Since having dinner with Sam, and Aimee that night almost three months before, Rick had spent very little time at home. He found a job that he was well suited for, and found great joy and satisfaction in his expertise as someone who could appraise fine treasures. The man who had once told his wife that his family came first was quickly forgetting his responsibilities in that arena, and was not aware how deeply that was affecting Evelyn.
Evelyn tried not to let that bother her. She wanted to be happy for Rick, but the less time he spent at home with she, and Alex, the more worried and upset she became. Well into her eighth month of pregnancy, Evelyn was every bit as large as she was when she was carrying Alex and even more moody. She put on a happy face for Nanna, and her brother, but alone in her room she would spend several hours crying feeling angry that she was so dependent on her husband.
His mother�s moodiness made Alex an eighteen month old terror to behold, though Nanna had not linked his recent tantrums and disobedience to Evelyn. Instead she surmised that he was aware something big was about to happen and was doing her best to reassure him as well as to set limits for him as best she could.
~*~
One Tuesday morning, like so many before, Evelyn awoke to find she was the only occupant of the large room she usually shared with her husband. She felt a wave of sadness pass over her, then clinched her fists together, determined not to let another day pass by with her always in tears. Nanna was beginning to worry, and Evelyn didn�t want to burden her with what she was worried about.
As she rolled onto her left side, and used her hand to push herself up, Evie felt a stiffness in her back. Once she was sitting up she reached back and rubbed it and felt the baby kick right above her ribs. �I know your in there,� Evie said as she rubbed her right hand over her protruding stomach. She held that hand up, and sighed, realizing that her fingers looked like plump summer sausages.
Other negative thoughts crept into her mind. Maybe Rick was spending so much time away from her because he thought she was ugly. �Get ahold of yourself,� she said softly as she reached up to her cheeks to blot away the salty tears rolling down them. The last time she was pregnant she remembered Rick telling her every day how beautiful she was, and knew that he still loved her. As she stood up she felt the ache in her back grow and decided a hot bath would cure that.
~*~
In his highchair Alex was finished with his hot cereal and before Nanna had a chance to get to him, he threw the bowl and the spoon on the floor, causing a terrible clatter.
�Alex, you know not to do such things,� scolded Nanna as she walked over to the highchair. She wiped his hands and face clean, then lifted him out of the chair and put him down in front of the bowl. �Pick that up and help Nanna,� she said more gently.
�No no,� he said as he turned away in utter defiance.
Gently but firmly, Nanna turned him around and helped him do as she asked, ignoring his protesting cries as she walked him to the kitchen counter. Once there she took the bowl from him, and Alex sat down on his bottom and cried harder. As difficult as it was, Nanna ignored him. She knew he wasn�t hurt, and didn�t want to give attention to that sort of behavior
�Here now what�s all the fuss over?� Jonathan asked as he walked into the kitchen ready for some breakfast before heading off to bed. He was on his way to his nephew when Nanna stopped him.
Not willing to let Jonathan caudal him for his fussy behavior, Nanna requested that he go upstairs and check on Evelyn. �He isn�t hurt, just upset because I made him take his bowl to the sink,� Nanna reassured.
Once his Uncle was gone, and Alex was aware that Nanna wasn�t going to reward his bad behavior, Alex stopped crying. �Nan hug,� Alex said as he rubbed at his eyes.
After rinsing the blue bowl from which Alex had eating his breakfast, Nanna knelt down and gave Alex a hug. �Now why don�t you and I go make a large tower for you to knock down?� she asked, willing to put off the kitchen cleaning until Marie arrived.
~*~
Soaking in the bath at first had eased the tension she was feeling in her back, but soon after she had slipped into the water, the aching intensified, and Evelyn realized with great excitement, and fear that she was in labor. The only problem was she couldn�t get out of the bathtub. Her determination to do that disappeared as she felt the overwhelming need to push her baby out, and was doing all she could to hold the baby in when she heard her brother�s welcoming voice. �Jonathan, the baby,� she screamed as she gasped at a very strong contraction.
Just outside the bathroom door, Jonathan heard what she said, and tried the knob only to find that it was locked. �Evie you locked it,� he said trying his best not to panic.
�BREAK IT DOWN,� she screamed as she took in a breath and held it.
Jonathan moved back a few feet, and ran at the door hitting it with his right shoulder, cursing at the pain it caused. The door didn�t even shake at his efforts to break it down. �I�ll get Nanna,� he called.
�HURRY,� she screamed as her body shook with the severity of the contractions which were one right on top of the other.
Jonathan ran to the top of the stairs, and told Nanna, none to calmly, what was happening. �She has the damn thing locked,� he said as Nanna arrived with his nephew.
�Calm down Jonathan the last thing we need to do is be panicked. Your father always had a skeleton key in his top left desk drawer, in a cigar box labeled treasures. Get that and watch over Alex.� she said as she placed him in his Uncle�s arms. Once Jonathan was dealing with getting the key Nanna hurried to the bathroom. �Evelyn?�
�Oh Nanna it�s coming and it can�t,� Evie cried, taking a rest from the contractions momentarily.
�You can�t stop natures timing. I need you to try to be calm. Reach down and see if you can feel the babies head,� Nanna said. Once long ago she had helped bring her last sibling into the world, and the memories of that were flooding back.
�I feel something,� Evie said as she gritted her teeth. Another contraction was upon her, and she fought not to push despite Nanna�s reassurance that she needed to do just that.
About that time Jonathan and Alex arrived with the keys. �Put him in his playpen, and get lots of towels, some string and some sharp scissors,� Nanna instructed as she pushed the key into the lock. She opened the door and hurried over to the bathtub ready to help Evelyn bring the newest member of the O�Connell family into the world.
~*~
In the midst of a meeting with a Mr. Walter�s, over the purchase of some rare one of a kind paintings, Anna, Rick and Sam�s secretary opened the door. �There is an important call for you Mr. O�Connell, she said.
Rick looked up at her. �Tell them it has to wait,� he said.
�It�s about your wife.�
That got his attention, and her left Sam to handle the last part of negotiations, going down the hall to his private office. There he picked up the phone and found Jonathan on the other end babbling on and on about a bath and Evie. �JONATHAN,� Rick finally yelled after several more calm attempts at trying to get his attention. �Now slowly tell me what�s happening,� he said.
On his end Jonathan was standing in one of the white stark hall ways of St. Mary�s Hospital, taking in a few breaths. �Evelyn had the baby in the bath at home. He came out feet first and the doctor is keeping them both here until he is sure they are both more stable,� he said, relieved he had gotten it all out.
It took a couple of moments for Jonathan�s words to register, and when they did Rick hung up on him, and got his things, then left telling Anna to tell Sam that he was on his way to the hospital.
~*~
The smell of the hospital room she was staying in, was one of disinfectant and of medicine. Evelyn felt more exhausted than she could remember, even with the birth of Alex, and worried because the baby had been wheezing prior to their arrival.
The nurses had taken him away as soon as they arrived, and had helped her clean up. She didn�t remember where Jonathan had gone too, and remembered all to well the way Alex screamed for her as Jonathan had guided her out to his car.
Thinking about both of her babies made a lump fill in her throat, and Evie swallowed it, determined not to cry like a baby herself. She was about to drift to sleep when the door opened, and her Rick walked in. �Rick,� she managed as she began to cry. She soon found herself snuggled in his arms, and after what seemed like an eternity she lifted her head from his chest allowing him to settled her back against the pillows. �I thought you didn�t love us,� she said softly.
Not prepared for that Rick took in a breath. �I love you more than anything else, why would you think that?� he asked as he kissed away the last of her tears.
�Because you have been spending so much time away, and I was fat and ugly,� she said feeling more tears spill down her already wet cheeks.
�Oh Evie,� he said as he held her once more, feeling like an ass for not seeing this sooner. He remembered how fragile she had become with her emotions the last time around, and had assumed it would be different this time with two and a half years of marriage under their belts. �I love you and Alex more than anything, and I�d be long gone if it weren�t for you. I�m sorry about being gone so much, it�s just that I finally found a place to fit in, and I got wrapped up in it I guess.
Hearing his words made her feel better and once she was resting on her pillows she requested that he go see if their new son was doing better, needing a moment to herself.
~*~
The nursery wasn�t far from her room, and Rick walked to the glass and tapped it getting a nurse�s attention. He went to the door, and in a moment he was led back to a smaller room where he got his first glance of his newest son.
�I was just about to take him to your wife for his first feeding,� she said as she lifted the baby out of the bassinet. The baby wrinkled his face and cried out as she placed him in his father�s arms, then settled when he heard a familiar voice. �You were ready to get here in such a hurry that you didn�t leave us time to pick out a name,� Rick said as he carried the baby down the hall to room 321.
His new son was wrapped in a cream knit blanket, and had on a knit hat. He opened his eyes then shut them, and again he cried. �Here we go,� Rick said as he pushed the door open finding Evie still awake. �Someone wants to see his mum,� he said over their son�s loud piercing cries.
Unlike his brother, this baby wasn�t as eager to nurse, and after three failed attempts, Evelyn, with Rick�s help walked to the near by rocking chair, and sat down with him. She started to rock him, and softly sang the same lullaby which calmed his brother. A few moments later when she tried again, the tiny baby had his first meal, then fell asleep safe in his mother�s arms.
~*~
In the waiting room, Jonathan had paced so much that he swore he could see a dent in the floor. As he made his way to the back of the waiting room he heard Rick�s voice and hurried to him.
�Evie is sleeping and the baby is doing better. Doc. says they will have to stay here until he�s sure the baby is one hundred percent better, which he thinks will be a week. Go home and tell Nanna that I won�t be back until dinner, and give Alex a hug for me,� Rick said. After Evelyn admitting to him that she had been afraid he would leave her, Rick wasn�t in any hurry to go home, and once he had properly filled Jonathan in, he went back to his wife�s room to be there for her.
~*~
After a long day of trying to keep Alex occupied, so that he wouldn�t worry too much about his mum, Nanna got him ready for bed. �Lift your arms sleepy boy,� she said as she knelt in front of him.
Alex yawned as he did what Nanna asked. She pulled off his navy blue long sleeved shirt, then put a dark green night shirt on in it�s place. �See mum mum,� Alex said as she led him over to the rocking chair. She sat down then lifted him up to sit on her lap while she pulled off his tan slacks, putting on the matching green pajama bottoms in their place.
�You will see her soon, but right now it is time for you to have a long rest Alex.� Nanna said as she stood up to go get a story. As she selected the thick volume of Kipling stories, Jonathan walked in.
Wanting to spend time with his nephew, even if it was only for a short time, Jonathan asked if he could put him to bed.
Needing rest herself Nanna smiled at him. �Just be sure you have him use his potty,� she said as she let Jonathan take him. She gave them both a kiss then left for her room.
After letting Alex take care of business, Jonathan settled down in the old Victorian Rocker, the one with the soft velvet bottom and back, and began the story of Mogli, one of Alex�s favorites.
�Mum mum,� Alex said as he pushed the book away.
Jonathan set it aside then turned Alex to face him. �She is resting where the doctors are taking good care of her,� said Jonathan, in a vain attempt to explain to his nephew where Evie was.
�Mum he,� Alex said as he leaned forward and placed his left cheek against Jonathan�s chest, curling his legs underneath him as he did.
Jonathan sighed and began to rock him humming the tune of the lullaby which their mum had sung to he and Evelyn, and which his sister now used to put Alex to sleep. It didn�t take too much time for Alex to fall asleep, and once Jonathan was sure he wouldn�t awaken, he carried him over to the far wall where his crib was, and put him down without a peep. �Sleep well partner. Sweet dreams,� Jonathan whispered as he kissed Alex�s soft cheek. After lingering at his crib, Jonathan went downstairs to wait up for O�Connell.
~*~
Right at nine in the evening, a nurse came into Evie�s room and told Rick visiting hours were over. Evelyn was still asleep and William as he had quickly been named, had been brought in for two more feedings, and was now asleep against his father�s shoulder. Like Alex he wasn�t fond of being wrapped up, though Rick had his blanket draped over him just the same. �Do I get a chance to say goodnight to my wife?� he asked. He was not fond of this particular nurse and would be happy when the next day arrived and their request for a new nurse could be heard.
�Only a few minutes more,� she said as she turned around and abruptly left.
As Rick stood up, he felt William stretch out his legs. For almost an hour he had slept with his legs curled up between his stomach, and Rick�s chest. The six pound five ounce baby remained asleep as Rick walked over to the bed.
�Evie, I have to go now,� Rick said as he sat down on her bedside.
It took some effort but Evie opened her eyes. �I�m sorry I haven�t been more wakeful,� she said as she smiled at him. She reached out her hand, and gently stroked her finger over William�s tiny foot. �Will you make sure they know that I want to feed him tonight?� she asked as a new nurse walked in.
�I will be on duty, and I will be sure to bring him to you. My name is Julie, and I will be taking Nurse Helga�s place.� she said. She allowed them a couple more minutes, then after taking Evelyn�s vitals guided Rick out taking William with her to make sure he was doing all right.
~*~
Three days passed by, and Alex was a mess. He had never spent a night away from his mum, and didn�t understand where she was. He wouldn�t sleep unless Rick was there with him, and wasn�t letting him out of his sight. The only way Rick could get away to go see Evelyn in the hospital was to do it when Alex was down for a nap, which so far today he refused to take one.
In Alex�s room Rick paced while an exhausted Alex rested against his shoulder. He gently patted his back as he walked the length of his little boy�s room, waiting for Alex to finally give in and sleep. He felt Alex�s head jerk then the crying started once more, and that was the last straw. �Come on buddy, I�m taking you to see your mum, and those nurses aren�t going to have any say,� Rick said as he carried his son downstairs.
In the Victorian Rocking chair which they kept downstairs, Nanna had just finished knitting a pair of booties for William when Rick walked down stairs with a very determined look in his eyes. She stood up and followed him to the front of the house getting Alex�s coat on him while Rick got his little rain boots on him. �If they give you any hassle remind them how much money you and Evelyn donate a year,� Nanna said proud that Rick was taking a stand.
Rick grinned at her. �I was thinking of holding them at gun point until they let Alex in, but I guess that would be too much?� he asked as he shifted Alex to his right side, at the same time letting Nanna put his blue hat on him.
�That would get you arrested, and Alex has had enough heart ache as it is,� she said as she kissed the tired little boy. �Be a good boy for your father,� she said.
�Mum mum mum,� Alex said as he laughed.
~*~
In her hospital room, Evie sat in the hard backed rocker, missing the comforts of home. William had just had his second feeding for the day, and was against her shoulder asleep as she continued to rock and hold him. He had a thick covering of black hair, and pretty blue eyes like Alex�s were at that young age.
As she was walking over to his bassinet to lay him down, she heard a commotion outside her door, and after putting William down, she found a robe and wrapped that around her ready to see what was going on.
Helga stood with her back against the door as Rick walked toward her with Alex in his arms, followed by several nurses also protesting his bringing the little boy in to their ward. �This is no place for a small child. Small children have germs and I will not allow him to spread them to the babies in my care.
�Look, he hasn�t seen his mum in three days, the longest he�s been without her, and William will be sharing his germs when he goes home so what�s the difference?� Rick asked trying not to wake his sleeping toddler.
Before she could answer Helga fell backward as the door was opened and hit her head on the ground which ended her noisy tirade.
The other nurses laughed and one of them left for a doctor, leaving Rick and Evie alone. Rick stepped over Helga, and walked to his wife. �He�s been really upset today,� he said as she guided him to the bed.
Evelyn sat down, then reached out and took Alex from her husband. She held him against her chest, and breathed in. Three days without her baby had been painful for her, and she was glad Rick put his foot down on the matter.
The shift woke Alex, and he lifted his tired head and saw his mum mum and smiled. �Mum he,� Alex said as she let Rick help them lay in bed. She held Alex up long enough for Rick to get his hat, coat, and boots off of him, then let him snuggle beside her. �I�m here Alex, and I won�t go anywhere else,� she said as she stroked her fingers through his long baby fine hair.
Once he put Alex�s coat and boots as well as his own coat away, Rick shut the door as the doctor tended to Helga, and walked to the bed. �Should we let him see?� he asked.
�No, he needs time with me, and I just nursed William, so we have a good two hours before he awakens,� Evie whispered as Alex started to go to sleep.
~*~
Almost two hours passed and while his wife and two son�s rested, Rick sat reading the paper. He was surprised that no one had come in to throw he and Alex out of the hospital, but was also glad, knowing that his son needed this time with Evelyn.
As he finished his paper, the door opened and Julie walked in. �I need to take William,� she said softly. She wheeled his bassinet out, and once again it was quiet.
Another half hour passed, at which time Rick heard the approaching cries of their baby, and guessed William had yet another examination. He opened the door and let Julie in.
The cries of the baby woke Alex who sat up wide eyed and watched as his father lifted the unhappy bundle from it�s bed.
Evelyn sat up as well moving her feet off the bed then held Alex for a moment. �Alex, this is your brother William,� Evie said as Rick placed him in her arms.
�No no,� Alex started to cry as well, then screamed when Rick tried to take him away.
Evie managed to get William to her left breast, and once he was nursing hugged Alex who was having a fuss of his own. His face was buried against her side, and he had a death grip around her back and front, not acknowledging William. All she could do for the moment was hold him.
When Evie was ready, Rick draped a burp cloth over his shoulder and took William, hoping she could calm Alex down before the baby was ready to eat again.
Evelyn lifted Alex onto her lap and rocked him as best she could, feeling her back ache as she sat on the edge of her bed. �It�s all right I�m right here and I love you very much Alex,� Evelyn crooned over and over as Alex�s cries subsided.
�Mum he,� he said as he lifted his head from her shoulder to look at her.
�I�m here Alex, but I have to take care of William now as well,� she said, wishing they would have somehow prepared him for this moment a little better.
While Evelyn talked to Alex, Rick was trying to keep William calm, hoping not to have Alex upset again, though the small baby was shifting restlessly against his shoulder. �Just wait a little bit longer,� Rick said as he lifted William higher against his shoulder.
Once again the door opened, and Julie walked in informing Rick that it was time for Alex to go home
Against his mum�s shoulder Alex held on to her as tight as he could, and when Julie offered to take William back to the nursery and bottle feed him, Evelyn agreed to let her, wanting to walk at least to the lift with her husband and oldest child.
Getting Alex into his rain jacket and his rubber boots was a fight, and once that was over her cried against Evelyn�s shoulder as they walked down the hall way. When they got to the lifts, Evelyn tried to talk to him but he shook his head, seeming to know what was about to happen.
When Rick pried him away, he screamed as loud as he could hitting his father�s chest and kicking at him, and this time Rick let him. He was glad that one of the other nurses was there to help Evelyn back to her room, and decided that tomorrow like it or not he was bringing Evelyn and William home.
~*~
The entire trip back to the manor, Alex lay in back of the Beuford screaming and crying, and it was only the last five minutes when he finally fell asleep. Rick got him inside, and up to his room without a sound and once Alex was down, he called Dr. Robert�s, and told him that Evelyn and William would be home by tomorrow, and was happy when the doctor agreed.
Now in the parlor he sat holding a full glass of scotch in his hands. He was angry at himself, and Evelyn for not communicating better these last few months and wasn�t sure what it would be like once the baby arrive home. It was evident that Alex wasn�t happy about the change, and Rick felt helpless.
Watching Rick from just beyond the stairs Nanna saw how exhausted he looked, and saw the worry in his eyes. �Alex will be all right,� she finally said as she walked toward him.
Rick looked at her, and set his drink down, no longer desiring it. �I�m not so sure. He wasn�t to happy today at the hospital,� Rick said as she sat down beside him.
�He hasn�t seen Evelyn for three days, and once she is back at home, things will be better. The important thing is that we keep doing the things we always do, make sure he takes his naps, and isn�t permitted to have his tantrums,� she said.
�Tantrums?� he asked, having not been aware of that.
Nanna nodded her head. �I�m sure he sensed Evelyn�s sadness, but he has had a few a day for the past three weeks,� she said.
�I shouldn�t have taken that damn job,� Rick said as he sighed and leaned his head back.
�Yes you should have. Alex like every other child tests things out, tries new things to learn, and I�m sure he would have done this regardless of the fact that you have a job. The important thing is that he not get the attention he wants when he does such things,� she said.
They talked for almost an hour at the end of which Rick felt better and exhausted. Confident that Nanna could take care of Alex he decided to go have a lie down himself, needing rest after such a stressful afternoon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Next, Alex�s new brother arrives, and the real fun begins. Review please, and thanks to all of you who have.
Shelby