www c14
Leopard's Den is a nature reserve in South Africa that homes the Trevanions, a family from Bristol who came out on a holiday and never left. Danny, Rosie and Alice run the animals hospital which is the animals version of ED, just on a much smaller scale.
Then there's Liv, Evan, Nomza, Charlotte, Caroline, Dupe and all the animals, which over the years of Georgina being there, have got to know and they have got a bound with some of them. Tula for example is a young elephant and Jana and Cassidy the pet cheetahs who everyone loves.
The reason everyone was out there was 1, Zoe and Max needed somewhere for the wedding and 2, Georgina had work out there for a couple of weeks with the Nonnations. It was a time for reflection, for Georgina and her family to remember what happened, to finally move on.
The table out on the veranda was being laid out when a coach load of taxis drove in front of Leopard's Den, the Walkers, the nuns and nurses had arrived, and were all in need of a rest.
Rosie, whom Georgina considered as a sister, of a sibling not a nun, was the first to bounce down the 5 red painted steps towards the first car, Max was the first to get out, then came Zoe and finally Georgina, who was standing slightly behind Zoe. Georgina I think was not sure what to think. Everyone got out the taxis, and Nomza, Charlotte, Liv and Caroline got the bags in.
"Hello, Georgina", Rosie said with arms open to Georgina who ran straight up to her and gave hugs.
"So, who are all these people?" Rosie was confused, but also excited for the wedding.
"Zoe and Max meet Rosie", there was pleasantries between them.
"Well, everyone come in and we'll have pleasantries with cool orange and cake", Rosie showed everyone up the steps and the family began to get stuck in with the food and drinks.
Once everything was sorted, with everyone knowing their sleeping quarters, the Nuns in the outside lodges, by choice, with the old shed converted into a Chapel, Georgina, Zoe and Max in the house and the Nurses in the guests lodges, everyone came and sat for tea. Normally, there would not be as many people, so, Nomza and Caroline joined several tables together so everyone could be a family. Georgina sat there, watching everything, remembering what happened, she hadn't been back since. She also knew tomorrow was the day she was going to burn her family's coffins, and for good.
Danny was the first to speak once everyone had sat down, there was a lot of them, "So, how was the flight?",
"Good, never been in a plane with nuns, a porter and consultant with a foetus before, it was interesting, but good thanks Danny, how are all he animals?", Georgina carried on eating, with everyone else chatting amongst themselves
"Good, good, they've all missed you".
Everyone began chatting and soon got to know everyone, Georgina was happy just watching, she was not sure what to make of all she was seeing, Zoe noticed, she always did.
"Hey, Georgie, you ok?", Zoe held her daughter's hand,
"Yeah. Just taking everything in, its….its lovely thank you, I love you", Georgina kissed Zoe on the cheek and she smiled back.
Later that evening…. Zoe was in her room, sorting out the bags and getting ready for bed when Georgina came in.
"oh, Georgina, I wouldn't normally ask, but could you check baby, I'm worried what effect it might have, with the flight and everything", Zoe was sitting up when Georgina came in later at about half 10, from compline with the Nuns, Georgina came over to Zoe. They met in the middle of the room
"Yeah, if you want to, but there shouldn't be anything wrong, you are more than healthy to fly", Georgina grabbed her bag and checked baby and Zoe.
"Yep, you both fit as a fiddle, absolutely nothing to worry about", then she left, and stood on the veranda outside, she could see her Mum's grave, the biggest one though was her son, Matthew, she loved him so much, not really wanting to let go. Max was drinking his beer with the 'other Max', Rosie's husband, when he spotted Georgina, he ventured over.
"Hey, what you looking at?", Max came and stood near Georgina, not sure what to say, he knew this was hard for her, but also one of the best times of her life.
"You see, beyond the drive, passed the trees and through the bushes, you see," Georgina was pointing to the left of the animal hospital.
"Yeah", Max came closer, also looking in the same direction
"Well, that's my families graves are, I can see them, max I still miss them, even though she was mean to me, I still miss them", Georgina looked at Max, neither of them aware Zoe could hear and see their little personal conversation between them, through their bedroom window, she loved watching them, pleased Georgina was trusting someone else, interacting with someone else, but she still knew she was her daughter's favourite.
"I know", they stood in the moonlight, not knowing they were being watched, Max feeling loved by Georgina, knowing she felt the same, both just wanting to be in each other's arms.
"Can us 2 join in the love?", Georgina and Max turned to find Zoe standing behind them with one hand on her bump, still in her dressing gown, smiling.
"Come here Mum, and little Walker can come too", Georgina held out her arm for Zoe, they all came together, arms around each other, Georgina, and little Walker safe snuggled in the safety net of the Walker's company, knowing nothing would happen to them. And they were all loved.
That night, everyone slept, other than Georgina, it didn't matter how much Zoe and Max comforted her, she just couldn't get the memories out of her head. The bad ones, what happened with the wedding, the fire, the funeral, coming back out here made all the memories return. Georgina was thrashing about, having nightmares, with Max holding her by the shoulders and Zoe talking to her, trying to calm her down, they both looked at each other, it was only 1 in the morning. Then Zoe had an idea,
"Max, I need you to hold her still, I'm going to give her some diazepam and lithium, this should calm her down", Zoe fetched the medication and sat next to Georgina's left arm and gave her the drugs.
"No, stop, don't do it", she was pushing them away, not because she didn't want it, but because of the nightmares, but Zoe and Max were never going to give up.
There was a knock at the door, Rosie stood in the doorway, she knew Georgina well, about her history and medical conditions, "She alright, I heard something was up",
Zoe looked at Rosie, "Yeah, she's struggling tonight", Zoe smiled, her concerned smile.
"Rosie, can you pass me her meds, before she gets out of control", Rosie passed them and drew up the amounts.
"Thanks", Zoe sat on the bed, "Georgina, I need you to relax, stay calm, please, I'm going to give you something which will calm you down alright",
A minute later, Georgina woke up, feeling and hearing Zoe's hand on hers, stroking her softly, Max was smiling when Georgina opened her eyes.
"Welcome back sweetie", Georgina relaxed on her back in the middle of the bed, Zoe and Max either side.
"You ok?", Max was sitting next to Georgina by the pillows,
"Yeah, sorry, I…., it all too much, I could see… you know, in my head,…, sorry, I'm tired", Georgina turned over and relaxed on Max's arm, crying slightly.
"Hey, we all have nightmares sometimes it's ok, I can't imagine how hard it is for you to come back", Zoe was lying next to Georgina.
"See you all in the morning, I'll leave you to it", Rosie left.
Georgina turned to lean on Zoe, stilling holding Max's hand, "it's just harder than I thought it would be, but I love you all, I'm in safe hands, and you'll get me through", Georgina placed a hand on Zoe's tummy, smiling up at her, they all smiled back and slept until the morning.
"Come on monsters, I'll get you 3 to sleep", Max was pulling the covered over Zoe, Georgina and little Walker, kissing each one on the head, cuddling into Georgina, who was nearly asleep already.
"She'll be alright tomorrow won't she Max, I can see it in her eyes, she's so scared", Zoe was looking in the direction of Max, tucking a piece of Georgina's hair behind her ear, stroking her head, this helped sometimes.
"I love you, all of you, we'll get through this together and I know she loves us more than we love her", Max kissed Zoe and snuggled into bed.
That night, everyone was sound asleep, not knowing something was in the kitchen, but what could it be, everyone was too tired to go and find out, there have been occasions when animals decide to sleep in the kitchen. Sounds like a normal Trevanions night's sleep.