Chapter 7
Things were going well with Mortimer. Not much changed.
They still ate together.
They talked, just as they had before.
Of course there were some new elements in their relationship. Julia and Mortimer did not have much time alone together what with all of the responsibility that went along with Mortimer's job. It didn't help they were trying to keep their relationship under wraps. Keeping secrets from people who could walk through walls proved difficult. Julia made the most out of what time they had.
Mortimer taught Julia how to play chess.
He usually won.
Julia was allowed in Mortimer's office now
Sometimes they read together.
Sometimes Mortimer fell asleep after a long day at work. When this happened Julia stayed in the study until he woke up, sitting and thinking.
Julia talked Mortimer into moving one of the phonographs into his study. She even talked him into dancing.
Other times they just sat together. Julia loved that she could be silent with Mortimer without feeling awkward. She wouldn't want to be in a relationship were comfortable silence was not possible.
Julia began to train Mortimer at the gym on Saturdays.
Of course it was not all perfect. They got into little arguments about things like laundry detergent and what to eat for dinner on Tuesday. There were bigger things too, like how their relationship was not public.
Mortimer and Julia invested in some beehives and discussed getting a dog.
After a month it became increasingly difficult to keep their secret. After two it became nearly impossible.
One day Samuel approached Julia in the downstairs study while Mortimer was at work.
“Would you like to play rock paper scissors?” He asked. Samuel's mental state had been on the decline. It was sad, but he was harmless. So was rock paper scissors.
“Would you like to play rock paper scissors?” He asked. Samuel's mental state had been on the decline. It was sad, but he was harmless. So was rock paper scissors.
As they played, Samuel said something Julia was not expecting.
“I'm glad to see you and Mortimer are making a go of it. I'd be proud to see you as a Goth.”
It was the most coherent thing he'd said to her in weeks. She was scared by it. If Samuel knew, did Olivia? Julia was not worried about being accepted by Frida. They got along well. But Olivia would react badly.
Julia was about to find out just how badly.
“I'm glad to see you and Mortimer are making a go of it. I'd be proud to see you as a Goth.”
It was the most coherent thing he'd said to her in weeks. She was scared by it. If Samuel knew, did Olivia? Julia was not worried about being accepted by Frida. They got along well. But Olivia would react badly.
Julia was about to find out just how badly.
Mortimer had a particularly unpleasant day at work. His patient was an active mother of four. Her kids needed her, but her tumor had not been located early enough. Her prospects were not good. Now that Mortimer saw a family of his own in the future, he better understood how his patients felt. He came home exhausted.
Julia listened to him talk. It was what he needed from her. She didn't understand all of the medical terms, but she did understand more than she thought she would. They sat on yet another old fashioned, stiff loveseat. The house had at least five of them. This one was in Mortimer's bedroom.
Once he was all talked out, Julia and Mortimer walked out of his bedroom. Mortimer was still in his scrubs but Julia was in her pajamas.
Julia turned to give Mortimer a good night kiss.
Julia listened to him talk. It was what he needed from her. She didn't understand all of the medical terms, but she did understand more than she thought she would. They sat on yet another old fashioned, stiff loveseat. The house had at least five of them. This one was in Mortimer's bedroom.
Once he was all talked out, Julia and Mortimer walked out of his bedroom. Mortimer was still in his scrubs but Julia was in her pajamas.
Julia turned to give Mortimer a good night kiss.
She pulled away when Olivia's shrill voice cut through the air.
“What are you doing!?”
“What are you doing!?”