Both Rick, and Nanna had been adamant about leaving Egypt when the doctor told them Evelyn may be pregnant, but Evelyn had managed to convince them to stay long enough to find out if the test results were positive. That gave her a week at least to stay in Egypt, and visit the museum, something she started to do the next day after fainting in the parlor of the house. When she woke up late the next morning the house was empty. There was a letter on the kitchen table from Rick saying that they had gone into the city to get food and other items they would need, and that they would not be gone long. Quickly Evelyn got dressed in a tan skirt that barely fit and a white short sleeved blouse. Then she headed for the Museum after leaving a letter of her own.
Now in the library, she sat in a leather chair thinking. It made sense to her that her recent weight gain, and her increased appetite had to do with being pregnant, and considering that it had only been two months since Alex had been weaned from taking her milk, she knew she was at least that far along, perhaps even more. As she thought things through, her left hand rubbed over the slight bulge where the new baby was growing inside of her. Her primary concern in all of this was Alex. He was still such a baby himself, just learning how to handle doing things on his own. Evelyn was afraid of how he would react to a new baby at such a young age. Needing to get her mind on more exciting, less worrisome interests, Evelyn walked over to one of the bookshelves, trying to see if anything new had been published since their last visit
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After spending two hours out in the hot Egyptian sun, Alex was not in a good mood. Nanna had tried everything she could think of to cheer him up, but he was tired, and nothing else worked until after he had a good nap. Now he was over Rick�s left shoulder crying loud sorrowful cries, which was better than the screaming he had been doing just moments before. One of his feet was bare from where he had kicked his sandal off, and the other sandal on his left foot was about to come off as well.
Behind them Nanna and Jonathan carried several satchels of food, both ready for a nice glass of cold sun tea, and a sit in the house which had ceiling fans to circulate the air.
Ten minutes later when they arrived home, Alex had fallen asleep with the upper half of his body draped over Rick�s shoulder, and his face pressed against his daddy�s back. Once inside, Rick slipped off his shoes and carried Alex through the parlor, through the kitchen, and upstairs to his little room. He turned the fan on, and pulled the shades on the window down, then walked over to the crib. Carefully, Rick reached back with his left hand, holding Alex�s head, then leaned forward over the rail, and transferred him to the mattress. Alex rolled on to his stomach and didn�t make a sound as his father draped a light weight blanket over top of him.
When he straightened, Rick stretched all the kinks out of his back and shoulders, then walked the short distance to the room he and Evie were sharing. He found the bed empty, so he headed back downstairs, finding Nanna and Jonathan unloading the food into various cabinets. �Did either of you see Evelyn?� he asked.
�No, but it looks like she left a note,� Jonathan said as he pointed to the small circular kitchen table.
Rick read it�s contents and crumbled it up. �Damn that woman. I�ll be back,� he said as he hurried to the front of the house, ready to have words with his wife.
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Evelyn had found a new publication, and was sitting at one of the many tables deeply into what she was reading. It seemed that they were finding new structures everyday, structures forgotten by time. Her heart yearned to go on a dig, to find something that would impress the gentlemen who called themselves the Bembridge Scholars. The more she read about the discovery of a lost tomb, not far from the ancient city of Thebes, the more she wanted to go there and help with the restoration.
�Having fun?� came a voice from behind her.
Evelyn finished reading the page of the book she was on before answering her husband. �Yes. Did you know that in the past fourteen months three new tombs have been discovered near Thebes?� she asked as she turned around to face him. She saw the anger in his eyes, and suddenly felt a bit angry herself. �I am not an invalid, and anyway, you left this morning without even a word. What was I to do, sit at home and twiddle my thumbs till your return?� she said.
The last thing Rick wanted was to argue with his wife. What he wanted to do was get her home and try to get her to rest as the doctor had suggested. �Evie, didn�t you hear what Dr. Ignatis told you? He said you...� he was cut off.
�I have two ears, and yes he did tell me to rest, which I can do perfectly well right here,� she said. Then she turned around and began to read from her book, pointedly ignoring her husband.
For several minutes Rick watched her. He watched as she got up from the table and put the book she was reading back on the shelf, and he watched as she took down two more large volumes and carried them to another table further away from him. That last move really made him angry and without thinking he walked to her. He took the book she was reading from her hands and shut it. �We are going home. That means you and I,� he said as he took the book back to the shelf and put it away.
�You may go home if you like, but I intend to do some research while I�m still able to,� she said without any anger in her voice. When he took the second book she was reading and started to walk away, Evelyn launched out of her chair. �You are my husband, not my master. I will stay here and I will read as I want to,� she yelled, getting the attention of the current librarian.
The little man walked over to them. �Please keep your voices down,� he said as he shifted from his left foot to his right.
Evelyn apologized then walked past her husband, who quickly followed her.
It was taking all of his strength not to pick her up as he had done earlier with their son, and toss her over his shoulder, and carry her home, but Rick managed to keep some semblance of calm. He followed her out of the Library, and across the street to a small shop. When he tried to follow her inside, three rather robust women dressed in dark robes hit at him yelling something in Egyptian. Rick didn�t understand the language, but he gathered that the shop was only for women, and too angry to deal with his wife, he left to take a walk and cool off.
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Jonathan was sitting in the kitchen drinking a glass of iced tea, beginning to cool off, when he heard Alex cry. Since Nanna was taking a rest in his room downstairs, Jonathan was left to baby-sit, and headed upstairs. When he walked into the darkened room he found Alex standing up with big tears rolling down his fat baby cheeks. �Oh now, you don�t have to be so sad,� Jonathan said as he lifted Alex out of the bed making a face at a particular odor coming from his nephew�s nappy. �Where is Paddy bear?� Jonathan asked as he looked around the floor with Alex still crying against his shoulder. He found the bear on the floor and after picking it up, he carried his nephew over to the big bed. He started to put Alex down, but only upset him more in the process. �Alex look who wants a hug,� Jonathan said as he held Paddy over the little boy�s face.
Alex pushed it away, and screamed when Jonathan left to get a clean nappy and to turn on a light. Despite his nephew�s loud fuss, Jonathan got what he needed then walked back to the bed. As he was cleaning the mess off of his bottom and front he noticed red irritated splotches on his bottom and stomach.
�Would you like a helping hand?� Nanna asked as she walked into the room.
�Yes, would you have a look at this?� Jonathan said as he pulled the nappy down so she could see the splotches.
�Just a heat rash,� she said, not worried. She got a bottle of powder and rubbed that over his back and front then pinned the nappy together and picked up the distraught child.
�Mum mum,� Alex called out as she sat down in the rocking chair.
�Shhh, go back to sleep,� she crooned as she held him cradled against her middle. She reached down and stroked her hand through his soft blond hair, and sang to him. That in combination with being rocked got him back to sleep, and as she put him back in his crib, Nanna hoped that his parents would be home soon.
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After nearly a half hour of milling around in the shop, Evelyn began to worry all over about Alex, and the new baby. She finally emerged from the store finding her husband waiting for her. �I�m sorry I was so mean just a bit ago,� she offered. When he reached for her, she didn�t hesitate to go into his arms.
�I should have been more understanding, and as I recall I was bossy the last time you had a baby inside of you,� he said as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.
�We should be getting home, I haven�t seen Alex at all today, and I know it sounds a bit silly but I miss him.�
�That�s not silly, that�s being his mum. So what have you been thinking about?� he asked as he took her small right hand in his large left hand.
�I�m not sure how to love another baby. I love Alex so much. I�m just afraid that there won�t be enough time to love another one,� she admitted.
While she was having doubts about her love for another baby, Rick was not. In those first weeks after Alex�s birth, she had learned fast how to take care of him. When he cried for long periods of time, it was Evelyn who reassured both Jonathan and he, that it was normal for a baby to have a fuss. With her love Alex was growing into a smart happy little boy, and Rick was relatively certain that this new baby would be happy with her as it�s mum. �You can�t worry about that, and just remember we have Nanna, and Alex seems to really like having her around.� With that thought in mind Rick told her how Nanna had taken care of him while they were in the market, causing her to laugh along with him, as he told her of their son�s antics.
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Upon their arrival home they found the house quiet. Nanna was sitting in the parlor reading a book, and Jonathan and Alex were no where to be found. She looked up as both of them stepped in, and offered both of them a smile. �Did you have a good visit at the museum?� she asked as she put her book aside.
�Wonderful visit. It�s just what I needed,� Evelyn said as she walked over to the couch, and sat down with Nanna.
�Do either of you want any iced tea?� Rick asked, glad to see a smile on Evelyn�s face. Both ladies said they would, so Rick walked into the kitchen to make them all some cold tea. As he was getting out three glasses he heard Alex calling out for his mum mum. He almost headed upstairs to get him, then decided to let Evelyn do that since she had not seen him since last night. �Evie, Alex is calling for you,� Rick said as he stuck his head in the parlor.
Grateful that her husband wasn�t babying her, Evelyn walked upstairs and when she entered her baby�s room he laughed and held out his arms. �Did you have a nice nap?� she asked as she lifted him out of his crib. Alex snuggled his head against her shoulder, making her feel good. She walked over to the rocking chair and sat down, glad for these times when he let her cuddle him.
After allowing his mum to rock him for a couple of minutes, Alex lifted his head from her shoulder and reached for her mouth. He laughed as she nibbled at his fingers then hugged around her neck. �Bye bye bye,� he said when he finished hugging her. He slid from her lap to the floor, and took ahold of her hand, then pulled her with him to the stairs. There he let go of her hand then sat down on his padded bottom and began to slide down the steps one at a time with mum behind him.
In the Parlor, Rick was telling Nanna about his life in the legion, the parts that were not so bad, and as he finished his conversation Alex ran in followed by his mum mum.
�Da da da da,� Alex called out as he ran over to Rick and sat down on his father�s large socked foot. He held out his hands, waiting for Rick to take them. Alex�s favorite game lately was to have his daddy bounce him up and down, and when Rick grasped ahold of his hands, the little boy laughed.
Rick lifted his leg up and down, careful not to go too fast, and cause Alex to fall. After about ten times he stopped, feeling his leg muscles beginning to ache, but Alex seemed to want more.
�Alex, should we look at your animal book?� Nanna asked as she stood up from the couch and crossed the room. From the third shelf on a very tall bookcase she pulled out a worn picture book full of animals they would find if they were on an African Safari. The book had been purchased by Howard Carnahan, the time he and Evelyn�s mum had gone on a Safari.
Books were the only thing that Alex ever sat still for, and quickly he slipped off of his daddy�s foot, running over to the small wicker chair his Nanna had settled into. He allowed her to settle him on her lap, then watched as she opened the book and began to read to him.
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A week and a half later, Dr. Ignatis came by with the test results which let them know that Evelyn was for sure going to have a new baby. He did a small examination and measured her belly, determining that she was at least three months along. By then Evelyn herself was ready to get home to England, to start getting things ready for their new arrival, and also to prepare Alex for being a big brother.
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