A CHILD LOST
by Marcher [email protected]
PG13
Summary: Ever wondered why Rick & Evie only had one child? This is my reasoning on the subject.
Little Alex O'Connell was only just over a year old and still wobbly on his feet. He was the apple of his father's eye and his
mother's absolute joy, and even though Rick and Evelyn had no set plan on how many children they would have, they still
found themselves surprised that she was pregnant again when Alex was just eight months old. Now five months into her
term Evelyn was beginning to feel the strain of two close pregnancies along with the tiring job of raising a toddler.
None-the-less she and Rick were looking forward to the new arrival, now that they were over the initial shock.
"I swear I'm already bigger than I was at the same stage with Alex!" she said rubbing her belly as she relaxed on the couch.
Rick walked up behind her, leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Sure looks like it from this angle" he teased, quickly
moving out of her reach before she could make contact with the back of her hand. They had just returned to the house
after taking a morning for a walk around the Manor's gardens. It was really more of a lazy stroll, with Rick carrying Alex most of
the way. The tot had fallen asleep on his father's shoulder and was now sleeping peacefully upstairs. Evelyn kicked off her
shoes "Ahh,! that's much better" she sighed. "Just look how swollen my ankles are" . Rick moved to sit next to her and
began to rub her feet. "You look tired, why don't you lie down for a while. I'll bring lunch up to you in a little while if you like".
She refused, shaking her head "No, I'm fine right here" she said "to be honest I can't be bothered walking up the stairs".
"Gooood Morning all" beamed Jonathan as he practically bounced into the room. "How is my baby sister today? Still lovely
and round as ever, I see".
"Oh, for heaven's sake" said Evelyn exasperated "I've had more than enough of the round jokes, thank you both VERY much".
Neither of the men could help but laugh, and even though she tried not to, Evelyn herself let out a little chuckle. "So tell us,
Jonathan, why are you so merry this morning? she inquired.
"I won, Evie! Last night, at long bloody last, I came out on top!" he almost danced about the room "Can you believe it? I had
such a poker face, fooled the lot of 'em".
"Well, good for you I suppose" said Evelyn "but I do wish you wouldn't gamble".
"I'll have no wet blankets, thank you Evie. Credit where it's due." he retorted.
"Hmmm. Well maybe I will take your advice, Rick. I think I'll lie down for a while before lunch" she said and began to get up.
Rick helped her to stand.
"Need any help getting upstairs?"
"No, thankyou, I'll be fine." Evelyn smiled as she looked up at Rick, "But will you get Alex when he wakes?"
"Sure" said Rick as he kissed his wife's cheek and with that Evelyn made her way upstairs.
"So Jonathan, where DID you play last night?" asked Rick
"The Mariner's Club, old boy" he chirped "Oh, you should have seen me..."
"Mariner's Club?" asked Rick astounded "No wonder you won! That's the only place this side of the Channel where your
opponents would have been drunker than you?
"Now, now..." Jonathan began defending himself, but stopped when they both heard a crash from directly above them.
"Evie!"Rick choked, and hurried from the room with Jonathan on his heels.
****
Rick opened the bedroom door to see Evelyn kneeling beside the toppled bedside table. He knelt beside her putting his arm
around her shoulder "What happened?"
She looked up at him and he saw real fear in her eyes. "Something's wrong!" she was whispering as if she was too scared to
say it aloud, "Something's very wrong!"
"What Sweetheart? What? Have you got pain?" Rick was becoming fearful himself.
"Yes, some." she choked "But there's more to it".
Rick moved her hands from her lap and it all became frightfully clear. He turned his head to see Jonathan standing just inside
the doorway, disbelief showing on his brother-in-law's face. "Get onto Dr.Bowen for me Jonathan. Tell him what you see!"
Rick's words stuck in his throat, he couldn't believe this was happening. "And find Mrs. Glover! Get her to bring towels in
here. On the double!"
"Yes. Right away!" Jonathan left without hesitation
****
The telephone had been installed immediately after Alex's birth in order to avoid a repeat of circumstance should Evelyn ever
have another child. Jonathan couldn't help but notice the irony in the call he was now about to make. He didn't even really
listen to his own words as he spoke into the mouthpiece. "An emergency.....Mrs O'Connell.....at her home.....yes, very serious
....good, good" He replaced the receiver stood staring at the telephone. Snapping himself out of it, he moved through to the
back of the house, calling for the housemaid.
****
Rick O'Connell sat on the floor cradling his wife, both of them horribly scared and both wishing they'd wake up from what
could only be a nightmare. He didn't want to move her, he didn't want to leave her on the cold floor. "Hell!!" he thought to
himself, he didn't know what to do! Evelyn was in pain, that much was obvious, but it wasn't like when Alex was born. Then
she moved, rocked herself through the contractions. This time he could tell she was forcing herself to stay as still as she could
and her moaning seemed to come from her heart.
"Oh, I'm sorry.! I'm so sorry!" she wept with her face pressed into his shirt.
"NO! No, Evie." he spoke calmly, "You haven't done anything to be sorry for." He lifted her face to look at him, "I don't know
what happened, or why, but you didn't cause it. Okay Sweetheart, it wasn't you". He kissed her head and held her tighter.
"We're gonna get through this, Evie".
"I don't want to lose this baby, Rick." her voice trembled as she spoke. "Please don't let me lose it".
"Sshh, Sshh" was all he could manage. He didn't know how to answer her. She was pleading with him and all he could do was
hold her. He knew he could no sooner stop this than fly. "Try and keep calm, Evie" he whispered "That's all we can do for the
moment".
Jonathan and Mrs. Glover came into the room "Towels, Sir" said the woman "I'll be back with water for Mrs O'Connell. And not
to worry about the little one! I'll take care of him when he wakes".
"Chin up, Evie." Jonathan stammered. He wanted to kick himself for such an inane comment, and could tell that Rick wanted to
do the same. But he only wanted to reassure his sister, and it was all he could think to say to her.
"Maybe you should wait downstairs to let Bowen in." said Rick as he tilted his head to direct Jonathan to the door.
"Yes, perhaps that's for the best." Jonathan wanted to stay for Evie, but he knew that wasn't his place, not anymore. Even
though they lived in the same house, he sometimes felt he really missed his little sister.
****
Dr Bowen arrived with his Matron and Jonathan showed them upstairs to Evelyn and Rick. Then that was it for his part. The door
was closed and Jonathan was left outside. He could hear muted voices and above them carried Evelyn's pained cries. He felt the
tears brim in his eyes and his heart ached for her and Rick at the tragedy they were plainly experiencing. At one point he heard Rick's
loud and determined voice stating emphatically that he wasn't leaving his wife alone and that it shouldn't be suggested again. Even
the old, eternal maid, Mrs. Glover, was being kept busy running back and forth on seemingly endless errands. Jonathan saw his
respite in Alex and took the toddler into the garden. This is where he stayed until much later he saw Dr. Bowen leave the house and
he knew it was over.
****
Jonathan allowed about half an hour to lapse before he carried the toddler back into the house and found Rick alone in the
Drawing Room. The American walked over and took his son from his brother-in-law and held him level to his face, "Hey little guy!"
Rick's attempt to sound cheerful faltered and his voice cracked, "Haven't seen much of you today." The boy began to cry and his
father was too emotionally spent to deal with the tirade of his young son.
Almost on cue, Mrs.Glover walked into the room and plucked the child from his arms, "The mite's most likely hungry. Here, give
him to me, I'll sort him out for you." It almost sounded like an order, but Rick nodded, grateful for her interference, and handed Alex
over to her. His cries faded as he was carried off to the kitchen.
Hesitantly, Jonathan spoke. "How's Evie?"
"Sleeping." Rick's voice was drained of emotion. "He gave her something. I don't know...but it's made her sleep at least. That
Matron woman is still up there".
Jonathan was almost too afraid to speak "And....the baby?"
Rick just shook his head and turned his back to Jonathan.
"Evie IS going to be alright, isn't she?" Jonathan had never been so worried in his life.
Rick turned to look at Jonathan. He was angry. He wanted to punch someone and he didn't care who. Jonathan saw this and took
a step backwards. Rick stepped towards him, then stopped in time, realizing he was simply worried for his sister. He had no part in
this. "Yes, she should be. In time." He said quietly, but that's ALL he could say. He couldn't tell Jonathan what Bowen had said
about the damage this had done to her, or how frail she was. That she almost bled to death. He couldn't tell him the horrible truth
that it was necessary to hold her down as she struggled and then sobbed uncontrolably in his arms! Nor could he mention that
when it was over, he went to the back of the house and threw up! He was full of raw emotion, anger and sorrow. He was amazed
he was able to speak at all!
****
Rick didn't know what time it was when Evelyn finally stirred. He was lying above the covers next to her. The room was dimly lit
by one lamp and he was lying there, just watching her. "Hey, there you are." he whispered . She turned to look at him and almost
immediately, tears began to roll down her face. "Come on, Evie." he carefully pulled her into his arms. "It's all over, Sweetheart,
all over." But still she sobbed. He felt his own tears sting his eyes and he held her tighter.
"I don't understand." She breathed "What went so wrong?"
"There's no answers, Evie. It just happened. Nothing you did, nothing you could've done." He wasn't sure if this was helping her,
or not. She said nothing for a long time. She just laid in his arms, occassionally suppressing small sobs.
"Where's Alex?" She asked after a while.
"Asleep with Jonathan, last time I looked." Rick stroked the top of her hair, "He was beginning to miss you around bedtime and
Jonathan stayed to settle him. They're both asleep on the couch". This brought the smallest of smiles to her lips, but her eyes still
filled with tears.
"I love you, Evie" he whispered, lightly kissed her hair.
"No matter what?" she asked.
"No matter what".
END