RATED: PG
SUMMARY: After a trying few weeks, Rick and Evelyn decide to go on a much needed vacation for two, leaving a two year old Heidi, and older brother Alex with Jonathan and Aunt Maggie.
NOTE: Maggie Carnahan is Evie and Jon�s Auntie, in her late 60s, and Alex�s least favorite Aunt as you will soon find out.
Bad Timing
Chapter 1: In need of Vacation
Having to pay bills, was one of Rick�s least favorite jobs, and for that reason he was glad that bill time only came once a month. At his desk in between two large book cases in the Parlor, he sat looking over the pile of bills, shaking his head at how much money they spent a month on things such as Electricity and Gas.
While he sorted through all of that, Heidi sat not to far from him, pushing around a red toy truck, one that Alex had played with constantly at her age. She loved playing with his old toys, as well as playing house and tea party. Heidi was a whirlwind just as her brother had been as a two year old. When playing with the red truck became boring, the little girl stood up and walked across the room to yet another book shelf. Lifting her hands above her to a higher shelf, she stepped up on the bottom shelf, then stepped up to the second shelf.
It was the lack of sound which caught Rick�s attention, and when he turned around he found his daughter steadily climbing a shelf which was beginning to tip forward. Quickly he stood and crossed the room lifting her away from the shelf, cradling her in his arms. �Heidi that�s not safe for you to climb,� he gently admonished.
�Climen det book,� she said, looking up at him with her dark blue eyes.
�Your books are on the bottom shelf by my desk,� Rick said as he carried her there then set her back on her feet. He knelt down and pulled out a picture book full of exotic animals which Jonathan had gotten for her on a trip he had taken to Africa.
�Want mummy book,� she said pushing the one he was offering away.
�Why don�t we take a ride on Jack?� Rick asked, hoping to get her occupied long enough for him to finish the bills. Jack was Alex�s old Hobby horse, a toy which she usually loved, but today it seemed she was being difficult; a typical two year old trait.
�No Jack,� she said as she got up and ran to the piano. Before he could get to her, she was happily banging on the keys, then screamed as he lifted her away.
�SONG SONG,� she yelled as he carried her over to her dolly bed, at the far end of the Parlor. Rick tried to put her down but she screamed louder and clung around his neck. Looking at the grandfather clock, he realized that she was well overdue for her noon day nap, and carried her upstairs to her room.
Heidi�s room was painted a pale shade of pink, and decorated with dolls and figurines of all sorts. When Evelyn had discovered she was carrying another child, she had insisted that they paint the room, and decorate it for a girl, confident despite Rick and Jonathan�s doubts, that they were going to have a baby daughter, and she had been very right.
As Rick laid her down to check her nappy, Heidi cried sorrowful cries, then began to kick her legs, making it difficult for Rick to get a clean nappy on her. After having to go through this with Alex, he was a pro and quickly had her changed. On her bed, he picked up her favorite blanket, worn from her taking it practically everywhere, then walked to the rocking chair and sat down.
�NOOOO NOOOO NAP,� she wailed, pushing away from him.
Finally he carried her to his and Evelyn�s room and once he was laying in bed with her resting against his chest she began to calm down.
�Want mummy,� she said as she began to suck her thumb.
�She will be home after your nap,� he said. It didn�t take long for her to fall asleep, and after some careful maneuvering, Rick slipped away from beside his baby girl, and headed back downstairs to finish the bills.
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In town, Evelyn was having her own headache to deal with. The new Curator, Mr. Santiago, did not agree with women working, and believed they should all stay at home and take care of the children. Anytime anything went wrong he would rant about her working, which never failed to upset her.
This day had started out all right. Evie arrived at the museum, and began to catalog and shelve books in the Library, teaching the newest employee her method of doing things, without knocking down any shelves. Laura was a fast learner, and Evelyn was glad to have another woman to talk to.
A little before lunch Mr. Santiago entered the Library and began to spout off, as he usually did, going on and on about how they needed to focus on the exhibits rather than some stupid book. �And further more Miss O�Connell, if I had my way you and Miss. Simon�s would never be allowed to work in this museum,� he bellowed, causing his whole bald head to turn crimson. �Why the Bembridge Scholars put up with the two of you is a mystery to me. Now get to work.� he finished, then turned and left the room.
For many moments Evelyn just stood there, not believing the nerve of him to regard her with such disrespect. Then she threw down the book she had been holding, pushed past Laura, and headed for her office to write a letter of Resignation the Bembridge Scholars.
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With the bills finally paid, Rick now sat in his favorite chair, and was beginning to dose off when he heard the click of his wife�s heals on fast approach. When she walked in he noticed her tear stained face, and quickly went to her.
Evelyn let him hold her, hugging him tight as she tried to wash away the mornings events. �I quit,� she informed as they parted.
�Quit?� he asked, not quite understanding what she was referring to.
�I wrote a letter of resignation to the Bembridge Scholars, and I�m not going back there,� she said.
Rick knew even though she was angry, that she could never stay away too long. �You love going to the museum,� he reminded as he led her over to the couch and sat down pulling her to sit with him.
�Yes I do, but I can�t take his ranting,� she admitted as she snuggled against her husbands comforting chest.
�Sounds to me like you need to have a talk with Herbert, and tell him how that bastard treats you,� Rick said as he kissed the top of her head.
Evelyn sighed. �I�ve tried, but he said Mr. Santiago is a great Curator, and he is. He just has horrible views on where woman should be and where they should not,� she said.
�You know what I think?� he asked. �I think you and I need time away, not just a weekend but maybe a couple of weeks. Sam was telling me that Switzerland is really nice this time of year,� he said.
�What about Heidi?� Evie asked as she lifted her head.
�Evie she�ll be fine. We can get Jonathan to look after the kids and after bailing him out of trouble two times last week I�d say he owes us. We can also get Maggie to check in on them from time to time,� he added, hoping he could convince her.
�A vacation does sound like a nice idea,� she admitted.
�Then it�s settled. I�ll go rouse Jonathan and tell him our plans, and don�t you have tea with Maggie tomorrow?� he asked.
�I do. I�ll ask her then,� Evelyn said feeling much better. They continued to sit that way until Evelyn�s stomach rumbled, then the two of them headed off to the kitchen to see what Marie was making for lunch.
***********
At dinner that night, Rick told Alex their plans, and got a groan from him.
�Not Aunt Maggie dad. She�s old and wrinkled, and she pinches my cheeks and expects me to take naps,� Alex complained.
Jonathan chuckled then stopped when his nephew glared at him. �Ahh, Aunt Maggie means well partner. If it makes you feel any better she still complains about me going out, which I won�t be doing while your parents are away,� Jonathan said looking at his sister with an innocent smile.
�I go too,� Heidi said as she pushed her plate away.
�Heidi, my angel, you need to eat some of this wonderful food Marie made for you,� Evelyn said.
�Mummy feed me,� she said.
Evelyn turned her highchair to face her and complied with her daughters wishes.
�My life is over,� Alex said as he excused himself from the table taking with him his empty plate.
�Well I�ll be seeing you tomorrow sometime,� Jonathan said as he too left the table.
Once they were gone, Rick commented on how well that had gone. �Do you think Maggie�s up to looking after our group?� Rick asked.
�She practically raised my father after their mother died, so I think she can handle this lot,� Evelyn said as she spooned another bite of potatoes into her daughter�s mouth.
Rick stood up, and took his plate and Evelyn�s to the sink where Marie was cleaning the dishes, then returned with a warm wet washcloth to clean Heidi�s hands and face.
�Mummy do it,� she as she waved her hands and turned her head away from him.
Rick winked at his wife then handed her the washcloth. �I�ll go start her bath,� he whispered in his wife�s ear. After kissing her he left her to finish feeding their daughter, hoping they would have some private time after such a long trying day.
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