Since bringing Heidi home, Evelyn had barely left her daughter�s side. She felt responsible for her illness, even though there was really nothing she could have done. The small child�s condition was worsening by the day, and there was very little that anyone could do to help her.
Another night fell over London, and in her daughter�s room, Evelyn sat in the same rocking chair she had used to comfort both of her children, holding her baby cradled in her arms. The only sounds which filled the large area as they rocked, were the creak of the chair, and Heidi�s raspy labored breath.
When the door was slowly pushed open, Evelyn took her eyes off of her daughter and offered her husband a tired smile. Without Rick�s support, she wasn�t sure where she would be at this moment, and guessed she would be sitting in a room alone unable to deal with her guilt over what had taken place with their baby girl. �She�s sleeping,� Evelyn whispered, as her husband approached them with a tray full of food.
�Good, because you need to eat,� he said, unwilling to take �no� for an answer. As he set the tray on the bed he saw the worried look in her eyes, and knelt down in front of them. �Dr. Roberts called again today,� he said as he reached out and placed his hand over Evelyn�s. �He thinks Heidi will do better in the hospital,� he added. Though he informed his wife of the doctor�s words, he was more in support of their decision three days ago. Despite how sick she was, he believed Heidi was better off in a place surrounded by her family, without the stresses of the hospital.
Carefully, and with Rick�s help, Evelyn stood, letting Rick take her place. As she placed Heidi in his arms, she had to comfort her. �I�m right here my angel,� she whispered as she kissed her daughter�s warm cheeks.
Once reassured by her momma, and her daddy, Heidi settled back into a restless sleep while Rick rocked her.
Evelyn knew she had to keep her own strength up, and despite not really wanting to eat, she forced herself to do just that. She finished every morsel of food Maggie had prepared, and once she was finished she sighed.
�Why don�t you lay here and take a rest?� Rick suggested. A week before they left for their vacation, he and Evie had put up a big bed for Heidi with plans to move her there when they got back.
For a moment Evie was about to decline his offer, but then decided that she did need to get some sleep. �You will wake me if she needs anything?�
�Yeah I will,� he said. They kissed then he watched Evelyn settle in the bed, and watched as her eyes fluttered shut.
~*~
It was rare when Evelyn ever remembered her dreams, but as she awoke some time later, she remembered in vivid detail of being in the desert, hearing the chanting of ancient words. She knew without a doubt her dreams had taken her to Egypt, and she knew without a doubt that Egypt was where they would go. There was something about the land, and it�s people, and their ancient ways which drew her to conclude that they had to go there. Conventional medicine wasn�t helping their daughter, and she wondered as she lay watching her daughter and husband sleep, how much of a fight she would have convincing Rick that Egypt was where Heidi�s cure lay.
Sensing his wife�s eyes upon him, Rick slowly came awake. He opened his eyes and found her very much awake. �How do you feel?� He asked as Heidi stirred against his chest. Before he got a response, Heidi coughed then gasped for breath.
Quickly Evelyn moved from the bed, and got the oxygen mask. She gently placed it over her daughter�s nose and mouth, whispering softly in her ear until she was once again calm.
Someone knocked on the door, then it opened, and the nurse who was living with them walked in. Nurse Frances shook down a thermometer and had Rick place it under Heidi�s arm, then took out a stethoscope and listened to her breathing. A few minutes later she looked at the thermometer, then shook it down. �Her fever is rising. I know you both want to keep her here, but I think maybe it�s best if we take her back to the hospital,� she said.
�We are not going to do that,� Evelyn said as she took a glass of water from Heidi�s dresser and brought it too Rick. As she and Rick cared for their baby, Nurse Frances prepared to give her another shot of penicillin. Once she was ready she walked over to the rocking chair.
Rick stood up, and put Heidi down on her new bed, then he and Evie sat with her and held her as the shot was administered. Heidi barely made a fuss, and once it was over, and Nurse Frances was gone, Evelyn took her back to the rocking chair and sat down. �I think we need to go to Egypt,� she said without missing a beat.
Rick was preparing to lay down for his own rest, but stopped when she said that and turned to face her. �Your kidding right?� he asked, but saw the serious look in her eyes. �Evie, if she has any real chance of pulling through this it�s right here at home,� he said not wanting to fight with her.
�What has conventional medicine done for her Rick. Dr. Roberts has already given up on her, and I will not sit here any longer and watch her suffer. There is ancient ways in Egypt, ancient medicine that will bring her back to us, and I am prepared to go over there with her on my own if you won�t,� Evelyn said, her voice rising.
Her mother�s unease woke Heidi, and with what little strength she had she lifted her head from her mum�s shoulder. �Sip,� she rasped.
Rick stood up and got her glass of water, then helped Heidi take the sip she wanted. He waited until she was once again asleep, then gave his wife his thoughts. �She�s my baby too Evie, and I don�t see what Egypt is going to do for us. Every time we go there we end up fighting some ancient curse, and one of us ends up in some peril or another,� Rick tried to point out.
�What about when I gave birth to her there?� Evelyn asked also keeping her voice down. �Had I have not been there, the doctor would have tried to cut her out, or have you forgotten that?� she asked still feeling a bit angry at his reluctance.
Her words stung and Rick stood up and walked over to her. �No I haven�t,� he admitted as he knelt down. Heidi had gotten wrapped up her umbilical chord, and it was the midwives whose tireless efforts had been able to deliver her safely without medical intervention. �I just don�t want to lose her,� he admitted, voicing his fears to her for the first time.
For a moment Evelyn couldn�t look at him. Her own fears were mounting, and there had been several times when Heidi had been struggling to breath, where Evelyn had wondered if they would lose her, and even now she wasn�t sure that her daughter had the strength to make such a journey, but the dream she had gave no doubt in her mind that they at least had to make a try, for all their sakes.
~*~
Someone yelling woke Alex from his night of rest, and after stretching he got out of the bed, and followed the loud voices to his parents room. There he saw on their bed four suitcases opened, and his mum packing cloths into them while the nurse who had been hired to care for his sister kept saying that it was not a good idea to take Heidi away.
�Please Mrs. O�Connell, just taking her outside for a moment increases the risk that you will lose her,� Nurse Frances said, frantically trying to convince he to keep Heidi at home.
�I�m sorry but my husband and I have made our decision. If you won�t help us then Rick will pay you and you may take your leave of us,� She said not willing to take along someone who was being so negative.
Alex moved as the nurse pushed past him, then walked in. �Mum?�
From the closet Evelyn walked out with the last of her cloths, and Rick�s and after putting them down she walked over to her son and pulled him into a much needed hug.
�Where are you going?� he asked once they parted.
�Your father and I are taking Heidi to Egypt. I feel that there lies her only chance to get well,� she said.
�I�m going with you,� he replied and started out.
Evelyn started to tell him no, but decided that he was part of this family, and that he should go with them, in the terrifying chance that they lost their little girl.
~*~
It wasn�t easy, but Rick managed to find a private plane to fly them from London to Alexandria. From there they would take a steam ship to Cairo. Past that neither he nor Evelyn knew really what would happen. He still felt like they were taking an incredible risk by going there, but Evelyn did have a point. When the Dr. there was ready to cut into her, and risk her life and the life of their then unborn daughter, it was Evie�s unwillingness to allow that, and her urging that he find a midwife which likely saved the both of them. The old ways seemed better, and Rick only hoped they weren�t making some horrible mistake.
With the last of their things packed, and his car waiting with Jonathan ready to drive them, Rick walked into Heidi�s room. Evelyn had her wrapped in several blankets, and was gathering the last of her things, mostly things which she never liked to be without. He gently lifted his daughter into his arms, then when Evelyn was ready they walked out of her room together ready to take her to Egypt.
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Sorry for such a short chapter but I want to build the suspence. Not to worry I will add something sooner than it has been. Be ready
~Shelby