: : Summary : : This is the follow-up to the marriage of Rick and Evelyn, that I wrote. This story is just life of them
as a married couple
~
Being eight, almost nine months pregnant was not much fun. Up until now things had gone very easily for Evelyn, minus when she had all that morning sickness. Being as pregnant as she was, there was allot she could no longer do on her own. The most frustrating part, was not being able to put her shoes on by herself. Right now she was dressed for work, and trying to use just her feet to get them on. It wouldn�t be so difficult to do it that way, but the problem was that her feet were swollen, and it took hands to get her dress shoes actually on her feet.
�Oh now this should not be that difficult,� she said, as she felt with her feet for her shoes. She could no longer see over her belly, which made it very hard to find things, like her shoes. Now that she had at least one of them, she did sort of a dance, trying to get her foot in to it, which is how Rick found her when he come up to tell her he had breakfast ready. He stood at the door for a moment, amused by what he saw, then she sat down on the bed and cried, and he was not longer amused.
�Hey,� he came over and settled beside her, and she leaned against him.
�I�m fat, and I�m not attractive anymore, how can you stand to even look at me,� she sobbed. He wrapped his arms around her.
�Evelyn you are so beautiful, believe me, if not yourself. Your skin glows, radiant, and I love to see you in here at night, when your sitting at your vanity with nothing on. I love to watch you rub your hand over your tummy, all of that is so sexy to me.� She blushed.
�Rick, such words.� he kissed the top of her head.
�Well its true.� His words, and the fact she was in the safest place she knew, his arms, made her feel better.
�Now lets get your shoes on you,� he said, and he knelt down easily putting her foot into one, and strapped it, then the other, and helped her stand.
�All better?� he asked. She nodded, and he leaned in kissing the last of her tears away before they headed downstairs for breakfast, and the start of a new day.
It was a quite day for the museum, and Evelyn was glad for that. Her feet were swollen, and she had to take her shoes off just to let them feel any bit of relief. The baby was active as well, and the heat was also adding to her discomfort. Now she was in the Library putting books away, but only the ones on the lower shelves, which she could reach without using the ladder. As she worked, she hummed a lullaby softly, which she had noticed of late, seemed to calm the movement of the baby within her.
�All right little one, we have done all we can in this area, and I promised your father we would meet him for lunch.� She went back into her office, and realized that she had created a little problem. By taking her shoes off, she hadn�t thought about putting them back on, not until now. She sighed leaning her head back, and closing her eyes.
�Add not being able to think properly when being pregnant,� she mumbled to herself, as she felt a fresh set of tears forming, threatening to spill over at any moment.
�Oh why does this always happen.� She went over to the chair, where her little hand bag was, and got out her kerchief, dabbing at her eyes. After she got her tears under control, she went over to her desk, where her shoes were, and sat in the chair, using her feet to try to get them on, but as it always did, it only served to make her more upset, and she laid her head on her desk, and cried, not really knowing why.
At the house Rick had lunch ready, and was now waiting for his lovely wife to make an appearance. When twenty minutes went by he sighed, and left to go bring her home from the museum. All through out this pregnancy, he had been the one to make sure she got enough to eat, as well as getting enough rest. Their home wasn�t but a stones throw away from the museum, and when he arrive at the front steps he found some of the local children there making drawings in the dirt.
�Sir, we have paintings, you pay to see?� A little boy asked. Rick grinned, and took out a 5 cent piece, and handed it to the boy, who smiled and led him to their paintings.
�That one is of the Pyramids,� the boy told him.
�I see that, its very good,� Rick said. A little girl came up to him.
�You pay to see mine?� she asked. He gave her another 5 cents, and another, to another little girl.
�I�m glad you showed me these wonderful paintings, however, I need to go now.� They nodded, and he went up the few stairs into the museum. It was quiet, and he didn�t expect anyone to be here, except for Evelyn. When he got to her office the door was closed, and it was quiet. He opened it, expecting to find her sitting at her deck, going over some artifacts. She was sitting at her desk, but asleep, and as he walked in he nearly tripped over her shoe, and found the answer to why she had not come home for lunch. He picked both of her shoes up, and walked over to the desk, gently rubbing her back.
�I�m sorry, I�m just not having the best of days,� she admitted, and broke into more sobs. He stood her up and gathered her into his arms.
�Can you call it a day?� he asked. She nodded, and after leaving a note for Pete, she went with him outside, and they took the short walk home.
When they arrived home, lunch was waiting. Rick had not let go of her hand since they left the museum, and now he eased her into one of the chairs, and took her shoes off her feet. He scooted a chair next to her, and lifted one foot onto his lap, and began to rub it, massaging it for her. She closed her eyes, letting the feel of his hands ease the pain out of her foot.
�You spoil me,� she said, exhaustion plain in her voice.
�Only because you need to be spoiled,� he replied. After massaging both feet, he brought their food over, and they had a fairly quite meal. She kept yawning, embarrassed about that, but he would have none of that. Once lunch was over they went up to their room, and he helped her lay in the bed.
�Will you make me some tea?� she asked him.
�Yes.� He kissed her, and her tummy, then left for the kitchen. Making the tea wasn�t long, they had sun made tea in the Ice box, and after he poured a glass, he went back to her, and found that she was asleep. He smiled, and set the tea on her bedside table, then went to the door, closing it. After he removed his cloths, down to his boxers, he climbed in bed behind her, and gathered her against him. She sighed but remained asleep, and soon sleep found him as well.
It was in the depths of Hamunaptra, that Evelyn found herself when she woke up. She was chained to the alter, and priests were around her chanting. She looked down, and noticed she was still pregnant, and wondered how she had gotten here. Then he came, Imhotep. In ancient Egyptian, he told her that he was taking her baby. She tried to scream, but she could not. He stood over her now, and rubbed his hand over her belly, and she did her best to fight that. The only one she wanted to touch her was Rick, and where was he.
�Your husband made a nice sacrifice, and allowed me to resurrect my love.� Anck su namun came in then, and Evelyn thrashed about trying to scream but could not. She felt her stomach tighten as Imhotep moved his hand over it, and she gasped.
�NOOOOOOOO.� she screamed. He cut her open, and took he baby out, and then left her there to die.
Rick had woken up a few hours later, and was now downstairs playing with Cleo. She was a fickle cat to say the very least, and had decided that she wanted attention. He had been reading the paper, and Cleo had jumped ontop of it, not allowing him to continue. Now he had a piece of string dangling it in front of her, when he heard Evelyn scream. He jumped over the cat, and took the steps two at a time. She was still in bed wiggling about, and caught in the sheets.
�Evie shh its just a dream.� He settled beside her ,and kissed her cheek, and she came awake.
�Oh Rick it was just a terrible dream.� she shuttered, and he leaned back, taking her in his arms.
�I dreamed that Imhotep had taken me back to Hamunaptra, and he took the baby out of me,� She was starting to relax, then gasped as she felt her belly tighten.
�Evie?� he asked concerned now. After taking in a few breaths of air and blowing out, the tightness went away.
�I think that was a contraction,� she told him. His eyes got big.
�You mean, baby coming now?� he asked.
�Well not right at this moment, but eventually.� He eased away from her.
�I should call Becky now,� he said pacing. Evelyn rolled off the bed, and came to him, stopping his pacing.
�It�s all right, we will be fine, but I need you to be strong for me,� she told him. He nodded. The first thing they did, was to go in the baby�s room, and get the things they would need for it. Evelyn seemed to know what she wanted, so he just stood and watched. She got a gown out of one of the drawers, and a diaper, and put that in his arms. She got a blanket and a few soft towels and also handed that to him.
�Have you done this before� he asked, as they went back to their room.
�I once watched Becky do a delivery, and we need to have things ready when this baby gets here.� he nodded, and in their room he just laid all the stuff in the cradle, causing it to swing. She had gone into the bathroom and he came running when he heard her cry out.
�What is it?� he asked her.
�My water broke,� she said, and he noticed the puddle on the tile floor, as well as the fact that she was wet. Back in their room he helped her put a nightgown on, then put her to bed.
�I�d like some water,� she said. He went down to the kitchen, and was getting her water, when Jonathan came out of his room ready to go out for the evening.
�Jonathan, would you mind going to find Becky?� he asked.
�But I have plans and...� he stopped as what Rick asked sank in.
�You mean shes?� Rick nodded, and Jonathan ran outside, and down the way to the clinic, where Evie�s childhood friend practiced.
Time seemed to crawl by, and when Jonathan got back it was well in to the night. He went upstairs, and found Rick settled behind Evelyn who was moaning, with the pain of her contractions.
�I can�t find her, someone said she went on a dig,� he told Rick.
�When will she be back,� Evie said through her moans.
�Tomorrow afternoon,� he replied, wanting to help. Before he could ask, Evelyn cried out, and held tight to Rick�s hand.
�Oh Rick make it stop, it hurts so bad,� she cried. He wanted to make it stop, but he had no more power over that, than to bring Becky to help them. He rubbed his hand over her belly, and massaged there, and in a few moments she was calm again.
�Will you go get the wash basin, and fill it with cool water?� he asked of Jonathan. Jonathan did that, and brought it out ,setting it on the other side of the bed. Rick got the rag he had put in it, and after ringing out most of the water, he brought it to her face wiping there. Evie was relaxed for the moment, and the cool rag over her skin helped her fall into a needed rest, before the serious labor began.
It was now early morning, and Evelyn was exhausted, and not in the best of moods. She lay on the bed on her side as Rick massaged her back for her. The contractions were coming ever three minutes, and her whole body felt like it was in one big cramp. Jonathan came in from trying to find someone to help them, but most of the doctors were out at the big dig, which was going on down in Thebes.
�No luck, how is she doing?� Evelyn answered that for herself.
�She is doing as good as can be expected, and stop talking about me as if I wasn�t here.� Evelyn yelled, then she screamed as another contraction raked over her body.
�Rick get off me now,� she yelled. He had been yelled at most of the night, and he knew it wasn�t really at him, just at the pain, so he moved away, as she rolled onto her back. She felt the need to push, which was a first, and that really scared her.
�Oh god Rick its wanting to come out, but I�m to little for it to come out that way.� She cried out, and he came to her.
�Shh, you�ll be fine,� She sat up, and glared at him.
�How would you know? I�m about to have a baby come out of me. That is like taking a melon and squeezing it through a hole that is as small as a lemon,� she yelled, then fell back against the pillows and started to cry. He sat beside her ignoring that last comment.
�I know you will be all right because your strong. You�ve fought mummies, and far worse things,� he reminded her. He held her close and she drew stenghth from him.
�I�m sorry I�ve been yelling at you.� He kissed her head.
�Don�t be, if you want to yell at me, and it makes you feel better then go right ahead.� She closed her eyes as another contraction came. She screamed and screamed at this one, and pushed.
�Jonathan go run the bath,� Rick told him. He left to do that and Rick stood.
�It�s coming,� she yelled as she felt it close to coming out. He reached down, and felt their baby�s head being pushed into the world. His hands were under it, holding it, guiding it, as Evelyn sat up and screamed, pushing again and again, until the baby, a boy finally made his way out of her body. Jonathan came out about then and both of them heard a thump, as he passed out cold. Right now though Rick had more important matters to tend to, and after clearing the baby�s mouth and flicking his feet, which got a good cry out of him, he placed him on Evie�s stomach, and went over to Jonathan splashing some water on him, which woke him up.
�Sorry, I guess I wasn�t prepared for that,� he told Rick, as he was helped to stand. Jonathan walked over to where Evelyn held the baby to her breast letting him nurse, and took one of the blankets and draped it over him, and her.
�Thank you,� she said in a very tired voice.
�The least I can do.� He gave her a kiss, and his nephew. He looked down and noticed something else had come out of her and did his best not to end up on the floor. Fortunately for him Rick came over and eased him to the chair he had used most of the night.
�Is that normal?� Evie was too into her baby to notice.
�I think so,� he said. He had a pair of sharp shears, which he had cleaned, and used those to cut the chord from the after birth, and would tend to the rest once Alexander was finished with his meal. He noticed then that momma had fallen asleep, and only when Alexander was finished, did Rick take him from the safety of his mothers breast holding him to his shoulder. His son snuggled against him comfortable, as dad carried him to the bathroom to clean him, and to tie off his chord, and cut what he didn�t need off. Evelyn had told him all about what she had seen that day Becky had let her witness the birth of twins, and while he wasn�t totally sure of himself, he felt less afraid than he had, in the beginning. Jonathan came in as Rick sat in one of the small wicker chairs, laying the baby on his lap He tied the chord as close to the skin of his belly as he could, then took the shears Jonathan had, and cut it off close to the knot he had made, that would eventually be his son�s belly button. Alexander was getting restless, and Rick eased him back to his shoulder rocking him a little.
�Shh, just hold on a moment and lets get you clean, then I�ll take you back to your mom.� He stood, and went to the tub, realizing there was too much space, and moved to their sink. He put a stopper in it, then filled it with water. He took a towel and put it in as a liner, then cradled his son into one arm, and eased him into the water. Alexander was very quick to let his father know, he didn�t like having a bath, and no amount of his dad�s soothing voice worked to calm him down.
In the bedroom Evelyn came awake, at hearing her son�s cries, and Jonathan reasured her that he was safe.
�Rick�s giving him a bath, speaking of that, let me help you clean up.� She nodded, and he got her clean gown, and the wash basin, and eased her into one of the chairs while he changed the sheets of the bed. She frowned at her sons cries, not liking being even this far from him.
�Now that you have a clean bed, I�ll go see if I can lend Rick a hand� He helped her get comfortable, and then got the baby things out of the cradle and took them to his brother-in-law. In bed, Evelyn tried not to worry, for her baby was still crying loud, then ,just as she was about to go see what was making him so upset, Rick came out with Alexander cradled in his arms still crying.
�Shhh, she�s right here.� He came to her side of the bed, and placed their son ,who was dressed in a warm gown, in her arms. Evelyn felt better now that he was back in her arms, and swayed with him.
�Mum is here baby.� She kissed his forehead and his nose, then sang to him, and in a moment his cries subsided and he went to sleep safe in her arms. Rick settled beside them, noticing that it was becoming light outside. Evie leaned against him and sleep soon found her as well. He pulled a blanket up over all three of them and scooted back against the pillows bringing his wife and son with him. Sleep claimed him as well, and for a while all was quiet and at peace
More soon....