Chapter 7

It was Tuesday evening - the eve of Charlie's birthday. Joey stood on the beach, looking out at the calm, clear water. It always relaxed her. She thought about tomorrow, trying to reassure herself that Charlie would love her surprise gift. She knew that Charlie would never ever guess what it could be. Steve Corbett had been such a great help to her, and she was thrilled at his last-minute suggestion. Charlie would be blown away – she hoped. She still had her doubts!

She had visited Charlie at home that afternoon. They had gone out for yet another drive – just to get a little time alone. Leah had a full house that day, including a few extra visitors – friends of VJ.

They went to a small secluded beach a few miles away from Summer Bay. Their walk along the water's edge had been great. They talked about anything and everything. Charlie did her best to glean as much information about her birthday surprise as possible. Joey needed to remind her that she was not in her police uniform and had no right to interrogate her this way. It amused Charlie. Joey remained tight-lipped. The only clue she gave her was one single piece of advice. She told Charlie not to wear anything too good. Charlie wasn't sure she liked that advice. It only baffled her more.

They had found a small cave at the end of the beach and had gone inside. As soon as they entered they saw it as a perfect opportunity for a kiss, which led to a little more than a kiss. But they managed to keep their desires under control and agreed to wait until they were somewhere more appropriate – and comfortable. Besides, coastal caves filled with stagnant water often don't smell very welcoming.

Charlie had to work for a few hours that night, so the next time they would meet would be on the morning of her birthday. Both were excited about the day ahead of them. As Charlie dropped Joey off at home, Joey told her she would pick her up around 9:15 a.m. She knew it was quite early in the morning for a birthday surprise, but she had to get their timing just right. They shared a tender goodbye kiss and parted for the night.

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Wednesday morning. Joey arrived outside Leah's on time. Brett had kept his promise and loaned her his car. She was starting to wonder if he was finally becoming a human being after all! Looking through the window, she could see Charlie. They waved at one another. Joey lifted Charlie's birthday card out of the glove compartment, got out of the car and walked to the door to meet her. Charlie opened it as she arrived, beckoning her inside. She walked towards her bedroom. Joey followed her, closing the bedroom door behind her.

Charlie wrapped her arms around her. Joey responded. They shared a kiss - soft and lingering. Neither had said a word yet. Their lips parted.

Joey gazed into Charlie's eyes. "Happy Birthday," she said, presenting the card to her.

"Thank you!" Charlie replied, smiling broadly. She took the card from Joey and kissed her once more. Taking the envelope in both hands, she felt it. It seemed unusually thick for a birthday card. She opened it and slid out the card. The heading said 'For the girl I love – Happy Birthday'. Joey looked at the words and was reminded of the funny stare the shop teller gave her when she had bought the card the previous day.

Charlie opened the card to read inside and found out why the envelope had been so broad. Folded up was a long, thin, silk white scarf. Charlie lifted it up to examine it. It unfolded as she did, and she looked at it – puzzled.

Joey smiled. It was exactly the reaction she had hoped for. "You're going to need this. Bring it with you."

Charlie shook her head, totally confused. She had no idea what Joey had planned for her, but she could think of a few uses for the piece of silk later that evening! She read the words that Joey had written inside ...

'To Charlie

Happy Birthday

I love you

Joey x'

Charlie grinned and hugged Joey tight. Their lips found one another. "Thank you," she whispered. She looked again at the scarf in her hand. Her eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what it was for. She glanced at Joey, searching for clues in her eyes. What are you up to, Joey Collins?

Joey smirked. She loved to do this kind of thing – make surprises, give hints. "Are you ready to go?" she asked.

"Err ... yeah ... I think so," replied Charlie.

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They had been in the car for just over an hour. Joey turned the corner, following the road signs. Ten minutes later the passed a sign that told Joey they were just one and half miles from their destination. She began to feel nervous – and excited at the same time.

A few minutes later Joey turned their final corner. Ahead of the was a huge archway with a sign. It read 'Taronga Zoo.'

Joey glanced at Charlie, who was staring ahead, looking up at the letters. Charlie looked across at her. Her mouth was agape. "We're going to the zoo?" she asked. There was a slight hint of disappointment in her voice.

Joey smiled at her. "Well ... yes ... and no!" she said, cryptically. She pulled into the car park, and turned to face Charlie.

Charlie's mouth was still gaping. She was now utterly confused.

"You'll find out in a few minutes," Joey said as she lifted her mobile phone and keyed in a message.

'Hi Steve. We're here. Everything ready? - Joey' She pressed 'SEND.'

"Where's your scarf," Joey asked.

"It's here," replied Charlie, lifting it up from beside her leg.

Joey's phone vibrated. A reply ...

'Hey Joey. We're ready for you. Susan will meet you at reception'

Joey smiled mischievously. Charlie shook her head in bewilderment. Joey leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. "Let's go."

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"Hi ... you must be Joey," Susan said, shaking her hand.

"Hi Susan ... this is Charlie," Joey said, introducing the birthday girl.

"I've heard a lot about you, Charlie. Happy Birthday."

Charlie shook her hand. "Thanks!"

"Follow me," Susan said as she opened one of the doors that led off from the reception. The sign on it said 'STAFF ONLY.'

The walked along a few corridors, past offices and a staff rest area. Charlie scanned all around her, looking for clues as to why they were in the nerve centre of the zoo. She couldn't find any. She looked at Joey, who grinning at her, saying nothing. She wasn't going to give the surprise away now. They came to a large wooden door. Susan stopped.

"Here we are," she announced. She turned to Joey. "Just come in whenever you are ready, okay?"

Joey nodded. "Thanks, Susan."

Susan entered the room, closing the door swiftly behind her.

Joey turned to Charlie. "Give me your scarf" she requested, holding out her hand.

Charlie's expression had not changed. She looked perplexed. She gave the scarf to Joey. Joey moved behind Charlie and raised the silk piece up over her, bringing it down slowly over Charlie's eyes. Aah so that's what it's for!, thought Charlie. Joey tied it loosely at the back of her head, and made sure Charlie could not see anything.

"Ok ... I'm going to lead you there by the hand, Charlie ... are you ready?" Joey asked.

Charlie smiled. She had no idea what to expect but was loving every moment. "Err ... yeah," she said, giggling nervously.

Joey took her hand and opened the door, leading the way and guiding Charlie inside.

Susan was there. She pointed across to the other side of the room. Joey gave her a thumbs up and led Charlie across the room, sitting her down on a chair by a table.

Charlie could smell something unusual. She couldn't identify. it but it reminded her of going to the circus with her dad when she was a girl. Joey made sure Charlie was facing the right way before kneeling behind her.

She came close behind Charlie's ear and whispered "Happy Birthday." She kissed her gently on the her bare shoulder before slipping the makeshift silk blindfold upwards and off.

Charlie blinked a few times as she regained her vision. She immediately caught sight of her surprise...

Right in front of her on the table lay three baby lion cubs, sleeping in a basket. There weren't much more than a few weeks old. She melted instantly, slumping in her chair. She felt tears beginning to well in her eyes. This was too much for her to take in. She covered her mouth with her hand in shock and glanced across at her love.

"Oh god ... Joey ... I don't know what to say." Her eyes widened and she grinned. She hugged her tight.

"You're getting a special audience with these little guys," Joey said – her tone intimate. She was pleased that Charlie liked her gift.

Charlie was overwhelmed. She never imagined that Joey would arrange something so incredibly unique for her. She could barely speak. Joey had not forgotten their first night together, and Charlie's talk of her childhood love of lions.

"Thank you ... thank you ... thank you ... oh my god ... I don't believe it." She hugged Joey again, much tighter this time.

Charlie stared in awe at the three bundles of fluff sleeping in front of her. Joey watched her as she finally got to meet her favourite childhood animal close up. The idea for the gift had come to her on their first night together, when Charlie talked so enthusiastically about the lions they saw on tv. Joey had seen how much she loved them, and she immediately thought of Steve and his new job at the zoo.

Susan came over to them. "You can pick them up."

Charlie looked at her, astonished. "Really?"

"Sure ... go ahead. The won't bite ... well ... not yet. They can barely nip your finger at this age." Susan went into a nearby store room.

Charlie looked at Joey, then down at the cubs. She reached across and carefully lifted one from the basket. It felt warm and its fur was soft, almost velvety. Yawning, it stretched out its legs, its little body shaking as it strained. Charlie held it against her chest, cuddling it and stroking it's tiny head. It opened its eyes. They were bright blue, just like hers.

"Their mother abandoned them," Joey explained. "So now Susan and Steve are rearing them by hand until they're big enough to join the rest of the lions that live here."

Charlie looked at her, still amazed at such a wonderful gift. "Joey ... how did you ever manage to-"

Joey smiled. "Steve. He's a good friend of mine. I'll explain it all to you later. Right now ... you have a job to do."

Charlie gave her another bewildered look.

"You're going to feed them."

Charlie's looked at her in amazement. She was speechless.

Susan came back over to them with three bottles of special formula. She handed one to Charlie, and gave another two to Joey. "Just put the teat to his mouth. He's used to it by now. He'll start to feed as soon as you do it."

Charlie did as instructed. The cub began to take the formula immediately. She felt his little body heaving as he sucked. His eyes were closed. Charlie stroked the tuft of juvenile mane on the top of his head. She was in heaven.

She continued to feed the young lion. Joey sat silently looking on, enjoying watching Charlie almost as much as Charlie was enjoying the physical contact with the cubs.

After the first one had finished the bottle, she put him back and picked up a second.

"Would you like to feed the other one?" she asked Joey.

Joey hadn't considered getting in on the action, but the cubs were awfully cute!

"Go on ... it's so sweet," Charlie enthused.

Joey picked up the third cub and placed to bottle to his mouth. He latched instantly.

They sat silently, watching each other as they played the role of surrogate mum. Through the quiet they could hear the cubs sucking.

"They sound like baby Maggie from the Simpsons," said Joey.

Charlie smiled at her. She was right.

Joey glanced across at an information poster on a nearby wall all about lions. It said ...

'The African LionScientific name: Panthera leo'

She had been reading about them over the past few days, unbeknownst to Charlie.

When they had finished their food, Joey placed the cub she was holding back into the basket. Charlie continued to hold hers, stroking it gently, her eyes capturing every feature of its delicate little face. She studied his paws and his claws – his tail.

Joey wanted Charlie spend some more time with the cubs before she gave her her extra gift, the one that was Steve's brilliant idea. She could feel her own excitement about it growing by the second.

To be continued ...