11. Christmas

It had been two months since Julia hadn't spent a peaceful night. Two months she was plagued by nightmares. For two months, she woke with a jump almost every night, shortness of breath, heart pounding, sweat dripping down her back. Most of the time, William woke up hearing her cries of panic. He didn't sleep more than her. He took her in his arms every night, he waited until she was asleep before feel her tense against him once again, before meet her eyes before he reassuranced and comfort her, again and again.

-You should see one of your colleague love, he said one night, stroking her hair, you can not live like this. You are exhausted, it is not good, either for you or for the baby.

-I want to settle this alone William, had Julia said between sobs, no one can help me. She escapes me every time I think I can touch her, as the days and nights that will not stop while I do not have my answers.

He then sighed deeply and kissed her tenderly before rock her, before watching her fall asleep in his arms again.

But he too was exhausted. He, too, was struggling to do its job. Sometimes he fell asleep at his desk in the middle of the day without even letting go of the pen he had in his hands.

-Ah pregnancy, said Brakenreid laughing, I know that. I'm sure Mrs Murdoch does not leave you much time to rest. I remember Margaret, always wanting to ... well you know ... she would not let me respite. Finally I am not going to complain and you should not either Murdoch, enjoy it because once the baby is here, she will curse you and not leave her touch for weeks. Besides that there will be the little angel crying in the next room who will be entitled to all her attentions. It will be finish after a few months.

William didn't answer. He understood what his supervisor referred. But Brakenreid was far from the truth, at least for the reasons for his tiredness, because he had to admit that, yes, the hormones had to do their work. Julia had become at once so passionate, requesting, tender and yet quick-tempered milk he still wondered how he would take the final weeks of pregnancy with such a woman in his life. He remembered a saucepan that flew so close to his head that he had felt the wind in his hair. But William also remembered times when his wife huddled against him, without a word, placing his hands on her stomach to make him feel the movements of their unborn child. He knew that Julia had a strong character and he could only love her even more, despite her mood swings and her passionate outbursts.


Finally, the snow covered the city of Toronto. It had been delayed this year, to the delight of the habitants of the city who knew that winter would be too long again. The shops were full of the finest fabrics, toys, most refined dishes, the city was bathed in a festive atmosphere.

Dr. Ogden particularly loved this time of year. Christmas. Yet that year, she spent most of her time at home, in bed, lying on the couch by the fireplace, unable to do more than fifty meters without feeling excruciating pain in her stomach. Estimates of Isaac, that she saw more and more often, the child would soon be born, if all went well, next month. And so, to avert any risk to endanger, and her mother also, she was forced to move as little as possible. William take care after her as much as his schedule would allow. But that night, despite the warnings of her husband, Julia wanted to spend Christmas Eve surrounded by her friends in the house she shared with her husband. Their hostess had prepared according to recommendations and soon the house was filled with laughter and discussing all kinds.

William had taken a few minutes to prepare in their room. He finished buttoning his suit down the stairs when he froze when he saw the scene unfolding in front of his eyes. Julia was in the hall, standing on a stool, a sprig of mistletoe hanging in the ceiling beam. He ran to her and immediately put his hands behind her back.

-Blood hell Julia, come down immediately.

-One...seconde, grumbled Julia in a last effort before executing with difficulty to watch her masterpiece, smiling, it missed the mistletoe.

She looked down at William, who gave her a dark look.

-You will have to ask Yvonne to do.

-I just send her home so she could spend Christmas with her family.

-But imagine if you had fallen and ...

She cut him off by putting her finger on his lips. Then she put her arms around his neck and she slipped her warm breath on his lips.

-We are under a mistletoe William, she murmured softly, and do you know what it is customary to do so under a mistletoe?

-I think that you propose to tell me?

-No, I will show you Detective, Julia murmured, smiling.

Then, very slowly, she tilted her head to the side. She smiled again before taking William's gently between her teeth. He closed his eyes, sliding his hands in the back of the young woman. She smiled and pressed her lips against his, her tongue asked permission, and a second later, she met the young man's for a long struggle. The kiss was deep and sensual, full of promise and love. It cut their breath in them both.

-You could be fall from this ladder Julia, William whispered without opening his eyes.

-Yes, but I did not, well then ... if I had not caught that branch, I would not have shared the most exquisite kiss with my husband.

They smiled and immediately renewed their kiss, just as the bell rang the front door, informing them that the first guest arrived. They parted and went to open together.

-George, said William at half amused, really, always at the right time. Merry Christmas.

-Merry Christmas , Sir, Doctor, said the young man, smiling.

William and Julia shared a look and let him enter before the house was filled as and as the minutes will pass.


The meal and the evening was perfect. Julia was thrilled and incredibly spoiled by her friends who all brought something to the baby. William had watched her all night, from the corner of his eye. She seemed happy and at peace despite the few moments she sometimes spent staring into the blank stare, despite the timid grimaces of pain that crept over her face when having pretended to look for something in the kitchen.

-She is here William, Jane is with us, Julia had whispered at the end of the meal.

He was then picked her up and he put a kiss on her cheek.

-She will do you any harm, we are far too many here tonight, and we all love you.

When the clock in the dining room struck 23:30, the small group got up and walked to the hall to take their coat and hat.

-Are you sure to want to make the journey on foot?

-I have not left the house since three weeks William, whispered Julia, I want to walk with you to the church. It is only at the end of the street. I want to go with you and sit by your side for mass. Let me do that for you.

-Although but if you have anything at all to ...

-I will tell you, I promise you, replied Julia before put a quick kiss on his lips to follow their friends who already went out on the porch wood.

So all the little band marched, Bobby and John in front, followed by couples closely entwined for protection from the cold and snow that fell matching.


The sermon lasted a long time and hard wooden bench was particularly uncomfortable for Julia. But still, she didn't complain. She kept her hand in William's most pf the time , leaving her head on his shoulder. And when the priest finished his sermon, she couldn't help stroking her belly tenderly.

-Thus, my children, never forget the story of David against Goliath. Go in peace and God bless you. Merry Christmas.

William made the sign of the cross and immediately locked eyes of his wife.

-Something wrong?

-No I ... we have not yet chosen a name for a boy.

-Well you seem to deny all my suggestions so I ...

-David, murmured Julia, it is a beautiful name what do you say? And if we call our son this way, we will always remember this Christmas Eve, those moments when we were happy.

William was silent a moment, without worrying about the people who were in the church and who were about to leave. He put his hands on her belly and put a kiss there.

-David, he whispered, plunging his gaze in Julia's, is a name that suits me.

-In this case, it will be Eleanor or David.

He nodded and they kissed a few moments before leaving the church, too, before facing the bitter cold of winter and everyone will go home.

Yet despite the fatigue, William didn't want the evening to end.

-What would Christmas be without a gift? He said to Julia as they withdrew their coat.

-Well, show me yours and I wil show you mine.

After a last look, William slipped an arm in the back of the knees of Julia and the other in the back to bring her against him.

-Will you be able to hold me upstairs? Julia said laughing as he started to rise. I gained weight you know.

-Oooh yes I know.

-William!

He laughed softly and continued to grow until they reaches close to a door down the hall. There he put Julia and he get in her back. He opened the door.

-Close your eyes, he whispered in her ear.

-No, you did not ...

-Close your eyes and let yourself guide.

Julia looked up at the ceiling and obeyed. She felt William put a hand on her stomach and with the other, he turned on the light. He brought up the room with his body and once inside he spoke.

-Opens them.

She obeyed again and she froze, looking around her. They were in a perfectly tidy and decorated bedroom, child's room, with a closet, a dresser, a bed, a rocking chair, a library, a large window, a toy box. There was a carpet on the floor, curtains at the window, fluff on the library, a few children's books and over the cradle, a mobile colored wood. Julia walked over to the bed and slid her fingers on the light wood.

-This wood comes from the tree of the garden that has fallen this fall, she said softly, you ... you did it with your own hands? And mobile as I saw these pieces in your office, you said it was for a case.

-Indeed.

She stroked fingertip amount of the cradle.

-When the baby is born I will write his name, William whispered, and I put a picture of us on the shelf, I wanted him to know that ... we always watch over him.

-You did all of this for us, Julia said in a sob, turning to him for, our family.

-Yvonne helped me a bit, replied shyly William.

-Oh dear, Julia sighed before flowing into his arms, it is beautiful.

He tightened his grip around her and they stayed a long time in silence entwined.

-Thank you, Julia said getting away.

He smiled and pulled out a small box in the pocket of his pants.

-I also have a small gift for the mother to be.

She smiled broadly and took the package in his hands before opening, before she discovers a silver pendant with a blue stone crimped.

-Thank you, she whispered before kissing him languidly, I also have a gift for the future dad, she said breathlessly.

She reached into her dress and pulled out another dark box but a little bigger. William opened it and found a pocket watch that once opened to read what was engraved on the inside.

-To William, with all my love. Yours forever. Julia. Thank you, thank you my love. I love you.

-I love you too.

They shared a smile and another kiss.

-Merry Christmas Mrs. Murdoch.

-Merry Christmas Mr. Murdoch.

-Merry Christmas angel, they said together, laughing, stroking the belly of Julia before share another kiss.


To be continued...