Another murder gave a lot of work at the police station number 5 that day. The other area of the city was overworked lately and thus, Julia found herself with two bodies at autopsy. She had quickly got to work. She introduced Roland to Miss James and she was delighted to see that they got along well. So she began her autopsy, giving looks and smiles at the boy who quietly played a few meters on a large blanket she had brought with her. Yet over the hours passed, it became more and more difficult for Julia to concentrate on het task. Roland fidgeted, he wanted to discover this new space and Rebecca spent most of her time to ensure that he does not hurt and will not approach to Julia that he was determined to come. The crying resounded each time his attempt was unsuccessful and it was necessary that Julia comfort him during other long minutes to calm him down finally. Thus, her work was not moving and she was quickly overwhelmed. She was happy that William does not come with a new body or a new investigation for the station number four.
Lunch time came when she took a moment to breathe at last. Immediately, Julia joined Roland on the floor of her office she had materialized a makeshift park with boxes that had to step over. She played with him a few minutes, not noticing the young man at the door and looked at them fondly. It was only when Roland looked at him and smiled widely, wanting to come from four-legged to him that Julia noticed him and William walked in the door opening. She smiled at him and he did the same by taking Roland in his arms.
-Were you here long? Julia murmured as she rose to come next to him.
-Few minutes, confessed William, I've always enjoyed watching you when you did not know, and even more so today, he whispered before kiss her lips, you're so happy with Roland .
-I am, Julia nodded, stroking the cheek of the little boy, but I'm afraid I really can not keep him with me. I can not concentrate, he wants to move and explore all the time and the morgue is a dangerous place for him, he could get hurt and ...
Julia paused seeing William tried to hide his smile. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed deeply.
-Of course you knew, grumbled Julia, you just expect me to see on my own.
William did not answer and he just stroked her cheek to get her attention and look deeply into hers.
-You would not have listened to me if I told you anyway, now you know we will have to find a nanny to Roland, you can not keep him here, and you will have to learn to separate you from him.
Julia pouted. Of course she knew that her husband was right, and she had to admit, but she wanted to make things less complicated. She sighed as she tenderly stroked Roland's back still in William's arm before he resumes a word.
-We go to the orphanage, are you ready?
-Yes, I put my hat and we can go there, I do not know if we'll have time for lunch, I still have a lot of work.
-We take something on the way, said William gently playing with the baby already laughing again.
Julia joined William and she placed Roland in the pram, before they leave the morgue.
The visit to the orphanage had lasted half an hour. Half an hour where they were questioned about their past, their relationship, their work. Julia had felt the hand of William landed on hers more than once, asking her silently to keep calm. But Julia could not help, she seethed within.
-You are a working woman, you do not need it, your duty is to be at home, to take care of this child.
-I keep my job, retorted Julia, I love Roland, with all my heart and I want the best for him, but I will continue to work, we reflect on a nanny.
-You do not have it, grumbled the old woman frowned.
-Roland is with us for two days, we still have to make some adjustments, said William, but we already have everything we need for him. And he is very attached to my wife, William added with a glance at Julia, she is the perfect person to take care of him, educate him and love him.
- Mr Murdoch, you are a police Detective, a risky job, you can die any day.
William felt Julia tense at his side and her fingers tighten on his as she held her breath one second without the old woman noticing. He stroked tenderly the palm of the hand of his wife to reassure her and looked at the woman that was facing and said that was their word.
-You must provide a safe home for that little boy, stability, your wife is a coroner, what image do you give this child?
-Equality, intervened Julia, the idea that a woman should not stay home to care for children and wait to be picked announce the death of her husband in the exercise of his functions. I am a coroner, but I'm also Doctor, I shall take care of Roland, I'm a wife and I know I can bring everything that child needs. I love him, I really love him.
There was a time that was spent in total silence where the old woman before them finally looks down their file and sign it at the bottom of page.
-I can tell you that you already fight like a lioness Mrs Murdoch, she murmured, looking at her, as a mother. This child will be in good hands with you, but do not lose sight that he needs you and he will grow. I think you should leave the hotel where you live quickly.
-We will do, said William, smiling broadly, we are working on it.
-Well, then, I wish you good luck and congratulations, you're parents.
The couple exchanged a look and a huge smile. Then they left the orphanage with a light heart, Julia gently pushing the pram in which Roland was sleeping peacefully. They walked a few minutes before stopping on a bench in the shade of trees. They ate and after a glance at his watch granted, William realized how it was already late. They hastened to join the police station, leaving the Inspector play moments with Roland in the pram.
- This little guy is adorable, he said, straightening up, I understand that now that he is officially a Murdoch, I will have to find another pathologist Doctor.
-No, Julia immediately replied, I will continue to work, we'll find a nanny for Roland.
-Waiting?
-Well, I ... I can not keep him in the morgue, Julia sighed, turning to William.
-Murdoch, it is not a kindergarten but a police station, threw Brakenreid who saw their looks, I can imagine that it happened quickly and you do not have time to find sock on your foot...
-Shoes, Sir, William kindly corrected while Brakenreid not noticed.
-But here we interrogate suspects, bad guys. I'm sure ... Margaret would be delighted to look after him until ...
-Sir, William gave a sigh, you have already spoken to her.
-New like that of course I told her, replied Thomas, she's crazy joy. She raised our own two boys, she will give you a hand until you take your marks.
William did not answer and looked at Julia, fearing her reaction a bit. But the young woman gave a glance toward Roland and smiled tenderly.
-I will file Roland to her tomorrow morning, Julia nodded, thank Margaret for her proposal. We accept it with joy.
-I'm going to call her right away, she had to wait by the phone all morning, threw their superior before granting them a wink and left the office.
-Margaret knows very well take care of him when I would work, whispered Julia plunging her gaze in that of her husband, I have confidence in her.
-Me too, William nodded.
They exchanged a tender smile and Julia turned to Roland again before speaking again.
-I'm going back to the morgue, I still have a lot of work, can you keep him with you this afternoon?
-Of course, answered William leaned to her ear, and if I do not manage to change a diaper I'll ask George to do, I am sure he is quite capable.
-I do not doubt it either, but I'm also sure you will also William, Julia said, turning to him to caress his cheek, see you later, she said again before trying to get away.
-See you later, William whispered, my lioness, he growled a deep voice in her ear before dropping a kiss on her neck.
Julia pulled back, smiling, giving him a look of malice before leaving the room and join the morgue to get back to work for long and endless hours.
The young woman came back at home while night had long since fallen. She was exhausted. Yet she knew what awaited her when the door of the suite will be close. William and Roland would be there. A smile on her lips born when she opened the door of the hotel suite. She removed her hat and shoes and entered the room. All was quiet, tidy, a plate was still on the table, cold meals. Julia pecked some vegetables. She saw toys on the floor behind the sofa, but also clean diapers defeated. She smiled, she knew what had happened. After leaving the police station, William had come to see her in the morgue, and she told him she would still for hours. He returned home, he had spent an evening with Roland alone, they had played for several minutes, he was trained to do diapers of the baby, perfectionist as he was, Julia was convinced that he stopped only when he perfectly mastered the task. They had dined, to see the condition of the room, William was better at it than her, then, he had given him a bath and put him to bed. Her husband had to read in bed waiting for her. Yet when Julia entered the bedroom, she felt tears in her eyes. William was lying on the bed in pajamas, holding in the crook of his arm Roland. They were both asleep. Julia savored the image that was before her eyes. She stayed a few minutes and, against the wall, watching her husband and son sleep peacefully. Then she joined the bathroom. She prepared for the night. She leaned over the bed to take Roland gently in her arms. She kissed him on the forehead several times and she rocked him gently to the cradle in which she placed him. She looked at him a few minutes before returning to the marital bed. She cut the light and she pressed against her husband sighing of well-being. It passed a second before William opens his eyes and reseed his grip around her.
-Julia, Roland ...
-Shhhttt, murmured the young woman by placing her finger on the lips of William, I put him in his bed, go back to sleep darling.
-Did you eat?
-I'm not hungry, Julia whispered, thrusting her face into the neck of William, I'm exhausted.
William did not answer, tightening his grip around her, kissing her hair, then slowly they fell asleep both, entwined.
to be continued...