It had been a week that Detective Murdoch had gone home, a week that he had found his wife, his friends, his work. Life is slowly getting back to normal, and the whole town knew now that the Detective had faked his death to bring down one of the biggest arms trafficking networks in Toronto. Yet despite all this, William kept grimly. He knew he had made a mistake by acting in this way, he hurts his wife beyond anything he had done in the past. But he had not thought much be rejected by her, not that way. They talked for hours on the night of his return and Julia had fallen asleep in his arms, without really noticing. He had looked long minutes in silence, before looking to her to take her in his arms and take her to their bedroom. Julia had just woken up, but she was snuggled against him again, without a word, and he too fell into the arms of Morpheus. And last week, they only intersect either the morning or the evening. They had spent any intimate moment, Julia was too tired when returning from her long hours to asylum. They took the breakfast often without exchanging a word, to leave with a simple kiss and an "I love you" whispered before passing the doorstep. And all of this William grieved deeply.
The young man was sitting at his desk, staring into space, thinking about this last week when a folder ran aground violently before him and he jumped. He looked up at his superior, who smiled tenderly.
-Do not you have to take your lunch break? He asked, simply.
-Julia canceled, she had something important to do, William replied grimly.
-Oh I see, Brakenreid replied, laughing softly.
-What? William threw wearily.
-It is not love since your return, Mrs Murdoch makes you see all the colors, huh?
-I do not know what is happens.
-She is still angry, she is a woman of character you married, do not forget.
-She was never so ... distant, in the past, she hiding something from me sir.
-Do not search, she makes you mad.
-No, she ... she barely talks to me, she refuses that I touch her and ...
-I am not sure to want to know more, launched Brakenreid heading towards the door, offer her flowers and invite her to one of this invent you love. Surprise her and be patient, he added, giving him a wink before disappearing without adding more.
William sighed deeply before going to work for long minutes. Then he looked up from his reports, soon brought his signature to the last he was working on. It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon when William finally stood. He took his hat and jacket to leave his office and go to one of his superior.
-I take my afternoon off Sir, he said in the doorway.
-Why?
-I will take your advice and surprise my wife.
-Do not miss the bouquet, and be on time tomorrow morning,added Brakenreid smiling, and shape.
William did the same and nodded before leaving the police station number four, with a light step.
He spent several minutes wandering the streets of the city to seek everything he needed. He had asked their housekeeper to cook the meal he had bought, and then he took his bicycle to the asylum to fetch his wife, even now still early. He reached the building and went to her office to find it empty. She then asked the young woman who had her office in front of his wife but he received for answer "The Doctor left early today, she took her afternoon."
So it was with a heavy heart and mind fogged the Detective, left the place and went back to their homes. Yet at a street corner, he saw this silhouette he knew well, her blond hair, and he heard her laughter resonate. He froze when he saw the man standing at her side, the one who laughed with her, who was holding her tightly against him. William's heart burned in his chest, jealousy won him completely but he remained there motionless for several minutes. He saw his wife in the arms of the young man, who kissed her cheek and his hands went the way of her belly, barely a second before his wife go away, smiling, shouting a "goodbye".
William felt his blood be one round, he saw his wife continue her journey by foot. He caught the eye of the man a little further he knew well and he wanted to ask in a not friendly manner. But he changed his mind. He took his bike and he turned around to go home without his wife noticing, not being out of his mind what he had seen, Julia, the woman of his life, in the arms of the man that he hated, Isaac Tash.
He had made the trip quickly. He had put his bicycle and he was sitting at the table in their dining room, in front of a table ready, shortness of breath yet have pedaled at top speed and still feel anger inhabit. He had his fists clenched and he just waited. He heard the door open and close gently, then Julia's heels on the floor.
-William? She threw in the entrance, a sign that she had seen his hat on the coat rack. Are you there darling?
He did not answer and he saw her enter the room. Immediately a huge smile appeared on her lips and she glanced at the table ready.
-William, said Julia, do we celebrate something?
He then rose to take the huge bouquet of flowers that was on the table to hand her smiling. She took it and did the same.
-We just celebrate how lucky we are to be together, there is a dinner in the kitchen and ...
-William, Julia cut stroking his cheek to plunge her eyes into his, you look strange. All is well?
-Yes, I ...
He did not finish his sentence and he took her in his arms to stick his face in her neck.
-I love you Julia, I love you so much.
-Me too William, Julia replied simply.
He walked away from her just enough to meet his eyes again, and he slid his hands from her hips to her stomach. Immediately, he felt Julia tense and leave his embrace.
-So what do we have for dinner? She said the most innocent of the world while leaving the room.
William did not answer and followed her into the adjacent kitchen. He simply watched her put red roses in a vase, then she turned to her smiling again.
-Why do you looking at me that way? She said softly. Do I look different?
-Well, not really, but it was three months I have not had the chance to watch you how much I wanted to. I find you so beautiful.
-You can the past week.
-We saw very little this week, William replied reluctantly.
She smiled tenderly and laid flowers on the table to kiss him on his cheek, then she went away again, wanting to leave the room. But William caught her by the wrist and he immediately looked into her eyes.
-Julia I ... I have to tell you, he whispered.
-I am listen to you?
-It is about ... us.
-Us? Do not tell me you are still investigating on a dangerous case and that you ...
-No, William cut, I wanted to talk about us, our couple. Since I came back you are distant with me, you refuse I see you naked or in your underwear, you do not want to make love, you push me away when I want to take you in my arms.
-I am just tired William, the days are hard at the asylum and in the evening I simply do not have the mind for this.
-I would like to tell you that I believe you, but that is not the case. You lie to me.
-I do not lie.
-Julia, made louder William, I saw you, I saw you with Isaac.
-Did you followed me? Julia threw escaping him.
-I wanted to prepare a surprise for you tonight to regain hope you thinking that you acted so because I made you believe in my death, but I did not think you were seeing another man.
-Another man? I know Isaac for years.
-And for years I know he is in love with you, William muttered.
-You do not know what you say, sighed the young woman, I have no lovestory with Isaac, he is my friend and my doctor, neither more nor less.
-The embrace he gave you seemed much more intimate than a doctor to his patient.
-You are jealous, and you do not think when you are jealous.
-You are my wife Julia, and I can not bear another man courting you, kiss you or touch you.
-NO MAN DID WILLIAM, Julia was furious.
-Isaac has ...
-BLOODY HELL BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MAN MORE OBTUS THAN YOU . In your opinion why I meet Isaac, why I act this way since your return?
-I do not know, exactly.
-I AM PREGNANT WILLIAM, growled Julia breathless, pregnant. From you and nobody else.
He stood in front of her a few moments, totally lost, unable to say anything at all, feeling his heart beating wildly in his chest, and missing air. She stood before him, panting, trying to regain her composure, when William approached, jumped to her to put his hand on her belly. This time she did not go back away.
-Why did not you tell me earlier? Stammered the young man.
-Because you were not there, Julia sighed, because I did not know when you come back, because I ignored if the child would live or not. The first three months are the most critical. I did not want to hurt you, I wanted to make sure he comes into the world to tell you. I can lose him at any time and I wanted to wait to tell you. Perhaps a week or two.
-And that is why you were rejecting me, William whispered smiling, you were afraid that I discovered.
-Do not think I did not want to be intimate with you, I have so wanted you to make love to me since your return. I struggled, I struggled with all my strength so that it does not happen. And I was with Isaac for this reason. Do you really think that I have an affair?
-No, I ... you do not talking to me and I imagined things.
-But not the good ones, Julia replied, stroking his cheek.
-I am so happy to have wrong, launched William laughing, so happy to hear this news.
They exchanged a smile and a moment later, William took her in his arms to kiss languidly, cutting their breath every second. They parted and William lost his kisses in the neck of his wife.
-William, she moaned eyes closed, please, do not do that. We can not, not yet.
-How long should we wait? Whispered he plunged his eyes into hers.
-Isaac advises me two weeks to be sure that the embryo is implanted, then we talked about the conditions.
-Conditions? William repeated, raising an eyebrow at the ceiling.
-Yes, we have to be careful and do it gently. There is a book that explains the different positions a couple can take to make love, although we know some very interesting, she said, blushing, others are recommended when the woman is pregnant.
-So Isaac purchased this book for you ?
-He considers this a little too "depraved," she said, laughing, but he gave me the title and we can find in Chinatown, at a bookstore, he gave me the address.
-Mmmh so I married to a woman "depraved," William whispered on her lips before kissing them.
-I am open to new discoveries, that is all, Julia said chuckling along before they exchange a long kiss, and I will be more than happy to discover them with you.
-I am looking foward to do it, William added, but in the meantime, enjoy this evening.
Then they parted softly and left together the kitchen to reach the dining room. William made Julia sit at the table.
-Do not move, and let me take care of you tonight.
She just nodded and he kissed the corner of her mouth before picking up and leaving the room quickly, barring a huge smile his face.
to be continued ...