Chapter 7 : The Last Dance.
It had been a week since the mysterious disease had struck the city of Toronto. It's been a week since the men of the station four hadn't seen the detective Murdoch, or the doctor Ogden.
They rested, and from what their colleagues had heard they were doing well. But that day William wasn't supported anymore to stay at home and had already completed two incredible prototype machines that he hadn't time to work earlier. So that morning, he decided to ride his bicycle and go to the police station to do what he promised to his superior for a long time, make the order in his office. He was warmly welcomed by his friends and colleagues, then after a few minutes spent with them on the central room, he shut himself in his office most of the day. His superior was glad to the result and that was when the night had already fallen since a good hour already, he left the building, just with a small wooden box.
Before getting back on his bicycle, he stopped at the morgue, which was empty at that hour. Everything had been put in order, and the doctor who replaced his friend was already gone. William was surveyed the room and down, remembering all the moments he spent within these walls. The long speech that could make doctor Ogden, the simple looks she gave him, remonstrate which she made sometimes to him when she did'nt share his opinion. He could hear in a corner of his head her laughter, her sweet voice when she pronouncing his first name. He remembered every corner of the room where he had stolen her a kiss and above he remembered where she had been extended a week earlier, between life and death. The young detective felt his heart sink for a moment about all of these memories, happy and unhappy. He knew what he had to do today, he probably knew it long ago. But today he had the courage to tell her goodbye,today more than before, he knew that say these words his heart even more skinning. He loved her too much to see her torn between two men as he tried to hold her a little more.
William took another turn on himself to view in detail the room. His eyes fell on the bouquet of roses she had to her birthday from her fiance. It was dry and the petals have lost their luster long ago. But, nobody had take it off from the room. He raised a finger to a flower and touched it gently, as if he touched the soft and thin skin of the young woman. He withdrew his hand and a petal fell on the wooden furniture where the box was that contained the penholder he had chosen for her friend several weeks ago.
He sighed deeply and left the room running, without looking back, catching passing the small wooden box that he had put on the Julia's desk when he was entering. He left the building and set off, pedaling as fast as he could, feeling the wind beating his face and burn the skin, but don't slow down the pace for a second.
The carriage stopped a few meters next to the dark portal. The walking foot is unfolded and the door opened immediately. The young woman got out and sent a shy smile checked before the horses revved up again. She gave one last look at the carriage before placing the shawl over her shoulders and along the brick wall that bordered the property. She pushed open the heavy gate that closed behind her steps, along a stone path leading to the big house where she lived. Her gaze lost on the dark pavement, she saw at the last moment the man walking toward her. She looked up at him and immediately froze by crossing his eyes.
-Detective? She said just by looking from head to foot.
-Good evening doctor, William said it politely bowing.
-What are you doing here?
-I was coming to visite you.
-At this hour? Continued the young woman.
-It was urgent, simply replied William.
-I thought you return to your post tomorrow, just like me. What is the nature of the emergency?
- Nothing in connection with an investigation. It's ... personal, the young man replied shyly.
-Oh, Julia sighed, you should have warned me in this case.
-I see it, I did'nt want to make you ill-at-ease or annoy you. I had to call you in advance, I'm sorry for not having thought.
-You don't bother me, Julia said smiling, but if you had told me I'd be back before. This would have avoided many complications and would have arranged.
William didn't answer, not understanding what she meant. And when he met her gaze, she spoke again.
-I had dinner with my parents and everything wasn't as planned.
-Oh, I'm sorry.
-It's nothing, sighed Julia, I had expected. Well, tell me why did you want to see me?
-Come and sit down, he said pointing towards a bench that was further, please.
-Are you afraid that I fail? She said smiling and directing it.
-This may be long.
-You scare me William, she said sitting down.
He did the same and put the wooden box on his knees that looked a moment before giving his full attention to the young woman who looked on in silence.
-The inspector Brakenreid get tired for weeks, even months, to store my office,that he calls "mess".
-Don't get upset, but he was right, she said with a smile, while your searches are very interesting, I often wondered how you were doing though is to find something.
-Certainly. But because of this, I found some things that I must send you, he said handing her the wooden box, they are yours. Or they should have been if I had'nt been too ridiculous to dare to offer them to you.
Julia did'nt answer and took the box that she would open before feeling the fingers of the detective to land on her own.
-No, don't do it now.
-Is this not the reason why you wanted to send them to me?
-But I fear your reaction, they are just trinkets of no importance.
-I believe in the opposite, Julia said, but let me judge for myself.
William nodded and withdrew his hand as Julia opened the box. A smile lit her face when she saw two theater tickets to a play they had gone to see together. She remembered have offered the tickets to William saw today that it was the same for her. She found a photo of both, at a party for a charity where she had to go and where she had asked him to accompany her. She saw a quantity of small objects in the mess in tiny box. Her fingers caressed a few seconds an ammonite and she looks up at his friend.
- Thank you, she murmured.
-I wanted that all that you return, I hope your fiance will understand.
-He will not, Julia said closing the box, but it does not matter.
-I don't want to interfere in your privacy today. I accepted the fact that... I have lost you.
-I broke my engagement William, Julia dropped into a breath, for this reason that I was with my parents this evening. I had to tell them that the marriage was cancelled.
William frowned but said nothing. He wondered if he was not dreaming, if Julia had actually uttered the words he had so much hope. He wanted to talk, say something, anything, he knew he had to say something, but he could'nt. His mouth remained slightly open and his eyes stared relentlessly the young woman who was sitting next to him.
-Wh ... why?
-I didn't love him as much as he loved me I think, Julia said looking at her hands, and it was better for everyone. But don't be worry you don't have to do what you said when we knew the gates of death. I know that fever could made us to tell many things that we shouldn't have. This is not because my relationship is over with Darcy that you owe me whatsoever. Us, she looked at the starry sky and closed her eyes a few seconds, we have a shared past that I never regret, but I understand perfectly that the future can be such that I could imagine.
-I thought every words I said that day, the detective intervened, and I can repeat them without hesitation.
-I thought you were'nt able to speak a second time?
He took her hand tenderly and placed two fingers under her chin so she looks. She did it finally Top of Form 1
half-heartedBottom of Form 1
.
-You have not lost me William, whispered her, I'm here and I will stay there as long as I can. But I made a wish on my birthday.
-What is it? Asked the detective dry throat.
-I wanted to have a perfect wedding, surrounded by people I loved, but I wanted that day, the pain don't lives in your heart. Only joy in it and you find the woman who will make you happy.
-Well, I regret to learn that you don't have a great and beautiful wedding.
- Really? You regret? It was really what you want for me?
-Yes, William nodded, I could never give you all the comfort that doctor Garland would have brought you.
-I didn't want his comfort, I just wanted ...
She left the sentence on hold, her gaze into of the young man's who stroked his fingertip her skin, understanding what he was trying to gently tell her. Then slowly, he brought his face close to hers and captured her lips for a soft and gentle kiss.
-I just wanted to be with the man I love, breathed Julia, I wanted to feel what I feel when I'm with you.
When William went away, he saw that she still kept her eyes closed a few moments before she gave him a tender smile.
-I will not leave you Julia.
-I don't intend to do, she said in amazement.
-I want to see your smile every day that God make and I want to hear your voice every night. I came here tonight to tell you that I give up, but it is just the opposite.
-William?
He thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a box round metal that looked a few moments to look up to her again.
-I know your break with your fiance is very recent and that I may be rushing things ... but there was one more thing I wanted to offer that day when you left for Buffalo.
He opened the box and slid the bench to put one knee and take the hand of the young woman in his. He saw a bigger smile drawn on her face and then at that moment, he knew he did what he always should have done.
-We almost died, Julia, and we've both had a seconde chance. I love you. I want to take this new chance with you, and not just see you in the morgue every day, I want to see you in the morning when you wake up, I want to see you sitting in a garden surrounded by flowers with the sun in your skin , I want to see you before going to sleep each night. I wish you were raising children with me, even if they aren't really ours, I know I have enough love for you for they become.
He paused, seeing a tear born in the eyes of the young woman who spoke hardly louder than a whisper.
-Please William, ask me.
He smiled and looked at their hands tied one second before hanging her eyes again and resume speaking.
-Julia Ogden, are you willing to be my wife?
-Yes, Julia said immediately into a sob, oh yes I do William.
He smiled, feeling his heart leap into his chest, and went out of the ring box and handed her gently on the finger before getting up and meet the lips of the young woman. They exchanged a long kiss, Julia firmly attached to the neck of William, who trained with him in his tracks. They kissed as they always stood, pressed against the other. When they broke the kiss, the breath from their run, they exchanged a smile and rested their foreheads against each other.
-I missed you when you were in Buffalo, murmured the young man thrusting his hand into his jacket out to the letter damaged.
-Have you read it?
-Many times, admitted William, you would have to send it to me.
-I know, Julia sighed looking down.
William smiled even more widely and kissed her again, squeezing a little more against him. They separated again but remained close to each other when the woman spoke again, smiling.
-William, Julia whispered to his lips, close your eyes.
-What; I close my eyes? He said leaving his hands in the back of his beloved.
-Please, Julia insisted laughing.
He did it and the young woman leaned on him. She placed a hand on each side of his face, then she closed her eyes turn stroking his nose with her own before filing a kiss on the mole he had on the nose. He smiled, feeling the lips of the young woman on her skin, and when he opened his eyes again they laughed together.
-So how was it? He asked.
-Very well, but now I'll have to find another dream to share with the man I love.
-I should be able to help you to find one.
-Yes I think so, Julia said stroked the young man's tie, but you know the night is just beginning. If we do it right now to think about it?
-We must be early in the post tomorrow, you know it.
-But we have all night for us, William. And I fear will keep you with me tonight.
He didn't answer when Julia walked away from him. She took the wooden box which was still on the bench and took her hand from that of the detective. She gave him a tender look and brings with it to the house already asleep. They went on tiptoe to reach the apartment of the young woman on the first floor. She closed the door behind her, exchanging a hot kiss with her fiance, leaning against the wall.
-Make me dance William, Julia whispered to his lips before exchanging an another kiss with the detective.
The night was just beginning and they had to enjoy it, as the second chance they had been granted.
THE END
