Chapter 3: A Heart Beat

 

By her fifth month, it was clear that Evie was going to have a baby.  Already she was into lose fitting cloths, and with spring arriving she had to get a whole new wardrobe to accommodate her pregnant state.  With Alex she had shown more when the weather was cooler, and with March and April right around the corner Evie was wearing long flowing dresses, soft to help her feel comfortable.  Now she and Rick sat in the doctors office at an appointment.  She saw Dr. Brigman every two weeks, and he had told her that this next visit would be special, but not why.  While they waited, Rick read the post, and Evie watched a young mother with a toddler and a new baby, and considered herself fairly lucky that she had space between her two children.

 

“Evelyn O’Connell,”  a brown haired nurse called out.  Rick stood, and helped Evelyn up and the two of them walked into the back of the office to a small room.  The nurse did things like take her blood pressure and her temperature and also a small sample of blood before leaving them.

 

“Don’t you feel like a guinea pig when they do all that to you?” Rick asked as Evie settled in a chair.

 

“Not really.  You get used to it about the third week of visiting,”  Evie said then took his hand and put it on the right side of her stomach.  Rick grinned as he felt the movement of their child.  What he felt was the same as when Evie had carried Alex, light flutters against the tips of his fingers.  He leaned forward and gave her belly a kiss then sat up as the knob on the door turned.  Doctor Brigman walked in, and greeted both of them, then sat down.

 

“Well Evie your blood pressure is a bit higher than what we like to see.  I need to listen to your heart beat, and then I’m going to ask you to do something you might think is a bit strange,”  The doctor said as he took out his stethoscope.  He had her take a few deep breaths and let them out and was satisfied with that.  Next he placed the stethoscope on her belly and smiled.

 

“Would you like to hear your baby’s heart beat?”  he asked.  Both of them nodded and Evie listened first.

 

“Now the slow steady heart beat is yours, but if you listen close enough, you will hear a faster heart beat.”  Evelyn concentrated then smiled.

 

“Oh my goodness, is it supposed to be so fast?”  she asked as she let Rick have a listen.

 

“Yes, thats a good sign.”  Rick also heard the heartbeat and placed his hand on hers.

 

“Now Evie what I want you to do is take this cup into the Bathroom and I want you to fill it with your urine.”  Evie gave him a funny look but Dr. Brigman had been her doctor for years and she trusted him.  While they waited Rick and Doc talked about the Rising power of Hitler.

 

“I don’t think he will get much past Germany,”  Doc said as Evie stepped out.  The Dr. Dismissed them and instructed Evie to take a few days off to rest, which she wasn’t thrilled about but did, not wanting to endanger the life of her baby.

 

~*~

 

At the house Alex and Darby sat up in his room playing a game of chess.

 

“You know, my parents really like you.  Your the only chap they let stay here when they are away,”  Alex said as he made his move.

 

“Your parents are really fun to be around.  My mum and father are so strict and uptight, sometimes I don’t get them.  I mean we have almost as much money as you guys do, and they still are picky when I want money for things like going to a picture show,”  he replied pondering his move.

 

“So what do you think about being a big brother?”  Darby asked.

 

“I think it will be fun, but only when the baby is grown a little.  My Uncle says tiny babies don’t do much other than cry and sleep, and I know thats true because when I’m with Darin all his sister Kate does is cry,”  Alex replied.  Darby made his move and a winning move at that.

 

“So whats next?”  Alex asked.

 

“Well We should go running,”  Darby replied and the two of them left the house to do that.

 

~*~

 

A few days later Dr. Brigman called Evie at the house and wanted to see she and Rick again, and so now they sat in his office waiting.  When he walked in there was a grave look on his face.

 

“Evelyn I’m not sure whats going on but your body is producing too much protein, which is why your blood presure is up.  I need you to do something honey that isn’t going to be easy on you, but you need bed rest until your pregnancy ends term,”  he informed.  Her eyes grew wide with fright and apprehension and Doc told them why he wanted her to stay in bed.

 

“Your at high risk of losing this baby, and the more rest you get the better.  You need to watch what you eat, and drink as much water as you can, as well as milk...”  He gave both of them instructions then sent them home for the long wait.