FACING THE PAST
Disclaimer : Not mine, know their not mine just having little bits of fun thanks.
Chapter 2 London, England
Note: I realized last night that for Elizabeth, Rick and Evies baby to be 11 months old that it should have been 2 years that passed instead of just one. So Alex is 10 in this. Which makes Rick about 35, and Evie about 31. Mary-Elizabeth will stay at 22, so just do the math.
The ship ride to England took a week and a half, and when it finally docked, Mary-Elizabeth was more than glad to be on dry land. Since it had taken nearly all she owned, just to be able to get a one way ticket here, not to mention getting a passport, and other required things for over seas, travel, Mary-Elizabeth only had one suitcase, and had only one clean outfit left. She was taking a huge risk in coming here, knowing that if she didn’t find Richard, then she would have to find a way to make a living here alone. That didn’t bother her, she was strong, had to be strong, since her parents death, and before even. Once she had her one bag, and had in a since checked in, she caught a cab straight to the British Museum. It was about 4pm, and she seriously hoped that people around here worked late hours.
It was a quiet day at the museum for Evelyn O’Connell, and she was happy for that. It was rare that she got to work on something she wanted, rather than what the museum, and the Bembridge scholars wanted of her. Today she was working on her third publication, on a series of Ancient Curses, this one involving Ahm-Shere and the Bracelet of Anubis. As she worked, she thought of this evening. Alex and Jonathan were going to watch Elizabeth, so she and Rick could go out for a night on the town, something they had not done in quite a while, for various reasons.
“Hello,” someone called out, just beyond the entry of her door. Evelyn looked up.
“Come in.” In a moment a young girl walked in. She was simply dressed, not in a fashion that was common around here, and she looked vaguely familiar.
“Am I intruding?” she asked.
“No, please come in and sit down.” Evelyn stood and poured some tea for herself, and for her company
“Thank you,” Mary-Elizabeth said, as she accepted the tea.
“I guess your wondering about me,” she said quietly. This was nerve racking to the core.
“Yes, its rare I get any personal visitors aside from my husband and family.” Mary-Elizabeth nodded.
“My name is Mary-Elizabeth. I’m a student at a University in Chicago.” That part was true enough, she was a student, but the next part was a little bit of a stretch.
“I have read your books on Ancient curses.” She had done that on the trip over, and it was quite fascinating. “I guess my interest in Egyptology, and since your the first woman to be accepted in a mostly male dominated profession, I decided it was worth my while to come find you.” This was very flattering to Evelyn, and for the next hour she and Mary-Elizabeth talked about her many experiences.
“My first experience was in Egypt, with the curse of Hamunaptra. My husband, led us to the lost city, though it is still protected by a group of desert warriors called the Med-jai. We experienced the curse first hand. The media however didn’t believe that, and really it worked to our advantage, because it isn’t something that needs attention drawn to.” Mary-Elizabeth wished she would say more about her husband, it would be awkward of her to just ask.
“I guess I should be going, its getting late, and I’ve taken up your time as it is.” Evelyn looked at the clock.
“I am never home on time, but I do need to be going. Feel free to come back tomorrow and we can talk some more.” She nodded.
“Do you know of any hotels around here that won’t cost too much, I didn’t really expect things to be so expensive,” she admitted. That caused Evelyn to frown. The cheaper hotels were really not place for young girl.
“I do, but their not very safe. Why don’t you come home with me. We have more than enough space in our manor,” Evelyn offered. That was not a very good idea. On the off chance that Richard was her brother, she wasn’t sure how he would react to seeing her since so much time had passed.
“No I’ll be all right.” Evie wasn’t convinced.
“Well My brother owns a resort not far from the city. Let me call and reserve a room for you, and you won’t have to worry about paying for your room and meals.” Reluctantly she accepted the offer, and when it was all set, the two woman walked out to Evelyn’s car. The drive was relatively quiet.
“Do you have family back in Chicago?” Evelyn asked, trying to ease things for her new found friend.
“No, not really. My parents were killed in a car crash 2 years ago, so I’ve been on my own every since. Does this hotel have washing facilities?” she asked trying to change the subject. Evelyn felt bad about asking such a personal question.
“Yes, and people who will do that for you.” When they arrive Mary-Elizabeth was very impressed. It was very beautiful, out in the country. She was glad that Evelyn escorted her in, and was very quickly taken care of by a friendly staff. She said goodbye to Evelyn, and when she got to her room she laid on the bed, trying to make since out of her rambling emotions.
At home, Rick was in their bathroom giving Elizabeth her bath. She was quiet, pushing her two duckys around in the water while he finished rinsing her hair.
“All right, I think you are clean,” he said getting a towel. He lifted her out of the bath, and wrapped her in the towel, and as he stood, Evelyn came in.
“I’m late, I know.” He just smiled.
“I moved up our reservations at the restaurant, so you have plenty of time,” He said leaning in to steel a kiss from her.
“Mum mum,” Elizabeth struggled wanting her mum to hold her, which Evelyn did.
“Did you have a good day today?” she asked her baby as she carried her down the hall to her room.” She got out a soft nightgown, and a diaper, and in a few moments had her little one ready for bed. Alex came in then, and Elizabeth ran to him.
“Alec up.” He picked her up and spun her around, getting laughter from her.
“Are you ready to go play?” she ran back to mum, not yet ready to be away from her, so Evelyn picked her back up and carried her into their room, where Rick was dressing.
“So did the Scholars decide you weren’t busy enough.” That was usually the case, and why most of the time she ran late.
“No not this time,” Evie said settling Elizabeth down on the floor with her babies.
“Actually, I met someone who is I guess you would say is an admirer of mine.” He stopped dressing
“Who was he?” Rick said teasing her.
“Oh you, it was a young lady, a young girl who is a student at an American University, interested in Egyptology.” He came over to her and pulled her into his arms kissing her.
“Oh gross, can’t you two behave, and not in front of young eyes,” Alex said, as he came to rescue his sister from such nonsense. They just chuckled at him, and he took Elizabeth downstairs for dinner.
“So, did she enjoy meeting you?” he asked still holding her.
“I think so. She seems so lonely though. I had offered to let her stay with us, but she seemed alarmed at such an idea. So I put her in a room at the resort.” He nodded.
“I’m sure she will be fine there, might even be fun for her.” He had no idea this was his sister, or he wouldn’t be agreeing to let her stay there. For now the young girl was forgotten, and when they were ready, Rick and Evelyn left for a night on the town.
Dreams are keys to the past, and sometimes the past pushes to be remembered. His dream came again, but not one that was pleasant. He saw a young girl, most likely in her 20s, standing by the water at the main port. She looked familiar, even though he couldn’t see her face, and he watched as a man grabbed her and slit her throat. He sat up in bed out of breath, which woke Evelyn.
“Rick?” She eased him back down beside her.
“You never have nightmares,” she said worried. He nodded.
“Evelyn. There is a part of my past that you don’t know about. I’ve tried to keep it barried, but I keep having dreams, and maybe its just something I need to bring out into the open.” He felt her tense, and it was his turn to reassure her.
“Its not bad sweetheart, well maybe not in the way you are thinking. When I left home, it was more than just my parents who got left behind. I have or did have a sister, who was 6 at the time of my leaving. I’ve wanted to go back or to make contact with her, but after all these years, I still can’t face my parents. She rested her head on his chest.
“Maybe thats why your having dreams, because you need to go make amends with them and her. What was your sisters name?” He kissed the top of her head pulling her closer.
“Actually, why I picked Elizabeth was partly due to her. Her name is Mary-Elizabeth.” It suddenly clicked, and Evelyn sat up, confusing him.
“Oh my god. The girl in my office today. There was something about her that made me feel I should know her. She said she was from Chicago, and her name is Mary-Elizabeth.” He sat up, hardly believing that it was true. If it was his sister, there was no way he was leaving her at the resort. He stood and started to dress, then stopped.
“I want to go see her, but given the fact that I left her, I’m not sure she would be so receptive to seeing me.” He said settling back beside his love. Evelyn held him close.
“She came to find you, and if she is your sister, then leaving her there isn’t a good idea,” she said, mirroring his own thoughts
“I’ll come with you, just let me go tell Alex to keep an ear out for Elizabeth.” Evelyn left to do that, and Rick got dressed feeling stunned.
Nights were never her friend, and Mary-Elizabeth sat in her bed holding her very warn doll to her. She was a woman, but still a child in her heart, and there were still fears of a time long ago, when two men broke into their home, when she was alone. They hadn’t done any harm to her other than to tie her up and taunt her, but the memories still lived in her, and it still scared her to death. The sudden knock at her door made her jump.
“Whose there?” shes asked frightened.
“It’s Evelyn,” Evie said. She had come by herself, and Rick was waiting in the lobby. Very quickly she opened the door, and Evelyn came in seeing that she was frightened and took her into her arms.
“Shhh.” It felt strange to be hugged, because when her parents were alive that kind of contact was rare. Evelyn’s voice soothed her, and in a moment she stood on her own.
“Thank you,” Mary-Elizabeth said.
“Your welcome. I came back because, I, we want you to come back to our home.” At her confused look Evelyn explained.
“Rick has been having dreams about you, about when he left you, and when he woke up and told me, we put things together.” She wasn’t sure about this.
“Is he mad at me?” Then he came in.
“No, I guessed you would be mad at me,” he admitted. For a moment she just stood there, then she ran to him and was in his arms crying. He held her close, feeling bad that he had so obviously caused her pain. After a moment she eased away.
“I’m sorry, its just, well I guess my coming isn’t all good news. “ Evelyn started to leave.
“No stay. I have something to tell but he will need you.” Evelyn remembered then about the crash, and settled beside Rick on the couch.
“I came to find you because I don’t have anyone else. Mom and dad were killed in a crash two years ago.” He closed his eyes. Suddenly all this emotion washed over him. Anger, hate, then sadness and sorrow, and guilt. She came over to them.
“I’m sorry about that Rick, but I’m not sorry they are gone.” He opened his eyes, a little angry at her.
“How could you say that, they loved you.” She sighed.
“I say that because until they died I had forgotten you. They never let me go into your room, and neve talked about you. As I grew older I guess I thought I made you up.” This hurt more than finding out they were gone. He hugged Evelyn first kissing her, then stood and drew his sister into his arms.
“Its late, and we need to get home.” She nodded, not realizing that they meant she was coming too.
“That means you as well.” She looked up at him in surprise. Evie helped her get her things together, then they left for home.
It was not all peaceful at home. Elizabeth had woken up, wanting Mum mum, and was crying as her brother and Uncle tried to soothe her.
“Heres Mr. Bunny,” Jonathan tried. She clung to Alex screaming, then mum came in.
“Elizabeth shh.” Evelyn took her from Alex, and in a moment her crys subsided. The guys walked out as Rick came up with Mary-Elizabeth behind him.
“Alex, this is my sister, your aunt Mary-Elizabeth.” She smiled at him, and Alex was speachless.
“Hi..Dad when did you get sister.?” They laughed.
“I have always had a sister, and I promise to explain it in the morning. Mary-Elizabeth this is my Brother-in-law, Jonathan,” He smiled and after hellos were made, Rick led her to her room which was the second door on the left. past the babys room.
“Wow this place is huge,” she said as he laid her bag on the bed.
“Big enough.” Rick turned and she came into his arms for another hug. It felt good to get hugs, and to know that she had found someone, or in this case a few someone’s who loved her.
“Will you be all right?” he asked her. She nodded.
“I will now.” He left her to get some sleep, and after she changed into her nightgown she crawled into the bed, and sleep soon found her. She was happy now, in a safe place, with a family who loved her, and that to her was worth more than anything else in the world.