***
Copyright: I don't own the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I do
not intend to infringe upon any copyright. But the idea for the story was mine…
:-)
***
Ned had been hunting with John, but now he was sitting on the balcony of
the tree house, updating his notes. He didn't really knew why he still kept up
with that. They were stuck there, and no-one would ever read what he had
written. In opposition to Challenger Ned was not convinced that a way off the
plateau existed. 'Well, even if it did… How could I leave? Veronica would
want to stay here – so I'd, too.', he thought.
On the one hand he missed civilization, the comforts of London. But here in the
jungle he had found something – someone – that meant more to him than anything
else. He wanted to spent his entire life with Veronica, even if that meant that
he had to stay in the jungle.
Almost two weeks later Marguerite relaxed on the balcony, her enormous belly
raised against the warm sun. It was a perfect day –'at least it has been
until now', Marguerite thought. The men were somewhere outside – Roxton
probably did his best to decrease the population of some delicate dinosaur,
Challenger did what he was always doing when out in the jungle and Ned? She
didn't know, and she had to admit, that she didn't care.
She just closed her eyes and enjoyed the gentle touch of the sunlight on her
skin. Her worries were forgotten – at least for this single moment.
The wooden deck chair she was lying on war warm, as well, and with a huge
pillow behind her back she felt like a princess.
She looked down at herself and smiled at her clothes – none of her former
clothes fitted anymore, so Veronica had tailored some new ones. She was quite
talented at that!
With eyes closed, Marguerite started to calculate. The 40 weeks were almost
over. The baby could come every day now, and she felt so unprepared. But in how
far did that matter? She couldn't change it. Either everything would be fine or…
At first she thought a cloud hat got between the sun and her face as it turned
dark. She twinkled and was surprised to look right into Veronica's stressed
face.
"Hm?", was all she could say, so abruptly ripped out of her thoughts. She
wanted Veronica to step aside and let the sunlight again comfort her body. But
she noticed that strange expression in Veronica's eyes; so she asked her to sit
down instead.
During the last two weeks, the two hadn't talked about Ned anymore. Marguerite
didn't know if Veronica talked to him, but she hoped so.
Now, before Marguerite could say anything, her friend started to cry, so she
leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Veronica, which was a bit
complicated because of her belly.
Veronica sobbed and snuffled, and Marguerite waited and stroke her back and
tried to imagine what made her normally so tough friend cry. 'Is she ill?
Doesn't Ned want a baby?..
After a while Veronica relaxed and Marguerite took the chance to ask her: "Did
you talk to Ned about you-know-what?"
Veronica shook her head and as Marguerite felt anger come up inside herself she
leaned back on the deck chair. "You didn't? Why not? Where the hell is the
problem?"
She expected Veronica to give her a harsh answer, but she only said: "Well, now
there is a problem."
Marguerite was huffy. Why couldn't Veronica just one time do what she advised
her to do?
Nevertheless she wanted to know, what Veronica meant and asked: "What kind of
problem?"
Veronica looked down on her fingers and mumbled something.
"What?", Marguerite asked stroppy and Veronica repeated more loudly: "I am
pregnant."
Marguerite was taken aback and Veronica went on; she spoke very fast as if it
was somehow embarrassing. "I… I didn't know that when I asked you for advice
and I wasn't sure during the last week, but now I am sure and-" – "Veronica!",
Marguerite cut her off. She closed her eyes and tried to understand.
On the one hand she knew that would happen sooner or later, but now it had
happened.
When she opened her eyes again, Veronica looked at her, uncertain what to
expect. Marguerite sighed and smiled, then hugged her. "Congratulations, honey.
But now you have to talk to Ned."
***
to be continued…
***