She had a light heart. She had planned to spend her day off on a very special way. She thought about it for days and this simple idea had managed to put her in a good mood.
She had forgotten all anger, all sense of remorse, bitterness, to focus on one single thing: spending time with someone who knew how to make her feel at peace, even if only by a single glance.
Colleagues noticed the change, not her husband. But she was astonished, he never noticed anything anyway.
Thus, on this hot summer day, she took the way to the hospital, slipped quietly into the rest room and changed, as if she was about to take a new guard. Then she had a phone call and went to the upper floors of the building. She did the way she knew so well and gave two small knock at the door. She heard the voice she loved say to enter, and she complied, with a smile. She closed the door behind her, surprised to see that the bedroom seemed empty when she saw him out of the bathroom, his hair still wet, content to spend a towel. She met his eyes and froze, before he smiling broadly.
-Good morning Detective, said Julia.
-Good morning Doctor, what do I owe the honor of your visit?
-Have you not a little idea?
He looked into her eyes, including by the tone of her voice that she seemed to play with him, and he liked it.
-Have you come prohibit me from going to the gym? It's a shame I already returned.
She laughed and stepped closer to him.
-I see it indeed. No, I understood what I could tell you will not change your stubbornness.
-I understand that I am not alone in being stubborn, he said, smiling.
-Perhaps, said Julia.
-Then why are you here?
-You really do not guess?
William remained silent. Oh, he had ideas, a lot, and it would keep all involved that keep only keep a little time her shirt, her pants and her underwear. He shuddered at the thought, remembering that he had his fingers touched her skin. And suddenly, he fell back into reality. He had to stop watching her with so much desire if it does not want to mae her ill at ease, angry, or anything else that would prevent her from view for several days.
-No, he simply said, I don't know.
-I have a surprise, Julia still continued to advance towards him.
He lost all reasoning, looking forward to this fine chain that dangled around her neck and whose pendant was lost in her blouse between her breasts.
-What ... What as a surprise? Said he, moistening his lips.
-If I tell you this is no longer one, whispered Julia, placing her hands on the armrests of his chair, do you trust me Detective?
-I think I have proved it putting my life in your hands.
-You were unconscious, said Julia laughing, there is a little different.
-I will never do trust anybody more that you Doctor, William whispered without realizing what he had to tell her, so I owe you.
She smiled shyly and sat up immediately.
-In this case, let's go, she said, skirting to get into his back and gently push the chair, I hope you have nothing planned for lunch?
-It seams that I have to be dragged away by one of my doctor who provided me special treatment.
-You have no idea, Julia whispered in his ear before leaving the room with him.
They joined the park in silence. Then the doctor led him in a remote corner, near a bench and slipped a few minutes, leaving him alone, lost in his thoughts. Finally she returned, carrying two paper bags in her hands.
-I thought that was the surprise, drop me loose in a remote corner of the park, he said as she sat on the bench next to where he was, just to test my endurance wheelchair racing.
-Come on, I would have chosen another place, still more secret if I wanted to do that, said Julia providing a glance.
They smiled and pulled what was in the first bag.
-Chicken and french fries, William exclaimed with joy, oh thank you, he added, raising his eyes to heaven.
-And you have not seen it all, Julia threw out a pack of beer.
-You are my hero Doctor.
They laughed good heart and open each bottle they clashed before taking a sip.
-Then, said Julia after a few minutes spent in the quiet, you're not too disappointed to have followed me?
-It would be crazy, said William, laughing, but I hope not to take too much of your time.
-Oh no, it's my day off.
She met his startled look.
-You are yet in uniform here.
-To be honest, I didn't want to be alone, and someone would asked me if I had come to take you away dressed in civilian clothes.
-Are you just coming to lunch with me? William asked.
-Well, Julia blushed, yes ... I ... thought of you and the fact that you were getting bored sometimes. Besides the fact that the hospital food is not more delicious.
-No, indeed, he said, I knew better. Thank you anyway for this attention.
They exchanged glances and ate quietly, talking about things and others, talking about them, of their profession. Everything seemed to be natural between them, as if they had known forever, as if it was quite normal to talk about yourself that way. Julia had to admit she always kept her distance from the people who shared her life, even Darcy had to fight hard to break through the walls she had built around her. But Detective Murdoch, it was very different. She could talk about anything with him, without any discomfort.
He, who had always been secret about his private life, his childhood, his education, his work, noted how it was easy to talk with the young woman he barely knew. He could not help but see some images of his dreams, to imagine the view of her in a stunning Victorian dress, leaning over to see reports and thick books when she spoke about studying medicine. He had the feeling of knowing all about her and as the minutes and hours passed, he knew she was made for him. He was in love, as he never had before.
He had to admit that he was always surrounded by beautiful women and they seemed receptive to his charm. But he liked his late fiancée, all the others were only pale consolation and he did not imagine for one second to do any of them, his wife. He compared them all to her, Liza. And the first was his colleague, whom he saw every day, who knew who make him angry, who make him think too. She knew also soothe, restore confidence in him, stimulate his curiosity again and again. Yes, he had compared them many times and even though he had admitted his love deeply engaged, it was always her, that stubborn, intelligent, rebellious and beautiful that won the game. He did not know if it was just because her, she was alive, or because her, she was his soul mate. Her, but not Liza.
In truth, there was never really thought about until this survey, one in which he was seriously wounded by a crossbow arrow. He took days to recover, and in moments of unconsciousness, he had seen her, and not Liza. Well then, we asked him this question for the first time in his life: what was the nature of his relationship with her. He wanted to answer: she is my friend, perhaps she will be a friend one day, but we talk a lot, no more, no less. But his answer was quite different. He could not help but tell all her qualities, her faults too, noting that ultimately, he loved everything about her. He liked her spirit, her intelligence, her tenacity, her smile, her eyes, her voice, her laugh and her body. He loved all, without exception. He realized that day, sat on the bench in the park next to her, she was the one that was made for him. Not because Liza had died, but because she was his soul mate, and against it, no one could fight. He loved her, without rational reason, he loved to madness, no more, no less.
to be continued ...