good news Bad New
Back at the Fogg Manor, Duncan found himself organizing the family account books when Leicester came into the library, where he was working.
"Duncan, you must eat something, my friend." The chef implored. "I do not wish for you to starve!"
"I'm too nervous to eat!" Snapped Duncan harshly, before he realized his tone, and closed his eyes, counting to ten before daring to speak again. "Leicester, I know you mean well, but my nerves are... well, I'm just very worried for Mr. and Mrs. Fogg." He explained, his shoulders drooping at remembering how unkind he had been to his best friend. "I am sorry for snapping at you."
"You're forgiven." Leicester smiled gently. "Here, if you do change your mind, let me know, okay?"
"Thank you, my friend." Duncan smiled. "You are a dear and good friend."
But before Leicester could reply, the door slammed open, and a very familiar and loud voice barked orders from downstairs. Exchanging a look, Duncan and Leicester jumped to their feet and ran down the stairs as fast as they could towards the front door.
They found a procession of chaos- Rachel was in front, ordering the two maids; Emma was behind her, carrying an unconscious Alice in her arms; and Sophie was holding Max's hand and telling him something- probably reassuring Max about his insentient sister.
"Rachel, what has happened to Miss Alice?" Duncan demanded, and he did feel a little better at feeling Leicester's comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Miss Alice fainted in the hospital." Rachel replied, huffily. "We heard the doctors mentioning Mrs Fogg in her premature birth, and she collapsed."
Leicester dashed into the kitchen to make some tea for the party, and Duncan, after promptly guiding Rachel into a chair, asked Sophie to bring the smelling salts downstairs, whilst Emma kept an eye on Max.
First she laid Alice down on the sofa, and the sight of the young, pale daughter of his employers made Duncan uneasy. She laid there, her red locks spread over the pillow, looking for the world like a red haired six year old Sleeping Beauty.
Rachel then looked at her hands, and muttered something under her breath. Then she announced "Oh dear -we left the hospital so fast, that I still have Mrs. Fogg's overnight bag with me. I shall have to bring it back and give it to her."
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Sophie exclaimed "Smelling salts- found them!" and she ran back downstairs to hand them to Duncan.
Leicester had returned from the kitchen with several mugs, and a full pot of tea, which he gave a cup to Emma, and Rachel, before offering one to Duncan, who politely declined. He was too busy checking Alice's pulse. It was a bit high, but nothing too serious.
When Sophie handed him the clear glass bottle of smelling salts, Duncan thanked her, unscrewed the lid, and allowed the scent of the salts to waft under Alice's chubby nose. Soon, her eyes fluttered, and a pair of green- brown eyes was staring up at Duncan, whose face broke into a smile of relief.
"Where am I?" Alice asked sleepily.
"Alice!" Exclaimed Max happily, rushing to embrace his sister. "You're okay!"
"What happened?" Alice quizzed her brother.
"Emma took you home after you fell." Max supplied helpfully. Emma then took it upon herself to explain the matter to Alice in greater detail, who nodded, but she still looked a little dazed.
"Hm, has she hit her head, perhaps?" Leicester offered. "An old friend of mine from cooking school had an accident and hit his head badly."
"Yes, she did land quite hard- I'd imagine that she must have done some damage." Rachel mused. "Perhaps a minor concussion, and I should know- I did medical training as a nurse for a while."
She stood, and walked over to where Alice lay on the couch. She checked her eyes, and found that, according to the young girl, everything was 'a little bit fuzzy.'
"Shall we call the hospital?" Sophie asked anxiously.
"No- minor concussions are easily treated. We can deal with this injury ourselves." Rachel assured. "If it gets worse, we'll call the hospital. Besides, the doctors there checked her over before we went home. They said she hadn't obtained any brain damage, but she should still be monitored. This is why."
The group nodded solemnly. Things were looking very grave: first, Mrs Fogg had been rushed to hospital; then Alice had fainted; and now she had a concussion.
Duncan felt his stomach rumble fairly loudly at this point. He normally didn't feel hungry during nerve wracking situations, but he hadn't eaten in a few hours, and he did not want to be in the same position as young Miss Alice.
Luckily, Leicester went back into the kitchen to prepare something for the famished butler. He could tell his friend will need to eat soon, and he will ensure he did.
Alice blinked owlishly from her perch on the couch, peeking around the room from her little nest of cushions and a green and blue zig-zagged blanket.
"Don't you worry, Miss Alice- we'll ensure you're well rested and back on your feet again," Duncan reassured her, gently patting her head. The poor girl blinked up at him, still very confused, but she did manage a small smile at hearing these comforting words.
"Now, it is essential we don't annoy her." Rachel added. "If we do anything that will stress her out, then she will be very stressed, and it won't help her recover."
Sophie took Max aside again, and made him promise, for his sister's sake, not to mention a word about the baby to Alice. She knew Rachel and Emma would keep quiet, but she knew that Max was more likely to blurt something about Mrs Fogg out and accidentally stress Alice out.
Alice looked around the room once more, and she shook her head. "Whoa, whatever that was sure can wake the mind up fast." She muttered to herself. "Max let's see Mom's overnight bag." She added, this time to her brother.
"Okay, Alice," Max agreed, as he handed her their mother's green overnight bag.
Alice opened it, and took a look inside. "Huh? Hey, Max- Mom has no picture of us in the bag."
"Maybe Mom forgot." Max suggested, and he shrugged at his sister. "From what I heard on the way home, Mom didn't have a lot of time to pack."
"Max it's up to us to pack Mom a picture of us!" Alice declared enthusiastically as she got off the couch with great determination and a fresh burst of energy.
"Alice, shouldn't you rest?" Max asked Alice in concern, watching his sister carefully. "I don't want Rachel getting mad."
"Max, I'm okay, really. Now come on- we have a lot of work to do before we go back to the hospital to see Mom and Dad!" She dashed up the stairs as fast as her legs would carry her.
Max said "Wow, smelling salts sure does its work. Wait up, Alice!" He called after his sister, and he ran upstairs after her.
Back at the hospital, Paul said "Mary, no don't go to sleep now, you need to push, sweetheart!"
"I can't, Paul- not anymore. I mean, Max and Alice were easy, but now...it's almost like I'm giving birth to two babies. Paul, I'm so, so tired..." Mary whimpered.
"I know, love, but you mustn't sleep yet. The baby's due." Paul replied, taking his wife's hand and squeezing it. "I promise once it's born, you can sleep as long as you need to. Just please, don't sleep now."
Doctor Wayne came up to the couple, and said "Mrs. Fogg, I need you to give one last push please, because I can see a little head peek out."
"It's just one baby- I can do it..." Mary said as she gritted her teeth and started to give one final push and squeezing Paul's hand a lot harder than before.
"Mary, where did you get a stronger grip?" Paul asked, amazed, and yet in pain at his wife crushing his fingers painfully- but unintentionally, of course. "I don't ever remember you squeezing my hand this hard."
"I...just...want...this...baby...out!" Mary nearly screamed, as she felt something come out of her, and she nearly collapsed into the bed with relief as a loud scream was heard.
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs Fogg! You have a girl!" Doctor Wayne announced, holding a squalling, pink, blood covered infant in his arms. Paul was immensely happy, overjoyed, and in love again. His little daughter looked beautiful- like a little angel from Heaven.
But Mary soon realized something was out of place. "Doctor, I feel I'm not finished yet." She told him anxiously. "What's wrong?"
"Hm, it might just be the afterbirth..." But the good doctor was uncertain. "Keep pushing, Mrs Fogg." He instructed. "I think you two might be having twins..." He decided, finally.
Poor Paul was so overcome with shock at the news that his face drained of color, and then he fainted.
"Paul?" Mary asked. "Oh, what a great time for my husband to faint -right when I need him!"
"Give another push, Mrs. Fogg." Dr Wayne said, handing the first baby to a nurse to clean and weigh. "Shoot, this second baby isn't coming out."
Mary felt a cold wave of fear grip at her heart at his words. She didn't want this baby to die! So she pushed again. She gripped at the rails of her bed, and she grunted and screamed as she pushed and pushed the baby further on. She wished Paul was here to whisper encouragements to her, and possibly take some bruised and thoroughly squeezed fingers into the bargain.
But a second nurse was busy seeing to her unconscious husband- she was currently waving smelling salts under his nose, after having sat him upright. Paul mumbled groggily "Okay, I'm awake, Mary- I am so sorry. You are about to break the rails- ow, Mary too tight!" He gasped, as his wife grabbed his hand again.
"Leaving me along again, Paul. You are going to pay for this at home- now shut it!" She snapped furiously. Knowing the fierce moods his spouse could get into, Paul wisely decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Twins- we only have one crib. Shoot -come on Mary, you can do this now!" He urged her, allowing his fingers to curl round her enclosed hand.
Just then, Nurse Stella returned from weighing their first twin, and declared "This first twin is healthy- she weighs 5 pounds and 6 ounces- boy, she has a good set of lungs!" She added over the baby's cries.
Dr. Wayne held up a hand, and said "Ms Fogg, stop, please- this second baby isn't coming out on its own. We need to deliver it another way." He informed the couple seriously. "We must deliver this baby by Caesarean section."
Mary paled at that. She had never, ever, needed a C-section. And now one of her children required to be delivered by that method? Swallowing, she asked "How long will this C-section take?"
"It will take between three quarters of an hour and an half, Mrs Fogg." Doctor Wayne told her. "I am worried about the likelihood of this twin surviving the birth, however." He added grimly. "I fear this twin may not be as strong as his or her sister."
Dr Wayne said "I am sorry, Mr Fogg, but you can't be in the operation room with your wife- you can however get to know this little one in case the second twin doesn't make it."
"I better give Rachel an update-she's in the waiting room, but I will be back." Paul decided reluctantly, seeing no alternative to this dire predicament. "Mary, I love you."
"Paul, just remember I love you very much, and this little one," Mary replied, and nodded to their elder twin. "How about we call her Ronny Lily Fogg- Riley for short?" She asked.
"I love it. And you will make it-please, I can't raise our kids without you- I love you." Paul told her.
"I love you too, Paul." Mary replied tearfully as they wheeled her into the operating room.
Nurse Stella, who had left the room again on an errand, returned and said "Mr Fogg, the receptionist told me to tell you that your friend Rachel and two other ladies took an unconscious girl and a shocked boy home- but don't worry, no damage was done." She assured. "The girl was checked over before they were sent home."
"You mean... Alice and Max...shoot! Could you hold Riley, please? I have to make a call home- urgently. Can today get any worse?" He muttered this last question to himself as he handed he squirming new born to a startled nurse, and whipped out his cell phone.
Dialing in the Fogg house phone, he began calling, hoping that Rachel would pick up and explain the situation.
"What do you mean you don't where Miss Alice is?" Rachel questioned in a thundering voice. Duncan and Leicester exchanged anxious glances, before the former raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, which forced the housekeeper to cease her tirade for the time being.
"I am aware this is serious, Rachel, but we will find her- there is no way she would leave the manor and"- But he was interrupted by the phone shrieking to be answered.
"That must be Mr Fogg." Rachel deduced, and then glared at the two men in front of her. "We shall discuss this later, gentlemen." She informed them, before hurrying to the landline and answering it.
"Rachel- what happened? I heard at the hospital that Alice fainted- is she alright?" Paul questioned swiftly.
"Yes, sir, she will be. She just had a nasty bump on the head, and a very minor concussion." Rachel explained. "She overheard the doctors at the hospital mentioning Mrs Fogg's premature labor, and I..."
"Why were they at the hospital?" Paul interrupted, anger seeping into his voice. "I wanted them to come home and wait there until Mary and I were ready!"
After she wrangled the phone from her superior's fingers successfully, Emma held it to her ear and explained how she had persuaded Sophie to take them to the hospital- but only briefly. She knew she was responsible for what happened, and she didn't want anyone but herself to accept the blame.
I see." Paul answered.
"I really am very sorry sir," Emma continued remorsefully. "I should have listened to Sophie about how terrible an idea that was, but I didn't think. I didn't anticipate Miss Alice to react so."
Paul let out a breath in relief that Alice was okay, and he was glad that Emma owned up to the incident. "You're forgiven, Emma- but next time I tell you and your sister that the kids must be home, they must be home. Please remember next time."
Emma sighed happily. "Yes, sir- I'll remember next time. Thank you." She then handed the phone back to Rachel sheepishly, mouthing a quick apology at her rudeness. Rachel merely nodded before holding the phone to her ear once more.
"So how is Mrs Fogg, sir?" She queried.
"Well, there's good news, and bad news." Paul began nervously, all traces of anger now dissipated at the topic of his wife. "The good news is, Mary was actually expecting twins, and we have one twin born successfully."
Rachel gasped in delight, and quickly relayed the news to the two maids, Duncan and Leicester, who rejoiced equally at the unexpected news. "What's the name of the new arrival?" She questioned, grinning like a fool.
"Her name is Ronny Lily Fogg, but we decided on Riley for a nickname." Paul explained and he smiled despite the situation he was facing at the hospital. "She's a beautiful little girl."
"What about the other twin, Mr Fogg?" Rachel inquired, feeling something unpleasant worm around in her gut and gnawing at her joy until it was replaced with apprehension and fear for her employer and the other child.
"That's the bad news." Paul responded. "It's not coming out...so Mary's been admitted for a C-section."
This time the gasp he heard down the line was a stifled one of horror and shock. "Oh my goodness-do you know if they'll be alright?"
"I don't know, Rachel...I'm not allowed to be with Mary, actually, so I have no idea how things are going. I only phoned here because a nurse here told me that Alice had fainted and you went home." Paul explained.
The housekeeper quietly confirmed this, feeling tears well up in her eyes, but she blinked them away harshly. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't want to leave, but I didn't feel right staying, not with Miss Alice..."
"Rachel, please don't worry about it," Paul's voice crackled on the other end of the line, and Rachel wondered how bad things really were at the hospital. "There's not much you can do here, anyway- neither of us would be allowed with Mary, and I'll be fine."
Sensing a weakening in his voice, the housekeeper decided to take action. "Is there anything I can do, sir?" She asked.
Paul gave a weak chuckle at her determination. "Ah, good old pragmatic Rachel- we'd be lost without you!" He told her seriously, before pausing in consideration. "Just...just keep the household running smoothly until we come back- you and Duncan, okay? And you all try to be brave too- I know you're fond of Mary, and all we can do for her is hope she and the baby pull through."
"Yes sir. I'll do that. I"-
But she stopped on hearing a tone pierce her ears, instead of Paul's voice.
Returning the phone to its rightful place, she surmised the rest of the situation to Emma, Sophie Duncan and Leicester, about the condition of Mary and the unborn baby, and Paul's instructions.
"Very well, Rachel." Leicester said dully.
"For the Fogg family," Duncan added, equally miserable, but trying to inject velour into his tone.
"And the first thing we can do is look for Miss Alice- and Master Max." Rachel decided firmly, putting her hands on her hips.
Meanwhile, in Paul and Mary's room, the two kids were rummaging for items in Mary's dresser to take to their mother.
"Look, Max -I found a picture of us from summer vacation last year!" Alice exclaimed, holding a glossy photograph of the family on holiday at a beach. It was a lovely photo, and a prized possession of Mary's.
"Cool, Al!" Max praised his sister happily, before holding up a string of gold colored beads. "Look what I found- Mom' necklace from her first date with Dad! We'll take it to her too." He decided firmly. "She'll want to see it again."
Alice said "Yes. Great idea, Max!" she admired the gold beads on the cherished necklace- all the larger beads had animals on them. Mary loved this necklace not just because it was given to her from Paul on their first date, but it also had animals on it that reminded her of her family.
The swan bead was the one that reminded Mary of Alice, as she was graceful and charming. The elephant was Paul- with an extremely sharp memory and a need to protect his family at all costs. The snake was Max, who was very clever and could worm out of trouble no matter what. Mary had told them all this.
"So what animal do you think will represent the baby?" Alice asked her brother, who shrugged.
"I don't know, sis. But the lion's cool- I hope it's that." Max replied, shrugging.
"But what if Mom had two babies?" Alice theorized. "The lion would be for them two."
"Hmm, yeah, seeing as they would be twins...do you think Mom will have twins, Al?" He asked
Alice just smiled a toothy smile at her brother. "Maybe," She replied innocently with a tiny shrug.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps heading for their parent's bedroom. Their faces morphed into alarm.
"Quick, Al- down here! They'll never find us!" Max hissed and grabbed Alice's wrist before yanking her underneath the king sized bed. As their parents' bedspreads covered the gap between the floor and the bed frame, they were perfectly hidden.
And just in time too- no sooner had they wriggled out of sight then the door opened. Max peeked out cautiously, and then mimed writing in a book, to show her it was Duncan without speaking. Alice nodded tersely in reply, before stiffening.
"Miss Alice and Master Max- are either you in here?" Duncan asked loudly.
No response.
"I say, now's not the time...what's this?"
He saw that his mistress's drawers had been opened, and on the floor next to it, he saw a photograph of the Fogg family on a previous summer vacation, and...
"Heavens above, it's Mrs. Fogg's beads! What are they doing out of their box?" He gasped in horror. "I better tidy this away."
As he hurried away to return them to their box, Alice attempted to worm away for escape, but Max shook his head. They weren't allowed in here if their parents weren't home, and Max didn't want to get either him or Alice into trouble for being in here.
...