: : Summary : : How does life change once Alex is born. This story is a continuation of my Married Life story, and is after they return from Egypt, and what Rick and Evie must face as parents.
Being a father was proving to be one of the most rewarding jobs Rick had ever had. He loved their son, loved watching him experience life for the first time, but as the weeks began to pass by, he was realizing how little time he and Evie had without him, and though he loved his son, Rick wanted time with his wife. For Evelyn, being a mother was something she had let consume her. Every waking moment she spent with her baby, nursing him, singing to him, telling him about Egypt and all the adventures, both good and bad that she and Rick had experienced. Since the one time Angela had called her from the museum, Evie had not thought of that or her return, and Rick knew he wasn�t going to have an easy time trying to get her to go out with him. Now on his own, Rick was at a dress shop, and had selected a evening gown for Evie, and picked up the tux he had ordered. Always in the past she had tried to get him to go see a play with her or to hear an opera, and always before, Rick had refused that. Now he wanted to do something nice for her, and had hopes to entice her out of the house with tickets to see Shakespeare�s a Mid Summers Night Dream, as well as take her to a fine Italian Restaurant. After spending most of the morning getting the things he needed, Rick�s last stop was at a flower shop. There he purchased a dozen white and red roses, and once satisfied he went home.
~*~
On the homefront, Evie was helping Nanna chop vegetables for her beef stew, while Alex slept in his sling. He was almost three months old, and very content as long as he was being held.
�I�m still not sure how you find the patience to do all of this,� Evie said as she finished chopping up a carrot. Nanna smiled in response.
�Well my dear, you must remember I have been cooking, and taking care of your family for a long time now, and I really do like to cook,� she said looking past Evie, and smiling as she saw Rick approaching. Evie turned and gasped when she saw the roses.
�Oh Rick their beautiful,� She said as she got up from the table. Quickly Nanna filled a white vase with blue flowers painted all over it, with water, and helped Evie put the flowers in there, then set them on the table. The two shared a kiss, and Rick smiled giving his son a kiss.
�What is the occasion?� Evie asked of the flowers.
�Well I wanted you to know how much I love you, and I also want to take you on a date tonight,� he said. When thinking things through as far as getting her out of the house, Rick had decided the best way was just to give her last minute details, and hope she didn�t back out on him. Already he saw the troubled look in her eyes.
�Rick, I love the flowers, but I just don�t think Alex is ready for us to be away from him,� Rick walked to her and put his hand against her cheek.
�Evie, trust Nanna. She has taken care of Alex and you as well as Jonathan, and Alex will be just fine for a while without us,� Rick said. Nanna usually kept out of their business but on this she stepped in.
�If you are worried about him getting hungry, you can express your milk for him, to have in a bottle,� Nanna said. Evie looked down at her baby and shook her head.
�I�m sorry Rick I can�t go, not yet,� she said then hurried out of the kitchen. As Rick started after her Nanna stopped him.
�Watch over my food, I think its time I had a talk with her,� Nanna said. Rick nodded and sat down at the table resting his head against the surface.
~*~
In the master bedroom, Evelyn sat in the rocking chair with Alex laying on her lap very much awake. He could now focus on her face, and watched her as she sang to him.
�Your mother used to sing that to both you and Jonathan before putting you to bed,� Nanna said as she entered the spacious room. Evie looked up.
�Evelyn, I know you love Alex, and as young as he is he knows you love him as well, but you need to take time away from him to be with your husband. Doing that is not abandoning him not by any means what so ever,� Nanna said as she stood beside Evie placing a hand on her shoulder.
�I know this is absurd Nanna but I feel like I�ll miss something if I go,� she said.
�All new mothers have that feeling, and Alex has you for the rest of his life, for everything that is important. I can�t make you go out with Rick, but I think for the two of you the time spent together alone would be good,� Nanna said, then left her to think. As they had talked Alex had watched both of them and now Evelyn looked at her baby, and knew what Nanna had said was right. She missed time alone with her husband, and knew that they both needed that time to show their love for one another.
�All right little one, you get to have an evening with your Nanna,� Evie said as she lifted him to her shoulder. Alex started to get restless, so she opened her shirt and let him have his lunch.
~*~*~
When she came downstairs, Evelyn went to the kitchen and gave Alex to Nanna, then sought out her husband, knowing that Rick was outside chopping fire wood. Times when their relationship strained he would go chop wood, and at the side of the house she found him hard at work.
�RICK,� she called out. He looked up surprised to see she didn�t have Alex with her. After setting down his ax, Rick went to her.
�I think you are right about us. We do need to get out, and I�m sorry about being so involved...� She never got past that word as Rick�s lips pressed firmly against hers. When they parted he kissed her nose and forhead.
�Don�t be sorry for being a good mum to our son Evie, if anything I�m the one who should be sorry for not being with Alex enough. I guess I�ve gotten too caught up in this idea Sam has for us starting a ship building firm.� Evie shivered against the cold late February wind, and Rick took her hand leading her inside to the kitchen which was empty of Nanna and Alex. He led her to the table and had her sit down.
�If you don�t mind I want to take you out to dinner at Bella Notte. Then I want to take you to see the first showing of a Mid Summers Night Dream,� he said. Evelyn nodded her head and they kissed again.
�I guess we should get ready,� Evie said as they parted again. Rick smiled and traced his fingers over the soft skin of her cheeks then lower to her neck.
�Yes we should. I bought you and Evening gown,� he said as she stood. They went to their room and Evie gasped as Rick took the gown out of the bag. It was a deep burgundy color, two layers, and long with a cut up the side, and sequence on the lacy fabric.
�OH Rick its beautiful,� she said as she held it up to her slender body.
�I thought so too,� he said as he got out his tux. They had a while before they would need to get ready, and after putting the cloths in the closet the two decided to go for a walk in the vast meadows they owned.
~*~*~
As evening drew nearer, Evelyn had gotten the knack of hand expressing her milk, and though it took forever she managed to get two bottles for Alex throughout the day aside from nursing him. Those she stored in the ice box, and now as she sat in the bath soaking in her favorite scented oils Rick sat on the bed with Alex watching him as he reached for a rattle in front of him.
�How about a hand,� Rick said as he put it within his reach. Alex rested his head on the bed for a moment then lifted it again and got the rattle, then began to fuss.
�Hey I thought we were doing pretty good there,� Rick said as he lifted Alex against his shoulder. For a moment Alex cried a little more then relaxed.
�Now you be good for Nanna. No reading ancient books filled with curses, and no talking to strange men in black robes,� Rick said as he moved over to the rocking chair and settled in it. He cradled Alex in the crook of one arm smiling as his son watched him.
�What do you think pal?� Rick asked as he took one of Alex�s little hands. Alex wrapped his hand around his fathers finger in a strong grip and watched as his dad told him about a time long since past when he lived in the orphanage at Cairo.
�When you get older, your mum and I might take you back there,� he said, then looked up as Evelyn walked out wearing just a black lacy Camice.
�Your turn,� she said as she walked over to them. Before Rick could get up, Evelyn leaned in and gave him a kiss on his lips nuzzling his lower lip before pulling away.
�Your playing with fire Mrs. O�Connell,� Rick said as he stood and let her have his seat. Once she was ready he handed their son to her, then went in to have his bath, and to shave. As soon as he was in her arms, Alex began to fuss, ready for her to feed him which she did. Evelyn was feeling very emotional about going out this night. On the one had she was excited to be going to a play with her husband, but on the other hand having to leave her baby was not easy.
�Tonight before you got to bed, Nanna will feed you from a bottle,� Evie said as she stroked her hand against his soft head. For a little bit Alex watched her, then as his tummy filled, he fell asleep.
~*~
At Bella Notte, Rick had the matradie lead them to the back, and now he and Evelyn sat at a private table sipping some red wine, and eating fresh baked bread while waiting for their meal to arrive. Evie smiled as she found her husband looking at her again.
�Rick you see me everyday,� she said. Rick reached out for her hand and took it in his.
�And I don�t get tired of looking at you. Ive missed time like this Evie, where both of us can focus on one another,� he admitted. Despite her earlier reservations, Evelyn was glad she had come on this date, and agreed with what he said about them being able to focus on just them. When the main coarse arrived, Angelhair pasta with a red wine oyster sauce, they let the server fill their plates then Rick took time to feed her bites of pasta, kissing off anything left on her lips or chin.
�You do relize your not getting food this way,� Evie said after he kissed her again.
�I will eat later,� he said as he gave her another bite of pasta. They finished off what the server had brought them, and by then it was time for them to go to the Theater to see the play.
~*~*~
While the parents wined and dined, Alex was not having such a good time. Nanna had tried the first bottle after giving him a bath, but he didn�t want to have anything to do with it, irate for her even trying.
�I know this isn�t your mum,� Nanna crooned as she paced with him. He let out a loud long cry, and Nanna gave up on trying to give him a bottle, deciding instead to take him for a walk outside. First she bundled herself up, then wrapped the wailing infant in a thick blanket and walked outside. Snow had begun to fall, not heavy but it was beautiful at any rate. Being outside had helped Alex to calm down and Nanna smiled as she showed him different things. The walk had the desired effect, and Alex fell asleep as she walked inside, greeted by Jonathan who helped take care of Alex while she got her coat off.
�Maybe I should go get Evie, so he will eat,� Jonathan said. Quickly Nanna responded.
�You will do no such thing, they need time for one another, and when Alex is ready he will take from the bottle,� Nanna said very matter of factly. Jonathan grinned as she left, feeling like he was 10 again instead of 33.
~*~
Having never attended a play, Rick was finding that it really wasn�t all that bad. The premise of the play was humorous and he found himself laughing with the rest of the audience at certain parts. Evelyn held his hand elated that her husband was enjoying himself, and that he had made the effort to do something she wanted. The play ended it seemed all to soon, and Evelyn found that she wasn�t ready to go home. As they drove she told him that.
�Rick I know we should be getting back, but I need more time with you,� she said. Passing the road that they turned on to get to their house, Rick drove them far into the countryside into a meadow where he stopped the car. Surprised Evelyn turned to him, then saw the passion burning in his eyes and caught on quickly to what he wanted. Cloths were quickly removed, and hands found and made pleasure for both. Rick made love to his wife for the first time since Alex had been born and after held her in his arms content to do so.
�I never thought of using a car for more than just driving,� Evie said as she lifted her head. Rick grinned at her.
�We should put it to good use more often,� he said as he kissed her again, then felt wetness where her breast was pressed against his chest, and both knew they needed to get home to their baby.
~*~*~
When they pulled up to the house all was quiet. Rick moved to the passenger door and opened it helping his wife out, then they went inside finding more quiet. In the parlor Nanna was knitting something, and in his basket bed Alex slept soundly. He still slept with them, not liking nights, and it was only for Nanna that he slept in his bed at all.
�How was your night?� she asked as she put her things away. Evelyn smiled as Rick took her coat.
�Wonderful. How did Alex do?� she asked. Nanna smiled.
�At first I didn�t think he was going to take his bottle, but he finally did, and is just fine. I fed him the second bottle about an hour and a half ago,� Nanna informed. She bid them goodnight, then went upstairs to go to bed. As Evelyn started to lift Alex from the bed to take him upstairs, Rick stopped her, and lifted the entire basket bed.
�Lets see if we can keep him in here for a while longer,� Rick said, and it was obvious to her, that he had more he wanted to do, something that she didn�t mind. In his room, Rick put the basketbed in the crib, and both of them kissed Alex goodnight, then before she could move Evelyn was lifted into her husbands arms and carried to their room for more of what they had started in the car at the meadow.