Alright, so maybe leaving was far from what she had expected. It had been 3 whole months and Julia had once again relocated to another home. She had barely enough money for this place, but it was worth it this time. She had found a home in America in a small town with land and families around her. It seemed like the ideal place to raise her child at and with only 4 more months until her due date. Their was a hospital just a few blocks away from her new house, a park around the corner, a lot of empty land- where she saw children playing at, there was a public pool at the park, and a river only 30 minutes away. The neighbors seemed friendly enough from a distant, but none had come to greet her yet. Oddly enough she was alright with that. It was all going to take some time to get used to and Julia Hoffman was content with that idea. As she unpacked the moving van and made trips from there to inside her home, she thought about her new job and what it would be like going in to work next week. She was going to be the new Psychiatrist at the Glentwood Hospital and it would also be a new adventure. Everything was going to be different for her now, she was starting over. New home, new job, new family, and new neighbors. Maybe she would actually visit with these ones this time and hopefully she was going to be able to give this child the life it deserved. A much better life than the one its mother was living right now. A fresh start never hurt anybody.
"Bloody hell Julia," she mumbled to herself as she bent down to pick up one of the boxes that was rather heavy, "are you trying to kill yourself?" she sighed and lifted the box, holding it to her belly for support. She was big enough now that she could put her dinner plate on it and watch television while she ate. It was a rather amusing thought, to the bored and single pregnant woman at least.
"Talking to yourself I see," stated an alarmingly deep voice that startled Julia into nearly dropping the fragile box on her toes. She looked up rather alarmed and saw quite the handsome man standing before her on the side walk.
"Yes well I figured the voices in my head are the only ones who will put up with me these days," she joked and gave him a small smile as she tried to re-position the box in her arms.
The man laughed a bit at her comment and flashed a charming smile her direction. "Clever," he joked. "I'm Rick Harvey, I live up the road. The only house with leaves on the lawn," he laughed as he pointed towards his home.
"Well it's nice to meet you Rick with the leaves," she teased and turned to the side and put her knee up to adjust the slipping box. As she turned to the side, Rick noticed that she was indeed pregnant and quickly took the box from her arms just before they fell to the ground.
"Here, let me help you with that," he offered kindly.
"Thank you, sir," she smiled gratefully and took a deep breath relieved to be free from that heavy load. "It's been a long week of packing, guess my arms were getting tired on me," she explained and showed him the way inside her home. "You can just set it over there near the kitchen," she pointed to a stack of other packed boxes and leaned against her walls tiredly.
Rick walked in after her and set the box where he was directed to and looked around. The house was nice, but he just wondered where her husband was and why she was left to do the unpacking by herself. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but is your husband around to help you?" he furrowed his brow and looked at the red headed woman.
"Oh no, I'm not married," she shook her head quickly. "It's just me and this baby," she answered him before he could ask her himself. Now all she was waiting for was the look. The one every Realtor had given her when they had found out that she was buying a home alone without a husband. It was the look that she got when she was given the job at the Hospital and her new boss asked about the father of her child and the look that she got any other time the subject was brought up. She waited moments in silence for the reaction she had grown accustomed to these past few months, but it never crossed this mans face. All she got was a nod of... understanding?
"It must be difficult in your situation without any help," he said, sympathizing with her.
"Yes, well, I've come to live with it," Julia answered after clearing her throat. She was actually taken back by how kind this man was. "Thank you... ya know, for helping me move the box."
Rick shook his head and waved it off. "Don't worry, besides I still have more to unpack," he grinned and headed out the door towards the moving van. It took Julia a moment to wrap her head around all of this before she realized that he was going to unpack her house for her and she quickly went after him.
"Oh no, you don't have to do that really. I can handle them honestly I was just tired that's all."
"It's really not any trouble at all," Rick argued as he picked up two heavy stacked boxes and made his way back to her kitchen. "Besides, a pregnant woman should not lifting these boxes. You should know that shouldn't you Dr. Hoffman?" he raised a brow as he set down the boxes.
This startled Julia quite a bit. How had this man come to know her name. She hadn't given it to him at all. As if he could read the expression on her face Rick laughed a bit and pointed to the box. "Property of Dr. Hoffman," he read aloud and calmed Julia's nerves.
"Right," she swallowed and placed a hand on her belly. "I'm a Psychiatrist though," she corrected and made her way into her kitchen on her swollen, achy feet.
"Ah, well that's more than you've told me in the last 20 minutes," he smirked and leaned against the bar that made a barrier between her kitchen and her dining room. "Do you have a name too? Or do I get to just call you my crazy Redhead neighbor?" he raised a brow.
Julia rolled her eyes and chuckled softly. "I'm Julia, and it's Ms. Crazy Redhead to you," she pointed out and offered him a drink.
The rest of the evening went on just like this and Julia was quite relaxed by the time they were done unpacking. She never knew that unpacking could be so entertaining and quick. The two of them together were able to unpack all of her things before the sun fully set that evening and Julia had invited him to stay over for dinner that night. She couldn't believe how well she got along with this man after just a few hours. It was very strange for Julia Hoffman to make friends easily. Typically she was the 'Drunk-Doctor' who was barely able to take care of herself let alone console a patient. She was not that person anymore though and she was glad for it too. Tonight she had made a friend and learned things about him. He came from across the country and moved to California 6 years ago with his wife who passed away 4 years ago. She had become very ill in her last days and ever since then Rick had been guarded, but something about him made her feel excited. It was like Julia was actually living again like she had felt around Bar- no, she thought to herself and turned her face away from Rick's quickly. This can't be happening. Not again, Julia. You can't fall for somebody again and not this quick!, she scolded herself and swallowed nervously. The last time she felt this was was around a certain vampire who left her high and dry and she was scared to feel like that again.
"Is something wrong?" Rick's voice broke her concentration and his hand on her arm sent chills up her spine as she looked back to him. "Julia, is everything alright? You seem a bit pale all of a sudden," the confused man asked worriedly. They were having a good time playing cards when she just suddenly stopped and spaced out. Of course this was going to concern him. "Is it the baby?"
Julia shook her head quickly and sat up a bit straighter and looked at the man. "No, I.. I'm fine. Just had a sort of deja vu is all," she tried to assure him with a small smile. "I think I should get some rest though. Thank you.. for everything you did today," she said softly as she tried her best to get up, wincing as her back ached from the weight of her belly. "Maybe we'll see each other around?"
Rick stood up and quickly helped Julia to her feet. "Yes of course," he nodded and looked her in the eyes. "If you need anything call me alright? Day or night and I mean that Julia. Don't be afraid to call at 4 a.m. if something is wrong," he tried to get that through to her. For some reason he needed to know that she was going to be safe on her own and not just because she was a lonely pregnant woman either. He felt different around this woman and it was a nice feeling. "Do you need anything before I leave?"
With a soft chuckle and an assuring smile Julia shook her head. "I promise I will be fine and I will call if I need you. Thank you for being so kind to me Rick. It means a lot," she said softly and opened the door for him.
"It's a pleasure, Julia," he told her and they said their goodbyes. Julia could tell that this was going to be an interesting stay there in Glentwood, California.
