Chapter 27:
Although it was still daylight, it was rather late when William walked her to her bedroom door. They agreed to meet at the hotel restaurant for breakfast and they smiled at each other. William had looked at her with so much admiration that she thought he would soon realize that she was not so special. She knew perfectly well that her enthusiasm would quickly fade. She liked him. Really. There was something about him that stimulated her. He was terribly handsome and intelligent. He was so nice and kind to her… He was perfect…
Julia sighed once she closed her bedroom door and William slipped away with a final smile. Nothing had happened between them. Absolutely nothing. But there was an almost unbearable tension hovering around them.
They had explained their last three days on the train, and it had done her good to understand in part the way the young man acted.
Exhausted after the day, Julia changed quickly and went to bed. She thought furtively of Magnus. What she had not told William was that she had kicked him out today. He had confessed his attraction to her, and she had declined the situation. He had asked her if she had someone and she had answered positively, without a shadow of a doubt. She really meant it.
Once again, her thoughts wandered to William Murdoch, and she smiled. This evening had really been perfect. In addition, he had brought her, her watch. What more can be said?
She woke up the next morning after a good night's sleep. She had slept really well for the first time in a while. She was really looking forward to having breakfast with William. She got up straight away and dressed as neatly as possible. She put on a navy-blue dress and creamy white gloves. She braided her hair elaborately, sported a pearl necklace and put a matching hat on her dress on her head. She was really satisfied this time.
She looked at the time on the watch William had returned to her the day before and stormed out of her luxurious bedroom. She quickly descended the stairs and entered the restaurant of the hotel in which were already a large part of the passengers of the Night Train Station.
She stopped in place, frozen, heart pounding. She saw William Murdoch, alone at a table of two, simply drinking coffee in front of him. He was so handsome and attractive...
Julia cleared her throat and walked bravely to the table. The young man looked up when he saw her arrive and stood up straight away.
"Hello Julia." he smiled at her. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very well." she smiled at him too as he pulled out the chair for her. "And you?"
"Very well too." he replied kindly. "What would you like to eat?"
"Oh… I don't know, I'll take the same as you. And a coffee too."
"It's not coffee, it's tea. I hate coffee. For me, it's a fad that won't last." declared William with a grimace that made the young woman laugh.
"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you." she teased him.
"We'll talk about it next year, when a new trendy drink comes out." he laughed heartily.
Breakfast went extremely well, and they decided to go for a walk on their last day in Sitka. They would leave by train tonight at 7:00 p.m. and they would definitely leave Alaska… These magnificent landscapes and its pure air…
When Julia pushed open the front door of the hotel, she gasped.
"It's snowing!" she exclaimed in such a childish way that she wanted to slap herself. There was nothing seductive about her shining eyes in the face of snow.
"It's incredible! I didn't see any snow outside the window when I came downstairs earlier." exclaimed William, in exactly the same tone.
"Me neither… Let's go!"
Julia and William finally walked out into Sitka, under the snow, and the landscape quickly turned completely white. They were both equally amazed, and after a while, while in a park not far from downtown Sitka, the young man bent down and scooped up some snow. He made a thick ball of it and threw it at the young woman who, sitting on a bench, had watched him without reacting. Not once had she imagined that the young man was going to throw it at her. She gasped in horror as the snow landed right in the middle of her coat and splattered her face.
"Oh! You will pay me William!" she cried half-laughing.
This is how a fierce battle ensues between the two young people in the park, laughter echoing in the surrounding mountains. There was literally no one around. Neither of them knew such a freedom and it was truly an amazing feeling.
When William finally received a big snowball, right in his hair, he raised his voice.
"Stop, stop! We stop! You won... I can't take it anymore." he laughed, breathless. "I'm soaked…"
"Me too…" replied Julia, feeling suddenly chilled, but completely happy and satisfied to have beaten the young man.
They headed back to the hotel, their clothes completely soaked. It had stopped snowing and the sun had returned to shine on Swan Lake.
As they walked through the hotel doors, staff, and guests alike—including the passengers of The Winter Mist—looked at them with small, narrowed eyes of disapproval. But frankly, they did not care.
They quickly went up to Julia's room – William having still wished to accompany her even though he was now freezing to death. Once in front, the young woman rummaged in her pockets, but nothing. She could not find her room key.
"Everything is fine?" the young man asked quickly, his lips almost blue.
"No…I can't find my key William!" Julia panicked.
"Do not panic. It must be in one of your pockets."
"Nope! I looked everywhere. It must have fallen out of my pocket outside. We'll never find it…" Julia got carried away when she too was freezing to death.
"We'll… We'll go back to the reception. They must have a double."
"I'll go alone, you'll catch cold. Go take a shower in your room…"
"Of course not, I stay with you." William declared firmly before directing her towards the reception by pushing her a little by the back.
Note: Julia has lost her key... What good news... Thank you to those who still read my story! And a big thank you for the two comments I received on my previous chapter. I'm glad you like the turn of Jilliam's relationship :)