Chapter 4: The long wait

Being on bed rest was a prison sentence for Evie, and though she could conduct her business from her bed, calling the museum to talk to Amelia or the Curator, it wasn’t the same as actually being there. She was touched at Alex’s effort every day after school to include her in his lifes activities, and there were times when Rick would carry her downstairs and outside to a blanket beneath a weeping willow to enjoy the outdoors. Now in her sixth month of pregnancy Evie was every bit as big as she had been at the end of her term with Alex, and Dr. Brigman had told them that there was a possibility she had more than one child in her stomach. That bit of news shocked all of them, and today Rick and Alex were out getting a few things she had requested while Nanna stayed with her. Rick, when Dr. Brigman had told them she might be having more than one baby, had called her and asked her to come back home and help which she was more than happy to do. Nanna was now in her late fifties and like a grandmother to Alex as was Aunt Maggie who also came to the house quite a lot.

“Dad if we have two babies how will I be a good big brother to both of them?” he asked as Rick drove them into the small Village to the east of their home. Rick smiled.

“Well I don’t think you will have to worry Alex. Just spend time with both of them,” Rick replied. When they got to the village, Rick got the things on Evies list. She had sent him for more gowns and bonnets, and Rick got more than they needed but decided if they really were going to have more than one baby, then 20 gowns would be good. Next on their list was to go to Mcgregers Nappy service and get them to start bringing nappys to their house at the beginning of July, which Rick got sorted. They were given a bag of 50 clean diapers to start with and the woman who was working told him to call if they needed more. Once all that was taken care of the two O’Connell men headed home.

“I sure hope Aunt Claira isn’t there,” Alex said as they turned down the lane that would eventually lead them to their Manor.

“Why is that?” Rick asked.

“Because she smells like a dead bug, and she always pinches my cheeks and tells me how sweet I am. Sometimes it makes me want to lose my lunch,” Alex said. Rick let out a howling laugh, and Alex grinned, the same grin his father was famous for.

“Well pal maybe she won’t be,” Rick said. Unfortunately when they arrived at the house, Aunt Claira was there, just leaving, which was good, but Alex couldn’t avoid getting his cheeks pinched. Once she did that and kissed him getting rouge all over his cheek Alex politely excused himself and went inside to get a bath so he wouldn’t smell like dead bug. Rick watched with Humor and gave Aunt Claira a hug then went inside to check on his wife.

~*~

While Rick and Alex had gone to run errands, Nanna helped Evelyn take a bath. Evie was sore from having to lay in bed, and her back hurt with the extra weight she had gained with the pregnancy. Taking a warm bath helped to ease the tension in her body and she relaxed while Nanna sat on a stool next to the tub.

“I’m not sure I can handle two of them,” Evelyn admitted as she rubbed her hand over her large protruding belly.

“You will do fine, and don’t forget you have Rick myself Alex, and everyone else whom I’m sure will lend a hand,” Nanna said. Evie nodded and closed her eyes. A few moments later Rick stepped in, and Nanna smiled leaving them in private. Evie opened her eyes and smiled as he placed his hand in the water moving it over her belly.

“Hmm that feels so nice,” Evie said softly. Rick wanted to do more but Dr. Brigman had stated that under no circumstances were they to engage in love making, so for now all he could do was give her massages which had become a part of their daily routine.

“Did you and Alex have success finding everything?” Evelyn asked.

“I think we found more than we needed. I found twenty night gowns which I think you will like, and I purchased a packet of fifty Nappys so I think that should last us until these kids are ate least a year old,” Rick said. Evie sighed and shut her eyes again.

“Hey why don’t I get you out of there and you let me give you a back rub with that grape-seed oil you like so much. Evie nodded, and could barely stand as Rick helped her out of the tub. Once she was out, and he had a towel wrapped around her, he carried her to their bed and placed her on her side on the mattress putting pillows at her side and between her legs then got the grape-seed oil and began with his body Massage.

~*~

Evie was not the only one having a baby, and a few days later, Ella came for a visit with her new baby Zach who was a week old. Alex happened to be the only one home with his mum when Ella and Zach arrived, and led them upstairs happy when he saw his mum’s face brighten up. Evie was sitting up in bed and at her request Ella put Zach I her arms.

“Oh Ella he looks just like Sam,” Evelyn said. Sam was Ricks work partner and friend, and Zach was their first child. Alex watched his mum and Evie took notice

“Alex come here,” She said he did and with Ella’s permission he got to hold the baby.

“They make them tiny don’t they,” Alex said as he let Zach clasp his hand. Both Evelyn and Ella smiled.

“Yes they do and for good reason,” Evie said hoping that the baby or babies she had in her were not as big as Alex had been, at almost 8 pounds. For a few minutes Alex held the baby as his mum and Ella talked. Then Zach began to shift restlessly in his arms, and he let Ella take him. Evie pointed her to the rocking chair and the two woman talked as she nursed her baby. Alex took that time to leave for his room, and make a puzzle. As he was finishing, Ella stuck her head in and told him they were heading home, and so Alex went back to sit with his mum who had her reading glasses on looking at a book.

“Mum I guess I should know this, but how exactly are those babies coming out of you?” he asked. Setting her book aside Evelyn made room for her son on her bed then began.

“Do you remember what your dad told you about what you saw the one night we had the big storm?” Evie asked. Alex nodded. That night he had been afraid because of the crashing of thunder and the wind howling outside. So Alex had sought out his parents and found them making love. Rick had explained about the physical love a man and a woman liked to share, and Alex had been rather grossed out.

“Well the same way a man enters a woman through her Vagina is the same way the baby comes out.” Alex made a face at that.

“I bet that hurts,” he finally said causing her to laugh a little.

“It’s not comfortable, but as soon as Eshe laid you on my chest I forgot all about how much pain you had caused, and watched you take your first cries,” Evie said. Alex knew of his birth at the Med-jai village, and of the trauma his mother had gone through before his birth. Evie had been told to have a surgery to make it so she wouldn’t have babies but she never had and her body had never been able to conceive until now.

“Listen baby, I need to try and get some sleep,” Evelyn said. She had a nap schedule she kept and took two of them a day. Alex helped her lay down and then left to wait for his dad’s return.