: : Summary : : I've always wondered why Rick & Evie only had one child and it will be my last take on the pregnancy theme.
This is from the darker side of my mind and beware, it doesn't have a happy ending
~
mother's absolute joy, and even though Rick and Evelyn had no set plan on how many children they would have, they still
found themselves surprised that she was pregnant again when Alex was just eight months old. Now five months into her term
Evelyn was beginning to feel the strain of two close pregnancies along with the tiring job of raising a toddler. None-the-less she
and Rick were looking forward to the new arrival, now that they were over the initial shock.
"I swear I'm already bigger than I was at the same stage with Alex!" she said rubbing her belly as she relaxed on the couch.
Rick walked up behind her, leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Sure looks like it from this angle" he teased, quickly
moving out of her reach before she could make contact with the back of her hand. They had just returned to the house
after taking Alex for a walk around the Manor's gardens. It was really more of a lazy stroll, with Rick carrying Alex most of
the way. The tot had fallen asleep on his father's shoulder and was now sleeping peacefully upstairs. Evelyn began to kick off
her shoes "Ahh,! that's much better" she sighed. "Just look how swollen my ankles are" . Rick moved to sit next to her and
began to rub her feet. "You look tired, why don't you lie down for a while. I'll bring lunch up to you in a little while if you like".
She refused, shaking her head "No, I'm fine right here" she said "to be honest I can't be bothered walking up the stairs".
"Gooood Morning all" beamed Jonathan as he practically bounced into the room. "How is my baby sister today? Still lovely
and round as ever, I see".
"Oh, for heaven's sake" said Evelyn exasperated "I've had more than enough of the round jokes, thank you both VERY much".
Neither of the men could help but laugh, and even though she tried not to, Evelyn herself let out a little chuckle. "So tell us,
Jonathan, why are you so merry this morning? she inquired.
"I won, Evie! Last night, at long bloody last, I came out on top!" he almost danced about the room "Can you believe it? I had
such a poker face, fooled the lot of 'em".
"Well, good for you I suppose" said Evelyn "but I do wish you wouldn't gamble".
"I'll have no wet blankets, thank you Evie. Credit where it's due." he retorted.
"Hmmm. Well maybe I will take your advice Rick. I think I'll lie down for a while before lunch" she said and began to get up.
Rick helped her to stand.
"Need any help getting upstairs?"
"No, thankyou, I'll be fine." Evelyn smiled as she looked up at Rick "But will you get Alex when he wakes?"
"Sure" said Rick as he kissed his wife's cheek and with that Evelyn made her way upstairs.
"So Jonathan, where DID you play last night?" asked Rick
"The Mariner's Club, old boy" he chirped "Oh, you should have seen me..."
"Mariner's Club?" asked Rick astounded "No wonder you won! That's the only place this side of the Channel where your opponents would have been drunker than you?
"Now, now" Jonathan began to defend himself, but stopped when they both heard a crash from directly above them.
"Evie!"said Rick as he hurried from the room with Jonathan right behind.
**************
Rick opened the bedroom door to see Evelyn kneeling beside the toppled bedside table. He knelt beside her putting his arm around her shoulder "What happened?"
She looked up at him and he saw real fear in her eyes. "Something's wrong" she was whispering as if she was too scared to say it aloud "Something's very wrong".
"What Sweetheart? What? Have you got pain?" Rick was becoming fearful himself.
"Yes, some." she choked "But there's more to it".
Rick moved her hands from her lap and it all became frightfully clear. He turned his head to see Jonathan standing just inside
the doorway, disbelief showing on his brother-in-law's face. "Get onto Dr.Bowen for me Jonathan. Tell him what you see" Rick's
words almost stuck in his throat, he couldn't believe this was happening. "And find Cora, get her to bring towels in here. On the
double!"
"Yes. Right away" Jonathan said and left without hesitation.
**************
The telephone had been installed immediately after Alex's birth in order to avoid a repeat of circumstances should Evelyn ever have another child. Jonathan couldn't help but notice the irony in the call he was now about to make. He didn't even really listen to his own words as he spoke into the mouthpiece. "An emergency.....Mrs O'Connell.....at her home.....yes, very serious....good, good" He hung up and stood staring at the telephone, but snapping himself out of it, he moved through the back of the house calling for the housemaid.
**************
Rick O'Connell sat on the floor cradling his wife, both of them horribly scared and both wishing they'd wake up from what had to be a nightmare. He didn't want to move her, he didn't want to leave her on the cold floor. "Hell!!" he thought to himself, he didn't know what to do! Evelyn was in pain, that much was obvious, but it wasn't like when Alex was born. Then she moved, rocked herself through the contractions. This time he could tell she was forcing herself to stay as still as she could and her moaning seemed to come from her heart.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" she wept with her face pressed into his shirt.
"NO! No, Evie" he spoke "You haven't done anything to be sorry for" He lifted her face to look at him and said "I don't know what
happened, or why, but you didn't cause it. Okay Sweetheart, it wasn't you". He kissed her head and held her tighter. "We're gonna get through this, Evie".
"I don't want to lose this baby, Rick" her voice trembled as she spoke. "Please don't let me lose it".
"Sshh, Sshh" was all he could manage. He didn't know how to answer her. She was pleading with him and all he could do was hold her. He knew he could no sooner stop this than fly. "Try and keep calm, Evie" he whispered "That's all we can do for the moment".
Jonathan and Cora came into the room "Towels, Sir" said the woman "I'll be back with water for Mrs O'Connell. And not to worry about the little one, I'll take care of him when he wakes".
"Chin up, Evie" said Jonathan. He wanted to kick himself for such an insane comment, and could tell that Rick wanted to do the same. But he only wanted to reassure his sister.
"Maybe you should wait downstairs to let Bowen in" said Rick as he tilted his head to direct Jonathan to the door.
"Yes, perhaps that's for the best" said Jonathan, he wanted to stay for Evie but he knew that wasn't his place, not anymore. Even
though they lived in the same house, he sometimes felt he really missed his little sister.
*************
Dr Bowen arrived with his Matron and Jonathan showed them upstairs to Evelyn and Rick. Then that was it for his part. The door
was closed and Jonathan was left outside. He could hear muted voices and above them were Evelyn's pained cries. He felt the tears brim in his eyes and his heart ached for her and Rick at the tragedy they were plainly experiencing. At one point he heard Rick's loud and determined voice stating emphatically that he wasn't leaving his wife alone and that it shouldn't be suggested again. Even Cora was being kept busy running back and forth on seemingly endless errands. Jonathan saw his respite in Alex and took the toddler into the garden. This is where he stayed until much later he saw Dr. Bowen leave the house and he knew it was over.
**************
He carried Alex into the house and found Rick alone in the Drawing Room. Rick walked over and took his son into his arms. "Hey little guy" Rick tried to sound cheerful but his voice was cracking "haven't seen much of you today". Alex began to cry and Cora walked into the room.
"The mite's most likely hungry. Here, give him to me, I'll sort him out for you" it almost sounded like an order, but Rick only nodded and handed Alex to her. His cries faded as he was carried off to the kitchen.
Hesitantly, Jonathan spoke. "How's Evie?"
"Sleeping" Rick's voice was drained of emotion. "He gave her something. I don't know, but it's made her sleep at least. That Matron woman is still up there".
Jonathan was almost too afraid to speak "And....the baby?"
Rick just shook his head and turned his back to Jonathan.
"Evie IS going to be alright, isn't she?" Jonathan had never been so worried in his life.
Rick turned to look at Jonathan. He was angry. He wanted to punch someone and he didn't care who. Jonathan saw this and took astep backwards. Rick stepped towards him, then stopped in time, realizing he was worried for his sister. He had no part in this. "Yes, she should be. In time". he said, but that's ALL he could say. He couldn't tell Jonathan what Bowen had said about the damage this had done to her or how frail she was, that she almost bled to death. He couldn't tell him that she sobbed uncontrolably in his arms or that when it was over he went to the back of the house and threw up. He was full of raw emotion, anger and sorrow. He was amazed he was able to speak at all.
*******************
Rick didn't know what time it was when Evelyn finally stirred. He was lying above the covers next to her. The room was dimly lit by
one lamp and he was lying there, just watching her. "Hey, there you are" he whispered to her. She turned to look at him and
tears began to roll down her face. "Come on Evie" he said as he pulled her into his arms. "It's all over, Sweetheart, all over". But still she sobbed. He felt his own tears sting his eyes and he held her tighter.
"I don't understand" she breathed "What went so wrong?"
"There's no answers, Evie. It just happened. Nothing you did, nothing you could've done." He wasn't sure if this was helping her or not. She said nothing for a long time. She just laid in his arms, sometimes letting out small sobs.
"Where's Alex?" she said quietly.
"Asleep with Jonathan, last time I looked" he answered "He was beginning to miss you around bedtime and Jonathan stayed to
settle him. They're both asleep on the couch". This brought the smallest of smiles to her lips, but her eyes still filled with tears.
"I love you, Evie" he whispered as he lightly kissed her lips.
"No matter what?" she asked.
"No matter what".
END