While Evelyn was scanning the book shelve for reading material to take home, she experienced a cramp and laid her hand on the side of her protruding belly. She winced slightly because this cramp was a bit more intense than the previous ones. Evelyn waited a few moments and when the discomfort passed, she pulled one book then another from the shelf. Evelyn, with books cradled in her arm, made her way to the doorway of the library when a searing cramp assaulted her.
"aaahhh!!" Evelyn dropped the books immediately and leaned against the doorframe.
"Evy old mum, it's time to go" she heard Jonathan's approaching voice.
"OOOHHH!!" she moaned again as the cramp twisted within her.
"EVY!" Jonathan rushed to her side when he saw her slumped against the doorframe. "Are you OK?" he stupidly asked as he reached out to her.
"I think... the baby's... coming" Evelyn breathed as she felt a gush of wetness pour down her inner thighs.
"Holy heaven Evy!" Wide eyed, Jonathan secured his arm around her waist.
"I'm wet!" Evelyn gasped as she gripped his shoulder for support.
"You can't have this baby now!! You can't!!! The doctor's not here. O'Connell is going to KILL ME!!!" Jonathan lamented. "Holy heaven!! O'Connell is going to KILL ME!!!""
"And it hurts like hell!" Evelyn yelled as the cramp's intensity magnified.
"What do I do? Evy!!!! What do I do?!!!!" Jonathan said anxiously. "O'Connell's gonna KILL me! What do I do?!!!"
"aaaahhhh!" Evelyn moaned and grabbed Jonathan's hand as another cramp assaulted her.
"Evy... my hand" he whined as her grip tightened. "You're hurting my hand" he complained.
Evelyn, eyes shut tight, squeezed Jonathan's hand even tighter.
"ooooohhhhh!" she groaned.
"o u c h!" he protested.
Both Carnahan siblings were left moaning in pain. When Evelyn's contraction began to ease, she slowly loosened her hold on Jonathan's hand. Jonathan wasted no time and quickly snatched his hand away from Evelyn's grip.
"I think my fingers are broken" Jonathan murmured as he held up his hand and eyed his battered fingers.
"Forget about YOUR hand Jonathan!!" Evelyn said evilly. "I'M THE ONE having the baby!!" she breathed as she waited with baited breath for another excruciating contraction.
"Yes. Right" Jonathan said as he shook his hand and turned his focus back to Evelyn.
That excruciating contraction Evelyn was waiting for did not delay.
"oooohhhh!!!" Evelyn burst out and leaned into Jonathan as the pain vibrated from her womb and seemed to travel to every part of her body. "god! It hurts" she whined as she dug her fingernails into Jonathan's forearm.
"Evy" Jonathan forgot about her pain and focused on his own. "Your nails are a tad bit biting."
If Evelyn heard him, she did not acknowledge it. Instead she moaned over her pain. Jonathan bore up a little better under the digging nails but was immensely relieved when Evelyn's contraction passed.
"I think it's time we got you home" Jonathan said as he eased his forearm from beneath Evelyn's biting fingernails.
Jonathan took her by the hand and slowly walked Evelyn from the library. As they passed a worried Hamid, Jonathan asked him to ring Rick and tell him that Evelyn was about to deliver their baby.
When Jonathan finally got Evelyn to his car, he held her about the waist with one hand and opened the car door with the other. He helped her in, slammed the door and rushed to the driver's side. Jonathan broke the normally accepted speed limit to get his sister home.
After pulling up in front of the house, he put the car in park and jumped out.
"Damn it!! Jonathan!" he heard an ominous voice shout as he rounded the front of the car.
"Evy's having the baby!" Jonathan explained to his quickly approaching brother-in-law.
Rick's eyes had been pinned on Jonathan the moment he saw the car pulling up to the house. Upon hearing that 'Evy's having the baby', his eyes darted to his wife.
"EVY!" he rushed toward the passenger's side of the car.
Evelyn was at the height of another painful contraction as Jonathan pulled opened the car door.
"aaaahhhhh!!!" she moaned in agony, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Evy! Sweetheart!" Rick shouted anxiously as he pushed Jonathan aside and stepped in and took hold of Evelyn's hand.
"rick..." Evelyn groaned as she squeezed his hand. "it hurts..." she whimpered.
"Jonathan!" Rick said, not taking his eyes off Evelyn. "Go ring the doc! Evelyn, sweetheart" he said in a calming voice as he smoothed her hair back. "Open your eyes and look at me."
After several moments, when the contraction began to ebb, Evelyn slowly opened her eyes.
"I'm scared Rick..." Evelyn whispered as she looked into his loving, worried eyes.
"You don't have to be scared sweetheart" Rick assured her as he caressed her cheek. "I'm right here."
"It hurts so bad" she lamented as a tear escaped her eye.
Feelings of guilt began to assault Rick. "I know sweetheart..."
"No you don't" Evelyn assured him in an acid voice.
"I'm sorry honey" Rick said.
Just then, another contraction began and Evelyn winced as she waited for the pain to increase. When the contraction ended, Rick lifted her from the car and carried her into the house.
"The doctor's on his way" Jonathan anxiously informed the couple as Rick, with Evelyn in his arms, walked through the doorway. "Everything's going to be OK Evy" Jonathan said more for his sake than for hers, as he followed them up the stairs. "The doctor will be here in no time" he said, trying to calm himself down. "He'll be here in no time at all."
When Rick got to the bedroom door, he used his foot to push it open. He took long strides toward the bed then laid Evelyn gently down on it. After only a second or two, Evelyn told Rick she would rather sit in the rocking chair because she could not get comfortable lying down.
Rick immediately scooped her up in his arms and took her over to the rocking chair.
"How ya feeling?" Rick asked with great concern after he set her in the chair.
"OK for now" Evelyn squirmed in the chair as the beginnings of another contraction started. "I want to stand" she said as the cramp began to throb.
Rick helped her to her feet. Evelyn put her hands on his shoulders and laid her forehead into his chest.
"My back hurts..." she whispered into his chest.
Rick automatically began to rub it.
"Lower" she said.
Rick moved his hands to the base of her back and moved his fingers in gentle but firm circular motions.
"Better?" Rick asked.
"oooohhhh!!" Evelyn answered through gritted teeth as the contraction reached its pinnacle.
"Damn it!! Jonathan!" Rick cursed. "Where the hell's the doctor?!!"
"He's coming. He's coming" Jonathan said nervously as he paced back and forth watching his sister agony.
"Walking around a bit might help" Evelyn said when the contraction subsided.
"You don't want to sit?" Rick asked.
Evelyn shook her head 'no'.
"Jonathan" Rick barked as he began to help Evelyn walk around the room. "Go downstairs and look out for the doctor."
Thirty long, agonizing minutes later, the doctor and his nurse were escorted into the bedroom by Jonathan.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Rick shouted as he walked Evelyn around the room.
The doctor did not take offence at Rick's tone or his question. He had plenty of experience dealing with anxious fathers-to-be.
"I WANT THIS PAIN TO STOP!!!" Evelyn screamed as she leaned into Rick, grabbed his forearm and dug her nails into his skin. "GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME!!!" she demanded no one in particular.
"OK! OK!" Rick said, experiencing his own pain. "We'll get him out" he said trying to pacify her.
"GET IT OUT NOW!!!" she cried.
"Alright Mr. O'Connell" the doctor said as he walked toward the parents-to-be. "We'll take over from here. You can wait down stairs."
"Is my sister going be alright?" Jonathan asked anxiously. "She seems to be in a LOT of pain" he said as he looked at her with worry.
"She will be fine. The birthing process can be painful but women have endure it since the beginning of time" the doctor said.
"How long is this gonna take?" Rick asked the doctor when he reached their side.
"Depends on the baby. When he decides to come, he'll come. Now" he said in a soothing voice. "Let me and my nurse take your wife" he reached for Evelyn. "And you and your brother-in-law can wait down stairs for the good news."
Rick hesitated but then gave in to the doctor's order.
"I'll be right outside Evy" he said softly, then kissed her forehead before releasing her into the care of the doctor and his nurse.
**********************
"Having a baby sure takes a hell of a long time" Jonathan commented as he turned up a bottle of whiskey to his lips.
It had been 5 hours since the doctor arrived and Jonathan had been drinking for 4 � of those 5 hours. And he still was not drunk.
"Aren't you glad you aren't a woman O'Connell?" Jonathan asked.
Rick did not answer but sat silently on the floor next to the bedroom door. Jonathan had been flapping his lips about much of nothing but strangely enough it had not irritated Rick. He just listened with � an ear while his mind was focused on Evelyn.
"I'm sure as hell glad that I'm not a woman! For starters, I'd be one ugly dame!!" he laughed. "You'd make an ugly dame too O'Connell!" he said, drawing a slight chuckle from his brother-in-law.
"And my god!" Jonathan continued. "Just think. If I were a woman, I'd be expected to marry and have children!! No thanks!! I'm glad the Almighty decided to make me a man. And I'm glad He decided to let the woman bear the children!!"
The bedroom door opened then and Rick jumped to his feet.
"You're wife's resting Mr. O'Connell" the doctor said.
"Is it over" Jonathan asked before Rick could say anything.
"Not yet" the doctor answered. "He's not quite ready to come."
"How long is this gonna take doc?" Rick asked again as he looked in and saw Evelyn in the bed.
"We just have to wait" the doctor said.
CHAPTER 27: Help has Arrived
18 hours later, Rick and Jonathan were still just outside the bedroom door waiting, when suddenly Evelyn let out a piercing scream. Rick automatically jumped to his feet and burst into the bedroom.
"What the HELL are you doing?!!!" Rick screamed as he stormed toward the bed.
The doctor was bending over Evelyn and pushing down on her protruding stomach. The nurse was on her haunches between Evelyn wide spread legs.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO MY WIFE!!!" Rick yelled as he grabbed the doctor by the back of his shirt and pulled him away from Evelyn.
"rick..." Evelyn, with tears in her eyes, cried out feebly to him.
Rick bent over Evelyn and brushed the damp hair away from her face.
"There's been a complication Mr. O'Connell" the doctor explained from behind Rick. "The baby won't come and we are trying to help it along."
"Get the hell away from her!!" Rick barked at the nurse, who was still on her haunches between Evelyn's legs with her hand beneath Evelyn's nightgown.
"Mr. O'Connell" the nurse said in a surprisingly calm voice. "We are trying to deliver this baby."
"rick..." Evelyn cried out to him again.
Rick looked back at Evelyn and could see the absolute fear in her eyes.
"Get Away From Her!!!" Rick yelled again. "NOW!!" he screamed when the nurse did not immediately move. "Jonathan!" Rick yelled when the nurse pulled her hand from beneath Evelyn's nightgown.
"Right here" Jonathan was already to the other side of the bed. He sat down and took hold of Evelyn's hand then looked up at Rick.
The men looked at each other but did not exchange words. They did not need to. Both sets of eyes were filled with anxiety and alarm. The woman they both loved more than anything in the world was lying between them and she was in extreme pain and fear. Jonathan knew without being told that Rick wanted him to stay by Evelyn's side and hold her hand. And Rick knew without voicing his command that Jonathan would do just that.
"I'll be right back" he told Jonathan.
"rick..." Evelyn said weakly as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Don't go. Don't leave me" she held his hand with what little strength she had.
"Sweetheart" Rick said as he bent his face down to hers. "I have to go get some help. Jonathan will be right here till I get back" he said before brushing her lips with his. "I love you" he whispered before pulling away from Evelyn and turning toward the doctor.
"Get the hell out!"
"Mr. O'Connell..." the doctor began as Rick's fist quickly connected with his jaw, knocking him to the floor.
"Get the hell out!!" Rick towered over the slumped doctor.
The nurse rushed to the doctor's side and helped him get back on his feet.
"I understand that you are upset..."
"Get out!!!" Rick said as he stood his ground.
"You're wife needs medical attention..."
"And she'll get it!! But not from you!!! Now get out!!"
With that, the doctor shook his head. He hesitated for a moment before turning. With his nurse following behind him, they walked quickly out of the room, down the stairs and out the front door.
"rick" Evelyn cried, causing Rick to turn back to her. "Don't go... I don't want you to go..." she said, fear etched in her voice.
"Evy sweetheart" Rick rushed back to her side. "I have to get some help. Jonathan is right here..." he said as he wiped a tear from her cheek.
"I'm right here old mum" Jonathan assured her as he squeezed her hand.
"I have to get help" Rick said desperately as Evelyn's eyes begged him to stay. "I promise I'll be back in no time at all" he said as he stared at the woman he loved.
After placing a kiss on her lips, then on the tip of her nose, then on her forehead, Rick bolted from the bed, then dashed out of the room.
Thirty minutes later, Rick rushed back into the bedroom with two nuns following closely behind him. One stood 4'9" weighing 85 pounds. The other stood 5'6" weighting 185 pounds.
"Evy, sweetheart" Rick sat on the bed next to Evelyn and cradled the side of her face in his strong hand. "Evy" Rick called softly, trying to wake her. "Evy... Sister Abigail is here" he said after Evelyn finally opened her eyes. "She's here to help."
"Richard" the 4'9" Sister Abigail said in her high-pitched, but commanding voice. "Step aside."
Rick immediately obeyed and Sister Abigail sat down where he had been sitting.
"Evelyn dear" she said softly as she took Evelyn's hand into her small hand and began to rub it. "I don't want you to worry. Sister Katherine and I are here to deliver this baby and I need you to help us by staying calm and trusting us. Can you do that for me?"
Evelyn wearily shook her head 'yes'.
"Good" Sister Abigail smiled kindly at Evelyn. "Richard" she said, keeping her eyes and smile on Evelyn.
"Ma'am?"
"Show Sister Katherine to your kitchen and follow her instructions. Do it quickly."
"Yes, ma'am" Richard answered, then lead Sister Katherine out of the bedroom.
"Who are you?" Sister Abigail asked Jonathan.
"Jonathan. Evy's brother."
"Alright Jonathan" Sister Abigail said. "I need to examine Evelyn so you will need to leave the room."
"I'll be right outside old mum" Jonathan smiled at Evelyn.
After bending down and kissing Evelyn's cheek, Jonathan obeyed Sister Abigail and exited the room.
"Evelyn dear" Sister Abigail began. "I need to take a look at you."
Evelyn nodded her compliance and Sister Abigail began her work. Moments later, she opened the bedroom door and found Jonathan with his whiskey bottled turned up to his lips.
"Is there a bath with running water up here?" Sister Abigail asked, making a mental note to lecture Jonathan on the dangers of strong drink.
"Yes Sister" Jonathan said a bit guiltily, sensing the Sister's disapproval of the upturned whiskey bottle.
"I need a lukewarm bath. Now."
"Right" Jonathan said then scurried off to complete his task.
Sister Abigail then returned to Evelyn's side.
"Richard has be negligent in introducing us" Sister Abigail smiled down at Evelyn. "Although I must confess that for the last year, I have been out of the city more than I have been in. He is a good boy though" she smiled like a proud mother. "And I am so very proud of him. How did you and Richard meet?"
Sister Abigail and her calm, sweet voice put Evelyn at ease and she wondered if Sister Abigail knew that her 'good boy' had been in prison.
"He was an acquaintance of my brother" Evelyn said weakly.
A knock at the door stopped Sister Abigail's next question.
"Come in" Sister Abigail turned toward the door and called out.
"The bath is ready" Jonathan announced after stepping inside the room.
"Good" Sister Abigail said, then turned back to Evelyn. "Evelyn, where do you keep your nightgowns."
"In the bottom drawer" Evelyn pointed to her bureau.
"Jonathan, take your sister into the lavatory" Sister Abigail said.
"Will do" Jonathan said and walked to the bed and lifted Evelyn into his arms.
Sister Abigail went over to the bureau and pulled out a nightgown then followed Jonathan. Once inside the bathroom, Jonathan turned to Sister Abigail for instructions.
"Sit her here" Sister Abigail said after she put the lid down on the commode.
"I'm tired" Evelyn whimpered after Jonathan had set her down.
"I know you are dear" Sister Abigail said as she stood next to Evelyn and put her arm around Evelyn's shoulder. Rick had informed her that Evelyn had been in labor for nearly 24 hours. "Sister Katherine will be here shortly and we will work as quickly as possible to deliver this baby."
"I want to sleep" Evelyn murmured as she laid her head on the sister's chest and closed her eyes.
"Jonathan" Sister Abigail said. "Go down stairs and tell Sister Katherine to hurry. Evelyn" she said softly. "I need you to find the strength to stay awake. We are going to need you. We can not deliver this baby without you."
"I'm so tired" Evelyn groaned.
"I know you are dear. But try to hold on" Sister Abigail said.
Minutes later, Jonathan, Sister Katherine and Rick came rushing into the bathroom.
"Richard, set those items in the sink" Sister Abigail said. "Then you and Jonathan may leave."
"Sister Abigail..." Rick began to protest as he laid the items in the sink.
"Richard" Sister Abigail said sternly, the waited for Rick to turn and face her. "I will take good care of her" she said in a kind reassuring voice.
Sister Abigail understood his worry, but she did not want or need the anxious and worried father-to-be hovering over as they delivered this baby that was obviously in distress.
Rick looked from Sister Abigail to Evelyn who, with eyes close, was still leaning her head against Sister Abigail's chest. She looked so peaceful. He did not want to leave her again...
"Hurry now" Sister Abigail said as Rick stood there staring at Evelyn. "We have work to do and we must do it quickly. Son" Sister Abigail said in a very motherly voice when Rick looked up at her with hesitation in her eyes. "I promise to take good care of her."
He did not want to leave her, not again but... he trusted Sister Abigail. He trusted her with the most important thing in his life - Evelyn.
Finally, Rick, with Jonathan behind him, left the nuns to take care of Evelyn.
"You think everything's going be alright?" Jonathan asked nervously once they were in the hallway. He was deeply shaken by Evelyn's weakened state.
"If anybody can help her, Sister Abigail can" Rick paced tiredly as he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension that had mounted there.
CHAPTER 28: Twisted Fate Cruel Fate
Two hours later, a loud squeal of a cry came from the other side of the bathroom door. Both Rick and Jonathan stopped their pacing and stood staring at the door. Seconds ticked by as their hearts pounded louder and louder. The seconds turned into minutes and the minutes seemed to turn into hours then finally, the door began to open.
After what seemed like an eternity to Rick, Sister Katherine emerged from the bathroom with a fluffy, cotton white bundle in her arms.
"You have a son" she announced as she held the baby out for Rick to see.
Rick stood transfixed for a moment and his breathing became labored as excitement, pure excitement began to run through his veins. He had a kid, a son. He could hardly believe it. He was a father. He did not believe it.
Then he saw the bundle begin to squirm and a tiny fist rise out of the fluffy, cotton white towel.
"He's an active one for a newborn" Sister Katherine commented with a smile as she looked at the infant in her arms.
Still transfixed but not completely immobile, Rick reached out and touched the little fist with his finger. Tears began to unashamedly slide down his cheeks as Rick felt the soft skin. Then watery eyes traveled to the tiny face. Tiny eyes were shut tight. A tiny nose breathed air in and out. Tiny cheeks blushed a rosy red. Tiny lips seemed to grin mischievously.
"He's a cheeky little fellow" Uncle Jon observed from next to Rick as he gazed in amazement at his new nephew.
"Would you like to hold him now?" Sister Katherine asked Rick, still keeping her eyes on the baby.
"OH heavens no!" Jonathan answered as he backed up a step. "Afraid I might drop the little tike. Evy'd never forgive me for that. No. No. I'd better pass."
"Richard?" Sister Katherine inquired again, looking up at Rick.
"Ah..." Rick stuttered, more frightened than Jonathan. "I'd better... I'd better wait for Evy. When can I see Evy" Rick looked up from his son to Sister Katherine.
"Sister Abigail is taking care of her now. Do you have a bassinet?"
"Yes ma'am. In the bedroom" Rick said then lead Sister Katherine back to his and Evelyn's bedroom.
"I need to put fresh linens on the bed" Sister Katherine said after she set the baby in the bassinet.
"Jonathan" Rick said as he peeked inside the bassinet.
"Right" Jonathan said, knowing Rick was ordering him to get the bed sheets for Sister Katherine.
Jonathan left to get the fresh bed sheets and returned in a matter of moments. Rick was still standing and staring down at his new son. Both father and uncle stood glued next to the bassinet while Sister Katherine stripped the bed then put the fresh sheets on it. After Sister Katherine finished making the bed, she told Rick that she was going back to help Sister Abigail with Evelyn.
Rick and Jonathan stood gazing down at the baby until Sister Katherine returned to retrieve the baby.
"The little one needs to suckle" Sister Katherine announced as she picked up the baby.
Rick and Jonathan watched as Sister Katherine lifted the baby from the bassinet and left the room. Both men stayed in the room, Rick sitting on the bed and Jonathan pacing the floor, until Sister Abigail appeared at the door.
"Richard" Sister Abigail called and Rick turned toward her. "I need your help with Evelyn."
Rick did not hesitate. He leaped off the bed and practically ran past Sister Abigail. When he burst into the bathroom, he stopped in his tracks. Evelyn was lying in the tub, naked. Her eyes were closed and she looked pale. So pale, almost like she was... dead.
"I need to you help me dress her" Sister Abigail said as she rounded Rick and passed Sister Katherine, who was holding the baby.
"What's wrong with her?" Rick asked, still standing just inside the doorway. "Why does she look so pale? Why isn't she awake?" he asked anxiously.
"Quickly Richard" Sister Abigail said as she grabbed the towel she had been using and bent down next to the bathtub. "I want to get her dry and dressed."
Rick snapped out of his semi trance and rushed, heart pounding over to help Sister Abigail with Evelyn. Rick worked silently as he did what Sister Abigail commanded. Once Evelyn was dried and dressed, Rick lifted her out of the tub and turned and walked out of the bathroom.
"Evy!" Jonathan said excitedly when Rick entered the room. "What's wrong?" he asked apprehensively when he saw his deathly pale sister in her husband's arms. "What's wrong with my sister?" he asked anxiously, his heart pounding with dread as he watched Rick lay Evelyn in the bed and pulled the covers up over her chest.
"Heaven only knows what that quack of a doctor did" Sister Abigail said quite vehemently. "Because of the complication of the birth" Sister Abigail continued in a softer tone. "Evelyn lost a lot of blood. She is very weak."
"Will she... when will..." Rick, who had sat down next to Evelyn, asked in a cracked voice as he stroked the side of her face. "When will she wake up?"
Sister Abigail was silent for harrowing moments.
Rick refused to ask 'if' she would wake up. It had to be 'when' she would wake up.
"When will she wake up Sister Abigail?" Rick pleaded softly, desperately as anguished tears began to streak down his cheeks.
"Son" Sister Abigail began, regret filtering through her voice. "I wish I could but... honestly... I can not say."
"She has to wake up" Rick tearfully insisted as he gazed at her ashen face. "She has too..." he said, not to anyone particular.
The next moments, hours went by in a haze for Rick. He was oblivious to everything and everybody else in the room except Evelyn.
He barely noticed when Sister Katherine, then Sister Abigail left the room. He did not notice when Jonathan left the room. He barely heard when the baby would begin to cry. In a daze he would watch as either Sister Abigail or Sister Katherine would lift the crying baby from the bassinet and place him at his mother's breast.
Two days had passed and Evelyn still had not woken up. Two days had passed since Rick pulled the rocking chair next to the bed and took Evelyn's hand in his.
For two days, he sat looking at his wife, pleading with her to come back to him.
"Richard" he heard Sister Abigail's voice. "Richard, I'm sorry. She's gone."
CHAPTER 29: Hazel Eyes
It was a lie. It had to be a lie.
How could Evy go? How could Evy leave? How could she leave him? How could she?! How could she leave him all alone?
She knew she meant everything to him. She knew he was lost without her. Damn it!! Damn her!! She knew!
So why did she leave him? How could she leave him?
"Richard" Sister Abigail called.
No!! She could not leave. She just couldn't!
It was a lie. It was all a lie. She would wake up. She had to. She had to wake up because he was nothing without her.
"Richard. She's gone..."
If she was gone...
"She's gone..."
He wanted to go too.
But who would raise their kid? He could not do it. Not without Evy. If he left too, who would the kid have? Jonathan?
Hell no!!
That blundering idiot... Well, he did, for lack of a better word, raise Evy after their parents died.
But that was Evy. This is his kid. Could he trust Jonathan? He shuttered at the idea.
Then who? Who would be there for his kid? Who would raise him?
Sister Abigail.
Sister Abigail could raise the baby. After all, she raised him after his father abandoned him.
Guilt.
How could he even think of leaving his kid? Of wanting to give up on everything and leave his kid an orphan. What kind of man was he? He was no better than his own father was.
Rick let out an anguished cry, laid his cheek on Evelyn's stomach, closed his eyes and cried his heart out.
"Richard" she kept calling but Rick was oblivious to everything except the loss, the despair, the pain.
"Richard" the voice kept calling. "Richard... Richard... Richard... Richard...".
In the mist of his tears, Rick felt a soft hand on his cheek.
"Rick..." a small voice broke through his wailing. "Rick..." he heard her faintly calling.
Then Rick began to fall... fall... fall... until he jerked himself... awake.
Rick's eyes popped open and he immediately lifted his head from Evelyn's stomach and looked at her. Her eyes, her beautiful eyes, her beautiful hazel eyes were opened. And they were looking at him.
Rick mentally shook himself. Was he dreaming? Was this some cruel fantasy trying to give him hope, false hope that Evy was alive?
"Evy?" he whispered, frightened that he was imagining things.
"What..." she whispered in a hoarse voice. "What happened?"
"Evy?" Rick said as he moved from the rocking chair and sat on the bed, still unsure if this was reality or fantasy. "Evy?" he said in disbelief as he leaned over her and touched the side of her face. "Evy!!" he uttered desperately, urgently when Evelyn slowly closed her eyes.
"What happened?" she whispered again, licking her dry lips.
"Evy?" Rick cried softly as it began to sink in that she was indeed alive. "You ah..." he choked as hope began to bud. "You had some complications..."
"Where is the baby?" she asked, her eyes still closed.
"He's right here" Rick said as he looked over at the bassinet, then back to his wife. His very much alive wife.
"We have a baby boy?" Evelyn managed a smile.
"Yeah, we do" Rick smiled, tears beginning to form in his eyes, realizing that he had been having a nightmare.
Evy was not gone. She had not left him. She was right here. She was right where she belonged.
"I want to see him."
"I'd better get Sister Abigail" Rick said nervously, still hesitant to pick the baby up. "I'd better get Sister Abigail" he said again, excited, relieved, overjoyed that Evelyn was awake.
He went to the door, called for Sister Abigail and quickly returned to Evelyn's side.
"What happened?" Evelyn asked again as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at her teary eyed husband.
"You had some complications" he said as he rubbed up and down her arm. "And Sister Abigail came to help. She delivered the baby and you've been out for the past..." Rick paused to think how much time had passed. "Three days."
"Did you sock the doctor?" Evelyn asked with humor, wondering if she been hallucinating.
"Evy's awake?!" Jonathan burst into the room. "Evy's awake?!" he shouted as he rushed to the bedside.
"Jonathan kept it down!" Rick snapped. "The kid's asleep" he said a bit softer, happy, oh-so happy that his world was coming back together again.
"Hello Jonathan" Evelyn smiled as she closed her eyes.
"Evy, you're awake!" he informed her in a slightly quieter voice.
"Yes Jonathan" Evelyn said, with a smile in her voice. "I am awake."
"Boys step aside" Sister Abigail, who was a few steps behind Jonathan, said when she entered the room. "I need to have a look at Evelyn."
Rick stood and both he and Jonathan stepped back just enough for Sister Abigail to squeeze by them and sit next to Evelyn.
"Evelyn dear" Sister Abigail said, causing Evelyn to open her eyes. "How are you feeling?" she asked as she took Evelyn's hand and looked into her eyes.
"Drained" she said wearily. "A bit tired."
"That's to be expected" Sister Abigail said. "We need to get some food in you."
"I want to see my baby" Evelyn said.
"Yes" Sister Abigail smiled. "I expected you would."
Evelyn watched as Sister Abigail got up from the bed and walked over to the bassinet. She watched as Sister Abigail lifted the baby from the bassinet and walked back over to the bedside.
"He should be waking up in an hour or so for his feeding" Sister Abigail said as she moved the pillow next to Evelyn and laid the baby up near her head.
Evelyn turned her head to look at her sleeping baby. A tear slid down her cheek as she saw her little one for the first time.
"He's beautiful" Evelyn whispered as all of the sickness, mood swings, bloating, uncomfortable, sleepless nights, and long, painful hours of labor were forgotten.
"Yes he is" Sister Abigail agreed as she smiled down at mother and child.
Another tear escaped as Evelyn reached over and began to rub the baby's soft cheek with her finger.
"We need to get some food in you" Sister Abigail told Evelyn. "So that you will have strength enough to hold him. Richard" Sister Abigail said as she turned to walk out of the room. "You need to eat something also."
"Yes ma'am" Rick said sat back down on the bed next to Evelyn and watched her gaze at their baby.
Rick had not eaten since Evelyn went into labor.
"That goes for you too Jonathan" Sister Abigail said over her shoulder as she exited the bedroom. "You need solid food instead of all that strong drink you've been consuming."
"Sure thing Sister" Jonathan said sheepishly, his face turning red. He thought he had been clandestinely consuming his strong drink.
Though he had drunk plenty, he too had not eaten much since Evelyn went into labor.
"I want to hold him Rick" Evelyn said as she continued to gaze at her baby.
"We'd better wait till Sister Abigail comes back."
"I want to hold him now" Evelyn announced as she turned and looked at Rick.
"You sure you don't want to wait?" Rick said.
"Yes. I'm sure" Evelyn said as she began to try and sit up.
"Here let me help you" Rick said.
Evelyn put her arms around Rick's neck and he lifted her up in a sitting position. He then took her pillow, then his and set them up behind her so that she could lean back on them. Once Evelyn was settled, she expectantly looked at Rick and he looked at her.
"You expect ME to hand him to you?" Rick asked in a skeptical voice.
"Yes" Evelyn said.
"I'm not sure I can" Rick said as he looked at the small infant. "I might break him" he blurted out his insecurities.
"Honey" Evelyn laughed weakly. "Don't be silly" she chided. "You won't break him. Just lift him up and hold his head steady."
"I'm not sure Evy..."
"Give it a try O'Connell" Jonathan jumped in. "Evy believes you can do it" he gave his best shot at cheerleading.
"Shut up Jonathan" Rick said.
"Just trying to help ole chap!" Jonathan said, secretly enjoying watching his brother-in-law being totally undone by a tiny infant.
Rick looked at Evelyn's expectant gaze once more before getting up from the bed. He frowned at a grinning Jonathan as he turned and walked to the other side of the bed. Rick nervously reached out his hands and scooped them underneath the baby's head and bottom. He slowly lifted the baby from the bed as he kept a keen eye on him. Rick then walked slowly, ever so slowly back around the bed. Once he got back to Evelyn's side, he bent down and placed the baby into his mother's waiting arms.
"See" Evelyn said as she cradled her baby. "You didn't break him."
"Good job ole chap!" Jonathan smiled.
Rick ignored Jonathan as he sat back down.
Jonathan watched as the new parents gazed down at their baby and wanted to let the new family have a bit of privacy.
"Well old mum," he said as he stepped next to the bed. "You gave us all a scare" he leaned down and kissed Evelyn's forehead. "Try not to do that again" he said when he was standing upright again.
"I'll try not to Jonathan" Evelyn said as she looked up from her baby to her brother.
"I'm going to leave you two alone with my nephew here" Jonathan grinned at the infant.
"Jonathan" Evelyn called and Jonathan turned his gaze back to her. "Thank you."
"Ah!" Jonathan waved her off, not wanting to get too sentimental. "It's the least I could do in the face of all you do for me" he grinned and winked at her then turned and left the room.
Both Rick and Evelyn sat in silence as they watched their baby sleeping. After several moments, Evelyn spoke
"He's beautiful isn't he Rick" Evelyn said took his tiny fist and rubbed her finger over his tiny fingers.
Beautiful?
Rick would not exactly call him beautiful. Boy and beautiful just did not seem to fit together. Had they had a daughter, he would not hesitate call her beautiful but a boy. Beautiful? He did not think so.
"If you say so" he said as he leaned closer and kissed the tip of Evelyn's nose.
"If I say so?" Evelyn sounded offended. "Don't you think our baby is beautiful?"
Evelyn was quickly returning to her old self.
"Evy, calling a boy 'beautiful' makes him sound like a pansy" Rick looked back at the baby.
"He isn't a 'pansy'!" Evelyn asserted will all the strength she had. "He's a beautiful baby boy."
"Call it what you want" Rick said as he continued looking at his son. "But it still sounds pansy-ish to me."
"You are impossible" Evelyn retorted.
She wanted him to think their baby was beautiful. He refused to think of their kid as 'beautiful', let alone say it.
"And you" Rick leaned in again. "Are beautiful" he whispered before he planted a sweet kiss on her dry lips.
CHAPTER 30: Family
Though Evelyn was annoyed with Rick for not thinking their baby was beautiful, his sweet, gentle, loving kiss quickly dissipated her irritation. And the smile he gave her when the kiss ended filled her with loving warmth that was beyond words.
"I" she smiled back at him. "No doubt look a horrid mess!"
To Rick, she looked ghastly gorgeous.
"No doubt..." he paused grinning, causing Evelyn's bottom lip to drop at the mere thought that he would agree that she looked a horrid mess. "You are the most beautiful 'horrid mess'" he tried mimicking her accent. "I've ever seen."
Evelyn was suddenly overcome with emotion at his soft words.
"I love you Rick" she whispered as a teardrop ran over her eyelid and down her cheek.
"I still can't" Rick, succumbing to his own emotions, spoke in a voice cracked with his own emotion. "Figure out why... you do" he said as he ran his finger up the side of her cheek to catch the teardrop.
Time seemed to stand still as Rick and Evelyn sat looking at each other, then at the child they had created. Silence permeated the room because words were inadequate for this special moment of bonding between parents and child. But love, love that could never be adequately described also permeated the room.
Finally, a knock at the door broke the loving tranquil.
"Come in" Rick called out.
"Evelyn dear" Sister Abigail, with Jonathan, food tray in hand, on her heels, said as soon as she opened the door. "I expect you to eat every single bit..." she trailed off when she saw Evelyn sitting up holding the baby. "Well I see you do have enough strength to hold that baby" she smiled as she walked up to the bed.
"Yes, I do" Evelyn looked up at the Sister and smiled.
"Well" Sister Abigail said as she reached down for the baby. "It is time for you to eat" she said in a very motherly voice as Evelyn gave over the baby. "You need your strength dear. And this little one" she smiled down at the baby in her arms. "Will be waking shortly, demanding sustenance" she said as she walked over to the bassinet.
Evelyn ate every single bit of food Sister Abigail had prepared for her. And Sister Abigail did not even mind that it would take her a few hours to do so. Rick, on the other hand, ate his food in a matter of minutes. Sister Abigail frowned a bit because since the day Rick had come to the convent, she had tried to teach him to eat slower. To her disappointment, she had failed in that task.
Sister Abigail was right about the baby waking shortly. And the baby proved to be very demanding. When he woke, he let out a piercing cry that gave his mother a start.
"The little tike has a healthy set of lungs Evy" Jonathan informed his startled sister.
"What's wrong with him?" Evelyn asked in an obviously worried tone as she stopped the spoon midway to her mouth and set it back down in the bowl of soup. "Is he alright" she looked at Sister Abigail.
"He is fine" Sister Abigail laughed as she walked over to the bassinet. "He is just hungry and letting us all know that he is ready to eat."
"Well, I guess that's my cue to leave" Jonathan said. "Evy, I'm going into town. I'll see you and the nephew later this evening" he said as he turned to walk out of the room.
"Stay out of trouble Jonathan" Evelyn said as Rick picked up the food tray and went and set it on the bureau.
"Sure thing... sure thing" he said as he exited the room.
"Richard" Sister Abigail said as she leaned over and placed the crying baby in his mother's arm. "You may excuse yourself also."
"Why" Rick asked as he walked back over to the bedside.
Sister Abigail thought of herself as quite a progressive woman. There were many things that she thought of as prude and old fashion. But a man watching as a woman breast-fed her baby was not one of them.
Yes, Richard was her husband. He was the father. And Sister Abigail was sure, reasonable sure, that he had seen Evelyn unclothed before. He had, Sister Abigail recalled, helped her dry and dress Evelyn after the baby was delivered. But that was an extreme circumstance. And he had been in the room when the baby suckled during Evelyn's unconsciousness. But he had been so far-gone that Sister Abigail knew that he did not have the faintest idea what was going on around him.
But now, all was well and there was no need for him to sit gaping at his wife's exposed bosom.
"Evelyn is about to feed the baby" Sister Abigail said in a very reasonable voice as she looked up at him.
Rick looked down at Sister Abigail. Did she think he had never seen Evelyn naked before? If she knew � of what he had done to Evelyn's naked body� he mentally blushed at the thought of revealing something like that to Sister Abigail.
"Sister Abigail" Evelyn said over the cries of her baby. "I'd like Rick to stay. Please."
Sister Abigail hesitated a moment but relented.
"As you wish dear" she said as she leaned over and helped Evelyn unbutton her gown and situate the baby's mouth to her breast. "There you go" she said to the baby once he had latched onto his mother's nipple.
Once Sister Abigail stepped back, Rick resumed his place on the bed next to mother and child. Sister Abigail smiled down at the family and was filled with happiness for Rick. She loved all the children that came to her at the convent, but Rick had always been special to her because he always seemed to need just a bit more love.
And now, it was apparent to her that Evelyn had been able to give him the all the love he had been longing for.
"I'll be downstairs" Sister Abigail informed them. "Richard, come and fetch me when the baby is done" she said as she turned to leave the room.
"Yes ma'am" Rick answered as he gazed down at his son.
Evelyn too was gazing down at her son and her heart melted again and again. With each tug on her breast, her baby was pulling at her heartstrings and causing her to fall in love with him over and over again.
"Alexander" Evelyn said as she watched the baby's tiny jaws suckle. "Do you think he looks like an 'Alexander'" she asked Rick as she ran a finger over the baby's cheek.
Evelyn admired Alexander the Great and his name came up when Evelyn brought up the subject of a name for the baby. To Rick, it did not matter much what they named him (as long as it was not Richard Jr.). So when Evelyn had suggested Alexander, Rick agreed.
"Sure" Rick said, thinking all he looked like to him was 'a baby'.
Little Alexander, or Little Alex, the abbreviation first coming from his Uncle Jonathan, suckled hungrily, making smacking sounds, which gave his parents a laugh. When Little Alex had drained both of his mother's mounds of milk, Rick went to retrieve Sister Abigail.
Sister Abigail returned to the room and showed Evelyn how to burp the baby. After she finished, Sister Abigail insisted that she resume eating. Sister Abigail took the satiated baby from his mother's arms and placed him in his father's still unsure arms, then set the tray of food back in front of Evelyn.
It was not long before Evelyn's eyes began to droop.
"Eat just a few more bits for me dear" Sister Abigail said. "Then you can rest."
Evelyn obeyed and was shortly easing back into a lying position.
"Rick" she said, her voice betraying how weary she was. "Lay him here, next to me."
Rick carefully laid the baby on the bed and within minutes, mother and baby were laying side by side, sound asleep.
"Richard" Sister Abigail spoke in a quiet voice. "You need to get rest also" she said as she tenderly rubbed his back.
Rick was not sure he was ready for sleep yet. As he sat looking down at the two greatest miracles in his life, he thought he would never be able to take his eyes off of them.
"Sister Abigail" Rick said, his voice tender with emotion, his gaze still fixed on his wife and child.
"Yes son" Sister Abigail, who had began to retreat from the room, turned back toward Rick.
"I'll never be able to pay you back for what you did for me" he said.
"Seeing you now, with your wife and son is more than enough payment" Sister Abigail smiled.
"Thank you... for saving them" he moaned as he fought to hold back his tears.
"It was my pleasure."