badtiming10

Chapter 10: Life as it should Be

The special herbs, and frequent visits to the hot springs within the Med-jai village saved Heidi�s life. Once she was well enough to make the journey, Rick and Evie decided to go back to Cairo, and stay there until they were sure she would make a full recovery. By then, Alex was due back in school, and he had begun to believe that his parents wouldn�t remember, but unfortunately his mum brought that up, and began tutoring him on his studies, much to his chagrin.

Relieved that his niece was getting better, and happy to be back in the civilized world, Jonathan began spending time at the local bars, gambling and drinking which was his normal activity. He heeded to Rick�s warning not to cause any problems, and amazingly enough he seemed to be having a bit of luck with his money for once.

Breakfast preparation was in full swing, and both Rick and Evelyn were in the small kitchen preparing a hardy meal when Heidi�s sudden screams drew both of them to the parlor. There they found their daughter laying on the floor kicking her feet while Alex stood a little away looking very angry about something. Quickly Rick crossed the room and knelt down picking her up, managing to avoid her swinging arms as he held her against his chest. For a moment she continued to scream, then began to cry. �Shhh,� whispered Rick as he stood up, walking out of the room to take her upstairs and put her down for a nap.

�What happened Alex?� Evie asked, guessing he had something to do with Heidi�s tantrum.

�I was looking at grandfather�s treasure box, the one that you keep those old pictures in, and she grabbed one away from me, and started to grumble it, so I took it from her and she did that,� he said.

Evie knew he was tired of how much attention they were giving Heidi, and decided that perhaps she and Alex needed to spend some time alone. �How would you like to go to the Museum with me today? I need to do some research there, and I could use your help,� she said as both of them walked into the kitchen.

While his mum resumed making breakfast, Alex sat down at the small round table. �What sort of research?�

With a bowl held against her chest, and a whisk in her other hand, Evelyn began to beat some eggs. �I want to write and informative book on Ancient Egypt, around the time that Nefertiri was made Queen.�

Alex grinned. �I thought you would remember.�

Evelyn smiled at him before adding the bowl of chopped onions and pepper into the eggs. �I do remember a little bit of my past life, but unfortunately not enough to write an entire book,� she said as she poured the egg mixture into the warming skillet.

A few minutes later, the rest of the family sat down to breakfast while Heidi took a nap upstairs. �When will we be going home?� Alex asked as he finished off the last of his cooked ham.

Rick chuckled, �Are you that eager to be returning?�

�No no, I just wondered is all.� Even though his mum was tutoring him, Alex preferred that, rather than being in London. He did love it there, but Egypt held more of his interest, just like it did with his mum.

�We are going to give Heidi a few more weeks to recover here, then we will go home,� Evelyn said, also not looking forward to returning. She had quit her job at the museum, and had begun to think about what she would do once life returned to normal. Sure there was her job as mum and wife, but she was used to balancing that with her job at the museum.

~*~

Finding that her mum and brother had gone away without her, didn�t make Heidi very happy. She woke up from her two hour nap crying, and barely ate any of the food they had gotten especially for her. The only thing that seemed to cheer her up was when Rick took her outside to sit on the porch swing he had put up a few years back.

�I go see momma now,� she said as she pulled her thumb out of her mouth and tilted her head up in effort to see her father�s face.

�She should be home soon, then you can see her,� he said as he leaned down and kissed her nose and cheeks. For a few minutes more, Heidi was content to sit on her father�s lap and swing, then she wanted to go inside and play.

A little later, Rick was able to sit down on the couch in the small parlor and catch up on the news while his daughter sat close by pushing around some of Alex�s old trucks and cars. �Beep daddy,� Heidi called out as she pushed the care against his foot. She giggled when he lifted them up, and continued to push them around the room until she began to cough and gag.

Abandoning his paper, Rick ran over to her and lifted her up then bent her over his arm and rubbed her back as she began to cry. The coughing spells were not as frequent as the had been, but when they did occure, Heidi had difficulty catching her breath, and they often times signaled the time for her to have a nap. As she began to calm down, Rick stood up and carried her over to his spot on the couch and sat down with her.

�Daddy read dat,� she said as she coughed a little more before relaxing. She watched as Rick picked up the news paper, and stuck her thumb in her mouth as he began to read about the news in London England.

~*~

When Evelyn and Alex returned to the house, Jonathan was the only one awake and once his sister was out of ear shot, he pulled Alex aside. �I made reservations for your parents to have dinner out tonight, and was hoping you would help me with your sister,� he said. It had been almost a month since Rick and Evelyn had any time away by themselves, and Jonathan wanted to give them that opportunity.

Alex however had his doubts. �I don�t think they will leave her, nights are when her coughing is still bad,� he reminded.

�You don�t think we could manage for a few hours?�

As he began to think about it, Alex realized that perhaps it would be good to get them out of the house. It had been a long time since he and his Uncle had any time together, and when his parents were away, Alex got to hear all the dirty Jokes Jonathan often times told him. �Maybe it would be good to be rid of them for a bit,� he said, as a smile formed on his lips.

Convincing Rick to get out of the house was easy, trying to talk Evelyn into leaving Heidi proved to be more difficult, but Jonathan was up to the task. �Come on Evie, you can�t tell me you haven�t thought about a night out on the town with just the two of you,� he said as she folded the laundry he had brought back from town.

�I was away from Heidi most of the day, and nights are still difficult for her,� Evelyn said, feeling guilty for having spent the day in town while her daughter and husband stayed at home.

Frustrated, Jonathan stood up from the floor and walked into the kitchen as Rick passed him by. He put his mug of coffee down on a near by end table then walked over to where Evie was sitting and knelt behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. �I�ve missed being alone with you,� he admitted.

As his lips began to move against the back of her neck, Evelyn�s resolve to stay home with Heidi began to fade. �I�ve missed this,� she replied as she turned in his arms. When his lips met hers, all of the passion and love they felt for one another engulfed them, and the next think Evelyn felt was her back pressed against the floor. Reluctantly she pulled her lips away from his. �Rick, I don�t think this spot is the best place for us to...� before she could finish, Alex�s disapproving groan reached their ears.

�Can�t you two find a room to do that in, your influencing a very delicate mind here,� he said before turning to go back into the kitchen.

Both of them laughed before getting up, and Evie decided that a night out on the town with her husband was something she did want, and another kiss sealed her decision.

~*~

Seated at her vanity, Evelyn had finished putting her hair up, and was putting in her ear rings when Heidi ran over to her. �Momma, me pitty too,� she said as she tried to crawl onto Evelyn�s lap. Once her earrings were in place Evelyn let Heidi sit on her lap, and put a little powder on her cheeks.

�Need dat one,� Heidi said as she picked up one of Evie�s gold bracelets.

�I think that would fall right off of your wrist, but I know a bracelet that will fit you,� Evelyn said as she stood up, putting Heidi down while she walked over to the tall dresser where her old Jewelry box was sitting. From the bottom drawer, Evelyn lifted out a small silver Bracelet with little hearts, and took that back to her daughter. Again she settled Heidi onto her lap, and helped her put the Bracelet on. �Now you are all ready to have a date with your brother and your uncle.�

�Go daddy and you,� she said.

�Oh you don�t want to come with us. You will have a much better time here. Alex said he was going to make a fort for you,� Evie said as she gave her daughter a hug.

Heidi played with her brother and uncle in the fort until Rick and Evie announced they were leaving, then she started to cry. Jonathan had to pry her out of Evelyn�s arms and it took a while for he and Alex to calm her down. It was only when Jonathan offered to let her eat some ice cream that she stopped crying.

~*~

After a romantic candlelit dinner for two, Rick and Evelyn took a walk close to where their house was. As they walked, Evie voiced her concern about what she would do once they were back in London and once Heidi was better.

�You could work on more children�s stories,� suggested Rick as he turned her in his arms. He reached out and placed his left hand on her cheek, then leaned in and kissed her gently on her lips. �Why don�t we head home. The kids should be asleep,� he said as he looked into her Hazel depths.

Evelyn kissed him again. �Something in mind Mr. O�Connell?�

Rick gave her his famous grin, before taking her hand in his, leading her back toward their house, ready to spend the night with his wife making love without interruptions. Jonathan had agreed to keep Heidi in his room, and Alex was staying downstairs, so they could have the upstairs to themselves. When they arrived inside, they found Jonathan still awake with Heidi. They were laying on the sofa with Heidi resting against his chest.

�She wanted to say goodnight,� he said as his sister walked over to them.

�Sleep momma.�

Evelyn picked her up and held her close. �You get to have a spend the night with Uncle Jon,� Evie reminded as she took her over to where Rick was hanging up her sweater. She let Rick give Heidi a kiss and hug before taking her into the back of the house where Jonathan�s room was located. There Evelyn settled her into her brother�s bed. As she straightened up Heidi reached up and pulled on her locket. �Be gentle with that.� Evelyn sat down on the edge of the bed and placed her hand on Heidi�s stomach, gentle rubbing her there. �Close your eyes.�

Heidi yawned then began to suck on her thumb, and did as her momma said, shutting her eyes. It only took Evelyn a few minutes to get her to sleep, and after tucking her in, she turned around and walked over to the pallet where Alex lay reading a book. �Help your uncle,� she said as she knelt down to give him a kiss.

�I will,� he said, accepting her kisses. When she was finally gone, Jonathan came and settled down next to him. �So partner, what�s that your reading?�

�Mum�s book.� Two years after he was born, Evelyn had written and published a book on Seti, and occasionally, Alex liked to read it.

�Your mum is a smart lady,� he said. Alex nodded and they settled together to share her book.

~*~

Several hours later, and after several times making love to one another, Rick lay on his back in their bed holding Evelyn�s soft body against his bare chest. They were just now catching their breath, having enjoyed their time alone together. �I don�t think we have waited so long before making love,� Evie said as she lifted her head from Rick�s chest too gaze into his blue eyes.

He sat up enough to kiss her on the lips. �Hmm, I recall after you had Heidi we had to wait eight weeks,� he said, reaching his hand up to caress her back.

�That was too long as well,� she said as she scooted her body up his. She pressed her lips hard against his, dipping her tongue into his mouth before a knock at their door interrupted their future plans. A mother first and foremost, Evelyn got out of bed and slipped into her red silk robe then went too the door where she found Heidi waiting. �Where is your Uncle?�

�He seepen,� she said as Evelyn picked her up. �No go bed,� she said as she began to struggle in Evelyn�s arms.

�It�s still dark, and still time for little girls to be asleep,� she said as she carried Heidi into the small room she and Alex usually shared while they stayed in Egypt. She pulled down the covers of the small bed and laid Heidi down there. �Shhh, I won�t leave,� Evelyn said as she sat down. She looked at the door as Jonathan came in and shook her head, signaling that she would take care of Heidi for the rest of the night.

�I not seepy,� Heidi said after a few minutes of resting in bed.

Evie stood up from the chair she had been sitting in, and slipped into bed with her baby. �I sure am,� she said as Heidi snuggled against her.

�Want play,� she whispered as she shut her eyes.

�We will play tommorow,� Evie reassured as she shut her own eyes. She wasn�t sure how much time had passed, but the next time she woke up, Evelyn found herself resting spooned up against her husbands body. The sun was just beginning to light the sky, but there were no indications that anyone else in the house was awake. Content to stay where she was, Evelyn scooted just a bit closer and sighed in deep contentment as Rick�s arms encircled her. For now this is where she wanted to be, and for now time stood still for the two of them.

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