Chapter 2: While the Parents were Away

 

After Rick had left, Jonathan wondered what had gone on.  When he walked in the Parlor, and found Alex’s rocking horse on it’s side, and crumbs on the floor, as well as a blanket laying next to it, he quickly put two and two together, and realized that they must have had a pretty bad argument, which was not common.  They had their occasional disagreement, but anything that they disagreed on was quickly resolved, and most of the time Jonathan would come home from his late nights out,  and find various articles of clothing laying around.  He shook as head as he thought of that.  This Manor, the former Carnahan Manor used to be his parents, but now it was commonly referred to as the O’Connell Manor even by him, and as such Rick was the head of the house.  As Jonathan reflected, and set about cleaning up the mess left behind, he heard a soft voice, and looked up to find Alex standing at the bottom of the steps holding his Teddy, with a tear running down his face.

 

“Hey Partner,”  he said, walking over to him.  He knelt down, and Alex clung to him, crying, and talking at the same time, and Jonathan did not understand what he was saying.

 

“Okay shhh, why don’t we go get a glass of warm milk, like your mum makes,”  Jonathan suggested.

 

“Want Mummy,”  he sobbed.  It was becoming evident that this time Alex had caught his parents argument, and Jonathan was half tempted to call them and ask them to come explain things to their son, but decided to try and calm him himself first.  In the kitchen, while holding Alex in one arm, Jonathan managed to get what he needed to make his nephew some warm milk.

 

“Mummy home,”  Alex said lifting his head from Jonathan’s shoulder.

 

“They will come home in the morning,”  Jonathan reassured, but Alex shook his head, his lower lip drooping, and more tears fell.

 

“Hey why don’t we have some of that Chocolate cake Marie made,”  Jonathan said knowing that anything like that would cheer Alex up.  This time it did not.

 

“Want Mummy home,”  he cried.  Once the milk was ready, Jonathan added the sugar and cinnamon, and tried that, but Alex wouldn’t take it, and kept crying for Evelyn.  Still not willing to give up, but becoming somewhat unnerved, Jonathan carried Alex up to his room and found his favorite bedtime story, and settled in the rocking chair.  The story went unheard, as Alex continued to cry, and finally after almost two hours of trying, Jonathan went to the phone and had the Operator Dial the Plaza Hotel, knowing that Rick would only take Evelyn to the best of places.

 

“Plaza Hotel, How may I help you,”  A woman answered.

 

“Yes I need to speak to the O’Connells,”  Jonathan said, as he swayed with Alex.

 

“One moment sir.”  There was a moment of hesitation, then the woman spoke again.

 

“I’m sorry but Mr. O’Connell said no one was to disturb them tonight,”  she replied.  Jonathan held the receiver of the phone to Alex’s mouth, and then spoke.

 

“Well that was their son, and you tell them when they finish screwing around that their son is confused and upset,”  Jonathan said then slammed the phone down.

 

“Mummy want mummy,”  Alex screamed, picking up on Jonathan’s anger.  The tired man slid down to sit on the floor.

 

“Yeah Partner, it would be nice if they would think about what they did before they did it in front of you,”  Jonathan replied feeling tired, and a little angry.

 

~*~*~

 

It was the loud chirp of the phone which pulled both Rick and Evelyn from their sleep.  Rick picked it up feeling angry, and was ready to tell off the Plaza’s receptionist, until she told him about the call Jonathan made.

 

“Thanks, we’ll take care of that,”  Rick said feeling as guilty as he had when he saw Evelyn slumped to the cold ground in the Cemetery.  Evelyn still had her head resting on Rick’s chest, and felt him hold her tighter.

 

“We need to go home.  Alex saw you leave, and I thought I had calmed him down but Jonathan called and said he’s still upset,”  Rick said.  The mention of her son woke Evelyn fully, and she sat up.

 

“My poor baby,”  she said as they both set about getting ready to go.

 

~*~*~

 

Almost thirty minutes had passed with Alex’s non stop crying, and Jonathan had tried the Plaza again relieved to find that his sister and Brother-in-law had left.

 

“It’s all right Partner, they will be here soon,”  Jonathan kept saying.  Then they were there, and he gladly gave Evelyn her son, and grabbed his jacket and keys, pushing past Rick to go out and get a drink.  Rick knew he also owed Jonathan big time for helping with Alex, and decided that just once Jonathan could have his girls over, and he and Evie would take Alex to The Plaza at some point.  Finding himself alone in the Parlor, and still seeing the mess of cookie crumbs from the little party he and his son had taken part in, Rick grabbed the broom and decided to clean up, giving his son time alone with Evelyn.

 

~*~

 

Once in his mothers arms, Alex had begun to calm down, and by the time Evelyn was in his room rocking him, Alex was quiet.

 

“Mummy sad, daddy hurt,”  Alex said looking up at her.

 

“Sometimes mummy’s and daddy’s say nasty things that they should never say, and yes daddy did hurt mummy, but he and I said we were very sorry,”  Evelyn said softly.

 

“Daddy mean daddy,”  Alex replied through a yawn.  Not wanting her son to think that Evelyn corrected him.

 

“No Alex, your father is not mean.  He is a very good daddy, and a very good husband, and I love him very much, so don’t think that he is mean,”  she said sternly.  Alex closed his eyes then, and Evelyn sighed, still wondering if Egypt was such a good idea after all that had happened.

 

“How is he doing?”  Rick asked as he walked into his little boys room.

 

“Better, but we really need to watch what we do from now on,”  Evie whispered as she stood.  That movement roused Alex, and he whimpered holding to her tighter.

 

“Shhh, mummy is here baby, and I won’t go away,”  she whispered swaying with him.

 

“Daddy here too?”  he asked opening his eyes.  Rick walked behind them and held both of them close.

 

“I’m here big guy.”  he said.  Alex struggled and Rick moved away then took him hugging him close.

 

“Daddy say sorry mummy?”  Alex asked.

 

“Yes I did.”  Alex looked at his daddy and his mummy.

 

“I seep in bed if you mummy,”  he said.  Usually neither were willing to let him in their bed, but this once they both decided he needed them to be close, and without further debate they went into the large master bedroom, and soon all of them slept peacefully, the nights arguments forgotten, only allowing the love they had seep in as they slept.