Chapter 5
As the clock chimed for the last time, Frank gave a heavy sigh. "Time's up, Lady," Frank whispered to her. We're all still here."
"Elaina, Are you ok? Why is everyone huddled together?" Maria asked, walking in the room.
"Your guess is as good as mine. I think Mom might have forgotten her pills today or something. She got really depressed about something," Derek explained.
"I'm fine now. I'm sorry if I scared you. I guess I shouldn't forget my meds," Elaina played along with Derek's theory.
"If you're ok, I'm going to go find Becky," Derek kissed his mom and went towards the kitchen.
"Lainie, Frank, What the hell is going on? I know she took her pills. I saw the daily container she keeps them in and it was empty." Maria stood waiting for an explanation.
Elaina was staring at Frank, ignoring her cousin. "I love you. I should have believed you. I'm glad I was wrong."
"I'm glad you were wrong too. Sarah why don't you go in the kitchen? I bet Sabrina is in there. Tell her you deserve a cookie and a glass of milk."
"Okie. Two cookies?" Sarah asked.
"Just one, Sarah," Frank corrected her. "You'd think she was going on ten not three," Frank smiled. Sarah raced to the kitchen calling for Sab.
"HELLO! What the hell is going on? People are going to be showing up soon and I want to know what is happening," Maria demanded, sitting next to Elaina.
"I have someone I need to talk to. Frank will explain everything to you," Elaina said, getting up.
"Somebody better explain and fast." Maria was running out of patience.
*******
Elaina went in the office and found Ardeth and Layla on the couch together. Layla was lying with her head in Ardeth's lap. He was stroking her long black hair as they talked to each other.
"Excuse me for intruding," Elaina said, walking over to them.
"This is your home. You are not intruding," Ardeth said to her as Layla sat up.
"I want to apologize for my actions earlier. I became irrational. I haven't done that in a while. I hope you will forgive me?" Elaina asked of them.
"Frank explained what you thought would happen. You only feared the unknown as anyone would. I forgive you," Ardeth took her hand. "I am glad I did not change your life or anyone else's."
"We, too, were scared of what would happen," Layla added.
"It seems that the only lives that were changed were yours," Elaina said as Frank and Maria walked into the room.
"Maria has a thought on what might have happened," Frank announced, turning to Maria. "It's your theory, you explain it.
"What if Ardeth wasn't supposed to die? What if something prior to this day set off a chain reaction to cause his death?" Maria paused for them to think about it. "If something wasn't supposed to happen and did then God or fate, whatever you want to believe, intervened and brought Ardeth and Layla here to put things as they should have been," Maria explained.
"Good theory. Why would the family history say it did happen, if it wasn't supposed to?" Elaina thought about what she said, finding it was rather confusing.
"Read it now and see if it has changed," Frank suggested, thinking it was a rather foolish notion, but it wouldn't surprise him.
Elaina walked over to the computer and opened the file. She put on her glasses. "Cool, it did change," Elaina smiled. "Oh, my." Elaina put her hand over her mouth, trying to conceal her excitement.
"What is it?" Maria wondered.
"Well I'm not sure I should tell them. It could cause a change if I tell them," Elaina considered.
"Let's not start that again," Frank advised her.
"Ok. If anything happens we can blame Frank," Elaina laughed.
"Layla, are you sure you want to know all this? Wouldn't you rather be surprised?" Maria asked, reading over Elaina's shoulder.
"Yes. I would like to know how many children we have at least. That is ok with you, Hubee?" Layla asked, looking hopefully to Ardeth.
"I'm very curious as to the children we have too," Ardeth smiled.
"Well I shall tell you then. "You have a total of 5 children. But only four pregnancies. One pregnancy will bring you twins."
"God is being very good to us," Ardeth kissed Layla. "Does it say when the first child is born?"
"Yes it does." Elaina looked at the date and smiled. "Your first child arrives in 9 months. You are either pregnant now or you will be soon," Elaina added.
"This is very good news. Is it a boy or a girl?" Layla asked, being very curious.
"I think you should wait and be surprised," Elaina said not wanting to give them all the information.
"Please I want to know if I give my husband a son," Layla begged her.
"I can tell you that you do give him a son," Elaina said looking at the monitor.
"Oh, for heaven's sake Elaina, tell them. It won't hurt them to know. If anything it will help them prepare for them," Maria told her.
"You have a daughter first and then your son arrives the following year," Elaina read to them. "Before you ask the names, I'm leaving that as a surprise."
"We have already talked about names for our children. We do not need to know them. Maybe it is best to keep some things untold."
"They are interesting names though," Maria said still, reading over Elaina's shoulder.
"Don't you have a party going on down the hall?" Elaina asked her cousin.
"Oh my God! I was so interested in all this I forgot. Please excuse me. Sabrina is going to kill me for leaving her alone."
"Tell her I kept you busy," Elaina said as she left. "Might as well tell her that. I was going to get blamed for it anyway," Elaina said more to herself than anyone else.
"Ardeth, I hope you have a lot of patience. You'll need it with five children. Elaina and I always thought raising two was a handful," Frank commented.
"This coming from a man who yells for me when either of them become sick. Or there were nights when you had work and couldn't be with them. We are both guilty of that though."
"I have been here for them, not as much as I would have liked. There have been times when you have been away and I have stayed up with them. Remember when Derek had the measles and you were in..never mind bad example," Frank said realizing she was in the hospital then.
"Why is that a bad example?" Ardeth asked not knowing anything about them.
"I was in the hospital going through treatments for cancer then. Frank had been visiting me but when Derek came down with the measles Frank had to stop visiting, too."
"Would it be interfering to know more about your hospital stay?" Layla asked, concerned about a family member. "I did not think they could treat such an ailment."
"In this day and age they have many medical treatments for cancer. Some they can cure somewhat. There are others that they cannot."
"Did they cure yours?" Layla wondered.
"Yes, by surgery and by chemotherapy. A process where medication destroys the cancer," Elaina said trying not to confuse them too much.
"That sounds horrible does it not hurt you?"
"Yes. It can cause you to become very sick and weak. I developed the cancer when I was carrying Sarah. The doctors wanted me to stop the pregnancy, but I knew that I would not have another child after the treatment and surgery so I made the decision to have Sarah," Elaina explained. Talking about it had always made her uneasy. She started pacing as she spoke. "I knew that it would be a risk to myself and the baby but I was determined to have her."
Frank walked over by her and held her. "Elaina went into labor two months early. I was away when it happened. I was called and told to go back home that my wife was having difficulties with the baby. When I arrived at the hospital she had started to bleed very badly and they were taking her to surgery. The doctor asked me if he was to save Elaina or the baby if it came to that." Frank stopped and held Elaina tight for a few seconds. "I told him to save them both or I would kill him."
"You never told me that last part before, about killing the doctor," Elaina said in surprise.
"I would have reacted the same way," Ardeth said. "I could never choose between my wife or child."
"Could we change the subject? I'd rather not discuss this anymore," Elaina said as she heard music start playing. "I guess the party has started. We should make an appearance at least," Elaina said to Frank.
"You can go upstairs or stay in here. We really should go give our wishes to our friend," Frank said to Ardeth.
"We will stay hear and listen to the unique music," Ardeth told them.
"You can lock the door if you want. We'll knock and announce ourselves when we come back," Elaina said, thinking of their privacy.
"Come on, Lady. I hear a slow song and I feel like dancing with you. See you later." Frank took Elaina by the hand and led her out the door making sure they shut it behind them.
"Hubee". "My Love."
As the clock chimed for the last time, Frank gave a heavy sigh. "Time's up, Lady," Frank whispered to her. We're all still here."
"Elaina, Are you ok? Why is everyone huddled together?" Maria asked, walking in the room.
"Your guess is as good as mine. I think Mom might have forgotten her pills today or something. She got really depressed about something," Derek explained.
"I'm fine now. I'm sorry if I scared you. I guess I shouldn't forget my meds," Elaina played along with Derek's theory.
"If you're ok, I'm going to go find Becky," Derek kissed his mom and went towards the kitchen.
"Lainie, Frank, What the hell is going on? I know she took her pills. I saw the daily container she keeps them in and it was empty." Maria stood waiting for an explanation.
Elaina was staring at Frank, ignoring her cousin. "I love you. I should have believed you. I'm glad I was wrong."
"I'm glad you were wrong too. Sarah why don't you go in the kitchen? I bet Sabrina is in there. Tell her you deserve a cookie and a glass of milk."
"Okie. Two cookies?" Sarah asked.
"Just one, Sarah," Frank corrected her. "You'd think she was going on ten not three," Frank smiled. Sarah raced to the kitchen calling for Sab.
"HELLO! What the hell is going on? People are going to be showing up soon and I want to know what is happening," Maria demanded, sitting next to Elaina.
"I have someone I need to talk to. Frank will explain everything to you," Elaina said, getting up.
"Somebody better explain and fast." Maria was running out of patience.
*******
Elaina went in the office and found Ardeth and Layla on the couch together. Layla was lying with her head in Ardeth's lap. He was stroking her long black hair as they talked to each other.
"Excuse me for intruding," Elaina said, walking over to them.
"This is your home. You are not intruding," Ardeth said to her as Layla sat up.
"I want to apologize for my actions earlier. I became irrational. I haven't done that in a while. I hope you will forgive me?" Elaina asked of them.
"Frank explained what you thought would happen. You only feared the unknown as anyone would. I forgive you," Ardeth took her hand. "I am glad I did not change your life or anyone else's."
"We, too, were scared of what would happen," Layla added.
"It seems that the only lives that were changed were yours," Elaina said as Frank and Maria walked into the room.
"Maria has a thought on what might have happened," Frank announced, turning to Maria. "It's your theory, you explain it.
"What if Ardeth wasn't supposed to die? What if something prior to this day set off a chain reaction to cause his death?" Maria paused for them to think about it. "If something wasn't supposed to happen and did then God or fate, whatever you want to believe, intervened and brought Ardeth and Layla here to put things as they should have been," Maria explained.
"Good theory. Why would the family history say it did happen, if it wasn't supposed to?" Elaina thought about what she said, finding it was rather confusing.
"Read it now and see if it has changed," Frank suggested, thinking it was a rather foolish notion, but it wouldn't surprise him.
Elaina walked over to the computer and opened the file. She put on her glasses. "Cool, it did change," Elaina smiled. "Oh, my." Elaina put her hand over her mouth, trying to conceal her excitement.
"What is it?" Maria wondered.
"Well I'm not sure I should tell them. It could cause a change if I tell them," Elaina considered.
"Let's not start that again," Frank advised her.
"Ok. If anything happens we can blame Frank," Elaina laughed.
"Layla, are you sure you want to know all this? Wouldn't you rather be surprised?" Maria asked, reading over Elaina's shoulder.
"Yes. I would like to know how many children we have at least. That is ok with you, Hubee?" Layla asked, looking hopefully to Ardeth.
"I'm very curious as to the children we have too," Ardeth smiled.
"Well I shall tell you then. "You have a total of 5 children. But only four pregnancies. One pregnancy will bring you twins."
"God is being very good to us," Ardeth kissed Layla. "Does it say when the first child is born?"
"Yes it does." Elaina looked at the date and smiled. "Your first child arrives in 9 months. You are either pregnant now or you will be soon," Elaina added.
"This is very good news. Is it a boy or a girl?" Layla asked, being very curious.
"I think you should wait and be surprised," Elaina said not wanting to give them all the information.
"Please I want to know if I give my husband a son," Layla begged her.
"I can tell you that you do give him a son," Elaina said looking at the monitor.
"Oh, for heaven's sake Elaina, tell them. It won't hurt them to know. If anything it will help them prepare for them," Maria told her.
"You have a daughter first and then your son arrives the following year," Elaina read to them. "Before you ask the names, I'm leaving that as a surprise."
"We have already talked about names for our children. We do not need to know them. Maybe it is best to keep some things untold."
"They are interesting names though," Maria said still, reading over Elaina's shoulder.
"Don't you have a party going on down the hall?" Elaina asked her cousin.
"Oh my God! I was so interested in all this I forgot. Please excuse me. Sabrina is going to kill me for leaving her alone."
"Tell her I kept you busy," Elaina said as she left. "Might as well tell her that. I was going to get blamed for it anyway," Elaina said more to herself than anyone else.
"Ardeth, I hope you have a lot of patience. You'll need it with five children. Elaina and I always thought raising two was a handful," Frank commented.
"This coming from a man who yells for me when either of them become sick. Or there were nights when you had work and couldn't be with them. We are both guilty of that though."
"I have been here for them, not as much as I would have liked. There have been times when you have been away and I have stayed up with them. Remember when Derek had the measles and you were in..never mind bad example," Frank said realizing she was in the hospital then.
"Why is that a bad example?" Ardeth asked not knowing anything about them.
"I was in the hospital going through treatments for cancer then. Frank had been visiting me but when Derek came down with the measles Frank had to stop visiting, too."
"Would it be interfering to know more about your hospital stay?" Layla asked, concerned about a family member. "I did not think they could treat such an ailment."
"In this day and age they have many medical treatments for cancer. Some they can cure somewhat. There are others that they cannot."
"Did they cure yours?" Layla wondered.
"Yes, by surgery and by chemotherapy. A process where medication destroys the cancer," Elaina said trying not to confuse them too much.
"That sounds horrible does it not hurt you?"
"Yes. It can cause you to become very sick and weak. I developed the cancer when I was carrying Sarah. The doctors wanted me to stop the pregnancy, but I knew that I would not have another child after the treatment and surgery so I made the decision to have Sarah," Elaina explained. Talking about it had always made her uneasy. She started pacing as she spoke. "I knew that it would be a risk to myself and the baby but I was determined to have her."
Frank walked over by her and held her. "Elaina went into labor two months early. I was away when it happened. I was called and told to go back home that my wife was having difficulties with the baby. When I arrived at the hospital she had started to bleed very badly and they were taking her to surgery. The doctor asked me if he was to save Elaina or the baby if it came to that." Frank stopped and held Elaina tight for a few seconds. "I told him to save them both or I would kill him."
"You never told me that last part before, about killing the doctor," Elaina said in surprise.
"I would have reacted the same way," Ardeth said. "I could never choose between my wife or child."
"Could we change the subject? I'd rather not discuss this anymore," Elaina said as she heard music start playing. "I guess the party has started. We should make an appearance at least," Elaina said to Frank.
"You can go upstairs or stay in here. We really should go give our wishes to our friend," Frank said to Ardeth.
"We will stay hear and listen to the unique music," Ardeth told them.
"You can lock the door if you want. We'll knock and announce ourselves when we come back," Elaina said, thinking of their privacy.
"Come on, Lady. I hear a slow song and I feel like dancing with you. See you later." Frank took Elaina by the hand and led her out the door making sure they shut it behind them.
"Hubee". "My Love."