Chapter 8
Olivia pushed herself in between Julia and Mortimer. Mortimer moved to stand next to Julia but Julia stopped him with a raise of her eyebrow. Julia preferred to ask for help rather than just be given help.
Olivia repeated her question. “What are you doing?”
Julia could smell the alcohol on Olivia's breath.
“You're nothing but a gold digger.” Olivia spat. That caught Julia off guard.
Julia could smell the alcohol on Olivia's breath.
“You're nothing but a gold digger.” Olivia spat. That caught Julia off guard.
“Excuse me?” Julia said venomously.
“You came here under the pretense of being a maid, but really you're just after the money.”
Julia's eyes narrowed. Upon arrival at the Goth Manor Julia dressed decently. She barely spoke to Mortimer. Julia had never even asked about his financial situation. Her pay wasn't very high. Olivia wore trashy clothing and married a man three times her age. In comparison Julia was positively nunnish.
But Olivia wasn't completely finished yet.
“You came here under the pretense of being a maid, but really you're just after the money.”
Julia's eyes narrowed. Upon arrival at the Goth Manor Julia dressed decently. She barely spoke to Mortimer. Julia had never even asked about his financial situation. Her pay wasn't very high. Olivia wore trashy clothing and married a man three times her age. In comparison Julia was positively nunnish.
But Olivia wasn't completely finished yet.
Olivia stepped close to Julia, slapping her across the face.
Olivia's yelling brought Frida and Samuel to the third floor. Samuel, in a flash of competency, escorted his intoxicated wife down to their room.
Frida looked from Julia to Mortimer.
“We'd better talk.”
Frida looked from Julia to Mortimer.
“We'd better talk.”
Frida, Mortimer, Julia, and Samuel met in the dining room for what Frida called a family meeting. Olivia was not invited.
Frida started with a question. “Would you two care to explain what's going on?”
Mortimer told most of the story. Julia interjected occasionally.
“...and I love her. That's the end of it.” Mortimer said, reaching for Julia's hand under the table.
“...and I love her. That's the end of it.” Mortimer said, reaching for Julia's hand under the table.
Frida looked surprised. Samuel did not. “Well. Then I hardly think it appropriate for Julia to continue as maid.”
“I agree.” Mortimer said, looking sternly at Julia. They'd had that discussion before. Now that the cat was out of the bag Julia so no need to continue as maid. She did not protest.
“Well I suggest we al get to bed.” Frida said, getting up and leaving the room. Samuel grinned at Mortimer and Julia before following.
“I agree.” Mortimer said, looking sternly at Julia. They'd had that discussion before. Now that the cat was out of the bag Julia so no need to continue as maid. She did not protest.
“Well I suggest we al get to bed.” Frida said, getting up and leaving the room. Samuel grinned at Mortimer and Julia before following.
Julia and Mortimer waited a few minutes before going upstairs.
At the base of the stairs leading up to the third floor, Julia took Mortimer's hands in hers.
“Did you really mean what you said?' Julia asked shyly.
“What?” Mortimer said, not understanding the question. Julia was not usually shy.
“When you said that...” Julia voice lowered until it was almost a whisper. “When you said you loved me.”
“Did you really mean what you said?' Julia asked shyly.
“What?” Mortimer said, not understanding the question. Julia was not usually shy.
“When you said that...” Julia voice lowered until it was almost a whisper. “When you said you loved me.”
Mortimer pulled Julia closer to him. “What a silly question. Of course I meant it. Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“You know what.”
“What a silly question.” Julia said mockingly. “Of course I love you.”
“Do I what?”
“You know what.”
“What a silly question.” Julia said mockingly. “Of course I love you.”
After that night, Julia's world changed again. Julia moved into Mortimer's bedroom. She didn't get a paycheck from Mortimer anymore or wear a maid's uniform. She still cooked and cleaned because she enjoyed it. Julia took on a part time job at the bookstore so she wouldn't rip her hair out. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. But of course some things remained the same.
Samuel still acted crazy.
Olivia still drank.
One day Mortimer got home late with a puppy for Julia. Julia named the puppy Jinx.
Julia and Jinx got along famously.
Everything was close to perfect.
But nothing can stay perfect for long.