It was a rainy Sunday, one of those Sundays when William got up early to go to the early office. Two days before he had completed a new invention, a simple big clock so he could read the time with his fingers without moving the needle. He built many inventions, all more complicated than this, but without his sight, he had spent long minutes to do. Since he had installed beside his bed, he consulted when he woke. This little detail marked a little more his independence, he had no need to ask the time to Julia, he didn't woke her for it anymore. He was also more sensitive to the light that came into the room, and a shy smile on his face loomed when, checking fingertips the hands of the clock, he noticed that he was right in his assumptions. It was quarter past six when he left the embrace of his wife to get up and join the bathroom. Once again, on the way he stumbled in the table on which he stumbled every day. A low groan passed his lips, but he listened to hear if he had awakened Julia. Nothing moved, he could just hear the silence of the room. He went his way and he made his toilet, shaving and dressing. He joined the room and walked around the bed quietly, to sit on the edge and wear his socks. He then heard the sheets wrinkle in his back, the squeak of the bed and he could not help smiling. It was a few weeks now that it squealed, since a particularly eventful night when he passionately made love to his wife.
-Where are you going like that Murdoch? She whispered in his ear, running her hands over his chest to press against his back.
He smiled again, resting his hand on Julia's who took the opportunity to kiss his neck.
-The first morning office, he whispered simply.
-I see that now that you have your new clock you no longer need me, she continued, smiling in his neck.
-You know I can not live without you.
-So stay with me, you can go to second.
She smiled again and she gently pushed his hands on William's chest that could not help but to close our eyes to the tender caress.
-There Are fewer people had first murmured William, I do not want to feed the conversations.
-Veux You want me with you?
No, I do not tax you.
-I Do it for you, Julia sighed, placing his chin on the shoulder of William, but you know that the Church ...
I know, said William smiling, I go alone, we will only find ourselves after.
'I'll pick you up at the church, we go out to eat what do you say?
-That I would be delighted Mrs Murdoch.
-Well, She sighed before kissing his cheek, in this case I agree to let you go.
She released her grip around him and he did not hesitate a second to go back and steal a long, lingering kiss. He immediately placed his hand on the neck of Julia, pulling her against him barely a second to slide his tongue in her mouth. She already gave a moan of pleasure as his kiss took her breath away. He savored the taste of her tongue, the softness of her lips, the smell of her skin. William knew it was only took a few short minutes before he loses mind, before he slips his hand on the thigh of Julia and he lengthens against her. Then, slowly, he left her mouth, catching his breath, bitten her lower lip, before leaving. They parted slowly.
-I love you, William whispered on her lips by putting a lock of her hair behind her ear.
-I love you too William, be careful, she said, before stroking his lips with hers and he leaves the bed.
She watched him go without a word. She admired him, how he had adapted to the situation, the way he moved and acted as if he saw, as before. She admired his confidence and strength. When the door slammed behind her husband, Julia sank into the mattress in a contented sigh, chuckling when she heard squealing, remembering the moment a few weeks earlier where William had stuck her between the mattress and his body to take her passionately, which caused the breakage of a spring. Julia a huge smile on her lips, she was madly in love with her husband, more than she had ever been, happy, she was happy despite the ordeal they crossed. William healed, she was sure, and when he had regained sight, when he could again plunged his gaze into hers and see that spark of love that shone there, she knew all the trouble and pain would be behind them. She knew she could continue to love him with all her heart, her whole body and all her soul.
William was alone on the wooden bench. The mass was over for a few minutes and he just waited patiently for the priest ready to finish greet his loyal at the church entrance. He exchanged a few words with people he knew, but he was very quickly put a little away, too embarrassed by the questions and excuses they have done on his condition. He followed the mass as he always did, relieved to find that he knew so well the progress that his disability did not prevent anything to act like other people in the sanctuary. He prayed for several minutes, and now he was waiting. He had doubts, fears, uncertainties and he had to talk to Father Clements. When William noticed the empty church, he heard the heavy wooden door close a little later, he finished his prayer, he crossed himself and he simply waited.
-You wanted to speak with me William? Asked the gentle and compassionate voice of the priest who sat beside him on the bench.
-I ... I have doubts, the young man murmured.
-After what happened to you I understand, Father Clements nodded, are you afraid of the future?
-Yes, admitted the young man, I'm afraid of not finding my place at the police station if the sight did not return. I feel progress, but time passes and the Inspector will not keep me much longer. What will become of me if I can not be a policeman? I can not do anything alone, I can not read, create, I can no longer ... look, he said under his breath.
-Julia, murmured the young man, she's the most important is not it?
-I hear what is said on our way, "poor woman with a crippled man, she does not deserve such an ordeal, he does not deserve such a woman. She has killed her first husband, may be she tried to do the same with him. "
-Your story was in the newspapers, said the Father, people know that your wife has nothing to do with this.
-Yet, they talk, and I hear them. Julia must hear too. I know she does not care what we can say about her and I should think the same thing. But it makes me angry, so angry. No one sees what she does for me, no one knows what wonderful woman she is.
-You, you know.
-I thank God every day for having put her on my way, if only I could make her happy.
-I believe you do William.
He would ask him how he could find out, he only meet Julia occasionaly, because William often came to find her at her charities and she almost never went to church. How could he know if Julia was happy, so she did not suffer from this situation?
When he heard the church door close a little later, William jumped. Heels resounded on the tiled floor of the central nave. He knew this approach.
-Her happiness is seen in her eyes, the Father Clements continued a little lower, in her smile, the way she looks at you. You go through a difficult time right now William, but your wife is there with you, and she loves you with all her heart. Love can do miracles, do not forget.
The footsteps stopped a little further. Seeing that William was talking with the Father, Julia had stopped, not wanting to interfere in their conversation that needed to be private. She had met the gaze of the Father Clements when she came, but now she waited patiently. He gave him a nod, she smiled shyly and took a step closer.
-Good morning my Father, she said politely, I'm sorry to interrupt you, not seeing William out I worried, but I'll wait outside if you need to talk together.
-No need Mrs Murdoch, he said, rising and smiling tenderly, I had finished with your husband.
At these words, a huge smile was born on the lips of the young woman. Pride, here is what she felt at that moment, proud to hear that the man who was there, a few meters from her, this exceptional man, her hero, was her husband.
-Go in peace William, he said, turning to the young man, no doubt to have. God is in your heart and will guide you both.
William nodded and just a second later, the priest withdrew, giving a simple nod to Julia who did the same to greet him. Detective Murdoch then left the wooden bench and he reached out to where he thought was his wife. A second later, his hand rested just below her chest while his thumb brushed her breast. He felt Julia's body be shaken by some jolts when she laughed quietly.
-William, come on, we are in a church.
He chuckled too, and he felt her take his hand before she kissed his cheek and she draws him towards the exit without a word.
The rain had finally subsided and he had decided to return to Windsor hotel by walk, talking about everything and nothing, wishing to join their suite quickly to enjoy a hot tea, entwined on their sofa to complete this day of rest . But then they took the corner of the street, shouts were heard. Julia froze. A man stood a little further assaulting two young women, wanting to steal their bags. They struggled as she could, but it was obvious he was much stronger and more sturdy than them.
-Julia, said William whose instinct screamed at him that something unusual was happening, what's happening, these cries, what is it?
-A man is assaulting two young women I ...
In a jump, William dropped her arm and rushed in the direction where he heard the screams.
-No, Julia replied, taking his arm, do not interfer, you can not.
-There is no question that I leave innocent mugged Julia.
She did not have time to answer that William rushed to the people a little further.
-Toronto Constabulary, Detective Murdoch, leave these women alone immediately.
He saw a dark shadow to face him, he thought he was much bigger and stronger than him. He heard him laugh.
-A blind Detective, what do you want me to do sir?
He gave a shot in the shoulder, which destabilized William seconds and he laughed a little stronger.
-He does not even fit on his feet, it's pitiful.
-Sir you ...
William did not finish his sentence he felt him punch him in the face. The two women insulted their attacker immediately. He felt blood running from his nose, knees on the ground, soft hands rest on his shoulders.
-You will follow us to the police station, gave Julia's voice next to his ear.
-No, pretty, but I know a place where you could follow me up.
If was too much for him, anger rising in him, as he rarely had been the case in the past. William remembered perfectly the few times he was angry, every time it meant Julia. Every time, without exception, it was to protect her, to save her life, honor, because a person called into doubt her ability or judgment. In one leap he got to his legs and immediately he gave a punch. The man in front of him let out a groan, he touched his nose with force.
-You're going to pay, he whispered.
-Careful, cried a young woman.
Another blow struck William before he too gives a punch. Julia stood there, motionless, seeing her husband hit with all his might, sometimes he touched the big strong man in front of him, sometimes he missed him and he took a violent blow in the face or ribs. He was once again spitting blood when she came to him.
-William, stop, please, just let him go, let ...
But he then pushed her more violently than he wanted and he struck again without touching the man in front of him who gave him a mighty knee in the stomach.
-Listen to your girl, and leave.
With a nameless rage, William stood up, determined not to let him go, not to leave the mess his wife, to prove that he was not declined. But hardly had he regretted that hit in the second. He heard her moan, while the man just laughed. Julia fell on the ground because of the punch. In the fall, she hit the sidewalk edges and simply rolled onto her back, feeling her lip bleed, burn her cheek, her arm completely numb.
He put a few seconds to realize, to understand that he had struck her. He heard police whistles, the man run away, a policeman following him, but he did not care, all that mattered was the muffled groans of the young woman lying on the ground near him.
-Oh my God, ma'am, are you alright? Asked a young woman who was kneeling now beside her as she tried to get up.
-I'm fine, sighed Julia, I have ... my arm, I have to go to the hospital, it is, it may be broken.
-Julia? William threw in approaching her groping to put his hand on her shoulder.
-Aaaah, William, his wife cried in pain, do not touch me ...
-Excuse me ... I did not want, I ...
He was totally confused and panicked, she could see his posture, she heard it in his voice. The man she believed so sure of himself was lost, totally lost. He did not know what her condition, he could not touch her, to look her injuries, it was total darkness. He no longer felt his belly and his sore nose, all that mattered was that Julia was well.
-I know, Julia sighed tenderly stroking his cheek to reassure him, it's not your fault, I do not blame you, William. I'll wait for the ambulance, return to the hotel. Call George to give evidence.
-I will not leave you alone I ...
-Please, Julia begged a whimper, please do William. It's alright but I have to get treatment, return.
-I'll stay with her, sir, threw the young woman next to Julia, do not worry, but she's right, it may be better that you did not come with. You should also treat your injury to the lip and change you, your shirt is covered in blood.
-I come back soon and I take care of you, Julia whispered, but you can not do anything for me, or accompanying me. Please do, she whispered, placing her forehead against his.
He took a few seconds before resigning. Julia was right, he committed more harm than good. It may be best that he let her go alone, he simply waits at home. So he does not hurt, her hurt anyone.
-I'm sorry, he whispered, stroking fingertips Julia's lips when he felt blood running, I'm going to ask ... tea and I'll wait.
-That's a great idea Murdoch, Julia replied in one breath before dropping a kiss on her husband's lips.
He stayed with her the time the ambulance came, and then he took the way to the hotel. The rain was beginning to flow again, the heart of William was heavy. Heavy with grief and remorse. I'm so stupid, he thought, but what it took me, of course I'm blind, blind, bloody hell William. You hit her, you hit Julia.
It was in a black mood he returned the hotel, he dropped down on the sofa in a moan of pain and he simply waited for theConstable Crabtree to testify about the incident.
to be continued...