: : Summary : : The O�Connell girls are older, and as beautiful as Evie. They are beginning to find interest in other guys, the innocent type of interest, and their looks, so read and find out what happens
After a week of being on a ship, contending with an emotionally distraught daughter, and wife, Rick was glad to see land. Alex and Megan had been wonderful to take care of Rebecca and Elizabeth when they needed them too, and Louisa had not been away from either parent the entire ride home. Now as the ship neared the harbor to dock, everyone stood in wait to de-board. Louisa stood in between Elizabeth and Rebecca who had become very protective of her, even though they did not understand what she had been through, and when the ship stopped she left them running to Rick who picked her up.
�I want to go home,� she said against his ear.
�We are going baby,� he replied holding Evie�s hand, and glad when Alex and Megan helped Rebecca and Elizabeth off the ship. Their things were put into two Taxis then they headed to the Manor. Along the way, they saw several repair crews fixing places that had been bombed, and even the countryside had been hit hard. When they arrived at the house, and the girls saw the horses they ran out to the field, even Louisa, momentarily forgetting her fear.
�I think this will help her,� Evelyn said as they watched the girls climbing on the fences.
�I hope so,� Rick said. He and Alex started to unload the car, when the door to the house opened, and Jonathan stepped out. Upon seeing him, Evelyn ran to him and let him hold her close. He looked like the same big loving brother she had seen two years ago.
�How is Louisa?� he asked. Since they told him what had happened Jonathan had thought of nothing more than going to the states and making the two young men pay for what they had done.
�I think she will be better now that we are finally home,� Evie said. They parted as the girls ran to see Uncle John, and it was only Louisa who held back.
�Uncle John take us riding like you did when we were in Egypt,� Rebecca said.
�All right,� he replied as both Elizabeth and Rebecca took either of his hands.
�Louisa would you like to come with us?� he asked. She shook her head and Jonathan hid his frown, wondering why she was shy with him, then guessed any male was an enemy at this point.
�Mother does he still drink?� she asked after Jonathan and her sisters left. Evie had noticed her hesitation and understood it now. Evelyn sat down on one of the steps and pulled her daughter to stand in front of her.
�Louisa Uncle John would rather face a thousand curses in Egypt than hurt you. I�m sure if we ask him he won�t drink while your around,� Evelyn said. She nodded and Evie hugged her, then they went inside to start sorting through the things they had brought back with them.
~*~
After a long day of unpacking and cleaning, everyone was ready for bed. The room the girls used to sleep in still only had one bed, and now in their bath Rebecca and Elizabeth tried to coax Lousia to sleep in their room as she had done before the attack.
�I�m not ready yet,� she said as Elizabeth washed her hair.
�We miss you with us you know,� she said. Louisa knew they did, but she was too afraid to be without her parents. Once the three of them washed one anothers hai, they stepped out of the large tub, one that was much bigger than the one they had shared at their home in Connecticut. Once they were ready for bed they got their rollers and went downstairs where the rest of the family including Jonathan was visiting, and let Evie and Megan fix their hair.
�How would you girls like to go see a picture show tomorrow?� Jonathan asked fully ready to spoil his nieces, glad that he finally had the chance to do so. Rebecca and Elizabeth were excited, Louisa didn�t say much.
�Louisa has to come with us,� Elizabeth said, hoping she would. Evelyn was just finishing her hair, and when she had, they all watched as she went upstairs on her own.
�Do you think she would mind if I talked to her?� Jonathan asked.
�It never hurts to try, just be sensitive of her feelings,� Evie said. Jonathan nodded then went upstairs after his niece.
~*~
In their parents room, Louisa had gotten Victoria, and lay in the bed holding the locket Evie had gotten for her a few days before they had boarded the ship to go to England. She jumped when someone knocked on the door, then took a deep breath figuring it was Uncle John.
�Come in,� she said, almost soft enough for him not to hear her, though he had, and slowly opened the door. She was laying on the bed facing the outer wall of the bedroom, and Jonathan took care to approach her slowly.
�Mind if I sit with you?� Louisa shook her head, and he sat on Evie�s side of the bed giving distance between them. Evelyn had told him what she was afraid of, about his drinking, and how the boys who had molested her, had been drunk. He wanted her to know that he would not hurt her, and would not drink or even come home drunk, so he began.
�Louisa, do you mind if I talk about what your afraid of with me?� When she didn�t respond he continued.
�I�m not going to drink when I�m here in this house. I do like to drink, but I�ve never hurt another woman, actually most of the time woman hurt me, which is why I�m a single man,� he said. As he talked, she turned to face him realizing that he was the same old Uncle John he had always been, and that he would not hurt her. Once he finished, she sat up then crawled over to him and let him hold on to her.
�Uncle John, if I go with you tomorrow do you promise to look out for me?� Jonathan held her closer.
�I always have and I always will.� he said. For a few moments they stayed that way then she turned to face him.
�Tell me dirty jokes like you used to do,� she said. Both of them lay together on the big bed and in no time at all, Jonathan had her laughing, the first time she had laughed in a long time. Once all the joke telling was over, Jonathan told her a bedtime story, her favorite kind, which were the stories of when he and Evelyn had been kids. His story put her to sleep, and as Jonathan was tucking her in, Evie walked in.
�Thank you for making her happy,� she said. Jonathan turned with a start.
�How many of those jokes did you hear?� he asked. Evelyn just smiled at him.
�Quite a few, but I�m glad you made her laugh, she needs that right now,� Evelyn said as they hugged. Once he had gone, she readied herself for bed and smiled when Rick came in looking as tired as she felt.
�How about a good nights sleep?� she asked as he walked to her and gathered her into his arms. They shared a tender kiss, which as it always did led to more, which they continued in their bathroom so they wouldn�t wake their daughter.
~*~
The outing in to London started out wonderful for everyone. Louisa was in good spirits, and laughed with her sisters at their uncle�s antics as they walked down a busy street. Several people looked at them as seeing identical girls, and three of them at once was not common place. When they arrived at the Theater, Jonathan bought for them candy and then they went inside where the screen was for the film. It was already dark,, and very quickly Louisa started to feel fear. She held tight to Rebecca�s hand trailing behind the rest of them, and when they went through a crowd of boys she lost hold of her sister�s hand. The boys were noisy and loud, and Louisa went back to the exit and bumped into a man screaming, then ran as fast as she could out of the theater. Without really knowing where she was going, Louisa ran down the sidewalk panicked and somehow found her way to one of the parks, where she hid in some bushes crying. At the theater when they got to their seats, Rebecca was panicked because she couldn�t find Louisa.
�Don�t worry now, I�ll go see if she went out to the Lobby,� Jonathan said starting to leave them, then thought of what had happened with Louisa all alone at the Beach, and quickly went back to Rebecca and Elizabeth.
�Maybe you should come with me?� For once in their lives the girls didn�t argue, and when they got to the Lobby Louisa was no where to be found. For the first time in their lives, both girls watched their Uncle start to panic.
�Uncle John thats not going to help find her,� Elizabeth said. Jonathan stopped pacing and looked at her, knowing she was right.
�Where would you go if you were afraid?� Rebecca asked him. Jonathan thought back to his times of being bullied as a child, and places he ran to, and remembered the small park not to far from where they were. Taking hold of both Elizabeth�s and Rebecca�s hand, Jonathan led them out of the theater and down the sidewalk a few blocks until they reached the park, then they began their search.
~*~
Too afraid to move, Louisa stayed huddled in the bushes watching people pass her by. She didn�t know how to get herself the help she needed, and was starting to panic again when she heard John�s voice. Like a bolt of lightning she was out of the bushes in a flash, and ran into her uncles arms.
�I want to go home,� she said starting to shake. Elizabeth and Rebecca ran over to their sister, and once Jonathan had her in his arms they started back toward the theater.
�No no I don�t want to go back there, there were boys and they were laughing,� she said sobbing against his shoulder. Elizabeth had her favorite bracelet and put it on Louisa�s wrist telling her to be brave, which seemed to help somewhat.
~*~
On the home front, Rick was waxing his Beuford, which had been stored in the garage for seven years while they had been in America, and while he had been fighting in the war. As he did that, Alex and Megan were in the field riding Seti and Silent Thunder, and Evie was in the Garden weeding, so that she could get read for planting new things. Rick was just finishing with his car when Jonathan arrived in his Dusenberg. Not expecting to see them back so early, Rick put his rag down and went to the car seeing all three girls in the back, and more so seeing how upset Louisa was.
�EVELYN,� he yelled as he ran the rest of the way. As soon as he opened the door she slid out of her seat and went willingly into his arms crying her heart out.
�Shhh shh. Daddy�s got you angel,� he said as he walked toward the house with her. Knowing she was in good hands with Rick,� Evelyn approached Jonathan who was still sitting in the car. Both Rebecca and Elizabeth were doing their best to cheer him up, and when they saw their mother�s approach, they left so she could help him.
�I was so stupid Evie. There we were ready to go see the movie, and I had her in the very back of our little line. A group of boys, harmless at that, pushed past us, and she got lost in the shuffle. Go ahead yell at me. Tell me I�m a good for nothing louse,� he said.
�Your a wonderful Uncle, Jonathan. Louisa�s just not ready to be out in a public place, or not as public as the Theater,� Evelyn said trying to reassure him.
�Mum what happened?� Alex said as he and Megan came from riding the horses.
�Your sister had a little upset,� she said feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. Alex talked everyone into getting inside, and relaxing as best they could, and as Jonathan and Evelyn walked toward the house, Megan took her husbands hand.
�Your going to be a good father someday,� she said. He smiled at her.
�You really think so?� he asked.
�With all my heart. You are a natural leader, You have always been that,� she said remembering the countless number of times he got them into trouble when they were kids.
�Hmm well maybe. We better go make sure everyone is hanging in there,� Alex said. Together they went inside to be with their family.