“Lewis went inside to put Cory to sleep. I stayed outside the gates with John waiting to hear off Mick. We fell asleep sat on the ground. I just took John home and made sure he was ok” I explained.
“You’re a good man G” Will hugged me tightly too.
“Where are Annabelle and the other women I saw you saving?” I’d completely forgotten about them with all of the drama regarding Mick.
“They are ok, a little shaken up but they will bounce back”. For now we’ve put them in with Sheila and Brian” he smiled a tight smile.
“I’m so glad that Annabelle is safe, Will, but I can’t believe that Amy is gone” my old friend guilt was clawing its way back into my stomach and chest, causing me to feel nauseous.
“Hey, don’t even think about blaming yourself for that one ok? If we had given in and opened that gate then who knows how many of us would still be standing here right now” Will looked me in the eye “Would you have wanted to subject Nia, Amelia and the others to a man like Jed? It would be Deacons place all over again. We fought so hard to leave there.”
“I know, I know. I would never want anyone to go through that again. Thank you Will” I let out a huge sigh. Just because I understood why we didn’t open the gates to save Amy, didn’t mean that I had to like it.
“You’re Welcome G. Now get some rest. We shall meet with everyone tomorrow afternoon to plan our stay here”
“Good night Will” I replied hugging him again, clapping his back a few times.
He gave me a warm smile before also heading to his room.
I watched after him for a little while, feeling grateful that I still had people left in this world who I loved and who loved me. I was wrong to try to push them away. I should have been pulling them closer, making every second count, because these days we never knew when it would be our last.
Another long yawn showed me just how much my body needed to rest. I stripped down to my navy t shirt and orange boxer shorts. Pulled out the sofa bed easily and grabbed the navy cotton blankets, quilt, along with the fluffy pillows dressed in a bright yellow that Nia had left out for me.
Lying back, I was surprised at how comfortable the sofa bed was, that added with the warmth of the blankets and quilt and the softness of the pillows had me drowsy once more. Only then realizing just how tired and worn down I really was.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the good things in my past. Meeting Kelly, getting married, the births of our children. Poppy’s first day at school (Kelly and I had booked the day off to take her), Cameron going to swimming lessons and dropping his float, my heart nearly exploded when he disappeared under the water. But the lifeguards were excellent, bringing him back to the surface, coughing and spluttering whilst also giving me the thumbs up that he was ok. Then meeting my extended family, Will, Nia, Adam, Billy, Amelia, John and Lewis. Hopefully the Snow’s, Price’s, Brian, Sheila and Annabelle too. To Lieutenant Daniel Jacks, I offered up a silent prayer that he stay safe and hopefully make his way back to us.
I would do anything to protect these people. Mick had seen the same special, unique thing in our bunch of misfits that I had. They were strong, kind, loving, incredible people. Worth dying for any day.
I think Kelly and the kids would have loved our group of people.
I lay there for a little while longer before going to sleep. Dreaming about all the incredible possibilities that lay in the long road ahead.
The End
George (Book 2): The Long Road Ahead Page 15