The sun had just risen when she woke up from her sweet dream. In a contented sigh, Julia turned, still feeling William's arms hold her against him. Then she slipped her hand on his chest, leaving her finger caressing his skin between the two parts of his pajamas. She had dreamed of him, this man who shared her bed and her life, this man who was her husband for two years now. Julia knew what day they were, in two days that would be their wedding anniversary and nothing could make her happier than thinking about this day that was so wonderful, and she had to admit, also eventful. She had always had the fear of forgetting, that when the time passed, it took with him her memories, emotions, sensations. She did not forget, she wanted to remember forever every second spent with him, with William. She wanted to remember his every move, his words, his looks, his smiles. She understood how hard this must be for him, she did not know if she could not look at him every morning as she did at that moment. She could not bear not to see a smile light up his face, not to let her eyes travel over his body. Julia smiled, blushing softly. Oh, she had more than once left her gaze drawn the contours of the muscles of her husband, especially his buttocks while he was in office and does not notice her. If only he knew, thought the young woman dipping her face in the nape of William.
-Why are you smiling? William whispered startling her.
-You're awake?
-According to my calculations at least ten minutes, I heard you in your sleep.
-Oh, Julia sighed.
-I believe I was part of a very pleasant dream.
-You have no idea Murdoch, murmured Julia on his lips before kissing him and molding her body up against his.
-What time is it? William asked at the end of their kiss.
-It is six hours and fifteen minutes, Julia replied, glancing at the clock a little further, I have to get up for work.
-I am coming with you.
-William, you can do anything you ...
-I lost my sight, not my head, cut William, help me to shave and dress. And ... I'd like to remove those bandages.
-The daylight may still be too aggressive for you, maybe you should ...
-Please, cut William tenderly stroking her cheek, I beg you Julia.
She remained silent a few seconds, lying against the body of William, looking at his face, and the bandages that still covered his eyes. Then she leaned over to kiss his lips.
-Well, she said, let me time to make my toilet, to dress and do my hair and then I'll deal with you.
-You're an angel, he said, slipping his hand into the back of his wife, my angel. I love you.
-I love you too William and that's why I can not fight against you.
She left him abruptly and he could not help laughing softly. Yet before she left the bed, he held her by the wrist.
-You did not answer me. Why were you smiling?
-Because I realized how lucky I was to have you, the chance to know that smile, she said, stroking fingertips lips of William, and lucky I was able to watch and touch your so beautiful and muscular buttocks, she finished laughing before placing a chaste kiss on his lips to finally stand up.
William shook his head from left to right, smiling. He was delighted to have this power over her, and he knew he was the only man in the world able to do so with his independent and headstrong wife.
The couple entered arm in arm in the police station. The men had made a second of silence when they saw them. Julia was in William's arm in his dark clothes, his hat ensconced on his head, but with dark glasses on his nose and a cane in his hand. He was not wearing bandages over his eyes that he kept closed, still too injured for him to open them.
-Would you like to meet the Inspector? Julia murmured. He is alone.
-Yes, please, I do not want to walk in front of them.
Julia nodded and after a little pressure on his arm, she led him to the office. William's cane knocked several times in the chairs that were in the entrance. Four steps, first chair to the left, another chair on the right, two steps, another to the left. Three steps and we are in the office door.
Julia gave two blows to the door jamb. Immersed in his reading, Inspector Brakenreid took a few seconds to get out and look up at them.
-Murdoch, he called rising, you see, I knew you'd be back soon.
-Frankly I do not see much Sir, William replied with a grimace.
Silence fell and the Inspector glanced at Julia, who bit her lips.
-It was a joke Sir, William said, although it is true that I see nothing, you said "you see ..." then ...
- Your wife rubs off on you, grumbled Brakenreid while Julia could not help smiling shyly, then what are you doing here?
-I thought I could help you on an investigation.
-And how?
-I have enough experience, I did not need to see to offer my help to Constable Crabtree or to yourself.
Again silence fell, Inspector Brakenreid looked insistently Dr. Ogden. How a woman as stubborn and combative as her, could admit it was a good idea? Yet she stood there facing him, supporting her husband.
-Inspector, threw Julia, I must go back to the morgue and resume my position and William ... He is your best man, and he is able to solve any inquiry. Whether this will cost to you?
-I do not think you need a lawyer, William whispered into the hollow of the ear of Julia.
-I ... I wanted to help you, sighed the young woman felt her heart sink in her chest.
-I'm not your son, but your husband.
She was silent a moment, then she let go of his arm before speaking again on a more distant voice.
-I am going back to work, do as you want gentlemen, if you need me for professional reasons, you know where to find me.
With that, she left the room without a word, without a glance, in a hurry, annoyed by the reaction William had been to her. She could understand that he felt diminished, but she also knew , as Brakenreid, that William could probably make quite useful to the police station. She wanted to help him, not let him admit he was pacing home and it was almost impossible to do anything at all alone.
-Come, Brakenreid murmured as the door slammed behind Julia, we will try to find you something to do.
William nodded and quietly, he made the journey to his office, stumbling against the furniture in his path, but endlessly repeating in his mind all the obstacles that stood in the path, so to know the places in detail.
Lunch time had arrived. Dr. Ogden did not see the time fly. She was immersed in her work, and for the first time in two days, she had finally felt at peace. She had not thought for one second to her husband, to his physical condition, there had been her work and nothing else.
She wrote her report when the phone beside her, rang. She immediately picked up it, adding a final point on the document.
-Doctor Ogden, Toronto city morgue. I am listen to you?
-Forgive me, came the voice of her husband on the phone.
-William? What...
- I acted like an idiot.
-William, Julia sighed, looking up at the ceiling, I do not blame you. I understand that the situation is difficult for you and maybe I wanted to protect you too. But we are at work and maybe we should expect tonight to be home to discuss.
-Meet me at my office, please do.
-Listen, I do not know if it's a good idea and ...
-Please, William repeated before hanging up.
She stood there for a few seconds in silence, holding the telephone receiver. She did not know what to do, she had an immense desire to join him in the second and snuggle into his arms. But they had always kept a certain distance in the workplace. Julia smiles shyly, maybe they had not always been so professional, because she remembered stolen kisses in the office of Detective Murdoch, of tender caresses in the morgue and more equivocal glances off one crime scene. Julia harbored deepest desire one day to indulge in his arms on their workplaces. Many were the times when her mind had overcome such a path but William was William and she knew he would never act such a way. Although some kisses and caresses had given her a taste. Julia sighed deeply, glancing at her rings on her ring finger. They were soon to celebrate their wedding anniversary, she was madly in love with him. Of course she would join him in his office, even if she had let him fight a little to have her tender favors again.
When she entered the office of William, her heart skipped a beat. He was there, in the center of the room, the curtains drawn, a meal arranged on the work table. He was holding a huge bouquet of flowers in his arms, he had removed his glasses, his gaze fixed on the floor. She found him so vulnerable, so charming also.
-William, she breathed, you do not have to do that.
He did not answer, taking a step toward her. She did not move, amazed that he knew exactly where everything was. He reached out to her and she did not move until the moment he put his hand on her hip and he pulled her against him.
-You're my wife, the woman of my life, and I love you with all my heart and all my soul. I know that you act for my own good and I thank you from my heart. But I want you to apologize for my reaction.
-I do not have to intervene, and I am aware. You're right, you're not my son ... she said in one breath.
In one smooth motion, William approached a little more of her to look at her and kiss languorously. She submitted, savoring this moment, as the few intimate moments they had shared in that room. She felt his hand slide along the line of her back as his tongue danced with hers. She felt the lash of William on her skin, oh God, she missed it, bandages had not allowed such proximity, such intimacy. She closed her arms around his neck as they kissed deeply again, and out of breath, he left.
-I brought our lunch, would you be inclined to share it with me?
-Yes, I'd be thrilled.
William kissed her cheek and she took the flowers he handed her, then he went away to remove the stool of the table and invite her to sit, he did the same on the second and he began to eat quietly, ensuring touch cutlery and food in order to feed himself without the help of his wife. She remained motionless beside him, looking at him with incomprehension.
-William, how could you make so much progress in so little time ...
-I've been training all morning, I walked into the police station in every corner. I wanted to impress you.
-I'm impressed, she said in one breath, placing her hand on his, you never cease to amaze me William.
-So I'm more than happy, said William smiling before taking another bite.
to be continued...