Two and a half months after her wedding day, Evelyn woke up before daylight - sick. She sat up in bed and her head started spinning. She lay back down only to have her stomach start churning. She rolled onto her side and the queasiness seemed to get worse. She starting heaving and knew that there would soon be a mess on the floor. Evelyn moaned as she rolled herself out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. She had barely made it to the toilet when her stomach started ejecting it contents. Evelyn held her head over the bowl and retched until her eyes were filled with tears. After her stomach was empty, several moments had to pass before it completely settled down. She pushed herself away from the toilet, took a deep breath, sat on the floor and waited to see if her stomach would start rumbling again. After several minutes, she pulled herself up on her knees to the sink. Evelyn reached for the facet and turned on the water and washed out her mouth then splashed water on her face. She took another deep breath then slowly stood up. Her head started spinning and she quickly put the lid down on the toilet and sat down.
Evelyn had never been a sickly child nor a sickly woman but this morning she was feeling terrible, awful in fact. She propped her elbows on her thighs, cradled her head in her hands and sighed. It was horrible feeling horrible. As Evelyn sat there wishing the nausea would pass, she wondered if she had eaten something bad or if she had caught some virus. After several minutes, she slowly stood up and the queasiness remained but it was not as bad as it had been. Evelyn held her stomach as she slowly treaded back to bed.
"Evelyn?" Rick groaned when she sat down on the bed. "What are you doing up?" he asked, still more asleep than awake.
"I had to go the lavatory" Evelyn said as she began to ease back down in the comfortable bed.
"The what?" Rick said in a groggy voice.
"The bathroom" Evelyn said as she lay on her side.
Once she was settled, she felt Rick's arm around her waist then felt his chest snuggle up against her back. Within seconds, Rick was snoring and Evelyn knew it would be awhile before she would be able to fall back to sleep.
"Rick" she said as she nudged him.
"huh?" was his muddled response.
"You're snoring" she said.
"um hum..."
Rick quieted down for a few minutes before the fainted sound of a snore crept up into Evelyn's ears. Evelyn began to hum along with Rick's snores and before long she had drifted back to sleep.
When Evelyn finally woke up, the room was filled with the morning light that seeped in through the cracks in the curtains. Rick was still snuggled up against her back, still snoring. Evelyn threw back the covers, swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. She blew out a big breath and held her stomach, willing it to remain settled. It did and she concluded that she was over her early morning upset. Evelyn stood up and her head became to spin and she fell back on the bed.
"whew" she breathed. "oh god" she said in another breath as she grabbed her stomach and shot up from the bed.
She was heaving all the way to the bathroom and prayed that she would not empty her stomach on the floor. Evelyn made it to the toilet and fell to her knees. She lowered her head and retched but nothing came out. She felt as if she would throw up all of her insides as she continued heaving. When she was finally able to lift her head, her eyes were red and watery. Evelyn used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth then pulled herself up to the sink and repeated the routine she had performed just hours before.
And this is how Evelyn woke up for the next week. One her sixth day a nausea, while she was sitting in front of the commode catching her breath, Rick walked in.
"What's the matter Evelyn" he asked, concern etched on his features as he squatted down next to her.
"Nothing" she said as she took a deep breath.
"Something's the matter" he frowned. "You're sitting in front for the toilet looking like you threw up last night's dinner!"
"I'm fine" Evelyn tried to reassure him and herself. "Really."
"Then why are you looking like death warmed over?" he asked as he noticed her ashen face.
"I look like death?!" Evelyn frowned at his insult.
"Yeah" he said.
"Well... MR O'Connell" Evelyn said, hurt at his assessment of her appearance. "At the moment, YOU aren't exactly the most handsome man I've ever seen!"
Rick had blood shot eyes and sleep marks all over his face. His hair was a complete in disarray.
"And your breath stinks!" she said just before she pulled herself up on her knees. "I don't need your help" she said when Rick tried to assist her in standing up. "oooooohhh" she said and would have fallen back to her knees if Rick had not caught her.
"Don't need my help huh?" Rick said as he held her around the waist and lowered the toilet seat.
"No" Evelyn said as Rick guided her to sit on the toilet lid.
"I'm taking you to see a doctor."
"No..." Evelyn hated doctors. "I'm fine. It was probably something I ate."
"Well the doctor can tell us that" Rick said.
"I'M telling us that!" Evelyn said. She hated it when Rick acted like a dictator. "It was something I ate!"
"Well, I want to hear it from somebody who knows what they are talking about" Rick said.
They sat in the bathroom for another five minutes arguing about going to see a doctor. The argument continued as they both got dressed and went to the kitchen for breakfast.
"I mean it Evelyn. YOU are going to see a doctor. You could have some deadly virus or something."
"What's all the yelling about?" Jonathan asked as he came into the kitchen, still in his pajamas.
"Evelyn is sick."
"I am NOT!"
"Yes you are!"
"NO I AM NOT!!"
"YES... YOU ARE!!"
Jonathan looked from one combatant to the other, as his sister said NO she was not and his brother-in-law YES she was.
"What's the matter Evy?" Jonathan asked, figuring it would be safer to side with O'Connell.
"NOTHING! NOTHING! NOTHING!" Evelyn yelled as she stomped her foot.
"Then ask her why she was puking her guts out just a few minutes ago" Rick said to Jonathan as he continued frowning at Evelyn.
"That is so ill-mannered!" Evelyn frowned back, referring to his crude description of her bout with nausea
"Answer the question!" he said. "WHY were you puking your guts out?!"
Evelyn fumed at Rick then turned her back on him and stomped out of the kitchen.
"I'll be at the museum at twelve!" he yelled after her. "And I'll drag you to the doctor if I have too!"
Rick heard the front door slam but he knew Evelyn had heard him.
"So, do you think something is really wrong with her?" Jonathan asked as he too began to worry.
"I don't know" Rick said as he ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know what I'd do..." he did not want to think about Evelyn having some killer disease.
"I'm sure she's fine. She's a sturdy old mum" Jonathan said, trying to assure Rick and himself. He didn't know what he'd do either if something terrible were wrong with Evelyn.
************************
"Mrs. O'Connell, you're in perfect health" the doctor said.
Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief at his words. "Why am I have these horrible bouts with nausea then?"
"You're expecting."
"Expecting what?"
"A baby."
"A baby?" Evelyn was sure she had not heard right.
"Yes, a baby" the doctor nodded in the affirmative.
"A baby?" she said again.
Evelyn did not know the first thing about babies. How in the world could she be expecting one? Then her face turned red as she thought about how she had come to this state of expectancy. That husband of hers was an insatiable one, not that she was complaining. She began to tingle inside as she thought of his caress, his touch. A tiny smile formed as she thought of his hot breath in her ear, his explicit words that made her body react just as his skilled hands did. And then when he invaded her body...
"Mrs. O'Connell? Are you OK?"
"Yes" Evelyn said, turning a darker shade of red. "I was just thinking... oh never mind. Are you SURE about this doctor?"
"Positive" he smiled. "Would you like for me to bring in your husband and tell him the good news."
"Oh no..." Evelyn was not sure she was ready for a baby, let alone Rick being ready for one. "I'd like to tell him myself. But would you please tell him that I am doing fine. He's been a bit worried about me."
After hearing from a professional that Evelyn was OK, Rick breathed easier. But Evelyn did not. A baby. She was expecting a baby and that news was not settling well with her. This was unexpected and she and Rick had not even discussed children. Though she knew she wanted them one day, today was not that day. A mother. She did not know how to be a mother. And with her own mother gone, whom could she turn to for guidance? The more she thought about her shortcomings in the area of motherhood, the more depressed she became. A baby was a precious thing and Evelyn felt so inadequate.
Evelyn wished with all her heart that her mother were there to ease her uneasiness and tell her that everything would be all right. She found comfort in remembering her mother and her soothing voice. She pulled out the family photo book and flipped through the pages. There were pictures of her father, her mother, her parents together. Pictures of her, Jonathan, her and Jonathan, her and her mother, her and her father, Jonathan and their mother, Jonathan and their father. There were pictures of the entire family together. Evelyn smiled as she remembered them as a family. And now she was starting a family of her own. But could she do it? Could be she the mother her own mother was?
When Evelyn flipped to the last page, there were two folded notes tucked in the crevices that held the pictures. One had Jonathan's name scripted on it and the other had her name. They were written in her mother's hand. Evelyn removed the note addressed to her and unfolded it.
My Dearest Daughter Evelyn
As I sit here watching you sleep, I fall more in love with you by the second. I am still amazed that you are mine. I ask myself over and over what I did to deserve such a gift as you. I may never understand why you were given to me but I will promise you that I will do my best to be a good mother.
I was absolutely terrified when I found out I was carrying your brother Jonathan and when he came into the world, my fears did not cease. Instead they increased because I loved him so much that I was afraid I would not be able to give him all that he needed. Your father was an angel as he bear up under my hysterics and eventually I became more comfortable, then more confident that I could care for Jonathan properly.
And now I have you. Even though my fears and insecurities returned, as I look at you, I know nothing in this world or the next will stop me from loving you with all my heart.
And one day, you will have your own precious gift from above and I know, even as I look at you now, that you will love that child with all you heart.
From the heart of your mother, With all the love she has for you.
Evelyn had started crying when she saw her name written in her mother's hand and now she was in total tears as the fruit of love began to blossom in her heart. She could do it. She would do it. Her mother's letter had wiped away her fear and uncertainty. This was her baby and she would do whatever it took to be a good mother.
And now it was time to tell the father.
**************************
It took Evelyn another three days before she was almost ready to tell Rick about her condition. She had decided she would tell him that morning but it was not until later that evening that she finally found the right words.
"Rick?" Evelyn called as she walked into the sitting room.
"Yeah" he said without looking up from his task of cleaning his weapons.
"I need to speak with you" she said as she walked over to him.
"OK" he said, stilling focusing on his weapons.
"Do you mind putting that down" she said with perturbation as she stood over him.
Evelyn's emotions were unstable due to her condition and her tolerance for having only part of Rick's attention was low. He looked up when he heard the agitation in her tone.
"What is it?" he asked, looking up at her frown. "Is something wrong?"
"No. Not..." Evelyn began. "Not exactly."
"What do you mean, 'not exactly'" he said.
"Nothing's wrong" she said.
Evelyn stood there looking down at Rick and Rick sat there looking up at Evelyn.
"What is it Evelyn?" Rick asked when she continued to stare down at him.
"I'm... ah..."
"Yeah" Rick motioned with his hand for her to continue. "You're... Evelyn" he said when she stood mute. "Are you sure you're OK?"
"I'm fine" Evelyn said as she pulled out the chair and sat at the table.
Evelyn set her forearms on the table, folded her hands together and breathed a heavy breath as she looked at Rick.
"Rick"
"Yeah"
"I have something to tell you."
"I figured that much out."
"Are you... no that's not what I what to say. I have a condition."
"I thought that damn doctor said you were OK!" Rick panicked.
"I am" Evelyn said then reached for his hand. "I'm fine. Really" she said as she saw the fear in his eyes.
"Well, what kind of condition do you have?" Rick asked, still a little anxious.
Evelyn took a deep breath as her heart pounded.
"I'm expecting."
"Expecting what?"
"A baby."
Rick sat looking at Evelyn, not saying anything, not quite sure he heard her correctly. He frowned a bewildered frown and shook his head as if to clear it.
"Rick?" Evelyn said after a few moments. "You're what?" Rick said at the same time.
"I'm... I'm... expecting a baby" she said.
Evelyn watched Rick's reaction and it was not what she had hoped for. Evelyn expected him to be surprised. She surely had been. And maybe a little apprehensive. She had been more than frightened at the thought of being a mother. But then, after the initial shock, she expected him to be happy. They were having a baby and, after getting over the fear and doubt, that was the happiest news a couple could receive.
Or at least that was what Evelyn thought. Rick's reaction went from disbelief to surprise to... uneasiness then anxiety then dread then rejection. He never made it to happiness.
"Rick..." Evelyn whispered, her voice shaking. Aren't... aren't you happy... about the baby?"
Rick could not answer her without hurting her. A kid? That was the farthest thing from his mind - a kid. He did not want to think about a kid. A kid needed parents, a mother and a father. He was not ready to be a parent, a father and did not think he would ever be ready.
"How did it happen?" he said, more to himself than to her.
"How?" Evelyn said.
Rick was asking how did this happen. If she knew, he had to know. Then Evelyn saw something she did not want to see. The look in his eyes said a baby was not something he particularly desired.
"You don't... you don't want the baby..." she whispered in an accusing voice as she slowly stood up.
"Evelyn..." Rick stood up and reached for her as he tried to find the right words to say.
"No!" she put her hand up to ward him off and took a step back.
"Evelyn..." he took a step toward her and reached for her again.
"no..." she said as tears formed in her eyes and she took another step away from him. "Stay away from me" she said as she backed out the room.
"Evelyn..." he tried again.
"Don't!" she said as a tear slid down her cheek and she turned and ran to their room.
Rick watched her go, unable to move, unable to find the words to explain to her. He was torn inside, not wanting to hurt the woman he loved, but not wanting to admit to the fear inside of him.
Evelyn shut the bedroom door and locked it. She turned and leaned against the door then slid down to the floor. How could Rick not want the baby, their baby? she wondered as her heart broke. She loved him and she already loved the baby she carried. Her baby. His baby. Their baby. How could he not want this baby?
Evelyn's unbalanced hormones enticed her imagination to run wild with speculations. She wondered if it had been a mistake marrying him. She had only known him a few short weeks and he had asked her to marry him. She had said 'yes' so quickly and without a second thought. And now she was beginning to see that was a mistake.
But Evelyn loved him. Or at least she thought she did. Had the first man who had dared to steal a kiss from her sweep her off her feet? Had the knight in shining armor who had rescued the damsel in distress dazzle her? Had the adventure they survived together trick her into believing they shared something special? Had she been a fool to marry him?
'Yes' she thought as she cried silently. It was obvious that he did not love her, she reasoned in her unreasonable state of mind. How could he love her and not want their baby? One of the reasons she fell in love with the baby inside of her was because it was a part of Rick. And she loved Rick. Yes she did love him, she knew in her heart she did. But was she a fool to love him?
Evelyn was crying when the doorknob turned.
"Evelyn" Rick called. "Open up."
When the door did not open, Rick tried again. "Evelyn open up."
"GO AWAY!" she said.
"Evelyn..." Rick laid his forehead against the door. "Open the door" he begged. "Please."
Rick was met with silence and he immediately got angry.
"Open the damn door Evelyn!"
"I said GO AWAY!" Evelyn yelled back. If she were given to using fowl language she would have told him a thing or two. But she was a lady and fowl language was not proper, no matter how upset she was.
"OPEN THE DOOR!" Rick said in frustration as he turned the doorknob again.
Rick instantly remembered the last time a locked bedroom door stood between them. He had locked her in but this time she had locked him out. If he were not so angry with her and himself, he would have laughed.
"GO AWAY!" she said again.
"Fine!" he said and turned away from the door.
Evelyn sat on the floor crying and Rick sat at the casbah drinking. Neither one knowing where they would go from here.
Chapter 2: Uncertain
It had been a mistake, a terrible, terrible mistake. Evelyn came to this conclusion as she sat at her window looking up at the star lit night sky. Rick O'Connell was the biggest blunder she had ever made. It had started when she was drawn to him in that Cairo prison. She could not seem to help herself. He was so... so fetching in spite of the fact that he needed a bath, haircut, shave and manners. Yes, his flaws were obvious to even a blind woman, but still... there was something about him that arrested Evelyn.
And then he kissed her.
Evelyn admitted to herself that when he beckoned her to come closer, her heart leaped with excitement. Beneath her very proper exterior, she longed for him to kiss her, to place on her lips that very first kiss. But she knew he would never be so bold therefore she had moved closer to him. Her heart pounded as she looked into his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes. Then she saw it. She saw his boldness and before she could back away from the aggressiveness that eluded from him, he had grabbed her.
Evelyn was initially frighten at the sudden move but her fear quickly turned to shock. She was shocked that this man, this prisoner would take such liberties with her. She was even more shocked that she was beginning to enjoy the liberties he was taking.
And then she was disappointed. Greatly disappointed.
The kiss had ended. It ended much too quickly for her. Just when Evelyn was beginning to surrender to the kiss, just when she was beginning to feel warm inside, a coldness swept over her as the warm manly lips that had been on hers and the strong masculine hand that cupped her chin were suddenly snatched away.
Evelyn was confused as she watched the guards yanked him away from the bars and punched him. Evelyn hoped they were not hurting him too badly and wondered why she even cared. "Do it lady!" she remembered him saying as she stood trying to compose herself. She could not understand first of all why she had not found the brief experience unpleasant. In fact she found it agreeable, quite agreeable. She could not understand why she was not appalled and insulted that this filthy, rude American scoundrel whom she did not like one bit had kissed her. She just could not muster up the outrage or the indignation of being accosted by him.
And that baffled her completely.
After saving his life, she convinced herself that the only reason she did it was because she wanted to go to Hamunaptra. Of course she would not want to see anyone, not even a filthy rude American scoundrel, hung but her main reason for saving him was NOT because there was something about him... no indeed. The ONLY reason she saved him was because it was the right thing to do. Yes, it was the right thing to do and besides, she reminded herself, he was her only way to Hamunaptra.
That night when everything was quite and Evelyn lay in bed, her mind keep drifting to that American scoundrel and the kiss he had given her. Evelyn touched her lips, lips that had been waylaid by male lips...
"Evelyn! It was just a kiss!" she insisted. "A silly, meaningless kiss. Stop acting like some mindless schoolgirl."
Evelyn went to sleep that night insisting that the kiss meant nothing, absolutely nothing. There was nothing to the kiss and nothing at all to like about the man who kissed her. And when she saw him at Gaza port with a fresh haircut, shave and bath there was still nothing, absolutely nothing there to like. Yes, yes he was still filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel. Nothing to like there a'tall.
Then why was she insulted, outraged even when she heard his answer to why he had kissed her? 'By the way... why did you kiss me?' Evelyn was hoping he would say he found her beautiful, a rose in the mist of thorns who needed to be plucked. 'I was about to be hanged. It seemed like a good idea at the time.' Well... if that was not a slap in the face, she did not know what was. Evelyn stomped away from him in a huff and just could not admit that she was a little hurt and disappointed that he did not think the kiss was more than just a dying man's final request. 'Oh! For heaven sake girl! It wasn't that good of a kiss anyway!' She tried to convince herself.
Evelyn would remind herself often, especially when her eyes found themselves settled on him, that it was only a kiss, not even a very good one, not that she had anything to compare it too. It was only a kiss, she told herself as she picked the exquisite black dress to trek across the dry hot desert in. It was only a kiss, she told herself as he approached her with the camels in tow, hoping she was looking exceptionally attractive to him. It was only a kiss, she told herself as he had given her the toolkit he had 'borrowed' just for her.
It was only a kiss.
In the mist of their harrowing experience of being attacked by the Med Jai, Evelyn had gotten a few swigs of Jonathan's drink in her and it was still only a kiss. So why not have another? Another kiss that is. Evelyn remembered telling him that she was a librarian, a proud librarian and she was going to kiss him.
Yes she was going to kiss Mr. O'Connell. She was going to kiss Rick. And so she did or at least she thought she did. For some odd reason, Evelyn could not remember that kiss. But she did remember the kiss they shared at the end of their adventure.
And now, after many kisses... and other, more intimate things, she was left with child. A child whose father was not exactly thrilled about the news.
"What a mess I've made!" Evelyn bemoaned as her tears began anew.
Evelyn knew she had been a fool, a complete idiot to fall head over heels for Rick O'Connell. But in spite of being a fool and knowing she was a fool, Evelyn loved him. There was no need to deny it and she did not have the energy or the will to do so. It did not seem to matter that she loved him with all her heart. Regardless of that truth, Evelyn was beginning to believed that the love she thought he had for her had been a fairy tale. After all, he had been her knight in shining armor when he rescued her from being sacrificed by Imhotep.
Maybe, she thought as she shed silent tears, she had confused his exceptional heroism with that silly thing called love. But then she thought of their wedding day. He had vowed to love her, to cherish her, to protect her for the rest of his life. Had he lied to her? Had he lied to the minister? Had he lied to the All Mighty? In her heart of hearts, Evelyn knew... she knew he had not lied.
But, in spite of their love for one another, it was no longer just the two of them. Evelyn laid her hand on her flat abdomen. A baby was nestled there, a baby she and Rick had created. An innocent baby who deserved to be wanted by both parents. Evelyn wanted her husband. And she wanted her baby... but it was apparent by Rick's reaction that he did not. Would he be so callous as to force her to choose between him and the baby? In her right mind, Evelyn knew he would not. But, at the present, her right mind had escaped her. How could she ever be expected to choose one of them, her husband or her baby, over the other?
Evelyn was tormented with the thought that she would have to choose. Choose between her husband whom she loved and the innocent baby she carried, whom she already knew she would give her life for.
What could Evelyn do, what would she do about the great dilemma she was in?
*********************
He loved her. He loved her with everything he had but... it had been a mistake. It had been a big mistake. How could he have let it happen? He had been around the brothel more than a few times and he knew how to keep these things from happening. So why had he been so careless?
"She's your wife idiot, not some whore!" his conscience shouted.
Rick sat at the bar, staring at the drink in his hand as thoughts of a kid drifted through his mind. After a moment, he lifted the drink to his lips and tossed it down.
"Another!" he said as he slammed the shot glass down, hoping he would be able to drown his fears in booze.
A kid. That had been the farthest thing from his mind and the last thing he wanted. He loved Evelyn, damn it! He loved her with all his heart. He was more than sure of that. But a kid? That was territory he did not want to explore.
Why hadn't he taken precautions to keep this from happening? he asked himself.
Because, Rick answered himself, when he was with Evelyn in those loving, intimate ways, he was so lost in her that he forgot all about what he had learned in the company of courtesans.
And now he had a kid on the way.
"O'Connell!" Jonathan slapped Rick on the back. "The old ball and chain let you out tonight?" he said cheerfully as he sat next to Rick.
"Jonathan" Rick said in a solemn voice, as his thoughts were pulled from his kid to his brother-in-law.
"Old mum is gonna have your hide" Jonathan said when he saw the bartender pour Rick's drink. "I'll have what he's having" he said to the bartender.
"You sure you need one of these" Rick said as he lifted his glass to his lips. "Smells like you're already drunk" Rick noted, catching a whiff of the liquor on Jonathan's breath.
"Not drunk old chap!" Jonathan said as Rick downed his drink. "Just extremely jolly. Not too long ago I left off having a private party with a lady friend."
"A lady?" Rick said sarcastically, then to the bartender. "Another."
"If you don't tell Evy on me" Jonathan whispered drunkenly, knowing that Rick knew just what kind of lady he had been keeping company with. "I won't tell on you" he snickered as he watched his brother-in-law down another shot.
Rick listened with half an ear as Jonathan told him of the profit he made from a few pieces of his Hamunaptra treasure. Evy had found a buyer for him and the deal was closed that afternoon and Jonathan was celebrating. He chatted on and on for the next thirty minutes but Rick was not listening and Jonathan was too drunk to notice.
"I'll pick up the tab old chap" Jonathan said when Rick reached for his back pocket.
"Thanks" Rick said as he stood up.
"You're off so soon?" Jonathan said, not wanting him to leave just yet. He liked chatting with his brother-in-law.
Rick did not answer Jonathan but turned and headed for the door. Jonathan frowned slightly and wondered if everything was all right. But then he forgot about his brother-in-law when a dark haired beauty caught his attention.
After leaving the tavern, Rick wandered the streets of Cairo thinking. What would he do... with a kid? He did not know how to act with a kid, how to be a good father to a kid. And a kid needed a father, a good father.
Would Evelyn die giving birth, leaving him and the kid alone? His Ma had died when he gave birth to him and left him and his Pa alone. Would he end up leaving his kid like his Pa had left him?
Rick gritted his teeth as he remembered that day.
"Pa, where we going?" four-year old Rick asked Archibald O'Connell as they approached the big house with lots of windows.
"Well... this here is called a convent" his father said. "And there's some real nice ladies that live here."
"Why we coming here Pa?"
"Cause I cain't take you wit me" his father answered.
"Why not? I wanna go wit you Pa" Rick whined.
"You cain't"
"But why?"
"Cause I said so!" his father said angrily as he looked down at Rick with a frown. "It's dangerous" Archibald softened when he saw the down cast look on his son's face. He then stopped and squatted down.
"Hey" he said softly as he put his finger under Rick's chin and lifted his head. "I wanna take you, but the men said it was too dangerous to have a youngster tagging along."
"I ain't scared Pa! I ain't scared of nothin'!"
"I know you ain't son" Archibald said proudly as he ruffled Rick's hair. "But it's best if'n I leave..."
"But I don't want you to leave Pa" Rick interrupted as he started to cry.
"I don't wanna leave either" Archibald said as he choked back his own tears. "But it's just too dangerous. I cain't let anything happen to you boy. You's all I got" he said as he rubbed his son's cheek.
"Then don't go" Rick pleaded.
"I'm doing this for you. For us. When I get back, we'll be rich and we won't ever have to worry about money or anythin' else ever again. Now" Archibald said as he stood up and started walking up the steps to the house with lots of windows. "These ladies are gonna take real good care of ya till I get back."
Archibald knocked on the door and waited for an answer. An older lady who looked awfully mean to Rick answered the door.
"Hello Sister" Archibald tipped his hat. "This here is my boy I told ya 'bout" he said motioning toward Rick. "Rick, this is Sister Abigail and she'll be watching after ya till I get back."
"Hello young man" Sister Abigail said in a very prim, accented voice.
Rick frowned up at the mean looking lady. She had on a long black dress with a black towel on her head. Rick had learned his letters from a lady friend of his Pa's and he saw that the old lady had a big little 't' hanging around her neck.
"He's a bit shy" Archibald said when Rick did not say 'hello' to the Sister.
"Most of the children that come here usually are" the Sister said.
"I'm gonna miss ya" Archibald said as he again squatted down to Rick. "And I'll be back as soon as I can. I want you to behave yourself till I get back. Alright?"
Rick looked silently at his father, not wanting to be left with Sister Abigail. Not wanting his father to go without him. Archibald knew his son was angry with him and knew there was no need to prolong their goodbye. Rick watched as his father stood up, turned from him and walked away. And that was the last time he saw his father.
The child in Rick cried for the father that abandoned him. The man in Rick refused to admit that even now, he longed to see his father again. He refused to admit that a part of him, a big part of him was still wounded, was still suffering because he had been left alone.
And now, he was about to be a father. Would he desert his kid? He had, after all, overheard Sister Abigail say that 'the iniquities of the father are visited on the children'. She said that whatever iniquities the father had a tendency to engage in, the children would more than likely engage in those same offenses. And Rick had indulged in every sin, iniquity, trespass and offense known to man. And if it was true that his sins would be passed on to his kid... GOD help him.
Rick would never what to cause a kid of his the pain he felt the day his Pa left him. He would never want his kid to go to bed every night disappointed because his Pa never came to get him. He never wanted a kid of his to feel unloved.
That was why he lived such a reckless life and only associated with less than respectable women. He did not want to get attached to anyone. If he got attached, he might fall in love. If he fell in love, he might marry. And if he married, he might want a family. All of that would complicate his life and he wanted none of it
And then she walked into his life.
Rick actually grinned as he remembered the first time he saw Evelyn. It did not take him long to realize that he wanted to get attached to her. And after falling in love with Evelyn, Rick knew he would marry her. Once he had settled in his mind and heart that he would marry Evelyn and after she said 'yes' a small voice whispered that he wanted her to have his children.
Then Rick heard 'I'm... I'm... expecting a baby'. The words rang loud and clear in his ears and they sent bolts of fear rushing through him. He had been a French legionnaire, he had put his life on the line may times. For heaven's sake, he had faced a 3,000 year old walking, talking mummy. He had done all of that without a trace of fear. But now, a baby, a tiny baby struck terror in his heart.
What would he do? He couldn't, for Pete's sake, abandon his own kid, Rick thought immediately. It dawned on him then that he would never leave his kid and that realization lifted a heavy weight off his shoulders. Rick knew he still had a long way to go before he could be happy about the kid, but he felt as if he had taken the first step in that direction.
When Rick finally walked through the front door it was nearing 3 am. He did not quite know what he would say to Evelyn but he knew he would smooth things over with her. When he turned the knob to the bedroom door, he found it was still locked. Rick assumed Evelyn was sound asleep and did not want to wake her, so he went back downstairs and stretched out on the couch.
While Rick lay on the couch thinking about how much his life had changed in the last few months, Evelyn laid in bed thinking about how much her life would change in the next few months.
Chapter 3: Decisions
Evelyn had heard the doorknob twist and lay there waiting for Rick to knock and demand she open the door. When she heard his footsteps fad away, she was a bit disappointed. Even though she would not have let him in the room, a small part of her wanted him to kick the door in, tell her he loved her beyond reason and he was happy about the baby. But instead, he walked away and a tear slipped down her cheek. Evelyn sighed as she turned on her side and closed her eyes, finally giving in to total exhaustion.
When Evelyn opened her eyes again, the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. She rolled over onto her back looked up at the ceiling. She felt weak, weary and worn out. The few hours she had slept were fitful and restless. Her stomach began to feel its now usual morning queasiness and Evelyn grabbed her midsection and rolled to her side, willing the feeling to go away. As the seconds passed, the nausea grew worse and Evelyn moaned as she slowly rolled over, swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. After taking a deep breath, Evelyn gradually stood up and her head started spinning. She breathed out a loud 'ooohhh' and held her head. After another deep breath, Evelyn took small steps and eventually made it to the bathroom.
As her empty stomach lurched, Evelyn wondered when she would again be able to enjoy a morning that did not start off with her having her head in the commode. After her dry heaves ended, Evelyn pulled herself up on the sink, pushed her disheveled hair out of her face and looked into the mirror. She looked a mess. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying all night and there were dark rings under them. Her skin was paler than usual and had a sickly hue to it. Evelyn started to cry as she looked at the pathetic image that was staring back at her. After several minutes of feeling sorry for herself, Evelyn realized that looking at her pitiful reflection only aided in depressing her more. After washing her face and mouth, Evelyn turned from the mirror and walked slowly back to the bedroom. As she fell into bed, Evelyn was grateful that it was Saturday and she did not have to go to the museum.
******************
Rick's eyes flew opened and his body became taut the moment he heard movement upstairs. He felt like he was back in the Legion, sleeping on the hard ground but not really sleeping at all and jumping at the slightest sound. After gathering his wits and realizing he was on a couch in his own home, he relaxed a bit.
Rick knew Evelyn was the source of the movements because it was much to early for Jonathan to be up and then he heard the sounds of Evelyn's morning ritual of vomiting. He wondered if he should go up and try to help but decided against it. For one thing, all he ever did was sit there and hold Evelyn's head while she puked. Another reason he decided to stay put was because Evelyn had turned into a morning grouch every since she started having morning sickness. And with the argument they had the night before, he knew her mood would be even worse than it normally was.
Rick lay on the couch waiting for Evelyn to come downstairs but after a while he dozed back into a fitful sleep. About a � hour later, he woke with a start, not knowing how long he had been asleep. He listened to the quiet, still house for several moments then sat up. Rick wondered if Evelyn had come downstairs and left the house while he had dozed. He got up and went upstairs and found the bedroom door slightly opened.
Rick walked into the bedroom to find Evelyn still in bed. Seeing her sleeping so peacefully put Rick at ease and he felt his body relax and release the tension it had been holding every since the previous night.
Rick had not truly slept when he was on the couch and had just drifted to sleep moments before the sun began to rise. His exhaustion hit him suddenly and it hit him hard. He wearily stripped down to his underwear and climbed in bed. He fell asleep almost immediately and rolled closer to Evelyn. Evelyn instinctively rolled closer to him and sighed as her sleep became tranquil.
When she woke up, Evelyn thought she was dreaming. Her face was buried in her husband's naked chest and his arm was lying across her hip. Evelyn moved slightly and in the next instance her posterior was being grasped quite possessively and she was being pulled into Rick's groan. He mumbled something and tightened his grip on her. Evelyn looked up into his sleeping face and thought he looked handsome. She pushed back the lock of hair that lay on his forehead then laid her hand on his cheek. She loved him so much and this was one of those special moments that she would mark down in her Book of Love.
Then she began to wonder. Was the fight they had last night just a nightmare and not a reality? No, it had been quite real. She remembered very clearly the countless tears she had cried throughout the night as her heart broke at the thought that he did not want their baby.
Why then was she snuggled comfortably in his arms? Why then was she feeling so safe.. and loved? Why then was she content to lay there and look at his handsome face for the remainder of the morning?
Evelyn became angry with herself at how easily she fell into his arms. And in her emotional state, it did not matter that she was asleep when she had fallen. Evelyn silently berated herself because all he had to do was put his arms around her and she would succumb to him. Again, she ignored the fact that he had slipped into bed while she was asleep. And she ignored even more the fact that had she been awake when he came to bed, she would have in no wise turned him away.
However, that was neither here nor there. She was expecting and he, she told herself for the millionth time, did not want their baby. Evelyn felt the tears welling up and lifted Rick's arm from her waist and rolled away from him. She got out of bed, grabbed fresh clothes and went to the bathroom to soak in the bathtub. After easing into the steaming water and sighing with contentment, Evelyn thought about how she would tell Rick about her decision.
**************************
Rick woke up and reached for Evelyn but only found a cold sheet. He opened his eyes and saw that he was alone in the bed. He looked over at the clock on the nightstand and saw that it was a quarter past one. He yawned and stretched his body, feeling so much better after getting some good sleep.
Rick also felt better because with the new day came a new perspective. He was still scared, or rather, uneasy about having a kid but he loved Evelyn and he would do whatever he had to do to make things right between them. Even if it meant admitting how scared, no apprehensive, he was about having a kid. Even if it meant digging up those old memories about his Pa and sharing them with Evelyn to explain why he was not exactly happy about the news that he would become a father. Even if it meant telling Evelyn he was... scared, scared as hell.
With his mind made up, Rick got out of bed and went to the bathroom to shave and bathe. After he finished, he went downstairs hoping to talk to Evelyn. When he did not find Evelyn in the sitting room reading, he walked into the kitchen but did not find her in there either. Then he saw the note and walked over to the table and picked it up.
'I've gone to run a few errands' it said. It was not addressed to him and she had not signed it. Rick supposed he was still in boiling hot water with Evelyn. Rick balled up the note and tossed it in the kitchen trashcan. As he walked out of the kitchen, he knew he could not be mad with Evelyn. It was, after all, his fault and he was ready to admit that.
Wanting Evelyn to return soon, Rick moped around the house feeling guilty. Every � hour he would look out the window hoping to see Evelyn coming up to the house. When it neared 5 o'clock, Rick began to worry. Evelyn should have been back by now. She couldn't have that many errands to run. Rick then wondered if she had gone to the museum and did not hesitate to find out.
When Rick made it to the museum, it was already closed and he went around back. After banging on the door for several minutes, a tiny man came to the door.
"Mr. O'Connell" he said in a heavy accent.
"How ya doin' Hamid. Is my wife around?" he asked Evelyn's new helper.
"No sir" Hamid said nervously. He was a little man and practically all other men towered over him. And this particular American foreigner seemed to instill fear in him. Maybe it was because he was always wearing guns and a frown.
"Hamid" Rick said with a slight frown that did not ease Hamid's mind. "I'm not a 'sir'. It's Rick or O'Connell" he told him.
From the first day Evelyn had introduced him to Hamid, he had called Rick 'sir' and Rick had asked him to call him 'Rick'. But for some reason Hamid kept calling him 'sir'.
"Yes sir" Hamid shook his head.
"Has she been here today?" Rick asked.
"Earlier, but she left."
"How long ago?"
"Oh a while ago."
"Did she mention where she was going?"
"No" Hamid shook his head nervously.
"Thanks" Rick said and turned and walked away.
After shutting the door and locking it, Hamid turned around and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you Hamid" Evelyn said.
"Mrs. O'Connell, that was quite harrowing" he said. "I really don't like lying. And especially to that husband of yours."
"I'm sorry Hamid" Evelyn said, beginning to feel guilty for asking Hamid to lie. "I won't ever ask you to do that again" she smiled apologetically to him.
Hamid returned the smile and they walked back to the library.
Rick, meanwhile, was combing the streets of Cairo looking for his wife. After an hour, he headed back home hoping she was there. When he got home, she was not there and his worry began to turn into extreme anxiety. He paced the floor, looking out the window every five minutes. When thirty minutes had passed, Rick's imagination had conjured up visions of something awful happening to Evelyn. He even had the thought that Imhotep had somehow risen from the sands of Hamanaptra and stolen Evelyn from him.
With thoughts of gloom consuming his mind, Rick walked quickly to the door intending to go searching for his lost wife. He reached for the doorknob, turned it and yanked the door open.
"ooohhh!!"
Rick collided into Evelyn and he had to grab her around the waist to keep her from falling. Evelyn held onto Rick's arm and steadied herself and once she was settled on her own tow feet, she letting go of him. Rick however, held on to her.
"You OK?" he asked in a concerned voice that tempted Evelyn to waiver in the decision she had made.
"I'm fine" she breathed, avoiding looking into his eyes.
"You sure" he asked in a soft voice as he took his finger and pushed a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Yes I'm sure" she said, still not looking at him.
"Where you been?" he asked.
"I had some things to do. Are you going to let me in?"
"Sorry" he said and stepped aside and let Evelyn inside the house.
"I ah... I was getting worried" he said as watched her set her purse on the hall table. "I thought something had happened to you."
"There was no need to worry" Evelyn said in a chilly voice. "I can take care of myself."
Rick felt the sting of that chilly response and gritted his teeth. She was obviously still pretty mad at him and he wondered how hard it was going to be to get her to forgive him.
"Evelyn..." he said as he followed her into the sitting room.
"Rick, we need to talk" she said as she turned to face him.
"Yeah, I know" he said, a little relieved that she was willing to talk to him.
"I have something I need to say" Evelyn began.
"I'm sorry about... about happened yesterday. I..."
"Rick" Evelyn interrupted. "I need to say something and I want to say it and get it over with."
"OK"
"I've been thinking... since you... since you" she fought back her tears. "Since you aren't exactly happy about the baby..."
"Evelyn" Rick said, wanting to explain to her.
"Rick please. Let me finish. I've come to a decision that will be best for all of us."
"What kind of decision?" Rick said.
He did not like the sound of that. With Evelyn thinking he did not want the baby, would she try to get rid of it? He knew from his associations with ladies of the night that unwanted expectancies had a way of disappearing. He found the thought revolting but was not given to judging others.
"I've decided... it would be best for all concerned..." Evelyn set her jaw as she looked into his eyes. "I... I..." she averted her gaze then finished. "I want a divorce."
Chapter 4: Her Tears, His Temptation
"A di- what?!!" Rick yelled, startling Evelyn.
"A divorce" Evelyn said as calmly as she could.
"You want a divorce?!" he stared angrily at Evelyn.
"Yes" she said as she straightened her back. He was not about to intimidate her with his anger.
Rick gritted his teeth and looked hard at Evelyn with a frown. She wanted a divorce. His eyes became glossy and he felt as if he had been hit in the gut with a pillar of stone. She wanted a divorce.
"Rick..." Evelyn said but did not know quite what to say next.
His frown became fiercer and the pool of water in his eyes began to rise. She wanted a divorce. A sick feeling started in the pit of his stomach and began to rise and Rick felt as if he would choke. She wanted a divorce. Rick could not hold back his tears and before they fell, he turned away from Evelyn.
"Rick..." she called out to him but he walked out of the room.
Evelyn repented of her decision the moment that she looked into his eyes. The despair she saw ripped at her already torn heart. His despair matched hers and the sick feeling in her stomach made her realize that she had made another terrible mistake. Of course she did not WANT a divorce. She loved him. She loved him with all her heart. There HAD to be a way to work things out between them.
"Rick!" Evelyn ran after him. "Rick!" she called as he opened the front door and slammed it shut. Evelyn opened the door and rushed onto the porch. "RICK!" she yelled as he got into Jonathan's car and slammed the door shut.
Evelyn looked on as he sped off. She watched and watched, hoping he would come back. But he never did. Evelyn stood there crying silently for several moments before slowly turning and going back inside the house. After closing the door, she leaned her head against it and let out a sob. Her sobs grew louder and as the weight of the world settled on her shoulders, Evelyn sank to the hardwood floor.
To her way of thinking, Evelyn had presented Rick with the only logical solution she knew of that would let him walk away. She thought she was doing what was best for all of them. But it was quite apparent that the only thing she succeeded in doing was hurting the man she loved. As she remembered the hopelessness in his eyes, she knew he was devastated. She had been. She was still.
When Evelyn had made up her mind to tell Rick she wanted a divorce it was the most difficult thing she had ever done. And now, after seeing the pain in his eyes, a pain that she had caused, her heart cried out. She desperately wished he would come back. She would tell him that she was sorry. She would tell him that she did not want a divorce. She would tell him that she loved him, wanted him... and their baby. She would insist that he forgive her for making such a hasty, irrational decision. For making such a mess of things. For causing him so much pain. If only he would come back, she would tell him. But he never came back.
Evelyn did not know how long she had been sitting there crying when Jonathan knelt down beside her.
"Evy" he said in an urgent voice as he touched her shoulder. "Evy" his worry very evident, even to a sobbing Evelyn. "What's wrong?"
Evelyn did not answer Jonathan, but instead pushed herself away from the door and leaned into him. She was grateful for Jonathan. Though he was most irresponsible, she knew without a doubt that he loved her and when she needed him most, he always seemed to be there. And she needed him now more that she had ever needed him.
"What's wrong Evy?" Jonathan asked again, his anxiety increasing. "Tell me what's wrong?" he said as he held her tightly in his arms and tried to comfort her.
Evelyn did not answer him but continued to cry. She had not cried since she was a tiny little girl. She had not even cried when their parents died. And now, Evelyn, strong dependable Evelyn was wailing uncontrollably. Jonathan became most unnerved because he had never seen Evy so completely distraught. He was at a loss as to what to do, so Jonathan simply held his sister and let her cry.
********************
Rick had pushed the gas petal to the floor in an attempt to outrun his pain. She wanted a divorce. The feeling in his stomach was worst than when his Pa left him at the convent. She wanted a divorce. His heart had been ripped out of his chest when she said that and the pain was excruciating, almost unbearable.
The last 3 months had been the best of his entire life. Rick never thought he could ever be truly happy. Then he met her and she changed his entire life. She was a breath of fresh air the first time he saw her. He had been rotting away in that stinking prison and she came along. She saved his life, made him fall in love with her and the rest was heaven on earth.
And now she wanted a divorce. His heaven had quickly turned to hell.
Rick punched the steering wheel as rage and hurt boiled over in him. His life would be nothing without her. It would have been better had she never come into his life. He would have preferred never having known her to knowing her and falling in love with her only to have her walk away from him.
Rick gritted his teeth as a tear slid down his cheek. Hopelessness began to suffocate him as, in his mind's eye, he kept seeing Evelyn turn and walk away from him. Then he saw his father. And he too turned and walked away.
Evelyn's 'decision' had plunged a knife into his heart. Conjured up memories of his father's abandonment only served to twist the knife deeper. His father. His wife. The only two people in the world he had ever loved. He lost his father all those years ago and now he was losing his wife.
It all had become too overwhelming for him and instincts lead Rick to the only solace he knew. When he walked in, not much had changed since the last time he had been there. He quickly found himself a table and sat down.
"What will you be having?" the serving girl came up to his table and asked.
"Bring me two bottles of Black Vodka" Rick said. Tonight he wanted to drown his sorrow and dull the ache in his heart. He wanted to drink himself into oblivion and forget about everything. Black Vodka would do the trick.
Rick was looking around the room and taking inventory of the 'ladies' when a redhead caught his eye. Before Evelyn, his inclination leaned heavily toward redheads but he was not sure why. Maybe the reason was because of the way the hot red of the hair contrasted with the soft ivory of the skin. But whatever the reason, Rick was attracted. When the redhead finally turned her gaze to him, an artificial smile spread across Rick's face as he beckoned her over.
"Hello" she said in a very seductive voice when she stood next to Rick.
"Have a seat" he said as he pushed the chair out with his foot. "Want a drink?" he asked when she had settled in the chair.
"No thank you" she said sweetly.
This one, she thought, was young, strong and handsome. She did not need a drink this time to aid her in doing her job. Drink dulled her senses and helped her forget. But for this one, she wanted her senses alert so that she could feel and remember everything.
"No?" he said as the serving girl set his two whiskey bottles on the table. "Well, I guess that means more for me" he said as he unscrewed the first bottle and lifted it to his lips. "So" Rick said after the hard liquor slithered down his throat. "You got a room here?"
"Right upstairs" the redhead smiled. This one wasted no time and she liked that. Lately she had been plagued with old, almost lifeless men. But now, now she had a vibrant, young buck.
"You sure you don't want a drink?" Rick asked as he took another swallow.
"Quite sure" she gave him tempting smile. "I don't perform my best if I have too much to drink."
"That so?" Rick said after taking yet another gulp. "I guess I'd better stop offering then since we want you to perform at your best" he said. "So how good are you?" he asked in the next breath.
"Good enough to make you forget everything else" she said enticingly.
"That good huh?"
"That good" she affirmed as she ran her tongue over her lower lip. "Are you ready to find out for yourself just how good I am?"
Was he ready to be unfaithful to Evelyn? The thought of her reminded him of the anger that was brewing just below the surface. She had hurt him more than she would ever know. He wanted to lash out at her and hurt her just as she had hurt him.
"More than ready" he said as he stood up and grabbed the two bottles of Black Vodka.
The redhead smiled as she rose to her feet and lead the way upstairs.
Chapter 5: Good Choice
Rick turned the first bottle up to his lips as he followed the redhead. The liquid burned as it went down his throat. He was on his way to building a barrier around his fragile, vulnerable heart. He was on his way to killing the throbbing ache in his chest. He was on his way to forgetting the past 3 months of his life. He was on his way to making the hell he was in a little more bearable.
When they got to her room, Rick turned the Black Vodka up until he had drained the bottle dry. When he finished, he set both bottles down on the dresser and walked around and stood at the foot of the bed. He looked at the redhead and waited to see what she would do. She knew without words being spoken that he wanted her to come to him and so she did.
The redhead smiled as she slowly walked towards Rick. She could sense that he had a lot of pinned up emotion in him. She enjoyed it when a man, especially a good looking, brawny man unleashed that passion in her bed. When she reached him, she put her hands on his shoulders and could feel the immense tension there. She surmised that she would have to work harder to get this one to relax and enjoy himself.
"You're so tense" she smiled as she rubbed his strong shoulders.
Rick did not respond but simply looked down at the redhead. Nothing in him responded to the smile that shone brightly up at him. Three months ago, she would have been flat on her back by now. But now... he had a wife. A wife that he loved. But she had hurt him, hurt him bad and, he told himself, he wanted retribution.
"Well..." he smiled a tight smile. "If you're as good as you say... that can be taken care of."
"Yes it can" she smiled as she stood up on her toes to reach his lips.
Rick made no attempt to move closer to the redhead. He began to wonder what the hell he was doing there. Her lips nearly hit their mark but Rick turned his head.
"Oh" the redhead released a small laugh. "Playing hard to get?"
Rick turned his expression back to her but did not say anything. She looked into his eyes and saw nothing. No passion, no desire, no arousal. Nothing. This would be harder than she first thought. But she was not one to give up so easily. She reached up again to kiss his lips and again he turned his head. Undaunted, the redhead pressed the kiss into his cheek.
Rick closed his eyes tight in order to shut out everything that mattered. To shut out Evelyn. He felt the redhead's lips move from his cheek to his neck. He tried with all his mental might to push Evelyn out, but she would not go. He was standing in a room with a luscious woman who was more than willing to please him in whatever way he wanted. His head should have been consumed with that. But Evelyn would not leave his mind alone. He was hurt, hurt by her but she consumed his mind. She consumed his heart. She consumed his soul. She consumed even his body. She totally consumed him.
Rick opened his eyes and looked at his reflection in the mirror. This was not what he wanted, not really. Try as he might, Rick could not push Evelyn out of his mind or his soul... or his heart. He could not seem to build that barrier of protection around his heart. His heart no longer belonged to him. It was in her hands. It belonged to her. He was no longer in his own hands. He was in her hands. He belonged to her. And her only.
Rick grabbed the redhead by the arms and set her at arm's length away from him. He looked at her round, pale face. Her fire red hair. Her seductive eyes and willing lips. Her creamy white neck. Her bulging bosom.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
She was not Evelyn.
Evelyn wanted a divorce.
The redhead wanted to please him.
He did not love the redhead.
He had not love the countless other women.
But he loved Evelyn.
Evelyn had hurt him.
It did not matter. He still loved Evelyn.
He deserved to enjoy the redhead since his wife no longer wanted to be his wife.
He did not want to enjoy the redhead. He wanted his wife.
Forget about Evelyn.
The redhead, Black Vodka, his mental fortitude - none of them could entice him to do that.
But Evelyn wanted a divorce. Evelyn wanted to walk away from him as his father had done.
Once things got heated up with the redhead...
His heart was not in it.
His heart did not need to be in it. Only his body.
His heart belonged to Evelyn. And so did his body.
Enjoy the redhead for one night.
His heart would not let him do it. He loved Evelyn too much.
Evelyn wanted a divorce.
He'd be damned if she got one!
"Sorry lady" Rick said, then released her and walked toward the dresser.
"You're leaving?" she stated the obvious.
"Yeah" he said as he reached into his pocket.
"Why?" she asked, quite disappointed.
"You and my friends here" he said pointing to the Black Vodka bottles. "Couldn't make me forget" he answered as he slung a couple of pounds on the dresser.
"Forget what?"
"The wife I love" he said as he picked up his two friends and opened the door.
"If you give me a chance I know I can make you forget her" she said desperately. "At least for tonight." She did not want this one to get away before she had a chance to have him in her bed.
"You'd be wasting your time and mine" he said then turned to face her. He had a smile, a genuine smile on his face. "I want her more than I want you. I don't want to forget. Not tonight. Not ever."
The redhead looked at Rick with regret. Oh how she hated the fact that tonight, she would miss out on what she suspected would have been a very pleasurable evening.
Rick gave her a look of apology and turned and walked out of the redhead's room and down the stairs. He was still hurt and he was still angry. But now he was angry with himself for running to a whorehouse. Regardless of what happened between him and Evelyn, seeking out other women, especially whores, was not the answer. What he should have done was tell her in no uncertain terms that a divorce was absolutely out of the question. He should have made that point perfectly clear to her. But instead, he went running to the House of Ill Repute, a name he once heard Sister Abigail use to describe a bordello.
And now guilt rose up and assaulted him. Evelyn was worth more than the world to him and he had been ready to risk all they had for some redheaded trollop. How stupid could he be?
On his way out, Rick stopped at the bar and traded his empty Black Vodka for 2 more full ones. He paid for the 2 new bottles and walked out of the bordello with 3. The Black Vodka could not drown out Evelyn, but maybe it could drown out his guilt.
Rick got into Jonathan's car and pulled off. He did not know where to go so he simply drove. After about an hour, he ended up at the walls of The Convent of St. Mary - the place that had been home to him. Rick wondered if Sister Abigail had made it back from America. He had come by to tell her about his engagement to Evelyn and invite her to their wedding but she had left for America the day before.
Rick thought about requesting entrance and an audience with Sister Abigail if she was there. But he quickly changed his mind. For one thing, if she were there, she was most likely asleep. And for another thing, if he got anywhere near Sister Abigail, she would probably smell the liquor on his breath and the stench of a whorehouse on his clothes. And knowing her, Sister Abigail would not hesitate to get her chastening rod and whack him across the back of the hand. Rick actually laughed aloud at that mental picture.
Rick got out of the car, leaving the Black Vodka, and walked around to the backside of the convent. When he lived there, he and a couple of the other young boys dug a tunnel from inside the wall to the outside. They would often sneak out after the sisters had settled down for the night. Rick wondered if the tunnel was still there and was happy to see that it was. The bush that covered the opening had grown thick but he was able to squeeze through and into the tunnel. Once inside the walls, Rick headed for the chapel. As a young boy, he would go there whenever he was especially sad.
Once inside the chapel, Rick found a lantern and lit it. After drinking a bottle of Black Vodka and nearly committing fornication and adultery, Rick could not make himself go up to the altar so he sat on the last row of pews and looked up at the imposing cross of Jesus. Sister Abigail said that Jesus loved him and would forgive anything he did. Rick was not sure about what he believed about this Jesus. But he wondered, if He was real, would He really forgive him. Would He forgive him for being a whoremonger, for nearly being unfaithful to Evelyn? Would He forgive him for the bottle of liquor he had drank and would He forgive him for the 3 in the car that he was going to drink? Sister Abigail said He would forgive anything.
But would Evelyn? Did Evelyn really have to know where he had gone tonight? No, she did not have to know. But would he be able to hide his guilt? That is where the Black Vodka would come in. Rick hoped like hell.. oops, excuse me. He hoped, REALLY hoped it would wash away his guilt.
'Confession is good for the soul' he heard Sister Abigail say. But Rick would rather try Black Vodka first. If he confessed this to Evelyn, not only would she want a divorce, but she would also want his head on a platter.
Now about that divorce.
Rick frowned. She may want a divorce but he did not. After meeting Evelyn, he realized he had been waiting all his life for someone to love. After his Pa left him at the convent and never came back for him, Rick told himself that he never wanted to get close to another human being. He wanted to be left alone because getting close to others only ended in hurt. But he had, albeit reluctantly, been drawn to Sister Abigail.
When he first saw her, Rick thought Sister Abigail was the meanest looking person he had ever seen in his 4 short years of life. But, as time went by, he learned that looks can be deceiving. She was strict all right. He got the chastening rod many, many, many times. But... every night, when he was supposed to be asleep, she would come in and tuck his covers in just a bit. She would rub his dark blond hair and bend down and kiss his temple. 'The angles watch over you' she would whisper over him before leaving his room.
Sister Abigail looked after him. She cared for him whenever he got sick. Over the years, a strong bond had developed between them. She was the only mother he had ever known. The day he left the convent, Sister Abigail had walked with him to the entrance. As they faced each other to say 'goodbye' she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She raised her hand to his cheek and smiled.
"I am going to miss you son" she said. "Go and do great things and know that you are loved."
Rick had been choked up that day and all he could do was bend down and hug and kiss Sister Abigail on the cheek before turning and leaving his home.
Rick grinned as he remembered growing up in the convent and realized for the first time that his childhood was not so bad after all. His Pa may have abandoned him but Sister Abigail did all she could to make up for that.
And now Evelyn wanted to abandon him. He was only a 4-year-old kid when his Pa left him and he could not do anything about it. Now, however, he was a man and he was not about to let the woman he loved walk away from him.
Not when he knew he was loved.
Evelyn loved him. He was sure of it. Her love was one of the few things had total confidence in. What he did not know was what on earth had possessed her to say she wanted a divorce. Was she really that mad at him for not jumping for joy about the kid? Maybe she was. Rick knew he did not know much about the gentler sex except what he learned between the bed sheets. And after marrying Evelyn, he understood women even less. He loved Evelyn but she was still a woman and sometimes she did things that left him scratching his head.
Rick was determined to find out what was wrong with Evelyn. And after he did, they would work things out between them. He stood up and as he walked to the altar, he reached into his pocket. Rick laid a handful of pounds on the altar then turned and walked out of the chapel. When he got back to the car, his 3 friends were waiting for him. And so was the guilt. Tonight, he would go and have a good time with his friends and hopefully kill the guilt. In the morning, he would sit Evelyn down and let her know that the only way she would get a divorce would be over his dead body.
Rick drove around for another 30 minutes before pulling the car into his backyard. He knew he was going to get pretty drunk and he did not want to be so boozed that he could not drive himself home. So he did it before he got boozed. And boozed he got. He slowly drank each bottle, one after the other until all 3 where empty. He had began to feel its affects after drinking � of that first bottle and by the time he had emptied it, Rick was one jolly drunk.
"To... my... wife" he raised the second bottle in a toast. "My beau... tee... ful... wife!" he slurred then took a swallow. "aaahhh" he breathed as the liquid slithered down his throat. "Who THINKS... she's gettin' a damn divorce. Well... the answer... is... no!" he said in a drunken tone before taking another swig. "I love ya too much Evy... love ya too much" he declared.
When Rick finally got to the last bottle, his head was spinning. He knew he would regret it in the morning, but drowning himself in booze seemed to help to help him get through the past few hours. With his friends all gone, Rick saw no reason to stay in the car so he got out and staggered around to the front of the house.
'Who the hell was that?' he thought when he saw a clad figure pacing across his front porch. He could not see clearly because the moon was not out and there were only a few stars to light the night sky. And he was drunk. Then the figure turned toward him and Rick saw that he held a shotgun in his hand. 'What the hell?' he sobered quickly. Then he saw the figure raise the shotgun and he heard the click.
"What the bloody hell did you do to my sister?!"
He mentally breathed a sigh of relief. It was only Jonathan. If it had be a foe he would have been at a great disadvantage considering the fact that he did not have any weapons. And besides that, he was drunk, completely drunk.
"Jonathan!" Rick yelled in a cheerful voice, happy, extremely happy to see his brother-in-law.
"Answer my question you bloody damn yank!"
"What question?" Rick said as he stumbled his way toward the porch.
"WHAT the bloody hell did you do to my sister?!"
"Why the hell are you..." he said as he pointed at wavering finger at Jonathan. "Pointing that gun at me?"
"I plan on shooting you after you tell me what you did to my sister! I warned you O'Connell! Not to hurt my sister or else you'd answer to me!"
"I'm drunk. Drunk as hell but I don't remember it quite that way" Rick grinned a silly grin.
Jonathan had quite nervously and in a stuttering voice told Rick on their wedding day that he had better take good care of Evelyn. Or... yes, well he had just better take good care of Evelyn or else. The rest, Jonathan thought, was understood.
"I'm only going to ask you ONE MORE TIME!! What did you do to my sister?!"
Instead of answering, Rick began to laugh. Jonathan's ire rose another notch and he was secretly glad. The angrier he got, the braver he got.
"What the hell is so funny O'Connell?!"
"You... don't... have... aaannnnyyyy... bullets" he laughed as he took one unsteady step, then another up the steps. The gun Jonathan was holding was the only Rick was cleaning when Evelyn told him the news about the kid.
Jonathan pointed the gun away from Rick and pulled the trigger. Nothing. Jonathan became even angrier because he was not doing a good job of avenging his sister. He threw the shotgun down in frustration and before he could think better of it, Jonathan reared back and with all his might and anger, threw a punch at Rick. He was surprised when he connected squarely with Rick's jaw and sent him sprawling back down the steps. Rick landed in a heap on his back as Jonathan shook the pain from his hand. Then Jonathan, who was spurred on by his fury at Rick and by the fact that Rick was drunk, bounded down the steps after him
"Get up!" he said as he stood over Rick. "Damned yank."
Rick slowly sat up holding his jaw. Jonathan backed up a few steps and pondered the wisdom of challenging his brother-in-law. But, this bloody, no good scoundrel had done something to his sister. And he was about to find out what.
"Come on! Get up!" Jonathan said as he held up his fists and started dancing around like a boxer. He figured that if he kept moving, it would be hard for a drunk Rick to land a punch.
"Jonathan" Rick slurred as he moved his jaw to see if it was broken. "I'm... not about... to fight you" he said.
Even in his drunken state, Rick knew he could still beat Jonathan to a pulp. And if he did that, Evelyn would not like it.
"What's the matter cad?! Afraid of facing a man?!" Jonathan said and knew how ridiculous he sounded.
Jonathan knew Rick was not afraid of anything, let alone him. He also knew he was taking his life into his own hands by provoking Rick. But he was doing this for his sister and that gave him courage - or made him stupid.
"You really..." Rick said as he turned to the side and got up on his hands and knees. "Wanna..." he said as he put one foot on the ground and leaned his elbow on his thigh. "fight me?" he had to still his movements because he was getting extremely dizzy. "What the hell are you going?" Rick asked in the next breath when he looked up and saw Jonathan dancing around.
"I'll have you know, I took boxing lessons in my younger days" Jonathan continued to dance, bob and weave. "Now get up!!"
"Alright... Jonathan" Rick said as he pushed himself up on his feet. "But..." he staggered a bit then lifted his fists. "You'd better not tell Evelyn..." Rick's head snapped back.
Jonathan threw a punch and it landed on Rick's nose. Jonathan was not a fool and he would take any advantage he could. He really did not feel much like getting beat to a pulp.
Rick grabbed his nose then looked at Jonathan through blood shot eyes. He steadied himself on his feet and took steps toward the bobbing Jonathan. Rick used great concentration as he eyed his opponent. Jonathan's incessant movement did not help Rick with his aim but he threw a punch. And missed. He stumbled forward on shaky feet and with his guard down, Jonathan landed another punch to his jaw.
Jonathan was feeling pretty cocky now and actually grinned. "Come on O'Connell! Is that all you've got?!"
Rick's male ego had taken enough. He was getting the crap beaten out of him by Jonathan. By Jonathan!
"Jonathan..." Rick said as he turned back to face him. "When I get my hands on you..." Rick said then charged him.
Rick knew he was too drunk to hit a moving target. But he was not too drunk to chase one. Jonathan recognized his imminent peril and his bravo took flight. And he soon followed.
The two men, a.k.a. boys, ran around the front yard for several moments until Rick was finally able to reach out and grab Jonathan by the collar. Jonathan tried to pull away but Rick's grip was firm. Jonathan, fearing for his life, knew it was all over now. Rick pulled Jonathan to him and wrapped his arm around Jonathan's neck. A survival instinct struck Jonathan and he bowed Rick in the ribs. Rick's hold loosened and Jonathan escaped, for just a second. Rick quickly recovered and charged Jonathan again and this time jumped on his back causing them both to bound to the ground.
The two tussled on the ground for several moments until Rick subdued Jonathan by straddling him. Rick raised his fist to punch Jonathan but, even in his drunken state and even with his bruised ego, Rick did not want to knock his lights out. Not really.
"What the hell were you doing pointing my gun at me?" Rick asked, his fist still raised.
"What the hell did you do to my sister?!" Jonathan asked defiantly. He was in a very precarious position but he loved his sister and he was determined to find out why she was so upset.
"Evelyn..." Rick said, then rolled off of Jonathan and sat next to him on the ground.
"Yes Evelyn" Jonathan said as he sat up and frowned at his brother-in-law.
"She wants a divorce" Rick said as he rested his forearms on his bent knees.
"A divorce? What did you do to her?!"
"Nothing!" Rick defended himself.
"Well she doesn't want a divorce for nothing! I swear O'Connell... if you hurt her!" Jonathan warned.
"She pregnant..." Rick mumbled.
"What?"
"She's pregnant..."
"Aaahhh" Jonathan shook his head then grinned. "Evy's having a baby. I'm going to be an uncle" Jonathan suddenly realized. "Congratulations old chap" Jonathan said cheerfully as he slapped Rick on the back.
"And she wants a divorce" Rick reminded Jonathan.
"What did you do?" Jonathan asked again.
"Nothing" Rick said. "She told me she was pregnant. It sort of took me by surprise. She thinks I don't want the kid. Then she started crying" Rick explained. "Then we had a fight... then she told me she wanted a divorce."
"Oh" Jonathan said. "She can't want a divorce just because you two had a fight."
"She thinks I don't want the kid. Maybe that's why" Rick pondered.
"Why does she think you don't want the baby?"
"I don't know" Rick lied, then immediately confessed. "I wasn't exactly thrilled about it."
"So you don't want children?" Jonathan asked. He understood well. He did not see himself in the role of a father either.
"It's not that exactly" he said then paused a moment. "I'm just not sure... what kind of father I'd be" Rick said honestly.
"I see" Jonathan shook his head. "Well, I know Evy's going to be a great mother. Just follow her lead and you'll do fine" he said encouragingly.
"You think so" Rick said.
"Sure" Jonathan said confidently. "If you can stay married to the woman" he said teasingly as he lightly punched Rick in the arm. "You'd better get go on up there. I'd hate for my niece or nephew to have to depend on me as a father figure."
Rick laughed, but had a feeling that Jonathan would make a descent father figure. However, Jonathan would not have to do it for his kid.
"Jonathan" Rick said as he started to rise to his feet.
"Huh?" Jonathan said as he too rose to his feet.
"If you ever tell another living soul about tonight... I'll kill you."
"Don't worry old chap" Jonathan said. "No one has to know you were bested by me" he laughed.
As the brothers-in-law walked up to the steps and the front door opened.
"Rick?" Evelyn said and he could hear the sadness in her voice.
"I'll leave you too alone" Jonathan said. "Where's my car O'Connell?"
"Around back" he said, looking at Evelyn.
"The keys?"
"In the ignition."
Jonathan quickly exited and left the parents to be alone.g