank it. The tech went over with her and offered to keep Cash for cremation.
Meredith nodded. "Thank you." She agreed to the cremation and filled out some paperwork. After a while she went home. She didn't remember going home, but she did pour herself a glass of red wine and drank it. Then collapsed on the couch.
The weekend went by slow. She mainly stayed home and didn't go anywhere. She got dressed went to work early, and got things around for the kids at preschool. She kept a brave face and smiled, faking being happy with everything going on. She even did that with the parents when they came to pick up the kids.
