Chapter 17 : The Hidden Threat

I know it's been awhile. I apologize for the late because I'm busy with my work. Thank you for the support. You know who you are.

Here's the story.

She was five months along and her tummy was getting bigger. She woke up and found that her husband was snoring. She plant a soft kiss on his lips and got up to get ready for work. The weight of the baby inside her tummy made her difficult to make any movement. Her lower back always ached and her legs cramped. She massaged her legs for awhile and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. She splashed the water on her face and looked up at the mirror. She looked exhausted and not attractive at all. Dark circle around her eyes as she couldn't get much sleep from the night. The baby kept moving during the night and caused her stayed awake at the most of the night. She felt a little jealous towards her husband as he was getting much of sleep than her. 'The baby is ours. Why am I is the only one who suffer?' she thought as she sighed. Rick walked in at the moment. He realised she was upset. "Hey, are you ok?" he asked as he rubbed her tummy. "I'm fine" she said and smiled. In fact, whenever he rubbed her tummy, she felt so comfortable as the baby recognised his father's hand and stop moving. "You look tired. Why don't you lie down and rest? I will ring the museum saying you will be absence today" he said. "I'm fine, really. There are some artifacts will be arrived at the museum today. I have to be there" she said. "Okay, I will go with you" he offered his help as he knew she wouldn't give into him so easy. He didn't want a fight early in the morning. "Rick, I'm fine. You-" she said as he interrupted. "Evy, I know you don't need my help but I'm bored. Staying alone in this house. What else I can do in here?" he said. "Alright, come with me then. Get out now, I need a bath" she said. "Here, sit down. Close your eyes and get some rest. I will wash your hair" he said as he helped her took off her robes. He ran the warm water in the bathtub and helped her to sit. "I'm sorry" she said. "What?" he asked. "I know I'm impossible sometimes. Thank you for tolerating with my temper" she said. "Evy, you are the one who carry the baby. My baby. This is the least I can do for you. I wish I could help you with that" he said and grinned. "Oh Rick, it must be so funny if a man carry a baby" she said and laughed. It was never a difficult job to make her smile. "Come on. Close your eyes and relax" he instructed. After he done washing her hair and body, he realised she was asleep. "Hey" he patted softly at her face. "Hmm..." she opened her eyes and closed back. "I'll tell the curator that you are not feeling well" he said and she nodded. He carried her out from the bathtub and into their bedroom. He lay her down on the bed and covered herself with the blanket. He kissed her forehead and went to ring the museum.

She woke up few hours later. Feeling better after the few hours of sleep. She heard some noise coming from the other room. Guess it was her husband. She wore her robes and went to find her husband. "Rick" she called as she found her husband in the guest room. The one he used to stay after they back from Hamunaptra. "Hey, how are you feeling now?" he asked as he pulled her into his arms. "Better" she said and rested her head against his chest. "What are you doing?" she asked as she raised her head to look at him. "I have a gift for you" he said and showed her the gift behind him. It was a rocking chair. "I know your back is hurt and you can't sleep at night. I have it added with a cushion to ease your back pain" he said. "Oh, Rick. How did you know?" she asked. "It's a secret" he said and grinned. In fact, he was awake this morning after she kissed him on the lips. He saw she massaged her legs before she got up to the bathroom. "Thank you" she said as she buried her head in his chest and hugged him tight. He wrapped both arms around her and stroked her back with his hand. "Come on, have a seat" he said after he kissed the top of her head. After she had her seat on the rocking chair, he squatted down in front of her and started to massage her leg. "Better?" he asked and she nodded. "Hey, what's this for?" he asked as he realised she was crying and reached up to wiped her tears away. "It's tears of joy, darling" she said as smiled at him and holding his hand in hers.

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It was the sixth month of her pregnancy, she was working in the museum. She found that lullaby could help calming her baby inside her tummy. She was cataloging the artifacts and singing at the same. She was too focus on her work as she failed to notice that her husband was standing at the door looking at her. He smiled as she had her glasses on but it was hanging on her nose, nearly dropped. She was cute when she had that librarian outlook. She jumped when he put the basket on the table. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you" he apologised. "The only thing that scares me Mr. O'Connell, are your manners" she said and he grinned. "Can't you knock before come in?" she asked. "Honey, I'm sorry. I was standing at the door for quite long, listening to your lovely voice. Don't want to interrupt you" he said as he walked and stood beside where she sat. "How are you today little one?" he said as he rubbed her tummy. "He is quiet today. Ouch-" she said and the baby showed her that she was wrong as he kicked. "Hey, be a good boy Alex. There you go" he said as he rubbed her tummy. "I thought you said you have important errands to run?" she asked. "I am. I was preparing a lunch for you. I thought we can have our lunch at the garden" he said. "Hmm... sounds good" she said and kissed him. And he returned the kiss. "Okay, save that for later. Let's go to the garden" he said after he broke the kiss. "Let's go. I'm starving" she said and wrapped her arms around his. They walked hand in hand to the garden at the back of the Cairo Museum.

He set the picnic cloth on the grass and took out the sandwich he prepared for her. It was cucumber sandwich. Her favourite. He couldn't understand why she liked that stuff. He was meat eaters and that's why he prepared a French Dip for himself. "Can I have yours?" she asked. "Huh? I thought you don't like French Dip?" he asked. "Yes but I feel like having it today. Can I?" she asked as she had that expression on her face whenever she wanted something from him. "Of course you can honey" he said and let her had a bite. "It tastes good. Can I have all? And you can have mine" she said. "I thought you don't like French Dip" he said and let her had his sandwich. "It's not me. It's the baby" she said and took a bite. "We have a same taste, pal" he said to the baby. She lay her back against his chest and enjoyed the lunch with her husband. There was a person hidding behind a statue and stalking the couple. He walked her back to the museum and went to the market to buy grocery.

"Hello" the men greeted. "George? You scare the hell out of me" she said. "You will never say that. I guess your husband influenced you a lot" he said. "What do you want? I thought you're with Jonathan at Thebes" she said. "Ah yes. We come back for a short rest and get some supplies. I think Jonathan goes to the bar" he said. "I bet he is. Well, if you don't mind, I have work to do so please help yourself" she said and turned to leave but he stopped her. "Evelyn, please" he said. "George, we are done. What do you want from me?" she asked. "Tell me about Hamunaptra" he said. "What?!" she asked. "What happened in Hamunaptra?" he asked. "Hamunaptra? I have no idea what you are talking about" she said as clamly as she could. "I heard it. When you and your husband had a fight in front of me" he said. "Well, I don't remember what I've said. Perhaps you heard me wrong" she said. "I know you knew something" he said. "Is everything fine?" Rick said as he entered the room. "Oh yes, it is. He and Jonathan come back to get some supplies" she said before George could let out a word. "I think I have to go. I will come back again if I need anything" George said and left without saying goodbye. In his words, he meant something else that he would come back to Evelyn again. "I thought you have left, darling" she said in order to switch the topic because she knew her husband wouldn't let go until he got the answer. "I was but there was a little girl selling flowers outside the museum. I thought you might like it" he said and showed her the flowers he bought. "These are lovely. Thank you" she said and plant a kiss on his cheek.

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