The sun was pointing above the city when Detective Mudoch opened the door of his house. The night was long, but calm. There had been no cases throughout the night, he finally bitterly regretted because he considered waste time watching the hours scrolled while eh was dying to go home to see his wife and daughter. He knew he had made a mistake, but he had imagined a ton of ideas to be forgiven, if only he could be with her.
William took off his jacket, hat, waistcoat, while moving into the house to get to the first floor. He casually put his business on the railing of the stairs before taking the long corridor at the end of which was the bedroom of Kathleen. He slowly opened the door, saw the light of dawn pass between the curtains barely closed. As he often did, he approached the bed without a sound yet that morning, he stopped before reaching it. He could not help smiling tenderly seeing what it was before his eyes. Kathleen was fast asleep, hugging the doll that Julia had given her the day before, and against her closely entwined, was his wife. She had her arms around the girl, her wavy hair on the white pillow she slept too. William then stood there a few minutes to look at them just before feeling fatigue win completely. He walked over to the bed and as always, he bent over Kathleen to kiss her forehead. His fingers danced in Julia loops and also placed a long kiss on her neck, just below her ear before stroking her cheek. He saw her move a little and walked quickly away, leaving the room without a sound so as not to wake her. William spent a few minutes in the bathroom to get freshen up and undress. He arrived in the room, just wearing a t-shirt and white shorts when he met the gaze of his wife who was at the center of the room. They do not uttered a word, Julia just watching him as he walked to the bed to take a pillow and blanket.
-What are you doing William? She whispered.
-I am exhausted, so no argument now please, let me a few hours of sleep. I am on the sofa.
He walked over to her to reach the door when he felt the hand of Julia slip into his. She looked into his again and she smiled.
-You better be sleeping in our bed
-It is obvious but you wanted ...
She cut him by putting her finger on his lips, then after a few seconds passed in silence, she gently pulled towards the bed. She took the pillow and cover hands and threw it away before snuggling up against his chest.
-I am angry against you William, she whispered in his ear by closing her eyes, you made me a promise that you have not keep, you lied to me, so we had no more have no secrets from each other.
-I know, William murmured tightening his grip around her, sorry Julia but ... I had to. I had to protect you, both.
-Because you always do what you think is right, Julia replied in the same way before they parted slowly, we lost so many times because of unspoken and secrets, we made so many bad too and I bear the most. I do not want to lose you for a secret or a lie.
-I do not want to either. But I had to. Forgive me, he said, stroking her cheek.
They still glanced and Julia no longer resisted and forgot the anger she had felt earlier. She closed her eyes and the next moment they exchanged a long kiss and William leaned over the bed to lie down. Julia looked at him in silence a moment before joining and snuggle into his arms.
-I do not want to know what you have learned in this case, she whispered against his chest, keeps this information for you but promise me that Kathleen will never be in danger and that her past will never catch up.
-She will never be in danger, I promise you. But not come back at the police station with Kathleen, please, I do not want her to know again what she experienced younger.
-I will do not do it again, because I think you are right after all. She was terrified all night and she refused to want to sleep alone as the nightmares were violent.
-I understand it, said William, and thanks to you today she has the most wonderful mother to look after her. Despite the fact that you do not respect the punishments that we had set up together.
-I should had to respect our decisions, I know, Julia sighed, but I really wanted to spend time with her and I would like that her father is more often there, William.
-I try to do, I will take more time for her and for you.
Julia did not answer and she closed her eyes, feeling the fingers of her husband dancing in her back, and after a few short minutes, William fell into a long, deep sleep when the sun began its course in the sky.
The woman coughed again for long seconds. Then, without a word, she left the table, under the gaze of William and Kathleen worried. She joined the kitchen as her condition did not improve. After yet heard for a while, William got up in turn to join. She found her standing in the work plan, eyes closed, catching her breath.
-Love, are you alright? He asked, putting his hand on the back of his wife.
-It will, leave me a few minutes.
He did not answer and looked at her with interest. Slowly, he raised his other hand to her face to feel her burning skin.
-You have a fever, he added, touching her forehead, Julia you have to go rest, you are not ...
-I am fine I ...
She did not finish her sentence he saw faint against him. He then picked her up and carried her against his chest to their room. He laid her on the bed and leaned over her to look at her for a moment. Then he walked away, crossing the eyes of Kathleen standing in the doorway.
-She is sick?
-Do not worry, I will call a doctor and she will get better.
He then left the room quickly to join the corridor on the ground floor and call a doctor. It took a few short minutes to arrive and after spending some time with William and Julia, still unconscious, he vanished, leaving his instructions to Detective Murdoch.
-Many of rest, and constant monitoring for the next two days, the bronchitis is severe, he said before leaving the house.
And he was right, the following days were particularly stressful for everyone. Julia woke up just a few minutes from time to time, but too stunned by the drugs to be able to understand what was going on around her. William had watched day and night by her bedside until he was required to resume his work. He then left his wife, daughter and Constance, promising to Kathleen that he would return early that night.
And finally, Julia woke up this afternoon, feeling a little warm breath on the top of her chest. She had opened her eyes to see a cascade of blond curls, just before crossing the blue eyes of the little girl who was in her arms. She smiled at her, stroking her hair.
-Kathleen, you should not be there. I am sick.
-I wanted to not leave you alone.
-It is very kind but my sweetheart ...
-Please, whispered the little girl shaking against her chest, I want to stay with you mom.
At these words, the heart of Julia swelled with joy and she smiled shyly shaking Kathleen against it.
-Alright, this time, she whispered before closing her eyes and savor the moment when the girl had accepted and adopted as her new mother.
To be continued ...
