CHAPTER 2

 

"Whatever that bright light was that hit them seemed to really sap his energy," Elaina said while Frank helped Ardeth to the couch. "Layla, are you feeling okay?"

"I’m fine. I was a little weak at first, but I seem to be recovering." Layla sat beside Ardeth after Frank stepped away. "My husband had been in a battle a week ago. He was hurt, losing a lot of blood. He is still somewhat weakened from that." She looked intently at her husband. "I wish we had never made the trip to Cairo. We should have stayed at the camp." Layla brushed the hair from his face, tenderly while she whispered words of encouragement in their native language.

“Is  it okay if I go up to bed, Daddy?” Sarah asked, stifling a yawn.

"Go ahead, Princess. Thank you for helping us,” Frank answered.

“Good night, Layla. I hope to see you in the morning.”

“Good night, Sarah. I do not think we will be leaving,” she said, forcing a smile.

“Good night, Ardeth, I hope you feel better,” Sarah said, receiving only a wave from him.

"Would either of you like something to eat?"

"La. I’m too worried to eat right now." Layla rubbed her husband’s hand.

“I do not want anything,” Ardeth murmured.

The phone rang with Frank going to answer it. That was Doc, he was on his way when he was paged to go to the hospital. He said he should be here in a half hour.”

“Good,” Elaina said. She and Frank walked into the foyer to sit on the stairs to give them some privacy.

"I’m curious to find out more about him," Frank said, still wondering how they could look so much alike. Did you ever get that family history Mom was working on?”

"I got it but I haven’t had time to look through it. Let’s go do it now," Elaina said, standing again.

“I’ll go turn the computers on while you tell them where we will be,” Frank suggested.

While waiting for the computer to open the program Elaina realized something. “Wouldn’t you know if someone in your family was named Bay?”

“Maybe I’ve been hit in the head too much,” he joked.

"Don’t sweat it. I don’t know much about mine either, past my grandparents." Elaina started looking through the information Francesca had sent her. “Here we go. Man, she is good at this history stuff.” 

"Let’s see, your grandfather Samuel Donovan had two brothers, Jacob and Edward.  Edward married an Asima Bay in Cairo in 1922. Let me see if she has any history on her.” Elaina continued to read. “She doesn’t have anything but her name and the year they were married.”

The door bell rang so Elaina raced to the door. She opened the door and saw that it was Daniel.

"Nice night, don’t you think?" Daniel laughed coming in. "Frank said someone was ill. You look lovely as ever so it must not be you."

"One of our guests isn’t feeling well. Please don’t use your humor in front of them." Elaina warned him, taking his wet overcoat and turning to the group in the living room. "A couple of Frank’s relatives are here for a visit and Ardeth is not feeling well. He passed out right before you called. He has been in and out of it since," she explained while she walked him into the room. "Layla, this is my doctor and friend, Daniel. I would like him to check on Ardeth. Is that okay with you?"

"Aywa. ("Yes,") Please help my husband." Layla moved away from the couch, so Daniel could examine Ardeth. Frank came from the office and stood by Elaina.

"Layla is looking tired. Why don’t you show her to the guest room and I’ll stay down here?" Frank suggested.

"Layla. Why don’t you come with me and I’ll show you where you’ll be staying?" Elaina said to her.

"I want to stay in case he wakes up. He will not know the doctor." Layla had a worried look on her face while she watched the doctor examine Ardeth.

"Layla, I’ll watch over him. You need to rest too," Frank insisted.

"LA! I will stay here until the doctor is finished." Layla sat in the chair across from the couch, watching the doctor.

While Daniel was finishing his exam, Ardeth started to come around again. He was startled to find yet another stranger touching him. "Habra e?" ("What is going on?")

Layla moved back over to Ardeth. She took his hand and held it to her chest. "It is all right, Hubee. ("My Love.") He is a healer. He is just making sure you are well."

Ardeth sat up and looked around at his surroundings. "It was not a dream? We are not in Cairo. Where are we?" he wondered still feeling a bit groggy.

Frank came over to talk with Ardeth in hopes of helping Layla explain what was going on.

Daniel questioned Elaina while she walked him to the door. "What is he talking about, not in Cairo anymore?"

"You tell me. Is there anything wrong with him?" Elaina asked, not wanting to explain the circumstances of them being there.

"I noticed he is healing from a serious wound. That is probably why he's so weak. With a wound like that, he would have lost a lot of blood. He really shouldn’t have been traveling in his condition."

"So, is there anything we can do for him?"

"Make sure he gets a good night’s sleep and if he isn’t feeling any better after he awakens, call me," Daniel said, putting his coat on.

"We will. Drive safe; I would hate to have to break in a new doctor." Elaina smiled while he walked out into the gentle rain, then she walked back to the living room.

"Ardeth, do you remember Elaina?" Layla asked when Elaina walked over to them. "She is the one who found you."

"Yes, I remember. Shukran," ("Thank you.") Ardeth smiled at her. "I am sorry for the intrusion. I do not know why or how it happened."

"Well, don’t feel bad, we don’t have any idea either. I am more worried as to how you are going to get back," Elaina said.

"That does seem to be a big mystery," Frank said.

"It’s getting late. Why don’t you go upstairs and get some sleep? We’ll all be able to think better in the morning," Elaina suggested.

"You are so kind to open your home to us. We are complete strangers and yet it feels comfortable to be here," Ardeth said, with some of the fog in his mind subsiding.

"You may be a stranger, but we think you're family too," Elaina said, seeing saw their confusion. "Your Aunt Asima married Frank’s great uncle Edward."

"I was wondering when I heard the name earlier, but I blacked out before I could make a connection. So, we are cousins" Ardeth stood to look around.

“Distant cousins in more ways than one,” Elaina said.

Ardeth started to walk, wavering slightly. "I am fine. I can walk on my own," he insisted when Frank took hold of his arm.

"Shall we go see your room now?" Elaina asked.

"I would like that very much. I am feeling tired," Layla said, taking her husband’s arm.

"I do not need help, Layla." Ardeth protested, pulling away from her.

"But I do, I am extremely tired." Layla knew he didn’t want to show any more weakness in front of the others. She would allow him to think he was helping her.

Frank and Elaina led the way up the stairs arm in arm.

"Your home is so beautiful," Layla said, stopping for a second on the stairs, noticing Ardeth was tiring.

"Shukran. ("Thank you.") When they reached the hallway, Elaina pointed to a door. "This will be your room."

"It is bigger than our tent at home," Layla said, astonished at the size as they walked in.

"This is beautiful." Ardeth walked in and sat down on the bed.

Elaina stopped in front of Sarah’s door and looked underneath, making sure she had the lights out and not listening to music again. When she finally walked into the room with the others, she had a night gown for Layla, a pair of pajama pants for Ardeth along with a few other things for when they got up in the morning.

“Sorry it took me so long I wanted to make sure our daughter was sleeping.”

"She is so precious and well mannered," she said. "I love children. I cannot wait to have one of my own."

"I’m sure you will be blessed with one soon. Have you and Ardeth been married long?" Elaina wondered

"Only a few months," Layla answered.

“Sarah said she had an older brother.”

“Yes, I’m surprised he didn’t come downstairs. Frank would you mind going to check on him?”

“Sure, please excuse me a moment.”

Frank quietly opened the door expecting to see his son asleep in bed. Instead he was witnessing him crawling in his bedroom window. “Where the hell have you been?” Frank yelled.

Derek was so scared by his voice he knocked over the lamp trying to turn it on. “Hi Dad,” he said, regaining his composure.

“Don’t give me that, answer my question young man,” Frank demanded.

“You’re going to wake up Mom and Sarah,” Derek said, stalling.

Elaina came in the door as Frank was grabbing Derek by the arm, sitting him on the bed. “What is going on in here?”

“He was coming in the window and I caught him. He has yet to answer my question,” Frank said, filling her in.

“Derek, answer now!” Elaina demanded.

“I went to the movies with my friends.”

“After we told you no!” Elaina yelled.

“You’re grounded for the next three weeks and every word you use to defend your actions will add a day to it,” Frank said, keeping Derek quiet.

“Get ready for bed. Your father and I have guest to attend to,” Elaina ordered.

“Who’s here? I didn’t see a car,” Derek inquired.

“If you had been here you’d know. Now, you can wait until morning to find out,” Frank said, setting Derek’s alarm clock. “Don’t you dare hit the snooze alarm, either.”

“Good night,” Derek said as they left closing the door.

Layla was in the hallway when they stepped out. “Ardeth is already asleep. I wanted to thank you again for all you have done for us. Is your son okay?”

“He is fine. We just had a disagreement about something,” Elaina said, not wanting to go into details at this time.

“Okay, will I meet him in the morning?”

“Yes, he will be up bright and early to do his chores,” Frank said, with a slight smirk.

“Good night and thank you both for your kindness,” Layla said, going back into her room.

“What time did you set his alarm?” Elaina asked, noting he still had the smirk on his face.

“Five thirty.”

“No wonder you told him not to hit the snooze. You’re going to have him clean the stables, aren’t you?”

“No, but he will be throwing the hay down for me to do it,” Frank said, smiling.