Chapter 2:

Alice Stood in the township. There was one final job that she would have to do on her own before she and Danny would be reunited again. This was possibly one of her favourite ones of the day, getting the girls from school. With her back pressed up against the Jeep she waiting in the hot sun for the girls to come out of their respective classrooms. In a matter of minutes, the children would flood out of the classrooms and there would be a noisy chatter as everyone bid their farewells for the week.

With the shrill bell ringing Alice stood and watched as child after child poured out of the school, waiting for the faces of the ones she loved the most. Charlie was the first one to make to the car, finished with school for the week she would want to go home as quickly as she could. Liv however would take longer to get to the car as she said her farewells to her friends. But shortly after the bell she emerged within a group of students. She had a smile on her face, something that made Alice happy.

As the three girls climbed back into the Jeep the chatter had already begun, and would continue the whole way home, before they dispersed to do their various jobs and homework assignments before Danny and Dup got home so they could help them unload any animals that they returned with.

When the finally pulled into the driveway Alice noticed that the third Jeep was still missing. Caroline and the Guests must have still been out on the game drive. She walked up the stairs into the house and was greeted by Nomsa who stood in the entrance way.

"Hello Nomsa," Alice said as she got within ear distance.

Nomsa smiled, she remembered a time before all these people who lived her and knew that they were all better off now that they were all here together as a little family. A strange family, but a family all the same. "Alice, phone call for you. Your Mother." Nomsa said.

"Now?" Alice asked. She knew it would be about her and Danny's wedding that was coming up soon.

Nomsa shook her head. "Just a message." She said before she walked back into the house. Like everyone else she had many things that she needed to do.

Alice, deciding that all her jobs could wait. Calling her Mum before Danny and Dup got home meant that she wouldn't forget. She walked into the house, scanning for where the phone may be. Spotting one in the living room she walked towards the phone, sitting down on the couch. She dialled the number and listened as it rung in her ear.

"Collins Residence, Martha speaking." Came a voice through the phone suddenly.

Alice smiled as she heard the familiar sound of her Mother's voice. It had been a long time since she had heard her mothers voice. After she moved to Africa it became increasingly difficult to speak to her Mum for extended periods of time. At times they would be able to speak, and she was in contact with the rest of her family, but there was something comforting about hearing your Mother's voice. "Hey Mum," Alice started before continuing after a brief pause, "Nomsa gave me your message. Said you said that the whole family is coming to the Wedding."

Martha, who was of a talkative and cheerful disposition began to speak before Alice could continue any further. "Of course darl!" She said excitedly. "Originally it was going to just be your Father and I, but we spoke to the family and decided that it would be a good time to have a family reunion while we are there to celebrate. And seeing as you have a large Game Reserve, we figured you could probably deal with the extra influx of people." Martha had a grin on her face. She knew that Alice and Danny were planning a low key Wedding, and the extra guests would make it a slightly bigger ordeal but they were family.

There was a pause on the other line. Martha knew that telling Alice this would be a shock, after all Alice was from a larger family. "Well, I guess we should prepare for your arrival." Was all Alice could muster. Suddenly the guest list would be a little longer. "I take it we can expect the kids as well?" Alice asked.

"Yes, they can't wait to come out and see you. The older ones at least." Martha said.

Alice sighed. Not audible to her Mum, for she knew it would be a lot of work preparing to her family, but it would be good to see them all in one place again. It had been a number of years since that had happened. "Consider it done Mum. Will you all be here earlier or at the same time?"

"I was thinking that we might all come earlier, to spend some more time together, but of course that depends on what you can do as well." Martha was not an unreasonable person; she knew that the Game Reserve was her livelihood. Regardless, the grin on her face was getting larger at the thought of having her whole family together in one place.

Alice, who was also excited by the fact that her family would all be together again got up and walked in the direction of the study. "I'm just checking the guest book, but you should be able to come earlier than you were anticipating." Alice said. She could see no booking's in guest book, and she knew that Mara would be able to help if they had spare rooms as well. It would be a logistical nightmare to have her whole family here, and she would have to tell Danny the full extent of her family. Good thing they were already engaged.

Just as Alice was about to work out the rest of the details she heard Danny and Dup pull into the driveway. Mostly because she could hear the yelling of Dup from a mile away. There was no quite setting to that man.

Alice left the book on the table and walked towards the front door, her mum still on the phone, grinning widely when she saw Danny and Dup in the driveway. "Mum I have to go, I'll call another time to sort out the rest of the details."

After hearing her Mother's goodbye, she hung up the phone. She was excited to see Danny, but knew she had some serious explaining to do. But all of that could wait for another time, for now she just wanted to see Danny.

[x]

Later that night, after wrangling a herd of Zebra into the quarantine pens Alice and Danny lay beside each other in bed. Recalling the phone call she had with her Mum earlier that day Alice thought it would be better to tell Danny the whole story sooner rather than later.

"Danny," Alice said rolling over to look at Danny, "Can I talk to you about the Wedding?" she asked.

Danny, who was tired from his trip to the auction turned to look at her. "Is it completely necessary that it happens right now Alice? I have had a rough few days." He said.

Alice knew this of course, but she needed to get this done sooner. "It's kind of important. You don't even need to say anything." She said. She secretly hoped that he wouldn't say anything. After all she knew that it was going to be a shock.

"Ok," was all he said.

Alice took a deep breath in. "I had a phone call from my mum today. She wanted to let me know that my whole family was going to be coming to the Wedding, for a Collins Family Reunion of sorts. But my family isn't something that we have really discussed before, my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews. We only really talk about Rowan, or the fact that I come from a big family. Well, I think it is probably time to tell you just how big my family is." She could see that she had Danny's attention now.

She took a breath in and gathered her thoughts. "See Rowan and I, we are the middle children of sorts. Well I am the middle child. And I have 5 older brothers and sisters and 5 younger ones. That makes 11 kids in total. And they will all be coming to the Wedding. With their partners and children." Alice spoke quickly, getting it all out there as soon as possible.

Danny, who had already said he was tired sat up in bed. He turned to look at her. "That's quite a family you have there." And with that Alice knew there was more discussion to be had that night.

Thanks for reading this everyone. See you soon :)