The Captain's Heart

twenty-eight

23rd February 2022 – four weeks and four days old.

Stretching her arms above her head, Leah groans slightly as she rolls onto her side and glances at Rory who is fast asleep in her moses basket as her phone vibrates on the bedside table.

'Hello?' She says sleepily as she holds the phone to her ear after accepting the call.

'Oh sorry, did I wake you?' Imogen asks causing the blonde to smile as she rubs her eyes before pushing herself up on her elbows.

'No, it's okay. I had just fallen asleep when Rory went back down. Are you okay? Everything okay?' Leah asks.

'Mm... I just- I miss you, Le. I was wondering if you wanted to maybe do something tonight? We could grab something to eat or something after training?' Imogen replies causing Leah to sigh.

'I can. I mean I would love to but I'm not even in London right now, Ims. I've come away for a couple of nights with my mum, grandma and Rory. Just as a little break before I get back to training and stuff.' Leah says.

'Oh, okay... I can let you go then.' Imogen replies.

'I don't have to go just now... Everyone else is still asleep, I can talk for a bit before you go to training.' Leah says.

'You sure?' Imogen asks.

'Positive.' Leah replies smiling.

'Where did you guys go?' Imogen asks.

'West Midlands Safari... It's beautiful here, Ims. Just over a two hour drive away and our lodge is literally right next to the lions, it's incredible... You'd love it here, Ims.' Leah replies glancing out the huge window opposite her bed.

'What do you mean next to the lions?' Imogen asks.

'I mean I can literally see the lions from my bed.' Leah replies hearing the brunette gasp.

'No you can't! Shut up, isn't that dangerous?' Imogen asks causing the blonde to laugh.

'Well there's glass obviously. They can't get into the lodges, it's perfectly safe.' Leah replies.

'Mm... When are you back?' Imogen asks.

'Tomorrow. I'm not sure what time we'll be back but if it's not too late, you could come over for dinner if you want? I can try make us something or else we can order a takeaway?' Leah suggests.

'That sounds good, if you're not too busy.' Imogen says.

'I'm sure it'll be fine. Check-out is like 10 so it'll be fine I'm sure.' Leah replies.

****

Making her way through to the sitting area, Leah smiles as she sees her mum and grandma sitting on the sofas watching the lions wandering about their enclosure outside the window.

'Oh there she is...' Amanda says glancing up and smiling at Leah who has Rory cradled against her chest.

'Morning... Sorry, we were up earlier but she fell back asleep straight after her feed so I used the opportunity to get a couple of hours in.' Leah replies causing Amanda to shake her head.

'Don't be silly... Just get all the sleep you need. We just had a nice slow morning, didn't we?' Amanda says and Berny nods her head as Leah immediately leans down to place Rory in her grandma's arms.

'Mm-hmm... There's GiGi's little princess.' Berny says softly as she smiles down at Rory.

'How did she sleep?' Amanda asks as Leah sits down on the sofa next to her mum.

'Good... I really can't complain, in the grand scheme of things she's actually a really good sleeper.' Leah replies shrugging her shoulders.

'What's the plans for today then? Are we just heading into the parks and have a look around?' Leah asks.

'I think so. There was so many animals we didn't get to see yesterday so if we just have a slow walk around, get some lunch and just take it easy. We can come back to the lodge for a bit if we want to. We can just see how the day goes.' Amanda replies and Berny nods her head.

'That sounds good to me. I like the idea of taking it easy.' Berny says softly.

'I think this couple of nights away have been exactly what I need. Honestly, I can't thank you both enough for coming with me.' Leah says.

'Don't be silly. What are family for.' Amanda replies smiling.

****

'This will definitely be a place to come back to when she's bigger and can really know what's going on.' Amanda says smiling as she glances down at Rory who is happily sleeping strapped to Leah's chest in the baby carrier.

'Yeah, I'll probably bring her back next year when she's toddling.' Leah replies.

'How you feeling about potentially going back to training in a little over a week?' Berny asks causing the blonde to sigh.

'I don't know. I thought by now I'd be itching to be back at training but I just- I don't know. I don't really know if I'm ready to leave her yet.' Leah replies shrugging her shoulders.

'Have you left her yet? Like for any period of time?' Berny asks and Leah shakes her head.

'No, not even for half another. The longest I've left her is if she's with someone in the living room while I go for a shower.' Leah replies.

'Maybe you should start building up to leaving her?' Amanda suggests.

'She's still so little though... How am I meant to leave her? I mean it's not usual for someone to have to leave their baby while they're still this young.' Leah says.

'So why don't you take some more time away from training then?' Berny suggests and the blonde shrugs her shoulders.

'I don't know. I might speak to them last night and see if I can figure something out. I just- I know I'm not ready to leave her for an extended period of time.' Leah admits.

'I do miss training, I do miss the girls and the football but I guess she's just my priority now.' Leah adds and Amanda nods her head.

'It's perfectly normal, baba.' Amanda says smiling.

****

'So what's going on with you and that Imogen girl then? You don't really seem to speak about her much anymore.' Amanda asks glancing at her daughter who's curled up at one end of the sofa. Berny has taken the opportunity to feed Rory and put her to bed for the night.

'Nothing.' Leah replies shrugging her shoulders.

'Well, now I know there is something is going on.' Amanda says causing Leah to sigh.

'It's complicated. We're going to have dinner together tomorrow though once we're back home.' Leah replies.

'What do you mean complicated? Are you guys seeing each other or-' Amanda begins and Leah immediately shakes her head.

'We're just friends, mum. There's nothing more to it.' Leah replies shrugging her shoulders.

'But do you want there to be more to it?' Amanda asks causing the blonde to shake her head.

'It doesn't matter. There's nothing more going on and that's really all that anyone needs to know.' Leah replies.

'Mm... That tells me everything I need to know.' Amanda says softly as Berny makes her way through with a whimpering Rory in her arms.

'She won't settle, Le. She finished her bottle, I burped her but she just won't settle.' Berny says and Leah immediately pushes herself into a standing position.

'Hey, bubby... What's going on?' Leah says softly as she takes Rory into her arms and cradles her against her chest. Almost instantaneously, the baby begins to settle causing both Berny and Amanda to smile.

'She just wants her mama.' Amanda replies smiling.