Thunderstorms – Continued
Chapter 8: Saturday, August 9, 1913
Saturdays were special in the Murdoch home. Eloise and Claire-Marie were off, and the family spent the whole day together. Of course, the parents wanted to indulge in a little extra sleep, rising an hour or so later than on the week days when they had to go to work, or if it weren't summertime, get the children off to school. The children, being excited about a fun day ahead, found it hard to wait an extra hour to start the day. The family had reached a compromise; while their parents stayed 'asleep' behind their closed bedroom door, the children were free to head downstairs and go into the basement playroom, unaccompanied by an adult. So it happened on this first Saturday back for their mother. William and Julia heard their children, quietly, so as to not 'wake' their parents, pass by the closed bedroom door and head down the stairs. The couple paused in their lovemaking to listen together, choosing stealth so as to seem to be asleep.
Julia whispered in William's ear, just after she heard the last set of footsteps start down the stairs, "They really are such lovely children... respectful, polite, and considerate. They try so very hard not to 'wake' us, don't you think?"
William rolled them both over, placing his wife on her back underneath him, causing her to release her hold on him and whispered back in her ear, "Yes." He nestled his nose into her hair and took in the scent of her, then nibbled on her ear.
She continued, "I do have to say, they have turned out to be really good people, with kind hearts…" she gasped a little as her husband had taken quite a strong hold of her neck, "Oh, William…" her body arched upwards uncontrollably, reacting to his teasing. Julia's hand found the hair on the back of his head, raked through it with her fingers. She went on, "They also seem to have a confidence, a sense of feeling valuable and capa…" she stopped suddenly, distracted by his hand softly squeezing her bosom, inducing her to let out a moan. William's breathing in her ear grew hotter, stronger, and louder, with a sense of demanding. Her hand explored his muscular back, sliding along the smooth skin. He released his hold on her neck only to seize the skin lower, on her chest. Now her nostrils began to flare with desire as well. Her mind was foggy, she tried to find the string to the thought she just had as it nearly swirled out of reach, grabbing it just before her brain would have given way and fallen into the abyss. "Oh, yes, …" she thought. She swallowed and said, "Somehow, we managed to raise them with self-assurance but without being arrogant or assuming, wouldn't you agree, William?
"Mm," he answered, unable to be more explicit as his mouth was full and his brain had already been inundated with the dizziness of lust. His hand glided down her ribcage, dipped in along her waist, rode up the curve of her hip. He let go of her skin, kissed up her neck, nipped her jaw.
"And they are so smart," she thought, struggling for words, for a coherent speech, against the gravitational spin her want for him stirred inside of her, only able to blurt out the next thought, "Smart as whips," her breathy, strained voice said. She gasped and twitched as the knots wrenched tighter inside of her. He had grabbed the inside of her thigh, hard and insistent, pushed it outward… Fingers slipped up to touch her. Her world flipped over. She couldn't tell if she was floating or sinking, but the motion was fast, breathtaking. She would try again…she needed to breathe. She would try again to finish what she had wanted to say, "Our children, our amazing chil…"
Simultaneously, he took her mouth in a deep kiss, his velvety, hot tongue plunging in rhythmically to play with hers, and at the same time touching her passionately with his hand. The warm sound of her moan mixed in the air with the more urgent sound of his, driving them with increased force towards each other.
He broke off the kiss, and with his voice low and raspy, intoxicating to her soul, he said, "No more talking." She was more than willing to oblige. She was gone. Her head had been taken in the wave. Words no longer existed. He began to make love to her.
"Oh my god," surged through her mind, "What is he doing to me?" Then the rhythm started, hypnotic, enticing. She wondered if she would survive the agony of its torture. "William … Please," she begged. The beat only grew stronger. Repeated moans escaped from her, matching the rhythm.
Her exquisite sounds undid him. Unable to hold back, he surged to make love to her with every ounce of strength he had.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, her face wrinkled in blissful strain. She too was using every muscle to pump, to bring him closer to her. Her nails ground into his back, her biceps bulging with effort as she pulled him down with all her might. "William, my God…William," she demanded. Her body writhed under his, surging upward in an arch. Her breath caught … she was about to fall. The flame at the end of the fuse was lit.
Her sudden pause, the stillness, the waiting, allowed him to puncture through, bursting open his essence, melding it with hers. He ignited torrents inside of her. "Mmm," he moaned with pleasure as elation spread through him. His motion cascaded warm ripples outwards to every cell in her body, flooding her from the soles of her feet to the cheeks on her face in a deluge of euphoria. Her voice rattled in his ear, husky, slow, and contentedly, "Oh yes," she declared.
Finished, having given his all, he laid on top of her, heavy, heart pounding, steamy breath barreling over her ear and across her sweat-laden neck. "Oh my God," William said, out of breath, "That was …" he needed to swallow. He dropped completely.
Julia tasted her own tears as she turned her head to kiss his ear. She expended the last bit of energy she had to lift her arm and slide a few strands of hair out of her face. A few moments later, believing she had the power to speak again, she said, "Let's stay like this a while, hmm?"
He took a big breath, the closest thing to an answer she would get. She gave him an affectionate squeeze, dropping her arms limply to the mattress afterwards in exhaustion. Sleep came.
To her surprise, when she awoke Julia found William still on top of her. "He really was tired," she thought. She sighed; it was very unlikely she would be able to move without waking him. She reached up to tenderly caress his upper arm, shoulder, and slide her fingers through his hair. "William," she said softly. He took a deep breath. He was waking up. He rolled on his side. She sensed his absence immediately, lighter and colder. She whispered to him, "You sleep a little longer. I'll take care of the children."
He had not opened his eyes. "Thank you," his sleepy voice said. She hesitated a moment before getting up. Once in a while her heart seemed to radiate an immense, warming, glowing love. It was doing it now. She basked in her love for him, and then she continued on.
She brought the children upstairs, quietly so as not to wake their father, to brush their teeth. She agreed to let them stay in their pajamas until after breakfast. They headed down together to cook it. "Bacon and eggs?" she asked, as she reached up to twist and temporarily tie back her hair.
"Yes Mommy," they agreed. They helped bring supplies, rinse off dishes, set the table, and load the dishwashing cupboard as dirty dishes were created.
"Who wants the job of waking Daddy? I think he would like to eat it while it's hot," she asked, already knowing the answer. All three children jumped at the chance. She sent them upstairs to do so, but warned, "Don't roughhouse too long or it will get cold!" An unavoidable smile covered her face as she listened to the sounds they made while they played. "William really is such a great father," she thought, "Husband too." She felt lucky, grateful, happy.
When the family did finally rambunctiously pour down the stairs, Julia had nearly completed the meal. She had saved the 'over-easy' eggs for last, knowing both William and William Jr. would prefer them to the scrambled eggs she had already prepared. She stood at the stove, finishing the second pan-full of bacon. The children streamed in and took their seats, still chattering about the boisterous game they had just finished and how funny it was when …
William stepped behind Julia, sliding one hand around to her stomach, letting his thumb reach up and slip back and forth across the bottom of her bosom, and pressing the other hand over her lower belly, intentionally tantalizingly her with his fingers. He tilted his head and inhaled her scent before he kissed and nibbled her earlobe and her neck.
"Oh my, I get aroused so quickly," she thought, feeling the tension inside her tighten and her head take on the slightest spin. She could hear the children happily talking, but her attention was so pulled to him, to the feel of him so strong and warm behind her, to what he was doing to her body with his hands, his mouth, and what she anticipated he would do next.
Chelsea's voice broke across the room, "Mommy, I smell the toast!"
Instantly they all smelled the toast – it was starting to burn. William released her and quickly used a towel to grip the long handle of the metal toast basket that was over the flame, pulling it away from the heat and flipping it over to let the slightly charred pieces of toast fall onto a plate Julia had left waiting.
William Jr. declared, "Not again Mom!"
Julia quickly passed the blame, "Your father distracted me," she defended herself.
William just chuckled and said, "Don't worry, your mother and I will eat these. We'll make new ones for you."
As they ate, magnanimous conversation filled the air. The dressed and headed to the Club. William would take the girls to the riding stable and Julia would take William Jr. to swim. They would meet up for lunch.
William and both girls rode together out on the Club's bridle-paths. Chelsea rode a pony; both Katie and William rode horses. The staff at the stables knew that the Murdoch's insisted that all members of the family, male or female, ride in regular saddles – no sidesaddles. Their father had helped the girls twist their skirts around each leg and hold them in place with horse leg-wraps. William was quite good at riding, although he was not as familiar with this English style as with the Western style he had used when he worked on the ranch.
They had more of an adventure than they had wanted to when two boys on bicycles buzzed by, spooking their horses. Chelsea fell off, her pony running way, and both horses bolted towards the stable. The two boys had stopped and William called out for them to help the already crying little girl on the ground. He knew he needed to catch up to Katie, who was screaming and being run-away with.
He was quickly next to her. She was making a good effort to fix the situation (for a 7-year old girl) and was no longer screaming and was now pulling back on the reins, but to no avail. William encouraged, "Don't give up. No horse can run faster than you can ride." He reached over with one hand and grabbed the reins directly behind the horse's mouth, gradually pulling both horses to a slower speed until they finally stopped. "Wow, you handled that so well Katie," he declared. The girl looked exhausted and a little shaken, but his words stirred pride in her. She even asked him to let go of her horse and let her control him as they rode back to Chelsea.
Arriving, they could see that Chelsea was standing and watching them come towards her. She was crying but did not seem seriously hurt. William felt great relief. One of the boys had caught, and was holding, Chelsea's pony. William dismounted and squatted down in front of Chelsea.
One of the boys said, "We're so sorry sir. We know we're not supposed be on horse trails with the bikes, please don't tell."
Chelsea had quickly taken her father in a hug. William looked up at the boys and told them not to worry, while he rubbed Chelsea's back reassuringly, but he made them promise they wouldn't ride bikes on these paths again. Turning his attention to his youngest daughter, he said, "Oh, I think you are alright sweetie, hmm?" The little one nodded, keeping her head in his shoulder. She had banged her elbow, which was already swollen and was covered with a bloody scrape. William looked the injury over calmly and then comfortingly said he was sure her Mommy would be able to fix it up.
They headed back to the stables, Chelsea sitting in front of her father on his horse while he led her pony, Katie riding on her own. Katie asked, "Daddy, do you think they let girls ride bicycles here?"
William chuckled to himself; he had sensed that Katie liked one of the boys. He would have to ask Julia if it was possible for a little 7-year old girl to like a boy in this way. It seemed so. He answered her, "We can certainly find out … And if they don't, maybe we can get them to change their minds." She smiled. He thought for a moment and then added, "I know you already know how to ride your bike very well, but do you think you would be able to keep up with those boys?"
"Oh yes Daddy," she happily replied.
William and the girls had finished up early, so he took advantage of the extra few minutes. There was a store near the Club that would likely have a pocketknife to buy for Julia. He purchased a Victronix Swiss Army Knife with four attachments for her. The girls were permitted to look at it, with him reminding them constantly to be careful. They also were sworn to secrecy. He wanted it to be a surprise gift for Mommy. They agreed.
William held the door to the large building for his young daughters when they went to pick up Julia and William Jr. at the swimming pool. Julia had enjoyed a swim and was now changed into her regular clothes and sitting at a poolside table with two other women. William Jr. was still in the pool finishing up a group lesson.
One of the women leaned in closer to Julia and the other woman while her eyes stared at the pool entrance and said with a sultry voice, "Now that is a handsome man."
All eyes turned to the door to see William who had come in with Katie and Chelsea. The other woman said, "Married though." Julia smiled.
Just then Katie caught sight of her mother and called out "Mommy," as she and Chelsea started to run around the pool to her.
William called out authoritatively, "Don't run!" and both girls immediately slowed to a hurried walk.
Both ladies turned to look at Julia. One said, "Your husband then?"
"Yes, yes he is," Julia responded, bouncing up to sit a bit higher in her seat. The girls arrived with quick hugs and the excited tale of their adventure. Chelsea showed her mother her injured arm. Once William arrived, Julia introduced him to the ladies. One of them recognized him, and then Julia too, from the newspapers. The parents spoke briefly about Chelsea's injury. William went to get first-aid supplies from the pool staff. Julia nearly blushed as she noticed the way the other two women eyed her husband as he walked away. Julia cleaned and wrapped her daughter's arm. They used her towel to make a sling. Julia said they should stop by the morgue on the way home to x-ray it. William Jr. finished up and changed into his clothes. He then joined them to be filled in on all that had happened. They said good-bye to the two ladies who had been sitting with Julia. One of the women thanked Julia for her suffrage efforts. Julia suggested she join the fight and they arranged a time to meet about it.
As they walked over to the restaurant, Katie whispered to her mother, "Dad said we won't look like the classiest bunch in the Club Restaurant today." Julia concurred, reaching over to brush some dried mud off of Chelsea's much wrinkled skirt.
The Murdoch's walked into the restaurant at the Club, approaching the maître d. They were quickly informed that they were no longer members at the Club, and therefore would not be seated. Julia calmly said, "That is absurd, we have been members here for years."
"Madame, I regret to inform you that I was told you were removed from the Member's List," the man sternly said.
Julia was getting angry, her hands on her hips, eyes narrowing their focus, "Why?" she demanded.
The maître d leaned forward, lowering his voice to suggest a secret, "Because Madam, because of your … illegal acts."
Julia was furious. Her tone took on that of yelling, while William carefully took her arm, imploring her to calm down. She charged, "Hypocrites! … Many of the men here, and some of the women too, even some of those on the board, have committed much worse crimes …" Two men appeared at Julia's side to "escort her, and her family, to the door."
The children were startled, asking questions and raising the tone as they followed their parents towards the door. One of the men took hold of William's arm. That did it. He insisted, "Unhand me … and my wife," as he shook his arm free. Julia started to rant and he took her arm, held her eye and insisted she calm down. He took a deep breath, and exuding an air of confidence and of being in command, he walked back to the maître d, his family following in his wake.
The maître d said insultingly, "You were never wanted here anyway detective."
"Regardless," William said, "We are full members at this Club. Our dues are paid. We have supported functions sponsored by the Club... Further, we did not receive notification of any kind that we were no longer members here."
The maître d merely apologized for the oversight, but insisted that they would not be seated.
William took a deep breath, working to stay calm and said, "Who makes such decisions here?"
Julia answered him, explaining that the board meets monthly and votes on such things.
William turned back to the maître d and asked, "When did they vote to remove us from the Member's List?"
"The last meeting was three weeks ago," the man responded.
William took another deep breath and went on, "That was plenty of time to have notified us. I brought the children here just last week. No one mentioned anything then?"
"Your name had not been removed from the list last week, but the decision had been made. It was an oversight," the maître d explained.
William's neck turned red. Julia knew that now he was losing his patience as well. She stood at alert, as did the children. She couldn't help but be thrilled. This man really didn't stand a chance once William took the intellectual gloves off and she knew it.
William leaned in very close to the man. His opponent would feel the strength of his breath on his face. Deliberately and firmly he said, "My dear sir, you forget my … our, profession … We know that more than one man present right now…" William turned and focused his attention on a particular man eating at a table within sight – a very influential man, "… has been arrested for crimes much more shameful than standing up for political convictions, as my wife did. Do you want me to start calling them out … here and now?"
The maître d acquiesced quickly. He called a waiter over to take them to a table. Once they were at their seats, Julia said in a low voice, "Thank you William. That was very impressive."
The children had questions. William looked around, figuring it would be good to know exactly who was in attendance and explained that they would explain it to them later. Time passed, waiters passed and it became apparent that no one was taking their order. William and Julia discussed it. They decided that William should call over a waiter that they knew. He did so. The waiter, Tom, was clearly very uncomfortable. He felt quite a conflict as he personally liked the couple. They were always respectful and friendly with the staff, and they were highly popular and famous in general, but he also knew he could lose his job. William decided to let Tom go, not asking him to take such risks.
He asked Julia if she recognized anyone present who was on the board. She pointed them out. William asked which ones were most likely supportive of her or her causes. At one table, there was a wife of a board member that she knew who had donated money and even spent some time in support of women's health clinics that fought for contraceptive rights. They reassured their children that they would be fine, and that it was very important that they behave while they were alone until their Mom and Dad got back.
William and Julia joined couple – William pulling up a chair, Julia sitting in a chair already at the table. William explained to the man that he understood that the board voted to remove them from the Member's List, but they were never notified and no dues were refunded. Now they were here with their family and wanted to have a nice meal. He suggested that the Club just let it be for now and then let them argue their cause at the next board meeting. The man seemed reluctant so William went to his strong suit, "As you likely know, as members of Constabulary, we are aware of the transgressions of many of the members here. For instance, that man over there is known to frequent prostitutes…" the man looked at the culprit and gulped, he obviously knew what William was saying was true. William continued, "Thus Dr. Ogden would not be the only member to break law. Further, the law she broke is quite political in nature – with growing support for her point of view…" Now all eyes fell to the man's wife. William finished his argument, "Perhaps a little time to think about it before deciding at the next board meeting would allow for a more … considered decision?" The man's wife insisted he give them his support. It was agreed and the man spoke with the maître d.
Back at their table, now being served, Julia told the children that their Daddy was brilliant. The children asked what their mother had done to cause so much trouble – being arrested, jailed, and then kicked out of the Club – shunned. Their parents explained that the law their mother broke requires that women cannot control when they have babies. They explained that many people, including their parents, believe women should be able to control when they have babies. Their mother broke the law by teaching some women how to do this. William reminded them about the conversation they had had about standing up for what you believe in being like being in a thunderstorm – the tallest thing gets hit by lightning, and their mother bravely stood up the tallest for what she believes in. They explained that from now on she wouldn't have to stand up alone. She would have the support of their father, and others, and they would stand up by fighting to change the law. Important lessons, their parents thought.
The two boys on the bikes earlier came in to sit at a table with their mother; she was one of the women Julia had been sitting with. William noticed that Katie noticed. He was sure he was right about her liking one of the boys. He wondered which one. Both of them were older than Katie. He hoped it was the youngest one. He reminded himself to ask Julia about it later.
As the Murdoch's finished up and headed out of the restaurant, the boys' mother called Julia over. She said, "I believe some of your family met my boys earlier."
"Oh?" said Julia, looking at William.
William smiled and said, "Yes … they were very helpful after our horses had been spooked. With a grateful nod to the boys he said, "They caught the pony that ran off. Thanks again, um … What are your names?" William swore he saw Katie jump with excitement with his question.
The oldest boy, probably about 11 years old stood up and extended a hand and said, "You are very welcome, sir. My mother tells me you are Detective Murdoch, a fellow Catholic. Oh, and my name is Franklin O'Keefe, sir." He nudged his younger brother to stand and introduced him, "And this is my brother Theodore."
William noticed that the youngest boy looked at Katie when he said, "Or Teddy … You sure rode that horse well today… I have never seen a girl ride a horse so fast." Julia gave William a surprised look. He would definitely need to talk to her about this later.
Katie said, "Thank you … Teddy. I'm Katie and this is William Jr. and Chelsea."
Julia and Mrs. O'Keefe solidified their plans to meet. The families said good-bye and the Murdoch's left. Once outside, Julia told them that the O'Keefe family was very wealthy – they ran the famous brewery and were involved in banking. Eugene O'Keefe, the woman's husband and boys' father, had died earlier this year. Katie told her mother she wanted to go bicycling with the boys.
Julia leaned down and squeezed her daughter's shoulders. "Well they certainly seemed keen," she said. I'll speak to Mrs. O'Keefe about it when we meet. Katie thanked her mother and asked her not to forget.
The stop at the morgue revealed that Chelsea's arm was not broken. Her mother put on a sturdier bandage and they made a better sling. She would try not to move it too much for one or two days. The family dispersed quickly when they got home, the children going down to the playroom in the basement for a while, Julia to change into something more comfortable – really to get out of her corset! – and William to start the chili he was making for dinner.
As he worked in the kitchen, he heard the children arguing, by no means an uncommon event. He listened, seeing if they would resolve it themselves but it seemed to be escalating. He headed down to deal with it. Katie had wanted to play with one of William Jr.'s toys, taking it without asking. When William had pulled her aside to talk to her, he had said that he expected better of her, that he knew she knew better, and he was disappointed in her behavior. The little girl had burst into inconsolable tears. Julia heard the ruckus and came down stairs. William had already lifted Katie in his arms when the child saw her mother.
Although William didn't think it was possible, Katie started crying even harder once she knew her mother was there. Katie sobbed, "Daddy doesn't love me anymore," and fell into heaving sobs on his shoulder. The child was hyperventilating so that her parents worried she would become ill.
"I've got it," William said to Julia. "I'm going to take her out on the porch. Can you check the pot I have on the stove?" he asked as he carried Katie up the stairs. He said caringly in her ear, "Katie, you have to take a deep breath sweetie, hmm?" She did, lungs seeming to shake and stutter with the strain. His heart broke for the tiny girl. She had already had such a hard life, and her ability to trust that she would be loved had always been a challenge. Put into an orphanage with her younger sister when she was four, she had come to feel unlovable as many couples refused to adopt two children, usually because Katie was considered to be too old. He reassured his daughter that his love for her was not, and never would be, in question. But, he wanted her to try really hard not to disappoint him or her mother, but if she did, then she would need to try to figure out how to repair their trust in her. He suggested saying you're sorry, but in a way that makes it clear that you know what you did was wrong.
"But even if I asked, he wouldn't have let me play with it," she said so quietly it was hard for William to hear her.
He wiped away a few tears and said to her, "Well, Katie … it is William Jr.'s toy. He does have a right to say 'no' and if he does, you need to do your best to find something else to play with that makes you happy. Do you think you could do that?"
Katie nodded her head and dried her tears, and she suggested she go apologize to William Jr. for taking, and keeping, his toy without asking him. William gave her his handkerchief to clean up. Then she went, by herself, downstairs to do just that. William only hoped his son would be gracious about it – which he was.
He returned to the kitchen to finish getting the meal on track. Julia came back up from downstairs and walked up behind him, figuring she might be able to get him back for the torture he put her through while she stood at that very stove this morning. She reached around from behind him, worked to loosen his tie, nibbled on his ear.
William said, "You know, I think you were right. They really are quite wonderful children." Julia was now undoing the buttons of his vest. "On that horse today… Katie really handled a chall…" he stopped mid-sentence, as Julia had slid her hand under his vest to massage his chest through his shirt. He felt his desire rising, his head beginning to swim.
After breathing slow and strong into his ear, Julia's voice was sultry as she answered, "Yes."
William turned around. He put his arms around her waist; she put hers around his neck. He said playfully, "Mrs. Murdoch … Are you trying to distract me – some sort of revenge for the toast this morning."
"Are you finding it hard to concentrate?" she asked, and then kissed him.
He located her ear and told her, "I believe I would also burn the toast." They shared a chuckle. William pulled back, breaking the romantic trance and asked if she wanted to help empty the dishwashing cupboard. Not thrilled, she agreed. Soon after they began the task, his mind drifted to the case and he said, "The man with the poison blade planted in him …"
Julia rolled her eyes, although she didn't believe William saw her do so, thinking, "The case, what else?" To let him know she had caught up with him she added, "John Lynch."
"Yes… The killer could not have known which coroner would get the case, but they would have known that I would be the detective called. Perhaps I am the target?" he suggested, wrinkling up one side of his mouth.
"No, no I don't think so William," she answered. She explained, "The clothes were not cut … The blade had to be inserted into the body, and then the clothes were put on it. If the murderer wanted to poison you, they would have cut through the clothes to reveal the wound, figuring you would have touched it at the scene to examine it."
"Mm-hmm, I see," he agreed. Then he remembered to ask about Katie. "Uh, Julia … Um it seemed to me that Katie quite liked the boy we met today, Teddy… Um, is it possible for a 7-year old girl to have such feelings?" he asked, twisting his face with doubt.
She answered, "Well, our friend Ruby had a "boyfriend" at seven, and they kissed – I mean really kissed. So, yes, I guess so… I myself don't remember having those kinds of feelings until I was quite a bit older, fifteen or sixteen even."
William, standing next to her, caught her eye with a sideways glance and teased her, "Too bust being a tomboy?"
Julia sighed, feigning exasperation, and then said, "I guess there is no point in denying it," with a roll of her eyes up to the heavens.
William took the last two plates out of the dishwashing cupboard and said, "I do believe I might have had my heart broken then, if I had met you when you were thirteen or fourteen. I'm fairly sure I would have fallen head over heels in love with you … It would have been hard to be so in love with someone who was not interested."
Julia reached over and turned him to her. She reached up to undo the top buttons of his shirt. Keeping her eyes focused on her task she said, "Somehow, I think that if I had met you, I would have been interested." She felt his hands slide over her hips, press into her back, pulling her to him. She heard him take in a deep breath, prompting her to lift her chin, tilt her head, invite him. "Oh this is luscious," she thought as their kiss melted her through and through.
Neither of them heard the children come up the stairs, didn't even know they were there until William Jr. said, "Told you."
Chelsea flapped her hands in the air and grumbled, "We're bored."
Their parents stopped their kissing. Still holding the other in their arms they discussed what to do. William said he wanted to have some time to work-out and then shower – and he knew the girls needed to be cleaned up too. Julia suggested that the children also 'work-out' – he could teach them how … And she could use an anatomy book to show them each muscle they were working on. The children loved the idea, jumping up and down and begging for the chance. It was decided that the space was too small downstairs in William's work room for the whole family, so they brought the weights and a mat up to the back patio.
Right before William went to change out of his suit, Julia asked, "Perhaps you could work-out bare-chested," with a wink.
He leaned close to her and said, "No," evoking a pout. His laugh warmed her though and she ended up giving him a giggle. He showed up wearing the pants he used for bicycle races and an undershirt. Julia found herself pleased despite the lack of a bare chest to admire. They opened the anatomy book and left it on the side table next to the rocking chair Julia sat in. Chelsea sat in her lap, unable to 'play' because of her injury, but absolutely loving the nurturing attention she garnered from her mother. William would show the way to work a particular muscle. They would do it for a few moments until they felt the pain start – then the children would try to identify the particular muscle in the book. They really did have a great time and learned too!
William checked the pot on the stove, cooking chili was meant to be a long, slow, process. Then he took the girls up for a bath. He showered too, while the girls played in their room for a few minutes after their bath.
Julia stayed on the patio with William Jr. The boy sat with the anatomy book in his lap, seemingly engulfed by the pictures. Eventually he asked, "Mom, do you think I could be a doctor?"
She rested her elbow on the arm of her rocking-chair and laid her chin in her hand. Her beautiful blue eyes held the chocolate brown ones of her son. She replied, "To tell you the honest truth …"
Matter-of-factly her son interrupted, "I don't see how any other kind could be of value to me," he said.
Julia laughed warmly and said, "You certainly are William Murdoch's son," shaking her head at the uncanniness of it.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
A smile still glowing on her face she answered, "It's just that that is exactly the kind of thing your father would say."
"Oh," he noted. His eyes dropped back down to the book.
Julia took on a more serious tone and said, "What I was going to say is that I truly believe you could be anything you wanted to be. You are smart, athletic, focused … Do you want to be a doctor?"
"Was it hard," he asked, "Becoming a doctor?"
"Well yes … There is a lot of studying. Um, though in my case it was much harder than for most because I am a woman," she explained.
The boy thought for a moment and asked, "Is there something different about women that makes it harder for them to study … to do the things doctors need to do?"
"Julia leaned closer to him and said, "No … No. Women are just as capable as men at doing all the things doctors need to learn and do, but the way the world is set up … the way society makes the rules, well, women aren't supposed to be doctors, or much of anything else really, except mothers," she elaborated.
"How about detectives?" William Jr. asked.
Julia leaned back, realizing for the first time really, that her husband's career seemed to be even more blocked to women than being a doctor was. "Huh," she thought. She sighed and answered, "I don't believe there are any women policemen – although I know of at least one private investigator who is a woman… Do you want to be a detective, like your Dad?"
He dropped his eyes again, "I don't know – It sure does seem hard." They were quiet for a time and the he asked, "Mom, are men and women the same, or are they different?"
Julia shifted in her chair; this one would take a little more work. "Well … they are both the same, and they are different," she answered, knowing this would only drive him to be more curious. His eyes darkened as they dilated, he really wanted to know. Julia sighed, "How should I go about this?" she thought. "Some of the ways they are different are really easy to see. Like they have different anatomical parts, you know, like either a penis or a vagina." William Jr. nodded – His parents had used the correct anatomical terms for these parts since he was born – He was familiar with them. "But, of course they mostly have the same anatomical parts, arms, stomachs, lungs, hearts… But I think the biggest difference is that women get pregnant and give birth and nurse, men don't," she concluded.
"Why?" William Jr. asked.
Julia laughed, "I won't be able to answer that," she said. "But it has really big consequences, like that women have to be the ones to carry and nurse the baby, and so they can't do certain things, like go to work every day, if they are caring for the babies."
"How did you do it when you had me … weren't you still a doctor?" he asked.
She patted her lap, inviting him to sit with her. He crawled onto her thighs and rested his head on her shoulder. She rocked with him while she went on to describe what it was like when she had gotten pregnant with him. She reminded him of some of the stories he already knew, like that his father had to do surgery to deliver him and save her life because they were stuck at home in a snowstorm when she went into labor with him. "You were born on our dining room table, thanks to your Daddy, and to me too – I had to teach him what to do," she said. "You and I were in the hospital for nearly two months while I recovered…Then, when we came home, I stayed home from work for six months, and after that I started back at the morgue part time because I was still nursing you … And we hired Claire-Marie. I started work again full time about a year later, when you were weaned." She kissed his head and said, "Your Daddy and I were so happy, so in love with you from the moment you were born… It still makes my heart glow when I remember it." She gave him a big hug and a kiss and then said, "I'm going to go check on your sisters and your father. Do you want to come?"
He looked back at the book and asked, "Can I look at the book more?"
"Sure," his mother replied. He sat back down and turned the page. She went upstairs.
William made the cornbread and the family heartily ate it up with the chili. It was delicious. Over dinner they decided that they were too tired to go to the beach tomorrow. They would rather relax and spend some time bicycling in the park, maybe climbing trees, and stopping for some ice cream.
Julia had recently purchased a new adventure book to read to the children, "The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu." William read the first chapter to them in the living room after dinner. Afterwards, he asked who wanted to help him in the kitchen preparing hot chocolate and choosing a sweet snack from the things Eloise had left for them. William Jr. and Chelsea volunteered, leaving Katie some time to sit on her mother's lap and catch up.
Julia stroked Katie's hair and gave her hugs and kisses. She asked, "So, it sounds like you had quite an adventure today … Young Teddy sure was impressed – Said you went very fast, hmm?"
Katie nestled deeper into her mother's arms and said, "It was very scary, Thunderbolt spooked – he turned around and ran so quickly. I was afraid I would fall off with him going that fast."
Julia leaned her face down closer to her daughter and said, "That does sound very scary indeed. What happened next?"
"Well I tried to stop him. I pulled as hard as I could on the reins, over and over again, but it wasn't working…" she said, her voice clearly conveying her fear. "And then Daddy … he saved me Mommy, like he saves you," she said, receiving a hug from her mother. "I heard Daddy's voice. I couldn't believe he was there…"
Julia asked, "What did he say?"
Katie took a deep breath and answered, "He said that no horse could run faster than I could ride…" Katie sat up and turned to look into her mother's eyes. She said, "It made my fear go away. I knew that even if couldn't stop Thunderbolt I would be alright."
Julia nodded, thoroughly entranced in her daughter's story, "Then what happened?" she asked.
Katie put her head back on her mother's chest and said, "Then Daddy reached over from his horse and pulled hard enough on Thunderbolt's reins to stop him. He saved me, like a hero."
Julia smiled and tightened her hug, "Yes, your Daddy is a pretty good hero, isn't he?" She felt the little girl nod against her chest. Julia let her thoughts carry her for a moment, saying, "The words Daddy said, 'No horse can run faster than you can ride' … they are profound somehow."
"What is 'profound'?" Katie asked.
"It means that the words have a deeper meaning too – like they teach you something about life … I'm not quite sure what though…"
The others returned with a tray of hot chocolates and cookies. The children knew that after they were finished eating this snack, it would be time to go upstairs and get ready for bed. They tried to dilly-dally.
Chelsea asked, well more begged, "Please can Mommy read us Cinderella."
As expected, William Jr. complained, "Not that silly love story again. That's all you ever want to hear, Cinderella, Cinderella…"
Katie piped in, "Please Mommy, please… You haven't read it to us for a long time."
Julia lifted her eyes to meet William's. He could tell from her look that she wanted to give in. He hesitated as he tried to think of what concessions they could give to his poor son who would have to listen to this story one more time. He had an idea. He said, "How about this?" leaning forward out of his chair, "We all go upstairs and get your teeth brushed and get changed into our pajamas. Then we come back downstairs and Mommy reads Cinderella…" He held a hand out towards William Jr. who immediately groaned and said, "Wait, wait… Then we take a few blankets out on the grass in the backyard and lie down and look at the stars. It's a beautiful, clear night…"
Smiles all around, and that's what they did. Everybody, even William and Julia, in their pajamas, they sat in the living-room listening to Julia read Cinderella. She sat between William Jr. and Katie on the couch; Chelsea sat on her father's lap. She read, explaining that Cinderella had a hard life – she was mistreated and unloved. And how her fairy godmother used magic to send her to the ball, but all the magic would disappear by midnight. She read about how Cinderella and Prince Charming fell in love, but then she ran away … Julia hesitated again and looked up at William and said, "Maybe there are some similarities here," conjuring a chuckle from him – Both of them thinking of her leaving him to go to Buffalo. Julia went back to reading, "The only clue Prince to Charming had to use find his true love, Cinderella, was her slipper which had fallen off to be found by him on the stairs… The slipper fit Cinderella perfectly and they married and lived happily ever after."
Chelsea's voice said with glee as she sat shifted to sit up taller on her father's lap, "I love that story Mommy – It's just like you and Daddy."
William rubbed her back and said, "In some ways little one."
William Jr. was already standing up when he excitedly asked, "Which blankets?"
The family laid under the stars, marveling, breathing, whispering in awe to each other. Of course, William couldn't help but point out particular constellations, like Sagittarius. He beamed with pride as each child already knew exactly where the Big Dipper was in the sky and how to use the two stars at the end of its cup to find the North Star, and then how to use the North Star know which way is north, south, east and west. They were bright, that's for sure.
When they were tucking the children into bed, Julia stayed in the girls' bedroom telling stories for a time. William ended up sitting on William Jr.'s bed talking with him. The boy was full of questions – more than usual. He had asked his father why his mother had wanted him to work-out earlier without a shirt. William explained that his mother liked the way his chest looked – she liked the look (and the feel too, but he didn't say that) of his muscles. William Jr. asked him if he could see his father's muscles and William agreed, pulling his pajama top off over his head. His son wanted to know if he thought that he would have muscles like that someday.
"Certainly," his father answered, "But only if you work at it. Muscles only get big if you use them."
"So that's why you use them to lift the weights, so they'll get big and Mommy will like them?" the boy asked.
William thought for a minute and then said, "Well, I guess I mostly do it to make your mother happy…"
"Do all women like big muscles?" William Jr. interrupted.
"Yes, I think they do," he answered, "But bigger muscles help with all sorts of other things, like catching criminals, or carrying heavy things … lots of things really."
They were both quiet for a moment. William Jr. had a much harder question he wanted to ask, but he was … uncomfortable, unsure of how to ask it, unsure of how his father would react. It was his mother, not his father, who had explained to him so many years ago how men and women make babies. He looked away from his father's eyes, down at the blanket, and said, "Um … Dad, I saw some pictures in Mom's anatomy book … pictures of women's insides and …"
"Oh," William thought.
Just then Julia peeked her head in. Her eyes dropped, her jaw a little too, at William's naked chest. She picked her eyes back up to meet William's and said, "Um … the girls are tucked in…" Her eyes held his … asking.
William gave his son a quick glance and said, "Just some man talk," bringing a noticeable sigh of relief to William Jr.
Julia's eyes dropped back down on her husband's chest, then up to meet his eyes again. She said, "Oh, I see. I should go then. Good-night William Jr. I love you."
"Good-night Mom – I love you too," her son replied and she went down the stairs.
William told his son about a part of a woman called a uterus, or womb, and that it is at the end of the vagina inside of the woman, and that it is where the baby grows. William Jr. asked how the baby gets inside the uterus to begin with. William reminded his son what he already knew, that the man's sperm connects with the egg inside the woman's uterus and then the baby grows for about nine months until the woman goes into labor and the baby is born through the vagina. But then came the really hard question – One which William remembered Julia had explained, or tried to explain, to the boy when he was only three or four years old.
"But how does the man's sperm get into the woman's uterus?" William Jr. asked.
This prompted William to rub his forehead. He wasn't sure he could, or even should, explain. He asked, thinking it might save him some of the trouble, "Do you remember what your mother told you … about how the sperm gets inside the woman?"
"Yes. She said the man puts his penis into the woman's vagina. Is that true?" his son asked.
William could feel that he was blushing. He coached himself, "It is just science. Just biology." He cleared his throat, he could tell it had grown dry and answered, "Yes, um … that is true."
Now the boy sat up in his bed. Curiosity had completely taken over his face when he asked, "But how does the sperm come out of the penis? Do sperm come out … when I use the toilet?"
Quickly William replied, "No. No. When you use the toilet only urine comes out… Sperm only come out…" He reached up and rubbed his forehead again.
"When dad?" – He really wanted to know.
William took a deep breath and looked his son in the eye and said, "Sperm comes out when the man's penis is inside the woman – When the man and the woman are having sex. There's no urine then, only sperm."
"So people have sex to have babies?" William Jr. concluded.
William sighed. "Well, sometimes… But, um, sex feels good, so sometimes people do it even if they don't want to have a baby… That's why some people, like your mother … and me too I suppose, want contraception to be legal. So that people can have sex, but not have to have the woman have a baby because they did… Do you understand?"
William Jr. lay back down and said, "Did you and Mom want to have me?"
"Oh William Jr., we wanted to have you more than anything in the world … more than anything," William said, surprised as he felt himself choking up with the memories. He pulled the blanket up over his son's chest and leaned forward to kiss his head. "Now that we've got all that settled, it's time for you to sleep young man," he said.
"Good-night Dad. I love you," William Jr. said, tucking down deeper into his bed.
"Good-night son," William said as he turned off the light and closed the door. "Whew," he thought as he headed down the stairs. His head was buzzing.
He found Julia out on the blanket under the stars. He lay down next to her, each on their backs, the Milky Way twinkling above them. They were quiet for a while.
Julia spoke, "Well? …" she said.
Reaching back to tuck his hands behind his head, making himself a small pillow, William offered, "He saw some pictures in your anatomy book … of reproductive anatomy…"
Julia rolled over onto an elbow and exclaimed, "William! You had the sex talk!"
"Mm-hmm," he answered, a smile uncontrollably growing on his face.
"Oh how I would have liked to hear that," she said, giving him a delighted squeeze.
With quiet contemplation, Julia rested her head on his shoulder and stroked his chest, thrilled that her ever-so-buttoned-up husband had broken with convention and now laid outside in the grass with her, wearing nothing more than his pajama bottoms. She never would have thought it. Although, he did design the house well – a big back yard, surrounded by trees. Certainly none of their neighbors could see them. "Do you think we should talk to the girls about it too?" she asked him.
He rolled over on his side, lining his face up with hers. Although the moon had not risen yet, he seemed to be able to catch her eyes in the darkness. He took one of her locks in his fingers, twirling it as he said, "I think William Jr. will tell them what he learned … and when they each are ready, I think they will ask."
"Seems wise," she said.
He felt her breath on his face. The sensation pulled him even closer, seeking their familiar intimacy. William sighed, feeling relaxation overtaking him, slowly revealing his tiredness, mixing it with his contentment. He slid his hand down to her shoulder, gave her a soft push, rolling her onto her back. He closed the distance between them. "Quite a wonderful, but long, day," his voice disclosed, his lips hovering over her ear.
"I am more exhausted than if I had worked in the morgue all day. It feels like days ago that I awakened you, initiated … well, you know," she said as her hand traveled over his shoulder. "How could a day off from work be so …"
"Full," he finished her thought with his interruption, "It was very full," he shared, the husky tenor of his voice, located so close to her brain, sparked a melted, intoxicating yearning in her.
"Mm," she agreed. She was going to say 'exhausting,' but she liked his description better. Images of the day flashed through her mind; the stress and success of fighting not to be kicked out of the Club, the ladies ogling her truly gorgeous husband, her son in her lap savoring her stories of the beginnings of his life, then Chelsea, nestled, safe, content in her lap and William allowing their children to feel and study his biceps, deltoids and triceps, Katie telling her how her Daddy had saved her, and then the reeling, swirly feeling overtaking her as this man, this man who now lay beside her under the universe, stood behind her as she cooked, touched her in such a bewitching way that it caused her to burn the toast. Her attentions were drawn back into the moment. His soft kisses caressed her ear, her face, her neck, while his hand frolicked in her hair. Julia released a satiated sigh and then said, "I feel wonderful William, happy and safe."
"Good," he answered. He kissed her, gentle and slow. Offering only a flicker of the tongue across her lips before his mouth moved on to taste her chin, then her neck. Passion swelled between them, in them, through them. He drew in her scent, only to blow the effect of its power over him, hot and steamy, out rippling across the skin of her neck, pouring along the neckline of her nightgown, bringing about a rise in the tide of her want for him.
Desire drove Julia's hand urgently down his back, under his pajama bottoms, to squeeze and knead the firm muscles of his backside. She was rewarded by his hungry moan. Its vibration in her mind surged the taught pressure deep inside of her. Her breathing hurried, stormed, as her mind dizzied, floundered and flopped, swirling downward and inward towards her lowest, deepest center. "I want you," she implored, her warm breath teasing the skin of his shoulder. Unable to stop herself, her hand slid under the fabric of his pajamas. Then William reached down, untied and then lowered his pajamas. Upon her touch, he quietly whimpered, weakened by his need. "William," she breathed, "Please." Julia frantically grabbed for the bottom of her nightgown, dragging it up to bunch around her waist, summoning him, tempting him.
"Slow it down William," he coached himself, scarcely hanging on to control.
She shoved her pelvis under him while she clawed and pulled him down to her. "Please William … Oh my God … Please," she pleaded. "Please don't tease me," she begged. She felt him searching for the bottom of her nightgown wrinkled around her waist. She lifted her body up and helped him slide the gown up further, aiding him in pulling it over her head.
Her deep, desperate moan echoed through the air when he tightened the gown around her wrists and used it to pin her arms up above her head. Her defenselessness weakened her, her consciousness yielding any sense of control; she twitched and arched with deep aching lust. She turned her head to the side, voice whispering and yelling, "Please … please," before she called out with another desperate moan.
His mouth further restrained her as he tenderly gripped the skin beneath her ear in his teeth. He tucked her underneath him and made love to her under the stars. Finished, she had become filled with warm, delicious contentment.
Complete, his hot, humid breath fumed with a strong beat over her ear, and his heart rhythmically pummeled against her chest, creating a cadence with her own heartbeat pounding inside of her. "Oh my God I so love this man," she thought as she opened her eyes to see the sparkling heavens above them. "I love you William," she whispered in his ear.
He rolled over, joining her in beholding the stars above. "And I you," he whispered back. He pulled up his pajama bottoms, she covered back up in her nightgown and they lay together under the stars. Soon their bodies had cooled, the heat from their efforts during lovemaking having evaporated in the breezy night air. William found the other blanket and pulled it over them. Julia rested her head on his shoulder.
"William," she asked, "Katie told me about how you saved her today, caught her horse, brought him under control…"
"Yes," he said.
"She told me you said something to her that dispersed her fear. It sounded so profound to me …" she continued.
"Mm," he said.
Julia repeated it, "No horse can run faster than you can ride… It seems to teach something important about life, somehow guiding one on how to handle fear … by using focus."
"How?" he asked.
"Well," she said, "It is like when life seems to be getting out of control, and you are on the verge of panic, becoming more and more aware of all of the things that could go wrong…"
"Mm-hmm …" he said, asking her to go on.
She paused, thinking, and then said, "The words seem to advise one to focus on the very specific happenings in the moment, rather than letting your mind rush ahead to all of the terrifying possibilities up ahead. To handle each step as it happens, until the storm passes and you can regain control."
"Seems wise," he said. William and Julia soon headed to bed, tired and happy.
For William and Julia, this was the calm before the storm. They would have to ride very fast, faster than they had ever ridden before, to stay with this horse.
Notes: Eugene O'Keefe was a real Catholic beer-maker and banker who died in 1913 – however, the family described here is not accurate to history.