Chapter 3
Julia eyed her bedroom with satisfaction. The room was no longer dusty. It no longer smelt of mold and potpourri. The lightbulb didn't flicker and there was considerably less dust. Saturday was payday, as well as the day she had official time off. A trip to the gym was most definitely in order.
Julia changed into her gym clothes. She smiled slightly as she hurried down the stairs.
The overall lack of dust pleased her, even if the stairs still creaked. There was much more light since Julia changed the bulbs and took the curtains down to be cleaned.
Julia left a note on the kitchen counter for Frida, grabbed her keys and heading out to the car. As she drove she thought about Mortimer Goth. After coming home to a stranger cooking dinner, Mr. Goth had not been pleased. His displeasure lessened by a degree or two when Samuel explained.
Julia had not run into Mr. Goth much. He gave her permission to clean his rooms so long as she didn't move too much around. He worked long hours at the hospital. When he was at home, Julia saw him eat before he locked himself in his study to read medical journals.
Julia was beginning to wish Olivia Goth would just leave her alone. The woman was forever nagging Julia to get more done. Just yesterday she complained about a tiny smudge on the glass tabletop.
Olivia frequently complained to Samuel while Julia was in the same room.
Julia pushed Helen and Mortimer out of her mind as she parked her car and walked into the gym.
She headed straight for a treadmill, pushing the level button several times until she was going quite fast. Julia was quite athletic on top of being a good cook. It was useful for when she wanted to make something that used lots of heavy cream or sugar. Thankfully she didn't own any Simla Dean cookbooks.
After an hour, Julia hit the showers and headed home.
Julia noticed Mortimer sitting out on the porch in a rocking chair as she was walking to the kitchen. He looked lonely. Julia bit her lip, debating over whether or not she should go outside and try to talk to him. She sighed. What did she have to lose by attempting small talk?
Julia sat in the chair adjacent to Mr. Goth's.
“Miss Shen.” Mortimer said by way of greeting.
“Good afternoon Mr. Goth.” Julia replied with equal coolness. Mortimer need not treat her like she had no right to be out there. Samuel and Frida both assured her that she could go wherever she wanted when she wasn't working, excluding bedrooms and Mortimer's office.
“Miss Shen.” Mortimer said by way of greeting.
“Good afternoon Mr. Goth.” Julia replied with equal coolness. Mortimer need not treat her like she had no right to be out there. Samuel and Frida both assured her that she could go wherever she wanted when she wasn't working, excluding bedrooms and Mortimer's office.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Mortimer stood. Then he spoke. He actually sounded like a person rather than a robot. It caught Julia off guard.
“I apologize for being so cold. It is how I was raised, and I have been living with the dead for nearly a decade. I will need time to adjust to...”
“Living with someone who has a heartbeat?” Julia interjected.
Mortimer looked surprised.
"Yes."
“I apologize for being so cold. It is how I was raised, and I have been living with the dead for nearly a decade. I will need time to adjust to...”
“Living with someone who has a heartbeat?” Julia interjected.
Mortimer looked surprised.
"Yes."
He looked curious. Julia cursed herself. She did not want to open any doors to her past.
Standing, Julia said, “Apology accepted. Please leave your clothes that need to be washed in the hamper. I'm doing laundry tomorrow.”
Standing, Julia said, “Apology accepted. Please leave your clothes that need to be washed in the hamper. I'm doing laundry tomorrow.”
Julia walked away, leaving Mortimer alone on the porch. So much for small talk. Maybe Julia just wasn't very good at it.
Mortimer watched her go. He wondered what Julia could possibly be hiding.