Edit: Some grammar mistakes corrected when I reread through so I could start working on the next chapter.
Usual disclaimer: Characters are not mine, 'cept for the twins and the idea for them did come from reading another story, so credit to whoever that was.
Title ideas needed!
The twins were still talking a mile a minute about forty minutes later, while they sat in the back of the Hope's people carrier, with Mandy in the middle and their parents up front. The later three all wore the same tolerant smile, and slightly strained expression as they had to put together the disjointed conversation from the two very similar sounding mouths. Between translating them, Mandy again admired the beauty of her home country as she looked out the window to the flashing greenery that surrounded her.
She was surprised at the strength of the aching in her stomach, as she realised just how much she had missed England. Even the rain felt good, as it drizzled lazily covering every surface in that way that only light rain could. She was home. It was so astounding that she had to keep repeating it to herself.
"Hoy, Dumb and Dumber. Quiet up for a bit and let your sister talk." Adam quipped from the driver's seat.
Mandy had just opened her mouth when she was interrupted again by the twins simultaneously demanding, "Who is Dumber?"
Mandy and Emily broke out into laughter at the uncomfortable look on Adam's face. Mandy, taking pity on her father, decided to spare him. "There isn't much I haven't already mentioned in my emails. When I left, Banji and Kekco were doing great. They'd been released into the park, as I said, and seemed like they were going to welcome Juju into their small pride. They'd better stay out of the way of the larger group, but the park is big enough for that." Mandy smiled at the memory of the grown and graceful lion and lioness pair, which she'd helped to raise from cubs, prowling naturally in the African scrub.
It continued like this all the way home, all the focus on the animals. The twins were fascinated and, miraculously, silent as they listened to the kind of adventures they dreamed about. Emily and Adam were far more talkative, asking questions about the surgery and care of the animals, always interested in the differences of dealing with the much larger cousins of the animals they dealt with day to day.
It's funny, Manny mused, that I can deal with angry lions and clashing personalities, but my own family exhaust me with just an hour of talking about my job!
By the time the car was pulling into Animal Ark's driveway, Mandy was slumped against the car frame, answering the relentless questions with her eyes closed. However, she bolted upright when she felt the brakes.
Everyone was looking at her, with the same smile that she felt on her own face reflected back four times. Flicking her eyes over the familiar house with the surgery behind, an inner yearning was fulfilled in Mandy's chest. She knew in a couple of weeks that yearning would be back and for somewhere else, anywhere else, but for now she was content to be back in her childhood home.
Slipping the strap of her bag over her shoulder again, she slid out of the car. The twins were quickly back on either side of her and, arms draped around each other, they went through the door like in some kind of three-legged race. It was silly, but it was them.
Within seconds, they were being jumped on. Coby and Meg, the twins' black Labradors, hurtled themselves at their respective owner's legs. Mandy, suddenly finding herself the only upright one left, burst out with laughter watching Soph delicately and lovingly hug the lithe slim Meg, while the more solid Coby licked George's face, his paws on his owner's chest.
"Ah! The famous forbidden pups!"
"You see why they were forbidden, with these two terrors as examples." Emily put in, edging round the doorframe and the laughing kids.
"Besides, you haven't seen the twins pester power. It took 'em eight years to convince us, give us that much credit." Adam said, lifting Mandy's case over the heads of his twins, rather than mowing them over.
"Excuse me! More than that, they had the benefit of all my wistful looks and attempts as well!"
"True, so even more credit to us then, for twenty-five years of resisting!" Emily teased, gently poking Mandy in the stomach.
"Alright, monsters!" Adam called, "Behave!"
Both dogs instantly were the perfect models of canine obedience, jumping away from the twins and standing before Adam, tongues lolling, but alert.
"They respond to the word 'monsters'?"
"Of course," Emily replied, as she followed Mandy up the stairs with her case. "What other word could we use for the two of them together?"
"I kind of thought that Dad was talking about all four of them."
Emily laughed and nodded, both mother and daughter flopping down together over the bed, leaving the case in the middle of the immaculate floor.
Mandy curled into her mum's side, smiling a little ruefully at the smaller woman. Emily only closed her eyes and flicked Mandy's ear in response to the silent tease about their respective heights.
"Are you happy, Mandz?" she said calmly.
Mandy hated that question. "I'm not unhappy, Mum."
Emily sighed, opening her eyes to look at her daughter. "That's been your answer for years. When are you going to-"
"Mum, I'll settle down when the right guy comes along."
"I know, dear. But I can't help wondering when that will be."
Mandy sighed. The truth was she didn't want to find Mr. Right at all right now. She still had so many places to go, things to learn, animals to help. The world was her oyster. Yet, she knew what her mum was thinking about.
"Mum, don't worry. There'll be plenty of time for kids and everything, you'll see."
"I know, I know, Mandy. I just don't want you to have to go through all the trouble I did."
Mandy bit her lip, hugging her mother tight. "The twins are here now, strong and healthy as anything."
It took a little while for Emily's arms to tighten in response to hers. "Yes, but we went through so much before that. I thought... for a long time... that the twins would never exist. You were our darling, but..."
"There was something in you that meant you wanted your own children. I understand, mum. And I'm glad the IVF worked. So glad. I couldn't love them more."
"We love you just as much, never forget that darling."
"Don't worry, mum, I never will."
Mandy bit her lip harder, stopping the tears from flowing in her eyes.