Chapter 2: Evelyn’s Secret.

 

A week had passed since Evelyn had found out about being pregnant, and things had gotten busy with all of them.  The Staff of Amun had arrived and the museum had been busy with tourists wanting to see it.  For Alex his envolvment in the School’s Rugby team kept him out late, and for Rick, he had double duty with helping out at the museum, and making sure things were going well at the shipping firm.  Now on a quiet Saturday morning, Evelyn had ventured up to the third level of their home where a few more rooms were located, and where the door to the attic was also located.  She opened it, and went up the wooden steps turning on the lights as she went.  The attic was a vast room filled with everything from old dresses hanging on a stand that her mother had once worn, to treasures that her father had collected on his digs around the world.  Carefully Evelyn worked her way back to the back end of the attic,and found what she sought.  Gently she fingered the swinging cradled Alex had slept in so long ago.  Next to the cradle was a crate, and with little effort she opened it finding within it two sterling silver rattles Aunt Maggie had gotten for Alex at his birth, and other things like tiny gowns he had worn and toys he had played with as a baby.  Subconsciously she put her hand over her stomach, which was firm now that she was in her third month of pregnancy.

 

“Evie you up here?”  came Rick’s voice.  For a moment Evelyn thought about hiding the fact that she had been looking through the baby things, then decided it was time to let Rick know they were going to have another baby.

 

“Yes,”  she called out.  After a few moments, he knelt behind her and took the rattle she had in her hand.

 

“I remember how much he loved this rattle.  I think because it was so shiny,”  Rick said.

 

“I know, and this old bear.  I never thought he would want to give it up, and when he told me I needed to donate it to the orphanage I didn’t have the heart to so I put him up here,”  Evelyn said as she leaned against her husband.

 

“So someone we know having a baby?”  Rick asked not realizing how close to the mark he was.  Evelyn took in a deep breath.

 

“As a matter of fact yes.  We are having another baby,”  she said ready for him to yell at her for not saying something sooner.  To her surprise he stood and helped her stand, then pulled her into his arms and spun her around.

 

“I guess that means your happy,”  she said as he set her down.  Rick kissed her.

 

“Evie do you know how much I love you at this moment?”  Rick asked looking into her eyes with compassion.

 

“You could show me,”  she said.  Rick grinned at her and lifted her into his arms then carried her out of the attic and down the stairs to their own room and spent several hours showing her all the ways that he loved her.

 

~*~*~

 

Later that same day, when Alex arrived home from helping out at the game, since he was still too young to play, he found his mum in the parlor dusting off an old cradle.

 

“How was the game?”  Evie asked as she set the rag aside satisfied with her job on the cradle, and more interested in talking to her son about the game and also about the new addition to the family.

“Good, we won.  Darby is such a good player.  He knows how to weave in and out of everyone and he’s a fast runner.  He said he thinks I should start running with him that way when I get old enough to play I’ll be a good player like he is,”  Alex informed as he sat down and grabbed an apple out of the basket of fruit that always sat on the coffee table.

 

“So who is getting the baby bed?”  Alex asked as he bit into the apple.

 

“Well remember the day a few weeks ago when you fell and then in my office at the museum I almost fainted?”  Evie asked.  Alex nodded.

 

“Dr. Brigman ran a test, and the one for being pregnant came back as a positive.  So this baby bed will be for our new baby.”  Evie said.  Alex sucked in his breath and got choked on the piece of apple he had just bitten off.  Rick had just walked in and ran over to him smacking hard on his back which got the apple out.

 

“A baby?”  he asked not able to believe what he was hearing.

 

“Yeah pal you get a sister or a brother how about that?”  Rick asked.  Alex got up from the sofa and ran up the stairs, and they both heard the slamming of his door.  Neither one of them had guessed he might not be happy about having a baby, and now they knew.

 

“I thought he would be happy,”  Evie said as Rick settled beside her and gathered her in his arms.

 

“I know I did too.  I think it’s just going to take him time to get used to the idea,”  Rick said.

 

~*~

 

Upstairs in his room Alex lay on his bed petting Cleo and Siam.  He was afraid and excited but more afraid that with a new baby they would somehow not love him anymore.  His friend Darin had a new sister a few weeks ago, and he had said all the baby did was cry, and all his mum did was yell at him for being too noisy.  When he heard the knock at his door, he ignored it hoping his parents would go away but they didn’t, then he heard his uncle John’s voice and turned

 

“So they just told me the news.  Why don’t you and I go out for a drive?”  Jonathan asked.  Alex just nodded, then went with his uncle feeling a bit dazed.  Once they were in the car Jonathan began.

 

“You know when my parents had your mum I was 7, and I was sure she would ruin my life.  I was so mad that I ran away, of coarse dad found me and made me come home, but your mum has been one of the best friends I’ve ever had.  When she was a baby she wasn’t much fun, but when she got older she was always curios about what I did, and though I picked on her as I still do, we still love one another very much.”

 

“Do you think they will yell a lot like if I make noise and stuff?”  Alex asked.  Jonathan grinned.

 

“Well for a while you are going to have to learn to keep it down.  Babies need a lot of special care, and at first they are rather boring but trust me partner when the time comes you will enjoy being a big brother,”  Jonathan said as he pulled up to the sweet shop.  They got out and ordered Sodas then sat at at table and talked more about being a big brother.

 

~*~

 

Later when Alex arrived home he was feeling better and now sat at dinner with his parents.

 

“Mum will you and I still be able to go for rides in the woods?”  Alex asked as he took a bite of steamed cabbage.  Evelyn smiled.

 

“Of coarse we will.  We will make time for the two of us,”  she said.  That made him feel better, and after dinner he and Jonathan cleaned up the dishes giving his parents time to themselves.  After putting on their warm coats they took a walk outside.

 

“So how do you feel?”  Rick asked as they walked down the lane.  Evelyn sighed, feeling happy and content.

 

“Better now that I know you and Alex are all right with this baby,”  She said.  Rick reached out and placed his hand on her belly and rubbed there.  With her coat on he couldn’t feel anything and Evie smiled putting her hand on his.

 

“Are you ready for another baby?”  She asked. 

 

“Sure, I get to watch you nurse again, and partake in whats left over, so I’m ready for that.”  Evelyn just laughed shaking her head knowing everything would be all right for all of them.