shane's story

shane’s story - chapter eight

Nana and the baby started to do a lot better, but Nana still felt bad a lot of the time. She missed her mother and she was often depressed. Shane was often worried about her but Nana herself was so sure it would end when the baby was born. It had started when she got pregnant so it had to stop when she wouldn’t be pregnant any longer.

Shane and Westlife did a lot of promotion in the beginning of the summer. In June they went on tour in Scandinavia and Germany. They had only been in Germany for three days when Shane on the third night couldn’t get hold of Nana. He called her every morning and every night to say good morning and good night and to see how she was. But this night he couldn’t. he knew with 90% certainty that she wouldn’t go anywhere, unless it was to his parents place.

After a couple of tries with no success he called his parents too, but there were no answer either. So he gathered that they were all together. He would call later.

"You look worried, Shane, what’s up?" Nicky handed him a mineral water. "I can’t get hold of Nana. Not my parents either." "Don’t you think they are together?" Nicky asked and drank some of his water.

There was a knock on the door and Mark and Kian came in. "I hope so," Shane said silently. He had a bad feeling about this. "What’s up?" Mark asked. Kian had started getting dressed. "Shane is worried about Nana," Nicky said. "It’s okay guys, I'll be fine!" Shane put his water on the table and rose to get dressed.

They had just finished singing "Flying without wings" when Shane got the message through his earplug that he had an urgent telephone call waiting for him. He rushed out back and Tim handed him a telephone.

"Yeah, it’s Shane." "Shane, it’s your dad..." "Dad? Why are you calling? Has something happened? I haven’t been able to get hold of Nana..." "Shane, calm down. Nana has had the baby. It's a tiny, tiny boy, Shane. Congratulations. You're a dad now..."

Shane started sweating and freezing at the same time. "But... It’s too early, there’s still two months left..." "Yeah, that might very well be, Shane, but none the less, there’s a tiny, beautiful and healthy baby boy waiting for you here. There’s nothing wrong with him."

Shane felt a big lump in his throat. "How is Nana?" "Nana is fine. She had to have a sudden C-section, but she’s fine. She misses you." "I’ll try to be home tomorrow. Kiss her from me, okay?"

Shane had only just ended the call when he burst into tears. Hours and weeks of worry could end now, and they had a baby boy... just like the dream had predicted. He was relieved. He was anxious. And he was happy. He was a dad now!

When Shane went back on stage, his emotions were brushing like a hurricane inside him, but he managed to appear calm. "And we have Shane back on stage!" Bryan announced kokin on the mike. He fans screamed and Shane had a huge smile on his face.

"Where were you man?" Bryan asked. "On the phone," Shane replied. "Huh? On the phone? With Nana?" Shane laughed. "No, with my dad." Bryan looked at the audience and with his pointing finger to his head waving in circles, he signalled that Shane had lost it. Shane laughed, then he said, "Hello Westlifers and fans, I have an announcement to make." Total stillness spread in the hall. "My wife has just given birth to a tiny baby boy. He’s healthy and good, just very, very little. Peeps – I’m a dad!"

The roof almost flew off the hall from the screams after that message. The rest of the show was a blur to Shane. He was high on emotions and adrenaline. But when they ended the show with "Flying without wings" once more, he could hardly sing. His voice was rusty and emotional, and tears were running down his cheeks. This was a night to remember.

chapter nine