Chapter 4 : When two became three...A new Family

 

 

 

With her due date so close, Evelyn had decided to do what Rick and the doctor had urged, and stay home, and she was glad for that.  Her back hurt almost as a constant, and her feet as well as her ankles were swollen, and her mood was not always the best.  Lately almost anything brought her to tears, and she was terribly self conscious of her body, and thought herself as ugly, and fat despite what Rick or Jonathan told her.  Right now she was sitting in the parlor folding the last load of cloths she had washed which  were mostly gowns and other baby things, preparing for the arrival of their child.  She sighed as her back throbbed more, and didn't' notice Rick come up behind her, not until his hands were on her shoulders, rubbing the stiffness away.  His touch as it always did made her whole body relax.

 

"I thought you were going to be out most of the day,"  she said after a moment.  He leaned in and nuzzled her neck which got a gasp from her.

 

"I decided I would rather be with you,"  he said.  She huffed, and stood up, or tried but ended up falling back into his arms.

 

"You are staying because you don't trust me,"  she snapped, and he had to control his own anger as it rose.  She struggled to be off of him, and he eased her to her feet.

 

"Evie I'm staying because I love you, and I want to be here with you to keep you company,"  he said calmly.  That wasn't anything she believed.

 

"You want to stay here to make me behave,"  she said, and  walked out of the room, to the kitchen.  He knew he should just leave her alone, but he was aggravated, and went after her.

 

"Evelyn I realize your an adult, and I haven't once forced you to do one damn thing,"  he said.  At that, she spun on him.

 

"You forced me to stay here.  Not forced but everytime I would go into the museum you would question that, telling me that I needed to rest, that I was over doing it.  Well I happen to be just fine,"  she snapped.

 

"As a matter of fact I'm going to the museum,"  she said, and went upstairs to get ready.  Anger was not even the word to describe what he was feeling. However he knew she was an emotional wreck right now.  He tried to shake it off, but he couldn't and went up after her.  When he got to their room, the door was locked.

 

"Evie let me in,"  came his annoyed response to being locked out yet again.

 

"No I don't wish to speak to you at this moment,"  came her reply.  In one respect he felt relief, at least she wasn't crying, and that was fine by him.

 

"Evie please, look I know how you feel but...."  He heard the lock click, and then she was facing him.

 

"You know how I feel?"  she asked loudly

 

"How could you possible know how I feel?  You are not the one who has a baby inside of you, who moves around at all hours of the night, and day, and makes it so you can't focus on anything.  You don't have a sore back, or don't have breasts that ache constantly.  Your not the one with swollen ankles, and feet, so don't you tell me you know how I feel.  You have no idea how I feel."  She grabbed her purse and began to go down the stairs, and he followed her.

 

"So your going to run away from me is that it?"  He snapped.  Rick had more patience than Jonathan, but  today his patience had all but run out.

 

"I'm going to work, where I don't feel like I'm some porcelain doll who has been put on display,"  she said, and then she was gone.  Rick ran his hand through his hair, and stormed into the parlor.  He sat down and took some deep breaths.  If he didn't love her so much, he would seriously consider throwing her in the Nile  After a few minutes his anger dissipated, and he decided to finish what she had started with the laundry. 

 

 

 

 

 

At the museum Evelyn busied herself with things in the library, which basically consisted of  putting books away.  Just so she could prove her point, that she was perfectly capable to do all the things she had,  she even climbed on the ladder to put away the books on the higher shelves  That is where she was now, putting away a book on the Ancient are of Mummification.  As she worked tears streamed down her face.  She hated it when she and Rick got into arguments, and it really wasn't even Rick. She just got so easily upset by anything he did, and she was afraid that he would leave her.  Now her eyes were blurry, and she climbed down, thinking she was at the last rung and let go.  She was on the second to the last rung, and when she let go, she felt herself fall.  She landed hard on her bottom, and sighed.

 

"Stop this,"  she demanded of herself, over feeling sad.  She took in a few deep breaths, and on the last deep breath she gasped, as she felt the area around where the baby was tighten.  Evelyn's hands automatically held to her bump, and she started to panic. 

 

"Somebody help me,"  she yelled, but it was a Sunday, and usually, she was the only one there on Sundays.  The tightness subsided, and she rolled her legs to her side and  got on her hands and knees.  She had to use the shelf to help her stand.  Once she was on her own two feet she went into her office, got her things, and headed home.

 

 

 

As Evelyn entered the house all was quiet.  She put her things down on the halltree in the front entry, then went into the parlor.  It was empty.  She went upstairs but Rick was not in any of the other rooms.  When she walked back in the kitchen she found a note from Rick

 

 

'Evelyn,

I have gone for a walk to cool off

don't know when I will be back

 

Rick.

 

 

 

It was never good when he left  short notes, and that, plus the fact she was in labor started her sobbing.  She climbed back upstairs and lay down in bed and cried herself to sleep.  It didn't seem all that long before another contraction came and pulled her awake.  She tried to calm herself, and took a few deep breaths, then when it passed she got up and went downstairs.  It was still quiet, and still dark, and she turned on the kitchen light.  Tears started to fall again, and she sobbed as she got a kettle, and put water into it, then set it on the stove to make some tea.  While she waited she settled at the table and again she was crying uncontrollably.

 

"Hey baby sister,"  Jonathan said coming in ready to go out.

 

"OH Jonathan Rick left me.  I was awful again, and I knew I shouldn't be, but I think he is gone for good, and the baby is on its way,"  she sobbed.  He rubbed her back, about to assure her that Rick had not left when that last part sank in.

 

"BABY?"  he yelled.  She nodded.

 

"Okay stay calm,"  he said beginning to pace.

 

"Rick went to Fort Bryton to get something he had ordered, so he should be back soon,"  he said still pacing frantically.  Evie watched him still sniffing.  She wanted her husband to be here to hold her, not Jonathan.

 

"Jonathan sit down,"  she said.  He stopped pacing.

 

"Right panicking isn't going to do me any good,"  he said, and as he sat, the whistle on the kettle went off.  He got back up, and poured her a cup of hot water, then got the little metal ball, with the holes in it used to put loose tea in, and filled it, putting it in the water to let it seep.

 

"Jonathan I want my husband,"  she said, and lay her head on the table sobbing once again.  He went to her, and knelt down. 

 

"I know you do, he won't be to much longer,"  he said rubbing a hand over her back, and he prayed that was true. 

 

 

 

 

At the Fort,  Rick had gotten what he had ordered, which was a hand carved wooden hobby horse, with real horse hair for its mane and tail.  Now as he pulled up to the house he was hopeful that Evie was home so he could surprise her with it.  Since finding out he was going to be a daddy, Rick bought any toy he thought was cute, an as a result the room that would be the babies was quite full of things of that nature.  Now as he unloaded his present Jonathan came running out.

 

"Rick she's  having the baby,"  He said frantic.  Rick left the present in the car, or started to, then told Jonathan to get it, and put it with the other stuff, and ran inside.  He found Evie in the parlor on the couch crying.

 

"Oh sweetheart shh,"  he said, and when he knelt beside her she clung to him. sobbing harder.

 

"I thought...I thought you had left me,"  she managed.  He closed his eyes, among the changes he was going to have to make, one would be not to let here mood swings get to him.  He stood, and slipped a arm under her legs, and under her upper back, then lifted her against him.

 

"I don't suppose Jonathan called Dr. Ignatus,"  Rick said,  as he made his way with her up to their room.  She shook her head exhausted from everything that had happened.  Once she was in bed she slipped into sleep, and Rick made the nessary call, and their very long night began.

 

 

 

 

Morning arrived as it always did with the beginning of another hot day  The night had been long for all involved, and Evelyn's labor was progressing at a snails pace.  She, and Rick had spent most of the night walking around the house, and outside in the gardens, as well as sleeping on and off.  Now Rick stood outside of their room while Dr.  Ignatus examined her.

 

"You may come in,"  he called, and Rick did so.

 

"She is still a ways away from being able to have the baby.  I want you to continue to watch her, walk with her, and rest as much as possible.  Once active labor starts she will need all of her strength to have her baby,"  he said, then he left.  In their bed Evelyn lay with her eyes closed.  A tear made its way down her cheek, and Rick sighed.  He sat on her bedside, and wiped the tear away.

 

"It's never going to come out,"  she said, her voice shaky from fear, and exhaustion.

 

"Yes it will,"  he said and leaned in gently kissing her lips.  When she was ready he helped her stand, and they walked outside.  It was still relatively comfortable, as they walked around the small yard.

 

"So what do you think we should name this baby?"  Rick asked, as they had not yet talked about that.

 

"If its a boy I want to name him  Alexander."  she said, then stopped and gasped as another contraction stole over here.  Rick walked in front of her and she leaned her head against his chest and cried out as the pain of the contraction racked through her body.  Rick rubbed her back, kissing the top of her head.  His hands stroked over her trying to help her relax, and after about 2 minutes she once again relaxed, though she was shaky.

 

"I think that was the longest one,"  he said.

 

"I think so too.  What about you, what do you think we should name our baby?"  she asked.

 

"Well I like Alexander, thats a good strong name for a boy.  I think for a girl Christina,"  he said.  She smiled,. and they walked around for another five minutes before once again a contraction stole over her.  She leaned against him.

 

"Ohhh,"  she cried out squeezing her arms around his chest.  His hands moved under her to her belly and he rubbed there, which helped her to relax.  Once it was over she wanted to go back up to their bed, so they headed that way.  It was while they were going up the stairs that her water broke.

 

"Oh Rick whats that,"  she asked panicked.

 

"Shh, lets get you to bed, and we will call the doctor,"  Jonathan came from upstairs and Rick told him to clean the mess and call the doctor, then he got her up to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

The day passed by as slow as that night had, and as the sun set Evelyn was in her final stages of labor.  A nurse had accompanied  Dr. Ignatus to the O'Connells, and both of them had told Rick he couldn't be with Evelyn, to which he fought and got his way.  Now he sat against the head board with her laying against his chest as she pushed the baby into the world.

 

"Very good Evelyn,"  the Dr. said as he instructed the nurse to prepare the bath.

 

"Oh Rick I want to stop now," she gasped.

 

"I know honey, but this baby needs to come out of you, and I promise when it does you can sleep as long as you want,"  he said.  She nodded and he tilted her head up kissing her before another contraction came.  She leaned forward with his help, her hands grasping both of his as she pushed.  She screamed over, and over as the head slowly slid out of her body then the shoulders, and the rest of the baby, before she fell back against Rick's chest sobbing and panting.  The silence in the room was broke by the cries of their baby, as the Doctor laid him on her chest.  Rick put his arms around her reaching to help her hold the tiny baby on her chest.

 

"OH Rick we have a boy,"  she sobbed as the baby continued his loud cries.  All he could do was nod his head, too overcome with emotion to form any words.  The nurse came and told them she needed to go wash the baby, and Evelyn sent Rick to be with them since she could not be.  He followed her into the bathroom and watched as she lowered the baby into the wash basin which she had lined with a towel.  If Alex had been upset by being born into a cold world, being put into the water made him even more angry.  The older woman washed him, cleaning the blood and afterbirth away from him.

 

"If you get towel,"  she said pointing to the towel she had laid out for him.  Rick did that, and she lifted the baby out.  Rick put it around him, and in a  moment his son calmed down his eyes open now looking at him.

 

"Hey there Alex.  I'm your daddy,"  Rick introduced as he swayed. with him.  The nurse came with a scale and Rick placed Alex there while she got his weight, which was 7 pounds 2 ounces, then she did a few more things.

 

"Need dress him,"  the nurse said.  Rick led her out of the room and into where Alex would sleep once he was older.  He still held his son, and got the cloths Evelyn had laid out for the big day.  With her help Rick dressed his son for the first time, which again brought more cries, though again once he was dressed, and safe in his fathers arms Alex stopped crying.

 

"Need to feed him."  They took him back to Evelyn who was dressed in a clean gown sitting up in the bed looking exhausted but happy.

 

"Here is your mum,"  Rick said as he placed Alex into her arms.

 

"You use bottle?"  the nurse asked.  Evelyn, fluent in Egyptian spoke that, and the woman spoke back leaving Rick in the dark to what they were saying, then the nurse came and helped Evelyn and in a moment Alex was having his first meal at her breast.    They both left after the doctor had a chance too look over Alex, and now it was just Mum dad and baby.

 

"Oh Rick, I never knew how much I would love him,"  she said, as her husband settled in the bed beside her.

 

"I know,"  as all he could say.  He leaned in and kissed her then their son, and for the time, they just sat, watching over their most priceless treasure.

 

 

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